Things Lost and Found (a Waglington and Mianite fanfiction)

Chapter 51

I just wanted to say I really appreciate y'all. :) Anytime I get a notification of someone new starting to read my book, I check out their profile. The notifs of someone adding me to their reading list make me smile. (Then I go check out the list to see if they've found anything I might like to read.) Also of note, this week Chapter 1 hit 1,000 reads. Y'all are the best. <3

The song of the day is True Faith by Anberlin. Does this song remind you of anyone in particular? It reminded me of... Well, you'll find out. ;)

*Waglington's POV*

I stepped out of the tree line onto the wheel rutted road, brushing a few leaves off of my robes. I adjusted my hood self-consciously as I entered the ring of light surrounding the bar. The solid oak door burst open as I cautiously navigated the front steps, and I barely dodged the body that was hurled past me. "Don't come back unless you pay for that chair!" The very large man who had thrown him shouted. "Drunken sod..." I heard the burly man mutter under his breath. He noticed me as he turned to go back indoors. He narrowed his eyes under thick, dark eyebrows as he looked me up and down, no doubt sizing me up for throwing as well. He looked like he could toss a whole pine tree if he wanted to and not break a sweat. Talk about intimidating. This lumberjack has to be three times my size!

The man finally gave me a lopsided grin and motioned me inside, laughing at my obvious fear of him. "Come in, weary traveler!" He boomed, sounding much friendlier than he had a moment ago. "You're welcome here so long as you don't break anything."

I hesitantly followed him into the riot of sounds and smells, keeping one hand on my money bag. It would be easy for a skilled pickpocket to make a living in here. He guided me through the throng to the bar counter against the far wall, at which point I realized this man was the bartender. "So what'll it be for you tonight?" I was pulled from my inspection of the place by the tender's question.

I cleared my throat and asked, "One bottle of your strongest whiskey and some water if you have any that didn't get polluted by the fire. Also, would you happen to know where I could get my hands on some fish that's safe to eat?"

The big man paused cleaning the shot glass he held and gave me an interested look. "Whiskey we've got aplenty. The river water's not gonna be safe for another three or four days, I reckon. Closest spring's a mile up the road. As for the fish, we've got some smoked from yesterday." After setting the glass he was working on aside, he asked me another question. "You get caught out in the fire, kid?"

Kid?! I resisted the urge to let him know that I was in fact his senior and answered his question. "Yes, barely made it down into the river gorge to avoid getting cooked alive. If you would be so kind as to point me in the direction of that spring, I'll pay for the whiskey and fish and be going." I could feel eyes on me from the rest of the bar. My accent and robes stood out like a crow among seagulls in this place, and I did not like getting this much attention. With any luck they'd all forget they saw me when they recovered from their hangovers.

My discomfort must have been evident, because the bartender nodded at my request before turning a fierce scowl on the rest of the gathering. The feeling of being watched dissipated but didn't go away entirely. "You'll take the right fork at the big crossroad," He said pointing down the road in the direction I'd come from. "There's a small cabin up near the spring that travelers use when they're passing through. Though it's not the safest place to stay on a blood moon."

I chuckled before suppressing a fit of coughs as I leaned on the bar. The tender gave me another appraising look as he collected my purchases. "I'd suggest you stop by Miss Mary's before you leave town, stranger. She's been treating people who got caught in the fire all day. Her apothecary is on the corner; you can't miss the mortar and pestle sign out front. She won't mind being woken up, neither. She's got a heart of gold, that one. Just tell 'er Jim sent you her way," He said with a wink as he set a bottle of amber liquid and a parcel wrapped in butcher paper on the scuffed counter.