The Outskirts Of Nowhere(on hold)

🐉Chapter One 🐉

"Dragons, eh? We haven't seen or heard from the dragons in over fifty years."

"Well, they're back."

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"Joanna! We need more ale at the table in the corner! And hurry up, because they're growing impatient!" Joanna Sheridan sighed as she rushed into the kitchen and grabbed yet another tray filled with mugs of ale. The inn was busier than ever with the spreading tales of the dragons that up until recently were believed to have been extinct. She didn't pay much attention to these tales though, knowing that her opinion didn't matter too much, and of course, that it was not the time or place to express her thoughts even if it did. All that mattered at this point was getting this tray of ale mugs to the table in the corner so that she could keep her job and her room in the inn.

Knowing that all she had to do for now was to make it through the next few hours, she quickly glided over to the noisy table filled with dwarves and a couple of gnomes. It was odd that the two races would hang out together, all getting along, but she didn't think twice about it, instead silently handing them the drinks and collecting the empty mugs. "Ha! Even if they aren't extinct, they wouldn't come within a 500 mile radius from here!" one of the dwarves had said as she was collecting the empty mugs as fast as she could. "I don't know...I think that it could cause trouble. We haven't seen any dragons in over 50 years...who knows what they could act like." one of the gnomes replied.

"Exactly! We haven't seen them in decades! Which means, they can't be bothered to come anywhere near us, even if the tales are true." the first said. "What do you believe miss?" Joanna looked up, startled and kind of surprised that one of them had spoken to her. "Are you speaking to me?" she asked, still confused, and slightly cautious.

"Yes you! Who else would I be talking to?" the dwarf said. Joanna hesitated. Technically, she wasn't supposed to speak to customers unless it was to ask for orders or to answer questions. "Well? What do you think? Clearly you aren't mute, so speak up girl. What is your opinion on these tales of dragons?" She paused, and then decided it would be better to face Gungor for talking to customers rather than face his fury if he ever learned she hadn't obeyed a paying customer's wish. The normally calm half-orc definitely was not fun to deal with when he was angry. "Erm, I don't really have an opinion on it sir. I try not to get too wrapped up in the tales I hear around here." He laughed a big, deep laugh, and the others joined him, making her nervous. "We all wish we could get out that easy. What is your name girl?" Joanna paused, not sure whether or not she should give out this information. Should she come up with a random name on the spot, or should she stick with her given name? She had to decide soon, or the party would get suspicious. "Joanna. Now, do you need anything else, or may I take these empty mugs back to the kitchen?" she asked, irritated that she couldn't get back to work.

"Woah there, no need to be harsh. We get it, you have to go back to work. But, could you do one last thing for us?" Sighing, she nodded, just wanting to get away from this strange group of men. Not very many customers had ever asked her anything that didn't have to do with food, drink or shelter there at the small inn. In fact, she couldn't remember anyone asking her opinion, ever. "You see that elf over in the other corner on that stool?" Nodding, she answered, "yeah. He comes in here often."

"Yeah. Well, in any case, could you give him this and say it's from Aranron?" He then held out faded, yellowed scroll tied with a crimson string. "Alright," she answered, taking the scroll from the strange dwarf. "Um, enjoy your drinks" she said as they clinked their mugs together, toasting to something or other. Sighing, she glanced down at the scroll in her hand, wondering why the dwarves couldn't have delivered it themselves. What could be so important, and yet so unimportant? Shaking her head, she whispered, "what have I gotten myself into now" and silently headed toward the dark figure in the other corner of the inn.