Dwarfslayer

42

Damon had been riding for over a day, and was in the process of searching for an inn, when the girl fell from the sky.

She hit the floor, and his horse reared, backing away.

He calmed it down, and hopped off. After one step forward, something immediately struck him as odd. There girl appeared to have wings on her back. He stopped for a second, processing the sight for a second.

But there was no mistaking it.

Those were feathers exploding from her back as if she was a bird of some sort.

He knelt, and turned the girl over.

Her face, streaked with dirt, was still unmistakably beautiful.

He looked around, and squinted at a sign hanging above a door.

Martha's Inn, he made out.

What luck. He probably would have passed it if the girl hadn't stopped him.

He wrapped the wings around the girl like a blanket, and picked her up in both arms. He approached the inn’s door, and knocked with his foot.

An old lady, who he assumed to be Martha, answered his call.

“Yes?” she said.

“I’d like to stay in a room, please,” Damon said.

“That’s fine, but, uh, who is this you're carrying?”

His face went red. “This is… my wife.”

“Why’s her face dirty?”

“She fell asleep while riding, and fell of the horse,” he tried.

She nodded, apparently accepting the excuse, or just not caring enough, and turned. “Come on in.”

He followed her in, and she led them down a hallway and to a room, holding the door open for them.

He entered, nodding his thanks, and placed the girl on the bed.

He looked at the old woman.

 “My name is Martha Innkeeper,” she said. “Breakfast will be laid out tomorrow. When you’re wife wakes, please tell her that she has a wonderful blanket, and that I would like to know how she made it.”

Damon rubbed the back of his head, and nodded. “Okay. Yeah, I'll do that.”

She smiled. “Well, mister…”

“Dwarfslayer,” he said. “Damon Dwarfslayer.”

She put out her lower lip, and nodded. “Named? Interesting. I feel like I’ve heard your name before.”

“You probably haven’t,” he said.

She shrugged. ”Maybe you’re right. Well, then… Good night. I hope to see you two tomorrow morning.”

Flashing a pleasant smile, Martha closed the door.