. I

Ravenglout Inn

Not even several hours in- and night already shrouded the sky,
Igrid and I had traveled for too long and our bodies were clearly telling us no more.
We came across an Inn at the top of a Hill- barley any residences but that was no concern,
We entered and both collapsed by the fire in exhausted and yearn for warmth

"I never believed I would beckon for Fire"
Igrid groaned and shut her eyes as she snuggled up close to the rocks that kept
The fire pit tamed
"I can say the same"
I breathed and shut my own eyes- until realizing the workers of the Inn were staring at us like naked Mules had stumbled into a festival. I sat up and groaned before making my way to countertop,
"How much for two rooms?" I asked the man behind the counter, "10 per bed" he responded in a groggy voice,
I was astonished by the vast color of his skin- a dark mossy green with lower fangs so sharp that reminded me of a saber,
I was staring- apparently because Igrid kicked me in the shin and finished my conversation

"Perfect, we'll be staying for a night"
She handed the
Man twenty gold and pulled me off to the rooms we'd
Be staying in, and sat me down on the bed and stared at me with furrowed brows

"What were you doing, lass?" She huffed
"Admiring that man's skin tone"
"What gives you the right to do that?" Igrid's eye twitched at my remark and I tilted my head a bit to the side out of confusion
" is that wrong? I meant no harm- I have never seen a unique color of skin such as that"

"Wh- wait really?" Igrid blinked
"You've never seen an Orc?"

"Orc, is That what they're called?" I found myself standing abruptly and opening the wooden door "good sir, I much admire your race. Hearty and wonderous " I spoke loud, clearly the bard and the other waitresses heard and turned their attention on me and then at the orc behind the counter as if ready to
Laugh

"FAUST!" Igrid shrieked of embarrassment and slammed the door as she
Pulled me
Away
"You dont just blurt that out! Have you
No sense of mind?"
She barked. "It was a compliment, I meant no
Harm"
I blinked-
"I didn't even see his response, that was rude of you to close the door so suddenly"

"THAT WAS RUDE OF M E ?"
Igrid barked

I chuckled a bit "we should rest now, we have to wake up early Morndas if we want to make it to Ivarstead before tomorrow's end",
"Yeah whatever" Igrid huffed and left the room to the one besides mine,
I sat in silence when she was gone,
Staring endlessly at the red worn carpet beneath my feet.

Where were we heading.

I'm looking for any sign of who I was- but,

It seems I cannot even recall where- I was traveling to,
It was but a moment ago I had said it, I fear my head may not be quite healed yet.
I frowned and removed my gown and let it fall to my ankles,
Leaving me only in undergarments to keep
My breasts from all to see- though I was alone.
The room reeked of sex and sweat and I'm sure countless of people fucked like dogs on these sheets, But it hasn't seemed like anyone had been here in a while- so I'll bare my body for one night. Surely there will be some source of water to bathe soon, I
Shut my eyes and disappeared into slumber once more.
4:23 AM of Morndas.
The shrieking Crash of Metal plates colliding with the floor and the
Cries of a waitress echoed through the entire Inn, I jumped from
My sleep And stared at the door with widened eyes before the inn fell silent- I knew what I heard, and that dread hasn't left quite yet.
Something had happened,
And nothing good.
I stood up slowly and
Quietly and pulled my dress back up and tied it thoroughly in the back and slipped on my boots.
Screaming and trauma of property were clear signs of a bad situation, but Igrid was in the room next to
Me, I had to return to her to keep her company and make sure the scream didn't come from her.

That's what friends do, yes? Stay by each other's side?

Slowly I cracked open the wooden door, careful to open it only a specific amount as to
Avoid creaking of wood and to draw attention to me. I took one
Solemn step forward, and then another
And held my breath and stood up straight to squeeze through the deadly thin opening- but with caution I made it through to the main
Room and saw there was no one in sight, the women, the need, the orc, no one. It was as if no one had been here at all to begin with,
I softly knocked on Igrid's door "Igrid- it's me, what hap-"
Not even a few seconds nor a chance to finish my sentence Igrid snapped the door open and grabbed my collar and yanked me into her room,
Shutting the door behind me- "-pened" I coughed and rubbed my chest and looked her in the eyes,

She was horrified, I could tell by the way she was quivering and the way her eyes were enlarged in fear. In her hand was the dagger that belonged to her father, "fear not
Perhaps it was a fault" I reassured
"Calm, calm" my gaze turned back to the door and I opened it once more to see outside,
Nothing. The fire was no longer lit which left minimal vision of the room, I could make out the counter, a few tables and the pit but everything else was engulfed by the shadows.
I shut the door and turned back to Igrid and walked to the desk top and grabbed the torch,
Looking back at my frightened companion I bent down by her side

She stared at me
And urged me to hide with her but I refused.
"It's okay. I'll look for the marvelously colored orc and we'll head off. Surely things are fine"
I informed her and gave a small smile

Igrid stared but furrowed her brows and nodded,
"O-Okay" she whispered

And I stood,
Turning out the door and closing it behind me to keep her secluded.
The torch lit about three feets worth of my surrounding, which worked fine.