A Warrior through and through

The raven.

The sun rose lazily just beyond the horizon. The new day came much sooner than I wanted it to. I stood up stiffly, my body aching from the hard ground and the cold winds. I was too old to be sleeping on the ground. I tried rubbing warmth into my hands. After a moment or two, when I could at least feel my hands, I took my bag filled with the clothes I could salvage and her sword. My throat was itching for a warm brew and food other than the broth I ate yesterday. I headed down the hill towards the town, hoping that Emmy was awake in the tavern.

The town was quiet, for it was after the harvesting period when the villager's barns were full. At last now they could afford a few extra hours of sleep. I could see that there was light in the tavern. I increased my pace due to the thought of a warm building and actual food.

Unusually though, there was nobody in the building. I noticed that all the chairs were empty as I entered the building. I could not smell fresh ale or meat that was cooked the night before. As I approached the kitchen, I could feel the warmth from the burning brazier. I relished the feeling of my muscles loosening up.

"Ahh, Walter. The night didn't go so well for you huh," came a voice. It was Emmy. She was at the door to the kitchen, holding two bags. I run my hand through my unruly hair and smiled kindly. "It shows, huh," I responded. She gave me a warm smile and walked up to me.

"These are for you," she told me while handing me one of the bags. I opened it. Fruits and foods that will help me on my journey were inside.

"I also packed for you a few small pots that I didn't need to help you cook stews when you go hunting," she said. I smiled at her warmly.

"Thank you so much," I told her, bowing my head a little.

"Naw, I'm not doing you a favour. This is thanks for fixing my roof," she said while handing me the other bag. The second one had quite a heavy feel to it. I opened the bag, and a corner of a thick fabric jutted out.

"Come with me now," Emmy told me as he walked towards the back of the tavern. She went through the door and walked towards a small stable.

"This is to help you get where you are going faster," She said as the opened the barn door of the stable.

There was a horse inside one of the two stalls that the stable had. It was a huge battle horse, as tall as eighteen hands. The horse was grey, like a cloud heavy with rain."She's called Auster," Emmy said.

"I cannot take this from you, it's worth too much!" I objected. Horses like these were worth more than her tavern. Again, she waved her hands as if shooing the question away.

" I can barely keep her alive. I need to get back to the kitchen. Close the door when you lead her out," She responded, smiling. She began heading to the kitchen, but she suddenly stopped halfway."Walter?" She called out.

"Yeah?"

"I hope you find what you are looking for,"

She turned back and headed back into the tavern. I turned back to look at the horse.

"I guess you're with me now," I said while rubbing her neck. Suddenly, I heard a caw. I turned to my right. A raven was perched on the stall door.

I knew this raven. It was hers. How was this possible? Tied to its leg was what looked like a piece of paper. As I reached for it, the raven held its leg out for me to untie the paper from its leg. My hands shook heavily as I opened it. As I read it, I was filled with a burning hope thaT I had not felt in a long time

I have gone to the deadlands. He may be comming back. 

It seemed that she wrote the note in a hurry. Her handwriting was oddly messy, and she misspelled a few words like she normaly did when she wrote in a hurry. 

There was a chance she was alive.

Though not for long, if she was heading to the deadlands.