The princess of the realm

chapter five: the story

(two years prior in the town of Quellin)
~Asta~
It was horrible I was covered in mud and hadn't had a shower in the three days since I had left the Twins.
The smell of the roast beef and potato filling my senses was enough to make my mouth water as I walked into the small shabby looking inn.
The rain outside had died down to a drizzle instead of the heavy drops that had been going for the past to days.
I walked over to the counter and sat at one of the stools waiting for the bar tender to make his way to me.
Thank the gods that Mariah insisted that I should take some money with me.
Finally the bartender came over.
"What can I get you miss", he said in a bored and flat tone that suggested that he was bone tired from working.
"Can I get a beef and potato pie and a room for one please", I said with a polite smile while counting the cash and handing it over.
The bartender took the money and handed me a key.
"The pie should be about ten minutes, it also comes with a free beer", he said looking a bit more interested.
First rule that Beartrix said I should follow: Always watch out for men no matter who they are or how nice they seem because you are a young woman traveling by yourself.
"Umm just the pie thank you" I said politely refusing the beer.
I stood and headed to my room winding through the crowded pub full of drunks and whores.
I managed to get up to my room without any hassle and immediately went to have a shower.
After getting dressed I decided that the pie would probably be ready by now, so I headed back down to the bar.
I got down stairs and started winding my way through the crowd trying to avoid everyone.
"Hey beautiful, why don't you come here and put your pretty mouth to good use", I heard a stranger say then I was being grabbed at and tugged towards a dark corner.
Instantly I turned causing the male to stumble, while he was of balance  I took my chance and connected my fist with his face causing him to cry out letting me get out of his grubby hands.
By now most of the pub had gone quiet and was starring at the scene.
"Don't touch me again you filthy creep", I spat at him and left to get my food, everyone moving out of my way in fear.
Once I grabbed my dinner, I went upstairs, the pub had eased back into a steady chatter and most people had stopped starring.
I decided that in the morning I would leave and go find somewhere else to stay.
I finished my pie, savoring the flavour, and went to bed.
I woke up to the sound of hail hitting the roof and decided to pack up my stuff and leave early, as to avoid the morning rush that came around ten o'clock.
       
                            •  •  •

It had been two days since I had left the pub and the rain had stopped completely, making way for a beautiful, cloudless, blue sky.
I sat by myself at a cafe sipping a warm coffee the afternoon sun slowly disappearing to make way for the night.
Soon I would have to find somewhere to sleep.
" Excuse me?", a kind voice spoke and I turned and looked.
Standing behind me was a beautiful vampire her silky black hair falling to her waist.
"yes?", I asked remembering why I was speaking to her.
"I've noticed you looking for somewhere to stay over the past few nights, I have a spare room, if you would like to stay there tonight?", she said her voice soft and kind her golden brown eyes showing that she was a 'vegetarian vampire' which meant she only hunted animals, not fae, angels, humans or shifters.
"That would be wonderful, thank you", I said standing up.
"My name is Bridie by the way, I recently moved to this town after spending the last fifty-six years in Faalein", she said but obviously due to the fact that she was a vampire, she only looked twenty.
"Im Asta, and spent the last two years with my best friends, living in a small town called Valen about 50 mile north", I said as we started walking toward a beautiful white brick house.