Black Eyes To Blue

- 4 -

As the first rays of moonlight pierced the canopy of the trees, the pair approached the first signs advertising their entry to the small Hamlet of Lisston Falls. The fork in the road beneath the sign signaled a sharp turn for the town of Chult about five Kilometers down the road to the left. While a beautifully painted 'Welcome to Lisston Falls' was attached expertly to one of the trees that hung overtop the roadway to the right. Giving the road a comforting look that seemed to make the area feel welcoming and homely, in stark contrast to the silent and suffocating woods that lay behind them.

"I feel like it might be wise to stay the night here in Lisston," Said Mardston, "Even if we missed the sunset. What do you think sweetheart?"

"Okay." Replied a small voice next to him.

Looking over to his left, he watched Soris walking along slowly next to him. Arms crossed and clenched tightly across her chest, not in anger, but in security.

"She's really not doing too hot." Mardston thought to himself. "I really should help her somehow, I really don't like seeing her this way. I need to do something, maybe I—"

"I do NOT need a hug." Soris spat. Cutting off Mardston's train of thought. "Nor do I need to be carried, or coddled, or any one of your other stupid ideas! All I need, is some peace and fucking quiet without you trying to pester me like I am some delicate little flower who's going to fall apart at the slightest touch. I am fine now, and I am going to be fine later! Just keep your moronic thoughts to yourself, and tell me when we get there!"

"Oh okay, I'm sorry sweethea—" Mardston started, but was interrupted by Soris cutting him off, "And stop calling me that!"

The next quarter of a kilometer to the hamlet was a long one, suffocated with the sound silence, marked only by the sound of footsteps and soft sniffles. As the pair approached the settlement. Soris spoke up and said quietly, "I feel like there's something wrong."

Stumbling for a moment Mardston replied, "I mean... That's to be expected, we both just went through—"

"No!" She sneered back, "Not with me! With the town! Aren't there supposed to be more people? Or like, any people?"

Stopping in his tracks, Mardston looked at his surroundings, and properly began to observe them critically. It was a small settlement. Five, no, six houses all lined up along both sides of the road, that just came to an end when it reached the final building. An exceptionally large storehouse of some kind, or perhaps a barn. Despite it merely being a few hours after sunset, there was no one to be seen. There were no lights in any of the windows, even in the largest of the buildings, which upon closer inspection appeared to be an Inn or meeting house, remained dark.

"You're right, there really should be at least one person about." Muttered Mardston, "Stick close to me sweetheart, I have a bad feeling about this."

Taking off his travel bag, he quietly leaned it up against one of the houses, just a little out of sight from prying eyes.

"Where do you think everyone went?" She asked softly.

"No idea, but I think we should check that message board in front of the inn, it looks like things have been posted recently. Then if not, we should see if anyone's home, and if not. Then we borrow one of the houses as a safe place to rest, and look into it in the morning."

Walking slowly behind the large man Soris whispered, "Did you just seriously suggest breaking into someone's house to sleep in their bed?! What is wrong with you?!"

"Well we are in danger and need a place to sleep where we can be safe, I am sure the people who lived there would gladly let us stay the night with them if we asked, if these people are as kind as you say they are. Besides! If we do need to, we won't break anything, or touch anything we shouldn't, and if you want to leave a note thanking them and apologizing I will loan you some parchment."

Before Soris could mount a proper rebuttal, she was cut off by the sight of the message board. "Oh no" She sighed. "Thats so many people..."

Covering every inch of the available space of the message board were missing people posters. For a dozen individuals at least. All with pictures, and descriptions of the lost. Some promising rewards, some threatening the kidnappers, all equally desperate. Reaching out to touch the one that looked like it was most recently posted. A poster depicting a young man with brown hair wearing a half smile, listed as one Jordan Witherby. A Farmhand out of Chult. "This one feels fresh. The parchment hasn't been rained on, it still looks basically new." Mardston said to himself.

"I know who that is," Said Soris quietly. "She's Ms. Witherby's youngest. When we were little, he would bring me flowers, and he said I was pretty..."

The comment froze Mardston in his step, "How do I possibly respond to that?!" He thought.

"Nothing, just forget I said anything. There's no point." She said sadly. "If he's gone, he's gone I guess. Lets just keep going. I think I see a light in the barn?"

Tearing his away away from hers, he followed her gaze to what looked like a small window in the back of the storehouse that was glowing faintly, as if lit by a single candle. "We should go check it out." Soris said, starting to regain her composure. "See if we can get permission to stay here, before just going and breaking into people's houses in the middle of the night like we are some kind of bandits?"

"Point taken, point taken. I think you're right. Let's go see what they have to say." Said Mardston, as the pair walked up the last stretch of road, and up to the large storeroom door.