The tavern was warm. The scent of spiced bread and woodsmoke curled in the air.
We had arrived late in the night, drenched and shivering. William hadn't said a word as he helped us off the carriage and into the modest inn nestled on the edge of Sayshore. He'd only ordered hot baths, warm food, rest and called for a physician.
Now, sunlight filtered through the dusty panes, casting long golden rays across the wooden floor.
I stirred beneath the woolen blanket, the faint hum of voices below drawing me fully awake.
A soft knock came to the door.
Before I could rise, the tavern owner, a round woman with a kind face, stepped in holding a bundle of neatly folded clothes.
"For you and the other lady," she said gently setting them on the chair. "The handsome knight asked for me to get you comfortable wear for your journey."
"Thank you," I said voice hoarse but grateful.
She smiled and left with a quiet click of the door.
The clothes were plain but comfortable: soft cotton tunics, thick leggings, a shawl for warmth. Practical. Easy to move.
Once I was dressed, I stepped into the hallway then downstairs.
The tavern buzzed with low conversation. Men in cloaks and armor occupied the tables - knights all of them. They all beared the sigil of Emberheart, a crimson wolf over silver flames.
William stood near the hearth, deep in discussion with two of them, arms crossed, hair damp. Someone was fresh from showering. His presence commanded the room. Focused. Alert. The kind of man people turned to when things went wrong.
His eyes flicked up as I approached.
"You slept well?" He asked.
I nodded, trying hard not to blush. This man was affecting me in ways I couldn't explain.
He nodded towards a corner table, where the girl we rescued sat, wrapped in a blanket. She looked pale but stronger. A plate of untouched food sat before her.
"Today we ask questions," William said. "She may hold some answers."
I joined him and the nights as they sat across from the girl. One of them pulled out a book and a quill. The question began.
"What's your name?" William asked voice gentler than I expected.
She hesitated, "Rosa."
"Where were you taken from, Rosa?"
"My home, a farmstead on the edge of Ivyerria."
Ivyerria, one of the outer isles. Isolated. Quiet.
"How did they take you?" One of the knights asked.
Rosa's hands trembled, "At night, I was locking the goats pen. I remember feeling dizzy and then when I came to,I was in a carriage. Hands and legs tied,"
"What did they do to you?" I asked softer.
She looked at me, eyes watery, "They took samples of our blood and cut our hair. They would then chant things."
My throat tightened.
"They carried out ritual. Sacrificing animals and birds and bleeding some of the ladies dry. Some.... changed, their eyes went pale."
A sick silence follows.
William finally broke it, "Why did they let you go?"
"They didn't. When I tried to unpluck the flower it stung me. One of them said I was cursed and the flower had absorbed that, it was now useless and so was I. He said I was going to die."
William's jaw flexed.
"I can't die," she said grabbing my arm. "Please help me."
"You won't die," I patted her back."I'll make sure of it."
Rosa had began to tremble. She had endured the worst of days. I sat beside her offering her water.
"We need to move fast, before more rituals are done, before they kill all the ladies?" William murmured to the others.
His expression softened only for a moment, "you'll stay back, with her. Get more information. Help nurse her. The rest us....." He nodded at the others, "we'll go see what we can find with the information we got."
"But I want to help," you are.
He gave me a long look, "You are helping."
He then turned and started issuing orders to the knight.
Rosa tugged at my sleeves, "Antlers..... Their leaders wore antlers. He would often pronounce a name, Varathiel."
I saw everyone in the tavern freeze.
William turned slowly, " You're sure that's the name,"
She whispered, "they'd whisper it over and over again."
The name had changed the room. Who was he? I can't remember such a name in the book.
"Who is he?" I asked.
William's voice was quite but steely, "A demon spoken of in the old tongue. Said to feed on lifeblood and condemn souls to cursed soil."
"He can't be real, can he?" I said, unsure.
"With everything we've found, we can't doubt the existence of a demon in ghost stories," he said walking to the door.
"Maybe I can help," I said.
"My lady, you are helping by staying here. I'll leave some knights behind," he muttered looking annoyed.
"Leave them with her, take me with you," I begged.
"You are a liability,"
That stung.
"How am I a liability?"
"We can't have you throwing yourself in another river, now can we?" He asked saddling a horse.
It was my turn to frown, "I didn't try to kill myself, you know that."
"I don't. You're defiant, you'll slow us down,"
He wasn't looking me in my eyes. He finished saddling the horse.
"Watch over the other lady, we'll be back," he said mounting the steed. "You're safe here, the crown prince can't reach you."
I huffed in annoyance, " am not worried about that."
He nodded, "That's good then."
"No it isn't. You just called me a liability,"
"You are,"
I angrily turned back and walked into the tavern. I can never win with this man.
I watched as William and his fellow nights prepare to leave. I stayed behind, watching the golden light shift across the wooden floor boards, my thoughts heavy.