Fieri

Reis knew that Fieri was not a town that hung on everyones’ lips, but he was never prepared to expect it to be a dead town. The stark contrast of the austere town from the merry countryside and meadows made Sabre uneasy. Reis dismounted and held the reins of his horse. He took his sword and fastened the sword-belt around his hips. After making sure that he has fastened every flap to the leather pouches on his waist belt securely, Reis pulled Sabre on his reins and entered through the gates, nodding to the pair of guards.

The houses that lined the streets were mostly shabby, but habitable. A few curious pair of eyes stared at the knight as he made his to the centre of the town. Folks made way as Reis guided Sabre through the town on foot. The clop of shod hooves on the dusty cobble street echoed along the corridors and alleys around them.

The only worthy value or what was left of it was that a border town, and it lie right in the middle of the Travellers’ Road that forked out to the heart of the two other countries bordering The Kingdom. Over to the east and about a week’s ride are the dense woodlands where the woodland elves had built their illustrious but illusive kingdom upon. Reis has heard of the Levianna before, but had yet to gaze upon her wondrous majesty. To the far north lies the Sovereign City-State of Nadaran, an arcane country small by span – slightly smaller than The Kingdom’s capital White City, but equally wondrous especially with the infamous Magi Academy. Nadaran stood unchallenged as hostile forces would think twice about invading a city-state that has mages, wizards, sorcerers, and other magic users as her populace. Reis will be heading there after resting in Fieri.

Suddenly, Reis halted – he sensed the presence of magic within the vicinity. Being alone on the errant had almost made him regard magic as a strange thing.

“Nadaran is due north. I’m sure a mage or two stops by now and then,” he told himself.

It was nearing sundown and folks began to return to their homes. Street lanterns were lit, and Reis saw a few scantily-clad ladies of the night now and then at street corners. The sight of a stranger that could be a potential customer excited them; especially the tall, powerfully-built, and most importantly young stranger that had just made his way through town. Realizing that his stomach is growling, Reis headed for a particularly large tavern. He was keen on having hot food and a frothy pint or two after been on trail ration of beef jerky, hard cheese, and even harder bread. He also longed for a proper long soak in a hot bath and soft, thick mattress to lie on a night or two.

The sign was once painted but now had badly faded. Reis could make out the words, ‘The Rumbling Din’ on it. He went to the side and an attendant approached him. Reis handed the reins of his horse to the middle-aged man, who took it akin to receiving the Medal of Valour.

“Please have him watered and fed. And could you groom him and have him picked as well?” Reis asked the man.
“Yes, milord. Only the best for your great beast,” he replied. Reis took a quick glance at his large, padded saddlebags, thinking of its precious content – his mithril plate armour suit. “Do you have a place of safekeeping?” Reis asked.

The man nodded. He led Sabre into the stable and into a stall. The stable has another horse in it, and the chestnut mare was dozing restfully, well taken care of. The floor was lined with fresh hay, and two wooden feeders contained water, and a mix of oats, barley, and hay respectively in the individual stalls. Under his supervision, the attendant began to remove Reis’ saddlebags and place it in front of him. The attendant removed the saddle and the saddlecloth and placed it with care in front of Reis as well. After securely closing the stall doors, the attendant carried Reis’ belonging to the back of the stable where Reis followed. The attendant produced a key from a key ring attached to his belt and pointed to several large wooden chests lining the wall. He picked a key, and opened an empty chest. Quickly, he placed Reis’ saddlebags in them.

“Your bags are safe in here, milord. I shall care on your saddle after I’ll tend to your horse,” he said. Reis nodded. He fished in his coin purse for a gold piece and two silver pieces, and handed them to the attendant who received them with utmost delight. Passing Sabre’s stall, Reis brushed the nose of his horse, and headed out.

The Rumbling Din was in fact, rumbling. The contrast from the world outside baffled Reis as seemingly all of the townsfolk converged in the large, double-storey tavern. Music and all sort of merriment resounded and people chatted, laughed, and brawled. The aroma of freshly cooked hot meals wafted in the air, and Reis made his way through the crowd to a table and sat. Moments later, an attractive, buxom young barmaid came to him and ceremoniously bent from her hips to Reis’ face level, offering a generous view of her generous bosom.

“Welcome to The Rumbling Din, sir. What would you have?” she asked melodiously. Reis pried his eyes from her chest and met her blazing brown eyes, careful not to have his face redden.

“Erm..yeah. Err..I’m quite famished, so I would really like to have some hot food, please. Your recommendations. And a pint of your best ale,” Reis told her.

“Most certaintly, sir. I’ll get on it right away,” the girl smiled and winked at him. She then left and headed for the kitchen to place the order.

Reis studied the tavern, and the people in it. All manner of assorted people lounged in the rowdy tavern. Barmaids darted around delivering food and drink, and musicians played their instruments at a corner of the tavern. Reis could spot a few people of the other races too – a trio of dwarven warriors by the look of their arms and armour ate and drank heartily at a table; and a duo of a gnome – and what Reis has thought to be a young girl turned out to be an elf after he saw her pointy ears – at another table. She sat with her back facing Reis, and spoke with the gnome in hushed tones by the look of it. At another corner of the tavern, Reis almost missed the figure of a cloaked man, or humanoid, who sat at a small table. He had the hood of his cloak on, concealing his face in shadow. Reis sensed that he was not quite human, and was assured so as he saw his silvery eyes – akin to the elves – faintly glowed. The elf sat against the wall, puffing faint wisps of smoke from his long pipe.

The barmaid reappeared and slightly startled Reis. She smiled and placed a tray on the table. She took a deep bowl of steaming stew, a platter of assorted spiced bread and cheeses, and a pewter pint of frothy ale from the tray and placed them in front of Reis.

“I’ll have more coming if you want to,” she told him. Reis smiled and nodded at her. After the barmaid had left, Reis took the pint and relished the cold touch it gave, and wondered how they have chilled the ale so. After a long gulp of the refreshing ale, Reis spooned the beef stew. He broke some bread, spread some cheese on it, and ate with utmost pleasure of not having to hunt for his food, nor chew on the trail rations. As he was polishing off the last morsels from his beef stew, the barmaid came to his table with a tray, and from it she placed a steaming plate of sliced roast lamb that swam in thick gravy in front of him, trading it with his empty stew bowl.

“I hope there’s still room in your belly, sir. I have asked this to be made especially for you,” she told him. Reis laughed softly.
“Well of course, miss. You have my utmost thanks, my dear,” Reis told her.

She also had refilled his pint from a pewter flask on the tray. The aroma of the dish was overwhelming, and Reis ate with renewed vigour. Soon, he sat there on the table with his stomach happily filled. The barmaid came to him and offered another refill. Reis politely declined.

“I’m too full up, miss. The food was exellent,” Reis told her. She flashed her captivating smile again and chided, “Well, of course, kind sir. You did request me to make the recommendations on your indulgence.”
“Most true. And you really know how to indulge a man,” Reis said
“It’s my job, sir. After all, customers’ satisfaction is my aim,”
“Let me see; excellent food, excellent ale, excellent service, yes. I must say that I’m quite satisfied,” Reis was being snide. The barmaid shifted her weight on one hip, enjoying it.
“Quite, sir?” she asked. “Is there something amiss?”
“Well, I haven’t had the pleasure of an excellent company, have I?” Reis shifted in his seat, reclining back. “I’ve been travelling alone and I intent to stay a couple of nights in this town. I missed the companionship, and even the idle chatter. It would and most certainly would be my pleasure to have a companion, and it would be my very good honour if I could have you to accompany me,” Reis said to her.


* * * *

Reis woke up with a fresh start on the plush bed. Rianna lay asleep still in his arm, her head on his chest. Her brunette hair fanned on his chest, and she was smiling even when she slept, stirring gently to his touch. After having his dinner last night, Reis went to the barkeeper and paid for the food, and arranged for his lodging. The inn was the second floor of The Rumbling Din, and though it was quite spartan, the inn was comfortable enough for weary travellers to lay their tired backs on something other than the hard ground. Reis took a long hot bath, and soon welcomed the warm, soft bed and the warm, soft body when the barmaid had joined him in it.

Reis had planned to spend the day preparing his gears to continue the journey tomorrow. He would need to restock his rations for the ride to Nadaran, and other necessary amendments. He was supposed to be a knight errant, and he needed to prove himself worthy to return to his brethren knights. His path to become a paladin is hard, but his will and determination was even harder. But, for now, something else was also hard, and Reis pulled back the covers over them.