Return; or, Can you Truly Take a Break from Adventuring?
AN: Tila’s story continues…
Tila’s feet march on over the gravel, but soon she moves to the grass and removes her boots. She is about two hours from the coast, the Cozy Cottages, and a nice meal. Her feet hurt and swell from the heat overhead but she laughs as the grass wiggles between her toes. This is the most fun she has allowed herself in years, since before her training at least, or since she was a child.
No violence, no noise, no distractions. Tila takes a moment to think. Just thinking; nothing passes through her mind but then a whiff of flowers hammers her senses and she is taken in a dream of comfort.
Tila dreams of rest, maybe she could convince a tavern maid to rub her sore shoulders and feet.
She hopes the coast is quiet. She knows it is an impossibility, her being the only adventurer this side of the continent, but she sighs the worry away and continues walking.
“I should’ve taken my horse, suppose it’s too late to turn back, with the exit I made,” Tila whispers aloud as she adjusts her bag again. A bird’s shadow catches her eye and she squints at the wing span and colouring. Her training tells her it is a sparrow, or finch, in flight for food, not a threat. The sun peaks its light through the trees every step, the golden rays illuminating the wood and path, including the prostrated corpse.
Her eyes jump to the sparrow in accusation. Tila contemplates stepping over the body, before guilt sets in. “I am only going to take a look and pass the information on, no harm in not investigating. Without my armour I probably look like a civilian anyways.” She did not, the bulk of her arms could place her as a blacksmith but her stance gives too much away. Her body rigid, despite the languidness of her walk, and feet walking in a march rather than a gait.
The body is new, the rigor mortis in early stages, and still holds a rosiness in the cheeks. Tila places her bag a few feet away and flips the body over. The body reveals a trial of organs slipping from the stroke of a sword or spear at close range. The killer, human.
Human killing is harder to ignore; Tila is surrounded by people, say 200, and half or more would be killers. The news was heavy in her initial years and it confirmed how quickly one can be acclimatized through exposure. Adventurer’s are taught to evaluate each scenario individually, but Tila couldn’t hold back her anger when she finally found the murderers.
Perhaps her family history led to this rage or simply existing in a system where it was so easy to get away with it.
“No. I am on vacation.” She bends to close the lids and apologies as she shoulders the body, lest a creature catch wind of the fresh body, “I will carry your body to the Kettle Coast, but I cannot help you.”
The journey continues uneventfully with a growing sense of urgency.
Tila crosses the town gate and the wind hits her with salt and ash; the heavy sprays of the high tide and cooking spit sparks. A few steps past the gate stands two large towers meant for night watch. Two guards are stationed and notice the body first. They shout warnings and meet her halfway.
“Afternoon, I found this on my way here. Please see to it that you investigate a few kilometres east.” Tila is ushered to the chief’s house placing the body, or Geri Hoults, on the long table as Tila recounts finding her.
“She’s the healer, was the healer, and aided–”
“Please, I just found her and if you don’t mind I am on my way to the inn,” Tila cuts him off; she knew after these descriptions came a call-to-arms.
The chief is surprised but concedes, “Of course.”
Tila knew the look in his eye and they would definitely try again in the morning to rally her. She sighs out feelings of obligation and, easily, leaves the house. She feels a little disappointed with herself that not one part of her hesitated. It seems the call of a bath wins out.
Tila notes to feel appropriately disheartened later. Cozy Cottages are scattered like little mushrooms popping up in a field. The cottages were stone, though one could hardly see it with the greenery reaching from the ground to the roofs. The larger building was the tavern and house to the innkeeper.
Tila meets a stern looking woman with wrinkled skin and a string of seashells dangling from her neck. The woman smiles and greets Tila.
“I would like a lovely cottage and a bath, please.”
“A few cottages have a copper bath, closer to the edge of the coast.” The woman indicates them on a simple map. Tila picks the one slightly farther away. “Perfect, I’ll send Ingrid over for the bath.” Coins trickle on the wood counter and the woman hands over a key. Tila smiles and laughs when the key opens the cottage with ease.
The bath turns out to be addicting. Tila bathed, it was a necessity to wash the blood and gore before seeking payment, but she never luxuriated in deep and warm water. She sought out the efficiency of ponds and open water which was both cold and quickly left her body.
It shifts her muscles like melting cheese on bread. Tila wonders what stopped her from taking care of herself all these years; what stopped her from seeing this as a necessity. She felt she could take a mob of creatures and still carry the looseness.
“What else have I missed trying to be quick? I bet there’s better food than cold bread and meat.”
Thoughts flutter around her mind until her head hits the straw pillow, another luxury, and sleep creeps forward. So, for the first time in decades, Tila slept before midnight…though she didn’t sleep long. In all her years adventuring she took naps, never allowing herself any longer than a few hours. Even if the sensation is familiar, she curses her occupation.
Her rest abruptly ends when hands are shaking her awake. “Miss, wake up.”
Her muscles tense once more in alertness and she whines, “No. I just–”
“Miss, follow me. The chief wants to see you.” A girl, Ingrid, stands and gestures with her hand to the firelight outside. Tila groans and struggles on her pants and vest.
Tila is led to the same building she left the body in. Hardness settles in her muscles and her feet as she readies herself. Ingrid leaves her at the door and closes it.
In the main hall stands the chief, the two guards, and the queen. “Oh come on.”
“Again we meet Tila,” the queen greets but a scowl remains. “Vlad told me of your discovery.”
“Yes, I found her on my way in.”
The queen shares a look with the chief. He nods. “I told you.”
Tila tries hard to not scream and cry, just once she would love to be forgotten. Allowed to sleep and bathe as long as she wishes or to disappear without someone seeking her out again. “What is all this about, I was sleeping.”
The chief looks distressed, his first time then, whereas the queen looks irate. “The corpse was placed there for you to find,” the queen informs her.
“Pardon?” Of course it was.
“I sent out guards to investigate the surrounding area when you left, they found nothing. No signs of a struggle or battle or of the body being dragged there. Meaning…” The chief explains.
“Meaning it was killed in the same spot I found it. No one should’ve known I was travelling, as far as they know I stayed in the city.”
The queen shakes her head, “Normally, yes. But the people were shocked and began complaining, and well… some of my people work in the villages surrounding the city.” the queen finishes.
“Selfish.”
“Excuse me?”
“You and your people are selfish. I worked tirelessly for decades without food, shelter, or comfort for weeks seeking out your monsters. I ask for one break and the city riots. I am not the only adventurer on the continent and I’ve made the city as safe as can be; yet you still come here with your anger at me for daring to leave and what? Expect me to jump back into the hunt?”
The queen sits heavily down on the chair provided for her. The chief winces. I open my mouth, trying to beat him to his complaints.
“You never let her rest? Our adventurer takes months away at sea, by direct order.”
“Really?” Tila slowly turns her eyes on the queen. “Then, why have I been working like a mule for you?”
The queen stays quiet. No doubt running through excuses that will appease Tila. The chief continues. “We would love to have you continue your stay here, Adventurer.”
“You will send my things, free of charge, for all the free labour I’ve done. I think I will stay here, but I want to sleep through the night when there is no danger. I’m sure there is more we must discuss but let it keep until the morning.”
The chief shakes Tila’s hand as the queen sputters out “but what about me?”
“You can put out advertisements looking for a new adventurer, until then the guard captain should be able to protect the city. It’s no longer my problem.”
Tila addresses the chief, “I will investigate tomorrow, for now, I’m going to bed.”
And she did. Tila slept through the night into the afternoon before bird calls woke her.
“Now that is a better way to wake.”
