Silver Mane - Part 10

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     The village was unlike the only other one Ana had ever been in. There were shops and street vendor carts full of sweets and breads. Fish that were so fresh they were still breathing. Her eyes were wide as she explored every sight. Kavos walked beside her. He wasn’t silent, but he was more calm than she was about it all. “This place is amazing.” Her words were soft.

     Kavos let his eyes wander as they passed by venders. His ears picking up everything. He might look like a human, but he was still a wolf. “It really is nice. They also seem almost too nice. Perhaps we should stop in the tavern and hear a few rumors.” He started heading to the center of town hoping to be able to identify some sort of local watering hole. Ana followed him, keeping silent and still taking it all in.

     The white wolf seemed to find what he was looking for and he shuffled his way through the crowds. Part of him wished he could just shift and be a wolf, the wolf in him, knew better. This wasn’t the time or the place. At least not until they knew what type of people these were. He opened up the heavy wooden door and darted inside, half pulling Ana in with him.

     The inn was dark still even though it was well past noon outside. There was a small fire burning in the center of the room and either side was flanked with long bench tables. Further back there were a hand full of doors that Kavos could only expect led to sleeping quarters. If anyone had the coin. The last village had something similar but no one he ever met could afford one. He dropped his voice and moved closer to Ana. “Keep your ears open, but don’t ask too many questions.” He nodded at her and ducked over to a table that was filled with men. Some wore leather armor and carried steel at their hip. There was a mage that was lurking in a dark corner of the room but he seemed to pay the wolf-man no mind. Kavos intended to keep it that way. He sat quiet for a few moments.

     Ana had her own agenda. There was a bar maid who was pouring drinks for her servers to run, and was dealing with what seemed to be a displeased patron. The woman seemed to have a handle on the entire place. She walked up and plopped herself onto one of the bar-stools at the counter. Within only a moment the woman swung herself around to take Ana’s order. “What’ll it be miss?” Her tone was pleasant and honest, then again, the day was still fairly early.

     The blond didn’t even waste the woman’s time. “House potatoes and please tell me what’s up with the castle just a few miles up the road?”

     The maid smiled and set down her small pad of paper and leaned in onto the counter top. “Some say the place is haunted, however the lord and lady who live there, well, they’re odd sorts. They run the shipping company that seems to keep this town alive.”

     Ana couldn’t help herself. “Any rumors?” She interrupted.

     The bar maiden smirked and shook her head. “Plenty. Some say they are werewolves.” She laughed at her own statement. “But a few of us know better, there’s no wolves in these parts. Their father hunted them out long ago. What fool would kill out his own kind?” She seemed to laugh again but Ana didn’t find any of this funny. “But either way, as long as your coin is good, this place doesn’t ask any questions. Did you still want those potatoes lass?”

     Ana smiled, that what the tidbit she was waiting to hear. She nodded as her stomach growled at her. She missed human food. “Please.” She placed one of the gold coins that Stela had given her, hoping it was enough.

     “That will get you two more plates and a room for the night if you need.” The maid’s eyes lit up at the sight of the shimmering coin. It had been a rough summer and winter wasn’t normally any kinder to the small northern town.

     Ana was happy to hear that, but she was sure they didn’t need the room. “One plate is just fine. Silence would be kind as well to go with it. Perhaps can I get them in a foil to take with me, there’s a quiet spot in the woods calling my name.” She said with a hint of a grin on her face.

     “My pleasure m’lady.”

Part 11