Dead man running
Hello everyone, out there on Minds. Animeman73 is here again. And I have another fantastic vignette for you.
It’s day 18 of Inessa Burnell’s #IBASwordtember challenge. And the word/subject is: Jagged.
There’s all sorts of potential with this one. Let me show you what I created.
Evening at the Mountain Wanderer Inn was a lively one. Many from the nearby village of Kasawig were there drinking, talking, and laughing away the end of the day.
Innkeeper Anya Barnovich and her underling Bruno Martic were busy serving the guests. “Here’s the Mountain boar steak you ordered.” She said to one of the local woodsmen.
“Thanks Anya, you’re great as always.” He responded in anticipation.
The young woman who owned the inn smiled as she handed him the meal and went back to the counter. We don't have anyone staying here yet. But at least the food stores are making us good money, she thought.
Mischa, the inn's bard, came out with her drum and began to play on it. The men turned to the young blonde woman and smiled as they listened.
Since I came here to these mountains, I've had some good luck with the locals. Anya observed grateful for all she had now.
Bruno came over to the counter. “That’s the last of the meals Anya.”
“Bored Bruno?” She asked in a half-amused tone.
The man nodded. “Aye, but better bored in these mountains then running for our lives back in the Versdann Empire.”
A sour expression crossed the woman’s face. “Damn that brat Emperor Tierman! Try and violate me, will he? Hmph, I hope his once pretty face enjoys the scars I left.”
Bruno snorted out a laugh. “There’s the warrior woman I knew as a friend.”
“And you still have the subtle moves of a Royal Jewel,” she noted.
The man’s face soured. “The Jewels are dead to me now, in more ways than one.” He growled.
A pounding on the door to the Inn halted any further conversation, before it got flung open.
The cold winds of the Veskell mountains and droplets of snow blew in. Standing in the doorway was a man dressed in a thick hooded fur cloak and boots.
Anya couldn’t see much detail of the man’s face. But the man’s stance and the way he seemed to be looking around indicated this was no mere traveler
The man walked in and shut the door. This allowed the heat from the inn fire pit to cancel out the cold of the mountain air and snow. The people went back to their talking as Mischa began to play her drum again.
Anya walked up to the man. “Welcome to the Mountain Wanderer Inn. May I be of some help to you sir?” she asked in a pleasant tone.
“Do you have any vacancies available?” He asked, keeping his voice low enough so she couldn't recognize it.
Whatever she’d been expecting it hadn’t been that. But Anya recovered herself. “Aye, we have a room available. 3 gold coins a night. Payment for the first night up front,” she stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
The man answered, “That’s fine, I’ll be staying here for a bit say a week or two depending.”
Anya asked, “Will it only be you then?”
The man stared into her eyes. “Only myself, and no questions asked,” He snapped.
A normal person would’ve feared the intense blue eyes that stared at her. But Anya could hold her own as she flashed a sweet smile. “What is it some kind of local trouble?”
The man looked surprised at her then he pulled the cloak away. Anya’s eyes widened at what she saw.
That serrated blade, that’s one of the swords usually carried by one of the Mountain Lords of this region. Either this guy has slain one and is on the run. Or, this guy was one and has gotten into some kind of trouble with his clan.
“So, you see no questions asked, if you know what’s good for you.”
The woman glared back at him and smirked. “Best be careful what you demand of me stranger, I’m more than I seem. I’m quite good with swords myself.”
Moving to her dress she pulled open a secret pocket in it. The hooded man saw the Versdann steel longsword there.
“What's one of the Versdann Iron Legion doing all the way out here in this mountainous region?”
Her response was, “The Empire and I have had a falling out, and I’ll leave it at that. So, we have an agreement, am I right Dead Man running?”
The man nodded his understanding. “It seems I’m not the only one with secrets. Very well, it's settled then.”
He handed her the money and she turned and headed back over to Bruno. She whispered to him, “Keep your blades sharp my friend. Our quiet life is about to come to an abrupt end.”
Bruno shrugged and answered. “Oh well, nothing lasts forever.”