25 Peculiar Pitstop

Felicity was swimming in a mysterious body of water. Moonlight lit her way ahead. The night was peaceful and serene. She swam onward for some time and then floated on her back, kicking gently with backstrokes. Was it a dream? If it was, then it was a pleasant change from her usual nightmares. There was a creek near the farm where she grew up. Felicity would spend hours in the water talking to fish. But the dream was in an unfamiliar place. She heard a splash. Something rose out of the water like a giant arm. Under the moonlight, she saw dark glistening scales. A rancorous and miasmic aura exuded from it. Felicity paddled to her left to avoid the object. But there was another one blocking her way, and many others surfaced to surround her. In no time, the long, slender arms encircled her. They flipped in the air like tentacles. Felicity swam towards land, but other appalling creatures were waiting for her on the embankment—a large bat with shadowy wings and a translucent giant with ten hearts. From below the water surface, fire erupted. They were black flames that turned into tar on touching her. She screamed for help. Felicity woke up with a start. She was on horseback and had drifted off under the cool morning breeze. Tarsus and Damon rode on either side. 'Good morning, my lady," Damon quipped. 'Did you sleep well?" 'I would not say it well," Felicity mumbled. 'How far away are we from Dishwater?" 'It's right ahead." The party had taken leave from the caravan an hour before dawn and had ridden ceaselessly for several hours. It was a tame, pleasant morning. The land on either side was barren. But far off, treelines began before the forests climbed into hilly landscapes. A shapeless building loomed in the distance, in the middle of nowhere. Patrons had stationed horses, carts, and wagons outside. Dishwater Inn did not have a signboard or any board, for that matter. It was a shabby establishment with a dozen rooms for lodging. The structure was made of wood, wattle and daub, and some iron beams at places. It looked weather-beaten and washed. Rooms had been built disproportionately, making it look like a deformed mushroom. The trio and Zoe left their horses with the stable hand. They entered through the main entrance, which was merely a hole in the wall. Inside, the scene was no better. It was a long, narrow room with trestle tables and chairs. There were a few windows, and torches compensated for the poor lighting. Over two dozen people sat drinking and chattering. Damon approached the bar, dropped a bronze coin, and asked for some water. The innkeeper, an old man with an unkempt head and filthy clothes, handed a jug of water. 'Ave, travelers. Welcome to Dishwater Inn. I am Sebastian," he said morbidly. Zoe gulped down the water and then puked it into a basin. 'What is this?" she asked, blanching. 'This is the water you get here, kid," the innkeeper said without looking up from the counter. 'Now we know why the inn is called Dishwater," Damon said, taking a sip from the jug. 'Apologies, son," Sebastian said, looking up, 'we have mines nearby, and they make the underground water taste like that." 'And people drink this?" Tarsus asked 'Our guests prefer ale or wine if they are thirsty. We make it here ourselves," he said, pointing to the dining room, which was merely a dressed-up tavern. 'We'd like two rooms, one for the ladies and one for the men," Damon solicited. 'Alec!" the innkeeper shouted up the stairs. A freckled teenager came running down. 'Yes, Master!" 'Get two rooms ready with hot water and chamber pots for these folks here." 'Yes, Master, right away." The kid stared at the trio, especially at Tarsus, and left. 'Why don't you have some food and drinks while Alec prepares your rooms?" Sebastian suggested. 'What do you have for breakfast?" Tarsus asked. 'Breakfast? We do not have those. There are meals available throughout the day. Our cook catches fish and eels from the ponds. You can get either for five bronze. Rabbits cost extra. Bread, wine, and ale are plenty." 'We'll have the fish, please." 'Ale for two," Damon added. 'And wine for the lady." The group claimed an empty table. 'Can I drink too?" Zoe asked them innocently. 'Not until you come of age," Damon said, laying down the law. Zoe was a twelve-year-old girl. While underage drinking was not considered sinful, only the wealthy and the rogue engaged in it. Another inn worker brought food and drinks to the table. 'Father drinks on weekends, but only a cup," Felicity said, sipping her wine. 'If peasants drink every day, then we won't have grains of stock for the year," Tarsus mumbled with a mouthful of fish. 'I wish I were a peasant," Damon wished, stuffing his mouth with a large slab of fish. 'I yearn for that kind of life." 'Chew your food." Zoe poked him. 'What are you, my mother?" Felicity and Tarsus laughed. A man from the opposite row left his table and approached theirs. It was too dark to see his facial features, but he certainly wasn't young. He had on a leather tunic and had the likes of a fighter. 'Ave! Where are you kids coming from?" the stranger posed. 'What is it to you?" Damon fired back. 'Apologies. Let me introduce myself. I am Hector." 'Pleased to meet you, Hector," Felicity replied. 'Ah, my lady, you are a beauty, if I must say. The adder stone isn't working as well as it should, I assume?" The trio exchanged glances. 'Who are you, and what do you want?" Tarsus mouthed, his fingers bending the metal fork. 'Please, my dears, I mean no harm." 'And we are supposed to believe you?" Damon quipped. 'We come from South suburra," Felicity said. 'Felicity, this man is a stranger. Don't give him our particulars," Damon warned. 'I feel there is truth to his words. He means no harm to us," she said, eyeing the stranger with familiarity. 'Thank you, my lady," Hector said, 'I would like to think that your opinion is based on more than a woman's intuition." Felicity smiled back at him. It was probably not the first time that Hector had met a Muse. Damon and Tarsus backed off. When a Muse offers you an insight on a stranger, it is likely to be accurate. 'I take it you are adventurers, vying for a place in the Labors?" he offered. 'Do not be alarmed," Hector quickly added. 'I merely overheard you speaking of it while you entered the inn." The trio nodded. Zoe was sleepy and was leaning on Felicity. 'Then, will you help an old man with a hard mission?" 'Ideally, we would be inclined to join you," Damon replied. 'However, we are time-bound. You must know aspirants of the Labors have to collect exploits from a score of towns." Hector fished into his tunic and dropped a flat object on the table. Both Tarsus and Felicity stared at it. 'What is it?" Tarsus asked. 'It's a Prefect Badge," Damon pointed out. 'Ah," the old man exclaimed, 'You have met one of us before?" 'No. But I have seen counterfeits in marketplaces." 'What profession were you in before you decided to become an adventurer?" 'I was a trader." 'Ah, but your hands seem to have calluses that come from a fighter's way of living." 'This is not the ideal approach to seeking help, old man." Damon fired at him. The stranger chuckled and took a gulp of his ale. Then Damon remembered something. 'Wait, are you Hector the Perfect Prefect?" 'Ah, you have heard of me." 'You are a legend. But I did not expect you to be old." 'I was young and powerful once and could complete this mission all by myself." 'What is a Prefect?" Felicity interrupted. 'Let me apprise you, my lady. We are agents of the Ascendancy with a mandate from the Titans themselves. The truth is, we spend our days drinking and sleeping. But during times like these, we have an obligation to come forward and intervene." 'He is Hector, the Perfect Prefect," Damon added to the explanation. 'He was a champion in the Labors but chose not to become a god because his candidate wife did not qualify." 'Ah, the days of youth. Unfortunately, Mara is no more, and I must live my remaining days as an insignificant old man." 'What kind of help are you seeking?" Felicity asked. 'Yes, the mission. There have been abductions of children below five from towns nearby. We caught one of the abductors, and he revealed he belonged to a cult worshipping Aera Cura." 'Aera Cura, the Dark Seraph?" 'The very same. We have discovered their hideout in the forests. And several people have gathered from the area, including the kin of the victims. I will lead a raid tonight. If you join me, it will count as an exploit." 'I am glad that we had a chance to meet a Prefect," Tarsus said curtly, 'But we are to reach Petelia tomorrow and begin our first adventure." 'Perhaps your auditor forgot to tell you that a task completed with a Prefect also counts as exploits?" The trio exchanged looks of surprise. The auditor had sent them off early with the basic knowledge about exploits." 'We would still like to forgo this opportunity." Damon completed. 'Very well, my dears. But if you change your mind, let me tell you that the raiders shall gather outside after dinner today." Hector left their table and joined his friends. The group finished their meals and proceeded towards their rooms. On the staircase, they met the kid, Alec. 'Adventurers, please, will you hear my grievance," Alec lisped. 'What is it?" Damon asked. 'Please help him. Old man Hector is powerful but has grown old. My little sister was taken away by the cult. If they fail tonight, all will be in vain. I would like to hope she is still alive." And he sobbed like the child he was. Zoe went over and patted his back. 'They will help you," she said. Looking back at her guardians, she asked with glassy eyes, 'Won't you?" Felicity, at their end, pulled at the tunics of both guys. 'Fine," Tarsus said with a sigh. 'All right," Damon joined him.