Interlude (3)

After what had felt like an eternity, but was in truth only just over half a month, Aki and Sara had found a settlement.

However the safety it provided also raised numerous questions.

The first, for Aki, began with language.

They had certainly not expected people in some strange town to speak the same language as them, and in fact they did not. However they did seem to speak a derivation of German, which thankfully Aki was at least passingly familiar enough with to have childishly simple conversations.

After that came the question of media.

During the first evening while exploring the town of Black Iron Aki had seen a book bearing the title of a Shakespearean play—Macbeth, which had never been their favourite—and after a quick peruse was indeed a near identical plot.

They wanted to try and figure out who might have written it but the shopkeeper chased them off once they realized Aki had no intention to pay.

And finally were the religious symbols. A cross hanging the stained glass window of a small church, and around the neck of the occasional villager led them to wonder whether it was a mere coincidence or something more. They would have to attend a sermon to learn more.

“Danke,” they said while dropping a couple of grey coins into the hand of the short, bearded merchant Aki had been buying food from. According to the language of the world the man was a Dvargr, all the standard qualities of a dwarf from a role playing game only his skin was a light grey and he had a bridge of freckles across the nose that were protruding bits of rock.

Wherever they had arrived was a land with multiple races, and though there seemed to be mild prejudices there seemed to be less tension in the town than other places Aki had been back in their world.

“Your world sounds like such a fascinating one, my pet. I would like to visit it with you one day.”

The one great downside to making it to the settlement was the heavy reliance Aki had on the abilities given to them, which just meant her voice spoke more often.

“I bet we could cause such beautiful carnage, pet.” Her voice was like silk through Aki’s ear

“We probably could, but I’d rather die than bring you back there. That place is already enough of a nightmare.” Speaking to her aloud had become normal to Aki, it was strange but did not seem to draw the attention of any others.

“You’re no fun, I’ll have to punish you thoroughly tonight when you sleep. Perhaps a dream about Sara?”

“I told you, harlot, keep her name from your mouth and her visage your sadistic fantasies.” The venom in Aki’s tone was real, none of what they had done mattered if the creature infecting them tarnished Sara.

“Oh pet, you will be punished for your insolence, be sure of that.” Her voice was mercifully silent after that.

Pushing the door open to the simple looking two story inn they had been staying at for the past two days.

A dvargr woman with a ponytail of muddy red hair streaked with grey gave them the nod of acknowledgement Aki had come to understand was her version of a greeting. They returned it but before Aki could move to the staircase she spoke, a strange occurrence in its own right.

“Seems you’ve got some visitors,” her voice was low and husky, made rough through years of heavy smoking.

Aki said nothing but moved up the stairs two at a time, throwing open the door at the end of the far left hall, the place that they thought would serve as their haven.

Though the room they had taken was large, the three imposing figures standing within in made it feel infinitely smaller; and the thin, needle-like blade aimed at their neck almost made Aki think they had wandered into the wrong room.

And seated on the bed with a wide, delirious smile was Sara, looking up at Aki with her wide glazed over eyes unaware of the foreboding situation unfolding before them.

“Aki, welcome home. Some friends of yours stopped by.”

“Careful now, Ostara, we are the intruders in this regard and I am sure you can give our friend a semblance of grace?” Seated on the bed was a slender looking individual with handsome but androgynous features. They were draped in incredible finery wearing a sheer ivory suit trimmed with gold and silver and a pale lilac shirt underneath with matching handkerchief. Yet there eyes were the thing that struck Aki near dumb, they were a cold ice blue that was almost white yet in the light streaming in they looked to glitter like silver.

“Of course, Lord Astolfo.” The woman holding the blade snapped Aki back to reality as she sheathed it in a fine ebony scabbard. She was dressed in simplistic looking steel armour, yet the wear in it told Aki it was something that had seen and survived many conflicts. She was a warrior, the very definition of it.

The third figure was older than the others, middle aged with slightly thinning brown hair. He clutched a thick, heavy looking leather tome in his hands; the way he held it made Aki think that it was some kind of holy manuscript.

Looking around Aki cleared their throat and smiled at Sara, “what a pleasant surprise. Would you perhaps make us and our friends some tea, my love? I’ll lay out some snacks for us all to enjoy.”

“Yay! Snacks! Snacks! Snacks!” Sara got up and crossed the room, heading out and down the stairs toward the kitchen where the lady running the inn kept her kettle.

Turning to them an icy stare fell over Aki’s eyes.

“Who are you and what the hell are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same question,” the fancy dressed one named Astolfo said with a smile. “I have it on very good authority that you are not from these lands.”

Aki clicked their tongue against their teeth. That damned old woman, they should not have trusted her.

“Oh do not look so sour, after all I’m here to solve your issue with the girl you love.”

Hope flooded Aki’s eyes and it stung when the fancy little lord chuckled.

“I know how this works, you don’t offer this help without your own motive in mind. Speak plainly.”

Astolfo smiled, and Aki wanted to smack it off his face.

“Very well, I shall. I have come seeking your aid.”

“What for,” though Aki was hesitant if they could help Sara they would sell their very soul.

With a laugh and a bright smile Astolfo replied, “why, to kill these cursed gods of course.”