Interlude (3)

It had taken them just over half a month—though felt like an eternity—but Aki and Sara had finally found refuge in the small settlement of Black Iron.

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, so was not entirely surprise by the fact they did now. What did surprise them, however, was the fact they spoke some derivation of German. And though Aki had a passing familiarity with the language it was only enough to have simple conversations, which would raise questions in time as the land did not seem overly welcome to outsiders.

After language came the question of media.

While exploring the town during the first evening Aki had passed by a book store only to see a book in the window bearing the title of a famous play—Macbeth—and though it was not their favourite of the work it was a near identical plot. The only difference had been the author, no grandiose name that all would remember but a simple ‘Avon’.

They wanted to try and figure out even more 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, the thought of which made both them and the thing inside them shudder.

“Danke,” Aki 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, it had grown increasingly difficult to ignore.

“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 felt 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…her?”

“I told you, harlot, keep her name from your mouth and her visage from your sadistic fantasies.” The venom in Aki’s tone was real.

“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 wattle and daub two story inn they had been staying at for the past two days Aki gave a small nod of acknowledgement to the dvargr woman at the front desk which she returned before returning to the book she’d been reading.

And just before they reached the stairs the woman spoke, a rare occurrence in its own right.

“Seems you’ve got visitors,” her voice was low and husky, made rough through years of heavy smoking. She glanced at him through her mop of muddy-red hair.

Aki said nothing but took the stairs two at a time throwing open the door at the end of the far left hall, the place that they hoped might serve as their temporary haven. How foolish.

Though the room they had taken was of a modest size, the three imposing figures standing within in made it feel infinitely smaller. And as one held the tip of a thin, needle-like blade to Aki’s neck they almost thought it might have been the wrong room, if not for the happy giggle of Sara from within.

Seated on the bed with a wide, delirious smile she looked up at Aki, her eyes seemed almost more glazed over than before, entirely unaware of the situation unfolding.

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

“Careful now, Ostara, we are the intruders in this regard and so I am certain 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 their 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 dressed in simplistic looking plate 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 while punching the air in excitement, 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 devilish 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, it was foolish to 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. So speak plain.”

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 he’d work for the devil himself.

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