Chapter 30

The sound of chopping wood could be heard as I got near the town. From where I was, I could see people cutting trees down at the edge of the forest. I guess things were starting to back to normal then. I didn't want to be seen coming back from deep within the woods, so I went more south until I ran into the river and followed it down to the town. It was still early, so I was scanning for the guards nonstop. Every noise made me jump. They didn't seem like they were searching for anyone last night, but I didn't want to take any chances. The general store was across the road from the Inn, which was on this side of the town, so it was easy to get too. Thankfully, I hadn't seen a single guard here. Maybe they had already left? 

I walked into the general store. It was an organized mess, with shelves full almost to overflowing everywhere, and seemingly sorted in a way that could only be understood by the one who did it. There were people inside, so I started browsing while waiting for them to leave. I had wanted to visit this place anyway at some point, so this was a good opportunity and made me look like a real customer. The shop had a lot of the same stuff as the general store in Ironmarch, but was a bit smaller, yet I think it held more items. Seeing the mess, I wondered if anyone ever got caught stealing from a place like this, where things stuck out everywhere, and it was next to impossible to notice something out of place. Some pieces of metal and leather armor caught my eye. There were multiple of the same metal gloves, one metal boot, a nice pair of gloves in leather, and a metal helmet. All of them had a defect or two when I looked closer. Maybe the smithy in town sold their excess or failures here, or maybe adventurers sold some stuff for that extra bit of coin. They were dirt cheap, too. I considered buying the leather gloves for 3 silver, but that could also buy me food, shelter, and clothing for days. Maybe when I had more excess coin. 

It didn't take long for people to funnel out, and it was just me in there. The lady behind the desk was a slightly chubby feline beastkin. She seemed bored and didn't move from her slouched position over the counter as I approached. I was getting nervous, even though all I had to do was hand over the letter. I didn't even know what it said, yet it could get us all killed? 

I approached the counter.

"Um, I was told to give you this." I held it out.

She snatched it from my hand and looked toward the door. No one was there. While I was looking, too, the letter had disappeared from her hands, hidden somewhere I assumed. 

"Can I help you find something?" She acted like nothing had happened.

"Um, I was wondering if I could get a deal on those leather gloves at the back?"

"You got something to trade?"

I thought about everything I had left in my backpack. It was rather light without the potatoes. Other than the axe, the medallion, knife, and the pack itself, I had nothing. I thought about asking how much the medallion was worth, but Sonia had given it to me and I didn't want to even consider selling it. 

She spoke again. "If you got nothing to trade, then no discount. Anything else?"

For someone that was supposed to be helping those two, she seemed pretty cold. But I guess this was a business first.

 "No, thanks. I was just browsing." 

I left the store. That was strange, and surprisingly easy for how dangerous Katsumi made it sound. But at least it was over. I headed to the market next for my next quest items. They were by far the hardest to acquire. I wasn't mentally or physically prepared for it, and it nearly broke my soul. Apples, pears, and honey. Spending 5 silver on such things was blasphemy. This was obviously a cruel and unusual punishment by Katsumi as revenge. I would have to make her pay for it later. I had 2 silver and 4 copper coins left. Not to mention, I was pretty much out of food at this point. What evil spirit possessed me to become so generous all of a sudden? What happened to becoming more selfish!? While lamenting the return of my status of dirt broke, and heading back toward the forest, I overheard a conversation between two people who were just outside the market.

"-have to worry about that monster anymore."

"Right!? I heard Joseph saw them head out of town on their normal route, then cut to the trees. Who knew the guards had it in them. I thought all they did was walk in circles between the towns, but I guess they grew a spine or something. Do they even know how to fight monsters? Hahaha."

"Haha. Probably not. But with 10 of them? I'm sure they can manage."

"You think? What if it kills them all?"

"If there was something that could kill 9 guards that close to town, I'm pretty sure it would've come down here and cleaned us all out already."

I didn't stick around to hear the rest of the conversation. I sprinted across the town and toward the tree line. As I passed the lumberjacks who were now cutting the trees, a few of them yelled at me to stop, but I ignored them. I tripped over a root and sprawled out onto the dirt, spilling everything from my backpack. I got back up and left most of it, only taking the axe. All I could think about were the images of Lawrence hurting everyone else around me. Even back in the prison when the others would get taken away to be tortured, and I could hear their screams echo from down the halls. Never knowing if I would see them again. I didn't want that to happen again. I was absolutely not going to lose more people. No matter what! I pushed harder. Up hills, through bushes, and fell hard repeatedly due to roots. Finally, I was coming up on the clearing, but I could already hear the sounds of battle and steel clashing. Please no, please no, please no. I grit my teeth, preparing for the site, and leapt into it.