Chapter Two

Chapter Two: Mira stood in the small inn room, checking her gear for the third time. Everything had its place. Everything had a purpose. Sword — sharpened that morning. Daggers — three, hidden where deliberate hands could find them without thought and unwanted hand would either be lost or get cut. Bow — strung tight. Arrows — thirty-two in the quiver, heads dipped in wolfsbane, hemlock, and garlic, she always had one garlic. Her fingers ran over the small pouch tied to her belt. Runes. She counted them silently. One missing rune could mean death if the situation gets hairy. She exhaled slowly. Ten years. Ten long years since that night. The memory sat behind her eyes like a wound that refused to close. A cattle brand on her very soul. The anger corrupted her. She muttered to herself as she packed. “Fucking monsters… all of them… all of them will pay”. Her jaw tightened. “Every last one.” She shoved the last of her belongings into a leather pack. Clothing barely mattered anymore. She wore what she needed for travel and battle: a hardened leather jerkin over titanite chainmail that rested cold against her skin. The rest of her things stayed behind. They would be back. They always came back to somewhere, for now. She took one final look around the room. Nothing forgotten that isnt a necessity. Good. Mira lifted the heavy iron key from the table, stepped outside, and locked the door behind her. 

Scene 2 – The inn looked different in daylight. When they arrived just a week ago it had been dark and quiet. Just another place to sleep after hunting. Now sunlight poured through the windows and illuminated the interior. White painted walls reflected the light warmly. Black window sills framed the view of the town beyond. The hearth fire burned brightly against the cool spring air. It was one of the nicer inns they had stayed in. Too nice for hunters like them. It was also clearly the barkeep’s home. Children’s voices echoed faintly somewhere deeper in the building. They welcomed Elias and Mira with open arms. They even invited the hunters to the families meals. The barkeep himself was currently nowhere to be seen, probably splitting firewood. There was a distant chopping sound carried on the wind through the window. Mira stepped behind the bar and placed something on the counter. A folded note and an onyx coin. The note was simple. "Thank you for your hospitality. Please keep our rooms. We will return within a fortnight". She hesitated only a moment before turning and walking out. 

Scene 3 – The Market: The town was alive and well.They had stayed here nearly a week, but Mira had barely seen any of it. Crowds filled the streets. The river road led toward the market near the granary, and the smell of fresh food drifted through the air. Fish stalls lined one side of the road. Vendors shouted prices over barrels filled with river catch. Beyond them were tables stacked with different fruits and vegetables, bread, cloth, and an array tools. Some traveling merchants had erected temporary stalls with colorful canvas roofs. Animal vendors shouted over the noise. "Want to by a goat, eh?" one vendor chimed in a very rehearsed voice. His eastern accent did nothing to convince Mira a goat would be worth the trouble. The town was wealthy. Prosperous. Peaceful. Too peaceful. Mira had a sense of unease as she moved through the crowd with practiced ease, ignoring much the noise. Elias would be here. He always found the markets. He loved talking to the people and Mira loved that trait of his. Sure enough, she spotted him near the butcher’s stall haggling over something she couldnt quite make out. 

Scene 4 – Elias the Negotiator: Mira approached the stall. Elias leaned casually against the counter, laughing with the butcher. A sack of dried salted beef sat between them. The butcher crossed his thick arms stubbornly and gave Elias a look that very clearly communicated "Not today little boy". Elias grinned wider. The tension between them was obvious. Elias always did this. He pushed for a lower price even when he didn’t need to. Its a game to him. Eventually he tossed a few coins onto the counter. The butcher looked down at them and snorted. “You just paid the full price anyway, why haggle?" Elias shrugged loosely. “Worth a try. Remember me when I get back, friend”. "I dare say, it will be difficult to forget Elias the great piss taker" the butcher chortled. They smiled warmly at one another and shook hands and Elias picked up the sack of beef. He had already gathered fruit and sugarloaf bread as well. Enough food for several days not including hunting rabbit. When he turned, he saw Mira and her usual scowl. His grin widened immediately. “Well, well, look who finally joined the living.” She didn’t smile, just questioned, “Where’s the donkey?”. Elias chuckled. “Oh, you mean Mira Junior?” She stopped walking. “Why would you name a donkey that?” “Because you’re both stubborn, mean, and secretly love bread. Actually, that last one isn't a secret, is it?” For a moment Mira almost smiled. Almost. Elias noticed, he always notices. She scowled again immediately after. “Where is the donkey?”, she repeated. “Oh, she's by the granary up the road. Im sure you passed her on the way" Elias gestured up the road mira had just walked down. 

 

Scene 5 – Mira Junior: The donkey stood calmly at the hitch near the granary. Elias stroked the animal’s neck affectionately. “See? She likes me better already.” Mira ignored him and began loading their supplies. They worked quickly but gentle enough not to agitate Mira Junior. Neither of them liked overloading animals. So most of the weight went into two small sacks they would carry themselves. Elias wiped his hands. “I did hear a few things about North Hollow.” Mira glanced up. “Go on.” “Problem is, none of it agrees.” He counted on his fingers.“Some say wolves. Some say spirits. One man swore it was witches.” “And?” Elias shrugged.“I also heard something else.”Mira waited. “Ghouls on the road.” She frowned. “Ghouls are rare.” “Exactly.” He shrugged again. “Probably nonsense.” Still, Mira adjusted the grip on her sword. Just in case. “There’s a small village on the way,” Elias continued. “We stop there. Get better information. We cant stay though,  there is no Inn.” She nodded. Plan first. Hunt second. They began walking. 

Scene 6 – The Mask: They had nearly left town when children ran toward them. Three of them. Dirty-faced. Breathless. “Travellers!” one shouted. “We found something!” They held up an object wrapped in cloth. “Washed up by the river!” Elias knelt and examined it. A wooden mask, yet the craftsmanship made it look stone work. Dark. Almost black. Moss clung to the edges. Strange carvings lined the inside. Sigils. Old ones, ones Elias or Mira were unfamiliar with. The wood looked burned. Like it had been cut from a tree used in sacrifice. Elias frowned.“How much?” The children together, “Silver coin!”. Elias laughed. “For a piece of driftwood? I’ll give you two copper and that's generous.” The children crossed their arms in protest.“Silver!” they exclaimed. Elias smiled, rolled his eyes skyward and glanced at Mira. Her eyes were fixed on the mask. Something about it clearly bothered her. He sighed, "Fine.” He handed them a silver coin each. Their eyes widened but in their excitement they grabbed the coins and bolted away—taking the mask with them. "Shit!", Mira cursed loudly. Elias jumped up. “Hey! Get back here.” A town guard hear the ruckus and stepped into the road and stopped the children. “What’s going on here?” his deep, thick voice scared the children. The children panicked. “We didn’t steal!” Mira strode forward, snatched the mask back, and held it up. “We paid.”The guard studied the mask. His jovial yet stern expression slowly changed. Unease. Then something close to fear. “That thing… is bad luck,” he muttered. He handed it back carefully. “You should take it out of town.”Mira nodded.“Thank you. Gladly.”

Scene 7 – Leaving Town: She returned to Elias and Mira Junior.Neither of them spoke for a moment.The mask hung from Mira’s belt now. They began walking the road north. Behind them the town slowly looked smaller and smaller until, it was gone from sight completely. Another journey. Another hunt. Another step away from the night that shaped them. And toward something far worse.