Chapter Four.

Well that didn’t take long. Clear of the guards (for now) Leigh led us down a convoluted path of alleyways and side-streets until we reached a part of town I could charitably describe as “disreputable”. Buildings kept the same architectural style but no tramways or bronze trim here, though many buildings still looked new-ish— if a little poorly maintained. The streets had gone from perfectly aligned paving stones to “good enough” cobblestone that looked like it had been laid out in a hurry, which made it super uneven and full of potholes. It would have been a nightmare to drive a car down these streets, and I felt sorry for the people who had to drive something like a wagon here.

Speaking of people, there were none. Not a single soul wandered the streets except for us. I would have thought we were wandering a ghost town if it weren’t for everyone I’d seen earlier, but every house we passed had their doors barred and shutters locked up tight. A few small businesses had enchanted runes glowing on their doors that gave off a harsh, red light. After a few streets of this, I couldn’t help but ask Leigh about it.

“Where is everyone?”

“Kid, you set off the Calamity Ward.” He looked at me incredulously. “If they have any kind of survival instinct, they’re in their basements praying for salvation and trying to protect their families. Most of them probably think they’re about to die horribly, especially with the surge mucking everything up lately. I meant it when I said whatever you did was terrifying.”

We fell back into silence after that and kept walking. I couldn’t help feeling guilty now as the full ramifications of what I’d almost done hit me like a truck. There had been no hesitation from me, the moment I’d thought the gods were going back on their word to leave me alone, I’d gone straight for the nuclear option. If Leigh hadn’t managed to talk me down, this city would be gone.

And everyone in it would be dead.

Yeah my first impression of Delmoth hadn’t been exactly great with the whole ‘angry mob’ thing, but that didn’t mean I wanted to kill everyone. I thought of all the faces I’d seen earlier, people walking around living their lives normally, and then imagined them all cowering in fear as my Anathema ate the horizon. Or even how they all felt right now because of my actions, and a pit opened up in my stomach as I realized that I’d made all these people so afraid. The feeling was… awful, and the weight it left on my conscience made my steps heavy as we walked.

Am I really that far gone? I thought I was done being a monster…

I couldn’t afford to let the gods walk all over me or use me like the last time, but did I really want to go this far? Unsettling possibilities swirled around in my head, and before I knew it we’d reached our destination— at least judging by how Leigh puffed up and sighed contentedly. I couldn’t help but give him a flat stare at the discovery of his idea of a ‘safe haven’.

It was a bar. A seedy bar, in a bad part of town. The two-story structure seemed mostly sound and in better repair than many of the buildings nearby, but mysterious stains covered the ground outside the exits and quite a few pieces of the place looked suspiciously newer than the rest. While I would like to assume it was just creative remodeling, the uncoordinated patchwork of repairs was much more likely battle damage. A sign painted with bright blue letters read “Joan’s” above the saloon style double-doors.

“Really dude? This is where we were going?”

He gave me an affronted look.

“And what’s wrong with it??”

I gestured broadly around us before grating out with a harsh whisper.

“Really? The only reason we haven’t been stabbed, mugged, and had our bodies dumped in a ditch is because everyone else is hiding for their lives. I’ve never even been to this city before and I can tell that!”

Leigh scoffed and brushed my concerns aside with a wave of his hand.

“Pff, it isn’t that bad. This is a charming place!”

“There’s blood on the doorstep, and I see drag marks over to that alley.”

“Just a little rough-and-tumble character is all, you’ll see. Plus the owner owes me a favor and our only other option is to sleep in the aforementioned alley, where we will get that stabbing you’re after.” He grinned at me irritatingly before marching his way towards the entrance.

Glaring after him, I had to forcibly remind myself of the fruitless hours I’d spent trying to get help today— just to keep me from taking off right then and there.

I knew I’d regret this. Screw it.

Walking after him, I watched him push his way through the saloon doors grandly and shout with a sing-song voice.

“Oh Jooa-an!”

He disappeared inside, and I felt suddenly anxious about actually going in the place. Not because I was scared for my life or anything for once, but… I’d never actually been in a bar before. I’d seen movies and tv obviously, but I found myself with a sudden urge to search the internet for ‘bar etiquette’, and started frantically running through various tropes I remembered— trying to figure out how I was supposed to act.

Leigh peeked his head back out the door.

“Hey kid! You coming? It’s really not that bad…” He trailed off as he looked at me with a slight frown. “I didn’t think it’d be this much of a hangup for you. My apologies, I am here to guide you at your discretion, so if you’re seriously against this then we can—”

“No! It’s not… I’ve just never, ah…” I cut in, tongue-tying myself.

Leigh looked at me uncomprehendingly for a moment before his features lit up like I’d just given him some priceless treasure.

“A first-timer! This changes things.” Dashing forward, he hooked my arm with his like we were best friends and dragged me to the doors. “You, my young friend, are about to experience the wonders of fine ale and even finer company!”

We practically charged through the doors and I panicked for a split second, wondering if I was about to be confronted by a room full of people, but when I looked around the bar was completely empty.

"Joan! You’ll never guess what I’ve brought to your establishment today!” Leigh shouted happily as he hustled me towards a worn wooden bar counter.

“It had better be your tab, you sodden peacock!” A woman’s voice came from a back room somewhere.

“Even better my dear! This young man has never patroned a tavern before. Would you truly charge us coin in these circumstances, when the end lurks so near? These could well be the last drinks of our lives!” Leigh announced dramatically. I had to do a double-take as I watched him try to shmooze free drinks while knowing there wasn’t actually any danger. The thud of angry footsteps announced the approach of the bar’s owner, and I found myself trying to edge my way behind Leigh in preparation to escape.

A middle aged woman stormed her way out of an open doorway behind the bar counter. Her brown hair was just starting to grey and done up in a tight, no-nonsense bun. She was tall and surprisingly muscled, though she definitely had a cook’s extra weight softening her features. A modest beige dress hung off her shoulders with a lightly-stained white apron tied around her neck. Her face was marked with smile lines and would have been pretty, if it wasn’t currently locked in a scowl at my supposed guide.

“It’ll take more than a Calamity for me to serve you free ale, Leigh Corman! You'll get the rite and not a single mark more until you've settled up— in full." Beckoning sharply, she held up her open palm to Leigh. Grumbling quietly under his breath, he reached into his robes and pulled out a few purple-grey stone coins before handing them to her. I had to stop myself from twitching as I recognized Achoran wardstone, and I couldn’t help but wonder how that came to be the standard of currency.

I suppose wardstone is nearly indestructible… would definitely make it difficult to counterfeit or shave off coins…

The only example I had of someone on the surface actually working with wardstone was Veris’ wife Adelaine, who’d mentioned briefly that it was ruinously expensive to use. I’d only been on the surface for a little bit, but the lack of any non-Achoran wardstone buildings seemed to confirm this.

The woman— Joan, I assumed— smirked at Leigh for a moment before rounding on me with a squint.

“Hmm… and what exactly are you doing with this layabout?”

I looked back and forth between the two uncertainly and fought down the urge to run back outside.

Get a grip, Ray! You averted the apocalypse already, you can handle some social interaction.

Joan’s glare softened a bit. “Nevermind that, lad. I suppose it’s no fault of your own to run afoul of Leigh’s ilk. Let’s get you settled with some food in you and we’ll talk more after, alright?”

I let myself be bustled over to a table by the wall and sat down on a simple bench. She shushed me when I tried to tell her I didn’t have any money, and any other protests were similarly dismissed until I settled in and resigned myself to being mothered. It was… honestly really nice. This was the first time in months I’d been around someone normal, who was just helping me out in a basic way. I almost cried when she brought out a bowl of steaming hot soup, full of meat and vegetables that I didn’t care what came from because it smelled amazing. My concerns about my diet evaporated as I tasted my first hot meal since all the way back in Veris’ cavern.

Joan smiled at me with amusement as I struggled not to scarf down the whole bowl. “There’s plenty more where that came from lad, I’m not expecting much business for the rest of the day with the Ward going off and I already made a full kettle this morning. It’s likely to go to waste now and even if it weren’t, the rite covers your meal. Eat your fill and just let me know if you need anything. Leigh, a word?” She jerked her head towards the doorway behind the bar and the two of them stepped out while I felt another pang of guilt over ruining this woman’s business for the day. That said, I was still suspicious as hell of Leigh right now; so I carefully extended a tendril of my aura towards the doorway so I could listen in on their conversation. It took a moment for me to make sense of the sounds and filter things out, but words quickly started filtering through.

“—ve you gotten yourself mixed up in this time? I swear if you’ve brought another noble-born runaway under my roof I’ll tan your hide over my knee like the overgrown child you are.” Came Joan’s harsh whisper.

“Don’t threaten me with a good time my dear, and that was only once with the nobles.” Leigh scoffed. “What makes you think he’s of the Peerage? I’d think he could pass from further down based on his clothes.”

“Maybe those preening idiots on Lineway would think that but if he’s from the riverside, then I’m the Tyrant. Clothes or no he’s much too clean and he holds himself too well— despite flinching at every sound like a spooked deer. The boy looks near twenty and he’s never been in a tavern? He’s not from the riverside.” Joan replied skeptically.

Leigh paused to digest this.

“Fair, one of your boys would rather die than admit never being in a tavern by his age.”

Hey! It’s not my fault I was never a delinquent in high school, my world has laws!

My disgruntlement went unobserved by the pair and Leigh kept talking.

“Speaking of your boys, how’s Rob?”

“Don’t you try to shift subjects on me, we’re not done yet.” Joan hesitated for a moment. “He’s doing well. Got himself a nice apprenticeship now closer to Lineway and keeps trying to get me to move up with him, but I’ll never abandon this place. I’ve been ‘Mama Jo’ for too many years, the other boys would be lost without me.”

“Ah, there’s that big heart of yours I adore so much!” Leigh quipped.

“Never happening pretty-boy, I like my men with some meat on their bones. Someone who could bring down a cask from the shelf without drinking half of it first.” She shot right back.

“Alas, rejected once again.”

I could hear the smile in Leigh’s voice and abruptly felt bad for eavesdropping. Cutting my aura, I focused on eating more soup before it got cold.

After a few minutes, Leigh came sauntering out with a couple of large mugs that he filled up at a cask on the bar while Joan refilled my soup and set out a bowl for him across from me. Plunking down on the bench, he pushed one of the mugs over to me with a wide grin. I stared hesitantly at the dark brown liquid inside, covered in a thin layer of froth and a strong smell.

“Well? Drink up, Ray! This one’s on the house.” He said with an enthusiastic nod to Joan, who rolled her eyes and walked back behind the bar to clean.

I wonder what the history there is… Well, I’d better get this over with.

Grabbing the mug with one hand, I steeled myself mentally before tilting my head back and taking a huge quaff— and promptly choking on the bitter brew. Leigh roared with laughter at my scrunched up face and watering eyes.

“It’s good stuff, isn’t it?” He said, still chuckling.

Joan stepped over to hand me a towel, and even she looked like she was struggling to keep down a smile. Leigh took a big chug while I was getting cleaned up before relaxing back into his seat with a sigh.

“Ahh… the good stuff indeed.” He started to dig in to his soup, and after I’d finished wiping spilled ale off my face (to the apparent amusement of all) I couldn’t help but ask a quick question.

“What’s ‘the rite’ you guys were talking about?”

Leigh gave me an incredulous look for a moment before it cleared up.

“Oh right, you’re new. Well then, that’s easy enough to explain.” He straightened up in his seat before adopting a storytelling tone. “The priests of Erranos are each called to wander the world, following the paths laid out to us in order to guide those in need. The Call can be as subtle as a feeling to take the left fork in a road, or—as in your case— a divine message directly from above. In any case, the wandering nature of our priesthood makes for some logistical problems. Any large organization needs to have some kind of local headquarters in order to operate efficiently, but between the Call and Erranos’ unwillingness to share our duties with another temple, none were sure what to do. The solution that we eventually came up with was inspired, if I may say. The priesthood was already welcome in taverns, inns and hostels the world over thanks to our propensity to direct business their way, with many putting us up for free. So the high priests of Erranos approached the Innkeeper’s Guild with an offer.”

Leigh spread his hands and gave a knowing smile. “We would consecrate every building in the guild as a part of their accreditation process, making the various taverns under their umbrella into temples of Erranos. This increases their legitimacy in the eyes of the people, and a ‘blessed’ tavern or inn is regarded as a mark of quality. In return, the priests would be allowed free room and board for themselves and their charges at these locations, with each now able to function as a temporary headquarters for my wandering brethren. The formerly unofficial practice became codified into guild rules as, ‘the Rite of Erranos’, or more commonly just, ‘the Rite’ and thus—” He raised up a mug with one hand before calling out.

“From mountain’s top to sunless sea,

From deepest stone to arbor’s free,

If you raise a cup in company,

In the halls of Erranos, there you be.”

Leigh took a big gulp as he finished, polishing off his mug before thudding it down onto the table while— to my surprise— Joan did the same at the counter. “The rhyme’s a bit of a simplification, but the spirit is there.” He said happily.

I nodded in understanding.

I guess that all makes sense, and now I don’t feel so bad for not paying if it’s all covered as part of ‘the rite’.

“Excellent. Now, with the necessities out of the way, we have plans to make!” Leigh announced dramatically. I arched an eyebrow at his sudden enthusiasm, but he soldiered on regardless. “First, I would like to make certain of our ultimate goal. You do wish to meet with Lord Haethram of Terland, yes?”

I nodded once, and he continued.

“Very well. In order to do this, we must accomplish a number of intermediary goals. First, and I say this with the greatest respect, you look like a beggar. We must acquire you some appropriate clothing.”

“He can have some of my boy’s old clothes.” Joan cut in with a measuring look at me. “Rob’s a good bit bigger than you now, but some of his older things should fit right enough. I’ll fetch them in a moment— though I have’ta warn you, my Rob was a bit… troubled, when he was your age. Not very fond of the brighter colors, you see.”

After I indicated this was totally fine— because honestly anything would be better than what I had now— she left to go dig out the clothes from her storage. Leigh just shrugged as she walked away.

“Off to a good start it seems. This bodes well for the rest of our journey! Not even started yet and already meeting our goals.”

At least he’s optimistic? I thought to myself.

“Our second objective will be to acquire funding, for as much as I would like to say that I can finance our entire way there, the last of my coin just purchased access to the ale we are now drinking. A necessary expense to be sure, though it does leave us in a bit of a bind.” He said seriously.

Really dude?? You just spent the last of your money on booze as a ‘necessary’ expense??

Ignoring my exasperated look, Leigh brought up our next goal.

“And finally, transportation. As I said earlier the airships are out. No captain with a functioning brain will take off with the surge burning out all enchantments left and right. Things go wrong on the ground and we have to stop for a bit to repair; things go wrong at three kilometers up and we all die horribly. Terland station is out—” He paused at my curious look. “Right, you wouldn’t know that. The old Storm Lords that called the area home during the reign of the Achorai were an isolationist bunch and as such, only had one Way-Line going into their lands. This was fine for a time, but the adjoining station that connects to them is now in the area that fell to the Calamity of the Silent Kingdoms, and most who go through that place are never heard from again.”

Ok yeah, no more information needed— avoid creepy death-kingdom. I’ve got enough nightmare material, thanks.

“With the two fastest options out— and I’m ruling out walking as well, because neither of us have half a year to waste— that leaves a caravan as our only real option. With any luck we would arrive in Terland after two or three weeks’ travel. We might even be able to kill two birds with one stone this way, although that depends on factors too far beyond my control to truly count on. Is this acceptable to you?” Leigh finished politely.

It’s not like I’ve really got much choice, is it?

Nodding my assent made Leigh break out into another grin.

“Excellent. I’ll take us over to the caravan masters tomorrow and we’ll base our next steps on what we find there.” He grabbed my (still mostly full) mug, pouring half what was left into his own mug before handing mine back. Leigh lifted his arm up, eyeing me until I copied his gesture and we made a toast.

“To the success of our coming journey! May Erranos guide our steps.”

Our mugs *cracked* together, and I held in a grimace as I drank more of the bitter ale. Excitement bubbled up in me despite everything and I couldn’t help matching Leigh’s grin, though my stomach was roiling with anxiety (and maybe the bitter ale) at the unknown road ahead. My mixed feelings couldn’t dim the spark of hope that lit in my chest though, as I thought of tomorrow and the new world I would be exploring on the way to find Veris.

This feels like a real adventure…