= ( MIDGARD ) =

The Ericksons were having a family day out, well family plus one. It was the Fourth of July and the town of Liberal, Kansas was doing its not inconsiderable best to celebrate.

Henry had an arm draped over the shoulders of his wife and they were following the children. They were weaving their way through the crowded Brent Gould Field on the campus of the Community College, and they were all indulging in hotdogs and sno-cones. All this bounty free courtesy of the Southern Baptist Church and an assortment of local businesses.

Ashes was giggling with Betty Oakhurst, especially when they passed one of the numerous bounce houses that scattered around.

By seven o’clock the family had secured seating in the ball park and Dennis and his father prepared to enjoy the game between the Liberal BJs and the Dodge City A’s. Well the did after being bored by the commercial spot that was used to thank the sponsors of the game.

The night ended with the traditional fireworks display. Ashes watched the display with wide eyed awe.

= ( STRATSIOSINA ) =

Yuugar looked up as the innkeeper of the Golden Sheaf entered his room. The man gave him a nervous grin.

“So what news do you have for me this time?”

“Master Yuugar, the inn is almost full, and we have a group of adventurers. They have a priestess, a beautiful cat woman healer.”

“A female healer is valuable yes. But adventurers are tricky. What are they doing here?”

“From what I overheard, they are newly arrived from Marcenium and are on their way to Alcadar. There is one mage and three ranger types. And the healer.”

“And how are they protecting the girl?”

“They have three rooms, the girl is on her own in the middle one.”

Yuugar rubbed his bristly chin as he thought. “A quick raid. I think that will work. If we can grab the healer quickly and quietly then you should remain useful. Good. Make sure the front door is open one hour after midnight. And be ready to lead us to the girl’s room. You can open the room, right?”

The innkeeper nodded and scurried out.

* * *

Yuugar dismounted near the Golden Sheaf, his men did likewise. The tied the beasts to a convenient tree and then made their way to the inn. The few houses in the village were all dark. Yuugar nodded approvingly to the innkeeper who was waiting for them by the open front door.

They followed the man up the stairs and waited while the innkeeper fumbled out a key and prepared to open the door. Yuugar noted with approval that Ratty had the mage mask ready while Dok had the magic damping manacles ready.

As soon as the innkeeper turned the key in the lock Ratty pushed the door open to a clatter of cans falling as the door knocked into them. With a muffled curse Ratty and Dok raced to the bed where the priestess was waking, her eyes glowing green in the dim light.

Ratty grinned in anticipation as the girl reared up revealing her breasts. Then everything went south in a hurry. The healer roared and changed gaining bulk. A huge clawed paw slammed into Ratty’s face crushing his jaw. And Ratty learned that some healers could use their abilities in reverse.

Yuugar watched in horror as the merchandise to be came growling and roaring in his direction, still transforming, after disposing of Ratty and Dok on two swipes of her bloody paws.

Then it was simply too crowded in the doorway as three men tried to cram their way through while a huge enraged lioness tried to tear her way through to get at the men she knew wished her ill.

* * *

Brazos woke with a start. He rolled out of his bed and grabbed for his rifle as the vicious snarls and screams coming from the other side of the wall registered. He noted almost in passing that his friend Oliveira was already opening the door of their room.

Brazos was on his heels as he remembered that the room next door was Natercia’s. The inn’s corridor was a scene of carnage. Natercia had emerged from her room, she had changed, Brazos assumed that the huge blood covered lioness that was tearing the men who had been waiting outside her room apart was Natercia.

= = O = =

Captain Fraamos was sitting in the common room of the Golden Sheaf and drummed his fingers on the table in front of him as he wondered what to do. He looked across the room where his beastkin trooper was talking to the adventurer beastkin who had slaughtered the innkeeper along with Yuugar and his slavers. Normally when a beastkin killed a citizen things were simple. Maybe not fair but simple.

He looked at the adventurers who were collected in a corner of the room with their strange weapons at hand. Then he looked back at the beastkin that was causing him this headache. If he didn’t kill her for killing a citizen, then she became the owner of all her attackers possessed. The problem was the innkeeper. As he was in his inn when he attempted to steal her freedom then she was entitled to the inn. But beastkin couldn’t own property.

And then the beastkin was a priestess.

Captain Fraamos just hoped his messenger would get back in time with a magistrate. Or time would run out and the beastkin would own the inn. And that was against the law. Fraamos rubbed his aching head. He wished he had the courage to just kill it out of hand but adventurers were always far more dangerous than their numbers suggested and his patrol wasn’t that big.

= ( ALCADAR ) =

Dee was so hungry, so tired, and so dirty. She looked at the big stream that had stopped her headlong flight from that hag. She looked round with scared eyes. Her snakes ensured that she could see all round. She looked down at the nasty looking knife she was carrying.

‘Where did that come from?’ wondered Dee. ‘It looks like the hag’s knife. Why did a hag need a knife?’

Something moved in the stream, and then Dee was looking at a frog, yes a frog. She licked her lips, that chef that had visited her brother last year had made frogs legs and they had tasted wonderful. She darted forward and grabbed the frog. She lifted it to one of her snakes.

She used the hag’s knife to remove the frog’s legs and threw the rest into the stream. ‘Maybe that will attract fish,’ she thought. ‘That other cook from the Islands of the Sun and Moon made Fushi, well something like that anyway. Maybe Lushi or Cushy? Anyway raw fish can be tasty.’

Dee looked at her frogs legs and managed to skin them, though her dress suffered. Then she came close to crying. She had nothing to make fire. ‘Well Cushi is good. Mabe frog cushi will work.’

Later Dee followed the stream. She was no longer hungry, and she had discovered that raw fish was miles better than raw frog.