Chapter Thirteen: The Loose Goose

Larson eagerly took in the sights around him. Not long after they’d left the guard post Hasson had taken Galdon back from him. With him freed from the extra load, the two apprentices- Mitle and Rimus- took the opportunity to drag him ahead with them.

Even though he wasn’t a stranger to big cities, thanks to being born in the 21st century, the current sights and sounds around him left him in awe. The cobblestone streets and lattice lined houses made him feel like he’d been tossed back in time to the middle ages. The call of hawkers trying to make the days final sale, the laughter of children as the rushed home for dinner, and the ring of great bell in a distance tower, really drove home the feeling of this being a different world.

However the sudden overwhelming increase in activity around him started to take its toll. For over a year he’d spent his life locked away in basic darkness, and for the last three months he’d spent his days in the quiet forest. Even though he had been so excited to finally get back into a lively setting, now he was starting to think maybe it wasn’t such a good idea.

“Hey kid are you alright?” Rimus asked, “You’re looking around like some kind of bumpkin.”

“Don’t be rude!” Mitle chided as he elbowed Rimus in the ribs.

“I’ve actually never left the forest before… So everything’s kinda new...” Larson said after a pause, still dazed while trying to process his surroundings.

The twins shared a bewildered glance, not to sure how to respond. From behind the Hasson and Pladers had heard the whole conversation as they quietly followed.

“He’s a Forgotten, isn’t he?” Pladers asked, “My daughter’s a Forgotten. I know the feeling, but you can’t hide him from the world you know.” A look of understanding and grief flashed across his eyes as he stared at the little back before him. A long pause followed his words.

“That wasn’t my intention.” Hasson sighed. Knowing that Pladers meant well, he chose not to snap at him for being a busybody. After all, it wasn’t like he could just tell anyone the truth. Who would believe that Larson was just a babe a few months ago? That aside he knew he’d be lying if he claimed that the thought of keeping Larson away from the world didn’t cross his mind. He’d seen just how cruel the would could be. No one wanted their love ones to experience that kind of pain.

He had planned to contact a couple of old friends. Get a collection of light and/or dark magic tomes, just enough to let Larson raise his Class from apprentice to full fledge mage. If that didn’t work, he even considered trying to track down one of the old Shadows. That way Larson could learn one of their melee classes as a cover. He wouldn’t be able to use higher level magic around others without drawing unwanted attention after all.

Yet the untimely arrival of Galdon had put a kink in his plans. He knew that Galdon would probably bring tales and information about outside; and after recalling how the boy had basically ran off to explore as soon as he could walk, he figured it wouldn’t be long before Larson would start begging to go out of the woods himself. So he decided to take the initiative.

A worn down but brightly lit three story building stood impressively on a tucked away street corner. A hand carved wooden goose hung loosely above the door. In flowing letters was, ‘The Loose Goose Tavern & Inn’. The age of the place could be imaged just by looking at the piling paint on the weather worn sign. Even from outside in the street, the noisy chatter and rukus inside could be clearly heard.

As they approached the entrance way a figure came dashing out, making a b-line from Pladers. A high pitched ‘Dad!’ rang out as the person pounced. Nobody had the chance to react before Pladers was already in the ground. A moment passed before the twins seemed to recognise the assilent. With weary smiles they walked over to assist the old dwarf.

Pinning Pladers to the ground was a young dwarven woman. She had frizzy brown hair piled into a bun on her head. Her stormy gray eyes were full of tears as she glared at Pladers.

“What took you so long!” She was fuming as the twins managed to pull her off of the poor old man.

“It wasn’t my fault, darlin’, honest.”

“I thought you’d been swallowed by the trees.” The woman said as she threw her arms around him. Nearly sending them both toppling back to the ground again.

“Vina, you’re making a scene.” A sigh escaped the lips of a stout young dwarven man that’d followed the woman from the inn. He had an impressive bushy beard that nearly covered his deep yellow eyes.

“Put a cork in it, Caster.” The woman snapped back, “You know good and well how I feel about that damn forest.”

Caster shook his head with a sigh, “Sorry about all this.” He said towards Hasson and Larson, “I’m Caster Mutton, and the one currently attacking her father is my wife, Vina.”

“No worries,” Hasson nodded. “I’m Hasson Yugan, this is my grandson Larson, and the sleeping one is his friend, Galdon.”

Meanwhile from Hasson’s side, Larson watched the whole fassco silently. Normally seeing an old guy get jump tackled would of had him laughing out loud. But for some reason, as he watched the touching family scene, he was flooded by a waves of yearning as loss. An nearly uncontrollable urge to go hug his mom attacked his consciousness. He almost logged out on the spot, till he remembered he wouldn’t be able to even if he did.

That thought was the final nail in the coffin. He had previous moments where negative thoughts threatened to pull him under before, yet he had always managed to ward them off. This time however, he wasn’t so lucky. The piled up emotions quickly snowballed. Fear, pain, anger, aggravation, loss, confusion, sadness, and so many more, gripped his heart like a vice.

The kicker was that he logically knew that it was the influence of the system making him feel this way. Thanks to the event with the [Dragon’s Rage], he knew that these feelings weren’t all his own. Yet the scary thing was that, even knowing that, it didn’t make the emotions feel any less real. He knew this was all just in his head.

He knew!

But the tightness in his chest, the shortness of breath, and the tears welling up in his eyes begged to differ. Unconsciously, like a drowning man he reached out, desperate for something, anything, to cling to.

Feeling a trembling hand latching onto his sleeve, Hasson looked down. Seeing Larson in tears and shaking from head to toe left him startled. Quickly as he could he adjusted Gladon so he could free up an arm. Without pausing he then knelt down, before pulling the distraught boy into his embrace. Like he’d done previously when Gladon had a panic attack, he began consoling Larson.

“It’s okay, you’re not alone.” Keeping his voice as reassuring as possible he reminding him he was there for him. All the while keeping his own confusion at bay.

Awhile passed before Larson finally started to calm. However it was clear to Hasson from Larson’s empty expression that the root of the issue would need a lot more time to settle. From his kneeling position he turned to Pladers, “How about we head inside. I think we’re all a bit worn out from today’s adventures.” Pladers who’d been silently observing from the side nodded in agreement.

Inside rowdy adventures and haggard travelers were scattered around the lobby. Groups of three and four were sitting at small clusters of tables. Most nursing half empty glasses of mead. The noisy only sightly wavered when the group entered, no one casting a second glance at the new arrivals.

From behind a large counter a older woman with the head of a goat, stepped out. Her droopy ears were loaded down with hoops of silver and gold. Her barmaid styled outfit made her look like she’d fit right in on a pirate ship. But the shrewd light in her eyes, showed that she was a cunning businesswoman not to be trifled with.

“Well well well, look at what the cat dragged in,” The woman said. “Merciful Aqual, Pladers. I thought you said you were going mine. These don’t look anything like rocks.” She joked while motioning towards Larson’s trio.

“Make all the jokes you want, Sena. But at least I’m bringing you business.”

“Whatever,” She said before rolling her eyes. “You didn’t find them in the forest did you?” At Sena’s question the whole tavern sank into an uneasy silence.

“No you suspicious ol’ goat. We met at the city entrance.” Pladers said with a huff, “If it wasn’t for them, me and the boys would probably be sleeping out in the wild tonight.”

Even after hearing Pladers reassurance, she squinted at Hasson with a suspecting gaze. Any local business person worth their salt knew that if an elf showed up at your business, they could only come from one place. Those accursed trees. And the old elf standing in front of her now, with two questionable kids, made her instincts scream trouble.

“Fine, I got one room with two beds that you all can use. But I’m warning you now. Any funny business, any at all, and it’ll be out on the curb with ya faster than you can say barley bread.”