Rodig steered Edwin through the village and to one of the larger buildings by the central square. Loud voices and raucous laughter could be heard even outside, and when the miner pushed the door open, the wall of sound made Edwin recoil. After taking a moment to gather his wits he followed inside.

The taproom was filled to the brim with grimy miners, which Rodig expertly navigated through. At the edge of the plank that served as a bar sat an old man with a messy, grey beard and a hump. He was quietly sipping his beer, observing the merriment, when Rodig pushed up next to him. Edwin, unused to crowds, was lagging behind, so when he made it to the bar, the headman was already waiting for him.

“Goblins, eh?” He said by way of greeting. Edwin stifled a smile. At least he was direct.

“I’m afraid so, good man. Five of them as far as I could tell. Maybe more.”

“Well tha’s just great, in’t it. Gobbos again. Bloody great.” He took a large gulp, scowled, then took another.

“Do you have monster troubles often?”

“Ya could say tha’, ya could. Used ta be we’d see ‘em once, maybe twice a year, now it’s all the bloody time. Got rid of the last ‘uns only a few weeks back. Ain’t doin nothing ta the minin’, but the hunters and wooders need ta go ta the forest, don’t ‘ey? Can’t, now, or they get ate. And we’ll need ta send som’un ta the city ta get a bounty done, and who’s gonna do that? Bloody great!” he repeated, scowling some more.

“Maybe I could help you with that. I’m heading to Pel Darni first thing tomorrow, if you give me a message, I’ll deliver it to the Guild.”

“Would ya? That’d be a kindness, stranger. Say, what’s brought ye out here anyway? Don’t see many visitors, we don’t.” The headman smiled, but his eyes were sharp.

“Nothing, really. I wanted to travel a bit before I start my apprenticeship, thought I’d go see the Rift. I’ve heard it’s an incredible sight, especially here, what with the Pillars right across. Almost made it too, but I can hardly keep going with Goblins around.”

“Aye, that it is. I’ve seen it a few times, though not in years. Really shows ye how small ye are. How big the world is, that kinda thing. Lot’s a wonders out there, boy. Lot’s a em, just need ta look.” The headman smiled wistfully, his eyes far away. After a few seconds, Edwin cleared his throat awkwardly.

“Well, I’ve been traveling all day and really need to get some sleep. If you know where I can get some food and a bed, I can pick up that bounty request tomorrow before I leave.”

The headman blinked and returned to the conversation. “Sure, sounds a’right. Oi, Kent!” He suddenly yelled at a man at the other side of the bar. “Get this lad some grub and a key! Food’s on me. As thanks fer the delivery.” He continued in a normal voice.

“My thanks, that is very kind. I will see you in the morning.”

Grabbing the opportunity to finish the conversation, Edwin walked to the other side of the bar, where a grim-faced man was ladling a bowl of soup from a pot over the fire. His back was still slick with sweat, as for a moment, he thought that the headman – whose name he had never learned, he just realized – was going to pry deeper into his background. He had prepared a few more details to his cover story, but it wouldn’t have held up to any kind of serious inquiry. He really needed to get to the city, where he could disappear into the crowd, just another random face.

The soup was better than hardtack, at least, but not by much. It was obvious that most of the patrons came for the drink, not the fare. Still, it was warm, and Edwin was hungry. For a few copper coins, the barman gave him a key, which apparently led to a room in the adjacent building. After he had finished his food, Edwin retired there to forestall any further questions the villagers might have had for a traveler. The room was tiny and the mattress threadbare, but he had walls around him and a roof over his head, so he put his sleeping roll on the bed and fell asleep almost immediately.

--- ----- ---

Edwin woke to the sounds of people talking outside his small window. It was twilight out, the sun just having left its resting place beyond the horizon to begin its daily journey. Edwin sat up and stretched, feeling completely refreshed. I suppose I should get on with it too, then.

After dressing, he left his room, walking back to the taproom. The door was closed and barred, leaving Edwin to wonder what to do with his key. A few villagers were in the square, starting their day, so he asked where to find the headman. As it turned out, he didn’t have to go far: He lived just across the square, in a two-story building that served both as his home and as the town hall.

When Edwin opened the door, he almost ran the old man over. “Ah, there ye are.” The headman greeted him cheerfully. “I was just about ta look if ye were up yet. I wrote up the bounty, didn’t know when ye wanted ta leave.”

“Great, that’s what I came to seek you out for. I want to get on the road soon, I hoped to get there by evening.”

The headman laughed. “Sure ye will, lad. Maybe stop by Pel Harvand on the way while ye’re at it. Or are ye hidin’ a horse in yer bag?”

Edwin stifled a frown. Was it really that far? He remembered it as a two-day travel via the road, but surely he could do it in one if he hurried. He wasn’t laden with baggage or slowed down by a cart after all. He supposed he would find out and decided to change the topic.

“Could you take my room key? I don’t know where to find the proprietor.”

“Sure, give it here, I’ll get it ta Kent.”

Turning to leave, Edwin remembered something. “Say, could you tell me something? I wondered, why is this village named Three Faces?”

The headman laughed again. “Oh that? C’mere.”

Edwin followed the old man outside where he pointed at the mountain.

“See that up there? Right of where the gate is, halfway up ta the peak? See how it looks like t’ree faces?”

Edwin followed the pointing finger to find the place the headman was referring to, then squinted. “I… well, that could be one I guess… I’ll be honest, I don’t really see it.”

The headman laughed heartily. “Aye lad, me neither. Lived here me whole life, never seen a damn face up there. Some’a the others swear they do, clear as day. Buncha bullcrap. Don’t matter none though I s’ppose. It is how it is.”

Edwin gave it one last look, then turned to the headman. “Well, thank you for your hospitality, I’ll get on my way now. I hope the Guild gets someone out here quickly.”

“No thanks needed lad, ye’re helping us out with the warnin’ and deliverin’ the letter. Good fortune with ye, eh?”

Having said his goodbyes, Edwin left the village, following the road back around the wall and south into the woods. A day of walking was all that stood between him and his new life finally beginning for good.