They were not attacked by any more undead after leaving the ruins. Despite this, the four continued to have night watches.
A mild snowstorm hit over the next few days, progressively getting worse. The snow only seemed to pile higher as they rode. It was only around noon that some of it would melt. Fortunately, the stone path continued on; a reliable guide even through the storm.
They reached the town in the morning. Snow was carpeting the dirt roads and rooftops of the small community. Their houses were made of reeds, mud, and wooden beams.
They had not passed the graveyard itself, as this one was after the town, and not before it.
The four travelers asked for directions to the town healer from a farmer with a straw hat who was driving past on his wagon. Orion commented on the small amount of produce in the back and was elbowed by Bas. Hazel salvaged the conversation some by offering to buy some of the farmer’s winter crop; some plants had likely survived due to Malamut rarely having harsh Winters.
Orion then mentioned how strange the price was. She did this as they walked away and quietly, as Tam was also ready to elbow her.
“Internal production is low despite the mild seasons because the nobles did not invest properly in their territories’ farmers.” Bas talked about economics until Orion plugged her ears. According to him, quite a lot of food products were imported to Malamut from Ahan. Delays caused shortages and the nobles of Malamut were not kind enough to share any of the supplies for their castles. Even granaries that were supposed to be used in times of drought or winter were rarely opened for the common folk.
Hazel and Tam seemed to find Bas’ commentary thought provoking. They nodded their heads at certain points.
Bas kept talking until Orion dragged him down the path.
The healer was easy enough to find, with a messily painted sign in black ink outside their house. The house was a bit more fancy than those next to it, but that was partly due to its crisp white paint and cleanliness.
Tam looked back at the farmer who was disappearing around the street corner. “Why do you think the farmer told us to be careful?”
“He didn’t sound like he was from around here,” Hazel noted.
Orion agreed, albeit not verbally. The farmer had sounded Australian to her, but she wasn’t sure how that would line up with the accents of countries here.
“Tam, didn’t he look familiar?” Bas questioned.
“A bit,” Tam agreed. “I can’t remember where from.”
Orion stepped forward first and called out for the healer.
“Customers! Customers! Wonderful!” Came the reply from inside the house. A middle aged woman peeked her head out of the door and waved them inside. She was short, but very muscular despite her age. The healer introduced herself as Elica and offered them drinks, which were declined.
Bas was properly looking around the living room that they were standing—or sitting, depending on the person—inside of.
There was a low table with three chairs in the middle. A threadbare carpet was underneath. Purples and greens and reds were the only colors to be seen in this place.
The healer had sat in one of the chairs, and was playing with a pair of brass knuckles in her hands. She asked, plainly, with some obvious cheer, “What’s the problem?”
Tam and Hazel had sat down in the other two available chairs.
“Well, her arm isn’t in a splint for fun,” Orion responded, just as straightforwardly. She wasn’t just feeling doubtful about this woman in particular, but every healer in this world.
“Broken?” Elica said, then stood up and examined Tam’s arm for a few minutes. “I can not help with the bone. I can heal the skin.”
“You can’t?” Bas asked. He looked not only disappointed, but worried.
“I can mend skin and muscle easily. Bone is harder. The way yours broke? It fractured in one or two places. You’ll have to let that heal naturally, or find a better healer than me. Ahan’s doctors have made some great progress with non-magic means, but even they don’t have anything for bones healing faster.” Elica paused and added, “Yet. I don’t put it past that smart-tongued noble to come up with something ludicrous that still works.”
Orion was starting to get pissed off. “Really, you can’t fix this?” She asked, crossing her arms.
“Take it or leave it.”
“That’s fine,” Bas agreed quickly. “We’d like the help.”
“If you still have an issue, I am happy to break a bone of yours as well,” Elica offered. Her expression was anything except innocent.
Orion’s temper had reached the point of boiling, but she was held back by Tam’s expression. She remembered that Tam had only gotten injured because of covering for her, and instead of provoking a fight, Orion went outside.
When Tam came outside with the others—barely looking any different than before—she suggested that her and Orion go shopping. It was not the type of shopping Orion had expected. Tam’s list included wire, string, and a sharp knife.
Orion was subjected to another history lesson, but it was fine. She simply tugged her beanie down and pet Sirius.
They met up with Bas and Hazel again for lunch. Bas had already gotten them two rooms for the night. According to the prince, he had traded the produce they bought earlier for a reduced price. The inn had been running low on available food with the snow hiding the animals and killing crops.
The food was good and Orion enjoyed it, but she didn’t care much for the conversation going on. She paid attention to the other travelers. One was a man with curly black hair and a pointed hat. He had a crystal monocle over his right eye. He seemed to be annoying some of his companions. The others at his table were a scholarly gentleman with a top hat, a woman who had propped her arms on the table to sleep, someone veiled in black and starry patterns, a young priestly man with very long golden hair, and a man with a full beard and parted hair that seemed to be the oldest but didn’t act like he was. The definitive youngest still had some baby fat on his cheeks but he didn’t hold back in his responses to the teasing, provoking the others at the table into the conversation. The man with the monocle seemed to notice Orion’s stare and winked at her.
Orion’s feeling of danger vanished when Sirius growled. She had a feeling that she wasn’t supposed to notice those people and decided to ignore them. There were more eyes on her than there should be, more than those people should have. Sirius was warning them, but also her.
Tam’s expression changed suddenly near the end of the meal. “I remembered who it was. I’m surprised I didn’t remember sooner. He was wearing the same straw hat and even told us his name. It’s that merchant who travels a lot.”
Bas looked surprised as well. “I wonder if he’s still around town?”
Bas and Tam soon left to look for the farmer who they claimed was a merchant, and were gone for quite a while.
Orion spent the time talking with Hazel. Although the topics varied, eventually she managed to get to something she had been wanting to know for a while. “How did you get your trumpet?”
The answer could change a lot of things.
“It was a gift from my father.” Hazel laid a hand over the case that held his instrument.
Sirius was creeping closer to Hazel; she had the look in her eyes that signaled she wanted affection. It was a shame that Hazel was afraid of larger animals.
Orion grabbed Sirius’ scruff and tugged her companion closer. She waited a moment for Sirius to settle down and then pressed on. “I’m curious about where he got it? Did he make it himself?” She tacked on, “I’m interested in learning to play.”
“He’s dead.”
“Oh. I’m sorry for your loss.” Orion wasn’t sure how to interpret the expression on Hazel’s face. She wasn’t paying that much attention, as her own mind was swirling with thoughts.
Was Hazel the son of a transmigrator?
The silence dragged on as neither of them spoke.
Thankfully, the awkward moment was interrupted by Tam and Bas returning. They had failed to find Peter, but were willing to share some stories about the merchant who only sounded more and more crazy to Orion.
A/N
The plot indeed thickens a bit.
Also! Peter makes a background appearance as is his right.
