Give and Take - Ch. 02 by xCalaban

Give and Take

A young newcomer, dreaming of adventure and a better life, crosses paths with a veteran who has lost himself. Can they help each other find what they seek? Or does their partnership only end in tragedy?

* * *

Chapter 2

The pair made it to the gates of the town not long after. The town was a fairly secure affair, with the entirety of it ringed by a thick palisade of wood, likely sourced from the nearby forest. The road the travelers had been following led directly to a large gate, easily big enough for two carriages to pass side-by-side in. The gate itself was wide open, with two very bored-looking guards standing on either side of it.

It had taken them nearly a half hour to reach the town, so Alice had had ample time to look it over. Though there wasn't much that could be seen over the palisades, the gate had offered a bit of a window into the town. Greenwood was at the border between the Kingdom of Grantz, where Alice had spent her whole life, and the Duchy of Alephy, which the town was part of.

The goblin wasn't too familiar with any kind of politics or world events; most of her information had come from rumors around town and drunken adventurers with more free time than common sense. Regardless, it was common knowledge that Grantz wasn't a particularly nice place to live, and looking into the town of Greenwood, Alice felt she could clearly see the difference.

The streets seemed to be well-maintained and the people looked happy and hardy. It was almost a bit unnerving how clean the streets were, actually; the goblin couldn't remember the last time she saw a street or alley without piles of garbage strewn about. The slums she had grown up in were especially egregious, with many of the city's upper class refusing to even take a carriage through them. The lack of crowds also felt wrong to her. Greenwood was by no means a small city, but her hometown was easily five times its size, and likely had ten times its population, too.

As the two travelers approached the gate, the guards perked up a bit, slowly ambling out to intercept the pair. Alice couldn't really blame them for looking bored; there was rarely any trade between the two countries, and the Green Sea forest kept most travelers away. The goblin had found out the reason for that first hand during her trip. Alice supposed most visitors entered gates other than the Eastern one.

Both Jay and Alice stopped a little ways away from the gate, letting the guards approach them. As they drew near, Alice got a better look at them. They were both wearing chain mail shirts, with a tabard over them, bearing what the goblin assumed was the symbol of the town or the region. That was all for their uniform; the rest of their equipment was likely their own personal possessions. If she had to guess, Alice would say both men were in their late twenties, maybe early thirties. She had never been great at guessing human ages. One was clean shaven while the other sported a thick beard. They seemed friendly enough, but her stomach did a little flip when they ran their eyes over her in that old, familiar way.

"Well hey there, folks." The bearded one said in a cheerful voice, looking at Jay. "Y'all heading into town today?"

"We are indeed." Jay said in his usual monotone.

"Where ya coming from?" The other guard asked, though his tone was more curious than accusatory.

"The Green Sea most recently, before that was Grantz."

"You staying in town or just passin' through?" The guard with the beard asked as he leaned on his spear. Alice let herself relax a little bit; it was clear that these guards weren't concerned with the two travelers. This was probably the most exciting thing that happened to them all week.

"I suppose we'll be staying for a week at the least."

The clean-shaven guard looked down at Alice, his eyes running up and down her body. It made the goblin wish her blouse was in a bit better condition.

"You got a mark or collar for yer slave here?" He asked, tearing his eyes from her body to look at Jay. "Would prob'ly be a good idea to have some kind of sign she's yer property."

"She is not myproperty, she is mytraveling companion." Jay didn't raise his voice at all, didn't even sound particularly angry, but it felt to Alice like it had suddenly gotten noticeably colder, even though the sun was shining down. A chill ran down her spine.

The guards must have felt something similar, as they both took a step back, glancing at each other warily.

"Now, is there anything else you need to ask before we enter the town?" Jay asked calmly. Just like that the chill feeling vanished so suddenly that Alice wasn't sure she hadn't just imagined it.

"Oh, uh...do ya have any kind of identification?" The bearded guard managed to ask after a few moments. "Ya know, just for safety's sake."

The two guards tensed again when Jay reached into the collar of his shirt, then their eyes widened as he pulled out the small golden ranking plate.

"Will this do?"

"Oh, of course, er, sir!" The clean shaven guard's face looked like it had turned two shades whiter.

"You two head right on in, then." The other guard was trying hard to smile through his bushy beard, but it looked more like he was grimacing to Alice.

"Thank you, gentlemen." Jay nodded then reached into the small pouch on his waist. Pulling out two gold coins, he flipped one to each of the guards, the metal flashing in the sun. The guards each caught one, their faces lighting up with greed. "I imagine it gets quite boring standing out here in the hot sun all day. Let me buy you a drink in advance."

"Quite generous of you, good sir!" All of the nervousness had left the clean-shaven guard's face, and he gestured the two travelers towards the gate.

"Indeed! Hope that we'll see you around town during yer stay." The bearded guard winked at Jay as he moved aside to let them pass.

The two travelers walked past the guards and into the town. Alice wasn't at all surprised by their sudden shift in attitudes. Jay had just flipped each of them what was probably about a week's worth of their pay. She glanced back to see the two guards close together, talking and laughing. Probably already planning a fun night at the tavern.

"That was a bit...unpleasant." Jay admitted, catching the goblin by surprise.

"I'll say...that guy was looking me over like I was a prime cut of meat." Alice muttered, drawing a look from her companion. She couldn't read the expression on his face, but that was nothing new. "Hey...why did you give them gold? I'm pretty sure there's no fee to enter town."

"No, there isn't." Jay half turned to glance at the guards behind. "As to why I did it...Well, perhaps we can call this your first adventuring lesson." The goblin looked up at him eagerly as he spoke. "It never hurts to buy some good will, and gate guards are excellent investments."

"Really?" Alice furrowed her brow, not understanding.

"Definitely." The human chuckled a bit as the pair stopped at a crossroads in the town. "They have contact with the other guards and any merchants who come in through their gate. They also usually overhear a lot of good info; people generally don't pay attention to them and talk freely. In addition, if you need to find someone, they are one of your best bets."

"Oh, now I see." She was more than a little impressed. Almost none of that would have normally crossed her mind.

"But in this case, I did it more to erase bad will than to generate good will."

"Really? What do you mean?" Alice glanced back at the gate once more.

"That little...misunderstanding about you." The human said quietly, as to not be overheard by any passerby. "I doubt they meant anything by it, but I might have intimidated them a bit."

"I'll say." The goblin chuckled at the understatement.

"Yes, and as much as a friendly town guard can help you out, one who doesn't like you can make your life miserable in countless ways." Jay said grimly.

"Wouldn't that be against the law?"

"And who do you think enforces that law? Especially in a frontier town like this." He motioned to the buildings around them.

"Alright, good point."

Alice took a moment to look around. As she had seen through the gate, it seemed like a bustling, friendly town. The roads were made of packed dirt, but were well-maintained for the wagons and carriages that traveled to and fro. She could hear the cries of the market in the distance, and the smell of some kind of roasted meat wafted on the air, doubtlessly coming from some nearby restaurant.

"So this is the frontier, huh?" She asked nobody in particular, but Jay responded regardless.

"Indeed. I'm guessing you hail from Alquetz?" The human asked, naming the closest city in Grantz.

"That's where I was born and raised, yes." Alice said simply. She didn't really want to discuss her past, at least not yet. It was too shameful.

"You'll find life on the frontier is quite different from city living." Jay said, looking around. "Mostly you'll find hardworking, tough people here. That's not to say everyone is a good person, but you're much less likely to end up with a knife between your ribs. If there's any danger, it will be from either monsters or insulting the wrong person."

"The whole 'insulting the wrong person' thing doesn't sound so much different from life back in Alquetz..."

"The difference is, on the frontier, if someone wants you dead, you'll usually know it very clearly." Jay said with a mirthless chuckle. "Duels to the death aren't that uncommon in places like this."

"Right. Try not to rub anyone the wrong way, got it." The goblin looked around again. "So what's the plan then?"

"It would be a good idea to find an inn with available accommodations now, rather than waiting for nightfall." Jay gestured for his companion to follow him, setting off down another one of the streets. "If we wait, all the decent rooms are likely to be taken by sunset."

"Inn room it is." Alice trotted after the human. "Lead the way."

* * *

Jay led the goblin to the hospitality district. One thing he appreciated about the Duchy of Alephy was that they put lots of effort into town and city planning. It was the reason why tourism and adventuring was a major part of the country's economy, compared to the Kingdom of Grantz, where it was pretty much nonexistent. All the human had to do was follow the signs and they would be there in less than ten minutes. Glancing at the closest signpost, he made a mental note to check if Alice could read common script later. The goblin was clearly quick-witted, but the literacy rates in Alquetz weren't exactly impressive.

He was glad Alice had asked him for training. A few times the human had considered broaching the topic, remembering those little flashes of potential she had shown the night before, but he worried about overstepping. For all he knew, the run in with the shambler might have been enough to scare the goblin out of adventuring for life. Jay had put yet another point in her favor when she had been bold enough to ask him.

The human glanced down at the goblin trotting along next to him. He had never been good at reading emotions, but Alice seemed to have bounced back after the encounter at the gate. At least she didn't look upset or worried, as far as he could tell.

Thinking back to the incident, Jay scowled internally. There were few things he hated more in this world than slavers and their trade. He had seen too much of it during his past journeys, especially the one that took him to the far north. The more poor or impoverished a region, the more slaves you would see in it. But even here, in Alephys, slavery was more common than not. It put a bad taste in the human's mouth. Focusing on finding an inn, he banished the thoughts from his mind.

"This looks like an acceptable inn." He said, coming to a stop a few minutes later.

It was a decent sized inn, and seemed to be of average quality. The perfect place to remain inconspicuous.

"I guess..." Alice's tone of voice caused him to look down at her. Was it not nice enough for her to stay in?

"I mean, it looks a little expensive." The goblin said sheepishly, looking up at him. That wasn't what Jay was expecting. He wondered what kind of life the goblin had been living back in Alquetz, if this inn seemed expensive to her.

"It won't be a problem." Jay said simply, causing her to nod tentatively.

The two entered the inn, finding a simple dining room taking up most of the first floor, complete with a bar in the back. The wooden furniture and sporadic decorations gave the room a quaint feeling, likely to make adventurers feel at home. Being mid afternoon, the tables and bar were nearly deserted, only a handful of people eating or drinking tucked away in the corners of the room. Most of them didn't even look up at the arrival of the two newcomers, just continuing to talk or eat quietly.

Behind the bar was a barrel chested man, wiping down the polished wooden counter. He was one of the few who did look up, and appraised the two travelers with a glance. The man seemed to be some kind of employee at the very least, so Jay led Alice over to the bar.

"Welcome, travelers." The bartender had a deep baritone voice that matched his stature. "Are you looking for food or a place to stay?"

"Both, eventually. But for now, I'd like to rent a pair of rooms." Jay said, resting a hand on the counter. Alice fidgeted a bit at his side, but didn't say anything.

The man's eyes traveled down to the goblin, and remained there a fleeting moment before returning to Jay's gaze.

"I can rentyoua room certainly, but..." The bartender took a deep breath before continuing. "We don't rent rooms to goblins. It's our policy."

"May I ask why?" Jay said calmly. He saw out of the corner of his eye that Alice looked distinctly uncomfortable.

"Not trustworthy." The man muttered, avoiding his gaze. "Might skip out on paying. Or damage the room."

"Even if I pay in advance?" Jay asked. He noticed Alice open her mouth to say something, but then she just closed it again, remaining silent.

"Sorry friend, it's just our policy." The bartender's eyes remained fixed on the section of counter he was wiping.

"Then do you have any rooms available with two separate beds?" Jay asked. That got the bartender to look up in surprise, and he saw Alice flinch as well. He hoped he hadn't offended her.

"Well, yes, we do, but..."

"Then it should be no problem." Jay didn't wait for the bartender to continue. "A room with two beds for a week, with breakfast and dinner."

"Well...I guess if you're staying in the room as well..." The man muttered, before looking up at Jay again. "That will be two gold pieces then."

Silently, Jay fished a pair of gold coins from his coin pouch, and slid them on the counter to the man, who scooped them up with practiced ease. Turning around, the bartender crouched down, opening a low drawer behind him. He stood up a moment later, handing Jay a key attached to a block of wood by a small chain.

"You're in room 12. It's the second door on the right after you climb the stairs. Breakfast is anytime from an hour before sunrise to an hour after. Dinner is the same for sunset. If you need anything, feel free to ask me or any of the serving wenches."

"Understood." Jay nodded. "My thanks."

The bartender nodded back, his gaze lingering on Alice, and not in a kind way. Jay jerked his head towards the stairs, signaling the goblin. She nodded meekly and followed him, looking relieved to be away from the bartender. The pair silently climbed the stairs and found room 12 right where it was supposed to be, with Jay quickly unlocking the door, then locking it again after the two stepped inside.

"My apologies." The human said, turning to his companion. Alice gave him a surprised look.

"For what?" She asked, confused.

"I tried to get you a separate room, but I imagine most inns in town would likely have similar rules."

"Wait, that's what you're apologizing for?" Alice asked incredulously. "Jay, you don't need to worry about that." The goblin chuckled.

"I figured you would prefer some privacy." Jay said, looking around the small room.

"I come from the...not so nice part of Alquetz." Alice laughed. "Privacy is not something I expect. Hells, I was ready to sleep on the floor. My own bed is a big bonus."

"I see..." Jay said. He was more than a little surprised. All of his experiences with female adventurers had taught him that they valued privacy very highly, especially when men were involved.

Alice walked over to one of the beds and heaved herself up onto it. Sitting on the mattress, she bounced a little, testing it out, then let out a low whistle.

"I think this is filled with down feathers!" She said excitedly. "I'm gonna sleep well tonight."

"It's the minimum an inn would need for bedding to charge any reasonable prices." Jay said, raising an eyebrow at the goblin. Just what kind of place had she been living in?

"This may come as a surprise, but I haven't stayed in many inns." Alice just a self-deprecating laugh. "Or any, for that matter."

She was silent for a moment, staring down at her lap. It seemed like she might have more to say, so Jay gave her time.

"To be honest, Jay, this trip is the first time I ever left Alquetz." She said, still looking down. "I, uh, probably should have mentioned that sooner."

"I thought that might be the case." Jay said carefully. There were probably things she didn't want to share from her past. "It's not a problem."

"Really?" Alice looked up, a hopeful look on her face.

"I promise."

"Okay." Alice closed her eyes for a few moments, then opened them again, her usual grin returning to her face. "Then what's our next move?"

"Our first order of business is your equipment." He said, casting a critical eye over her torn blouse and worn out trousers and shoes. "We'll have to find an armorer in town, a weapon shop too."

"Wh-what?" The goblin sputtered. "I can't afford-"

"That's not a problem." Jay cut her off. "I'll be buying them for you."

"No way. You can't...I mean, it's too much..."

"Alice, listen." Jay said seriously, cutting through the goblin's feeble protests. "If I'm going to train you, youneedgood equipment. I'm not going to spend months training you, only for it to be wasted when your knife breaks against a monster's hide and gets you killed."

"Well, if you put it that way..." She relented. "But I still feel like it's too much."

"If you're that worried, you can pay me back once you start making gold through adventuring and requests."

That put a small smile on the goblin's face, and she grinned down at her knees.

"Alright." She hopped down from the bed. "When do we start?"

"No time like the present." Jay said, already walking towards the door.

***

"This should work." Jay said, stopping in front of a shop.

The store front had a large glass window, behind which sat a variety of different pieces of armor. Alice glanced up at the sign hanging above the door. The script was painted on in an elaborate manner, giving the goblin a little trouble to read it.

"It's an...outfitter?" She asked slowly, glancing over at Jay.

"It is." The human confirmed. "You can read common script?"

"Somewhat." Alice said sheepishly, rubbing the back of her head. "I guess it's pretty surprising, considering I'm from Alquetz. I worked in a tavern, so I needed to be able to read the menu."

"Mmmm." Jay made a noise of acknowledgement. Alice couldn't tell if he was impressed or disappointed.

The two entered the shop, a small bell ringing as the door opened. The goblin hadn't known what to expect, but the interior was like nothing she had ever seen. The walls of the shop were covered with various pieces of armor, everything from what looked like padded pieces of cloth-like armor to segmented full plate mail. Another section had all sorts of accessories, things like neck guards, bracers and even different types of belts.

Give and Take - Ch. 02

Discussion(0)