It didn\u2019t matter. With a little work, Erin had actually managed to transform the upstairs into a livable place. All of the mattresses had been rotted horribly and had to be disposed of, but some of the bed frames only needed a backboard replaced or a few boards changed.<\/p>\n
Erin\u2019s inn could now house quite a number of guests. It was just that Erin didn\u2019t have anyone to put up there. And that included her. For the moment, Erin was still sleeping in the little nest she\u2019d made in the corner of her kitchen. She had blankets, pillows, and it was a pain to haul all that upstairs and get situated again.<\/p>\n
There was always Pisces, of course, but Erin really didn\u2019t need a permanent squatter in her inn. Especially because his only payment came in the form of an occasional rambling lecture to Rags.<\/p>\n
\u201cBleh.\u201d<\/p>\n
This time, Toren offered her a cup of juice. Erin took it and drank. It helped, but even a full belly wasn\u2019t improving her mood.<\/p>\n
Rags. Goblins and magic. Magic. Erin\u2019s stomach gurgled at her, although that was probably just a reaction to the blue juice and the oatmeal.<\/p>\n
She spent ten or twenty unhappy minutes in the newly made outhouse, testing the equipment as it were. Afterwards, Erin staggered outside, giving thanks that an equivalent to toilet paper existed in this world. But it was just more proof that this day was going to be a bad one, in her opinion.<\/p>\n
If there was a bright ray of light on the horizon, it was tonight. Tonight was chess night.<\/p>\n
That was to say, every night was chess night. Pawn had been bringing groups of Workers over with surprising regularity, and Erin enjoyed playing the Antinium.<\/p>\n
They never won, of course. Even the best players\u2014Pawn and one of the Workers\u2014never even came close. But Erin loved chess in her bones, and more than that, she enjoyed seeing the Workers improve.<\/p>\n
They had the most beautiful attitude towards chess she could ask for. Which was not throwing a tantrum when they lost\u2014and she played seriously\u2014but trying to learn. Realizing the game was deeper. It reminded her why she enjoyed the game, and that was a high-point in her life.<\/p>\n
But that was later. For now, Erin had to go into the city. She needed pillows for her newly refurbished beds.<\/p>\n
\u201cTake care of the inn, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n
Toren nodded his head mechanically as Erin stomped out of the inn, her precious bag of coins tucked deep into her pocket. He raised the wet dustrag in his hands like a sword and attacked the dust.<\/p>\n
If the skeleton had any thoughts on the day, it was simply that it was a shame he wasn\u2019t killing anything. He understood in a vague way that he would not acquire the [Innkeeper] class because he did not in fact own an inn, but the [Barmaid] class was, he felt, something of a misnomer.<\/p>\n
At least he was Level 2.<\/p>\n
\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n
As Erin walked through the eastern gates, the Gnoll guard smiled toothily at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cGood day to you, Erin Solstice.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHey\u2026you.\u201d<\/p>\n
She had no idea what his name was. But the Gnoll seemed friendly enough. He looked bored, possibly because the only visitor he\u2019d had was Erin.<\/p>\n
Not many people used the road east. North was where the action was\u2014where the main road took you to the northern cities and where all the adventurers, merchants, and general influx of Humanity was coming from. There was a road south, but it seemed few people used the eastern or southern gates at all.<\/p>\n
And that was a curious thing. Erin knew<\/em> there was a road that passed by her inn down south, and she\u2019d seen it. But it seemed ill-kept compared to the well-established northern route. And the eastern \u2018road\u2019 was almost completely gone. There were only traces that led towards her inn.<\/p>\n Why? And why had there been an inn so close and yet so far from the city? Was there once a road there?<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, but most of the settlements got destroyed during the wars. Ever since, few people have lived outside of the city. Besides you. And no one goes south unless it\u2019s winter because of the Bloodfields.\u201d<\/p>\n For a few seconds, Erin thought the voice had come out of some strange part of her mind. Then she whirled around and realized she\u2019d been talking out loud\u2014and someone had provided her with an answer.<\/p>\n \u201cRelc!\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake leaned on his spear, grinning at her. Sort of grinning. Like the Gnoll, there were a lot of teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cYo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUm, hi. I haven\u2019t seen you around. What\u2019s up?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was looking for you. You busy? Because you are now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was going to buy pillows\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? You might have trouble with that. Did you hear what happened last night?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLast night?\u201d<\/p>\n Curious, Erin followed Relc as the Drake walked speedily towards Market Street. It was disconcerting how quickly he could move despite giving the appearance of ambling along. It was definitely some sort of Skill.<\/p>\n Erin stopped as she turned the corner to Market Street.<\/p>\n \u201cOh man.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc twirled his spear idly as Erin stared at the wreckage. And that was all it was.<\/p>\n Wreckage.<\/p>\n Nearly half of Market Street had been destroyed. Burnt, in point of fact. To a crisp. A fire had swept through the close, confined wooden stalls. They were meant to be just temporary structures, easily deconstructed for the next shopkeeper to display their wares. But the problem was that wood burned easily, and so when a fire did break out\u2026<\/p>\n Even the stones in the street had cracked from the heat. Erin didn\u2019t know rocks could<\/em> break from heating up, but the street had been shattered quite impressively.<\/p>\n \u201cNormally, someone would have raised the alarm, and we\u2019d have put out the fire quick. But it happened late last night, and by the time we got one of the mages out here, it was too hot.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin glanced at Relc, and the Drake shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cLow-level mages. And there\u2019s not much call for water magic specialization around here. We had to let the fire burn out and clear the rest of the street before it spread.\u201d<\/p>\n It was destruction. To starve the fire of flames, the Watch and firefighting teams had smashed and cleared the rest of the stalls, shoving the wood splinters out of the way.<\/p>\n It hurt Erin\u2019s heart to see. And it hurt even more because the street wasn\u2019t empty. She could see Drakes and Gnolls, shopkeepers staring forlornly at their abandoned goods. It hurt her heart, because she could see some of them were crying.<\/p>\n Scaly or furry they might be, but their tears looked the same.<\/p>\n Relc stared grimly at the burnt-out street. He spoke quietly to Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone\u2019s saying it\u2019s a Human that did it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n Probably everyone was saying that, or at least everyone Relc talked to. Humans might have other opinions. But it probably was<\/em> a Human, at least in Erin\u2019s mind. She couldn\u2019t see Drakes being dumb enough to burn down part of their city by accident, and Gnolls were highly flammable. And the Antinium\u2014<\/p>\n No. There were already Workers picking through the rubble, slowly and methodically clearing away the destroyed part of the street. They wouldn\u2019t have set a fire.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy would a Human do it, though?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc glanced at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, it was the mystery thief. Someone caught them last night, and they started a fire to get away.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow? With a match or\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA what? They used fire magic. A spell.\u201d<\/p>\n Oh. Obviously. Erin\u2019s eyes were caught by an older Drake trying to salvage something from her shop. She spoke distantly.<\/p>\n \u201cIsn\u2019t there a way to track this thief down? Magic? Or\u2026some kind of Skill?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThis thief has some good magic\u2014and not just the fire magic. A magical item, maybe. And high-level [Guardsmen] do get tracking skills, but almost all of the Watch here are former soldiers. We\u2019ve got more levels in combat classes than our current class. We did have one [Guardsman] with high levels, but that was Klbkch..\u201d<\/p>\n The comment hit Erin in the gut, and for a second, Relc looked guilty. But he didn\u2019t apologize.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re working on it. No one\u2019s happy. Normally, we\u2019d have caught the thief, but there are so many of you damn Humans in the city\u2014no offense.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin took offense, but she let it drop. Relc wasn\u2019t happy. He was staring at his damaged city with narrowed eyes, and she didn\u2019t have anything to say. Certainly nothing to defend the thief. So instead she changed the subject.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026haven\u2019t seen you around the inn lately.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc shrugged again indifferently.<\/p>\n \u201cToo many damn Goblins around. I\u2019d clean them up, but apparently that\u2019s not allowed.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin glanced sideways at Relc. The Drake met her eyes and then went back to studying the street.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not all bad, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n He snorted.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think the little freaks you\u2019ve been feeding are good?<\/em> I hear they\u2019ve been fighting a war with the rest of their tribe\u2014when they\u2019re not scaring travellers and stealing their goods.\u201d<\/p>\n For a moment, Erin felt a lurch of panic and fear in her chest.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not\u2014not going to have to hunt them down are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t really care. So long as we don\u2019t get orders, we\u2019ll leave them alone if they stay clear of the city. Goblins are part of the wild. If you get rid of too many, the bigger monsters don\u2019t have anything to snack on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Um, t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t thank me. I just don\u2019t feel like doing more than I have to for my job, that\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence. Erin stared at the ground. Relc\u2019s eyes narrowed as he watched the Workers slowly sweeping down the street.<\/p>\n \u201cThey<\/em> don\u2019t even care Klb died.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. They, um, don\u2019t seem to care about death. It\u2019s not their fault.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know. They\u2019re bugs. But Klbkch was special.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe was.\u201d<\/p>\n Yet the Workers didn\u2019t mourn him, and that hurt Erin\u2014but it hurt Relc more. She thought the Workers had their reasons, but Relc just kept speaking, louder, his tail lashing faster.<\/p>\n \u201cNot just because he was a guard, y\u2019know? He was different. He had a name.<\/em> I couldn\u2019t believe it when he introduced himself. And he\u2019s the only Antinium I\u2019ve ever heard of with a level higher than 10. He was special.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin was silent. She stared at the large Drake and saw his chest heaving with emotion. The Drake\u2019s fist tightened on the shaft of his spear.<\/p>\n \u201cBut they don\u2019t care. They talk about Klb as if he\u2019s just gone off somewhere. As if his death never happened. Even the Queen didn\u2019t put up much of a fuss.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin thought about the massive Antinium Soldiers marching down the street and taking her to meet the Queen.<\/p>\n \u201cYou think so?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc eyed Erin darkly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not dead, so I\u2019d say she took it well. She kept talking about \u2018time lost\u2019 and \u2018needless valuable resources expended\u2019 when she talked with the Captain. But never about Klbkch.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake\u2019s head bowed. He stabbed his spear into the paving stones, and the stones cracked<\/em> and shifted around the tip of his spear. He leaned on it, staring darkly down at the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one cares.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI care.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know. But you\u2019re different.\u201d<\/p>\n For a while, the two stood still, awkwardly, alone rather than together. Erin\u2019s heart hurt<\/em>. But though the Human thing to do would be to pat Relc on the back or say something meaningless, she knew he didn\u2019t want anything from her.<\/p>\n He still hated her. Or if he didn\u2019t hate her, he blamed her.<\/p>\n And she would say nothing against that.<\/p>\n At last, Relc shifted his weight and pulled his spear out of the street. He looked down at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cBy the way\u2014and not that I care too much, but you should know\u2014there\u2019s a new Prognugator in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n The word sounded familiar. Erin frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cA what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was what Klbkch was. Don\u2019t ask me what it means. It\u2019s some important role in the Antinium Hive. Their war-leaders were called that\u2014but Klbkch told me it\u2019s deeper. They\u2019re pretty much like Watch Captains, though. For their entire Hive.\u201d<\/p>\n The idea of the Antinium needing any kind of policing sounded ridiculous to Erin. She couldn\u2019t imagine them doing anything criminal, but then she remembered Klbkch herding the Workers like cattle. Maybe a Prognugator was like some sort of sheepdog, only with people.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Is he going to be part of the Watch?\u201d<\/p>\n Unexpectedly, Relc frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cI hope not. Not if I have anything to say about it. I think this one will stay in the Hive.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Why are you telling me, then?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cHe looks\u2014familiar. Just don\u2019t freak out, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSure.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake scratched at the spines on his head.<\/p>\n \u201cRight. Well, I\u2019ve got to go back to work. Oh\u2014that\u2019s right. I\u2019m supposed to give you a warning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA warning?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah. Apparently you got into a fight with a bunch of adventurers, right? Beat them up and stole their stuff?\u201d<\/p>\n Oh. Erin felt like slapping herself. Of course.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, yes. I did. But they were attacking\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe damn Goblins. Whatever. Don\u2019t worry; I\u2019m not going to arrest you. I\u2019m just giving you a warning. I also hear you\u2019ve got a pet skeleton.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes. His name\u2019s Toren. Uh\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t care. It sounds creepy, but whatever you Humans like is fine by me. Just keep him out of the city. I just needed to give you a warning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot to do it again?\u201d<\/p>\n Relc looked surprised. Then he grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, no. When we heard about three Human adventurers getting their tails kicked by an Innkeeper, some Workers, and a few Goblins, we laughed our scales off. We don\u2019t care about what happens to those Humans. Just keep the skeleton away, and if that crazy [Necromancer] tries raising any more bodies, stop him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not going to do anything? Really?\u201d<\/p>\n This time, the Drake lowered his voice, glancing around surreptitiously.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe if we had time\u2014but we don\u2019t. The Watch is overwhelmed right now. Those damn adventurers keep disappearing into the ruins, and we\u2019ve had to patrol the area to catch all the things that come crawling out of there.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc made a face and twirled his spear in one hand. Erin\u2019s stomach decided it was time to start lurching. She would have preferred it stay on \u2018bleh\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cThings? Like\u2026what kind of things?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSquiggly things. Lots of white tentacles and flesh. Disgusting. We think there\u2019s some kind of brood monster in there, but no one who goes in that far has come out to tell us what it is. And the rest of the cowards are just clearing the rooms one at a time.\u201d<\/p>\n Relc sighed, muttered a bit about Humans and adventurers in general, and glanced at the sky.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to get back there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Okay. I\u2019ll see you around.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake raised one hand in farewell as he trotted off. Erin watched him go. Her eyes turned back to the ruined street.<\/p>\n Misery and devastation. It wasn\u2019t hers, but she still felt for the people affected by the fire. A thief and the ruins.<\/p>\n None of these things were her problem. But they were<\/em> her problem because she lived here. Not by choice, but Erin felt like the city was suffering. Suffering, and she wondered what it would take to heal.<\/p>\n At the very least, Erin wouldn\u2019t get her pillows today. Not unless a certain Gnoll had any in stock.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI am sorry, Erin Solstice, but everything is chaos, no? I was lucky not to lose my goods, but many have lost all. Pillows must wait. Come back another day, please.\u201d<\/p>\n Krshia barely had the time to spare as she talked seriously with a bunch of angry Gnoll and Drake shopkeepers. The merchants of Market Street were gathered together in some sort of conclave, and Krshia was one of the more influential\u2014and vocal\u2014shopkeepers in the crowd.<\/p>\n Erin left them to it, especially because she was getting a lot of casually hostile glances. It was completely understandable that the shopkeepers were angry, and there were other things she could do. Like talk with friends.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Selys had to shout above the clamor in the packed Adventurer\u2019s Guild. She and the other three receptionist Drakes were trying to deal with multiple adventurers at once while the room was full of arguments, minor scuffles, spirited dialogue, and not least, the clank<\/em> of countless weapons and armor rubbing together.<\/p>\n The female Drake shook her head as Erin repeated her question.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t, Erin. We\u2019re all working overtime as it is. All the adventurers coming through\u2014excuse me, the Human with the red hair and face-thing?\u201d<\/p>\n Several adventurers looked up, and the mustached adventurer stepped forwards, holding a bag of dripping somethings. He looked so amazingly hurt that Erin bet no one had ever referred to his mustache as a \u2018face-thing\u2019. Selys gestured impatiently to the side.<\/p>\n \u201cGive that to Warsh, please. The Drake over there? The one with yellow scales? Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n Selys turned back to Erin and shook her head. The other girl nodded, tried not to touch the shouting adventurer covered in blood and\u2026guts, and made her way out of the building.<\/p>\n It was completely fine. Selys had a lot to do, after all, and the Adventurer\u2019s Guild in Liscor was never meant to deal with the huge influx of treasure seekers. It was too bad. But it was just\u2014it was just\u2014<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just that I<\/em> don\u2019t know what I should be doing, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin complained as she moved a knight on the chess board and stole one of Pawn\u2019s rooks. The Antinium made a sound of dismay but kept staring at the board as Erin chattered away.<\/p>\n \u201cI get that Krshia and Selys are busy. And so is Relc, although we barely talk and he hates my guts. But what should I do? I mean, obviously I\u2019m running the inn, but I feel like there\u2019s something else I should do. Something\u2026useful besides cooking, eating, and paying for pillows.\u201d<\/p>\n Carefully, Pawn moved one of his knights forward. Instantly, Erin took it with a bishop, trading the pieces. It wasn\u2019t a good exchange\u2014as bishops were technically worth about the same strategically as knights, but it did open up Pawn\u2019s king for a lovely attack by Erin\u2019s queen.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, what should I do? I need money, but it\u2019s not as if this inn is hopping at the best of times. And I need several hundred gold pieces. That\u2019d take years. The only way I might get that much money in one go is to become an adventurer, but I don\u2019t really want to stab stuff or have my insides yanked out through my nose.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn desperately tried to search for a winning strategy on his invaded side of the chess board. He found one\u2014the same strategy that would end up in a checkmate eight moves down. Erin had noticed that three moves ago.<\/p>\n Delicately, the Antinium moved a pawn forwards and spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cI am not sure I have any advice to give you, Erin Solstice. I am not experienced in the ways of this world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou probably know more than I do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt may be so, but my knowledge extends mainly to my Hive. I was not I<\/em> until very recently. Thus, my awareness is only now expanding.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI get it.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin sighed, took one of Pawn\u2019s pieces, and waited for him to take her rook.<\/p>\n \u201cI just wish I didn\u2019t feel this way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich way is this?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn took her rook. Erin took his queen.<\/p>\n \u201cSo useless.\u201d<\/p>\n A faint groan escaped the Antinium Worker. He studied the board and then shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI have lost.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Workers nodded in agreement as they stared at the board. The pairs that were playing glanced up and stared silently at Pawn\u2019s board before returning to their games.<\/p>\n \u201cGood game. You want to play another round?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn nodded, and the two players began rearranging the board. It was their fourth game, and they\u2019d been playing long enough that the sun was already fading behind the mountaintops.<\/p>\n It was fun to play. But Erin had the same feeling she was trying to express to Pawn. It was fun to play, but she never lost<\/em>.<\/p>\n That was okay. She was, if not as incredible as an International Master or even a Grandmaster, at an exceptionally high level of play back home. The love of the game and teaching new players was enough\u2014and they were very good despite having picked up the game a week ago. Yet chess\u2026if the world were decided by chess games, it would be so much easier for her.<\/p>\n \u201cI just wish I could do something important, that\u2019s all. Something useful.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWas Erin important back in her world?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? No. Not at all. I was just a girl who played chess. Heck, I wasn\u2019t even in college yet. I was trying to save up money for that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen the Erin of now is surely an improvement as she is both an [Innkeeper] and one who teaches chess. I fail to understand the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, yeah, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n A few tables down, Rags snorted loudly. Erin looked over. The Goblin stared silently at her and then reached over and poked the Worker\u2019s king with one finger. It toppled over.<\/p>\n \u201cHey! That\u2019s really rude!\u201d<\/p>\n Rags made a face as Erin glared at her. But the Worker she\u2019d been playing bowed its head towards Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cThis one had lost the game. This one apologizes for time wasted.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not your fault. Even if the game\u2019s nearly over, you\u2019re the one who decides that. Knocking over someone else\u2019s king is rude. Got it?\u201d<\/p>\n The Worker bowed his head, but Rags just scowled. Erin amped up her death-glare, and Rags reluctantly muttered something.<\/p>\n It was pretty much the only problem that reared its head when Erin had everyone playing chess. In the hierarchy of skill within the inn, Erin was the undisputed champion. After her came Pawn and Rags, with Pawn being the better player, but only just. Below them were various Workers who could play decent games, but Rags was never quite happy unless the little Goblin was playing Erin.<\/p>\n It was an issue of arrogance, and Erin remembered what it was like\u2014being impatient at having to play mediocre players. But Rags was still a rank novice by Erin\u2019s standards, and rudeness in chess was something she wouldn\u2019t tolerate.<\/p>\n But still, Rags hadn\u2019t played Erin yet tonight. Reluctantly, Erin looked at Pawn.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, but do you think\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium was already shifting from her table. His courteous nature never failed to surprise Erin. She sighed as Rags jumped off of her chair and marched over to her table.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, let\u2019s play. But if you touch my king, I\u2019m going to chop you up, got it?\u201d<\/p>\n The Goblin didn\u2019t answer. She was already rearranging her pieces.<\/p>\n Sighing exasperatedly, Erin waved a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cToren! I\u2019ll have some water.\u201d<\/p>\n The skeleton who had been moving around the room with a huge bowl of Acid Flies turned and nodded. He disappeared into the kitchen and reemerged with a tall glass of water in his bony hand.<\/p>\n There were some benefits to having a skeleton waiter. Not least of which was that Erin could devote all of her time to playing chess. She sat back as Rags studied the board and waited for the first move.<\/p>\n The Goblin played unusual strategies all the time, which made her a delight to duel. By contrast, Pawn had the fundamental moves memorized and played solid games. It won him more games, but Erin had to admit she admired the Goblin\u2019s daring in her aggressive tactics.<\/p>\n Rags\u2019 fingers closed around a pawn, and then the Goblin froze. Her pointed ears twitched, and she stared at the door.<\/p>\n Erin looked up. A few seconds of silence passed, and then she heard someone knocking politely on the door.<\/p>\n \u201cCome in!\u201d<\/p>\n The door slowly swung open. Erin caught a glimpse of a familiar black body and four arms and smiled. Another Worker to play with. But then her thoughts hit a snag. Workers couldn\u2019t leave the city without Pawn. They were\u2014<\/p>\n The Antinium stepped fully into the inn, and Erin froze. She was dreaming. Rags had stabbed her in the chest, and Erin was dying on the table. She\u2019d had a heart attack\u2014or a stroke, and this was the last thing she saw before she died. It had to be that. She had to be dreaming.<\/p>\n Because the Antinium who walked into the inn could not be who she thought he was.<\/p>\n On first glance, he looked like any other Antinium. He had four arms, antennae, large multifaceted eyes, and the two curiously segmented legs all lined with brown-black exoskeleton. That was normal.<\/p>\n But this Antinium was different. He was built slimmer than the Workers, and his carapace might have been a shade darker. But more than that, he resembled someone Erin knew. In every small detail, in every part of his body, from the way he stood to the two swords and two daggers at his side, he looked exactly like\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cKlbkch?\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium turned his head, and Erin felt her heart stop for a moment. He bowed his head to her and approached.<\/p>\n \u201cGood evening. Am I speaking to the [Innkeeper] known as Erin Solstice?\u201d<\/p>\n His voice was exactly the same as Klbkch\u2019s. Erin wrestled with words around a tongue that had stopped working.<\/p>\n \u201cYes\u2014yes I\u2014are you\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAllow me to introduce myself. I am not Klbkch. Please refrain from making this error in judgment at any point in the future. My name is Ksmvr of the Antinium of Liscor. I serve my Queen as Prognugator. I have come on business of the Hive.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t Klbkch. But it was<\/em>. Erin was struck dumb for words. He stood like Klbkch. His swords were the same as Klbkch\u2019s, although the steel was just that instead of the silvery metal. Even the way he walked and talked was\u2014<\/p>\n She was trying to come up with a response and not start crying at the same time while she digested his words.<\/p>\n Ksmvr paused and then nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand my resemblance to my predecessor has caused issues. I apologize for any confusion.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, no\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Erin wanted to say \u2018it\u2019s nothing\u2019, but it would be a lie. She sat still, rigid in her seat as Rags stared hard at Ksmvr. All the other Workers were frozen in their seats. But Pawn\u2014<\/p>\n Ksmvr looked around the room. His silent, studying gaze found each Worker as the other Antinium stared at the floor. Then he spotted Pawn. The Worker hesitated and half-rose from his seat.<\/p>\n Instantly, the air rang as Ksmvr\u2019s blades shot out of their sheathes. The Antinium held all four arms on guard and pointed one of his daggers at Pawn.<\/p>\n \u201cRemain still, Worker.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin gaped. Pawn began trembling, and the other Workers instantly began moving out of the way. Ksmvr advanced, swords at the ready.<\/p>\n \u201cWait. What are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr\u2019s head moved sideways a fraction as he spoke. But his blades never shifted an inch.<\/p>\n \u201cI have come to ascertain the state of the Worker which refers to itself as \u2018Pawn\u2019. I will bring this Worker back into the city with me. I apologize for any inconvenience.\u201d<\/p>\n He stood over Pawn and raised one sword just under the tip of the other Antinium\u2019s chin.<\/p>\n \u201cStand. Make no sudden movements. You will be questioned.\u201d<\/p>\n Meekly, Pawn did as he was instructed. Erin was staring, horrified. It seemed like\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cWait, I don\u2019t understand. Why are you taking him? Has he done something wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr paused. He seemed reluctant to explain.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026It is common knowledge that those Antinium who refer to themselves as individuals or have names are subject to fits of violence and unpredictability. More, I cannot say, but my role is to judge such errant individuals and terminate them if necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n The casual way he said it made Erin\u2019s blood run cold. And now that she was thinking again, she saw Pawn was trembling as Ksmvr held his sword under his chin.<\/p>\n \u201cWait a second. Wait a second. I know Pawn. He hasn\u2019t done anything wrong, and I\u2019ve been playing chess with him every day for the last few weeks. Why are you taking him now?\u201d<\/p>\n Again, Ksmvr paused before replying.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Hive within Liscor has been in\u2014disarray. My appointment to this position was out of necessity. All shall be restored to order shortly. Until then, I carry out my roles.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at Pawn.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will return to the Hive. Any actions will be met with appropriate punishment. Is that clear?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn nodded. He slowly moved with Ksmvr\u2019s blade poking into his back. The Prognugator would have pushed him out the door, but Erin was suddenly in the way.<\/p>\n \u201cHold it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlease move aside, Erin Solstice.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou haven\u2019t explained anything. Pawn did nothing wrong. He has a name, but I was the one who gave it to him. What do you mean you\u2019ll terminate him? And\u2014and why do you look like Klbkch? What\u2019s a Prognugator?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am on business of my Hive. I cannot answer your questions. Please move aside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn spoke. His voice trembled with nerves as he spoke to Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease, Miss Solstice. This is a matter of the Antinium. I knew it would come. Do not interfere\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr moved. His sword flashed, and Pawn screeched<\/em>, clutching a severed antenna.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Worker will remain silent.\u201d<\/p>\n Quaking, Pawn clutched at his bleeding stump and shut up. Ksmvr prodded him forwards, blade tips sinking into the Worker\u2019s exoskeleton, but now Erin was right in front of him.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enough. Pawn is my guest. I won\u2019t let you take him.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr stared at Erin expressionlessly.<\/p>\n \u201cInterfering with my duties is a crime.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou cut<\/em> him for speaking. I\u2019m not letting you anywhere near him unless you explain things. No\u2014better yet, I want to go with him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is unacceptable. Move aside.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI will not request twice. Be warned\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI said no. <\/em>Didn\u2019t you hear me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did. Very well.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin didn\u2019t see the Antinium\u2019s hand move. But she felt something solid strike her so hard she saw stars and tasted blood. Erin stumbled away and heard a furious clatter.<\/em><\/p>\n Toren rushed at Ksmvr, barehanded except for a spoon it had picked up from a table. Ksmvr turned his head calmly, and two of his arms moved.<\/p>\n The hilt of his sword and dagger smashed into the skeleton so hard that the undead construct paused. Ksmvr\u2019s arm blurred again, and suddenly, Toren was headless.<\/p>\n With one leg, the Antinium kicked<\/em> the skeleton across the room, scattering Toren\u2019s bones. He turned calmly back to Pawn.<\/p>\n \u201cMove. Walk slowly without deviation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cW-wait.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin could only see stars. And her jaw was already swelling, but she still staggered towards Ksmvr. She stopped as two daggers pointed her way.<\/p>\n \u201cYour interference has been noted. Your complaints will be heard by my Queen once she has completed her business. Regrettably, she is indisposed at the moment, but you may request an audience at a later date.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI won\u2019t\u2014let you take Pawn. You don\u2019t have to do this.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr paused and then shook his head. He spoke without inflection.<\/p>\n \u201cMy position is temporary. But any possibility of a Worker becoming Aberration must be dealt with swiftly. Interfere and I will be forced to consider you an enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n He opened the door. Pawn meekly walked through it. Ksmvr paused, one hand on the door. He nodded at Erin as the girl stared at him, horrified.<\/p>\n \u201cGood day to you. My apologies for the interruption.\u201d<\/p>\n The door closed behind him softly.<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n Erin stared at the door for a full minute, thoughts whirling, before she moved. She paused only long enough to make sure Toren was reassembling himself. Rags was squatting next to the skeleton, offering it bones and watching with interest as the skeleton pieced itself together one part at a time.<\/p>\n She had no time to wait for the skeleton. Erin ran into the kitchen and reemerged with a frying pan, the biggest one she had. She flung the door open and made it two steps outside before the Workers grabbed her.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2014go of me!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInnkeeper Solstice must not interfere. Innkeeper Solstice must not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet off! I\u2019m going to save Pawn! Let go!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin struggled, but three Workers had her in grips like steel, and the others were surrounding them. They spoke\u2014a group speaking as one.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Prognugator must not be disturbed. The Prognugator will slay all who interfere. Innkeeper Solstice must not die. Innkeeper Solstice must not die.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin struggled. The Workers didn\u2019t want to hurt her. At last, she managed to wriggle out of their grips. She broke free of the mob and ran down the hill towards Liscor.<\/p>\n She made it several miles before the Workers caught up. They weren\u2019t fast, but they didn\u2019t tire. They held her.<\/p>\n \u201cInnkeeper Solstice must not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n She shouted it at the Worker who\u2019d caught her. He flinched, but she was beyond caring.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is that Ksmvr guy doing? Why does he look exactly<\/em> like Klbkch!\u201d<\/p>\n The Worker hesitated and then shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is forbidden to speak of Hive matters to outsiders. This one may not speak.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin snapped. She took a deep breath and shouted in the Worker\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cI am your chess teacher! I am Innkeeper Solstice, and I order<\/em> you to tell me!\u201d<\/p>\n He hesitated. Erin grabbed him by his cool, smooth exoskeleton.<\/p>\n \u201cTell me!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Worker hesitated. He looked at the other Workers surrounding him, and she saw them agree almost as one. It looked hesitantly back at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cThis one\u2014these ones believe the individual known as Pawn will be interrogated.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInterrogated? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTo determine if the individual known as Pawn is Aberration.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if he is?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe will be executed.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin\u2019s blood went cold. She struggled, but the Worker held her.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s crazy! Why? What did he do wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose who are Aberration kill. They are Individual and reject the Hive. They destroy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut Pawn isn\u2019t <\/em>violent!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stopped and stared at the Worker.<\/p>\n \u201cHe isn\u2019t. You know it. I know it. He hasn\u2019t done anything. So he\u2019s not an Aberration, right?\u201d<\/p>\n The Worker hesitated again and stared at his comrades.<\/p>\n \u201cIt may be so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is<\/em> so!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo Worker who has become individual has ever not been Aberration.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNone?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stared at the Worker. He and the others shook their heads.<\/p>\n \u201cPawn is different, though. He is. So\u2014that Ksmvr guy will let him go, right?\u201d<\/p>\n They hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cRight?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf the individual known as Pawn is not Aberration, he may be allowed freedom within the Hive.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin was no good at reading Workers\u2019 expressions. But even she could tell that the Workers didn\u2019t think this was very likely. She stared at them.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going to stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is too late. The Hive will be sealed while the individual known as Pawn is questioned. Innkeeper Solstice will not be able to enter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI must.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is impossible. Innkeeper Solstice must go back to her inn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got to go. I must.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI must go.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is impossible.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n In the end, the Workers left. And they left Erin behind. She stood, holding the heavy frying pan in the middle of the plains, and watched the Workers slowly trudge across the dark plains towards Liscor.<\/p>\n She wanted to run after them. But they\u2019d convinced her\u2014finally convinced her\u2014that even if she followed them there would be nothing she could do. They would enter the Hive, but apparently it would be sealed by the fearsome Antinium Soldiers, who would kill her on sight if she intruded. And Ksmvr would be deep within the Hive, interrogating Pawn for signs of Aberration, whatever that meant.<\/p>\n Erin would never reach him. So she stayed and felt like she was betraying Pawn. But she would never reach him. All Erin could do was pray.<\/p>\n Slowly, Erin walked back towards her inn. Her mind was full of confusion, fear, panic, a whirlwind of emotions. But those thoughts vanished from her head when she heard the shouting.<\/p>\n It came from her inn. Erin stared up the hill and saw a group of dark shapes standing outside the inn. They were yelling something.<\/p>\n \u201cGoblin!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMore of them over there! Kill them!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWatch it! One of them knows magic!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGet it off! There\u2019s a skeleton too! Toss me my sword!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin ran. She charged up the hill as fast as she could. Her inn was lit from the inside, the lamps Toren had lit the only light besides the stars. In the glow from the windows, she could see seven\u2014maybe more people\u2014striking out at Rags and her group of Goblins.<\/p>\n They\u2019d been caught unawares, but the adventurers were already pulling out weapons. One of them\u2014a massive Minotaur\u2014pulled a humongous battle axe from his back and swung it with a roar of fury. Rags dodged the massive blade as it bit into the soil with a shrill cry of alarm. She swung her short sword, but a mage in robes pointed, and the Goblin had to dive or be consumed by the flames that shot from the mage\u2019s staff.<\/p>\n \u201cHey!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Erin didn\u2019t even bother with words. As the adventurers charged, she raised the frying pan and hurled<\/em> it as hard as she could at the Minotaur. The pan flew straight at the massive bull-man\u2019s head, courtesy of Erin\u2019s [Unerring Throw] Skill.<\/p>\n The Minotaur blinked as the pan flew at him. His hand shot up, grabbed the cast-iron skillet by the handle, and halted it in midair.<\/p>\n Erin froze. The Goblins took one look at the Minotaur holding the frying pan and ran. One of the adventurers raised a bow, but Erin ran forwards and kicked<\/em> him in the stomach. He doubled over.<\/p>\n Suddenly, Erin was alone and surrounded by adventurers. They stared at her, confused. One of them\u2014a girl with pointy ears\u2014held up her hand and stopped the other adventurers from attacking. The Minotaur stared at Erin, curious.<\/p>\n He\u2019d stopped the flying frying pan of justice with one hand. Erin gulped and thought fast. Her attack had failed, although Rags and her friends were clear. So that left words.<\/p>\n \u201cHey! What do you think you\u2019re doing?\u201d<\/p>\n The adventurers stared incredulously at her.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you think you\u2019re<\/em> doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI own this place! What are you doing attacking my guests?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGuests?\u201d<\/p>\n A guy with a long mustache gaped at Erin. He stared at the fleeing Goblins.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re Goblins!<\/em> And there\u2019s a skeleton in there!\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed at Toren, who was lying disassembled inside of Erin\u2019s inn.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re my guests. And that\u2019s my<\/em> skeleton you just beat up! This is my inn, and no one kills Goblins around here! Didn\u2019t you read the sign? Does anyone read the damn sign?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The adventurers, or rather, the Silver-rank adventuring group known as the Horns of Hammerad, stared at each other in confusion. The night sky made everything nearly impossible to see. Gerial stared at Erin and then looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a sign?\u201d<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n Erin sat in her inn, staring at the group of men, women, and one Elf and Minotaur as they sat awkwardly across from her. All of them stared alternatively at her and at Toren as the skeleton walked around the inn, cleaning up the Workers\u2019 dishes and the chess sets.<\/p>\n They weren\u2019t about to say anything else, so Erin spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me get this straight. You guys are an adventuring group, and you just happened to drop by.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right. We knew there was an inn in the area, and we wondered if it was still open.\u201d<\/p>\n That came from the Elf-girl, sitting closest to Erin. She was distractingly beautiful, with features that were literally nothing like anything Erin had seen in her world. She smiled politely at Erin, and the girl had to prevent herself from gaping.<\/p>\n Erin looked at the Minotaur instead. He was also something she\u2019d never seen, but she wasn\u2019t as distracted by him. Rather, his bullish head and rippling muscles made her feel like she was talking to a cow that had decided to start working out and was walking around on two legs.<\/p>\n Which, when you got down to it, was pretty much a Minotaur.<\/p>\n \u201cSo you lot came here, saw the inn was full of Goblins, and decided to kill them all, right?\u201d<\/p>\n The adventurers shifted in their seats. One of them shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2014yes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The armed men and women exchanged glances. One literally trapped a finger against her helmet and grimaced in confusion. Another\u2014a guy in armor with a flowing mustache\u2014shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re Goblins. <\/em>They\u2019re monsters. We\u2019re adventurers. I\u2019m sorry Miss, but we were just doing our jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin knew that, but she didn\u2019t have to like it. But they hadn\u2019t killed any Goblins, and she\u2019d made them explain three times already. And they were staring at her, so she decided to change topics.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. So you\u2019re adventurers from up north. You said you had a name\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Horns of Hammerad.\u201d<\/p>\n That came from the Minotaur. He was still staring at Erin curiously, but without threatening to rip her head off, which is what she sort of assumed was Minotaur behavior.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd how did you know the inn was here?\u201d<\/p>\n The man with the mustache cleared his throat awkwardly.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were, ah, here before.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t remember that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe you were out at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria smiled at Erin. She nodded to the skeleton.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I can prove we weren\u2019t doing anything wrong. We were here to meet a certain [Necromancer] at the time. It\u2019s just a guess, but I\u2019m betting you know him.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked at Toren, and the skeleton looked inquiringly back at her. He was still wearing his sword belted to his bony waist, and the skeleton was eying the Horns of Hammerad as if it considered them to be a threat. Then she focused on the [Necromancer] part and groaned through her teeth.<\/p>\n Even when he was gone\u2014Pisces! She spoke slowly, but with a growing sense of resignation.<\/p>\n \u201cI might know him. This, uh, necromancer. Can you describe him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s quite annoying.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin\u2019s head ducked.<\/p>\n \u201cRight, that\u2019s Pisces. Okay, so you know him. And you\u2019re here. And I guess you didn\u2019t see the sign about not killing Goblins. Mistakes were made.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin sighed and tried to relax. She looked at the group of adventurers again.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, what do the Horns of Hammerbad want with me?\u201d<\/p>\n The Minotaur\u2019s eye twitched, but the Elf spoke again. She might be their leader, or maybe it was mustache-guy.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re looking for a place to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin looked blank. She pointed out the window.<\/p>\n \u201cThe city\u2019s that way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but every tavern, inn, and home is full to the rafters with adventurers. There\u2019s nowhere to sleep\u2014not even in a shed. So we came here.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin still looked blank.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis\u2026is an inn, correct? Don\u2019t you have rooms to rent?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Oh. Oh.<\/em> Yeah, I\u2019ve got them. Tons of them. All empty.\u201d<\/p>\n Silence. The Horns of Hammerad exchanged a glance. Ceria coughed politely and smiled at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cCould we perhaps stay here? I promise you we won\u2019t cause any trouble, and we have plenty of coin.\u201d<\/p>\n That had a hollow ring to it after the earlier incident. Erin thought it over, chewing at her lip.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t like people who attack Goblins. They\u2019re my guests, and you chased them off.\u201d<\/p>\n This comment seemed to seriously annoy the Minotaur. He leaned forwards, snorting, but mustache-guy pushed him back in his chair. From his seat, the Minotaur snapped at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cThose creatures are scum. They should be exterminated.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin\u2019s brows snapped together. The other Horns of Hammerad groaned, and the Elf kicked backwards, hitting the Minotaur\u2019s shin. All that happened was that she winced.<\/p>\n Mustache-guy smoothed his mustaches and looked concerned. He spoke to Erin, attempting a charming smile.<\/p>\n \u201cI assure you, Mistress, um, Erin. This was all a mistake. If we\u2019d seen the sign, we wouldn\u2019t have attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHm.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin eyed the adventurers. She still wasn\u2019t happy, not least because they were in her way while she was still thinking about Pawn. She made up her mind rapidly.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, you didn\u2019t kill the Goblins. So I guess I\u2019ll forget that. But if you stay here, you will either obey my rules or you can sleep outside. Got it?\u201d<\/p>\n All of the Horns of Hammerad nodded at once. Only the Minotaur did not. Erin stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cHow about you, bull-guy?\u201d<\/p>\n His eyebrow twitched, and everyone else in the inn winced. The Minotaur stared at Erin hard, but she didn\u2019t look away.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone else seems like they\u2019ll be okay, but are you going to obey my rules, or do I have to kick you out?\u201d<\/p>\n The thought of her kicking the Minotaur out was ridiculous, but Erin was too angry to care. The Minotaur stared hard at her, blew out air exasperatedly, and finally nudged the Elf-girl aside as she silently kicked him under the table.<\/p>\n \u201cUpon my honor, I promise. I will not attack any of your guests unless provoked.\u201d<\/p>\n That seemed like it was all Erin was going to get. She nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, then. In that case, I have a few rooms upstairs. Enough for all of you. But I don\u2019t have any pillows.\u201d<\/p>\n The Horns of Hammerad smiled in relief. The Elf spoke to Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s fine. We can make do.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin nodded and stood up. Her mind was blank. What were you supposed to say at times like this? Guests. She had guests. She picked a direction and put her mouth on autopilot.<\/p>\n \u201cYour rooms are upstairs. Go ahead and pick whatever one you want. We might have to get two beds for cow-guy, but it should be fine.\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed at the kitchen.<\/p>\n \u201cBreakfast is in the morning. There\u2019s no alcohol, but I\u2019ve got plenty of food. There\u2019s an outhouse outside\u2014just be careful that you don\u2019t walk into a monster. If you see a huge moving rock, shut the door and stay quiet. Don\u2019t go into the kitchen if you want something to eat\u2014there are jars of acid lying around. Don\u2019t drink anything green in general. No killing Goblins, the skeleton works for me, and if you see an ant-guy with two swords and two daggers, hit him and make sure he doesn\u2019t go anywhere. Got it?\u201d<\/p>\n The Horns of Hammerad hesitated, then nodded. Erin waited and then shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s about it. I\u2019ll make some food if you want anything.\u201d<\/p>\n She stomped out of the common room and into the kitchen. Bemused, the adventurers watched her go. For a few seconds, they heard her talking to the skeleton, and then Erin walked back out. She pointed at the adventurers.<\/p>\n \u201cOne more thing. Do any of you play chess?\u201d<\/p>\n Again, all of the adventurers had to exchange glances of confusion. At last, the mustached man looked back at Erin and raised one eyebrow.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s \u2018chess\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin sighed.<\/p>\n Hollowstone Deceivers (Rock Crabs)<\/em> by Enuryn<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" When Erin woke up the next day, her eyes were tired and she was full of bleh. Bleh being her word for her mood. \u201cBleh.\u201d Toren paused and stared at her. Erin blinked at the walking skeleton with blue flames in its eyes and made weak shooing motions until it went away. She didn\u2019t feel […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693081,349],"tags":[],"twi_volume":[11693130],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-13652","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-1","category-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wanderinginn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/HollowStone_Deceiver_Archival.png\")
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