Shaynen woke up on a tiled floor. Puzzling him at first until he recognized it as the floor in the town hall. He sat up and stretched.

  ”ah, good morning. Shaynen, right?”

  Shaynen turned to the former caretaker with a cup of coffee. He held out the cup to him.

  “Coffee?” He asked and Shaynen shook his head.

  “No, I don’t partake.” Shaynen said, he stood up and stretched fully. “What time is it?”

  “Little after nine, you fell asleep outside. Venkata brought you in.” He said.

  “That’s the mayor’s name?” Shaynen asked.

  “Right, I suppose we haven’t properly introduced ourselves.” The former caretaker laughed. “You can understand why.”

  “Suppose so,” Shaynen said. “Though I imagine it would still be polite to do.” The former caretaker laughed.

  “You’re probably right, but politeness can fall by the wayside in dire times.” The former caretaker said.

  “I don’t think they should.” Shaynen said simply. Continuing to stretch by bending backwards until he reached the ground. “Our manners and behaviors are the only things we can control when the world turns upside down.”

  “I-.” The caretaker watched, surprised by the flexibility. “I guess you’re right.”

  “Halvard, if you wouldn’t mind.” The mayor, Venkata, said. Emerging from the back room. The caretaker nodded, raising the cup to Shaynen.

  “Cheers, then. You did a good job,” The caretaker said. Then he left the town hall. Shaynen turned to the mayor and waited.

  “Suppose you want your reward then.” Mayor Venkata said roughly.

  “Actually, I arrived looking for directions.” Shaynen said, “If you could spare a map or some directions to the nearby city, I’d be grateful.”

  “And the money?” Mayor Venkata asked, watching Shaynen suspiciously.

  “I don’t need it, I think it’d be better served among the people.” Shaynen said. “I mean- I don’t speak for everyone. Just me.”

  “I see. You came into town to hel;p fix our problem and want nothing in return?” Mayor Venkata asked.

  “I didn’t even know there was a problem. I kinda stumbled into this by accident.” Shaynen admitted. Pulling his hair down to readjust it for the day. “I was lost in the forest and looking for directions.”

  “And you were trying to find the city of Strora and got lost in the forest, happened upon my town and solved a mystery no one else has managed to live through, and on top of that. You want no reward?” Mayor Venkata said.

  “More or less, yes.” Shaynen said with a half shrug. Mayor Venkata stared at him with scrutiny. Trying to gauge how honest he was.

  “You really mean that.” He said, surprised. He scoffed and put his hands on his belt. “Well, I don’t know what to say. Except, thank you.” Shaynen smiled.

  “I better get back to the rest of the group. I’m sure they’re wondering where I am.” Shaynen said. “And you’re welcome.” He left the town hall. The town was sleepier than usual. What was left of the manor was nothing but piles of ash that were blowing away quickly. There was a deep crater where the cavern had been hiding. Nothing in it was recognizable anymore. The bodies that had been in it were long gone. Nothing but ash that was spreading in the winds to the four corners of the world.

  Shaynen ran to the tavern. Inside the tavern keeper nodded to him and in the same corner he’d left them, the party were at breakfast. The table piled with toast, eggs, sausage and slabs of ham. Pancakes and butter with syrup and jams. Fresh fruit cut into a giant bowl. Buttermilk biscuits smothered in sausage gravy.

  You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

  “Shaynen! There you are.” Kilek called. Waving him over. “Beginning to think you’d taken the money and run.” The table laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” Shaynen asked as he sat down.

  “We were debating you.” Thunder said as she cut a bite of eggs. “We came to the conclusion you must be a monk or holy acolyte.”

  “Yeah, I’m an acolyte of the Temple of Dreams.” Shaynen said. “What does that have to do with taking the money and running?”

  “Most holy folk don’t put much stock in material possessions. Like money.” Jiit explained. “Those that do, are usually more obvious about it.”

  “Oh, I see. I think.” Shaynen said. Grabbing a piece of plain toast. “There’s so much food.”

  “Yeah, we didn’t even order anything.” Mayhem said. Her plate filled with everything on offer. “We woke up to the smell of something cooking and then all this came out for us!”

  “The town is showing its gratitude. Don’t you feel how much lighter the whole place feels?” Thunder said.

  “I think it’s a bit much,” Jiit said. Cutting up the ham steaks. “There’s not enough of us to eat all this.”

  “I could eat all this.” Mayhem said.

  “You and me both!” Kilek laughed. His laugh was rich and deep. Echoing off the walls.

  “We have a real question to consider.” Thunder said. “Where do we go from here?”

  “To the city, Strora. There’s plans to crash a wedding, remember?” Shaynen asked. “We have to stop it.”

  “We don’t have to, but you have a point.” Kilek said. “And royals always tend to pay very well.”

  “It’s not all about money and riches.” Shaynen rolled his eyes.

  “Sure it isn’t.” Mayhem said with half a shrug. “But life is sure a lot easier when there's coin in your pocket.”

  “Food in your belly,” Kilek added.

  “A place of your own.” Thunder agreed.

  “And clean linens.” Jiit said, taking a sniff of his clothes and grimacing.

  “Gods praise that!” Kilek said, lifting a toast. “Long days and may a mouse never leave our cupboards with a tear in his eye.” The rest of the party took up the cups to toast.

  “To Strora then!” Mayhem said, after a long drink of her black coffee.

  “Aye, to a royal wedding.” Kilek said.

  “I suggest we stay on the trail of the Black Antlers.” Jiit said, finishing his breakfast. “They are mobilizing quickly, and if we don’t step up then by the time someone does it might be too late.”

  “Fair assumption.” Thunder agreed. “After breakfast we’ll start for the city.” Kilek and Mayhem made good on their promise to finish off the food. Once the rest of the party had finishing eating, they stopped using their plates and just ate from the platters and bowls themselves. Practically licking them clean.

  The tavern keeper and his wife came to take the dishes and Shaynen helped bring the dishes to the kitchen and even helped wash some of them. Meanwhile the rest of the party went to the mayor to collect their reward and discuss their next moves.

  “I’ve taken the liberty of getting a map sorted for the lot of you.” Mayor Venkata said as the party entered. He looked them over. “Where’s-”

  “Shaynen stayed behind to help the tavernkeeper with chores.” Thunder said. The mayor smiled and nodded.

  “That one’s something else. All he wanted was a map instead of the gold. But I imagine the rest of you have different ideas.” He said, also producing the pouch of gold. “200 gold, a little more for the extra help.”

  “Thank you, this is much appreciated.” Jiit said, taking the pouch and the map. “This is a map of the surrounding area?”

  “Indeed. Everything in the kingdom, from the mountain borders to the sea.” The mayor said. “It’s an old map so some of the points and roads may be a bit inaccurate. But it’s a map from my adventuring days and it may have some good information in my old annotations.”

  “Thank you, I’ll give it to Shaynen when we leave.” Jiit said. “We’ll be heading to that city to investigate more to do with the cult.”

  “That’s noble of you. Glad to hear it.” Mayor Venkata said. “I wish I could do more to help.”

  “If we think of anything, we’ll ask.” Thunder said. “I suppose a ride or some steeds would be too much to ask?”

  “Unfortunately, there aren’t many donkeys here and even fewer horses. The farmlands need them for their ploughs.” Mayor Venkata said. “I haven’t had a horse myself in years.”

  “Understandable, thank you anyway.” Thunder said, “We’ll be heading off soon.”

  Very well, I understand the people of the town might want to show their gratitude.” The mayor chuckled. “I hope you have enough room in your packs.” The party left and returned for Shaynen giving him the map. Just as the mayor said, the townspeople did come and bring gifts. Mostly of food but blankets and clothing were also given. The party’s packs were filled to the brim when they set out on the road.

  Even though Shaynen had the map, he brought up the rear. Waving and calling goodbyes for as long as there were people waving and calling to him.