They followed him through the crowds to a large building with a wide open porch that stretched across the entire side that faced the street. A number of people sat at tables lingering over drinks and plates of food. Callindra strictly reminded herself that she needed a bath first.
“Show me to the baths first if you please Master Castille.” She said, offering him a small stack of gold coins.
“Your coin isn’t necessary Callindra.” He said, “If you truly have a healer his services are what I require for a night’s lodging.”
Kain stepped forward with a compassionate smile on his face. “I will do what I can Innkeep. Please show me to the one who requires healing.”
Thadrick gave him a surprised look, obviously not expecting the hulking half orc to be the healer. He led them through doors and down hallways to a room with a heavy locked door. Taking a key from where it hung around his neck he opened the door and opened it.
The scene beyond was one of horror. A young person sat in the center of the room clad in torn rags rocking back and forth. The figure did not look up as they entered, but kept the rhythmic motion, hands occasionally clawing at the clothing and the skin beneath.
“She has been thus ever since her mother died.” Thadrick said softly, “My poor Lillian is the one who saw her change. Imagine seeing the love in a mother’s face turn to murderous rage.”
“I fear there may be little I can do for her sir, but I will try.” Kain went to sit across from the girl, folding his muscular bulk into a sitting position across from her. She ignored him, but after a few moments of sitting silently a gentle white light began to shine around him and a low rumbling chant rolled from his lips.
Callindra was surprised to hear him speaking in his native Orcish and had no idea what the words were but they had a marked effect on the girl. Her rocking slowed and stopped, then she raised her head to look at him through a curtain of stringy hair. Kain reached out a huge clawed hand and she tentatively rested hers on his palm.
The light began to creep from his hand to hers, gradually flowing over her until it surrounded them both. Kain didn’t stop chanting, but the tone became lower and slower. After a few minutes Lillian’s eyes closed and the strain and fear on her face slowly faded. By the time Kain’s chant finished she was sleeping peacefully, stretched out on the floor. The scratches on her skin were healed over and she breathed easily.
“Illimin has granted me the grace to take her pain.” He said in a weary voice. “I do not know if it will last sir, nor do I know if taking those memories will give her peace, but I have done what I can.”
There were tears streaming down Thadrick’s face and he wordlessly took Kain’s hand in both of his. After taking several deep breaths he wiped his face, “You are welcome to stay beneath my roof as long as you desire.” He choked out. “I’ll ask my boys to have a lookout for your friend.”
He picked up his daughter and gently put her in a bed on the far side of the room. She only made the slightest sound of sleepy protest as he did so.
“Much appreciated Thadrick.” Callindra said, drawing attention away from Kain who was obviously uncomfortable with the man’s thanks. “If you would be so kind as to tell me where I might find the baths?”
The innkeeper carefully closed the door on his sleeping daughter and moved back up the corridor. He opened a door to a large room with an iron key on his belt and gestured them inside. “Ring the bell for anything you need.” He said, “My staff will provide you with the best we have to offer.”
The others ordered food while Callindra asked to be shown the baths. She was soaking in luxury with a tumbler of ale on the stone ledge next to her when a figure slipped in nearly silently. If it hadn’t been for the light breeze from the outside that accompanied his entrance she might never have noticed.
“Reed.” She said in a conversational tone of voice. “Didn’t see you at the gate.”
“What in th bleeding hells are you doin in here?” Reed hissed, “Takin a bath? You getting all girly and stuff while they’re out there plotting ta kill you an yer mates? Startin with th one what’s rotting inna cell?”
“What I’m doing is keeping up appearances.” She said calmly, taking a deep swallow of ale. “This is what they expect. Once the sun goes down, we’ll go and retrieve Holt. When we find him the next morning they won’t have anything to say about it since they specifically told me they hadn’t seen him or imprisoned him. In front of half a city’s worth of witnesses.”
“As if they cares a rats balls for witness.” Reed said, “They does what they wants and nobody says boo cause if they do they’re next. You gotta get him and scram afore they burn down th god rotting inn.”
“They won’t burn down the inn Reed.” She said calmly rinsing the last of the soap out of her raggedly cut hair.
Benjamin Fisher-Merritt (author) 