I wonder which calamity will hit?
Being the first one to wake up, Crim sits in the semi-small stage coach and lets his thoughts wander. Glancing at Will's backpack he almost lets his curiosity take over, barely managing to stop himself from looking inside while Will is sleeping. Better to leave it alone than risk a fight. And so Crim decides to rest his head against the side wall and stare out the window, continuing to think about the impending calamity.
Never seen one before, most I know is there's supposed to be a massive crack in the sky and then lotsa people die. Thinkin bout it, ain't this the first time a calamity has hit a nation capital? Eh, not like it matters. Long as I live it might be a nice show.
Slowly the night passes, the carriage gently rocking as they grow closer. After half a day the carriage stops, the coachman knocks on the door to tell the pair they'll be taking a break to let the horses rest. Will, somewhat annoyed by the bright morning sun nods in response, trying his best not to scold the driver for waking him up. Meanwhile, Crim steps outside to stretch. At first Will tries to get some more sleep but with the sun peeking through the carriages one window he just can't seem too. Grumbling, he joins Crim outside.
"Bloody sun given me a damn 'eadache. Wish the thing woulda waited another five hours before blindin me."
"Not a mornin person ain't ya Will?"
"Never have been, never will be."
As the two stretch the coachman stares at Will. Unlike most Abbey people has dark skin, something only seen in travelers. At first he tries to hold back his curiosity but eventually the elderly coachman can't help but ask. "If ya don't me askin can ya tell me where ya from? People like ya are a rarity round 'ere." Crim looks at the coachman than Will, curiosity also filling his eyes.
Will sighs at first but answers. "Family's from tha Urbi Islands down south. Escaped from the wars ta the United Bali Kingdoms before decidin ta settle 'ere in the Abbey after a calamity hit their 'ome town." For a few seconds there's an awkward silence, the coachman breaking it after a few seconds to apologize. "Sorry mate, welcome ta Abbey. Glad ya chose us outta the other five powers." Will shakes his head and says it's okay, moving back inside the carriage to try and get some more sleep if he can. Crim, on the other hand moves to pet the horses. After enjoying their soft mane for a bit he eventually settles up front. "Hey! Can I sit up front?" The coachman smiles and nods in response. "Sure thing young lady."
Defeat.
Crim, looking at his small feminine hands can only sigh in acceptance. Because of his looks people get confused. It can be a tad annoying but it's not the worst thing in the world. So after feeding the horses the coachman drives the carriage forward. Despite being so old he maintains a youthful energy, choosing to chat away while steering.
"So? What has the Abbey girl and Urbi man travelin together? Oh! Are you one of those high up aristocrats an 'es ya guardsman?
"If I say yes will I get a discount?"
"Not anymore. Ain't no noble I know worth a silver miss the opportunity ta gloat instead a askin for a discount."
"Damn it. I shoulda said yes."
Crim leans forward, letting on another defeated sigh. Looking at him the coachmen lets out a small laugh before focusing on the dirt path in front of him.
"Do ya think your friend will tell me about his home? Abbey is nice but were nothin but fields a grass. I hear tha Urbi islands are nothin but variety so there's got ta be lotsa interestin stories."
"Maybe. I can ask if ya give us that discount."
"I'll get my stories elsewhere then."
Victory is impossible, discounts are in fact very deniable.
Silently the pair sit, Crim occasionally glances at the horses wondering he might be able to ride one. The coachman, as if reading his thoughts, looks at Crim and shakes his head. With nothing to do and unwilling to wake up Will Crim falls asleep. After another half a day the pair arrive in Lindbourough. At mid-day the streets run full of people and carriages looking to get around the small town. Hawkers scream out trying to get people to but as the elders walk, mumbling about about back then the streets were for everyone. At their final stop, near the city center at the local coachmans guild the pair wake up at last.
"So what we wanna do Will? Get a meal an wander before gettin an 'otel for the night or jus call it while the suns up?"
"I see ya droolin at the food stalls. Lets get somethin ta eat. We'll call it after kay."
"Hell yeah! Cmon, let's get some lamb chops! Ah, I paid for the carriage so this one's ya kay kay?"
"Sure thing kid."
Crim immediately throws a glare at Will. In response Will shrugs, walking ahead and almost leaving Crim behind. Seeing this Crim lets out a heavy sigh, going silent until the pair arrive at a near empty restaurant. After a moment they move to an empty table near the corner of the restaurant, Will looking at the menu while Crim pulls out his pocket radio and headphones. Out of habit he turns to "Harry's Happy Hour." Unexpectedly though, there's nothing but static. For the first time in five years Harry has gone silent.
"Looks like pigs can fly."
Ignoring Will's odd look, Crim reminisces on how Harry would say the day he shuts up will be the day pigs fly. Will looks on curiously as Crim plays with the radio, finding another station to listen too. "So where'd ya get the radio Crim? Oh, the red head will have a plate a lamb chops."
Crim nods to the waiter then responds.
"Gift from Tommy."
Shock!
"That miserly ol bloke really gave someone else a gift? Was the world supposed to end taday or somethin?"
"Well he did steal the radio from a rich bastard before givin it ta me if it makes it more believable."
Will nods, thinking, yup that's the Tommy I know. After the pair eat they move to the cheapest hotel and get ready to buy a room. They end up at the "cat's tail inn" , a small and lively almost pub-like two-story hotel thanks to the diner on the first floor. Factory workers and stall vendors sit together playing games while enjoying a nice pint a beer. At the front of the counter stands a tall burly man. With his thick brown hair, even thicker beard, and generally hairy body it might be better to call him a gorilla.
"Two rooms right?" He says looking at Crim and Will. "Just one, we can share a bed kay Crim." The innkeep flashes a look of concern but drops it after Crim shakes his head. "It's okay, he's my guardsman." Annoyed, Will sighs, deciding to go along with it after seeing Crim look at him with an apologetic smile.
"Two people, five coppers each. So just a silver, throw in two more coppers each and you'll get access ta our breakfast drop offs."
"Tha breakfast good?" Crim asked
Will looks at Crim as if he's been replaced by some evil clone. "Crim tha cheapskate spending extra? I'll be damned pigs really can fly!" In response Crim proudly shows off his middle finger to will. "If the food's worth sellin it's worth eatin. 'Otel will be split but I'll cover the food." Will can already see Crim arguing the food's his since he paid for it first thing in the morning. "Sure kid." And now both middle fingers are raised. Sighing Will flicks Crims head after taking their room key. "Room two hundred. First door to your left up on tha second floor."
Opening their room the pair find out it's smaller than expected. Inside is a medium bed, a tiny nightstand on its right with a poorly draped large window right above it. To the right of the room is a two person couch pointing towards a tele, a mid-sized table in between the two. "Ya can have the bed Will, we'll split the meal in the mornin too." Despite how aged and uncomfortable the couch looks Crim hops on and relaxes as if he was home. "Any Idea what ya want ta watch on tha tele Will? Ya got first dibs." Looking at Crim suddenly being so nice Will can't help but put on a look of clear confusion.
Ignoring that Crim ask Will again. "Well, how's bout tha news. If Harry's gone silent better ta look elsewhere for info." Must just be tha kid's way a payin me back for the 'otel stay, Will thinks. Unfortunately, no matter what channel the pair turn too there's nothing but static. "Must be fresh broken. Considering I didn't see anyone else complainin we should be the only ones with a dud. Oh well." Seeing the tele fail Crim puts on a smug smile and pulls the headphones out of his pocket radio, swapping to the only other news station he knows. Unfortunately, there's still only static.
"Hm?"
Crim's radio has never stopped working before. Even when he used it as a weapon or spilled tea over it, it always remained the same. It still has it's usual shine but it can't connect to any station. Suddenly, they hear outside the hallway start to get noisy. It's faint but the pair can hear customers complaining about electronics not working. Just as their collective annoyance reaches it's peak one of them mumbles something that shuts everyone up instantly.
"Ain't this tha first sign of a calamity?"
Silence.
Crim and Will watch on silently as the innkeep from earlier tries to calm everyone down, clear fear fading into his eyes. "Impossible, the calamites don't move from their region. Besides, the shifters woulda let us know." The crowd starts to calm down, still, some head outside to look at the sky. It's cloudy, a deep black showing a brewing storm ready to fall at any moment.
"Hey Crim was it storming like that before we checked in?"
"Nope."
Suddenly, Crims radio plays that same familiar voice.
"Welcome to Harold's Happy Hour, just wanted to say before I go silent for a while…two more days. Till then, if anyone showed to Lindbourough, only till then is it safe. Take care of yourself everyone! Harry out, I'll be there so maybe we can watch the calamity together!"
Will looks at the darkened sky one last time before glancing at Crim. "Hey kid, are we really safe here? I know all your stories but to be in the outskirts of a calamity…Ya sure Harry can help us?" Crim, still staring at the sky wears a solemn expression and nods. He will never forget his first Calamity. He will never forget the first time he heard "Harry's Happy Hour." Just as the pair start to walk in it starts to drizzle, a lone figure hiding out of sight watching pair through a rain made curtain.
"Found it."