After such a long journey for Zarath and Tharon, so many things had happened from their time in Vaerthruin meeting Lyra and her family at The Barking Dog, their time at the temple of Vrak'Thura, now the group had one more on this last stretch of the journey, Lyra had joined them quickly proving her worth and bonding with the two boys as well as Hura the groups four legged companion ever loyal to her master and bonded Zarath who had on this trip also sworn an oath as a newly appointed Raxvashk or paladin. But now before the group over the last of the brown hills stood the walled town of Frontier the groups destination, the wall surrounding the town was a wooden palisade usually seen around military forts that where just constructed by traveling armies, some buildings looking more permeant then others, a few tents just outside the main gate where a few people possible lived or maybe they were temp shelters for travelers, The tallest building could be seen in the center of town from the groups vantage point a large official looking building with a clock tower sticking up towards the sky, an offset building attached to its side was also prominent a tavern or barracks of some kind the sign to faraway to truly make out. At least dozen armed guards patrolled the top of the wall with a few watch towers at either end, and a small group of guards checking people in at the town's gatehouse the only part of the wall made of stone.
"Wow there are more people here than I've ever seen even in Vaerthruin." Lyra said as she looked at all the wagons and people moving into the town. Her tail wagging slightly behind her.
"Didn't you grow up in one of our largest settlements." Tharon asked as he scratched his belly, yawning out loud. "I mean there was a lot of people there to."
Lyra gave Tharon one of her famous pouts. "Yeah, that was mostly other wolfkin and the occasional human, I mean look down there I can see at least two dwarfs and is that a wood elf or a high elf, I can never tell the difference." She pointed towards one of the tents outside the town walls. Zarath came up beside her giving her a head a soft pat ruffing her fur and messing with her ears.
"Heeeey what was that for." Lyra pulled away from Zarath and tried to fix the fur on her head, now pouting at Zarath but not at all disliking the attention from him.
"Nothing I just think it's cute that you got excited over seeing other people." Zarath quickly realized he called Lyra cute, his ears twitched atop his head. "I mean no I just think that the way you acted was cute not that." Tharon gave Zarath a gently push.
"Dude shut up your making it worse." Tharon rolled his eyes and started walking down towards the town's gate. "When you two are done being awkward I will be at the gate waiting for you." Tharon waved as he walked down the hill.
Zarath and Lyra exchanged a sheepish glance before following Tharon down the hill towards the gate. As they approached, the sounds of the bustling town grew louder, a blend of merchants hawking their wares, children playing, and the clatter of hooves on Cobblestone streets. The sight of so many different races mingling together filled them with a sense of excitement and curiosity. The guards at the gatehouse eyed them warily but allowed them to pass after a brief inspection of their belongings. Once inside, they were greeted by the vibrant chaos of Frontier. Stalls lined the streets, selling everything from fresh produce to finely crafted weapons. The scent of baked bread and roasted meat wafted through the air, making their stomachs rumble in anticipation.
"Where should we start?" Lyra asked, her eyes darting around to take in all the sights.
"I suggest we find an inn first," Zarath replied, scanning the crowd for any sign of a lodging house. "We need a place to rest and gather information."
As they navigated the busy streets, they couldn't help but marvel at the diversity of the town's inhabitants. Dwarves haggled with merchants over the price of gemstones, elves conversed in melodic tones, and humans from various regions shared tales of their travels. It was a true melting pot of cultures and experiences. Their search led them to a modest inn named "The Golden Hart," its sign depicting a majestic stag leaping through a forest. The innkeeper, a stout and jovial dwarf named Bera, welcomed them warmly and offered them a room for a reasonable price. After settling in, they made their way to the common room, where the lively atmosphere continued. As they sipped on their drinks and listened to the chatter around them, they couldn't help but feel a sense of camaraderie with the other travelers. Stories of daring adventures, lost treasures, and mythical creatures filled the air, each tale more thrilling than the last. It wasn't long before they found themselves sharing their own journey with a group of eager listeners.
After taking his fill of bread and meat, Zarath left his companions Tharon in the middle of telling an exaggerated version of their fight with the blighted wyvern that started their journey holding up the wyvern bone spear to prove his point. Hura stuck close behind her master bobbing and weaving around the people that filled the inns common room. Zarath leaned over the bar where Bera was cleaning a tankard with an old rag, She looked up at the young wolfkin and smiled tossing the rag over her stout shoulder and fixing her apron, her hair was tied back in a blazing braid of orange and red, her accent was thick telling all she was one of the dwarfs from their homeland in the Thrumdar mountains to the north west of here.
"Aye, what can I do fer ye, lad?" Bera asked, her voice carrying the melodic lilt of the Thrumdar mountains. "Ye look like ye've seen a fair bit o' trouble, dinnae ye? How aboot a wee dram o' our finest ale to warm yer bones? It's on the house fer a brave soul like yerself." She gave him a big smile as she started to fill the tankard she had just cleaned back up with the light brown ale.
"No thank you I am alright ma'am besides I am still only fourteen and not much of a drinker." Zarath's ears twitched and he jumped a little bit as Brea all but slammed the tankard down onto the counter some of the ale spilling out.
Bera chuckled and shook her head, her braid swaying with the motion. "Now, lad, there's no need fer such formalities. 'Ma'am' makes me feel like an old crone. You can call me Bera or Mrs. Amberbranch, whichever suits ye better. We're all friends here, aren't we?"
Zarath's ears twitched again, and he offered a shy smile. "Alright, Mrs. Amberbranch. I appreciate the hospitality."
"That's better." Bera nodded with a smile as she replied. "Aye, we dwarves of the Thrumdar mountains take pride in our hospitality." her eyes twinkling with warmth. "Now, what brings ye to our humble town of Frontier? It seems yer journey has been quite the adventure already from what yer friends been tellen everyone."
Zarath glanced around the bustling common room, his gaze momentarily resting on Tharon, who was still animatedly recounting their battle with the wyvern. "Tell me Mrs. Amberbranch have you ever heard of a Warden by the name of Emrick." As the name left Zarath's mouth the entire inn went quite Zarath's fur stood on end as he felt the gaze of most people looking at him the two human men sitting next to him at the bar reaching for the hilts of their swords.
Bera's jovial demeanor shifted instantly, her eyes narrowing and her posture stiffening. She leaned in closer to Zarath, her voice dropping to a low, stern tone with a distinct Scottish lilt. "Lad, ye'd best be careful speakin' that name in these parts. Emrick is nae a name tae be tossed around lightly. He's known to bring trouble wherever he goes, and there's many here who'd rather forget his existence. Ye'd do well to keep yer questions to yerself, lest ye find yerself in a heap o' trouble." Zarath could tell something was off about the sudden change in mood, granted it would be strange for a wolfkin to be asking after a known human warden, but he didn't expect this kind of reaction let alone such hostility was this Emrick guy his grandfather told him to find that bad of a guy.
Suddenly Zarath felt a hand slap down on his right shoulder on instinct alone he pushed all of his weight back and tried to swing with his claws as his hand reached for his bronze short sword at his hip, only for his arm to be grabbed and to feel a boot press against his ass before he was kicked forward into the counter spilling the tankard Bera had placed there for him. Hura lunged at her master's attacker catching the man's cloak and pulling him off balance and onto the floor, Tharon was quickly on top of his friend's attacker using his heavier weight to hold the man down with his foot alone spear pointed at his chest, While Lyra stepped in front of Zarath both her curved knives drawn and ready.
"Hold yer weapons, lads!" Bera's voice rang out sharply, cutting through the tension. She stepped forward, her hands raised in a placating gesture. "This is all just a big misunderstandin'. Stand down, all of ye." Tharon hesitated but eventually lifted his foot off the man's chest, lowering his spear. Lyra, too, slowly sheathed her knives, though she kept a wary eye on the man on the floor.
Bera moved to help the man up, dusting off his cloak with a firm yet gentle touch. "Emrick, ye daft fool, ye scared the life out of the poor lad!" she chided, her tone a mix of exasperation and amusement. She turned to Zarath and his friends, her expression softening. "Ye'll have to forgive us. This was nae meant to be a scuffle. Emrick here just wanted to see who ye were, and to be honest, none of us expected three teenagers to fight back against a warden, even if ye didnae know he was the man ye were lookin' for."
Emrick, removed his hood exposing his brown skin for all to see in the inn, his bald head shining slightly, his face was weathered but what caught Zarath and his friends off guard was his slightly pointed ears, they thought Emrick was a human not a half-elf. Emrick looked over the three before him and extended a gloved hand his voice deep as he spoke.
"Sorry to have scared you their young man, this has become a habit since most people that ask for me by name only come to prove their skill in combat against a veteran of the Wardens." Emrick had a small smile as he waited for Zarath to shake his hand. Zarath reached out but quickly pulled his hand back growling deeply.
"Good eye there not many people see the hidden dagger I keep strapped to my wrist." Emrick lowered his hand. As he continued to examine the three wolfkin standing before him. "All of you follow me and Bera dear while I talk with these three can you fill my order like always."
The group followed behind Emrick as he led them up to a second floor sitting area, as he sat down in what the group could only assume was his normal spot in the inn, he kicked his feet up onto the table boots slamming down onto the wood.
"So, what brings you three looking for me if you aren't here to fight me." Emrick let out a deep sigh as he leaned back in his chair the wood creaking slightly underneath him. Zarath looked to his friend Tharon who gave him a slight nod, this was the man they were told to find after all.
"My grandfather Hrol Dhran of the Iron Claw tribe has sent me and my friend Tharon to ask you for the cure to the blight." Zarath stared at Emrick trying to judge his reaction.