The sun was now halfway hidden behind the mountains painting the atmosphere with red and orange as Torin reached the town of Willsden on the east side gate. The town was surrounded by a thirty-foot stone wall to protect it from any threats in the open world. Torin walked over to the draw bridge when one of the guards spotted him. They were dressed in chain mail armor wearing conical helmets on their heads, metal armored boots, and a sword sheathed on their sides while holding a spear. A long green cloth tabard covered their armor representing the towns colors, with a pine tree symbol on the chest.
"Who goes there," one of them said looking down at Torin with his eyes locked on the lepidain. "Oh, it's that red lizard again, I guess you were able to kill those bandits and survived, seeing you standing there."
"Sorry to disappoint you," Torin said mockingly with a bored look on his face. "But I'm not looking to die anytime soon, now could you open the gates, I'd like to see the captain of the guards before he retires for the day."
"Whatever," the guard said with disdain. He ordered the men to lower the draw bridge and open the gate.
The wooden draw bridge made of cedar wood came down with a clanking sound, and then the black metal gate behind the draw bridge came up opening the way into the town, Torin then walked in. Like most towns, and villages it had a wide opening with gray stone bricks forming a circle like road that was one hundred feet in diameter. Around it was five roads leading to different parts of the town, and Torin knew which one to take to go to the office of the guard captain where he would get paid for the head he was carrying.
The streets were lit up by lanterns, illuminating the houses made of white limestone with wooden frames and green colored roofs. Some houses were two stories tall while others were three, and sometimes he would come up to stalls that people would use to sell goods. most of the towns folk had gone indoors for the day, leaving the streets filled mostly with the night watch guards. And they all greeted Torin the same way they always did, with their eyes narrowed and their hands on the hilt of their swords. Torin was used to this by now, and it did not matter to him if they attack, as his skill was far beyond theirs.
After a few minutes Torin reached the towns barracks which was a building that housed some of the guards. It was a long three-story building made of grey bricks that made it look like a small square castle. He knocked on the front door that led to the office of the guard captain.
"Alright alright come in Torin," said a voice inside.
The hinges squeaked as Torin opened the door, and when into the room.
"How did you know it was me Marek," asked Torin knowing the name of the captain he associated for months.
"You're the only one who shows up at this time of night, right when I'm about to end my shift for the day," he said. "That and you are the only mercenary here in this town, and after this last job you did, we may not need any more for a while.
Torin walked over to the light brown hardwood desk that was cluttered with paper, and ink wells. Marek sat there with a tired look on his face, he was a middle-aged man who had gray and black hair, with medium tanned skin, and several scars that showed his fair share of battles.
Torin put the brown cloth bag on the desk, and Marek opened it up revealing the head of the bandit leader. The captain looks at the face and was able to recognize it.
"Ah yes, Nilas was his name, he was one of the towns guards," Marek said. "I remember training him and arguing with him often. I guess he got bored with his lifestyle and decided to use his skills for a life of crime, and I see that you brought in the head as usual."
"Heads are easier to carry then bodies," Torin said. "And I prefer them dead since they don't cause trouble for me."
"Ya that makes sense, so how many other bandit's did you kill," Marek asked?
"At least nine including this one." Torin answered.
"Very well then, I'll send in some men to retrieve them so we can burn the remains," the captain said. "We might as well tear that place down since we don't need it anymore and so it won't become a home for more troublemakers. It was useful as a guard post for the trail during the war but not so much anymore."
"So, when do I get my reward," Torin asked annoyed.
"I'll get to that" Marek said. "Let's see, the bounty was for fifty royals."
"I also compensated this sword from him," Torin said putting the sword on the table.
"That sword is a design of our own, every town guard uses them," Marek said looking at it." I'll take it off your hands for about ten lenaris."
Torin knew he could get more from a blacksmith, but he just wanted to get rid of it and did not wish to carry it until morning. It was also too late to negotiate a better price.
"Fine, I just want it gone," Torin said.
Marek got up and when into the room where the lockbox was at. He then came out with fifty gold coins that were square shaped, with round edges. And ten silver triangular shaped coins that also had round edges. Torin counted the coins and put it in his money pouch with the rest of his currency.
He said his goodbyes and left the office. Night had come, and the two moons of purple and pale blue color shined their light on the town. He started off towards the far northwest side to find an inn to stay for the day. Although he has more than enough coin to go to the finest places, the owners would refuse service to him, giving his race. So, he had to go to the cheapest inn called The Broken Lantern, which was on the poorer side of town, where most of the working-class people lived. It was the only place that would accept him, due to them always needing the money. That and the innkeeper at least treated Torin as a person and not a monster.
After a few minutes of walking, he came up to the inn and when inside. The place was a mess with rotting wood tables and chairs stained with booze, the floor was dirty, and the planks were bumpy and uneven, with the smell of mold, sweat, and liqueur that filled the air. The fireplace did not do much to heat up the area, and the tables and walls were lit by candles, giving a soft orange glow. The tavern might be the oldest building in the town and might as well have been a forgotten ruin.
Most of the people there were filthy and unkempt, and they usually just kept to themselves, not lifting their heads to see Torin come in. He walked to the bar table and sat down. The innkeeper came out with a husky body and a balding head, wearing a white meat-stained apron.
"Hey Torin," the innkeeper said. "Will it be the usual today?"
"Your specialty, and a pint of ale, and keep the ale coming," Torin said.
"Right away," said the innkeeper. "Although I might as well give you the whole barrel," he said sarcastically.
The innkeeper grabbed a wooden mug and pored it with dark colored ale and then set it on the counter in front of Torin. He when to the back room and came back with a hot stew in a grey cracked ceramic bowl. By the time the bartender laid the bowl down, Torin had already finished drinking the ale.
"Hello their friend," said a boy who was also sitting at the bar.
Torin look to the left and saw a skinny human teenager who looked no older than sixteen sitting two seats away from him. The young boy was of five-foot ten inches tall and had pale skin with short brown hair. He was wearing a worn-out white shirt that had some black soot on it, with brown wool pants, hide shoes, and a small pouch attached to his belt.
"So, what will it be," said the innkeeper.
"I'll have some bread and cheese, with some milk to wash it down," said the boy.
"Alright," said the innkeeper. "But I'd think that working in the mines all day would work up the thirst for a nice cold beer."
"With my salary, I could not even afford your cheapest warm beer," replied the boy.
The innkeeper walked in the back room to get the food and drink, and the boy turned towards Torin.
"I'll say, it's interesting to see a lepidian up close, heck I've never seen one at all," said the teenager.
"We prefer to keep to ourselves within the swampy marshlands were nobody else ventures," replied Torin who took a long drink from his mug not looking back.
"That would make sense seeing as how you kind is usually treated, even if you do have the same rights as us humans," the boy said. "The name is Solan by the way."
"Torin," the lizard man said emptying out the last bit of ale. Most people ignored Torin, some even had a problem with him, but he became accustomed to it by now, which was why he was not being very talkative to the boy.
The innkeeper came back with a plate that had a half loaf of white bread, a few slices of cheese, and a wooden cup of milk, he then set it in front of Solan.
"That will be four xoori," the bartender said.
Solan reached for his bag and pulled out five round copper coins with square holes in the center of them dropping the coins on the table as the innkeeper swept them up with his hand. The innkeeper then took the tankard from Torin so that he could refill it with ale. After filling it up with the beverage he gave the mug back to Torin.
"I've never seen you in here before," Torin said.
"That's because I never had a reason to be here," Solan replied. "I used to go to better places to eat with my brothers when they were working to earn enough money, but with the way things are going in the family I became the soul breadwinner. So, what brings you all the way out here from the swamp," The young man took a bite of the bread.
"Personal business," Torin reply still not looking at the boy.
"Well judging from the gear you have on, I'd say you were a mercenary who makes a living off of the heads of lawbreakers," Solan said drinking the milk from his cup.
"We all got to make money to eat and live," Torin said. "I'm just using the skills I have to earn it."
"Too bad my skill is just hitting rocks with a pickaxe," Soldan said looking down with a depressed look on his face. "Do you have a home and family to go back too."
"Just one, my younger sister," Torin answered eating some of the stew he had. "I have not seen her in three years since I left. The rest are gone from this world, including my older brother who was murdered."
"I know how you feel," the boy said looking even more depressed. "Both of my parents have been dead since I was ten. My two older brothers use to take care of me, but one of abandoned us, and I barely get to see the other one. So, it is mostly just me now working at the mines just to get through the day. Plus, I also must live in poverty sleeping in an overcrowded dormitory with several other miners."
Torin took a long drink from the tankard of ale to where it was now less than half full. Then he turned his head to the boy and said, "At least you're not out in the streets begging for kitchen scraps kid, I say just take what you can get and move on." Torin took another drink emptying the mug. "Now if you don't mind, I would like to finish my meal in peace."
"No problem," Solan said going back to his own meal.
The bartender once again took the mug and refilled it. When he set the ale filled mug back on the table, Torin was finished with the stew and asked for a second helping. The bartender took the bowl and went to the back area.
Torin had no personal hatred towards humans, sure he ran into terrible ones who ether tried to kill him, imprison him, or just treat him like dung on the souls of their boots. But he also met some friendly ones who did not judge him based on who or what he was, like the innkeeper who was mostly interested in the profit he gained from Torin. He even had a thing for the young human females with their smooth skin and long silky hair on their heads. And the lepidian did appreciate the kind attention the young man gave him; he was just too deep in his thoughts on what to do now that there was no work for him.
After three bowls of stew, and countless pints of ale, Torin gave the innkeeper the money for the food and drink, and then ordered a room to sleep in during the night. The innkeeper called the tavern woman over who was an elderly woman with a wrinkled face and missing teeth. Before they went upstairs to his room, Torin did something that he uncommonly did. He reached for his bag and withdrew a silver triangular lenari which had a value of ten copper xoori and tossed it in front of Solan.
"Your next meal is on me boy," Torin said drunkenly. "Enjoy it while you can."
Torin then walked towards the stairs, but with an unfocused, and intoxicated mind he ended up walking into the wall. "The stairs are to the right of you friend," said the old lady with a wispy voice.
Torin made a sigh, and She led him upstairs to his room and gave him a bronze key to open the door. When Torin went into the room it had almost nothing in it, just a crude table with a wide unlit white candle and a small chair that look like it was about to break. Instead of a bed there was just a brown colored sleeping bag on the floor, and Torin was surprised that it was clean this time. But none of it really bothered him, He trained himself to be able to sleep anywhere, whether it was rain, snow, or shine, on any surface of mud, grass, or even stone floors. And because of this, he never bothered to bring a tent or even a blanket with him, as it was so much easier to travel without carrying it all.
Torin yawned and took off all his gear and put them in a corner. He then took off his black cloak and wrapped it up in a roll to use as a pillow. He laid down resting his head on it, still wearing his armor, and not even bothering to get into the sleeping bag. Putting his long sword to the side of him and resting both his hands on his stomach. He quickly fell into the blackness of sleep.