Chapter 7

"The Golden Eagle Inn"

Walking casually down the dusty lane of Vasdenin, Arianna eyes wandered all around, taking in the beginning nightlife of the town. Women called out for their children so as to begin their supper and men were either trudging towards their homes or walking gaily towards the local tavern in the chilly spring night. Arianna was careful not to follow the path leading to Madam Lilianne's house, instead she made a shortcut through some of the other house's back lots until she felt that she had surpassed her governess's home. She then followed some men who she knew were heading to the large tavern. Finally, she stopped and looked up at the familiar edifice.

Before her arose a large wooden structure bearing a lot of windows that hardly concealed the activities occurring within. It appeared to have been there for many a year since the wooden boards that made up the tavern were rotting with age and the innkeeper had hardly any time to bother worrying about it since the festival had had him caught up in countless matters that he simply put it off to a better time. A large sign hung above the door encrypted with a symbol of a flashing red and gold eagle, and though Arianna could hardly read, she was able to make out the words, The Golden Eagle Inn, which was such an ironic name for a tavern that had hardly anything gold to display, save for the gold coins sagging inside the innkeeper's pockets, which were almost always well hidden.

As Arianna shifted her gaze to the open door, she felt a nervous inkling deep within her. The sounds of boisterous laughter and speech amidst the lightly festive music and songs playing in the background shook her deep inside. From the loud conversations, she thought she heard the mentioning of a familiar name, or was she just imagining it was her name in the course of the riotous conversations of the men and the shrill laughter of the women. She shivered with agitation.

Ugh! What's wrong with me? This isn't the hour to turn back! I can't return to that horrid hell house, not after what I've done but I can't go back to the fields right now either. I have to go in or else take refuge in a barn or stable nearby…

Just then, she heard a loud grumble deep inside her and pressing her hands to her stomach, she groaned.

I really should have eaten something before hastily leaving Madam's home earlier… I must have some supper now before I pass out or starve to death.

Arianna looked up at the sign again and she felt the heavy weight of the gold in her pocket, thinking only of a good meal and a soft bed to rest in. Then, after taking a deep breath, she decided that she had nowhere else to go except inside.

A merry and frenzied sight greeted her as she entered the large inn. She immediately felt the warm atmosphere easing her chilled hands and Arianna smiled as she surveyed the inn with her excited light brown eyes. A number of tables, long and rectangular or wide and round, were scattered about the place at random and all types of people occupied nearly all of them. Present, of course, were the Vasdenin men, mostly composed of the local hunters who occupied at least four to five tables, engaging in a lively conversation concerning the day's exciting events and a successful hunting quest. Most of the hunters were either young vigorous bachelors or middle-aged widowers enjoying the company of their fellowmen and a few scantily clad women over jugs of ale and wine. They preferred to eat their own game rather than indulge in any other appetizing meal, so if they ever caught anything worth devouring, then they would have the innkeeper's cooks roast it over a large fire and serve it to them fresh from the spit. On this particular night, they were feasting on a few well-sized birds and a small wild boar.

Occupying a table nearby were some of Vasdenin's high-ranking men conversing with the visiting superiors from the other Northern Lands. In this noble group, Arianna immediately recognized Lord Freso and his thin accomplice sitting side-by-side laughing jovially. Beside them was the town's leader who was gulping down a large mug of ale, Arianna hoped his wife wasn't around then, laughing silently, she remembered the little accident she made in Madam's house a few hours ago. She then also spotted Uther's father among the nobleman and she cringed when she thought about what a brat his son was. Though the occupants of this table were of the upper class, this didn't imply that they weren't as loud and as boisterous as the other men inside. Already satiated with barrels of wine and lusty entertainment, the noblemen immediately forgot themselves as they sang, danced and laughed in their drunken state ordering more and more ale by the minute. Their table was littered with scraps of mutton, pork and wild geese. Their pots of vegetables and their bowls of fruit lay on the floor, forgotten.

Arianna noticed several other groups of men around; some reacting similarly with the hunters and the noblemen while others kept to themselves, murmured in low whispers underneath the hoods of their dark cloaks or else looked towards the center of the room where a musical entertainment was being held.

Focusing her eyes towards the center as well, Arianna was entranced by the playful and lively show playing in front of the large fiery fireplace. A lean man strumming gaily on a wooden lute was singing, in his sweet soothing yet animated tone, a humorous song about women in spring whilst his fellows, each playing a flute, a small pipe and a tambour, accompanied him. His audience laughed and toasted to him after every comical verse and he bowed graciously before skipping lightly and moving unto the next canto. It was a favored song among the men during spring and they never tired out the familiar tune since there were newer and even better lyrics year after year. The melody stayed the same but the words sung with it varied. Arianna blushed crimson when she finally understood the hidden meaning behind the lute player's flowery words.

Hmm… so this is what men dream about during the dawn of spring… how… utterly repulsive…

Moving as far away as she could from the entertainers, she looked around for the innkeeper. Behind a wooden counter near the doorway, she spotted a hefty sized man with a rough short black beard barking orders to some young boys who were scampering about bearing jugs of ale or platters of meat in their arms. The man wore a soiled apron over his large belly and as he barked his last order, he turned around to find a peasant boy standing before him with his hat pulled over his eyes and a wooden bow and quiver draped around his shoulders. The innkeeper's small beady black eyes opened in surprise and annoyance.

"Well? What do you want?" he growled in a deep voice.

"Just to inquire about your inn, sir, does it provides suitable lodgings for a lad such as myself." The peasant replied in a soft low voice.

The man bent down closer, "Speak up boy! Can scarcely hear with all this din!"

"Does your inn provide lodging, sir?" answered the boy in a much louder tone.

The innkeeper straightened up and huffed, "Of course it provides lodgings boy! Didn't you read the sign up front? 'The Golden Eagle Inn, best meal and bed in all of Vasdenin'. See?"

Dragging Arianna by the arm outside, he pointed up at the large sign with the bright golden eagle on it.

Arianna squinted and realized she had missed that part due to her haste in entering.

"Blind scallywag…" muttered the innkeeper.

Marching back inside the innkeeper ignored her and turned his attention back to his servant boys. Arianna, furious enough by the sharp insult of the man, pulled on his shoulder.

"Excuse me, sir, but I'm afraid we haven't finished our conversation." She stated hotly.

The black bearded man turned about, his eyes blazing, "Haven't finished our conversation, have we? Well, I, boy am certainly finished with you!"

Grabbing Arianna by the back collar, he was on the verge of throwing her outside but just then Arianna held up a gleaming bright gold coin. The beady dark eyes of the innkeeper grew wide with surprise and greed.

"Well, now, what's that ya got there, boy?" he asked in a soft tone gently putting the peasant back down.

Arianna smirked. But the bearded man frowned slightly, "Stolen it, have ya?"

Shaking her head no, Arianna answered, "If you haven't heard yet, sir, it would be my pleasure to inform you that you are facing one of the victors of today's archery tournament."

The man stepped back with amazement, " You? The peasant boy from the fields? The boy who shot a bull's-eye at fifty paces, blindfolded?"

Arianna bowed with acknowledgement, "Yes, sir, I am that… err… boy."

Placing the gold coin atop the innkeeper's desk, she stated in her feigned voice, "I would be glad to have a decent meal for the night as well as a suitable room to retire in so as I can be soundly fit for tomorrow night's event."

Crossing his arms, the innkeeper raised his thick black eyebrows with a knowing glance, "Humph! Supper and lodging, ya say? Well, now, you can see that I'm a busy man and the tavern's been filling with customers here and there… not so sure if I could spare the time for even a nice, brilliant boy such as yourself, of course…"

Arianna saw the glint in his eyes and she understood his hint, reaching into the pouch inside her hunting top, she pulled out a handful of coins. The innkeeper's eyes widened even more at the sight of the wealth this mysterious boy held in his hand.

Dropping two more coins alongside the first one, the man growled reluctantly when she returned the others into her pouch.

"Will that be enough for you, sir?" Arianna asked.

Taking one of the coins and testing its authenticity with his teeth, he suddenly grinned a toothy grin and said in an entirely different tone that he used before, it was a sickening sweet kindly tone, "Might I ask your name boy?"

"I am called Ari and I would be glad if you address me as that only."

"Well, then, Master Ari. Welcome to the Golden Eagle Inn." The innkeeper bowed, "I am Barley, the innkeeper. Now, let me call one of my boys to show you to your room. Would you prefer to have your meal there or here at the common room?"

Arianna looked over his shoulder and replied, "It would be intolerably lonely up in the room by myself so I believe I would be more comfortable to take my meal down here, if you please, sir."

"Of course. Now, take a seat anywhere young master and I will bring your meal to you in a moment." The innkeeper said kindly and he turned towards the door, barking orders.

Arianna took a seat at a vacant table close to where a few hunters were gathered. She surveyed the room and noticed that during her conversation with the landlord, the entertainment had ended, to her relief and the men around were either reclining on their chairs smoking their after- supper pipe or else being led away upstairs by their women.

A few moments later, Arianna caught sight of Barley himself, carrying some large plates and saucers where she supposed her supper were on.

"Here you go, young master Ari. Here is a fine meal for a fine lad at a fine price, don't you think?" At this he chuckled lightly as he set the platters down before Arianna, "Enjoy your meal then, young master."

Arianna's eyes nearly burst forth from its sockets as she laid her eyes on the small banquet set before her. It was more food than she had ever had to herself in her entire life. Even two months of her usual food could hardly measure up to what she had at that moment. Thick slabs of juicy wild pork and a leg of mutton with a side dish of small green peas and sliced potatoes were on the largest plate. On a saucer lay two loaves of white bread and a thick steaming beef stew was placed in a small wooden bowl near her. She also had a moderate sized mug, filled to the brim with foamy ale. Arianna had never tasted ale before but she did not hesitate to down a few mouthfuls of the bitter brew. She savored the warm sensation that traveled from her throat to the pit of her stomach. Licking her lips, she turned her attention towards her little feast. After giving a little thanks to the gods, she plunged ravenously into it, biting a large chunk of the mutton leg, chewing hurriedly on a white loaf and shoving peas and carrots down her throat and washing it all through with a long cautious sip of hot stew.

Heaving a sigh of relief and contentment, Arianna continued her dining at a slower pace, savoring every bite. After she had silenced the growling hunger in her stomach, she was once again listening to the various sounds and noise of the occupants of the Golden Eagle Inn. So it was that Arianna overheard some very interesting tidings, at the next table, during the hunters' repose.

"Bracker, May I ask again what you were attempting to inform us about a little while ago?" an old hunter asked as he refilled his pipe.

Bracker, a younger man, looked up at him and answered, "I, attempting to inform? Hmmm… the ale must have gone instantaneously to my head for I cannot recall what you portend, my friend Nithen?"

"I suppose, what he means, my brother Bracker, is the mythical tale about that golden bird that's said to be soaring about the Northern Land recently. You have certain information about it, don't you?" Another older hunter replied.

"Ah, yes." Bracker replied sitting up straighter with a thoughtful expression, "A cousin of mine from Jovelin dispatched to me, a rather curious yet interesting letter, yesterday. There seems to be an odd creature flying over the other Northern towns since a little over a week ago. This tale, my friends, is no mere myth."

The men around his table grew interested and leaned closer to him.

"Well, tell us about it."

"Yes, Tell us!"

The hunter called Bracker held up his hands for silence and leaned forward and said in a hushed voice, "Now, I don't intend to say that every word I tell you is entirely factual but nevertheless, here it is."

He leaned closer to his audience, "Now, this bird is not just any old bird, this one is a shining golden phoenix."

"Phoenix you say?" someone asked.

"Indeed, it's true, a golden phoenix that, they say, glitters as bright as gold and diamonds, its eyes are blazing ruby gems and when it sings! Oh!" the man half-stands up with strong emotion, "When it sings, they say, with its high soothing crystal voice, you seem to immediately forget every evil thought you had in you and a strong calming power settles deep inside you. Its songs are so beautiful that they even have the power to cure ailments and sickness of all kinds. Nearly all the hunters that have ever seen or heard of it in the Northern lands are determined to have that bird in their possession. They say it's the most beautiful bird ever to be seen in the whole land."

"And you say, Bracken, that this… phoenix actually exists? Do they have any valid proof of it?" the old hunter named Nithen asked, not entirely convinced.

Bracken nodded vigorously, "Yes, of course! Of course they do! They have its feather!"

"Its feather?" the hunters chorused.

"Yes, my cousin informs me that before they actually caught a glimpse of this magnificent creature, they came across a single gleaming feather lying atop a large rock. My cousin was one of the few men who had seen this feather and he had the honor of actually holding it in the palm of his hand. He says it's as soft as a flower's intricate feathers, as brilliant as the sun and as light as air. And after they had seen the feather, they heard an exquisite voice high above the trees and once they looked up, there it was! The golden phoenix! Oh, if only I had been there to see it! How I envy him so!"

"You say, it's traveling around our Northern lands?" still another fellow hunter asked.

"Yes, I have heard news that the golden phoenix has already been seen in Molinin, Blendin, Cornin and as you know Javelin."

"Then, do you think the golden phoenix could possibly pass by Vasdenin?" a young hunter asked eagerly.

Other hunters started putting in their own idea. "Yes! You tell us that it has been seen in Cornin and that town is our closest neighbor! So, there is certainly a large probability of our chance to see it!"

"And maybe capture it even!"

"Or, if ever the phoenix does fly through Vasdenin, it could be one exceptional prize for the Priceless Gift challenge!"

To this suggestion, there were many agreeable nods and comments.

"Why don't we bring it up to the town head. There he is! Over there still guzzling down his flagon of ale! Now is an excellent time to converse with him. He never says anything worth listening to when he's sober." Bracken laughed, as he stood up.

The hunters voice their agreement and stood up as well, immediately leaving their table and approaching the crowd of drunken noblemen slightly swooning at another table.

Arianna followed them with her soft brown eyes as they headed for the inebriated town head. Her stomach had had its fill of the entire meal, leaving the platters empty and clean, and her head was brimming with the intriguing news. She started musing on what it would be like to capture that bird after, of course, winning the archery tournament. It would certainly make the people of Vasdenin respect her even more. But as she kept thinking, her mind started to whirl, so she called the innkeeper Barley to her.

"I would like to ascend to my room now, if you please, sir." She said rather groggily, the effects of a pint of ale were new to her.

"Very good, Master Ari." Turning around, he changed his demeanor again and yelled brusquely, "Oi! You there! Move your worthless bottom over here and take Master Ari to room three! Come on! Come on! I haven't got all night you piece of scallywag!"

Arianna saw a boy who seemed a few years younger than she was clothed in stained and filthy rags run as quickly as he could on his blackish bare feet. Once he had reached his master, he got cuffed on his head by the mighty hand and nearly fell unto the floor. He trembled terribly and his hand shook as he moved away from the innkeeper and took down a loop of rusty keys from a hook on the wall.

Bowing his head with shame and humility, he said in a barely audible voice, "This way then, Master."

Arianna was moved to pity with this sight and she felt a sting of tears in her eyes but dismissing her overwhelming emotions, she nodded her head and followed the boy, trudging heavily up a wooden staircase to the rightmost side of the tavern. She could hardly hear his small steps as they both ascended the stairs. Once they had reached the top stair unto the second landing, Arianna saw a long corridor with about a dozen doors on each side. Walking gradually behind the servant boy, she cast a momentary look at each of the doors they walked by. She winced as she listened to the strange muffled sounds behind some of them and she walked a little closer to the boy wanting to ask him if he knew what they were but stopped, realizing that it would be entirely better if she didn't know at all. The boy walked as silently and as indifferently as before, it was as if he was deaf and blind to everything around him. Arianna then noticed a dark shade on his back and wondered what it was, her vision seemed blurry so she drew even closer, and when she did, she gasped when she realized it was dried blood and underneath his torn sullied rags were long deep slashes on his small back.

The boy turned his head and he ran forward with horror in his eyes when he saw what Arianna was staring at so closely. His quaking hand was fumbling with the set of keys as he tried to get the right one into the keyhole of the door. Arianna stood a little distance off and looked pitifully at him. When the boy finally got the door open, he pushed it back and bowed his head.

"Your room, Master." He said with a shaky voice.

Arianna walked towards him and after a long look at his brown haired head bowing with misery, she went into the dark room.

The room was a moderate sized one. There were hardly any extravagant furnishings on the wall or around the tall rectangular window and only three small statues of the gods stood atop a miniature desk inside the room. A medium sized bed lay just beside the window and the boy went inside the slightly dim room and he opened the top drawer of the desk where he drew three candlesticks and a match. Lighting all of them, he placed one on the desk, one on a candleholder near the doorway and one another candle holder beside the window. He did this all in a quick silent manner as Arianna watched a few paces from the doorway. He turned back to the door and was making ready to leave.

"Boy." Arianna called as she deposited her bow and empty quiver on the floor and sat heavily on the chair beside the desk, she felt a strange lightness in her head.

"Master?" he answered.

"Come here for a moment." She said slowly.

The boy walked slowly towards her.

"Does he whip you boy?" she asked.

The boy was silent and Arianna repeated her question with more force.

He then nodded and said, "Only because I am unworthy and disobedient, sir."

Arianna leaned back and folded her arms, "That's what he teaches you then, eh?"

He nodded again.

"He shouldn't… he doesn't have the right to manhandle you, young as you are, in such a despicable manner."

"But, sir, they say that I am just a poor worthless boy, they say my parents have left me here because I am so. They tell me that if I'm good and do what I'm told to do, they might not beat me as often as they do."

"And who are they?"

"The older servant boys, sir."

"Take no heed of them, you are far better than the whole lot of them anyway. A boy like you does not deserve to undergo such torment. I can see through your eyes all the pain they must have caused you… and I feel your pain, though I have not yet come to experience it they way you do." Arianna stated thickly, not exactly aware about what she was talking about.

The boy looked up with surprise, "You-you do, sir?"

"Yes," Arianna replied, "That is why, I want to give you this. Hold out your hand boy."

He held out his grimy hand and unto them Arianna bestowed five shining gold pieces. His brown eyes shined with the gleam of it and he opened his mouth with awe. He had never held or owned a gold coin all his life and here he was with five of them on his hand. In all his young forsaken years, he had never felt as happy as that moment. At that moment, he was silent not because he was shamed or degraded but because he did not know the appropriate thing to say to this mysterious, strange but kind and understanding young master. He grasped tightly the coins in his hand and looked up with teary eyes at Arianna.

"M-master."

"No, don't call me master."

The boy knotted his brows in confusion.

Arianna smiled slowly and comprehended the silent puzzlement of this small boy and without warning; she took off her hunting cap and from underneath came her long scarlet hair that was tied in a loose braid spilling unto her back. Loose strands lined her face and her hazy brown eyes twinkled slightly in the candlelight.

The boy stepped back with astonishment and he stuttered, "W-Why! You are no m-master! You are a Lady!"

Arianna laughed merrily in her normal feminine voice and she ruffled his dark brown hair. He smiled back as well, and then Arianna leaned closed to him and placed a long finger to her lips, "Not a word of this to anyone, all right boy? It will just be our little secret."

He nodded and smiled even more broadly; this was the first time he had ever been entrusted with a secret.

"Good! Very good! Now, remember boy, keep that gold well. Ah yes! Soon you will see and be glad! You will soon see a mere peasant girl tower over all the great lords of the land. Yes, soon you will see…"

The boy looked at her in a confused expression again and Arianna laughed again drunkenly.

"But, Mast— I mean…"

Arianna waved her hand, "You can call me Master for now boy. But very soon, you'll be calling me The Lady Arianna. Go! GO now boy! And Good night!"

The boy ran towards the door and turning his head he said with his broad smile, "Good night, Lady Arianna."

Then after shutting the door, Arianna was left in the room staring blankly all around her. The ale was really starting to get to her, she looked at the door and stumbled towards it, clumsily locking it so no one could enter without her knowledge. She then walked dizzily towards the bed. The room seemed to spin around and around… endlessly. Falling unto the edge of her bed, she noticed something bright glimmering on the windowsill. Trying to make her eyes focus, she came closer and closer. To her amazement it was a shining golden feather, and as she picked it up with her hand, it felt just exactly as the hunter had said. Soft as flowers' petals, light as the breeze and brilliant as the noonday sun. But after only a few seconds of holding unto the precious object, she suddenly felt a painful sharp force enter her body and mind. She saw flashes of bright purple and deep black moving back and forth in her mind's eye. She shut her eyes and gasped in pain as she released the feather, falling unconsciously upon the bed. Arianna lay unmoving, lost in pain, full with drink, exhausted with fatigue. The star on her arm was glowing bright red.

The feather slowly drifted downwards and once it had touched the wooden floor, it burst into purple flames and disintegrated into ashes. After it had gone, the wind seemed to shift and the night grew even colder.

A few miles away, Baltook the old farmer awoke with a start on his bed and his body was drenched in sweat…

The thing he had been dreading for fifteen years has finally occurred…

Someone had caught a glimpse of his secret and was now sending something evil his way to put an eternal end to it forever…