Selyne and Lena kind of have this interesting dynamic. And Lena doesn't officially work for Selyne or anything.

Chapter 4

The festival itself had been a small thing, big to the village itself, but small to Ike and Soren. They walked the entire length of it three or four times. They listened to the people, tried the food, and browsed the wares. What came as a surprise was that no one thought different of them for being foreign. Despite it being a small village, it was a busy port.

People were open and warm, ready to talk and answer questions.

As the sun started to set, Ike and Soren headed back to the inn. They were joined by a trio of young men who were staying there as well.

"We stayed here last year," one told Ike. "Selyne is pretty tame, going by most innkeepers we've met. But she means what she says. If you come in late, you're sleeping in the garden. Cause trouble, she'll have you thrown out. Otherwise, she's not too concerned by what you do."

"Of course," another said, this one with a short cropped beard and scarred face, "you sleep in the garden and you get yelled at."

"What about the other one? Lena?" Soren asked.

The three of them guffawed. "Lena? She's nothing to worry about, though she's insanely protective of Selyne."

"Just try to keep her from the inn!"

They continued to laugh as they walked up to the inn. Inside, the air was full of the scent of food. Stew, along with freshly baked bread, were doled out to the men. Soren looked at the food hesitantly, but Ike dug in.

"It's not bad," he told him.

One of the men who walked with him, who gave his name as Talyn, shook his head. "It's Lena, she can't stand anything with spice. Says it's too strong."

Almost on cue, Lena, who was eating with the guests, started to cough. She hurried into the kitchen, her cheeks pink. "Why do you have to make it so spicy?" she moaned.

"Ish not spicshy," Selyne said through a mouthful of bread.

"You could have a mouthful of hot peppers and say it wasn't spicy," Lena sighed. She helped herself to some water and drank it quickly.

Selyne sighed, rolled her eyes, and tore off another chunk of bread. As Lena continued to whine, she left the kitchen. "Too spicy?" she asked the half full dining room. She got no protest from the guests, some of who praised the stew. A couple, including Ike, even called for seconds.

Lena sulked as Selyne returned to the kitchen with a tray of bowls. "If you're not going to eat, can you start by washing these?" She scraped the bottom of the pot refilling half a dozen bowls, and left Lena to the kitchen. When she returned, she sat with the diners and made small talk with them.

Soren and Ike sat and listened mostly, though when spoken to they would speak back. After a few minutes, Soren excused him, and Ike followed. "A little too much for you?" Ike asked as they cleared the second floor on their way to the third.

"It's too... easy going here."

Ike laughed. "And that's a bad thing?"

"I'm not used to it."

"Well, if you want, we can find another place to go."

Soren shook his head. There were no other inns around. And they really had not had a chance to find out what kind of towns surrounded them. "I think I'm going to read a bit," he told Ike.

Ike left him to his room. As the night fell, he took a glance out of his window. The festival was well lit with lanterns, but he could not make out what was going on. It was odd, he had expected it to wind down.

He tried to fall asleep, but sleep was not coming to him. Since sleep was not within his grasp, he got up and headed downstairs with the idea that a snack would be what he needed.

Downstairs, he saw that a lantern was lit. Selyne was the only one up. She stood at the counter near the room keys, a book open in front of her. She dropped her quill and grabbed a fork. On a plate beside her was a large slice of cake.

Ike did not want to disturb her, but a creak from the stair gave him away.

She jumped and slammed her book shut. Her smile was sincere despite the fact that he startled her. "Can I help you?"

He gestured to the cake. "I think I had the same idea you did."

Selyne laughed and said, "Well, I'll share with you, but don't tell Lena. She does not think I need it." She went to the kitchen, and returned with knife, plate, and fork. To Ike's amusement, she opened one of the cabinets behind the counter. Inside was half of a cake.

She cut a piece and passed it to him with a wink.

"My lips are sealed," he promised.

"Good." She leaned against the counter and watched him. "You know, we did not get to talk earlier. You and your friend left almost immediately."

"Soren is not really comfortable around people," Ike admitted. "He had a hard time growing up. The only ones nice to him were me and my father."

Selyne nodded. "Is that what brought you here?"

Ike shook his head. "Where we're from, the country was ravaged by war for years. I was a part of a mercenary group. In the past several years, we've been pulled this way and that way, with everyone coming to me to help them."

She paused, a forkful of cake close to her lips. "So you got tired of people wanting you to do everything. There's no shame in that."

"But..." Ike looked down and tapped his fork against his plate. "All I really know is how to fight. I've been raised to be a mercenary."

"There's no shame in that either. Just taking a break isn't going to hurt anything, is it? If you choose to go back home after some time spent here, I'm sure your group will be glad to have you back. Especially with those muscles of yours." She smiled at him. "With those muscles, you'll find a job anywhere."

Ike let out a scoff, but he knew she was right. He decided to change the subject. "Soren and I, when we were told your inn was not in town, didn't expect something this grand."

She shrugged and said, "Well, to be honest, it was my grandparents' house. I grew up here, and they left it to me. I figured it would make a good income. And I get to meet people." She took their plates and carried them to the kitchen.

"But isn't it big for two of you to take care of?"

"Two?" Selyne laughed. "Oh, Lena. Well, I guess you can call it one and a half. Lena stays here, and she'll help out, but.." she trailed off and sighed. "I can't really say she works for me. I have to make her do something if she plans to stay here, don't I?"

"I guess so."

He watched her go to the front door and bolt it shut. One more question bubbled to the surface. "Do you really make people sleep outside?"

"Yes, I'm not leaving that unlocked. We've had troubles before."

"What kind of troubles?"

She sighed and leaned against the door. "Raiders, bandits, whatever you want to call them."

Ike frowned. The area seemed so peaceful. And he was not sure a bolted door would keep raiders out. "Have they bothered you?" he asked.

"Once or twice, but none have come this way in months." She let out a laugh that did not seem wholly sincere. "Don't let that give you nightmares tonight." As she retired to her room, she gave him a wave and said she would see him in the morning.