Okuri-chan: Ugh, that's exhausting. Hope you're feeling better now! My own condition has been up and down, but gradually improving I think.
"Valkyries?"
Stephen's hand stilled at the word, nearly fumbling the pitcher in his hand, and he hurriedly pasted on a mask of neutrality as he tuned into the conversation behind him.
"All of them, yeah." The man's table partner was saying. "Slaughtered. The keep was turned upside down, whoever killed them must've been looking for something."
"Dear Notch. Poor souls."
"And the strangest part is," the man leaned in, lowering his voice. "There was only tracks from one man. I'd hate to cross paths with him in a dark alley."
Stephen bowed to the man he was serving and hurried away, processing what he had just heard. Someone had… killed a group of valkyries? Why, how? Valkyries were Notch's chosen warriors, and they were stronger, faster, and more agile than the average man, not to mention able to fly. For a single man to kill one valkyrie would be a significant feat, let alone an entire squadron.
"Brian?" Hugo's voice caught his attention, and he looked up. "You alright?"
"Yes, sir." Stephen dipped his chin in a hasty nod. "I just overheard something… distressing." Hugo grunted.
"Less talk, more work, boy." He waved him towards the kitchen, and Stephen hurried to obey. The last thing he wanted was to screw up his and Alexis's source of shelter, which meant staying on his employer's good side.
It had been two days since they had arrived at the town, and Stephen was slowly growing used to life outside the training camp. Yesterday Hugo had informed him that since there was no carrying to be done, he would be assisting him inside, serving the inn's daytime patrons. Stephen couldn't say he was sorry to be inside, out of view of the skies, but he did feel rather awkward trying to interact with the men and women of the town. There still was no sign of any pursuers, and he and Alexis were beginning to let their guard down.
Stephen ducked into the kitchen, finding Hugo's wife before the cooking fire. "I need another stew, ma'am."
"Right then, give me a moment.." She told him. Stephen nodded, rocking back on his heels and glancing around the room.
"Where's Alexis?"
"Stepped out t' hang up the washin'." Hugo's wife nodded towards the back door. "Don't you go runnin' after her, I'll have this out in two shakes of a lamb's tail."
"Yes ma'am."
As he carried the bowl of stew out to its recipient, Stephen noted that the room was starting to empty out. The lunch rush must be ending.
"Brian." Hugo called him over as he was heading back towards the kitchen. "I'll serve the rest of 'em. You take two servings of stew and go out and eat with your friend." Stephen nodded, a small smile appearing on his face.
"Thank you, sir." He ducked into the kitchen, and, a minute later, was emerging onto the back steps with a bowl of stew in each hand.
Alexis was standing by a low-hanging clothesline, draping freshly cleaned linens over it. She glanced up when she spied movement, and Stephen held up the bowls.
"Hugo says to take a lunch."
"Oh." Alexis quirked her jaw, casting a glance at the clothesline. "Marcella told me to hang up the laundry…"
"You really are terrified of that woman, aren't you?" Stephen chuckled, beckoning her over. "C'mon. Boss's orders." Alexis relented, hurrying over to accept her bowl.
"Not terrified, simply respectful." She told him with an air of nonchalance.
Stephen just nodded along. "Right."
The two of them sat down on the back steps, neither of them speaking for a few minutes as they ate.
"Do you think they've stopped hunting us?" Alexis broke the silence at last. "Your people?"
"I doubt it." Stephen poked at the bottom of the bowl with his spoon. "Even if they're not looking for me in the interest of bringing me back, it's a top-secret training camp. They can't risk us spreading the word about it." His words made a pang of sadness go through him. The thought of his family hunting him down as a traitor… hurt. And he was a traitor, but he did it to save a life.
"Mm." Alexis shoved another spoonful of stew into her mouth. "Kinda makes you wanna spread the word about it out of spite." Stephen rolled his eyes.
"And let them trace the rumors back to us? Good idea."
"Hey, hey, I didn't say I was gonna do it." Alexis held up her hands. "It's just, they tried to kill me." Stephen nodded.
"Yeah." The pair lapsed into silence again, and Stephen's mind wandered back to the conversation he had overheard. He knew that rumors were often blown out of proportion, and perhaps that was the case here, but… the gossiping man had seemed very sure that it was one man who had slaughtered a keep full of valkyries. Why add such an impossible detail if it wasn't true?
"You're glaring at your stew like it's gonna bite you." Alexis interrupted his train of thought. "What's up?" Stephen frowned, shaking his head to clear it.
"I overheard some men talking just now. Someone- a single man killed a group of valkyries."
Alexis pursed her lips. "Tavern talk-"
"-can be unreliable, I know." Stephen cut her off. "I know that much."
"I was going to say 'can be a good source of information.'" Alexis pointed her spoon at him. "You don't think…?"
"It was my camp?" Stephen finished. "No… they mentioned a keep. A stronghold." Alexis hummed.
"That is impressive. He must have been of noble blood."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because only someone with supernatural powers could have pulled that off. Or, if he doesn't, I'd like to shake his hand, because that's impressive."
Stephen frowned at her. "He killed a lot of people."
"I know, I- sorry." Alexis stirred her soup. "Anyway, my point remains."
"Yeah…" Stephen lapsed into silence again. Were… the Sons of the Aether in danger from this mysterious killer? Perhaps that would be good for him, but he couldn't bear the thought of his family being killed. Even after what they'd done to Alex.
"We have it pretty good here, huh?" Alexis said. Stephen nodded.
"Yeah."
"I think we would've survived, out there on our own." Alexis continued. "But it's nice to have help."
"Yeah." A little smile appeared on Stephen's face. It was nice. They couldn't stay here forever, that he was sure of. But he was going to enjoy this good fortune for as long as it lasted.
Hugo stood from where he had sat at his kitchen table, taking his cup to a basin of water to rinse it out before setting it by the rest.
"Marcella?" He called softly, but his wife gave no response. She must already be asleep. No matter, he could speak to her in the morning. It was a simple issue that needed to be discussed.
The last rays of sunset had long disappeared over the horizon, and Hugo picked up a lamp, carrying it with him through his house as he tidied up for the night. He had already closed up the inn, within it his two little employees. They were a bit strange, but they were earnest and hardworking, and he didn't regret for a moment the deal he had made with them. He was considering giving them a bit of pocket money, encourage them to stick around, which was why he needed to speak to Marcella. Their own children had long married and moved away, but having Brian and Alex around helped to alleviate the empty nest feeling somewhat.
As Hugo turned to head for his bedroom, there was a knock on his door. He frowned, turning for the entryway. It was quite late, who could it be at such an hour? The innkeeper carried his lamp with him as he approached the door, preemptively grabbing a knife from its place as he did so. Perhaps it was an emergency, but he would rather not take any risks.
He leaned against the door, saying gruffly, "Who goes there?"
"I am here on Notch's business. Please open the door." Came an unfamiliar voice. Hugo frowned. That was a bold claim. Slowly, he unlatched the door, pulling it open and lifting his lamp to get a look at the visitor.
The stranger on his steps was young, but fit, lean and muscular. He had wavy blond hair that was so light it was almost white, and his eyes shone silver in the lamplight. He was dressed in a simple tunic, not unlike that of a knight's squire, but his most striking feature by far was the pair of snow-white wings folded against his back. A valkyrie.
"Well then." Hugo muttered, and pulled the door open, beckoning the youth inside. "Been a long time since we've seen one of you lot around here."
"My lot?" The young valkyrie echoed, stepping inside. His silver gaze fell on the knife in Hugo's hand, and he quirked a brow.
"I don't get many visitors past sundown." Hugo explained as it set it aside. "Can never be too careful." He shut the door again, then faced his visitor. "Something I can help you with?"
"I certainly hope so." The boy said. "My name is Cafos. As I mentioned, I am here on Notch's business. I am told you are the innkeeper in this town?" Hugo nodded.
"Indeed I am."
"Good. I am tracking a fugitive, and I have reason to believe that he may have passed through your town. I suppose you would be the one to know when a stranger arrives." Cafos told him. "He is around my age, with dark hair and mid-toned skin. He has blue eyes that glow faintly in the darkness. His name is Stephen." Hugo felt his blood run cold as the valkyrie described the young man who even now slept in his inn. "He may be traveling with a young woman as well," Cafos continued. "One with red hair."
"What has he done?" Hugo asked before he could go on. A small smirk appeared on the valkyrie's face.
"Treason." He answered. "He has betrayed Notch."
Hugo's jaw worked slightly. Brian, a traitor? Could it be? But the valkyrie's description was too close for it to be coincidence, down to the glowing eyes that Hugo had noticed when the lights first dimmed. He didn't want to believe such a thing about the likable boy, but valkyries did not lie, and… evidently, Brian, or Stephen, had.
"Aye, I know where he is." He said at last. "Come with me." Cafos' smirk widened.
"Lead the way."
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~p0tat0-g0ddess