And a detour it was. Nacht led the horses the exact opposite way they were heading and took them to a small village close by, still outside the enormous kingdom. The sun was staring to set and there were a few lights open on the dirt streets. Most houses empty with only some of the windows showing signs of life. At the center of the small village there was a tavern that also served as a very small inn. Made of wood and looking pretty run down when you entered you faced a counter and a huge space filled with long tables. In the back there was a staircase that probably led to the rooms. People were chatting and gulping greedily their drinks, mostly middle aged men, with huge bellies and obvious spots of baldness.
There were a few young men and women but it was very simple for Alice to realize that this village was slowly dying. After Nacht settled the horses to the stable, giving them water and food, so they were fully rested by tomorrow morning. Everyone's heads turned when they entered and the girl wondered if they were so surprised because they hadn't seen visitors in a while or because both of them were bathed in blood. As they headed to the counter where a woman with rosy cheeks and a sassy smile greeted, no one commented their disheveled appearances and many went back to eating and chatting.
"Greetings travelers. It's rare to have visitors in this forgotten village." The older woman said.
"Yeah, we were heading elsewhere but we got attacked by bandits and our driver died. We need two rooms for tonight and food. Also if it's possible I would like to employ a driver." Nacht explained and the woman frowned, rubbing her chin before she turned their back on them and grabbed an old, rusty key.
"There is only one room, you young people can share but don't be too loud." She teased them and threw the key at him. "You can sit there; we will bring you food in a minute. About that driver, let me ask around a bit." She told them and left.
Alice searched with her eyes for an empty table and spotted one in the far back, isolated and close to a window, that showed perfectly the clear blue sky. No one seemed interested to sit there since it was far away from the fire and it would be cold, especially during the night but she chose it, heading there without asking Nacht and sitting down, her eyes mesmerized by the glorious sky.
The capital, the slums and everything around where filled with magic, every night could be easily turned into day and it was hard to look at the sky and see clearly the stars but here, in the countryside the sky seemed endless like a dark blue dress decorated with sparkly jewels. She smiled slightly to herself as she heard Nacht's chair drag and he sat opposite of her.
"It's very pretty isn't it? The sky."
"Yeah, I've never seen such a clear sky. It's the first time I get out the Kingdom, the bottom area actually" she said with a bitter smile.
"Well you will get to see a lot more now. Did you like my display of power before?" he asked her with a cocky smile as the woman came to their table and placed down to plates filled with tomato soup with beef to the brim and a loaf of dry bread. Alice's nostrils twitched as the sense reached them and she realized she hadn't eaten in a while. She grabbed her spoon and greedily had her first taste. She didn't know if it was truly tasty. She was just so hungry that everything she was served would taste like fine cuisine to her.
"Yes, it was truly amazing. How that guy pushed you down and was punching you." She joked and Nacht almost drowned with his soup.
"I was caught off guard. Things like that happen all the time. I still won though."
"Yeah, with my help" she told him and pointed at him with her spoon. He didn't seem to like her response. Nacht had seen that attack as a chance to display his power. It was somehow typical male behavior and Alice found it kind of cute the way he wanted to show that he was strong, but she wouldn't let it pass so easily.
"That was just an assist. Assist."
"How old are you Nacht?"
"Twenty-three, why?"
"Because you sound like a kid" She told him with a cute smile before she cut a piece of bread and dipped it in her soup, hoping it would turn softer.
"Then how old are you miss mature?"
"I will be eighteen in two months" she told him and suddenly she began feeling anxious. She didn't know why but the thought of that day always made her feel dizzy. She wasn't afraid of growing up or becoming an adult since she had been treated like one from a really young age but somehow the approach of that specific date was scary. Like something ominous was approaching. She grabbed her glass of cold water and gulped it whole fast, wishing she could get some beer to relax her tension. "Should we get some beer?" she asked and Nacht cocked an eyebrow.
"You are a minor. No."
"Do you think I have been treated like a child up to now?"
"I don't know. But from now on you will be acting your age. At least for two months."
"So taking a prostitute with the intention of turning her into a war machine in some kind of enemy kingdom is typical minor behavior." Alice said coldly and Nacht stopped eating focusing on her.
"Let's make a few things clear Alice" he told her and in just a few seconds his expression had completely changed.