Night came and Osmond laid on the floor. "I will keep watch," Riley said leaning on his sword.
Osmond felt his mind floating off. He felt the air taking the moisture away from his clothes. He felt his eyelids being pulled down and sleep caressed him.
Osmond heard the howling of wolves in his sleep. He heard Riley's footprints and after some time, he felt only darkness.
It was dawn when Osmond woke up. He looked around and saw Riley sleeping on the floor. He rubbed his eyes and stood up. He felt his whole back aching and rubbed it to quench the pain. He went to Riley and shook him.
Riley opened his eyes annoyed, then shocked. He sat up suddenly and realised it was morning. "Man, I fell asleep," he said rubbing his eyes.
"Good thing the wolves didn't get us," Riley smiled anxiously. Osmond stood there with his arms folded.
They went to the river and washed their faces. Riley wet his long green hair and combed it back with his fingers. "Well then, let's go."
They climbed their horses and snapped the reins. Dante and Blaze were drowsy from their sleep, so their walks were slow. They went outside the forest and back to the road. The sun rose from the Carashall hills from ahead and its red light fell on them.
"Greenflower is just below those hills," Riley said pointing to Carashall hills.
They went following the path and the surroundings got lusher. Oak, rosewood, guava, jackfruit and the fruits fallen from them were scattered on the floor. Blaze walked to a bush and plucked out a bushel of berries.
As they walked, the woods became thinner and Osmond saw smoke rising to the skies. He started seeing houses here and there. He came across a field and the people raised their heads in caution.
"There won't be many blacksmiths here, but I think you should get a sheath for that new blade. Oh, also think of a name for it," Riley said.
"Name?" Osmond asked.
"Well, it's a special blade. Don't you think a special blade needs a name?" Riley said and smiled.
Osmond looked to his bag where the blade was held. 'What should I name it,' he thought.
They came on to a group of houses with thatched roofs and stone walls. Smoke rose from their chimneys and sprayed the white sky with black.
"The request came from the chief of this village, a guy named Tatton," Riley said glancing over the request.
"We need to find an inn soon, I am starving," Riley's stomach grumbled.
They went around the village and came across a building with a board hanging in front of it. Osmond looked at the board and saw a steaming pot carved onto it.
They pushed the door and went inside. It was early morning and there weren't any visitors yet. They walked to the counter, pulled two chairs and sat down.
The innkeeper was a broad man with a long forehead and straight brown hair that ran up to his shoulders. His brown beard was rowdy and thick. He wore a black shirt and a white apron over. Stains of flour and gravy splattered and sunk on the apron.
"What do you two need?" The innkeeper asked and slammed his hand on the counter.
"Breakfast for two, make one of them smaller," Riley said.
The innkeeper nodded and went two the kitchen. He came back carrying two plates; one large and the other small. He placed the large one in front of Riley and the other in front of Osmond.
"Haven't seen you folks around here, where ya from?" The innkeeper asked.
"We are from Dihel. Can you show us where Tatton lives?" Riley asked pinching a piece of bread out.
"Ahh... You are here for the boars? Just go and take a left. You will come across a burgundy house. That's the place," he said smiling.
Riley went back to his plate. There was bread, white gravy with potatoes and carrots, some beans and a boiled egg. He tore off a piece of bread, dipped it in the gravy and took it to his mouth. He took some beans with a spoon and chewed them with the bread and the gravy. The sweetness of the potato and carrot mixed with the fluffiness of the bread and the beans. He broke the egg and appealed off the shell. The white was hard and the yolk was runny. He finished the plate as fast as he could and looked at Osmond. He saw that Osmond also finished his meal and hence, he slowly stood up from his seat.
"How much for the meal?" Riley asked reaching into the pouch.
"Six pemphs for you and three for the kid," the innkeeper said wiping a plate.
"We also need room to put our stuff."
"Well, the rent is one pemphro," the innkeeper replied.
"We will take it."
Riley counted the coins and placed them on the counter. The innkeeper bowed. "The room is the third one from the left," he said pointing.
They went to the room. It was a shabby place, with just a bed and a small desk. They threw their bags to the desk, locked the room and left.
Outside, they went in the direction the innkeeper pointed. They came to a burgundy building as they were told.
It was a single-storey building. Riley climbed the stone stairs and knocked on the wooden door.
An elderly man opened the door slouching. He leaned on his walking stick and peered at the guests. He was rather short and his skin was paper thin. His long hair was grey with a few strands of black. He rubbed his wisp of white beard.
"Who are you?" He asked.
"We are from the capital town and we have come because of this request," Riley said showing the man the quest paper.
The old man took a pair of glasses from the pockets of his long red robe and came forward to read it. "Ah, you must be the adventurers that we asked for. I am the chief of Greenflower, Ryder Greenflower," the man said bowing.