Captain Hudson's grin widened as he turned to face Lucas. "Well, apprentice Lucas, do you want to make this easy or should we do it the hard way?"
Lucas froze, feeling the weight of everyone's gaze upon him. Thoughts raced through his mind. How did the captain know? He had never revealed my face, and He carefully hid the old cloak. Should he start assessing every possible escape route from the room, maybe he should fight his way out, or should he simply deny the charges?
Just as Lucas was about to make his move, the captain let out a mischievous chuckle. In an instant, it was as if a dam had burst. The two guards behind the captain threw their heads back and erupted into contagious laughter. Captain Hudson, feigning seriousness, glanced downward, failing to hide his mirth as his shoulders shook. The customers, still bewildered, eagerly awaited an explanation.
Finally regaining composure, the guards wiped away tears of laughter, and Captain Hudson raised his head to speak. "Apologies, Apprentice Lucas. When I spotted you there, I couldn't resist pulling a prank. The look on your face was absolutely priceless. I thought you were about to brandish that stool and give me a lesson in furniture combat!"
Unable to contain themselves, the guards burst into laughter once more. This time, the entire crowd joined in, realizing that the captain had merely been jesting with Lucas. Laughter filled the air, turning the tense moment into a shared joyous experience. Lucas relaxed on his stool feeling relief that his guilty actions were not known although everyone watching thought overwise.
As the laughter slowly subsided among the crowd, Master John resumed wiping glasses at the bar counter, and everyone returned to their evening meal. Once the commotion settled, John inquired once again.
"All jokes aside, what brings you here tonight, Captain? It's not often that you stop by while on duty."
Captain Hudson's smile gradually faded, and his expression shifted to a more serious demeanor.
"Master John, while I took the opportunity for a few laughs at young Lucas's expense, I am genuinely in search of a wanted man. The reports about the stampede and the attack on temple guards are indeed true. I wanted to know if you have seen a black-robed figure in the past few days or any foreign customers."
"I haven't served any customers who aren't locals, Captain," John replied, shaking his head. "Travelers tend to be more particular about the taverns they visit, and very few foreigners would come to such a humble establishment."
Captain Hudson acknowledged John's points with a nod. "That may be true, but please keep an eye out for me nonetheless. The Temple of the White Lady has placed a fifty-gold bounty on any leads."
John's eyebrows shot up, and conversations in the tavern instantly died down as everyone once again focused their attention on the captain. In a voice filled with shock, John asked, "A fifty gold bounty for leads on someone causing trouble in the market and irritating the temple guards?"
Captain Hudson theatrically glanced around, checking for eavesdroppers, before leaning in closer. In a hushed tone, he whispered, "Rumor has it that the wanted man is also a heretic."
A collective gasp swept through the room as the crowd collectively drew a sharp breath. Master John's eyes widened, and he nearly dropped the glass he was drying. However, in a split second, his customary smile returned as he turned to face the captain.
"Well, it's been quite some time since the temple claimed to have found a heretic. Rest assured, Captain, I'll keep my eyes wide open for you."
"I appreciate it, Master John," the captain replied, giving a nod to the room before departing with his guards. Silence settled over the tavern as everyone pondered the captain's words. The stillness was interrupted by a gentle clink.
Everyone turned their attention to Master John as he set down the glass he had been wiping and reached under the bar. Pulling out a bottle of light brown liquid adorned with an apple, he filled the glass and slid it down the bar to a shocked Lucas.
"I reckon I owe you that one, considering you provided everyone with a good laugh tonight," Master John said, adopting a serious tone that was undermined by the grin on his face.
The silence was shattered as the tavern erupted with laughter once again, and conversations resumed between the tables. Lucas responded with a grin of his own and began savoring his drink. If the temple hadn't provided the guards with more information than just the description of an old black robe, he wasn't going to let it consume his thoughts.
For this night, Lucas decided to let go of his worries. There would be plenty of time to ponder them in the morning. Tonight, he would simply relish the warm embrace of the Drunken Squirrel tavern.
The first rays of golden sunlight pierced through the window, gently rousing Lucas from his slumber. A dedicated early riser, he refused to let this day go to waste. Blinking away the remnants of sleep, Lucas found himself nestled in his cozy bedroll on the floor. It was rather comforting to wake up here since Lucas was not one hundred percent certain what was in the previous night's drink. He didn't have a clear memory of coming home and was just glad to be in his own bed.
As Lucas rolled over and rose to his feet, Lucas mentally compiled a list of tasks to accomplish First, he needed to answer nature's call in the downstairs bathroom. Second, a grumbling stomach reminded him that breakfast was a priority. Lastly, his sore back served as a reminder to find or create a more comfortable sleeping arrangement for the night. Taking one last stretch, Lucas left his room and made his way downstairs to the bathroom to complete his first task. Afterwards, Lucas washed his face and headed to the kitchen.
The same burnt, crusted black iron pot was waiting for him, now a day older. This time, Lucas couldn't run off to the Drunken Squirrel since they weren't open for breakfast. Realizing that it was time to face the cleaning music, Lucas walked over to start the fireplace. He used a small amount of tinder and firewood to bring the hearth to life while taking the pot to the bathroom sink for water. Returning, he placed the pot on the fireplace crane.
While waiting for the pot to boil, Lucas needed to find something to cook. With the kitchen currently empty, He would need to adventure forth. Lucas recalled being sent to a small store nearby for rice a few times. Hoping they were open today, He grabbed his purse and headed out. Luckily for him, Craving Haven was open each morning.
As Lucas entered the store, he was greeted by a welcoming blend of smells. He could smell fresh fruits, vibrant vegetables, and the comforting scent of dry grains. Seated in the back corner was Rabbie, the owner of Craving Haven, engrossed in a cookbook. When Lucas approached, Rabbie lowered the cookbook he had been reading
"Welcome to the solution for all your cravings! What can I get for you today?" Rabbie spoke out in a calm, warm tone that resonated with a desire to assist.
"I need to see about getting a bag of rice." Lucas replied, reaching for his coin purse.
"Just rice?" Rabbie questioned as his brows lowered. "You need more than rice for a quality meal."
"I still have a few other ingredients at home," Lucas lied. "Just ran out of rice first."
Rabbie was silent for a moment before giving a small slow nod. "Okay, I'll sell ya a bag of rice this time. However, next time you have to get ingredients. It goes against my standard to allow subpar meals from Craving Haven."
Lucas smiled and agreed while paying. However, in the back of his mind he was replaying all his previous visits. He didn't remember the owner being this opinionated. Then again, he didn't speak much in the past so maybe the owner never noticed him much. Lucas grabbed his bag and hurried home.
Returning home at the perfect time since the pot had just finished boiling away the worst of the filth. Lucas used the metal hooks on the fireplace to take the pot outside and dump it. Using fresh water, he finished cleaning out all of the crud before dumping it again. Bringing it inside, Lucas refilled it and reset it on its fireplace crane.
While waiting for the water to heat, Lucas washed his rice and found a suitable container to store it in. By the time the water was heated, he had the rice ready to pour in. He continued to finish cleaning the kitchen until the rice was done. Grabbing a bowl, Lucas finally was able to satisfy his stomach with breakfast.
Finishing his breakfast, Lucas had only one task left to tackle. Gathering his energy, he ascended the stairs to begin exploring the rooms on the second floor. The upper level housed three doors. The nearest one, near the stairs, belonged to Master Barlet, while at the end of the hallway were two more doors situated on opposite sides. Lucas was familiar with the contents of his own room but had always been forbidden from opening the door across the hall.
As Lucas made his way down the hallway, he attempted to turn the knob of the door opposite his room. To his disappointment, it refused to budge. On closer inspection, he noticed a keyhole on the knob, suggesting that a key might be required. Shrugging his shoulders, Lucas decided to proceed to his master's room.
Upon entering the room, an overwhelming stench assaulted Lucas's senses, nearly driving him back out the door. The room was overflowing with a blend of foul body odor and the putrid aroma of rotting vegetables. Holding his nose, Lucas cautiously maneuvered his way through piles of clothing toward the window. Despite his efforts to open it with one hand, he eventually conceded and used both hands to force the window open before hastily fleeing the room.
After catching his breath, Lucas resolved that the room required a thorough cleaning and disinfection. He commenced the task by carrying the heaps of clothes to the backyard, allowing them to air out. Spotting an old bucket by the backdoor, he utilized it to transport clean water upstairs for the cleaning process. With steady determination, Lucas began wiping down every surface, gradually making progress in restoring cleanliness. The breeze flowing through the open window provides a much-needed breath of fresh air.
Tossing his rag back into the bucket, Lucas had one final task remaining—the cleaning of the bed. Without hesitation, he decided to strip the bed, discarding the soiled blankets along with the previously removed clothing. Upon inspecting the mattress, he deemed the padding unfit for further use and resolved to dispose of it outside along with the rest of the bedding.
As he lifted the bedding, a faint clang reverberated through the room. To his surprise, a key had been hidden beneath the bed, and his movements had dislodged it onto the floor. Lucas finished removing the bedding and then retrieved the key. Could this be the key to unlock the mysterious door across from his room?
However, before Lucas could attempt to use the key, a loud angry growl echoed within the room. He realized that the growl was his stomach and breakfast had been hours ago. Pocketing the key, he headed to the bathroom to freshen up before heading to the Drunken Squirrel to appease his hunger.
On the way to the tavern, Lucas noticed a lack of people on the streets. Although a few popular stalls were still open, they lacked the usual bustling activity with customers. This trend continued as he walked through each street, all the way to the Drunken Squirrel.
"Howdy, Lucas!" John boisterously greeted him while busy wiping down tables. "You're my first customer of the day."
"Hi, John," Lucas replied, making his way to his usual seat. "I feel honored to hold that title. I actually have a few questions for you."
Raising an eyebrow, John walked behind the bar and asked, "How can I assist you?"
"Well," Lucas settled onto his stool, "I'm curious about what exactly was in that drink I had last night. I'm a bit fuzzy on how I ended up back home."
A mischievous grin played on John's lips. "The ingredients of that drink are a trade secret. As for how you made it home, you would have to ask..."
Interrupting their conversation, the kitchen door swung open, revealing Amber carrying a tray. "Hi, Lucas. Are you here for the special?"
"Yes, please," Lucas eagerly responded.
Amber smiled warmly as she placed the tray on the table. As she passed by John, a slight thud was heard, causing him to wince and turn away. The tray contained a bowl of clear broth with noodles and breadsticks. With another smile, Amber turned back toward the kitchen, leaving Lucas to enjoy his meal.
As Lucas savored every bite of his meal, John diligently continued wiping down the tables and chairs. Once Lucas had finished eating, he resisted the temptation to lick the bowl clean and watched as John returned behind the bar.
"You mentioned having more than one question earlier," John pointed out. "Before I head to the back, is there anything else I can answer for you?"
Lucas grinned and replied, "Oh yeah, almost forgot. I need to replace the bedding at the shop, but I have no experience in purchasing it. Do you know any stores with good prices?"
John chuckled, "I thought it was going to be something serious. If you're looking for general blankets, padding, and bedding, I recommend Mickey's store across the street. It's nothing extravagant, but you'll get good quality for the right price."
"Thanks, John," Lucas expressed his gratitude.
John nodded and made his way into the kitchen. Lucas contemplated whether to stay a bit longer to let his stomach settle or leave, when two customers entered the tavern. He recognized the person on the left as William, a regular at the tavern. The individual on the right, who bore a resemblance to William, seemed to be a member of his family, perhaps a younger son?
Lucas's suspicion proved correct as John emerged from the kitchen and greeted William and Thomas with his usual grin. However, he quickly noticed their somber demeanor and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"What seems to be the problem, lads?" John inquired in his characteristic fashion.
Thomas let out a small sigh, and William placed a reassuring hand on his son's shoulder before addressing John. "Remember when I mentioned yesterday that I planned to take Thomas to the temple to find out about his status and path?"
"Yes, I recall our conversation during lunch," John replied.
"Well, they're not allowing anyone to visit the temple today," William explained with a hint of frustration. "The temple is currently on a hunt for a heretic and has closed its doors to visitors. Moreover, they've stationed guards at all the gates, conducting hand scans to test for heretics using special artifacts."
Lucas turned in his seat, his unease growing. He had believed that the temple priests were only issuing a gold bounty, but the fact that guards were now testing for heretics was not in his favor.
John rolled his eyes, his tone tinged with annoyance. "Every few years, the temple gets all worked up, thinking they've found a heretic. But so far, they've never actually found one."
William nodded in agreement but then shook his head. "I would have agreed with you yesterday, John. However, there's a rumor among the guards at the gate that this time the temple is preparing to conduct door-to-door searches for the heretic."
The news sent a shiver down Lucas's spine, and a sense of unease settled over him.