Eryndor devoured every special dish the Blackstone tavern had to offer, and when he finished, he patted his stomach with satisfaction. The bill was a mere 8 gold coins, and he gave the waiter 10 gold coins, keeping 2 gold coins as a generous tip. The waiter, pleased with the tip, was more than happy to help Eryndor find a place to stay.
"Sir, if you're looking for a good night's rest, I can recommend a lovely bordertown just 15 miles from here," the waiter said, pointing down the road. "It's called Ravenshire, and it's a bustling hub of activity. I can arrange a horse carriage to take you there, and I'm sure you'll find a decent lodging."
Eryndor thanked the waiter and climbed into the horse carriage, unaware that Goblin Krog was following him. As they journeyed through the forest, the Netherworld trees loomed above them, their massive trunks twisted and gnarled with age. The air was thick with the scent of decay, and the trees seemed to stretch on forever, casting long, ominous shadows on the ground.
Krog, still following the carriage, suddenly found himself dodging a falling tree. He agilely avoided the massive trunk, but his heart was racing with fear. If the tree had fallen on him, he would have been crushed instantly.
"By the gods," Krog muttered to himself, his eyes wide with fear. "What a close call."
But Krog's determination to follow Eryndor kept him going, and he continued to trail the horse carriage. As they approached the bordertown of Ravenshire, the carriage stopped in front of a luxurious motel. A dark elf maid, named Fianna, came out to greet the guest, but her expression turned sour when she saw Eryndor's tattered attire.
"Uh, can I help you?" Fianna asked, her voice dripping with disdain. "I think you may have mistaken this establishment for a charity. We don't serve... beggars here."
Eryndor chuckled and said, "Ah, but I'm no beggar, my dear. I'm a wealthy traveler, and I'm looking for a room. A nice, luxurious room, if you please."
Fianna raised an eyebrow. "I highly doubt that. You look like you've been sleeping on the streets for weeks."
Just as Fianna was about to chase Eryndor away, the manager, a dark elf named Lyrien, intervened. "Ah, Fianna, my dear, I think we should give our guest the benefit of the doubt. After all, one should never judge a book by its cover."
Eryndor smiled and handed Lyrien a note from the waiter. Lyrien's eyes scanned the note, and his expression changed from skepticism to surprise.
"Ah, I see. Well, in that case, Fianna, please register our guest and give him the key to one of our luxurious rooms."
Fianna looked taken aback, but she reluctantly complied. Eryndor, pleased with Lyrien's handling of the situation, tipped him 10 gold coins.
"Thank you, my good man," Eryndor said, smiling. "You have a keen sense of judgment. Not everyone can see beyond appearances."
Lyrien smiled and bowed, while Fianna looked on, ashamed of her earlier behavior. Krog, watching from the corner of the motel, was miserable to the core. He had captured Eryndor once, if only he had frisked him back then, he would have found the gold coins.
Just as Krog was lamenting his bad luck, a hooded goblin ran past him, chased by a group of guards. The guards, mistaking Krog for the thief, started chasing him.
"Hey, stop! You're the one we're looking for!" one of the guards shouted.
Krog was stunned. "What's going on here? I'm not the thief! I'm just an... an innocent bystander!"
But the guards didn't listen, and Krog found himself running for his life, wondering why bad luck seemed to be following him everywhere.