Chapter 84: The Blackstone Inn

Mara followed Henk, keeping her hand on the shortsword at her waist. This was her first time walking through a human town with just him. With that annoying Raymond suddenly absent, she found herself feeling nervous.

When she had walked with Bram and Ned, passersby had often given them wary looks, sometimes tinged with hostility or contempt. Yet this place called Blackstone seemed entirely different.

The people here showed little hostility toward the two half-orcs. Many even gave them friendly smiles. Such unfamiliar treatment only made Mara more nervous. She followed Henk with her head lowered, not daring to say a word.

*Are people here really this friendly toward half-orcs? Or is it because of Henk?*

They soon entered an inn. It was still afternoon, and there were few people inside. A handful of men who looked like mercenaries sat drinking and talking quietly.

A woman with delicate features, perhaps twenty-five or twenty-six, was wiping a table. She looked up at the sound from the doorway and broke into a delighted smile when she saw Henk and Mara.

“Henk! You're back! Why were you gone so long this time? Where's Raymond? Didn't he come with you?”

“Raymond's with the Sheriff,” Henk said simply, sitting at an empty table. Mara sat down with him.

“Oh.” The woman fetched a basin of clean water and brought it to them, then handed each a towel. “You look exhausted. Would you like something to eat?”

“Just bring us something to eat and drink, Anna. Don't forget Raymond,” Henk said, wiping his face.

Mara took her towel and wiped her face too. When she put it into the basin, the clear water turned cloudy at once.

Anna collected the basin and gave Mara a curious look. “And who's this?”

“A friend.” Henk offered no further explanation, and Anna did not ask. She simply smiled at Mara.

Anna and Henk seemed to know each other very well, which surprised Mara. Then again, perhaps he was just a regular here. There was nothing unusual about that.

Before the food arrived, they were brought two large mugs of foaming ale. Mara eagerly grabbed one and raised it to her lips. The slightly bitter ale was refreshing, easing her fatigue at once.

“Henk!”

The call from the mercenaries nearby put Mara on her guard again just as she had begun to relax. She turned quickly. The men who had been drinking together were raising their mugs to Henk from across the room.

Henk raised his own mug in greeting and nodded, then drank more than half the ale in one swallow.

At last, Mara could not help asking, “You're pretty popular here, aren't you? How come everyone seems to know you?”

Henk gave a dry chuckle but said nothing.

That was no fun. Unlike Raymond, who was good at talking to people, Henk had always been quiet and rarely spoke much. Only around Raymond did he become a little more talkative.

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Mara soon finished her ale. Anna noticed the empty mug and came over to refill it. Glancing aside, Mara realized that a very thin little girl was following behind her.

The girl had large eyes. Her clothes were plain, but her skin was fair and clean, and she looked well cared for. When Anna left, the girl stayed behind. Standing on tiptoe, she leaned on the table and looked at Henk.

“Uncle Henk, you're finally back! Why were you away so long this time? When is Raymond coming back?”

“We ran into a bit of trouble. Raymond should be back soon,” Henk told her with a smile.

The girl smiled. It was such a lovely smile that Mara could not help warming to her, and her gaze softened. Noticing Mara watching her, the girl looked back with wide, curious eyes, showing no fear at all.

“What's your name?” Mara asked.

“Mira. What's yours?”

“I'm Mara.” She took another drink, then wiped the ale from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve. She looked at Mira curiously. “Aren't you afraid of me?”

“Afraid of you? Why would I be?”

“Why?” Mara was taken aback. She pointed at herself. “Because I'm a half-orc.”

“Why would I be afraid of a half-orc?” Mira asked with wide-eyed innocence.

Mara was at a loss. For a moment, she had no idea how to answer.

*She's right. Why should she be afraid of me? What's so frightening about half-orcs?*

“Here you are. Eat while it's hot. The landlady's made stew and bread.” Anna arrived with a tray bearing two large bowls of steaming stew and two pieces of bread. She set them on the table and pushed a serving toward each of them.

The rich smell of meat made Mara swallow. They had been hurrying along the road for days, living mostly on dry provisions. Occasionally they had cooked a large pot of stew, but without enough spices or salt, it had hardly tasted good.

Mara paid no more attention to Mira. She quickly tore her bread into pieces and dropped them into the stew to soak, then picked up her spoon, scooped up a mouthful, blew on it a few times, and hurriedly put it into her mouth.

The savory broth and tender meat stirred her appetite despite her exhaustion. She ate eagerly.

“Food already? Is there any for me?”

The familiar voice came from behind her. Mara did not even need to turn to know that Raymond was back. She was about to make a mocking remark, but the others spoke before she could.

“Raymond!” Mira ran over to him in delight.

Anna smiled too. “It's been a while, Raymond. Sit down. I'll bring your food. Mira, let Raymond rest!”

“It's all right.” Raymond patted Mira's head, then sat beside Mara and let out a long breath. He looked at the girl. “Been practicing with your sword, little one?”

“Yes! Of course I have. I've been working really hard.” Mira lifted her head proudly. “Even Master Carter said I was doing well!”

“Good. Keep it up.” Raymond took the ale and stew from Anna.

“Oh, so you train with a sword too, squirt?” Mara asked with an interested smile.

Mira nodded. “Yes. I want to be like Raymond and Henk. I want to protect everyone too!”

“Like Raymond?” Mara pointed at him and laughed. “What's there to learn from him? He's not as good as you think.”

“That's not true! Raymond's really good!” Mira protested with an angry pout.

Her reaction made the others laugh.

Raymond did not mind Mara's mockery at all. The three of them had indeed run into some trouble on the way back, but in that fight, Mara had proved herself a reliable companion. He also knew that this was simply how she was. He was not going to take offense over it.

“Raymond, where's that lad Teddy? Didn't he come back with you?” a mercenary at the next table asked.

Mara's expression suddenly grew tense, but Raymond merely chuckled, entirely untroubled.

“Him? He stayed in Brightwater. He didn't come back with us.”

“Oh? Teddy's moving up in the world!” The mercenaries laughed.

Raymond smiled along with them and let the subject drop. All three of them knew exactly what had happened to Teddy. But they weren't about to explain it to these mercenaries.

“Mara, are you really good too?” Mira suddenly asked.

Mara nodded confidently. “Of course.”

“Can you teach me?” Mira looked at her earnestly. “I want to get better too.”

Mara studied her from head to toe, then sighed. “No. You're too small and skinny. You're not cut out for this. Give it up.”

“I won't!” Mira snapped, then turned and ran away.

Mara watched her go, looking a little bewildered. Beside her, Raymond gave her a reproachful look.

“Why would you say that? You didn't have to put a child down like that.”

Mara knew she might have said the wrong thing, but there was no way she would admit it in front of Raymond. She forced herself to defend what she'd said. “So what? I wasn't wrong. She's not cut out to be a warrior.”

Raymond and Henk exchanged a helpless glance. They sighed and said no more.