Chapter 24 PAST AND PRESENT
At dusk Elroy trots Celsius along a track, having short grass field and few horse chestnut trees by each side, after a while he came to a junction were an Inn stood. The Inn seemed cracked up with people, low enticing sounds from pipes and strings played out creating a calm relaxing environment. On the balcony of the upper floor, a large crowd was seated, drinking and cheering.
Elroy trots Celsius over to the wooden hitching post under a white tent, beside the Inn where seven other horses were tied to. As soon as he dismounts Celsius the main door into the Inn burst open, allowing a bloody man to fall backwards to the ground. Elroy stood and watched as the man struggled to stand then began leaping as fast as he could, trying to get away from the Inn. Suddenly two huge dark skin ladies, with long brown braided hair hurried out of the Inn, they were dressed in lucid green silk gown and each held a whip. The two ladies showed no pity, they lashed the life out of the man; everyone in the upper balcony immediately stood up and began cheering at the act.
"I must be in the wrong part of the world" Elroy muttered then tires the reins of Celsius on the hitching post before picking up two leather satchels from Celsius then he hurried into the Inn.
Elroy looked over to the right; some men were seated on a black rug, around three partly naked, fair young women, slowly gyrating their fully figured hips. Turning to the left there was a large thick red curtain blocking the view of the activities going on behind it. Elroy shook his head then walked towards the female bartender.
"I need a room to spend two nights" Elroy asked as he reached the counter.
"What kind?" The fair, red haired beauty, dressed in pink crystal clear silk gown asked.
"What?" Elroy asked confusedly
"Do you need the winter cold room or hot spicy room?"
Elroy stared in confusion then looks to his side before turning back to the lady.
"Are you new here?"
"Yes" Elroy assured boldly "yes I'm new"
"Oh, so sorry, do you want to spend the night alone or with one of our girls, perhaps two or….."
"Thank you" Elroy appreciated with a smile "I'm fine alone"
"Thirty bronze petals" she said with a smile
"Wow, just two nights?" reaches for the small pouches by his side then counts out thirty bronze coins on the counter.
"Susan" the red haired called out, Elroy looked over to the right and sees a fair young lady standing by a door, having short, thin blonde hair and the figure of a teenage girl. She wore a pink gauzy short gown.
"Take this gentleman to a winter cold room"
"Come with me" Susan spoke with a shy voice.
Elroy followed behind as they walk through a hallway, getting to the first door by the left, a man stood with a pale skin lady dressed in red transparent gown, kissing and caressing her unclothed thighs, Elroy quickly looked away till he walked past them. Getting to the eighth door, Susan stopped and unlocked it before opening it. Elroy walked in and surveyed the room, he looked over to the well made four postal bed with red blinds, not too far from a fire place then the window by the side and a large mirror underneath it with a wooden made bath in front of the mirror, filled with steaming water.
"Worth every penny" Elroy assured, he dropped his satchels then turns over to the door only to see Susan smiling at him, he then put his hand in the pocket of his black leather trouser, bringing out a silver coin he tossed it at Susan. She received it happily then bows before walking away.
"What a girl" Elroy then removes the key from the front and shuts the door.
In the cool of nightfall, Mira, Lukas and Elroy wander along the scanty street of a village, the few people out were all on horses, pulling carriages filled with crops and vegetables, mostly hay and cabbages. They strolled for a while conversing, until a male voice called out Elroy from behind. They immediately turned around to see who it was; approaching them was a pale skin man along with a brown skin lady carrying a child. They were guarded by two men and women vested in brown hooded cloak, holding unto the hilt of their swords.
"Elroy" the man called out again, overwhelmed with joy, as he approached Elroy.
Elroy stared at Mira, who was staring back at him, then he gazed back at the pale skin gentleman, having short dark hair fixed to his well trimmed sideburns and goatee, he had thick brows and a broad nose well fitted on his diamond shaped face, having multiple scars.
The man hugged Elroy tightly, "Didn't think I'll ever see you again buddy" he spoke warmly.
"Ya, you too" Elroy answered casually
Noticing the unfamiliar response the man gently withdrew from Elroy, "what's wrong El, don't you recognize me? It's me, Jacob"
"Jacob" Said Elroy as he thought on the name, "Jacob?" Elroy called out with astonishment then embraced Jacob who gladly embraced him back. Withdrawing from Jacob, Elroy gazed at him smiling, "You've grown older Jacob."
"There's nothing I can do when life takes its toll" said Jacob, he then held the hand of the woman standing beside him "meet Rebecca, my wife and Charlie" touches the forehead of the sleeping child wrapped in Rebecca's arms "my son"
“You finally picked one” Elroy spoke jokingly
“You haven’t changed at all” Jacob assured with a straight face
"It's finally good to meet you in person, Shadow of ruin" Rebecca appreciated
"What!" Lukas and Mira yelled out then gazes at Elroy
"The what?" Elroy asked, confused
"You are acting strange El, what's wrong?" Jacob asked curiously
"I lost my memory in an incident Jacob; I only just regained some portion of it"
"That explains it"
"I'm glad I was able to remember you Jacob"
"Not as glad as I am El, let's head over to my place, we have a lot of catching up to do."
"Sure do Jay; I'll introduce my teammates more appropriately there."
With the cloaked guards leading the way, Jacob walks alongside Rebecca and Elroy behind them, followed by Mira and Lukas.
"Was it a good idea leaving Hector and Jake with Karin" Lukas whispered to Mira.
"They can manage Lukas, there's two of them and one of her"
"You have a point"