Green and Meet

“Nobody believed in me. That was their first mistake.” It was a bad idea from the beginning.

Six days ago.

The Inn was nearly a day away from the road. Nearly four days from the kingdom and nearly a week before the tyrant Monarch began his ritual.

My only plan: stab the bastard in the heart. I gave a small smile knowing if it were that easy, even the guardsmen themselves would have likely done the deed. A loyal guard to a tyrant Monarch may just mean he's loyal to the country. The thought crossed my mind. Whenever thinking of the guards or local lawmen, the sound of my parents would echo. Both of them retired from their work, too old by Monarch law, which only meant farm work for the kingdom until they could no longer move. The laws of the Orango Kingdom.

I wiped my eyes. The sun began lowering over the tree's horizon. The day was ending, and though the sky was clear I could feel the winds change. The storms were coming, literal and metaphorical. Still I was prepared for neither. I pinned my hair back into a simple ponytail. Took another puff from my already lit pipe, with special herbs.

The Inn was a three level building. The closer to the kingdom the larger the Inn. Some had smaller shops or traveling merchants that set up in the areas. “Must be a day or so from any shop,” I whispered aloud.

Fine oak wood steps that matched the outer exterior. Three steps leading to an outside patio directly to the front door. A four panel glass window to my right and two similar windows on the left. It stretched back with smaller windows on the building's side. The illusion of it seeming longer on the side than the front. The shape of the building looked like an abnormal square rather than a perfect rectangle. To the back right stood a stable with two horses in their stalls. The surrounding area was clear of mostly grassland with a treeline nearly fifty meters away. A dirt path leading from the stables to the trees themselves. The forest and mountains seemed nearly perfect for nature to create such scenery. The main road curved in the opposite direction of the forest leading to the kingdom. Dark clouds formed

“Just one more day,” I whispered. “One long day of walking.” I stepped into the Inn.

The building was clean. Cleaner than most rest stop areas. The entryway was large with a dozen circular tables on the first floor. A counter with various liquors stood on the wall behind a bar to the left. Directly at the far end of the bar were steps leading up to the next floor. Behind the steps were the restrooms and another door on the right leading to what I could only assume was the kitchen.

“Good evenin’ hun.” A young short haired olive skinned woman, wearing a black skirt and blouse, and green apron stood wiping down a table. “Grab,” she looked around, “any table. Been a little slow with everyone in the kingdom.”

“Suppose most people would be in the kingdom by now,” I said. “The festival is right upon us.”

“Very true,” replied the waitress, “grab a seat and I'll get ya a menu. Will you be needin’ a room, or just stopping through?”

I checked my pockets pulling out a square thin platinum metal, no larger than a playing card. “One for tonight, and if possible, one night on my return. I'll be back within nine days. Is it possible to save one upon my return?”

The waitress took the platinum card, trying to bend it with her fingers, and smiled heading to the bar. She pulled a large book from underneath and pulled a pen from her hair writing down inside, “name?”

“Erica.”

“This is real platinum. I'm guessing a few meals will be attached to this bill?”

“Just two. Tonight, and one on my return please.”

“Of course.”

The waitress continued writing while asking questions every so often. I received a room on the top floor. She mentioned it was rarely used, but kept clean. It had a bed which was better than sleeping outside, again.

“Name's Abigail,” said the waitress. “Can call me Abby. Let me get ya a menu.” Abigail set the book under the bar and pulled out a silver key handing it to Erica. “All the way at the top, room seven.”

I thanked the waitress telling her I'd return after setting my stuff away. She looked at me, puzzled. With only a large coat, a sling bag, pants and shirt, it was obvious I was not caring much. I asked for a ginger ale with a spot of honey, and headed to the room. One bed, a nightstand and lamp, and a table with two chairs.

“Standard room,” I said. Paranoid. “Well yeah, especially if I decide to go through with this plan.” True. Still fucking paranoid. I rolled my eyes.

After setting my coat on the bed and going through my bag. The sound of thunder echoed from outside. I grabbed my green scarf and blue knitted hat, my leather sketchbook and pen, and a small black bladed knife strapped to my wrist. After securing everything I headed back down. The sound of rain splattered across the building as I reached the second floor. As I reached the first floor I spotted two people on my return. One person at a table to the left, while the other sat at another near the back of the inn. I took one quick glance of the area before taking a seat at the bar. Abigail came from the back holding a tray, and four drinks. She gave two of the drinks to her customers, one each, before moving to me and handing mine. She placed the fourth one down a few stools away. I thanked her, and headed for a table directly in the middle of the inn, able to seat eight.

Hiding in plain sight? Pretty sure it's obvious. I rolled my eyes and pulled out pen and paper and began drawing lines with various angles.

The front door opened as a man shuffled in stomping their feet. Mud splattered on the front as he brushed his shoes. “Perfect. Just perfect weather,” he yelled. His voice was loud, but he actually sounded delighted. “An unexpected storm is good. So good. Good. Always good.” He looked around the room and laid his eyes on Abigail. “Oh Abby my sweet darling, the usual.”

“Still never gonna happen Trev,” said Abigail.

“Oh, the better sweetness you have shown upon me once again stings my heart sweet lady.”

“Usual coming up Trev,” said Abigail. She left heading to the back.

“May I happen upon a seat?”

I looked up to see the man, closer than intended, his large cloak covering his body. Much larger for whatever he was concealing.

“Passing merchant,” I said aloud.

“You, or me?” I open my mouth only to be stopped with a bow. “I jest, I jest.” He said, waving his hands. “Yet if you have the time I would gladly show you what I offer. Tis true I am a merchant who wanders through.” He placed his blue fedora a few chairs away and took off his large overcoat revealing various oddities. Glass vials of various liquids in shades of color I've never thought possible. Blades longer than his arm hanging to the side. His clothes were worn out, the brown and black pants clearly faded from time. They only matched his green shirt and scarf, coughing into it vigorously as he placed his coat on the table. “Apologies for taking so much space, but with so many necessary items for travel. It's only necessary to keep it close by.” He laughed with the expectation I would join in. I only returned a smile.

“Leave her be Trevor.” Abigail returned from the back. A drink in her hand, literal smoke coming from the top. “I'll pour this outback and let the pigs have at it if you keep bothering my customers.”

“A customer for you is but a passerby for mwah.” He smiled as he pretended to glide to Abigail.

She took two steps forward and shoved the concoction at his chest. Surprisingly nothing spilled over. Trevor returned back to the table placing his down and folding his coat. Abigail walked around the room once over before coming to me asking if I needed anything. I politely declined and began writing. Trevor sat across grumbling under his breath. Moments later a woman exited the restroom and headed straight to the bar grabbing the lone drink. Red fiery hair, and the same olive skin as mine. Clothes that had been worn overtime that the newest thing about them was the stitching. Shirts and pants were clearly too large for her that it seemed most of it was tied together. Leather wraps holding her pants up and the shirt seemed to spill over. Even her belt seemed pointless. A simple green sash wrapped around her waist. She spotted our table and moved directly opposite from Trevor and myself.

“You two together?” she asked giving a sly smile.

Trevor raised his glass. “Afraid not. We are two birds of a feather or being alone.”

Red hair smiled as she walked up and took the chair to my immediate left. She smiled. Her teeth having two spots missing. “Names Destiny, watcha writing?”

I looked up and smiled. “Assassination plans for the King.”

Trevor's smile faded as he caught his mug from falling out his hands. Destiny's smiled seemed to double in sound as she leaned in closer. The scratch of the floor board and chairs echoed as the two gentlemen at the other tables stood. They looked in my direction, then to one another, and then back to me before slowly moving to our table. Each man sat apart from one another. One man sat by himself as the other took a chair next to Trevor. Brave man. Destiny continued to sit by my side. She leaned back slowly unwrapping her sash and placed it on my lap before giving me a wink.

“Nice effort, but not my priority right now,” I said, placing her sash on the table. I closed before realizing what I said exactly.

“So the possibility of a later then,” she whispered leaning forward.

One of the men, sitting next to Trevor, cleared his throat and placed his knitted hat and green scarf on the table. “Ryan.”

The other man pulled a green scarf from underneath his coat placing it on the table. “Joseph.”

Trevor placed his scarf folded, neatly on the table. "Trevor."

Two more. Looking around I saw that Abigail had disappeared from the bar. More than likely she overheard me. More than likely she's calling th-

“Call me Abby.” A green sash slammed down on my right. Abigail came from the front, menus in her hand. “Let me know what you need before we start this thing. The cook in the back doesn't know everything, but knows we have a special meeting,” she looked at me wide-eyed. “After hours please.”

I flipped my book to a marked page. The words written:

Upon the green wearer,

Shall my voice be heard.

“It's a simple spell,” I said smiling. “I'm only wearing a green scarf.”

Abigail, “What?”

“No way,” said Ryan.

“Seven hells,” whispered Trevor.

“You were that voice in my head?” asked Destiny.

“Bullshit,” Joseph said leaning back.

I just shrugged. “You asked for my skill set all those months ago. The weakening of the veil is allowing…it's allowing actual magic to come through.”

“Sorcery on such a scale,” whispered Trevor. “Is such a thing real?”

“Still not buying this,” said Joseph.

The front door opened as three men entered the inn. Their armor showing two skulls morphed together as though they mirrored the other. A large bastard sword behind the skulls separated the middle of their chest armor between orange and red. The King's Guardsmen. They yelled cheering as they moved around sitting a few tables away. More entered as another group of Kings guardsmen followed. My back to the door the entire time.

Eight total. “Eight,” I whispered. Seve-“Several more outside. At least five more outside. One captain. Two lieutenants. The rest are just standard guardsmen.”

“Waitress,” a guardsman stood at the bar banging his hand on the table. “We need drinks. Immediately.” An uproar of laughter echoed through the Inn.

“Right away,” replied Abigail. She grabbed her sash and wrapped it around her waist. Everyone else did the same wrapping their own scarf around their waist or leg.

“Of course,” Trevor's voice came in clear as if he was sitting next to me. “Green so no king's guard can overhear us.”

“More like so we can hear her,” whispered Ryan.

“Oh sexy,” said Destiny. “You're voice in my ear all night-”

“What can I get you two?” Abigail's voice came in loud and clear, quieting Destiny's.

“We're just a group of travelers that met upon the road going to the festival. Let Abig-”

“Abby sweetie.”

I cleared my throat. “Sorry, Abby. Let Abby do her job and just order. We'll have a late discussion.” Last three entering now. Oh? What fun. I turned to see a knight enter the front.

“You were the wrong lady.” Joseph spoke, breathing heavily. “That's a fucking Knight.”

My bad. One Knight, and two Captains. Hahaha. We're fucked! “Shut up,” I whispered.

“Rude.”

“Wow.”

“Nice.”

“Foolery I say.”

“Manners.”

“Not him,” I said quickly. “Something else.”

The captains split, one heading to the bar while the other took a group to the far side. The Knight turned facing our direction before heading to the restroom.

“Even a Knights gotta shit,” said Destiny.

I laughed, coughing up my drink. Trevor covered his mouth with one hand pretending to be embarrassed. Ryan only chuckled as Joseph shook his head. Abigail tripped as she headed to the back as she covered a laugh. Her voice sounded clear as she erupted in laughter from the kitchen.

Two of the guards from the tables turned our way. They heard you. “No they didn't.” Yes they did. “No they di-”

“Can you tell your demon to hush. You keep answering them out loud.”

We all looked at one another. All eyes looking just as surprised as the next.

“Who the hell was that?” Abigail's voice sounded heavy with concern.

“Apologies, but the gremlin is correct. Even Knights have to shit.”

My heart beat so fast I couldn't breathe. Oh shit. Everyone else held firm. We stood out already surrounded by Kings Guardsmen. Looking like statues wasn't going to help anyone. Joseph closed his eyes and leaned in close trying to relax. Ryan did the same leaning back grabbing a menu. Trevor took a few breaths before standing up to mingle with the crowd. A traveling merchant not selling anything would be strange.

Destiny leaned back laughing before sitting up looking puzzled. “Did that fucker just call me a gremlin?”

“I suppose you can consider me your ‘Inside Knight’ for this operation.”

Everyone had come together. An engineer with a flirtatious appetite. A traveling alchemist disguised as a merchant. An actual fucking knight. An amateur locksmith wanting to play thief. A waitress with an attitude who won't give up on the nickname, and a man just here for revenge. All brought together by a caster who may, or may not, have a demon residing in their head.

“So boss,” said Destiny, her smile showing another missing tooth gap. “You found us. What's the plan?”