One More Mug: Muddy Road

“One mud, please,” she said.

“One mud,” the bartender repeated.

The man beside her frowned. “You mean a mug?”

“No, sir,” she replied.

The bartender set the drink before her, and she lifted it and drank. The liquid settled into the cracks along her skin—stone and clay, uneven, fractured, as if worn by time.

“…Ah.”

The man shifted slightly. “Pardon me, miss. Just making sure.”

He took a sip from his drink before adding, “If I may ask… where have you been? You seem to be in rough shape.”

She lowered the cup and looked at herself, as if checking for the first time. The cracks were already closing.

“I am?” she asked. “…I have always been like this since I was created.”

“I see. And your creator?” the man asked.

“He has passed away, sir,” she replied.

He frowned. “Ah… my condolences.”

“Thank you, sir.”

She looked at him, then raised her hand slightly. “Another mud, please.”

The man watched her for a moment. “If you don’t mind me asking… do you have somewhere to go?”

“No, sir,” she shook her head.

“I have been… with a deer.”

The man looked confused. “With… a deer?”

“Yes, you see, I was barely a year old since I was created. Everyone at the manor was kind to me, despite the short time.”

She paused slightly. “But soon my creator fell ill due to old age. Then one day… he was sleeping, and everyone around him was sad. Some stood outside the room, crying.”

“I was not allowed inside,” she added. “But I could see him. He looked… peaceful.”

She let out a sigh.

“It became a hard time for everyone, as they had to find new places to live. But as I was created, I had no rights and was therefore left alone in the empty manor until it was sold. When that happened, they didn’t need a golem like me, so I was released with no order or purpose.”

“Did they at least give you some belongings or pocket money? That seems a little harsh. Believe me, I know what harsh is like,” the man said with a laugh as he poured himself another drink.

“No, sir, but I do not hold grudges. They told me to take care. I believe they assumed I had a place to go, as one does not usually create something without purpose. So I wandered.”

She adjusted her cloak as she reached for water, and the man handed her a cup and poured.

“Thank you. As I was saying, I was alone in the forest where my clay was gathered, and I found a lake to rest beside. As I rested, a deer approached and smelled me, but it soon left. Curiosity led me to follow it, something without a master. What does it do?”

“Day and night, I stayed near it, watching it eat grass and drink water. There were times I saw a wolf try to chase it, but I was not given any order to intervene, so all I could do was hope for the deer to outrun it.”

“You should have seen it, sir. It was the fastest thing in the forest. Everything else seemed slow.”

The man laughed. “I believe you, kid. I’m guessing it got away?”

“Sadly, it didn’t, sir,” the golem said, frowning slightly.

“That’s a shame,” the man replied, taking a sip of his ale. “But I suppose the wolf had its fill. That’s how nature goes.”

“Not the wolf, sir,” she said, shaking her head. “I heard a loud sound, and that was when I saw the deer on the ground. From where I stood, it looked as if it was sleeping… but there was blood.”

She paused slightly. “I was terrified. Wasn’t blood supposed to remain inside?”

“Then I heard voices, cheering as they came closer.”

“A hunter and his kin were the ones who caught the deer. They saw me beside it and asked if I was lost. At first, I was afraid of them, but they assured me they meant no harm. So I told them no… but that I had no one.”

She paused briefly before continuing. “They offered for me to stay. I was unable to answer, as no one had instructed me to. But the smaller one insisted that I remain for the night, as it was not safe.”

She tilted her head slightly. “It was strange… to see someone who had taken a life be kind.”

She paused, looking down at her cup. “Sir… when my creator passed, they were sad. But when the deer fell… they were not.” She lifted her gaze slightly. “Why is it different?”

The man paused for a moment. “Because it is,” he said quietly. “Some things just happen… and some have a reason.” He took a sip. “Sounds like decent folk.”

He let out a small breath. “Food doesn’t come walking to you… well, maybe if you bait them.” He glanced at her. “If they offered, why didn’t you stay? You could’ve helped them out. Earned your keep.”

“I wasn’t told to… but, sir, I did think of it too back then.” She slowly drizzles the water on her arm as it gains its color back, as hints of fond memory are seen on her face. “You see, when they found me and joined them, they lived in a small shack. Aside from the father and son, there was also the mother and a newborn; it was my first time seeing one, and I may say, she was a bundle of joy to them when she laughed.”

The man laughed, “Oh, I remember when my son was born! I know what you mean already.”

“Yes… but I was confused,” she continued. “The children were not doing anything. No tasks. No orders.”

She tilted her head slightly, still trying to understand it. “So I asked the mother what my orders were.”

Her voice lowered just a little as she recalled it. “She only smiled at me and said… ‘You don’t have any.’”

The man raised a brow slightly, listening as he held his mug, nearing empty.

“I did not understand,” she admitted. “Then she told me, ‘You are our child too, at least for now. Do as you wish, just don’t give us a headache like this one.’”

She paused briefly. “She smirked at their son when she said it, and the father laughed, patting the boy as he looked confused.”

The golem looked down at her hands, flexing her fingers as the clay settled. “She even said… ‘You don’t see us ordering our son around, do you?’”

She paused again before continuing. “The father laughed and gestured to the boy. ‘It was his idea to hunt with me,’ he said.”

A faint hint of something—almost warmth—crossed her expression. “The boy stood proudly and said, ‘You bet! I’ll be the greatest hunter one day!’ Quite loud, but I did understand his goal.”

She paused again.

“…Then he corrected himself. ‘No… the greatest warrior.’”

“‘One strong enough to defeat that dire bear me and dad saw!’” she said, recalling him. “He was very excited… though I understood dire bears to be dangerous.”

The man nodded, a faint smirk forming. “Very.”

“The father told him, ‘Easy now, warrior. Maybe one day.’ But the boy kept going. He ran to his mother and said—”

She paused slightly.

“‘You should have seen it, mom! It was bigger than me and dad combined—maybe even bigger than our house! One day I’ll slay it, and we’ll eat like royalty!’”

She continued, a faint trace of imitation in her voice. “The mother laughed and replied, ‘Really? If a warrior wants to see something big, you should see the dishes you have to clean.’”

She tilted her head slightly. “The boy’s expression… it resembled betrayal. I understand they were not ordering him, but he appeared hurt.”

The man let out a quiet sigh. “Ah… I remember days like that. Back when my wife was still around.” He smiled faintly. “Seems like a happy bunch.”

He took a sip before adding, “And yeah, that’s chores. He wasn’t ordered, but he knows he should do it. Builds character.”

The golem looked at him, confused. “A character… for a warrior?”

The man hesitated. “Not exactly. It’s… something we grow into.”

The golem replied quietly, “I believe I may have interfered with his… growth. I volunteered to clean instead.”

The man chuckled, patting her lightly on the back. “You did fine. It comes in different ways.”

He shrugged. “Besides… he did get to hunt with his father.”

She nodded, setting her muddy cup down. “That does sound fair. I did grow fond of the boy. He was willing to help his father with everything related to hunting. He was… passionate.”

A teasing smile crept onto the man’s face. “Someone’s in love.”

The golem looked at him, confused. “I do not believe I am capable of that. And no… he is just—” She paused. “I am not certain.”

The man laughed. “I’m joking, kid. It’s called admiration.” He took a slow drink, his expression softening. “I know how it feels… to have a son who looks at you like that. Wants to be like you.”

He let the moment sit for a second. “They don’t stay that way forever.”

The golem watched him, a hint of curiosity in her gaze, as he exhaled lightly and shook his head. “Ah… never mind. What I mean is…” He gestured vaguely with his mug. “You both get to choose your own path, in time.”

The man glanced at her. “So… you chose early, then?”

The golem traced the rim of her cup. “Not exactly… but yes.” She looked down briefly. “Bandits came.”

The man looked down at his mug. “I am sorry for your loss.”

“Oh—no, you misunderstand. They are still alive, I believe,” she corrected him, exhaling slowly as her thumb ran along the handle of the cup. “One night, while we were sleeping, we heard voices outside. They forced their way in, demanding gold or any valuables.”

“We had none,” she continued. “So they threatened to kill them instead.” She paused. “The boy took a stick and tried to defend them, but he was struck aside. When one of them moved to stab him, the father stepped in and took the wound.”

Her voice lowered. “It was… horrifying. I could not do anything. So I stepped forward without instruction. Their blades only chipped parts of me.”

“I told them they could take me instead, that I could be sold, that I was made for labor.” She stared into her cup. “The leader looked at the family… then at me. He decided they were not worth anything.”

“So they took me.”

She went quiet for a moment. “I did not see the family again after that. But I remember the mother’s eyes… and the boy’s. He tried to follow, not his father, but me. The father held him back by the arm… but I could still hear him, begging me not to go.”

She paused, still lost in the memory. “The way they looked at me… felt familiar.”

“…I do not know why, but I felt relieved. They were safe.”

The man gave a small nod. “I’m glad to hear that. But how did you end up here?”

The golem tilted her head slightly. “I am not certain. The last I remember was traveling with them. At some point, I… stopped moving. When I awoke, I was alone in the grass. Then I saw this tavern.”

The man let out a chuckle. “Heh… you must have slept like a rock.” He laughed a little longer than needed, clearly amused with himself.

The golem looked at him. “I am one,” she replied.

His laughter faded as he realized she wasn’t laughing. “Uh… yeah.” He cleared his throat. “So, what will you do now? I should get going—need to prepare dinner for my son and me. Do you have a place to stay?”

“Thank you for asking, sir, but no,” she said, finishing her cup. “I believe I would like to find my own way this time.”

He nodded. “Very well. This round’s on me. See you around, little one.” He reached for his crutches, steadying himself on his remaining leg as he left payment for both their drinks and made his way out of the tavern.

She steadied herself as she got off the stool and followed after him. Outside, a sign hung beside the door, weathered, simple.

Help wanted.

She stood there for a moment.

…No one had told her to.

She turned back inside. “Excuse me,” she said, holding the sign.

“Is the position still open?”