Adventure of Exiles

The four walked through the busy town and into the main street.

It was a wide, cobblestone road with several shops and taverns with people going about their day.

Emily and Sophie were chatting the entire way.

“Here we are.” Sophie said.

The house was a simple home, but it was charming. It was a two-story house with a stone base and dark wood walls. Yard had a garden with blooming flowers and a chicken coop.

“Your home is lovely.” Emily said.

The door opened and a handsome young man with olive skin and his black hair came out. He had a medicine bag across his shoulder and an armband for the Goddess Herta’s Hospitaller.

“Sophie, back from your walk around town? Oh, you brought some people. Can I help you, any wounds or illness?” The man asked.

“This is my friend, Emily. We met back when we were leaving Svarostadt.”

The man paused to think about it.

“Ah, I remember! Back at that inn. It’s a pleasure to meet you again. I don’t think I got your name back then. My name is Chris, pleasure to meet you again.”

Felix put his hand out for a shake, “my name is Felix. This big oaf is Michael. Your daughter invited us to lunch if you don’t mind.”

Chris shook Felix’s hand and smiled, “of course not! Come on in, we get guests all the time. We were just about to eat.”

They all walked in.

Inside was a spacious room. There was a big oak table, bookshelves full of books and containers full of herbs and other medicines. A hearth on the far side had a roaring fire.

“What was that dear?” A woman’s voice called out from the kitchen.

“Sophie is home and we have some guests!” Chris called back.

The woman walked out from the kitchen. She was a beautiful woman with long blonde hair and striking green eyes.

Michael bowed, “My name is Michael. Emily. Felix.” Michael said as he pointed at the two of them.

“And my name is Claudia. I’m this dork’s wife.”

Chris shrugged, “she isn’t wrong about me being a dork.”

Chris and Claudia lead the three to the table. Claudia put down three more sets of silverware.

“You are sure we aren’t imposing?” Felix asked as he sat down.

“Of course not. We are used to having guests join us.”

Claudia set a big bowl of herring soup with fried greens in front of everyone.

“Thank you.” Michael said.

“Please dig in.”

Everyone took a bowl. Emily took a sip and her eyes lit up.

“This is delicious!”

Felix agreed, the soup was savory and flavorful. The herring was cooked perfectly, and the greens were crisp and refreshing.

“I’m glad you like it. It’s a recipe of a friend of mine back in Svarostadt. He was a fellow healer and loved fishing. You came Svarostadt from, maybe you know him. His name was George Haas.”

Michael and Felix looked at each other. They knew who Chris was talking about.

George was a Restorationist as well. He was holed up with the others in Gdanskig.

Emily was completely oblivious as she spoke, “Sounds like he was a good friend. Did you like living up in Svarostadt?”

“It’s a great city. The people are strong and proud. I learned a lot while up there.” Chris replied.

Emily sighed, “I miss Svarostadt, it’s been my home. But leaving has been an adventure.”

Chris gave a heartily laugh, “Not sure, Kurkenburg can be described as a place of adventure.”

“Maybe not but the sea is beautiful.” Emily said.

“True. Chris and I spent a lot of our childhood by this sea.” Claudia added.

“We have a boat ourselves.” Chris said.

Emily perked up at that, “really? Does it have a name?”

“The Silver Sail. We named her after silverfins, a fish you can find around here. She is docked at the western dock.”

“Silverfins are pretty, aren’t they? I saw a drawing of one in a book before.” Sophie asked.

“Very pretty. The scales glimmer in the sunlight.” Chris replied.

“Interesting. I want to see one someday.”

“Oh, that’s easy. We can take you out tomorrow. Fishing for them isn’t too hard. I got a bit of fishing experience when I went fishing with George. We can bring Sophie with us, she used to be afraid of the open water. It hasn’t been that long since we settled in.” Chris said.

Sophie smiled, “the sea was scary at first but I’m getting used to it.”

Chris gave Sophie a couple head pats, “that’s good, Sophie. This is your parents’ hometown after all.”

“So, what brings the three of you to Kurkenburg?” Chris asked turning to Felix.

Felix spoke up, “we are looking to settle down here. We are looking to get into fishing.”

“A common business here in Kurkenburg.” Chris said as he rubbed his chin.

“Still, you could have gone to the northern port city of Gdanskig. That’s definitely closer so why not there? Sorry, if you don’t mind me asking. There is something familiar about you. I can’t quite put my finger on.”

Because there are Restorationists pouring into the city. Gdanskig is going to be the beating heart of another civil war. Felix thought.

Felix was slightly worried. Did Chris know Felix aided the Restorationists? There is no way, right? They never met face to face the entire time Felix was working with Edwin.

“We just felt it was a good time to leave the north and see more of the kingdom. We were told things were different in the south.” Felix replied. Not exactly a lie.

Claudia nodded her head, “we left Svarostadt for a similar reason. The southern most part of Lyris is relatively peaceful compared to the north. I think it’s understandable people want to start anew, Chris.”

“Hmm...I suppose so. Still, I can’t shake this feeling.” Chris said, his thoughts were disrupted by a loud knocking at the door.

Claudia got up and opened the door.

A pretty, young lady with short brown hair and green eyes was at the door. She was very dramatically clutching her stomach. “Claudia, feed me. I’m starving!”

“Oh, Lisa. Don’t be so melodramatic! Come in, come in.”

Lisa immediately perked up and took her shoes off and came into the main room.

She stopped. Her eyes were then fixed on Felix.

There was a look in her eyes, he didn’t quite understand. Her eyes darted away.

The woman took a seat next to Felix.

“Hello, my name is Lisa. Who are you?”

“The name is Felix.” He replied lazily as had another spoonful of soup.

“Felix, you are a mercenary, right? You have that look.”

“What look?” Felix asked.

Lisa shrugged, “that look, the look of someone who can handle themselves.”

“I wouldn’t say that. I’m just a humble traveler.”

“Oh really? Because grandma Eileen told me about a raven who wandered into town and what do you have right there.” She said as she poked Felix’s neck.

“Rude, poking a man’s neck is rude.” Felix knew where she was poking, a branding on his neck. A small black raven with wings spread and a sword in its beak. Everyone who survived training got branded.

“Don’t be like that, Felix. I know that mark, grandpa has the same one.” She said with a mischievous grin.

“What do you want to know?” Felix asked as he drank the rest of his soup.

Lisa crossed her arms and leaned back, “what sort of man are you? Are you strong? What was your life like as a mercenary? Why are you even here?”

“Why do you want to know so much, eh?” Felix asked back bemused.

Claudia shook her head, “Lisa, please. They are guests.”

Lisa groaned, “oh come on, Claudia! It’s been forever since we had new people come to Kurkenburg and I’m just so curious.”

Chris gave a big sigh, “Felix, I’m sorry. She’s always been like this even as kids.”

“Don’t worry about it, Chris. She has the right to ask questions.”

Felix then clapped his hand, “alright quick answers. I am a free spirit. I’m very strong. Being a mercenary is interminable boredom punctuated by moments of excitement. Just trying to start a new life.”

“What’s interminable?” Sophie asked.

Emily giggled, “it means never ending.”

“Interminable? Look at you, using big fancy words.” Lisa said.

“Yes, ma’am. I read one whole book. How sophisticated am I, right?”

Lisa shook her head, “ok, smartass.”

“Lisa. Don’t be so rude to our guests.” Claudia scolded.

“Sorry, sorry.”

Felix couldn’t help but smirk.

Felix humored Lisa and answered her seemingly random questions as she ate her soup. Michael, Claudia and Chris were talking about things back in Svarostadt. Emily and Sophie were talking about books.

There was a homely charm and comfort to the food.

“What are you doing tomorrow, Lisa?” Sophie asked.

Lisa shrugged, “I don’t have anything planned. I’ll just be at the apothecary.”

“Apothecary?” Emily asked.

“I’m an alchemist, you see. I run at the local apothecary in the center of town. It’s not exciting usually just remedies for the folks around town but it pays the bills. Still wish life was more exciting like being a wandering mercenary.”

Chris nodded, “Lisa is occasionally helpful with her ingredients gathering. She’ll find herbs with medicinal use.”

“That’s amazing. I’ve only heard about alchemists. There are none in Svarostadt.” Emily said.

“What do you mean, you have never seen an alchemist?” Lisa asked.

“The north has little use for alchemists. Medical care is taken care of by the Hospitallers as it has been for centuries.” Michael explained.

“That’s so boring.” Lisa said with a sigh.

“What is it that you do?” Emily asked.

“Oh, you know. Brewing potions. Transmuting elements. That sort of thing. If you want, I could show you sometime. I got a lot of cool stuff that could interest a curious mind like yours.”

Emily’s eyes sparkled, “yes! Please!”

“Great! You can visit tomorrow.”

Felix coughed, “we got stuff to do first.”

Emily pouted, “oh come on Felix.”

Felix rolled his eyes, “first off, we have to see about that house Eileen mentioned.” He stood up. Michael silently stood up as well.

“Thank you for your hospitality. I think we should be heading off now.”

“Don’t be a stranger, welcome to Kurkenburg.” Chris replied.

Claudia, Sophie, and Chris waved as the three departed.

Felix paused at the door to see Lisa bust out a deck of cards.

“Who wants to play some cards?”

“Sure!” Sophie exclaimed.

Felix smiled a little as they left.