Episode 9: The Spirit of Adventure (Part 4 of 8)

Nodding to Locke, Lilanei begins to follow the small crowd with him as they all head towards the Reedshire Inn, which lies directly across the bridge in the center of town. After a short wait in line for a room, a friendly Halfling woman greets them and immediately shows them to their room at the far end of the inn. The two walk into the room, and notice two comfortable twin beds sitting under the window opposite them. By the right hand bed is a table that holds a big plate full of bread and fruits, waiting to be eaten, as well as a jug of berry juice.

"Well, this was certainly worth while," Locke announces as he marches into the room, picks up a piece of bread, and eats it.

Lilanei pours herself a glass of berry juice, which she sips happily, as she says, "I wish more towns were like this! I think this is the first time we haven't been attacked, or I haven't been kidnapped, or something as horrible."

"I suppose the world is just changing," Locke says. "Friendly places are becoming rarer, and it's because of scum like this King Bertz."

"Yeah," Lilanei sighs, before saying, "But I suppose that's why Akorrin sent us out on this journey. I don't suppose he meant for it to be very easy."

"That's true," Locke agrees. "He sent us to take care of the evil in this world, and we shall! Starting with the King."

"Speaking of which," Lilanei notes, “we'll have to go shopping tomorrow! Me being part Elf and all. . ."

"Yes, we'll look for a hood to go with your cape tomorrow morning," Locke announces. "But for now, let's get some rest."

Finishing her glass of berry juice, Lilanei sighs as she puts the glass on the table and says, "Sounds good to me."

Locke walks up to Lilanei and puts his arms around her, squeezing her tightly in a big hug before he kisses her forehead softly and says, "Sweet dreams, Lil."

Lil smiles as she hugs him back tightly and says, "You too. . . Hey, does that mean you've forgotten about the bet?"

"Bet?" Locke asks as he lets her go and walks towards his bed. "Bet. . . Bet? No, but I figured if I didn't mention it and you did, you would really be rather keen!"

Lil immediately flushes red as she mutters, "Erm. . ."

Locke laughs. "Go on, now. I'll wait here."

Lil looks to him with a slightly anxious expression before she says, "Erm. . . Okay. . . But if you peek, I'll kill you!"

"Wouldn't dream of it," Locke announces with a smirk as he stands and looks out of the window while he waits.

Grumbling, Lilanei snatches up her bag and moves into an adjoining wash room. Locke hears some shuffling for a few moments, as well as low, angry grumbling, before Lilanei soon finally emerges – clad in her servant's outfit. She wears a small, golden tank top as well as a bikini-style bottom from the sides of which hangs two flowing and opaque dress-like sections of cloth down the sides of the legs – as well as her new sandals, which lace up her ankles.

Looking away from him shyly, she mutters, "I hope you're happy now. . ."

"I am," Locke replies as he looks at Lil, his cheeks slightly red which are shadowed in the soft light; he then motions with his hand for Lil to walk forwards as he says, "C'mere."

Still blushing nervously, Lil walks slowly across the room and to Locke – who sweeps her in his arms and gives her another big cuddle as he kisses her forehead again and brushes her hair.

"Thanks, Lil," Locke says. "I love you."

Slightly surprised by the affection, Lilanei eventually hugs Locke back as she softly smiles and responds, "I love you too."

"Don't be nervous about this place," Locke finally whispers. "I won't let anybody hurt you. This stupid King included."

Squeezing him tightly, she says, "Thank you. . ."

"You're welcome," Locke replies with a smile as he lets Lil go. "Get some sleep now, okay? We'll need to start out early tomorrow."

Lil looks up at Locke with a surprised glance and says, "Wow! Is that all? You haven't said anything remotely degrading or sexist! I'm quite surprised at you. . . unlike those Orcs—"

"Oh?" Locke asks. "What did the Orcs say?"

Lil purses her lips amusedly as she glances away and says, "Oh, nothing. . . Its just while you were 'Maroco,' I made friends with lots of Orcs in this outfit. Orochi and his men know me as Raina."

"Well, if that's the case. . . Raina," Locke begins, "you must be more comfortable in that outfit than you made out. Keep it on a while longer."

Locke then lies down on his bed and motions for her to lie by him. Lilanei sits on the bed before pulling her legs up on it and hugging her knees to her chest.

"Well, I only did it so I could make sure you'd escape safely from the camp," she says.

"I understand," Locke replies. "In that disguise, you could distract anything."

Lil sticks her tongue out at him as she mutters, "I still don't get the big deal. . . It's just a stupid slave outfit! It just makes me really cold."

"Well, it makes me feel very warm inside," Locke says as he smiles at her. "You're very beautiful, you know. In every way a woman can be."

Lilanei smirks as she glances out of the window beside the bed and mutters, "I bet that's what you tell all the ladies."

"Just my favourite one," Locke says as he reaches forward and pokes her nose. "Now then, 'Raina.' I think you can start calling me. . . Mr. Locke from now on."

In a mocking tone, Lilanei looks to Locke and raises her eyebrows as she says, "Very vell zhen, Mr. Locke. . . Now let us get some sleep, silly little hero."

"Sounds good to me," Locke smirks before he yawns.

Grinning, Lilanei takes the pillow from behind her and shoves it in Locke's face before laying down and crying, "Goodnight!"

The moon peeking through their window as the night draws on, our two Heroes finally find themselves thrust deeply into a very long and peaceful slumber. Meanwhile, the jolly town of Reedshire finally settles in for the night, the festivities calming to a final halt. The stars sparkle in the sky before the night swiftly passes by, giving way to a brand new day. It is late morning when Locke finally awakens to a familiar voice.

"Locke!" The voice cries aloud before continuing, even more loudly and angrily, "Locke!"

"Hm? What?" Locke wearily moans as he opens his eyes, squinting to see as his eyes adjust to the morning light.

As his vision adjusts, he sees the mildly annoyed figure of Lilanei at the foot of the bed – now dressed back in her usual attire – as she taps her foot and mutters, "It's about time! I've been trying to wake you up for the last ten minutes!"

"Don't shout so loud," Locke groans as he rubs his head while sitting up. "The effects of that ale aren't out of my body yet. . ."

Lil grins and says, "Then maybe you shouldn't have drank eight glasses."

"I don't like to lose," Locke replies. "Speaking of which, who said you could change, Raina?"

Lil purses her lips as she exclaims, "We never said how long I'd have to stay dressed that way! Besides, it was cold all night, and someone was hogging all of the blanket."

"Oh? So you stayed in my bed all night?" Locke asks with a grin.

Lil glances away as she responds, "I was tired. . ."

"But awake enough to feel the cold and not get any blanket from me," Locke responds. "You could've walked over to your bed, but you wanted to stay with me. I like that."

Lil sighs in frustration as she throws her hands up in the air and cries, "Fine! Stay in bed all day. . . I'll eat breakfast all my myself!"

"Breakfast?" Locke asks. "I don't remember this place offering a breakfast."

"Well, of course it does! I bought some from the inn's kitchen. After all, that Journeybread was so disgusting, I had to throw it all out! Oh, and by the way, I've repacked your things in your new bag. So, we're all set to go, when you're all ready."

"Wow, thanks," Locke says graciously as he stands up. "You didn't have to, though."

Lil shrugs as she says, "I couldn't sleep anymore and I needed something to do. Oh, and I noticed your lock pick is missing. We're going to need to get you a new one, just in case."

"That's a good idea," Locke says. "We can do that after we find you a hood to go with your cape."

Lilanei nods before motioning over to the table and saying, "Come on, then. It's going to get cold."

"What have we got?" Locke asks excitedly as he rushes over to the food.

"Pork and eggs," Lil explains as she sits at the table and begins to eat.

"Sounds delicious," Locke mentions as he begins to eat his share. "So, how much has this cost me?"

Taking a gulp of some of her food, Lil sighs and responds, "It didn't cost you anything. cheapskate. I'll have you know that I paid for it all."

"Again, you didn't have to," Locke notes.

Lil smirks before responding, "Well, I couldn't find your coin pouch! It figures you'd hide that well."

"There are thieves everywhere. You've got to keep that sort of thing close to you at all times," Locke says as he grins, before continuing, "I could show you a few places you could hide your valuables."

Lilanei's eyebrow twitches slightly as she finally utters, "No thanks."

Lilanei continues to eat her breakfast as Locke says, "Some other time then. . . But I'll show you."

Lil simply mumbles, as her mouth is full. After a few quiet moments, the noise of the outside town filtering through their window, the duo finish their breakfasts. Locke and Lilanei freshen up and gather up their things before heading out of the inn and back into the town of Reedshire. Looking around the area, they spot many shops which line the long road from the inn's side of the bridge.

Looking about, Lilanei finally states, "Well. . . Is there any place you want to go first?"

"I'd feel better if we got something to conceal your pretty ears," Locke replies. "There could be some moron around who'd tip the King knowledge of your being here."

"I suppose," Lil responds nonchalantly as she looks to her right and sees a large general store before she continues, "Well, I suppose the local general store would be a good place to start our search. Perhaps they'll have a new lock pick for you as well."

"There's only one way to find out," Locke states as he begins to walk towards the general store door, with Lilanei in tow.

As they walk through the small door leading into the large shop, they find themselves in a big room, full of many shelves and racks which contain many various items. As they step in and begin to glance about, a tallish Halfling man, with darkly tanned skin walks across the store to them with welcoming arms.

"Good morning! Welcome to me shop! Anythin' I can help ya with, you two kids?"

"We're looking for a couple of things," Locke announces as he looks around the shop from his position. "A hood to go with my partner's cape, and perhaps a lock picking kit for myself."

The Halfling man looks over Lilanei before responding, "I ain't got no 'oods, but I can fix one on dat cape meself. As for yer lock pick, mon, we got plenty a 'dose."

"Sounds great," Locke replies as he turns to Lilanei. "Give him your cape, Lil."

"Okay," Lil simply responds as she unties the cape from her neck and drapes it over her arm before holding it out to the Halfling as she continues, "Thank you very much for this. . . Hey, you look quite familiar."

"Now you mention it, he does," Locke inputs. "You look a lot like a lady we know back in Blackcrest."

As the Halfling takes the cape from Lil, he looks to Locke and cries, "Blackcrest! You ain't on 'bout me Charlotte, are ya?"

"Charlotte?" Locke asks as he blinks. "Erm, no, I don't know any Charlotte."

Lilanei clears her throat and mutters quietly, "I think 'Charlie' might be short for 'Charlotte', Locke. . ."

"Oh!" Locke exclaims in realization. "Well, yeah, we know Charlie."

"Charlotte!" The man exclaims with a wide smile. "That lil Lotus Flower, she be me daughter, mon. I ain't seen 'er in years. How's she doin'?"

"Good, I suppose," Locke answers. "She has a pretty successful inn around Blackcrest. The Sleepy Sheep Inn, she calls it. . . Pretty good friends with the local pub landlord, too."

"Dat's me Charlotte! Always 'de bright an' friendly one," he says happily as he turns and walks to the counter. "Well, any friends of Charlotte be friends a' mine! I'll fix 'dis up for ya, an' let ya have de lock pick – no charge."

"Wow, thank you sir!" Locke says with a smile. "Anybody that gracious deserves to be known by their name. What's yours?"

"Me name is Samson," the Halfling announces. "What be yer names, kids?"
.
"I'm Locke. Locke Kallidin," Locke announces with a smile as he tips his head slightly.

Lilanei adds, "And I'm Lilanei Serpenthelm. Pleased to meet you, sir."

Smiling back at them, Samson exclaims, "Good honest names, 'dose! Just gimme two shakes an' I'll have this cape done for ya nice an' easy."

As Samson finishes, he gives them a courteous nod before disappearing through a door and into the back of the shop, leaving Locke and Lil to stand inside the shop alone.

"Nice guy," Locke remarks.

"They're all nice," Lil responds with a wistful sigh before continuing, "I wish we never had to leave!"

"Well, remember when I said if we found a good place, we could settle down?" Locke asks. "This could be that place."

Smirking, Lil retorts, "You? Settle down? Ha!"

"Well," Locke chokes slightly. "I bet you never thought I'd be so affectionate to you, either. Anything can happen!"

Lil stammers. "Well. . . Erm. . . I guess so."

"Anyway, I don't mean now," Locke announces. "I still want to see much of this world before I decide to call it a day."

Lil nods and adds, "And I still want to find Akorrin."

Locke sighs, "Each day that we don't see him, the more I feel we won't find him. . ."

Lilanei exclaims, "You shouldn't think that way! I'm sure if our master was in our shoes, he'd never give up!"

"You're right," Locke says with a smile. "I just wish we'd find him sooner rather than later."

"I know," Lilanei sighs before adding, with a grin, "Besides, each day we don't find him is another day closer to you becoming Forge's store lackey!"

"Ha!" Locke scoffs. "That's another added reason never to go back to Illias."

Lilanei frowns, "Well, we have to go back one day! My mother would kill me if I didn't! Besides, if we find Akorrin, I'll want to bring him home safely."

"You know, he is old enough that he can make his own way home," Locke notes.

Pursing her lips, Lil mutters, "Maybe so, but he's held your hand for so many years! I'm sure he won't mind us holding his for one journey."

"I suppose so,” Locke simply agrees.

"Anyway," Lil quips. "I thought you needed a lock pick."

"That's right," Locke announces as he wanders the shop for one. "Let's see what they've got."

As Locke peers at the many shelves and items, Samson finally appears from within the back of the shop, holding Lilanei's newly refashioned cape; he toddles over to her and holds it up as he cries, "Good as new, me girl!"

Lilanei takes the cape with a smile and exclaims, "Wow! Thank you!"

"Think nothin' of it, girl," Samson says, waving off her thanks. "It's no problem, when you've had to sew up so many clothes like I had to for me lil' Louts Flower when she were a nipper!"

Locke walks back over to Samson and Lilanei as he holds a new thieves' toolkit, which is wrapped in a brown cloth much like his old one.

"I'll take this lock pick, Samson," he announces.

"Den take it, son," Samson says. "Just promise me next time ya see Charlotte, you'll tell her to come visit her old father."

"Well, okay," Locke says with a smile as he stuffs the toolkit into his new ruck sack. "She seemed to be bored of this place, but Lil and I think it's a great town!"

"All a' our kids, dey have wanderlust," Samson explains. "When dey reach sixteen, dey wanna go out an' be dere own people. I'll let ya kids in on sumthin', though. Ya gots ta be careful treadin' 'round 'dese parts, mon! De Elves don't bother us much, but when ya venture up to de nort', King Bertz will have ya done over for eyeballin' him de wrong way. You two kids look after yerselves."

"The north?" Locke asks. "How far north? This is something we could do with knowing since we're exploring this country. . . I don't want my Lilanei to be put in danger. We know of this King Bertz and his grudge against Elves and Half-Elves."

"Ah, 'dat King Bertz!" Samson spits with a frown. "Queen Marice meant no 'arm, ya know. But while King Bertz was conquerin' de' country, he left dat hot bird sittin' in her cage all alone. Dat's when she fell in love wit' de Elven leada, Cale. But, 'dat King Bertz, he weren't 'aving it. He had 'de Queen an' her lil babe 'ung at de gallows. Pretty low down, dirty stuff, if ya be askin' me!"

"Yeah, we heard about that," Locke notes. "I suppose I can see why he'd be so angry, but why didn't he take it out on this Cale instead of the Queen?" Locke asks as he then glances slightly to Lil. "I know if some slime ridden piece of garbage went near my woman, I'd go after him, not her."

"Bertz, he be a vicious tyrant. He don't take no nonsense from anybody, mon. He killed his wife an' 'er baby den he went after Cale, but dat Elf, he be seriously protected. Ever since, de two halves of de country, dey be at war! So, if I were you, sugar plum," Samson says, now looking to Lil, "I wouldn't pass de mountains in de centre of Ibius."

Nodding, after tying her cape back around her neck, Lil cries, "I'll be sure to remember that! I don't want to get Locke in trouble just because of what I am."

"It's too late for that, because I'm already planning on paying this 'almighty King' a visit," Locke states. "I'll show him the error of his ways."

As Lil frowns at Locke, Samson cries, "You be one crazy kid, mon. . . Just like me Charlotte. I respect guts, but brudda, dat's showin' no brains."

"Good thing I don't rely on my brain power," Locke says with a wink. "But seriously, this King Bertz needs to be overthrown, and we might just be the people to do it."

"Whatever ya say, brudda," Samson says as he waves his hands in the air. "Just you two be careful, de further nort' ya go. It'd be a shame to see two love birds die so young."

"Love birds?" Locke asks.

Lilanei blushes as she says to Samson, "We'll be careful."

"Make sure ya do, sugar plum," Samson says. "Just remember, ya be cool down 'ere in de south, but once you cross dem mountains, ya goin' be hunted down like a bunny."

"Thanks for the help, Samson," Locke says. "We'll see you again sometime. . . brother."

"See ya, mon!" Samson cries with a big grin.

Lilanei waves goodbye to Samson happily before following Locke out of the shop and back into the town, where the pair stand in the middle of the road.

"Love bird?" Locke asks again as they stand outside of Samson's general store.

Lilanei looks to Locke quizzically and echoes, "Yes, love bird. What about it?"

"It just sounds funny when somebody refers to us like that," Locke announces.

Lil smirks at him and says in a teasing tone, "What's the matter? Embarrassed?"

"No, not at all," Locke states. "Like I said, I just wouldn't have thought of hearing that before."

Lil shrugs and says with a smirk, "Well, now you have."

"True," Locke replies. "So then. We know that the mountains are where things become less friendly for you."

Lilanei nods, now with a stern expression as she states, "Yeah. . . But at least the south should hold no danger."

"Hahaha!" Locke chuckles. "I'm sure there'll be some peril on the way to the north."

"With the way you bumble into things," Lil begins with a grin, “that's almost a sure promise."

"Well, at least it makes things exciting in this life," Locke replies.

As Locke finishes his remark, both he and Lilanei hear a sudden loud and commanding voice as it speaks from across the bridge at the entrance of town; Lilanei turns to her left and looks across the bridge as she asks, "What's that?"

"Let's investigate!" Locke announces as he makes a run for the bridge.