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"Ohh, this road goes on forever," Hallie complains for the umpteenth time. "The sores on my feet have sores on them!"

After five days of resting and healing, Arvin and and Barlemus had, as promised, escorted the three young women to the Sturnheim Road. Since then, two days ago, they have walked this path to the east. They haven't encountered a single soul since then. Not even a passerby traveler.

Tavi thinks back to that day.

"Well, here we are," Barlemus says. "Keep following this east, and it'll take you to town. Stay safe now, and take care of each other. Arvin and me, we gotta go save the world." There is a distinct tone of pride in his voice.

"If you do not hear from us within a month's time, it is likely we failed and are dead. And with the White Terror unleashed, this entire land may be doomed," Arvin says.

"Ut...uh, but that won't happen. We won't fail. Don't worry about it none," he assures the girls, casting an annoyed glance at the elf.

"Thank you, again, for all of your help," Hallie says politely.

"Bye, Arvin! Byyyyyeeee, Barley!" Sparrow exclaims, waving.

That had been two days prior. Since then, Tavi has had little time to think on the two men, and their quest, as she has been busy with Hallie's constant complaining and Sparrow's endless barrage of questions about Barlemus.

"What do you think Sturnheim will be like?" asks Sparrow. "All of the people and buildings...there is so much to do? What will you do first?"

"All I'm interested in right now is a bath and clean clothes. We spent over a week in that horrible dungeon. And Tavi, you're caked not only in filth, but blood as well. Not all of it is yours," she notes, pointing to a splotch of black, dried goblin blood on her armor.

Finally, the town comes into view. There's a river that stretches from north to south, and a bridge crossing it, to reach the town.

"Good Arbiter, you two," Tavi sighs in frustration as she rubs at her forehead. Part of her was wondering why, exactly, she saved these two. All they did was ask her endless questions and complain the whole time. "Granny use to say that Sturnheim use to be a great city," she says. "But it isn't doing so good now. I think it still has the standard stuff that we are going to need, like a place to say so we can get cleaned up and have a good meal," she states thoughtfully. "I can probably get father's sword fixed too, and once we rest up I guess we are all going to have to look for jobs. The money that I have isn't going to last us very long."

"I hate to say it, Tavi, but wouldn't it be smarter to just sell your weapons and armor, rather than spending money on repairing them?" Hallie asks. "We could use the money, after all, like you said. Unless you really are going to take the goblin-hunter's suggestion and become a hired sword."

"The goblin-hunter has a name, you know," Tavi says. "And I don't see why I can't become a hired sword. I took on more than sixty goblins with my sword."

"Not by yourself, and not all at once," Hallie points out.

Still, despite her words, Tavi had learned a great deal not only fighting with those goblins, but also from her training with Barlemus and Arvin. She was nowhere near as good as either of them, but she certainly feels like she is far better off than she was that fateful night when the goblins burned down the ranch.

As they approach the bridge, Tavi sees someone is standing on it, leaning over the side, fishing. It's a young man about Hallie's age dressed in a tattered red shirt and black leggings that have been rolled up a bit. His boots sit at his side, along with a bucket--presumably to hold any fish he catches. He's very muscular, but rather ugly. His nose is crooked, suggesting it's been broken--perhaps more than once. He's got several scars, as well. Also, his short brown hair looks like it was cut by himself...without a mirror.

"Well, it isn't like I can't find other people to help me out once in awhile, Hallie," Tavi says. "Oh, look. The first person we have seen in...well forever," she states with a smile as she approaches the ugly young man. "Um, excuse me?"

"Pike off, I'm busy," the young man says rudely, not even sparing the women a glance.

Tavi raises an eyebrow at the rudeness of the young man. "Listen, we just want to know how close the local inn is," she says, her arms crossing over her chest. "There isn't any reason to be rude about it."

"Will ya shaddup already, yer scarin' away the--," he whirls around but stops suddenly. "Err, the uh...the fish," he finishes lamely, his train of thought derailed. Blinking, he takes in Hallie and Sparrow, as well, before centering his gaze back on Tavi. "Yer...strangers," he observes. "Never seen ya before."

"Yeah, we just arrived here," Tavi explains. "Which is why we are looking for a place to stay."

"Ummm..," the man says. "Three Crowns is in the middle of town, by the town square," he says, jerking his thumb toward the town. Only inn left."

"I'm going to guess this place isn't doing so well," Tavi asks curiously.

"No @#$%," the young man says. "That's why I come out here every mornin' to catch some fish to sell. Used to brawl for money, but nobody will no more. They all know I'm the best," he states proudly, gesturing to himself with his thumb.

~It explains a few other things too,~ Tavi thinks to herself. "Well, I don't want to keep you from your fishing then. Thanks for the help."

"Uhh...yeah, yeah. Sure. Maybe I'll see you around or something," he says.

Once the three have crossed the bridge and are out of earshot, Hallie finally speaks up. "Ugh, what an uncouth brute. I certainly hope that the rest of the people in this town aren't so ill-mannered."

"Not to mention ugly," Sparrow says, sticking out her thumb. "He kinda looked like he got beat in the face. A lot."