The innkeeper slithered to the door as beings spoke again. He pulled a lever beside the opening, and SJ watched as the mechanism slowly pushed the door open, gears grinding. It was the first time SJ had seen anything truly mechanical since arriving in Amathera.
‘I suppose that’s in the case of sand,’ SJ thought.
“It would seem that way,” Dave said.
Once the door was open, several beings immediately left, either continuing their journeys or discovering what damage may have been caused. SJ couldn’t resist and walked outside the inn once the bustle to leave died down. The streets were chaotic. Awnings that they hadn’t had time to secure or remove had been ripped from their mountings and now hung loosely. A layer of fresh sand covered the ground, at least two inches deep. The power the storm must have held to penetrate the sixty-foot-high walls of the township was unbelievable. SJ winced at the thought.
SJ looked to the left and spotted a table that had previously been positioned outside a trader’s. The heavy sandstone table had shattered against the wall of another dwelling, leaving shards and rubble across the street as many beings started to clean up. SJ watched their efficiency as they did. Groups of beings sweeping the excess sand as strange-looking contraptions, or better, wagons without wheels, designed more like sleighs, were used to carry it away. SJ had no idea where it would be disposed of, but considering the whole town had been covered in two inches of sand, the weight and volume would be significant.
Kibble peeked from SJ’s shoulder, his head protruding from her hair where he had burrowed into her neck. He let out a low growl. SJ reached up, stroking him.
“It’s passed,” she said soothingly. There was no need for Dave to interpret his thoughts. The force of nature wasn’t something that they could trifle with, and SJ was worried about facing such a force in the open desert. She turned and headed back inside the inn. Fas had moved to a now-empty table after so many had left with the storm’s conclusion. Two tankards sat on the table, and SJ moved over to join him.
“Local drink,” Fas said, indicating the tankard.
SJ lifted the tankard; its surface was unnaturally cold to the touch. Checking its contents, it smelled almost sour.
“What is it?” SJ asked.
“It’s a local fruit. Not alcoholic.”
SJ lifted the tankard to her lips and sipped it. The liquid may have smelled sour, but its taste was something entirely different. It was almost menthol, a sharp, fresh sensation with a coolness that made her shiver as she swallowed.
“It tastes minty,” SJ commented as she drank more. It was rather refreshing.
“I don’t know the fruit’s name, but I have had similar in the past,” Fas said.
“What’s the plan now?” SJ asked. She wasn’t happy just sitting around.
“There really isn’t anything we can do until we have the goggles, and they won’t be ready until tomorrow, and by tomorrow, I mean the next night from now. If we met a storm without goggles, we would be lucky not to end up blind.”
“It sounded ferocious,” SJ replied.
“It won’t affect the town. It will be back to normal in no time. This is no different for desert inhabitants than a thunderstorm. It wasn’t the worst sandstorm I have experienced,” Fas shrugged.
“Really. They get worse?”
“Much... I recall an instance where a township lost nearly half its buildings after a storm. Not that this town would. The building designs are deliberate to prevent such issues.”
“I also noticed the door mechanism. It’s the first time I have seen anything truly mechanical.”
“It will be a specialist crafter, likely to be an artisan by profession and probably gnomish. The gnomes are renowned for their inventions.”
The comment about gnomish inventors supported SJ’s fantasy knowledge.
“It was impressive; it opened easily, even with the weight of the sand outside. Never mind, the doors are also made from stone. It still surprises me that the storm was so bad when the walls were so high.”
“Imagine what it would be like without the walls,” Fas commented. “Would you like another drink?” he asked, moving to stand.
“Let me. You’ve paid for everything so far.”
Again, Fas shrugged, smiling at her. “I’m not short of coin.”
“I didn’t think you were, but I still need to pay my way.”
“I won’t argue,” Fas said as he settled back in the seat.
SJ moved to the bar. The innkeeper was busy serving another patron, and she stood looking at her reflection in the highly polished surface of the bar. Kibble’s little head poked out from her hair again, and he looked down at her reflection. Then, seeing his reflection, he started admiring himself.
“A little vain, aren’t the pair of you?” Dave said.
‘I was just thinking I needed to brush my hair. It feels gritty from flying earlier,’ SJ thought.
“What can I get you?” The innkeeper’s voice made SJ jump as she looked up.
“Sorry. Can I get two of the same again?” she asked, placing the empty tankards on the bar.
“Of course. What about the little one?” the naga asked.
“If you have a bowl, I’ll take some for him as well.”
The naga nodded before taking the two tankards and dropping them into a sink. He slithered to the end of the bar and removed two more tankards, already pre-filled with the liquid from what SJ could only describe as an icebox. It was like the one she had at her home in Asterfal, just on a larger scale. He then took out a third and poured the contents into a bowl before returning.
“Here you go. That’ll be four silver, please.”
SJ removed four silver coins from her inventory and paid for the drinks. The prices were astounding, and she was still none the wiser about the water tokens the trader had mentioned or possible exchange rates. Not that she planned to stay here long enough even to consider using them.
“Thanks,” SJ said, returning to Fas.
They sat quietly drinking, Kibble enjoying his bowl of the same liquid. SJ was feeling tired; she hadn’t slept since before dawn the previous day, and it was now past midnight. Both Kibble and Fas had eventually managed to sleep during the day.
She stifled a yawn.
Fas noticed. “Go rest. There is nothing we can do until tonight. If the goggles fit correctly, then we can consider leaving at dawn tomorrow.”
The thought of being stuck in the town was frustrating; she just wanted to get going to find the gila beast and return to Killic, but after witnessing the power of the storm, she could understand the necessity of ensuring they had goggles.
“I will if you don’t mind?” SJ said.
“Not at all,” Fas smiled.
SJ stood, and Kibble hopped back to her shoulder from where he had been drinking. The stairs were made of sandstone, just like all the other buildings within the town. Upon reaching the third floor, she was confronted with a large sandstone door that separated it from the stairwell. The door appeared heavy, and SJ leaned into it. She was very much mistaken, as it swung inwards easily. The fact that it moved so freely for the weight of the door surprised SJ as she almost fell over, and Kibble squeaked in annoyance as he clung to her neck. She stepped into a short corridor which led to a central circular area. Around the central region were three additional doors, each bearing a symbol. She removed the key that had been given to her and looked at it.
The key had a symbol scrawled on it, and SJ looked at the doors, seeing a matching one. She tried the key, and the door unlocked smoothly; the mechanism felt freshly oiled. She pushed the door more cautiously, and again, it swung freely as she entered.
The room wasn’t huge, and for anyone just slightly over average size, not that races in Amathera followed average sizes, it would have felt cramped. At only five feet five, she wasn’t tall, and it wasn’t too bad. There were shutters on a window, and SJ moved to them, opening them to let in the night air. Being further from street level meant the air was slightly cooler, and she leaned on the sill, peering out, allowing the refreshing air to caress her arms and face. In the room, there were a few furnishings: a bed, a small wardrobe, and a washbowl. Kibble hopped from her shoulder and went straight to the bed.
She turned back to the door, making sure the latch was in place, and closed the shutters before collapsing on the bed. The sensation from the blanket took her by surprise. It was cool to the touch, and it sent a chill through her as she noticed it had a similar appearance to the cloaks they had purchased. SJ pulled the blanket back and climbed underneath. Immediately, her body temperature seemed to adjust as though it were being regulated. It wasn’t too hot or too cold, and she could feel her eyes almost instantly closing.
It had been another interesting day in Amathera, filled with many firsts once again, and it didn’t take her long to fall asleep as she stroked Kibble; his purr filled her ears, and the rumbling vibration soothed her.
“I can’t believe I slept so long,” SJ said after finding Fas in the bar area. Her display indicated that it was later in the afternoon. She couldn’t remember the last time she had slept so long, and Dave hadn’t even attempted to wake her up. “Have you rested?”
“I have slept,” Fas said.
Kibble squeaked as he hopped down and sniffed at an empty plate sitting in front of Fas. He pulled his nose back before sneezing, sending blue sparks flying. Fas chuckled at him.
“You will stick your nose in everything,” Fas said.
Kibble turned away indignantly and sauntered across the table to SJ.
“I’ll go and get food,” Fas said, rising.
‘I wonder how long until the sun goes down?’ SJ thought.
“A couple of hours yet,” Dave said.
Several other patrons had arrived, and the naga was busy serving tables with meals and drinks. A young elf with darkened skin tones, possibly a dark elf, although SJ couldn’t be sure, sat at a nearby table and was busy setting up a game on a strange-looking board. SJ was fascinated as she constructed the board. It appeared like a chessboard, with black and white squares. Although it was hexagonal and had three levels, pieces were placed on each one.
A naga slithered over and took up position opposite her as the innkeeper approached.
“You’re starting early today, Kaliopa?” the innkeeper said.
“There are always more tokens to win,” the elf replied. “Usual wager, Hassika?”
“Yesss,” the naga replied as it removed two square tokens and placed them on the side of the board.
‘What game is it?’ SJ asked.
“No idea,” Dave said. “I’ve seen many games before, but none like this.” He sounded as fascinated in the game as SJ was as she sat watching.
Fas returned with plates of food and drink for them all and sat casually watching the game unfold.
It was complex, to say the least; the pieces, similar to chess, could be moved in specific directions, whether up or down, as well as forwards and backwards, depending on the type they were. The young elf sat with a smile on her face, and SJ was sure that the naga she was playing was getting frustrated by the hissing sounds he kept making after she moved her pieces.
SJ had finished eating and was sipping at her drink when the naga eventually brought his fist down heavily on the edge of the table, cursing in what must have been his tongue.
“You were unlucky today,” Kaliopa said.
“Bahh. You’s alwaysss beatss me,” Hassika replied before slithering off to a distant table where two other nagas were sitting.
“Any ideas on how to play?” SJ asked Fas.
“I have seen similar games before, but each area usually has its own rules,” Fas replied.
Kaliopa reset the board to its original state and sat patiently. It didn’t take too long for an orc patron to move over to the table and take up residence opposite her.
“Ahh, Jasfig. You think luck is on your side today?” Kaliopa said, smiling at the orc.
He didn’t reply as he placed four tokens on the table.
Kaliopa raised an eyebrow. “You are feeling lucky today. Please have the opening move.”
Without a word, Jasfig moved his piece, which had been on the top board, diagonally down and across the bottom board.
“Interesting move,” Kaliopa said thoughtfully before she moved her piece.
SJ again was transfixed, trying to understand the game and how it worked. At times, depending on the piece and the region it was in, it appeared that it could be used differently. She believed she had a clue about the patterns that Kaliopa was using with her moves, but couldn’t be certain. The central board appeared to be the controlling space, and whoever had overall control of it seemed to have the upper hand.
Jasfig let out a satisfactory grunt as he moved a piece and swiftly took out three of Kaliopa’s in one move.
Kaliopa didn’t react except to smile wryly. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to resist,” she said, moving a piece, the orc’s face furrowing as she did. He stared at the board for several moments and then, without speaking, stood and walked from the table.
Kaliopa collected the tokens, and they disappeared into her inventory.
The innkeeper again slithered over, bringing her a fresh drink. “You are going to make me regret allowing you to play in here if you don’t go easssier on them.”
“It’s not my fault. They always rush to try and win,” Kaliopa said.
The innkeeper continued past the tables and approached the inn’s door before activating the mechanism, allowing it to swing open. There was a hissing sound, and the rush of air entering the inn made SJ’s ears pop as though they had been in a pressurised space.
Kibble shook his head, and SJ stretched her jaw, wiggling it to even the pressure. “I wasn’t expecting that.”
Fas hadn’t reacted to the pressure shift, holding his tankard in his hand, still sipping from it occasionally.
“Looks like dusk has arrived,” Fas said as he placed his tankard down and stood. SJ couldn’t believe how quickly the time had passed while watching the board game being played.
“Shall we go to see if the goggles are ready?” SJ asked.
“May as well. The sooner we can move on, the better.”
SJ stood as Kibble launched onto her shoulder and settled down. The streets outside were showing early signs of life as beings began to appear. Vendors and traders were setting out their wares and the usual sights you would expect to see in any town or city, although it was early evening and not morning. The time shift in life in the desert region was the only reason that many of these beings could even consider living here.
SJ had placed her new cloak on before leaving the inn, and it was amazing the cooling effect it had. On leaving the inn, Kibble had curled further into the hood of the cloak, taking the benefit of its cooling effect. Her face could feel the dry heat of the day that still lingered in the streets, although her body, wrapped in the cloak, felt cool, and her temperature was being controlled. It was amazing.
“I need to grab a cloak for Kibble in the daytime,” SJ said.
“That would make sense. He will benefit from the cooling they provide.” Fas was also wearing his cloak as they made their way towards the vendors.
