Chapter 13: The Starboy and His Ears

"That... is an Orgen. Sitting with a Hisker...?"

Enel stopped just beyond the door, and Tiny almost bumped into him if it wasn't for the fact he was getting used to Enel randomly stopping anywhere—and they'd only been together for a day.

"What is it, M'lord?"

“There are many kinds of people here,” Enel said.

"Many—Ah! So ugly!" Tiny pointed at a hisker sitting at the table closest to them. The hisker glared at him, his flat, snake-like nose billowing out smoke. Tiny quickly hid behind Enel, but Enel just stepped ahead.

Fortunately for Tiny, Ulf walked past and dragged his tiny body away. "Try not to stare too much. Adventurers like their business to stay their own."

"Right." Tiny winced, trying not to look at the people. He did, however, stare at the orgen sitting beside the hisker. It was hard not to—her beak had paintings on them, and the feathers across her arms almost glistened.

Ulf had to grab him by the top of his head to make him look a way. It was a good thing, at least, Enel was a little more subtle in staring—but Ulf was sure he was even more in awe by the colorful gathering of different people.

"Ah! Lord Blackwood and companions!"

Before the three could trouble themselves in finding a table, Erik of House Fakner called them. "Come. Come, My Lord! I have put your names on this table. Please!"

"What's... wrong with the Fakner boy?" Tiny scoffed.

"Does it matter?" Ulf said, moving ahead of the group and sitting at the table Erik reserved for them. He immediately patted Erik, nodding and smiling at him.

Tiny and Enel could really only look at each other before following suit.

"My lord," Erik greeted him once more, the smile on his face more genuine this time around. "I have also arranged a room for your lordship upstairs. Small, I fear, but the biggest there is in these parts—the inn is crowded tonight, and I did what I could."

"That is unnecessary," Enel said. "I can sleep with the caravan along with my companions."

"I insist, My Lord!" Erik held Enel's hand, then hurried to call for the barmaid, too. "Your meal is also already paid for—Ulric and his company had rewarded us handsomely for helping them."

"They... did? That—"

"I shall leave you to enjoy your meal, My Lord." Erik bowed. "And... I have also arranged for a nightly visit for you. I shall see you on the morrow."

"Nightly visit?" Enel's eyebrows rose. But before he could ask what Erik meant by that, he left. Ulf, on the other hand, slapped the table several times while nodding his head at Enel.

"Stop asking and start receiving, your lordship," he said.

"I can sleep outside."

"And worry us common folks about the safety of a noble?" Ulf smirked. "The people would be uncomfortable with you there."

Enel looked between them, then sighed. “Very well. I will take the room.”

The barmaid finally reached their table, immediately placing a basket of bread in front of them.

"We did not order anything yet, my lady," Enel said, looking up at the barmaid. The barmaid also gazed down at him, her face reddening before she looked away.

"What did I say about taking?" Ulf said as he pulled the bread closer to him.

"What... will your lordship have?" the barmaid asked, tucking her brown hair under her ear as she smiled at Enel.

"What do you serve?" Enel straightened.

“Stew, roast onions, black bread, river fish, salted eggs, ale—”

"No fish," Enel interrupted, covering his mouth at the memory. "I would have stew and this... salted egg. My friends would order on their own."

"Friends now, are we?" Ulf smirked.

"I do not see why not?" Enel shrugged.

"You're... a noble, M'lord." Tiny joined the conversation.

"And?"

"Forget it. Since our friend here told us to order whatever we want..." Ulf looked to the bar. "Bring us the keg."

"I'll have the fish!" Tiny stood up. "And the onions, and the stew, and the bread!"

The barmaid looked at them awkwardly for a moment, then bowed her head. "I'll... just bring everything. And I will make sure they put more meat in your stew, M'lord."

"Oh. You have my gratitude." Enel nodded before looking away, not realizing the barmaid was still looking at her. She stared a moment longer before finally bowing again and leaving for the kitchen.

The food soon arrived, with the barmaid lowering the food beside Enel. Ulf noticed this, and couldn't help but smirk—Enel, on the other hand, was solely focused on the stew.

After thanking the barmaid, he leaned closer to the stew. His nose inflated as the steam curled into his nostrils. The smell of meat, herbs, onions, and something new caused the back of his neck to tingle.

He stopped himself from feeling excited, however, as he didn't want to disappoint himself as he did with the fish.

So, he took one careful spoonful into his mouth. Then he stopped.

Tiny, who was devouring the food in front of him, also stopped to stare at him. "M'lord? Is something the matter?"

"This has many tastes I had not had the pleasure of before," Enel whispered. "I wish Widow's Wall could taste this someday."

Tiny blinked, then gazed down at his own food, then his eyes traveled across their entire table full of food.

"I... wish my little sister could've tasted this, too, M'lord."

"You have a sister?" Enel asked. "You left her?"

"I am afraid illness and hunger have taken her, M'lord," a small, gentle smile grew on Tiny's face. "If I knew Widow's Wall had a lord like you, M'lord... we would've gone there."

"I..." Enel gazed down, remembering all the refugees and beggars of Widow's Wall.

"Stop it with this talk." Ulf waved at their table, as if trying to get rid of the sourness in the air. "You lot are soiling the food. Talk about something else, or don't talk at all."

Both Tiny and Enel nodded, and continued their meal in peace.

But the conversations continued around them, with the adventurers and some travelers bringing news.

"You've heard the war is ending?"

"The duke should have just given the barbarians what they wanted."

"They're barbarians. They pillage and take our women."

"Our soldiers did the same during the time of our great grandfathers."

"Lord Commander Duncan made sure nothing like that ever happen."

"You think Duncan can control his men everywhere?"

Enel's ears almost moved as he listened to everything around him. The war his mother taught him from the books and scriptures, and the war he'd been hearing around him... they were almost unrecognizable from each other.

The three ate until Tiny leaned back with both hands on his stomach, his eyes weak from eating too many. Ulf didn't eat much, only drank ale the entire time.

"I thank all the gods for the feast I have partaken tonight," Enel clasped his hands in prayer. Tiny noticed, and he quickly did the same—he didn't have to, however, as Enel soon stood.

“You may share my room,” he said.

Tiny sat up immediately. “Really?”

“No,” Ulf said, grabbing the back of Tiny’s collar before the boy could rise.

Tiny twisted around. “What? Why?”

“Because we are fine with the caravan.”

“But the lord offered—"

"No."

"I am sure there is space, Ulf."

“Probably. But you need sleep. And he...” he shook Tiny lightly by the collar, “...would probably snore.”

"But—"

Before Tiny could say anything else, Ulf covered his mouth and started carrying him.

"See you on the morrow, M'lord," Ulf said before turning around and dragging Tiny away. It was only until they were almost at the door did Tiny manage to free himself.

"What was that for?!" he complained.

Ulf shushed him, the smirk on his face growing wider. "You don't want to get in the way of our young noble getting his nightly service."

"Nightly service?" Tiny squinted, then his eyes quickly turned to the barmaid who'd been staring at Enel all night long. "You mean—"

"Yes."

"But his lordship is but three and ten, old man."

"Huh...?" Ulf's eyes widened, quickly looking back at Enel who was already heading up the stairs to the private quarters.

"I... am sure he'll be fine."

---

The room was small, just as Erik had said. There was a narrow bed, a basin, a chair, and a window that looked out toward the inn yard.

Enel didn't utter a complain at all, however.

He removed his armor carefully and placed each piece beside the bed. His mother’s stolen drape-cape he folded with more care than the rest, though he still noticed the dirt along the edge.

"Oh, no..." Mira would surely be angry about that.

Enel sat on the bed and looked out the window. Outside, the caravan had settled into dark—he couldn't see Ulf and Tiny, but they were arguing for sure.

Enel smiled at the thought, but it also quickly faded.

"Father, Mother..." He gazed down at his father's armor. He thought of Widow's Wall... and only now realizing how truly poor they were compared to Riverdown. Even this traveler's inn was more in shape than their manor.

They were extremely poor.

"Are we... bad nobles?" The question stung him even though it had come from him. It didn't have time to settle on him like the Veil, however, as a knock came at the door.

Enel stood. “Yes?”

The door opened just enough for the barmaid to look inside. She had loosened the top of her dress slightly, and the smile on her flushed face had become... something else.

“Good evening, M’lord,” she said softly. “I came to ask if you... wanted company tonight?”

"Company?" Enel blinked, looking around the room. "Whatever for, my lady?"

"To warm your bed, M'lord?"

"My bed...?" Enel blinked again, then touched his bed. "Why would I want my bed warm? It is much cozier like this, my lady."

"Uh..." This time, it was the barmaid's turn to blink.

"Did you need something else?" Enel was genuinely confused. "And why are you hiding behind the door like that?"

"It... is nothing, M'lord," the barmaid's voice turned quiet. "Is there truly nothing else you require?"

"I would seek you if I do." Enel shrugged. "The stew was very good, my lady."

"Oh. That's... good to hear, M'lord."

"If that is all, my lady?"

"Ah. Yes."

“Then may the Urtmother guide your sleep.”

The barmaid stared at him for a moment, then she slowly closed the door.

Enel also stared at the door, then looked around wondering if there was something wrong with the room. But after awhile, he lay down, though sleep did not come immediately.

Still, eventually, his eyes closed.

Only for him to woke to pain.

"Agh!" Enel sat up so quickly the bed cracked beneath him. He covered his ears, and for a moment, he thought someone had struck him—but that was impossible.

No matter what had struck him in the past, he had not felt a tinge of pain. He wasn't even sure if this was pain, and if it was... he wanted it to stop.

"M-mother..." He gritted his teeth, covering his ears even tighter. But even then, the noise... the noise was too much.

He could hear it, them... everyone.

A man coughed in the room next door, and the sound slammed against Enel’s skull. Somewhere above, a rat scratched at wood, each tiny scrape sharp enough to make his jaw tighten. The fire below popped. Someone swallowed. A horse snorted outside.

"No..." he curled, further covering his ears with his knees, but it didn't help at all.

He could hear Tiny's voice, muttering in his sleep.

Ulf was farther, and he could hear him whisper.

"Why... why did I do those things...? Why... why are you screaming?" he whispered to himself.

Enel shook his head, but even that didn't help. He pressed his palms ever harder, but nothing.

But then, through the pain, he heard laughter.

Men laughing outside. The... soldiers?

“Should’ve seen his face,” one of them said.

“Blackwood’s boy?”

“Aye. Pretty little thing, isn't he? Who was he asking 'bout again?"

"Gregor and some boy named Ansel."

"Ah. I remember them coming through here—don't matter, now. Though? They're probably dead like the other lot from that shitpile of a place."

Enel’s eyes opened as they laughed. And all of a sudden, everything became quiet again.

He quickly sat up, then tilted his head at the window.

The soldiers were still laughing when something dropped from above and landed beside their table hard enough to splash ale from their cups.

"G-gods?!" One of the soldiers cursed and reached for his sword, but stopped as soon as he saw the golden hair hanging loose over a white sleeping shirt.

Enel stood in the lantern light, both hands trembling at his sides.

Not from fear—no. The boy doesn't know such thing.

“You told me you did not know them,” he said, staring at the older soldier.

“You lied."