“Halt! Why have you brought such a large army here?” shouted a Ramia city guard from the top of one of the sturdy walls of the Madu stronghold.
Tanner looked to Akira who nodded back to him.
The Garg that tanner was riding took several steps forward to stand out from the crowd. He held Kodria’s flag high so that there was no doubt who they were.
With the flag flapping in the wind and the large force of Garg mounts, the Ramia guard would have to have been living under a rock to not know who they were or to mistake them with some other force.
“We have come to inform you of the demigods that have been active in the north and now in the south. They have been taking over towns and cities causing mayhem and misery wherever they go,” shouted Tanner.
The guard looked to one of the several other guards standing next to him with an odd expression that Akira could not place. That guard shook his head.
“You told us now. Is that all?” asked the city guard.
Akira nudged Grarr forward to stand next to Tanner.
“If it is okay with your lord. We would like to stay for a day or two while we trade or pay for supplies that we need. We recently came into possession of a lot of expensive things that you might like,” said Akira.
“Who it is that wishes to speak directly to the lord?” asked the Ramia guard in a dry voice, his scaly face held no expression as he looked directly at Akira.
Several low growls and grunts came from behind Akira as they listened to the disrespectful tone coming from the guard. Even an idiot would know who Akira was. This situation was far worse, seeing as it was only a year or so ago that he had led a force to help them with the siege during the height of the Molten Onyx Plague.
“You have the pleasure of speaking to the honorable Duke of Kodria!” said Tanner in a loud booming voice.
“I will inform the lord of your arrival and request,” was all the guard said.
Akira and the rest of the soldiers behind him watched as the guard walked out of sight. Only a few seconds later several hundred new Ramia guards started to appear on top of the stronghold’s walls to stare at them.
“What’s their deal?” asked Tanner.
“They’re an ungrateful lot. Their actions in the past and now are highly unhonorable,” said Zundar as he walked forward to stand next to Akira along with Fluffball and Akira’s other guards.
The reply to their request did not come even after an hour of waiting outside the city walls in the summer sun. This was starting to irritate the soldiers who felt that they and their lord were being ignored.
After another half hour had passed everyone was growing restless while they watched the watchers on the walls and silently waited for the guard that had left to return with a reply.
Just when some of the more hotheads in the group were going to say something, the guard finally returned.
“The lord has agreed that your men can camp outside. As for entering Madu, only you and 10 others will be allowed to enter at any time. If you wish, you and any ten of your followers may pay to stay at one of our inns for as long as you are here,” said the guard in his dry voice.
Many grunts and mutterings of discontent could be heard behind Akira. Although he was unhappy with the poor reception they were receiving, especially towards a friendly ally that had helped them before, Akira raised his hand to quiet everyone.
“I’ll accept your offer,” said Akira.
As the gates slowly opened Akira quickly called out the names of his bodyguards, Zundar, Klyn, and a few of the traders to join him in entering the stronghold.
“Tanner.”
“Yes, lord?”
“You will stay here with the rest of the soldiers. Make sure to keep an eye on everything,” said Akira.
“I will!” said Tanner as he moved to join the rest of the soldiers who had moved to the side of the dirt road and started to set up a temporary camp.
Akira and the ten people he had picked all walked through the gates together and were met by a small group of twenty or so Ramia soldiers.
“I am Reeekree. I will escort you to the inn you will be staying at during your stay here,” said an elderly Ramia. The scales all over his face and body had lost almost all of their luster and were dull with many scars received from a long life of hard fighting.
“Please lead the way,” said Akira.
The Ramia soldiers spread out around the new guests and escorted them down several side streets until they reached a… decent looking three storied inn named [Average Nights].
The Inn had no paint or anything other features to make it stand out. Attached to the left side of the inn was a small tavern with the name [Average Tavern].
Reeekree opened the door to the Inn and stood to the side as the noisy sound of boisterous chatter and clatter of utensils being used to eat escaped from inside the building.
Akira nodded to Reeekree and entered the warm inn with the ten others right behind him.
The inside of the Inn was just as he had expected from just looking at it on the outside.
A large portion of the front room, mostly on the left, was filled with chairs and tables for the tavern’s guests. At the front of the left side of the room was a large wooden bar with a few stools. Behind the counter was a grumpy-looking Ramia that was standing still as he watched the chattering guests that were currently eating. He only moved his arm a few times to tend to the fire that was being used to cook food. This fire was a large reason why the inn was far warmer inside than outside air.
The only ventilation was two small windows set high in the wall to stop people from looking into the tavern.
The right side of the large front room had a second wooden counter to check in and out for those wanting to stay at the Inn. A bored Ramia, who appeared to be in his teens judging from his young face and unblemished shiny scales, sat behind this counter.
Akira only took a glance at the two Ramia, before he and those behind him zeroed in on the small group that was chatting and eating.
“… we can’t always win.”
“This is quite a setback. We lost a lot of stuff this time since they probably already raided everything we left behind.”
“Next time we have to sell off stuff more regularly.”
“You think they were sent by the Demon hunters?”
“I highly doubt they would send a group from the demon race to do their dirty work. You know, with their name and all.”
One of the guests facing the door looked up from his food and saw the new group that had just entered the room. His smiling face immediately went blank.
“What’s wrong with you New Guy?” asked a female demigod that was sitting across from him.
Seeing such an unusual change in his face the others at the table turned to look at what had caught his attention.
They all jumped up in fright and backed away from the table while drawing their weapons.
“It’s you!” they shouted as they pointed at Akira and his men.
“Yo! Long time no see!” said Akira.
“What the hell do you lot think you are doing in my tavern!” growled the grumpy Ramia as he angrily pointed his cooking utensil at the demigods.
“They’re here to kill us!” shouted Edeot.
The grumpy Ramia man looked over to Akira’s group and saw that they did not have their weapons out nor did they look like they were here for a fight.
He looked back at the frightened demigods and asked. “What makes you think that?”
“That guy and his followers killed us several days ago!” said Meget, the short demigod.
“So you demigods really can die and come back to life. Must be nice,” said the grumpy Ramia.
“Hey! It’s not like we enjoy dying!” said one of the female demigods.
“So true Qwiin. That time I was eaten alive by that rock zombie thing during the plague…” said the second girl with a shudder as she remembered the death.
“Gorl, it’s okay they are no longer able to eat you alive anymore,” said Qwiin as she patted Gorl on the back trying to comfort her.
“It is really unpleasant to die, not only do we lose a little bit of our strength, there is a high possibility that we will lose gear and other items…” said Hardyhar.
“Even if all this is true, do you not have a brain to know not to start fights inside buildings? Take it outside!” growled the Grumpy Ramia man.
The demigods whispered between themselves for a few seconds before looking at the grumpy Ramia.
“We’ll be heading to our rooms, please send our future orders there.”
“Humph….” was all the grumpy Ramia said in reply.
When the demigods had rushed up the stairs onto a different floor out of everyone’s view the grumpy Ramia looked to Reeekree who had quietly entered the room.
“Why are you bringing trouble to my place? Do you have no shame? You should know that the demigods and those people do not get along.”
“Don’t blame me Reekrull, I am just following orders!”
“Let me guess you want these disasters in waiting to stay here as well?”
“Correct. That is the lord’s wish.”
