Short Fiction: A Gruel Dog Day

A Gruel Dog Day

“Dead Eyed Molly!” Kaiya Sulanov contemplated her warm bowl of gruel and milk to the sound of the gamblers at the next table. “Thank you gentlemen for a lovely evening.”
“Not quite yet Rhily.” The voice had the sound of one intending violence, enough to cause Kaiya to pause in her evening meal and look in their direction. “One more hand.”
“What might that be when its not being a scrap of paper then?” Kaiya noticed what looked like the seal of the Baron. It was something official. “Its the title deed to some land.”
“The Dice.” The tenseness vanished and Kaiya returned her attention to her meal. No murders tonight. “All right.”
“Master Rikard,” Kaiya pushed back her empty bowl and waved to get the Tavern master’s attention. “Could I get a Honeyed Butter-milk?”
“Aye lass,” Master Rikard was watching the gamblers with one eye. “I do believe I have some honey.”
“Dead Eyed Molly!” Cried the voice… and the game was over.
“Drinks to My good fortune Tavern-master!”

“I knew a lass named Molly!” Kaiya loved listening to the Song. “But she had naught but eyes for you.”
“A cruel love if ever there was,” Kaiya smiled at the singing voices. It was the only beautiful thing about the game. “As she took your gold and flew.”

“Here you go lass.” Master Rikard placed the wooden mug in front of Kaiya. ‘Thank you.”
Kaiya watched as the Tavern-master returned to the ale barrels to make good on the gamblers drinks before tasting her honeyed Buttermilk.

Kaiya watched the gamblers finish their drinks and slowly slip out of the back of the tavern together. They had obviously come to some agreement to travel together during the game and she had missed out on an adventure.
“Row that lot across the river,” Tavern-master Rikard sat opposite Kaiya, his weariness apparent. “And I’ll throw in Breakfast.”
Alright Master Rikard.” Kaiya smiled at the prospect of a quick adventure for the evening and grabbing her backpack kicked under the table, “I will be back for breakfast.”

On the landing, Kaiya found the gamblers discussing the size of the boat. It would definitely be one passenger at a time. The Elf in the group of Humans decided to catch the first journey and had positioned himself in the vessel. They turned to stare at the waif of a girl who joined them on the dock.
“Excuse me.” Kaiya slipped past the gathered group and stepped down into the small boat and nodded as the elf passenger smiled at her. “I’m Leaf.”
“Ilawesti Kaiya.” Kaiya replied with a Callari elven accent and smiled back pushing the boat out from the dock. “Tsha Urat?”
“Your elven is very good.” Leaf Nodded at her question. “Ilawe kri fa na Tsha.”
“No flirting with the lass Beaten-bow,” Kaiya looked to see which of the impolite wretches had interrupted their conversation. The rough looking man chuckled at her angry glare. “She has to row the rest of us as well.” Kaiya continued rowing in silence out into the mist of the river.

The silence had been agony. Kaiya had so wanted to spend the minutes speaking elven. Within minutes they were across.
“Kiseri Motal.” Leaf scrambled out of the boat and Kaiya grimly rowed back out across the Misty River.

The next passenger smelled of Turnips.
“Would you like me to do the rowing?” Kaiya focused on a lantern where Leaf awaited her passenger’s arrival. “Are you sure you don’t want me to do the rowing?”
“I am fine.” Kaiya smiled at the Farmer Miklos’s generosity. “Thank you for your offer.”

Kaiya returned through the mist for the third passenger.
“Have your been to the Church of Karameikos before?” Kaiya cringed at being converted. She didn’t even attend services at the Church of Traladara. “It’s not like the Church of Karameikos with its three Immortals.”
“How many do you have?” Kaiya’s attention focused on the sight of the elf Leaf Beaten-bow on the bank coming into view. “Immortal-wise?”
“As many as needed.” Franz felt about for a spare holy symbol and placed it in her hands. “We would always welcome the Traladaran Immortals into the unifying church.”
“Stop trying to convert the girl Franz.” Leaf’s voice made her smile and he winked at her. “Elves have way more immortals anyway.”
“Yes. Yes.” Franz climbed out of the boat onto the bank happy he had at least got her interested. “An elf can’t fall out of a tree without earning immortality.” Kaiya rowed back out into the mist leaving the two on the bank in conversation, her new holy symbol pocketed for safety.

“So...” Kaiya ignored the obvious advances Eben Rhily. “You are as yet unmarried I take it?”
“Perhaps Now that I own some nice land north of Lake Windrush...” Rhily slumped sideways over the edge of the boat as the Ghoul in the water behind him was revealed.
<Magic-Missile> Kaiya unleashed the spell and the arrow of energy lanced at the undead horror causing it to fall back into the water. Kaiya pulled the paralysed form of Eben Rhily back onto the boat and continued rowing, watching the corpse of the ghoul drifting on down the river a ways before vanishing below the water. Leaf seemed concerned as Kaiya rowed from the mist with the unconscious Eben Rhily and touched the river bank.
“I saw the Missile!” Leaf and Franz grabbed the unconscious Rhily and dragged him up the bank. “What was that?”
“It was Ghoul I think.” Kaiya struggled out of the boat after the companions. “I think I killed it.”
“It drifted off down river and sank.” Kaiya was shaking with fear. “I used my only spell.”
“Rest a while.” The Elf embraced Kaiya. “I’ll row the next.”

Tomin Creary held a Sword in his hands and watched the river water warily for any signs of a Ghoul as Leaf rowed the little boat out of the Mist and touched land.
“A Ghoul?” Tomin nodded and smiled at Kaiya. “Rhily is a bit of an arse but you saved him this night.”
“If you wish,” Tomin Creary Considered the young girl who had saved the life of another. “you can join us.”