Chapter Fourteen: Sally of The Water


    “Villagers sometimes give local monsters plaguing their names. Perhaps this is a coping method. Naming a thing familiarizes it and lessons the fear of the unknown. Regardless, this one is known as Sally of The Water.” Amalia tapped the contract, which listed the name in large, bold, crudely written letters.


    “Villagers will often deal with the monster for months before adventurers come along to kill it. Ending the monster’s life is a process. One adventurers call ‘The Hunt.’ The hunt is broken down into two parts. Preparation, and finally, the kill. Preparation is by far the most involved of the process, and you will be splitting the burden of it amongst yourselves.”


    Amalia shifted her gaze to Ash,


    “You will speak to the one who posted the notice; in this case, it is the village elder, Egard. It says he can be found in his home on the wharf. You will negotiate a price with him and inquire whether there are any live witnesses or other important information. Make sure to ask inquisitive questions, Master Lorcan, as you and the elder lack knowledge. You do not know what information is important or what isn’t.”


    Ash scowled but nodded. It wasn’t their fault that getting information out of Amalia was like trying to get information from a wall.


    “The rest of you will also ask about, seeing what you can learn. Once we can identify the monster, we can discuss next steps. Off you go, children.”


    Ash, Rosialia, Nick, and Will left the inn to do as Amalia bade them. Ash headed directly to the wharf.


    Fishermen were bringing in a haul, working efficiently, and they began to process the fish. Several houses were on the wharf, so Ash asked a passing woman if she knew the elder’s home.


    “That one there, young man,” she pointed to a simple one-story house. The home was well-maintained and made of good-quality dark wood.


    An old man with silver hair, weathered skin from a life in the sun, and wearing brown robes sat in a rocking chair on the house’s porch. His blue eyes held a hint of grey in storm clouds or a cloudy day.


    “Hello, sir. I’m Ash.”


    “Hm.” Was all the old man said.


    Ash traced his gaze, following it to the ocean. Gentle waves lapped against the shore.


    “I’m here about the notice? For Sally of the Water?”


    Ash was trying to coax more of a response from him and succeeded a little. His grey eyes turned from the waves to look at Ash.


    “Young.” He stated.


    Ash blinked,


    “Yes…Is anyone alive who may have seen the monster, or maybe can tell us more about it?”


    “Young. Go away, boy.”


    Ash took a deep breath, slowly letting it out.


    “I am young, but I have a…teacher. I am here on her behalf.”


    Ash hated to have to explain himself; sixteen was nearly an adult by Alerian standards. Plus, it wasn’t as if anyone else was offering to slay the beast.


    “Hm. There’s a fisherman. He’s recovering at the healer’s home in the square. He was attacked just last night.”


    Egard rocked gently, looking away from Ash as if their conversation was through.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.


    “Right. We need to talk price.”


    Egard didn’t so much as blink,


    “Two silver is the price.”


    Truthfully, Ash wasn’t sure how much to ask for. He had no idea what the going rate for monster slaying was. Amalia hadn’t given him an amount he should try to get.


    With her, it’s probably some test, Ash thought.


    He would try to get as much as possible.


    “Eight silver.”


    Egard narrowed his eyes at that.


    “No. Go away.”


    Ash was starting to dislike the old man, but he had a nagging feeling that this was a facade. He was called the village elder, meaning he was some leader or at least well-respected. He cared about the people here; turning away help like this would be irresponsible.


    “Look, sir, I get it. This money is coming from the villagers. You need to keep them in mind. But you also have to understand that we are risking our lives here, and ultimately, what’s more important to you, money or the lives of your people?”


    Egard stared at him.


    Then he smiled.


    “Like you, boy. You know how to use leverage in a negotiation. Eight silver, then.”


    Ash shook the old man’s hand, heading to the healer’s home.


    __________


    This home was a study in contrast to the elders'' home. Whereas the elders'' home was made of dark wood and was simple in design, this one was made of polished stone and elegant.


    Inside was a reception area, with a young blonde woman sitting behind a desk. There was a room beyond her that Ash was sure was the healer’s office,


    There was also a line of villagers.


    “Well. This is going to take a minute,” Ash muttered to himself,


    After nearly half an hour of waiting, it was Ash’s turn to talk to the blonde. Her hair was done up in a bun, and her eyes were a warm brown,


    “Hello! Welcome to Healer Shawna’s; how may I help you?”


    She closed her brown eyes, smiling at him.


    “I’m here to see an injured fisherman? He saw a monster I’m looking into, so I want to ask him some questions.”


    “Oh, you must mean Bert. The monster would be Sally of the Water, I’m assuming.”


    Ash nodded, and the blonde pointed to the door to her right.


    “Straight through there, you’ll find his room. We don’t keep many patients here, but Healer Shawna wanted to monitor him closely. Head on through!”


    Ash smiled and walked through the door.


    Beyond was a hallway with three separate open rooms. The rooms were largely empty, with a small single bed each. In the first was a broad-shouldered man with the same weathered skin Ash was getting used to seeing around Brilehaven. His hair was sandy brown, and he was staring into space, wearing a white gown.


    As Ash got closer, he saw that the bed had scripts etched into the frame, glowing pink-red.


    “Hello, Mr. Bert. I’m Ash.”


    Bert turned his head to look at him, his green eyes dull.


    “Yeah? What do ya want, kid?”


    Ash suppressed the cold irritation he felt at being called a kid.


    “I’m here to ask you about the monster you saw.”


    A shudder passed through Bert, and the fisherman looked away.


    “I don’t want to talk about it. Scram, kid.”


    Ash frowned and chose his words with care.


    “Do you want it to happen again?”


    Bert shot a scowl his way,


    “What?! Of course I don’t, ya stupid kid.”


    Ash crossed his arms,


    “I’m here with a team and our teacher to kill it. We can''t do that if you don’t tell me about it. So come on, cough up the information.”


    Bert closed his eyes briefly, swallowing. He struggled to come to a decision; he said,


    “Okay, fine. But I’m not repeating this, yeah?”


    Ash bobbed his head in acceptance of his terms.


    “It was night. I was off, so I was enjoying myself with a drink on the shore. Then I heard it,” Bert swallowed again, his voice suddenly hoarse, “This singin’. Never heard anythin’ like it before, ya know? It was so…so…beautiful. I couldn’t tear my attention away and wanted to hear more. So I..followed it.”


    Bert stared, clearly lost in the memory. Ash waited until the man finally continued,


    “Over the water was this woman. Most beautiful woman I’ve ever lain my eyes on, I swear it on my dead Ma. She was lookin’ at me with this…like she wanted me, ya know what I mean. I…wanted her…and I wasn’t exactly thinkin’ straight. I got closer…” Bert’s voice started to quiver.


    “She changed. Her hands morphed into these terrible claws, and the next thing I knew, I was lyin’ there, bleedin’ and in so much pain. If my fellow fishermen hadn’t heard my screamin’ and come to take me as quick as they could to the healer, I’d be dead.”


    Bert lifted his gown, and Ash was grateful he had on pants.


    Large scars like slashes from a considerable creature ran from him to shoulder. They were angry red, like thick leeches growing fat off his blood and about to burst at any moment.


    “They open up at night. It ain’t natural, and I wake up bleedin’ and screamin’. Healer Shawna says she’s waitin’ on an adventurer healer to come check me out. She had this bed with these scripts, and it’s the only thing keepin’ me alive. Does that answer your questions, boy?”


    Ash felt a pang of sympathy for the man; he couldn’t imagine living in such a way.


    “Almost. Where, exactly, did you see her?”


    “It was past the elder’s home aways, the empty stretch of shore. Now, go. Please. I wanna get what rest I can afore the screamin’ starts again.”


    Ash winced but nodded. He had bothered the poor man enough. He wanted to say something, offer even a little comfort. In the end, all he could say was,


    “If it helps at all, we will kill this thing.”


    Bert grunted.


    He turned and left.


    He had to report to the others.