NOVPUB
Chapter 128: Edgeville
Back in the fight, Tobias had one bandit locked in a flurry of feints and slashes, his daggers shimmering as he weaved through the man’s defensive strikes.
"You’re a Hero, right?" the bandit panted.
"Unfortunately," Tobias muttered, ducking a swing and kneeing him in the gut.
Bran caught another one with the flat of his axe, sending him flying into a nearby bush.
"Like bowling with criminals," Bran said.
The last remaining rider looked around at his battered teammates, reconsidered all of his life choices, and raised both hands.
"Smart man," Elisse said.
Kara walked over, staff still glowing. "What do we do with them?"
"Zip tie them with restraints," Tobias said, flicking his daggers away and adjusting his glasses. "We’ll turn them over once we reach the real town. Which is... how much farther?"
The merchants hesitated.
"Oh no," Tobias said, voice calm but dangerously low.
"Three hours?" one of them squeaked.
"...Elisse?"
"Yes?"
They loaded the unconscious bandits onto the back of the second wagon, tied up with Kara’s stone-formed restraints and a generous helping of Bran’s spare belts.
As they resumed their journey, the sun dipped lower, and Tobias sighed.
"Zayn’s probably having a nice, quiet day."
"Yeah," Elisse said and then turned to one of the clients, "Whats the name of the town we’re going to?"
"Edgeville."
...
Edgeville was a quiet town, the kind that smelled like sawdust and soup.
The kind of place where chickens crossed the road and no one asked why, because everyone already knew.
The sun had dipped fully beyond the hills, and now the moon hung high and bright like it had front-row seats to a romantic comedy it wasn’t supposed to enjoy — but secretly did.
Elisse stretched her arms out with a loud yawn as the carriage rolled to a dusty halt near the town square.
"Finally," she sighed. "My butt is never speaking to me again."
"Mine started filing a complaint halfway through the last hour," Kara added, stepping off the carriage and patting the dust from her robes.
Tobias gave the merchants a nod as they stepped down with their creaky old knees and a bag of rattling goods.
"You lied about the route, nearly got us killed, AND made Elisse annoyed," he said with the diplomatic tone of a very tired Hero. "You’re lucky we didn’t charge you double."
The older man scratched his bald head sheepishly. "You still protected us."
To their credit, the merchants did offer a parting gift — five soul crystals, small, glowing, and packed in a little pouch like they were handing over hot buns.
Tobias raised an eyebrow, but accepted them with a small sigh. "Well, at least it’s something."
"Something shiny," Bran said, squinting into the pouch like he wanted to bite one.
"No eating them," Kara warned.
"I wasn’t gonna eat it," Bran muttered. "Just maybe... nibble a little... I’m kidding."
With that, the party shuffled off into the night, leaving the group alone in the square.
The lanterns in Edgeville were already lit, casting a soft orange glow that made even the dirt roads look cozy.
Elisse looked around. "So... we heading back to Timberstead now?"
Tobias glanced up at the sky. "It’s late. The roads are rocky, full of potential bandits, and we’ve already stretched our luck today."
Kara groaned with dramatic flair. "I’m not sure leaving Zayn alone with the whole inn is a good idea, it might blow up before we get back."
"I’m doubtful about that but," Tobias said, straightening his coat. "We’re getting an inn. One room. Four beds."
"Wait," Bran frowned. "Only four beds?"
"I don’t need one," Tobias said. "I’m sleeping upright against the wall. Like a responsible adult."
The inn was called The Sleepy Satyr — which sounded just inappropriate enough to make Elisse snort as they entered.
"Do you think the satyr is sleeping alone?" she whispered to Kara as they passed a painting of a very smug half-goat lounging in a field.
"I’m too tired to interpret goat body language," Kara whispered back.
The innkeeper was nice.
A wiry woman with gray hair and eyes like she’d seen things no tea could fix.
She gave them a large room with four beds and only raised an eyebrow when Bran asked if they had a pillow strong enough to withstand axe cuddling.
Once inside, they all collapsed in a chorus of groans.
Tobias kicked off his boots, sat on the edge of a bed, and began tapping a small blue rune embedded on his wristband.
"You’re already working?" Elisse asked, flopping onto her own bed.
"No," Tobias said. "Just... checking in."
A faint beeping began to echo through the room.
Bran sat up, alarmed. "Is that... a bomb?"
"It’s a comm-rune, not a bomb," Tobias said with a sigh. "I set up a long-distance link to Zayn’s place. In case of emergency."
"What kind of emergency?" Kara asked, rubbing her feet.
"Like him accidentally kissing another woman and needing an alibi."
Before anyone could reply, a low humming noise buzzed from the far wall — and then a pop.
A pale blue hologram shimmered into existence near the bedside table, like a ghost made of moonlight and sass.
Zayn’s face flickered into view, messy-haired, shirt loose, a faint smudge of oil on his cheek.
He looked mid-bite of something, probably bread he nabbed from the kitchen.
He blinked. "Yo. What’s up?"
"Look who’s alive," Tobias said dryly.
Zayn chewed and swallowed. "You rang me at bedtime. You better be dying or pregnant."
"We made it to our target location," Tobias said. "Escorted the merchants. Fought bandits. Bran exploded someone."
"Did not explode. Just gently launched them into a bush," Bran called off-screen.
Zayn grinned. "Nice. How’s Elisse? Mad about me not coming?"
Elisse leaned in, elbow on the bed. "Only a little. You’re missing all the action."
"Please. You’re the action."
She flushed slightly, batting her hair behind her ear. "Smooth."
"I try."
Kara squinted. "You’re alone?"
"Technically," Zayn said. "Why?"
"Nothing," she said. "You just look like someone who just got caught doing something suspicious."
Zayn grinned wider. "Define suspicious."
Tobias raised a hand. "Nope. Not our business."
Zayn winked. "Exactly. Anyway, how long you guys staying out there?"
"Overnight. Leaving first thing tomorrow," Tobias said. "Unless the universe decides to throw more surprises at us."
