There was an urgency in Thorace’s step as he led the three out of towners down the streets of Elgurid’s Woodside District. It was almost midday, and the sun was high in the sky. The previous night’s rain had washed away most of the smog that typically hovered above the city like a dark cloud. However, the sunlight did little to dispel the ominous mood that hung in the air which only seemed to grow stronger as they travelled deeper into the district.


    “It’s like something is warning us to stay away,” Violet said before shuddering.


    “It’s just your imagination,” Tavar laughed. The dwarf’s laughter sounded forced, as though he was trying to dispel his own growing discomfort. When they turned a corner, he frowned. “That’s odd.”


    Thorace followed his gaze to the tall trees that loomed over the town to the north. Their trunks were dark, and their leaves were deep green. “The trees?”


    Tavar nodded. “You don’t see many trees near steel towns. Normally they chop them all down for fuel.”


    “From what I hear, Jervan, the Steward’s father declared those woods a reserve,” Thorace said. “The present Steward removed that protection when demand for steel increased after the Fall but…”


    Violet’s eyes narrowed suspiciously when the boy’s voice trailed off. “But what?”


    “There appears to be a curse protecting those woods,” Thorace admitted at length.


    “I knew it,” Violet breathed.


    “And you’re taking us towards its source?” Lector asked incredulously.


    Thorace whirled around after the others came to a stop and began waving his hands around animatedly. “Now let me explain! The curse only affects those who harm the woods.”


    “How?” Violet asked, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.


    “Accidents befell those who attempted to cut the trees down,” Thorace replied. “Mishaps would haunt them when they attempted to work. Tools would break or go missing, animals would attack.”


    “Is that all?” Tavar asked incredulously. “I very much doubt a few inconveniences would keep smelters from such a convenient source of fuel.”


    “Then there was Durlin who fell over dead…” Thorace began.


    “You should have led with that!” Violet cried.


    “He was already old!” the boy protested. “Besides, mishaps have only ever happened to those intending to cut trees down! Fleur has run her business on the edge of the forest for years and nothing has ever happened to her!”


    “Wasn’t the place you were taking us to called Fleur’s Teahouse?” Lector ventured.


    Thorace held out a hand. “Now, I know what you are thinking but please, at least see the place for yourselves before you decide if it’s to your liking. That’s all I ask.”


    “Well, we’ve already come this far,” Lector began.


    “And I don’t much fancy staying at the Boisterous Buffalo…” Violet offered, referring to the tavern she and Tavar had been left in while Thorace and Lector saw the Captain.


    “What was wrong with the Buffalo?” Tavar demanded.


    “The place was filthy, Tavar,” Violet cried. “I’m still itching from that disgusting chair you forced me to sit in!”


    “Oh you’re just overly sensitive,” the dwarf snorted.


    “Come on, this way,” Thorace urged as he walked briskly to the next intersection. “It’s just around this corner. Look!”


    “I don’t know what…” Tavar’s voice trailed off when he arrived at the intersection and looked down the road at where the boy was pointing.


    Fleur’s Teahouse was a picturesque two storey cottage nestled in the shadow of the trees. Its walls had been painted pastel blue, and it was topped by a bright yellow straw roof. A thin plume of smoke rose from a stone chimney and flowers of every colour of the rainbow provided dramatic splashes of colour to the large garden that fronted the cottage.


    “That certainly does look inviting,” Lector remarked.


    “Doesn’t it?” Thorace said eagerly. There was a free meal in it for him if he convinced them to stay, and he would have a compelling reason to frequent the Teahouse, and see more of Liara…


    “Well, I’d say it’s worth taking a closer look at,” Violet offered.


    Tavar was less enthusiastic. “It doesn’t look like they serve ale.”


    “There’s a tavern just around the corner,” Thorace pointed out.


    “Could we take a look at that, first?” Tavar asked hopefully.


    Lector shook his head. “First, we secure a place to stay. The rest can come later.”


    “Let’s hope this Fleur’s rates are reasonable,” Violet breathed.


    “Oh, they are,” Thorace sang, practically skipping as he led them down the road.


    Tavar eyed the buildings on either side of the street warily. “Most of these places are abandoned.”


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    “Oh, many left once the accidents started occurring,” Thorace said. “The people here are a superstitious bunch.”


    “Were any taken by the Demon?” Lector ventured.


    Thorace shook his head emphatically. “Oh no, the Demon only takes people from the Downwater.”


    “That’s not far from here,” Violet remarked.


    “It isn’t, which makes it convenient for you, doesn’t it?” Thorace asked brightly. “You’ll be sniffing around there over the coming days, won’t you?”


    “I suppose you have a point…” Tavar allowed grudgingly.


    Up ahead, butterflies could be seen flitting between the brightly coloured flowers in the Teahouse’s garden. A low, weathered fence bordered the garden from the road, and the gate was open.


    “Come on then!” Thorace cried as he ran down the stone paved path that wound through the garden, letting the garden''s floral scents fill his lungs, clearing the stench of the smog from them, before bursting in through the front door.


    Once inside, the cottage was warm and inviting. Thorace came to an abrupt halt when he saw the young woman standing behind a counter facing the front door. Her skin was pale and blemishless and seemed to glow ephemerally in the natural light that poured in through the cottage’s large windows. Her hair was a striking red that shimmered when she turned her head, and her deep green eyes were wide with surprise.


    “Thorace!” she gasped. “You know you shouldn’t come around while I’m working!”


    “I’ve brought guests, Liara,” he beamed. “Three of them!”


    “Now, we haven’t decided on anything yet…” Lector, who was the next through the doors warned before falling silent as he crossed the threshold. He swayed on his feet and leaned against the counter for support.


    Liara furrowed her eyebrows with concern. “Are you alright, sir?”


    “I just felt a little light headed…” Lector began.


    “It’s the fresh air in here,” Liara said. “Your body has become accustomed to breathing the poison outside and now realizes what it’s missed.”


    Lector frowned and shook his head. “I suppose you might be right.”


    Violet entered next. A panicked look crossed her for a moment as she took in her surroundings. Liara moved quickly from behind the counter to appear at her side with a pouch filled with dried flowers, which she held under the mage’s nose.


    “You are disoriented,” she cooed. Her voice was as soft as velvet, and Thorace felt his lips curl up into a smile when he heard it. “Here, smell this.”


    “No…” Violet made a feeble attempt to push the pouch away, but a glazed look came over her eyes and she sighed. “No, actually that is better. What is it?”


    “Just a concoction the mistress made,” Liara said, holding the pouch under the gnome’s nose for a moment longer just to be safe. “It has a wonderful calming effect.”


    “That it does,” Violet murmured absently.


    “I should quite like to see it,” Lector remarked as he eyed the pouch.


    “Oh!” Liara barked before pocketing it. “This is a secret that is not mine to give away. I’m sure the mistress will be willing to share with you if you asked her, though.”


    “You really need to take care of your health!” Tavar boomed as he came tromping in. The dwarf looked around the cottage and arched an eyebrow. “I’m sure some might find this place lovely, but it’s a little too… quiet for my liking.”


    Liara’s eyes narrowed when she saw the dwarf and her tone turned hostile. “Why are you here?”


    “I’m with them,” Tavar replied evenly, staring the girl down. “Do you have a problem with dwarves?”


    Lector noted where the girl was looking and stepped in between the pair. “Don’t fret, my companion uses his axe to cut down foul beasts like the one stalking the Downwater, not trees, young lady.”


    “Oh!” Liara’s eyes went wide, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “I’m sorry, I just assumed…”


    “No harm done,” Lector said, patting Tavar on the shoulder. “Isn’t that right?”


    The hostile look lingered in Tavar’s eyes for a moment but the dwarf eventually sighed. “Just a misunderstanding.”


    The dwarf then saw Thorace and grunted. “Calm yourself, lad. I wasn’t going to harm your girlfriend.”


    Thorace looked down and realized he had curled his hands into fists. With some effort, he relaxed them and looked back at the dwarf. “No… she’s not my…”


    “Lad, I honestly don’t care,” the dwarf said coldly.


    Lector and Liara exchanged uncomfortable smiles and at length, the doctor asked. “Is your mistress in? I should like to have a word with her.”


    Liara frowned. “I believe she’s in the woods, but she should be back shortly. Could I interest you in some tea while you wait?”


    “Do you have ale?” Tavar asked.


    The girl gave him a blank look and Lector cleared his throat awkwardly. “Tea would be lovely.”


    “Denil!” Liara called over her shoulder. “We have guests. Can you see them to the reception, please?”


    Almost at once, a door leading to the rear of the cottage opened, and an elderly man stepped out. He was tall and as thin as a reed and had a head of wispy, grey hair. He was immaculately dressed in a spotless white shirt and a black vest and trousers.


    “Good afternoon,” his voice was high pitched and melodious. “This way please.”


    Denil led them into the neighbouring room where plush lounging chairs were arranged around a large window that offered a view of the garden. Once everyone was seated, the elderly man clasped his slender hands together and bowed his head.


    “We don’t often get visitors here,” he said. “How did you find us?”


    “Thorace introduced us,” Lector said. “He was quite insistent.”


    “I was wondering, does he get a commission?” Violet ventured.


    Denil smiled politely. “I’m afraid I can’t say.”


    “So that’s a yes, then,” the gnome snorted.


    “Our rates are very competitive, don’t you worry,” Liara sang breathlessly as she burst into the room bearing a silver tray laden with steaming a teapot and four cups. “And you won’t find a more comfortable or cleaner inn in all of Elgurid.”


    “That I can believe,” Lector remarked as he looked around. “This room is spotless. I’ve not seen anything like it in a long time.”


    Liara paused to pour the tea and Thorace eagerly took a cup. The brew was thick and dark brown, and the boy savoured the aroma of the herbs before taking a sip. A shiver ran down his spine as the piquant liquid touched his tongue, energizing him. He then glanced at Tavar who eyed his cup suspiciously before taking a sip. The cares quickly vanished from his face to be replaced with a contented smile.


    “Liara’s tea is better than any ale, isn’t it?” the boy ventured.


    “I wouldn’t go that far, lad,” the dwarf replied and paused to take another sip. “But this is a very fine drink.”


    “It is remarkable,” Lector agreed, looking very impressed. “I dare say this is better than anything the finest teahouses in Infarlin could serve up before the fall.”


    “High praise indeed,” a soothing, motherly voice said.


    Thorace turned to see a tiny woman standing at the door. She wore a pastel yellow dress, and her hair was as white as driven snow.


    “Madam Fleur, I presume?” Lector said as he got to his feet.


    The woman nodded, and Denil quickly went to her side to help her to an easy chair. “You lived in the Bastion of the West?”


    A sad smile crossed Lector’s face. “I’ve not heard that name spoken without derision in a long time.”


    “What happened was tragic,” Fleur remarked. “So much was lost.”


    “Yes,” Lector choked, and Thorace saw a shadow cross his companions’ faces.


    “But life goes on,” the old woman continued. “I take it you are looking for a place to stay?”


    “We are,” Lector said.


    Fleur reached over and placed her hand on the old doctor’s knee. “Well, I hope you can find comfort here, if only for a little while.”


    The doctor nodded before taking another sip of tea. Without taking her hand off Lector’s knee, Fleur asked. “So, what brings you to our town?”


    “We are hunting a beast,” Lector replied.


    Fleur exchanged a look with Denil and sighed. “The Downwater Demon. That has caused us many a sleepless night. The Downwater District is just next to us…”


    “I know,” Lector said. “You will be able to rest easy soon now that the Red Company is here.”