Page 6 of Hunt Me

“Fine. But you must include your best ale,” Matilda agreed.

“Wonderful. Here is your room key. I gave you the best room in the house. Freshen up, and I’ll have our meal delivered soon.” Belzar turned to leave when Matilda stopped him. “Yes?”

“Thank you,” she mumbled.

He nodded. “You’re welcome, Tilda.”

***

“If this is the best room in the tavern, then I’d hate to see the worst room,” Matilda groaned, dropping her belongings onto the lumpy bed. Her eyes scanned the dingy room, and she shivered at the cobwebs that spanned each corner of the bedroom. The webs reminded her of the garland they used to hang in their humble cottage many years ago during Yuletide.

Matilda carefully moved through the room, hoping not to kick up too much of the dust that blanketed the creaky wooden floors. Her sinuses would thank her later.

“Maybe some fresh air would do some good,” she expressed, flinging the curtains open. To Matilda’s extreme dismay, the window was nailed completely shut. She would have a word with Belzar regarding his tavern’s safety. What if she had a vampire hot on her tail and needed to make a speedy escape? What if a fire broke out in the kitchen below? If Matilda were destined to die, she’d hope it would be more climactic than perishing in a tavern fire.

“Knock, knock!” a voice rumbled from the doorway.

Matilda turned to find Belzar’s twin sister, Belzara.

“Belzara, aren’t you a sight for sore eyes?” Matilda said to the full-figured orc.

“Ah, how I’ve missed your jests, but I must turn down your advances, for I am now a taken woman.”

Matilda rolled her eyes and laughed. She had complimented Belzara on her dress the first night they met many years ago, and Belzara took the compliment as proof that Matilda was a lover of women. Belzara had been “denying” Matilda every time they were in each other’s presence. Matilda attempted to set the record straight several times, but Orcs had egos the size of Night Falls, and it was rare for them to change their minds once they were made up. That explained why Matilda struggled to shake Belzar loose.

“Taken, you say?”

“That’s right,” Belzara proudly boasted, rolling in a cart filled with several pails of steaming water for her bath.

“But I thought we had something between us, Belzara?” Matilda expressed in a mock-confused tone.

“I’m sorry, Tilda, but it will never be you. I do not wish to have you as a mate; however, I would love to have you as a sister.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. Tell me more about your betrothed,” Matilda demanded, accepting a wooden pail that overflowed with scalding water. The women chatted about Belzara’s pending nuptials as they filled the tub in the bedroom corner.

“He is a merchant,” Belzara confessed.

“A merchant, you say?”

“Yes, and he sells the finest of wares to the wealthiest clientele. No need to inquire. You can not afford him.”

“Ouch.”

“I’m just being truthful. You barely scrape by with your minuscule earnings from vampire slaying. Your family’s cottage was burned down after someone reported a slayer lived there.”

“Can we not use the term ‘slayer’? It seems more sinister than it is.”

“Okay. Which would you prefer? Killer? Murderer? Harbinger of Death?”

“The last one was pretty good, but how about we just stick to huntress?”

“That’s so boring, but I will respect your wishes. As I was saying, you’re destitute. You’re a couple of silver pieces away from living beneath the stars.”

Matilda sighed. “You don’t have to keep reminding me of my financial woes.”

“I’m sorry. There are solutions, you know?”

“I will not work in the brothel.”