Irinia passed through the simple wooden doorway of the town hall behind Croix. There were clerks sitting at tables writing on parchment with feather quills. The floors were hardwood with the occasional piece warped out of alignment. The clerks closest to the door had stopped writing as they walked in.

  “May I help the two of you with something today?” A short brown haired man asked from behind his desk.

  “I’m looking for your mayor.” Croix responded. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose as he looked around.

  The man turned to the clerk next to him and whispered something into his ear. That man did the same. Each clerk leaned to the next whispering the message until the last clerk listened and stood. He walked through a pair of brown curtains hanging in a doorway at the back of the room. Shortly after, a red-haired woman emerged from the curtains with the clerk quickly returning to his seat. The woman was wearing all crimson. Her shirt buttoned up the middle stopping just below her throat. She wore pants that accentuated her lower half yet still allowed her to move freely. A shortsword hung at her hip. She looked at the man who had summoned her and he nodded toward the door.

  The woman quickly strode across the aisle with light and quiet steps. “Who might you be?” She asked curtly.

  Croix reached out with his right hand and said “We are looking for a room for the night. Nothing fancy, just a place to sleep. Two beds would be preferable, but one would suffice.”

  “I asked for your na-“ The woman stopped when she noticed the markings on Croix’s arm. “Of course, sir. Do you have any preference in regards to the style or the inn?”

  Croix pointed to her sword, “Are you expecting something tonight, madam?”

  “Moira.” The woman shook Croix’s hand. “Yes, we are expecting a daem attack in the night. Our scouts have been reporting movement from all around the area, more than normal.”

  "So nothing immediate, but on their way?"

  The woman nodded.

  “Then I would like to reside in the inn with the highest roof.”

  Moira tilted her head for a moment in thought then nodded, “Alright, give the them a room at the Permitted Ruse.” She looked to the closest clerk whom nodded and dashed off. She turned from them and walked back to her room.

  “This might not be so bad after all...” Irinia heard Moira whisper to herself.

  The clerk returned with a piece of parchment whom extended it to Croix. “Show this to the innkeeper and he will provide you a room for one night.”

  Croix accepted it with a smile and thanked the man before they departed the town hall. As they made their way to the Permitted Ruse Irinia asked why Moira had given him such a disgusted look.

  They stopped in front of a shabby broken down inn and looked up. “This inn has a great vantage point.” He pointed to a road off to the side. “Notice how all the roads turn abruptly. This gives them an opportunity to lure and surprise the daem with attacks. The abrupt turns slow the advance a bit too. From up there I should be able to help them, assuming the structure holds up long enough.”

  He led them away from the inn down a side street and collected arrow shafts and feathers from a fletcher. After paying the man, they returned to the Permitted Ruse. “I wonder why they call it the ‘Permitted Ruse’,” Croix wondered said as they entered.

  Once inside, the contrast was shocking. While the inn appeared to be old a shabby on the outside, it was extremely beautiful on the inside. There were velvet streamers hanging from the rafters. All of the tables and chairs were made of fine Agratian wood. Croix whistled, obviously impressed. "Heh, I get it now."

  He showed the innkeeper the parchment that Moira’s clerk had given him. The woman nodded and showed them to a table. Croix pulled out Irinia’s chair so she could sit. “Thank you, “she said.

  They flipped through the menus for a short while. Croix asked for an “average course” and when Irinia had been pondering what to order Croix spoke up. “Would you like the 'fine course'?”

  “No, I couldn’t. That’s too much.” The waitress was turning between them as each one spoke.

  "We'll do that then. Thank you." He handed the menus back to the waitress he hurried them away.

  He followed up, "This will probably be the last solid meal we have until our next destination. Might as well enjoy it."

  They did not wait long for their food. Everything was delicious. She at the meat quickly, though she was not sure what it was. Regardless, it was really good. Then she ate the greens and drank the cider they had poured for her. Croix took his time, eating with patience. She slowed when she noticed he was not in any rush.

  They finished eating before Croix tossed some coins on the table. The waitress walked them up a set of stairs with ornate spiral carvings. Four rooms down on the right, they stopped and entered a beautiful room with a large padded bed. An inn worker passed by the door behind them. Croix leaned out of the door. “Excuse me.”

  The inn servant stopped and turned. “Yes, sir?”

  “Could I have one more of those thick blankets for the room please?”

  The inn worker half nodded and half bowed before continuing down the hall. Croix returned to the room and dropped his cloak to the floor near the bed and on the edge. Irinia walked over and picked up his cloak to inspect it. The weight surprised her considering how freely it moved in the breeze. She has not looked at it too closely last time it had been in her possession. She was preoccupied with other thoughts. Croix began inspecting the arrow shafts he had bought in town closely. He discarded one of them carelessly over his shoulder with a sigh and set the others next to him. He pointed to his cloak, “Could you hand me that please?”

  She passed it over.

  “Thank you.”He ruffled through the cloak until he produced several arrow heads. “Careful.” He tossed one to Irinia. She caught it in an open hand and held it up. The arrowhead came to a sharp point like all arrowheads. The edges were also sharpened. Instead of just of just two edges there were three making it a pyramid shape. Toward the base where the shaft would connect the edges came inward at an angle.

  “What do you notice about that head in your hand?” Croix asked as he began affixing an arrowhead to a shaft.

  “First I’ve never seen an arrowhead quite like this one. It has three blades on it.”

  “What for?”

  “A better cut?” She guessed.

  “Partially. The pointed tip with the three blades has better penetration, especially against armor. Also, the third blade acts as another fin so it helps the arrow fly straighter.” He paused for a moment as he created another arrow. “What else?”

  She looked at the arrowhead again. “The way the back of it shaped tells me that whatever this enters will be keeping it for quite some time.”

  “Indeed. They're not very friendly. I use those only on what I want to kill.” He pulled something from his cloak and tossed it to her. She caught it with the other hand and inspected it. There were no barbs or edges, just a solid point. Even then it was not as sharp as the other arrowhead. It had a point but it was wider. “That is what I use when I’m hunting criminals or I need to stop a person I’d like to remain alive. It’s enough to tear through skin and muscle, but if the shot is placed properly, it won’t kill them.”

  He held out an arrow shaft and said “Put one together.”

  She placed her fingers between the blades of the arrowhead and pressed the arrowhead onto the shaft. She twisted it as she pressed thinking that was the most probable way it stayed attached. When she tipped the arrow the head fell off. “Try again.” Croix nodded.

  He sat patiently on the bed and watched. Irinia placed the arrowhead on the shaft again and looked closer. There were three markings over the metal that slipped over the shaft. She looked up at Croix. He nodded with a smile.

  “Focus on the arrowhead and and the arrow shaft. When you envision it focus on the innermost part of the arrowhead and the tip of the shaft, then anchor the points.”

  There was a knock on the door. Croix answered it and set the folded blanket down on the floor by the window. He removed his sword from his lower back and leant it up against the wall. He removed his shirt and lay down on the makeshift bed. He pulled the curtain over the window to block out the sunlight, leaving only the light from the candles in the room..

  “That is your lesson for tonight. Go to sleep after,” he stressed the last word, “You'll figure it out.”

  Irinia sat on the bed for several hours trying to get the arrowhead to attach to the shaft. She tried visualizing it happening, but that did not work. She tried applying pressure, but that failed as well. Then she tried concentrating in the same way that she did to heal people. She focused on the arrowhead and wrapped her thoughts around it, trying to visualize the anchor points Croix mentioned. Then, arrowhead snapped into place. She smiled at her work before finishing several more. Then she layed down on then bed. She closed her eyes and dozed for a moment before the bells over the town hall echoed throughout the town.

  Croix sat up abruptly and rubbed his eyes. "Time for work," he sighed. He pulled his shirt back on, strapped on his sword and grabbed his bow. "Grab the arrows and come with me. This is your next lesson."

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  "What is that?"

  "Vantage points."

  They walked out of the room to see panicked townspeople running up and down the halls. They easily pushed their way through the flow of people, opposite the direction most were going. When Irinia was able to catch up to Croix she grabbed onto his cloak to stay close.

  "What is going on?" She asked.

  Croix gently moved a child aside as they walked slowly down the hallway.

  "Daem, of course. Seems like the mayor's scouts were right. They were further out than I can detect them as I am right now." She thought that was an odd way to phrase it, but ignored it for now. They rounded the corner to continue to the hallway when the innkeeper ran past. He caught her by the shoulder, turning her to face him.

  "Which way to the roof?" He asked.

  The innkeeper nodded down the hall in the direction they were already going. Croix thanked her and they continued down the hall. A ladder went up into the ceiling at the end of the hallway. They climbed up, opening the simple door at the top. They perched on the rooftop of the inn to observe their surroundings. There were torches lit all throughout the town. Some corners were left dark and Irinia could see people standing in the shadows with spears or swords.

  Croix pointed to the shadowed areas that were plainly noticeable in their field of vision. "They think the shadows give them protection from sight and the element of surprise. They are wrong. The one on the far left will be the first to go."

  "How do you know that?" Irinia asked not seeing any obvious reason.

  "He cannot see around the corner he is defending. The daem can. Their night sight is better than ours by a long shot."

  "What are we doing up here then? Shouldn't we go into the streets and help fight there?"

  Croix shook his head. "No, not until you get more experience. I won't put you into unnecessarily risky situations until I know you can handle it. Up here we have a good vantage point. Look around you." He grabbed her arm when she started to stand. "Stay low."

  She crouched down beside him and looked around the town below them. He was right. The inn was right near the center of the town and the high roof provided good line of sight of most of the streets. Even with the streets abruptly turning every which way they still had clear line of sight to most areas.

  "What else do you notice that makes this night perfect?"

  She looked around again, but didn't notice anything. "I'm not sure."

  "No wind." He removed his bow from under the cloak and set down a quiver of arrows. He angled the quiver so he could easily reach down and collect arrows. The bow was intriguing. Irinia did could not clearly remember what she had seen during the attack in Larin that night, but she remembered the bow. It was constructed of a metal she had never seen before. Runes and sigils engraved in various areas. The limbs of the bow extended outward from the grip making the string very taught.

  "Place the arrows you collected into the quiver, please."

  She carefully slid them into place. Croix reached down and grabbed an arrow. He notched it on the bow. "Any time now they will begin their charge."

  Irinia moved closer behind him so that she could be close to help or to feel safe. She was unsure which.

  "You may stay close, but stay on my left and be prepared to move. Remind me, what are the rules?"

  "Listen and think. Do as you say and don't hesitate." Irinia recited what she remembered from their last encounter.

  "Excellent. Those rules will not be in effect forever. I just want you to stay alive long enough to learn how to fight." Croix smiled and looked up toward the first shaded area on their left. The place he said the first person would die.

  She saw him grin as the first of the daem appeared into the aura of light surrounding the town. A sentinel charged right toward the alley where the townspeople were waiting in the shadows. The sentinel looked to the side and sensed the man, but the man could not see the daem behind the wall. Irinia heard the sound of a bowstring being released. The daem turned and leapt toward the group. The distance was too far. It was an impossible target. Yet the arrow cut right through the sentinel's head and stuck in the wall. The man followed the path of the arrow. They were too far to see though so he refocused on his duties.

  Croix shouted, "Signal them to me as you seem them!"

  Irinia heard several shouts and whooping noises all around them. A hurried conversation was going on below.

  "He's on the roof ma'am. He asked us to signal the demons." Irinia recognized the fletcher from the shop where Croix bought the arrows.

  The mayor looked up at them and Irinia heard, "Let's see if he really lives up to his reputation."

  A shout came from behind them. "Arrow." Croix said. Irinia handed him one of the many arrows from the quiver. "Keep count, please. Let me know when there are less than five." Irinia nodded and separated five arrows from the rest of them. He notched the arrow and turned on his heel while remaining in a squatted position. Irinia moved with him to stay out of the way, staying to his left. She heard the bowstring snap and saw an arrow sail into a sentinel's throat. It fell the the ground gurgling. A woman with a spear ran to it and stabbed it through the head. The sentinel wrenched one last time snapping the spearhead off the shaft.

  "Arrow." Irinia handed him another one.

  The woman heard something behind her and whistled to signal something was there. A daem burst from under the ground and leapt for her. "Craters..." Croix muttered. The runes on the limbs of the bow glowed a faint blue. The bowstring snapped and the arrow pierced the creature's armored head killing it instantly while sending it flying backward a considerable distance.

  "Arm yourself! Quickly!" He shouted down to woman whom had lost her spar. She nodded and ran toward one of the weapon holdings.

  "Watch the air. If there are craters here then there will be quills flying about. They're painful to remove. Another arrow."

  Irinia could see the quills lining the underside of the dead crater's forearms. They were dark and long but that was all she could see at that distance. She handed an arrow to him and asked, "How will I be able to see them? They're so dark."

  He tapped his ear and loosed another arrow. Irinia heard a thunk and a gurgle. She handed him another arrow.

  Croix continued to kill the attackers with his bow from the rooftop for some time. Each time a townsman would holler he would turn and kill what was near them. Irinia looked down and saw that only the bundle of five arrows that she separated remained.

  "Last five, Croix." She said.

  He held out his hand, "Thank you." She reached for another arrow.

  Croix suddenly looked up. Irinia heard a low vibration. Like a piano's tuning fork or a low note on a stringed instrument. Croix looked around not finding what he was looking for. She looked up and saw something thin and dark moving quickly through the air right towards them.

  She tried to move but she was not fast enough. Out of desperation she threw her arms over her head. The sound stopped. When Irinia looked up she saw the quill right in front of her face with Croix's hand wrapped around it. His blood dripping quickly from his hand onto the roof.

  "Arms make for terrible armor." Croix held up the quill. She cold see the barbs along the length of each side. Croix pulled his sword out of the sheath just far enough to expose a hand length of the blade. He used it to cut into the base of the quill.

  They both looked toward the direction the quill had originated from and saw the crater hissing at them. It pulled its arm back preparing to send another quill their way. Before it could, Croix flicked his hand sending the blood pooled in his palm to the ground and notched the quill and sent it right back to its owner. It struck right the crater its left eye, killing it. He notched an arrow and loosed it into a sentinel climbing the side of the inn knocking it from then wall. Irinia handed him another arrow and he sent it into the abdomen of another sentinel down the road, then another and another.

  "You're out of arrows, Croix." Irinia reached into the quiver to confirm.

  "Alright, we need to get to the ground now."

  Croix jumped off the side of the building to land on his feet. A sentinel slid around the corner lunging at Croix. He responded with his fist. The sentinel received the blow directly in the center of its face knocking it to the ground. He walked over to where it struggled and pushed his sword through its head. He turned and looked up holding out his arms.

  "I'll catch you." He's mad. I'm four floors up. The goofy expression on his face simply said, “Trust me.” She jumped. I'm an idiot, she thought to herself. The free-fall made her stomach turn. Her hair was being lifted by the wind as she plummeted to the ground beside the inn. She opened he eyes, which she had closed as tightly as she could, just in time to see the ground directly beneath her. She felt a rush of energy and saw a flash of green light through her closed eyelids before she jerked to a stop. Croix set her to her feet. He drew his blade and began walking toward the town hall. Irinia was quick to follow.

  Halfway down the street they saw one of the townsmen get kicked over by a sentinel. The man pushed his spear up sharply at the daem, but it was deflected and his lost his grip. The spear clattered down the road. The sentinel raised its claw in to the air preparing to tear out the man’s throat until an apple collided with the side of its head. The moment of distraction was enough for the townsman to scurry away. Croix had an apple in his mouth, one apple in his right hand, and two more gripped in his left. He threw another at the sentinel, but this time it saw the apple coming and sidestepped it. In a fit a rage the sentinel started running at them.

  Croix drew his blade and tossed the two remaining apples into the air. When the sentinel was close enough Croix impaled and immediately beheaded the it. The body fell to the ground as Croix caught the two apples he had tossed into the air. He handed one to Irinia while taking a bite out of the one in his mouth, letting it fall to his hand, the last apple he caught in the same hand. “They’re really good this time of year.”

  “This is all a game to you isn’t it?” Irinia glared at him. How he could be so calm when people were in danger?

  “Such a small quantity of daem, yes. Yes it is.” He took another bite of an apple. “You will understand soon enough. Ten or fifteen daem is not anything to be concerned with. Not for us at least. When you fight them by the hundreds then you can take it seriously. Well, let me rephrase, ten or fifteen titans would be quite bad. These small ones though...” He shrugged.

  They came town hall came into view. It was well lit both inside and out. There was a crowd of people standing around the inn, most of them armed. Protecting travelers was their priority. As they approached Irinia could hear some of the conversation.

  “Everyone, counts!” Moira shouted. Various guards were shouting out numbers. Irinia heard “One”, “Five”, “Three”, and “None”. From right next to hear came, “Sixteen.” Silence fell on the crowd as they all turned. Moira laughed. “You definitely showed your worth. At first I figured you wanted to hide on the top of the inn when you first requested it. At least four of my guards tell me that they owe you their lives.” Croix did not seem to take any offense to the remark.

  “They can keep them, I have no need.” He nodded toward Irinia. “I have plenty of travel companions.”

  “Then let me at least reimburse you your inn payment.”

  Croix shook his head. “No need. I’ll accept a decent breakfast for my companion and myself in a few hours however.”

  “Done. How long will you be staying with us?” Moira inquired.

  “We will depart after we eat.” The way Moira’s entire posture shifted made her disappointment obvious. “I’m guessing these attacks are frequent. I’ll send word to friends to try to seal this town.”

  Moira nodded in thanks. “That would be appreciated. You can rest until your breakfast. If you need anything…”

  “I’ll be sure to ask. Thank you. Your hospitality is generous.”

  They made their way back to the inn and into their room. He unbuckled his cloak, bow, and belt and set them against the wall. He gripped Irinia’s shoulder. “You did great tonight. I’ll need a weapon for you soon.” He smiled and lay on the nest of blankets on the floor. “Try and get some sleep. After we eat, we have a long walk tomorrow. We need to make up some time.”

  That reminded her. "How's your hand?"

  "All good, you don't need to worry about little things like that."

  She gave him a concerned look. "You were bleeding a lot though."

  He held up his hand and there was no mark where he had been cut. "You know healing spells too?"

  "Nope. I just heal quickly." The terse answer made her drop the topic, but she added it to the ever-growing pile of topics to ask about at some point later on.

  “Alright.” Irinia said as she covered herself with her blankets. She lay in bed awake for a few minutes missing her own bed. Wondering what was going to become of her, what she would experience, and what she would see.

  “Croix?” She called quietly, almost a whisper.

  “Yes?” He responded groggily.

  “Sorry, never mind. I didn’t think you were asleep.” She spurted out quickly.

  “It’s fine. What is troubling you?”

  “Where are we going next?”

  “Millenian Mountains, hopefully. I don’t want any more of these distractions or we’ll take forever to get there.”

  She paused for a moment remembering the stories of the mountains she had heard from Gand when she was a little girl. The words "cold" and "frigid" were all that she could remember. This doesn't sound much fun at all... She thought just before she began to doze off. She could swear that she heard Croix chuckle at the foot of the bed.