Fantasy Tales - The Travel Home (HALLOWEEN SPECIAL 2024)
Fantasy Tales is s series of stories based in a fictional fantasy world.
INSPIRED BY THE TAIL OF HANSEL AND GRETLE
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"Brother - are you almost set?" Lucian's older sister asked as she watched her brother looking over the products of a local street merchant.
"Yes sister!" Lucian called out finishing his trade with the old bearded man and turning back to his sister.
"This place is so big! There is so much to see and father never lets us explore." Lucian said to Precila.
This trip was the first time Lucian was able to off the farm and go to the city without his father present. Normally Father and Precila would go and sometimes Lucian would be allowed to tag along but leaving the farm empty or with only one of the family at home like Mother was something that did not happen often. With Lucian getting older their father thought it would be good for them to attempt the monthly travel on their own as a right of passage. It also allowed their father and mother to have some alone time. Lucian at the age of 19 was still young and full of wonder while Precila being educated by Father and going on many of these trips since she was young was more cautious even though she was just 21 years of age.
"Well it looks like we have everything we need. Let's get going so we can cover some good ground before the suns go down." Precila said looking over the bags of supplies she and her brother were carrying.
The two began to head to the city gates their brown cloaks blowing in the cool breeze of the day. Lucian's eyes darted all over as they walked looking at the different traders, people, and stores.
"I hear a Monster Hunter traveled through here a few days ago. He had captured a Were-woman that was tormenting a village close by." Lucian heard a voice say from an open pub window as they walked down the street.
The siblings got to the city gates guarded by tall strong men in metal armor their weapons gleaming in the sun's light. Lucian thought how cool it would be to become a city guard or a monster hunter or even a traveling trader. Precila and Lucian walked out the city gates and onto the dirt pathways linking the surrounding towns and villages. Once out of the city, Precila pulled the hood of her brown cloak over her head covering her shoulder length red hair. Although the 21 year old girl had a beautiful figure the cloak hid it well. Lucian did the same pulling his hood over his short red hair. With their brown cloaks covering their pale freckled skin from the sun's rays they started their journey home. It was not uncommon to run into some random travelers along the roads as well as bandits and thieves and beast and monsters so Precila and Lucian kept their eyes forever peeled for potential threats. It seemed so sad that a place so beautiful could have such dangers.
The siblings walked for some time being sure to stay on the main roads of travel for most of the way. Normally on these trips, Precila and her father would stop at the Inn that was about half-way between the city and the home village but unfortunately, the Inn had no available rooms. The two siblings chose to keep walking to find a spot to make camp before the sun fully set. Precila and her father had this problem before and ended up camping off the road in a cave which was Precila's plan this time too. It was best to stay off the pathways at night and to stay hidden away from potential threats from bandits to monsters. As the two walked Lucian spotted a sign ahead on the road. Once the two got closer they saw it was a sign for an Inn.
"That's odd - I don't remember seeing this sign on our way down and I haven't heard of another Inn being built around here." Precila said looking a bit puzzled at the sign.
"Maybe it's new. There has been many more travelers recently. A new Inn may be profitable now" Lucian suggested looking down the less traveled path the sign pointed to.
"I'm not sure Lucian -" his sister said still convinced something was wrong.
"Well let's just take a look then. If you don't like it we can always keep moving and find another spot to rest for the night." Lucian suggested trying to appease both his sister and his curiosity.
"Very well - " Precila said with a little pout as the two wallowed the pathway.
After about a kilometer or so the siblings walked into a clearing in the beaten path where a small cottage looking building stood. It was a nice wooden two-story structure with a shed out back, a small garden of sorts, and a fence around the property. Both siblings were a bit surprised it looked like the building was well-lept but not newly built. The two moved in closer looking around. They eventually found themselves standing at the front opening in the fence deciding on if they would enter.
"Oh hello there travelers - are you looking for a place to stay the night or perhaps a hot meal?" a female voice came from the side as a woman walked around the cabin and into view.
The woman looked to be a bit taller than the siblings with long flowing silver hair. Despite her being probably double the age of either of the siblings she was still quite attractive with full curves and large breasts almost popping out of her tight green top. She was also holding a basket of freshly picked veggies from the garden.
"We saw a sign back on the road for your Inn. We have never seen it before - is this place new?" Lucian asked his eyes scanning over the attractive older woman.
"Oh - my home is not new but I recently chose to sell my extra rooms to travelers to make some extra money. I only put the sign on that road back there the other day." The woman explained with a smile as she looked at the red haired travelers.
"Won't you come inside? Let's get you settled into some rooms for the night." The older woman said as she headed to the front door of the house motioning for the siblings to follow her.
Lucian and Precila followed the friendly silver haired woman into her cabin the door closing behind them. The cabin was a nice size and felt quite welcoming. There was a fire crackling with some rocking chairs and a table in the corner, a nice big table for meals and several rooms across 2 floors. It seemed like quite a big home for this woman to live in alone.
"Your place is very nice miss -?" Precila said looking around the interior.