An Innkeeper and his eccentric wife

"Welcome to the Violet Moon," said the one-eyed innkeeper as Sir Roderick, Buffy and Laurel entered the local inn. "My name is Alexis Harris and this is my wife Anastasia. I hope you all enjoy your stay in my fine establishment as long as you're in town."

"And feel free to hunt most of the local wildlife while you're here," said Anastasia, a short blonde-haired girl who was just a shade taller than Buffy. "Especially the local rabbits."

"Er, Ana," said Alexis. "We talked about this. Not every guest we get is here to hunt rabbits."

"But they should be," said Anastasia. "Those rabbits are becoming quite a menace. I mean, it's not like they're so cute like everybody supposes. They got those hoppy legs and twitchy little noses. And what's with all the carrots? Why do they need such good eyesight for, anyway?"

"Actually," said Sir Roderick, "we're here to slay a dragon."

"I don't see why you're here to do that," said Anastasia. "It's not like a dragon ever stole anything from my vegetable garden. Rabbits, on the other hand --"

"Enough with the rabbits, Ana," said Alexis. "Why don't you go check on the kitchen staff? I expect our guests will be quite hungry after they unpack their stuff."

Anastasia just sighed and walked off in a direction that seemed to lead toward a kitchen.

Buffy just looked around and said, "Is there really a dragon around here?"

"Why, yes, there is," said Alexis.

"But he wouldn't attack in the middle of a rainstorm, would he?" asked Buffy.

"I don't think so," said Alexis. "Please don't tell me that a brave dragonslayer like yourself is afraid of a little rain."

"Well, actually..." said Buffy.

Just then Anastasia returned. "Dinner is almost ready. I trust you all have changed your mind about hunting rabbits."

"Leave them alone, Ana," said Alexis. "It's not especially lucky to harass a dragon slayer and her staff."

"Staff?" asked Sir Roderick. "You mean you think we're her servants?"

"Well, aren't you?" said Anastasia. "After all, she does all the work. Granted, it must be exhausting for her to always be stripping down in the center of a village and pulling a sword out of one's womb but still -- "

"You think I do what?" asked Buffy. "Where did you get the idea that I do anything like that?"

"That's what all the stories say," said Anastasia with a shrug.

"Well, the stories are wrong," said Buffy.

Just then it started rained and after a while, Buffy could hear thunder.

Good, she thought. As long as the dragon stays away during the rain, things should go smoothly. After all there was no way she was fighting a dragon in this rain. It was coming down horses and mules out there.

Buffy thought no more about it until halfway through her evening dinner when again she heard a roar of thunder. Only louder and much closer this time.

"Funny," said Laurel. "But I saw no lightning outside when I heard that last bolt of thunder."

"Why would you find that funny?" said Buffy.

"Because thunder is always accompanied by lightning," said Laurel. "Unless it's something else we heard."

"Like what?"

Just then a beautiful brunette in a flowery dress showed up at the entrance of the inn's dining room.

"What is it, Baile?" said Anastasia.

"Come quick," said the woman called Baile. "The local bookshop is on fire."

"On fire?" asked Alexis. "You mean --"

"That's right, Alexis," said Baile. "The dragon is attacking our village. And not just because of our provincial life."