You turn away.

Blinking you clear the idea out of your head and go back to the inn. A gold later and you are full and happy with a mug of sweet tasting honey alcohol of some kind. Heading up to your room you slip in, lock the door, and strip. Smiling and naked you slip into the covers and drift off to sleep. Night brings an odd dream of walking under the moonlight sky in a field of green. You don't remember anything else of the dream other than a feeling of being safe somehow. It is an odd seemingly pointless dream, but you feel refreshed when you wake. Morning brings another workout, more sword practice followed by a long run. Then a quick meal at the inn for another gold. Plus you decide to drop another 10 to stay one more day, wanting just a bit more luxury. You also opt at that time to purchase one of the everfull pitcher before you run out of money and replace the simple waterskins in your backpack with the small metal pitcher with an attached lid that fits tightly. Leaving you with just 17 gold you decide today is the day that you find someone to pay you for something.

Strolling once again through the town you chat up some vendors and patrons about work, or rumors about people that are in need of help. It doesn't really get you anywhere, but you do overhear someone that is talking about an inn that explorers frequent. You aren't sure exactly what they mean, but you are sure they were talking about gold or treasure or something. You would guess it is after 5pm by the time you find the place. It looks like a combination of a museum and a tavern. Old tapestries adorn the walls, pieces of art are all over shelves, and even a few statues adorned with real looking armor. There are only a few patrons sitting at long benches along the 6 long communal tables that are in the room. Looking around you can't tell if anyone works here. All you see are people that look like patrons. Finally a young man looks up from his mug and speaks to you, “Hey. You. What are you doing in here?”

You have no idea what you are supposed to say, suddenly feeling really out of place. Gulping you decide to tell the truth. “I don't know. I heard people here were making money. I need a job.”

“This isn't a place to find a job. This is the explorers guild. It is members only.” He says loudly. All of the other people in the room seem to stop talking and stare at you at the same time.

“Oh, I'm sorry.” You stammer. Then add, “So how do you join?”

He sounds exasperated. “You don't just join. You have to prove yourself by bringing in a relic, something valuable for the guild. Then you are a member. You should go.”

“But...” You stammer.

Another man decides to enter the conversation, “Why don't you send her to the cave. Nobody here is going to go check it out.” Everyone starts laughing at this. You can't help but feel confused, and out of place.

“That is a good one. Fine girl. You want to join go to the cave. Find us something and you are in for sure.”

He turns back effectively dismissing you. You stand there for a few seconds confused, never feeling more alone. Finally you bring yourself to ask, “Where do I go?”

“Is she still here?” One asks, causing another round of laughter. Finally one calls out, “Go due north for 30 miles, till you hit the little lake, then go east another 20 miles along the lake till you see the cave. You can't miss it.” Then they turn back to their conversations and you are pretty sure you might as well leave.

Finally you turn away and go. Making your way back to the comfort of the inn, you spend another nice quiet night on the amazing silk. The next morning you are determined to give it a try, even though you aren't really sure what exactly you are getting yourself into. The girls at the inn are all to happy to help you off, and they pack up 5 days worth of food for you. It all fits neatly in your backpack now that you have the magic water bottle. Then you decide to go see how much a horse is, getting kind of sick of walking everywhere, plus you know a horse is much faster than you. A rather handsome man with broad shoulders and strong chiseled features is shoeing a horse when you finally find your way to a stables that is said to have horses for sale. “Excuse me. How much for a strong horse?”

He looks up with his big brown eyes, curls his brow sizing you up and says flatly, “200 silver.” Striking the hammer against the shoe, returning to work.

“Ok, I'll take one.” This gets his attention, but he still finishes before saying anything else.

“Come on, lets go take a look. You can pick which one you want.” He leads you through the barn that smells strongly of hay and manure. You can't help but watch his tight ass as he leads you along. 'Fuck this dude is strong.' You can't help but think as you follow him. “Have a look.” He says as he opens the back door. You step out and see 5 horses, all look big and strong, two are black, one of them with some white spots, two are brown, and the last is mostly white with quite a few brown spots and patches.