The World Of Eros: The Journey Begins

I am currently rewriting this story with lessons learned from the first go-round. I plan to release the story into volumes if it goes well with the first volume taking place in the human kingdom. I was originally putting this rewrite under the original but decided it's better to create its own separate story entry.

A smile crossed my lips as I came over the hill to show the valley below. I could see the endless fields that seemed to go on forever. Merchants traveled along the roads heading toward the city that sat in the distances. It's walls stood tall but from the hill, I could see the vast number of houses and roads inside. I had no clue how many lived within the walls as the buildings seemed too numerous to count. I saw a maze of alleyways and streets that made me wonder how easy it would be to get lost in the city.

The city was surrounded by walls on all sides with large towers scattered along the wall and gatehouses at the entranceways as roads ran outward in several directions. At the heart of the city stood the white stone castle on a hill that towered over most of the other buildings. A large lake sat to the south within the city walls which gave it the city an appearance of a crescent moon and thus its name. City of the crescent moon or Crescent City as the common folk called it. Overlooking the city on a large hill stood a beautiful castle carved from white stone.

I had saved up all the money I could so that when the snow had melted good I was on my way before I got stuck helping some neighbor sow their fields or some other mindless manual task came along. Hell knows I couldn't take the quit village life anymore. It had been a fortnight now since I had left the small village where I had grown up with no particular destination in mind. I figured the capital city was a good a place as any to start. I didn't want to grow old living my life seeing the same old people day in and day out. I wanted, scratch that that need for some kind of adventure in my life and see the world. There would be plenty of time later in life to settle down and have a family, provided I didn't get myself killed of course but I didn't plan on it.

I hadn't much to my name. A hunting bow that had seen me through the last few seasons. Several handmade arrows on my back. A rusty hand ax for chopping firewood on my hip and a knife in my boot. What few clothes I owned were in my knapsack along with a coin purse which I knew better than to keep on my hip. The last thing I needed was some cutpurse to come along and take it off me. It would suck to have to turn back and head home the same month I had left.

I heard a commotion behind me and glanced back to see several horsemen and horses coming my way. They all wore armor bearing the royal crest. I stepped aside off the road to let them pass. I saw a carriage following behind. Royalty of some type, if I had to guess. As it passed I caught a glimpse of one of the passengers. A lovely young woman with wavy red hair. Her sparkling green eyes caught mine as a smile crossed her soft lips. Sadly it was only for a second or two as the carriage went on its way toward the city followed by a few more knights leaving me in the dust.

The city seemed to get larger as I walked. Farmers were busy tending their small plots of land for the planting season. The small farmhouses seemed to be built of timber that had been cut down to clear an area for farming and stones dug up from the fields. Though there was still enough trees to provide shade for the small homes and to the merchants traveling along the roads.

When I finally reached the walls they towered overhead. A bridge led over a deep moat to the gatehouses which were pushed back from the main wall. Guards watched from above on either side as people came and went. Perfect place to fire down on the enemy from above as they bottled necked into the center.

As I passed through the gatehouse and onto the streets I was overwhelmed by the sites and sounds of the city. There were more people on one street then my entire village. The buildings were made of wood timber frames and white plastered walls between. Many overhung on the second floor slightly allowing for more living space upstairs as well to create some shade from the midday sun.

Vendors yelled at passerby's trying to get their attention as they peddled their wares. A nearby blacksmith pounded away at hot metal working it into shape. People moved about browsing what they could buy. I saw clothing and fabrics dyed in a variety of colors. People from different races and cultures passed by me. Humans, elves, gnomes, and a variety of others. Back home this would have been a bizarre sight to behold but here it seemed to be commonplace. I was a little overwhelmed not being sure where to go first.

I perused the markets as I went stopping to browse a little before I figured I should look for a tavern to stay the night. Nightfall was still half a day away but I could use something besides water to parch my thirst and I was sure that the taverns here where probably first come first serve with this many people.

Finding a tavern was fairly easier then I thought. I actually had my pick of places. Despite the early hour I could hear the typical commotion of people inside the tavern that most places. Probably people like me just looking for a drink or food and a place to rest from the heat of the midday sun.

I entered the tavern to see all manner of folk sitting, talking, and laughing. Several humans, a couple of elves, a few gnomes which one might expect but I also saw an orc sitting in a corner enjoying a meal. A cute young gnomish woman smiled as she made her way past carrying a few drinks. Her nice large ample tits bouncing as she walked which caught my eye. Gnomes, sometimes called dwarves or halflings, though never in polite conversation, were slightly shorter than humans, but what the women lacked in stature they more than made up for in volume. I had never seen a gnomish woman who was flat-chested or had breast even being close to small. She gave a smile and a wink as she passed me. I couldn't help but admire her ass as she went.

I saw another lovely gnomish woman at the counter pouring a drink for one of the patrons and laughed at something they said as she touched his hand. She wore one of those lace-up bodices that pushed her nice full tits up. Her white shoulderless chemise was cut low showing off her cleavage. I couldn't help but smile as they jiggled slightly as she cleaned the counter. She looked a bit older than the other gnome but none the less beautiful. She smiled and came over to me as I took a seat at the bar.

"Hello stranger, what can I get you." She said placing her hands on the bar top and leaned over showing off her large tits. I was sure it was probably why the Tavern was so full this early in the day.

"Something to drink would be nice. Whatever is cheapest." I smiled reaching in my bag.

"I don't carry anything cheap dear but you are new so this one is on the house." She held up her hand then reached under the counter to grab a mug giving me a better peek of her breast. She pulled out a mug and poured me a drink from a cask on the bar and handed it over.

"Thank you." I smiled and took a drink chugging about half of it before taking a breath. "This is really good."

"I am glad you like it. Gnomish mead from up north." She smiled. "Plan on sticking around or just passing through?" She smiled.

"Depends if I can find work." I nodded. I didn't know much about city life.

"No shortage of work around here handsome."

"How much is a room for the night here?"

"Three copper. Not counting food and drink." She said wiping a spot where some of the mead had split.

"That cheap?"

"Uh-huh. Three for a night or eighteen for a week." She smiled. That meant one night was free if I stayed the week. I was certain they kept the rates low to get people in the door. The mead was good enough to get people coming back or just to visit after a long day's work.

"Astrid," a voice called. I turned to see a lovely young Elven woman coming over with the serving wench beside her.

"Hello, Arwen," the barmaid said to the young woman.

"She just talked to Sura. She said Torvald left Stonehills early this morning at first light but she didn't pass him on the road. He should have been back by now."

"He could have just gotten turned around or stopped to see one of his friends. You know your brother dear."

"I don't think so, I can feel something is wrong." The Elf shook her head. Elves had a connection to magic and the supernatural that I didn't really understand but when they spoke of bad omens it was usually smart to listen or so I have been told.

"We should go looking for him or hire someone to do it," the serving wench said.

"Dear, that is a lot of road to cover." The barmaid touched her hand. I could see now that they were standing together that they had to be mother and daughter. I let out a little sigh.

"I can take the horses and go look," the younger gnome spoke up.

"Absolutely not. If something did happen I don't want you out there. Neither of you" The barmaid shook her head.

"But..." The serving winch began to say before he cut her off.

"No Buts." She shook her head at her daughter.

"I can do it," I spoke up and finished my drink. I knew well enough that no good deed goes unpunished but I wasn't the type to leave a woman in distress which I am certain will be the of me one day.

"We can't ask you to..." the Barmaid began to speak.

"I am a hunter by trade. I know how to track." I shrugged. "I take it he was traveling by wagon?" There was no other reason to go to Stonehills than trading. It was a mining town just off the north road. I had been to Stonehills a few times with my friend who's family runs a mill to drop off lumber they would use for support beams in the mines. If he was anything like my buddy, the gnome had stopped to stay the night at the brothel.

"Yes. He was picking up a shipment of from up north." The Elf nodded. That made sense I guess. The gnomish kingdom lay to the north beyond the mountains. No doubt he was going to get more mead like the stuff I had just drunk.

“I will find him in exchange for a place to crash the night.” I shrugged.

“Fair enough.” The barmaid nodded.

"Here. Can you hold onto this for me." I said handing my knapsack to the barmaid.

"Sure. Of course. Thank you." The Barmaid smiled and touched my hand. "My daughter Helga here can get you saddled with a horse."

“That will help.” I could maybe make it to Stonehill and back before sunset if I was lucky.

I nodded and headed after her through the back to the small stables that housed the horses of guests staying at the tavern. Helga told me that her brother typically ran the stables but she knew enough to get the horse ready. The old stallion looked like he had seen better days and was in no shape to pull a wagon or work the fields but I was certain he could handle a lone rider. Helga showed me out and pointed me in the right direction for the gate he should come in.

I ran into a few travelers on my way but none of them was the Gnome nor had they seen him on the road. My luck he had already made it back but had gone to a different gate so I had missed him. If so I might still get a night free at the tavern so a little afternoon horseback ride wasn't a bad way to spend the evening.

The sun was getting low when I saw something. There were tire tracks from a wagon leading off the road into the brush. I headed off the trail and went into the woods a little way before I noticed something else and hoped off my horse. I saw a pair of small footprints in the mud. Too wide to be a kid but too short to be an adult human. Each foot had four toes.

“Shit,” I mumbled under my breath. It had to be goblins. To say goblins were civilized was a bit of a stretch. They could speak, use tools, even barter but were not the smartest of races though they could be clever at times. Morality however wasn't something I would use to describe them. Their small stature made them weaker but none the less dangerous. Especially in large numbers which the tracks on the ground told me there was.

I tied the horse to a tree and followed the wagon tracks deeper into the woods until I saw smoke coming from behind a hill up ahead. That meant whoever's campfire it was wouldn't be seen from the road at night. I stopped an inch from a low hanging rope with several bones tied to it. If I hadn't noticed it I would have tripped over it and made the bones rattle, notifying the goblins to my approach. Sneaky little bastards.

I stepped over the rope and made my way up the hill to get a better view as I got closer I heard voices. Goblins chatting away in whatever the hell it was they called there own tongue. As I peeked over I saw a gnomish man gagged and bound to a tree. There were three goblins gathered around the fire cooking something that smelt pretty good. The gnome had blood on his head and face but seemed to be okay. His carriage and horse was behind him tied to a tree. One of the goblins went to the wagon and poured himself a drink making Torvald upset as he pulled against the ropes.

"Where are my manners to our host?" the Goblin said, coming over and pouring a drink on Torvald's head. The Gnome fought against the ropes but they had tied him pretty well. Torvald managed to kick the goblin in the shin. The goblin hopped back holding his leg making the other two laugh at his misfortune. The goblin pulled a knife pointing it at the gnome. I drew an arrow and nooked it ready to strike. I could feel my hands shaking a bit, it was one thing to kill a deer but another to take a life. Plus deer couldn't shoot back. I didn't see the Gnome lasting long if he continued to put up a fight. If they decided he was more trouble then he was worth keeping alive. I debated my options. I had the advantage of surprise but couldn't just them in cold blood, could I? I could wound them maybe but there were three of them and one of me. I could maybe try and talk some sense into them but keep my bow ready.

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