Chapter Text
When I first moved to the village of Bottwoods, it was a small and charming place. I hadn't expected to stay as long as I did, but I met someone new and I found a great job, so I figured why not change my plans and try to put down some roots for once. What was the worst thing that could happen?
Well, it turns out that the worst thing is the entire village being set on fire. Not that I'm saying I caused all of this, I didn't start the flames! That was a group of furious giants who felt they'd been double crossed by the Wizard who lives above the village. I guess they thought he'd take that as a personal attack, but the jokes on them. He hates the village and I should know. I listen to him complain about it every day. That's why I suppose I did have a part to play in it all. After all, the Wizard IS my boss.
I'm currently racing from the ruins of my home with everything I could salvage in a pack on my back. Everything is on fire, my so-called boyfriend is dead and the man who's really responsible for all of this is standing at the top of his tower, firing up his magical portal so that he and I can both get the hell out of here before the giants come back to destroy whatever is left of this place once the fires die down.
If they die down.
Good Lord, what have we done? How did I end up here?
~
To answer that particular question, I need to take you back to when everything started, two years ago, but I'm getting ahead of myself again. Why don't we start off proper with an introduction?
My name is Odeen Corrison. I've lived some thirty-seven years so far, mostly on the move, as I find that staying on my feet keeps the Woe from gathering quite so quickly.
Oh, of course! You don't know what Woe is, do you? That's a tricky thing to explain, one with details that I don't care to dive too deeply into right now. Lots of trauma there, I'm sure you understand. For now, I'll just say that I have a curse inside me, one that was cast on me by accident when I was smaller than small. That means that misfortune usually follows me around, causing all sorts of issues in my life from paper cuts to burned-down houses, which I know is pretty damming evidence when I just told you that the entire village is on fire, but I'm going to need you to give me the benefit of the doubt here.
I have tried a lot of different things in an attempt to break my curse over the years, but I've mostly given up on that now. There's nothing I can do to stop the Woe from reaching for me. All I do now is try to manage it as best I can, and to keep myself away from situations that give it more to play with, like working for a glass-maker, or dating more than one person at a time, or staying in any one place for more than a few days. I find the longer I linger, the more links to everything around me there are for the Woe to wrap around. That's why I'm become quite nomadic now. Nomadic and solitary.
For most of the year I do just fine travelling on my own. I have a backpack with all my essentials, a tent, a sleeping roll, dried meats and berries, a little box of tea, everything you need for a pleasant stroll in the forest. However, the last few years I've been feeling, well... old? The idea of sleeping on the ground under the stars gets less and less romantic as my back gets more twisted from carrying my pack and my feet seem to get flatter every year from all my walking. Not to mention winter!
I suppose though that I need to mention winter. After all, winter is the reason I came to this village in the first place!
It was last year, when the weather was colder and snowier than I can ever remember it being before. I'm usually pretty prepared for extreme survival conditions because I never know what my Woe will throw at me, but even a non-cursed person would have faced challenges with the nonstop blizzards we had. I'm lucky to have survived, honestly, especially with all my toes and fingers intact. I had a nasty bout of frostbite that made me realize that spending the coldest months of the year outside in a tent was probably not a safe option for me long-term.
I weighed the options. If a tent wasn't cutting it anymore, I would need to find solid shelter. I could try and spend the warm months building something more solid, and if I was a normal woman I'd probably give that a try, but with the curse on me? I know it's a foolish plan. All I'll end up with is splinters, hammered thumbs, and roof that will collapse on me if the snow piles too high, so that route is absolutely out. I need to find shelter that was built by someone who knows what they're doing and doesn't have any Woe to mess things up.
A big city is also out of the question. Too many people, too many risks. Somewhere smaller is where I need to go, some place nice and quiet, with a tiny population that won't pay much attention to me. All I need is a room with real walls where I can hide away and keep to myself.
Easy plan, right?
You'd be surprised.
~
When I heard about the Bottwoods from a passing trader, I knew it would be the right place for me. It was a sleepy place in the winter, he had said, as they earned most of the community's coin in the warmer months. "There's a whole hill of gorgeous flowers that grow ever spring and summer. They make the most wonderful dye out of them. All the Kings and Queens wear their colours!"
That meant that the cold season was their quietest, when the seasonal workers shuffled off to other places to make money. He did warn me that it could be an expensive spot due to the tourism of the flowers, but surely things were cheaper in the off-season, right?
I counted all the gold and silver I had managed to save up over the rest of the year. I'd been planning this for ages, and I thought I had quite the treasure saved, but that turned out to not be the case.
As soon as I walked in the front gate of the village, I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach. I'd pictured a ramshackle little place, but these buildings were much more posh than I'd been expecting. There weren't many homes, but the homes that were there all had white-washed fences and garden beds that I could tell were elaborate even when they were mostly empty. The streets were painstakingly laid cobblestones and the light posts were all electric, something I wouldn't have thought twice about in a city, but was very surprised to see here. I'd expected the kind of lamplight that came from torches. This was the most up-to-date village I'd ever seen!
I turned the corner and spotted the Inn. My stomach sank even lower at how pretty it was, with a lovely thatched roof and an enormous porch with wooden rocking chairs. It was obviously going to cost far more than I expected. I only hoped I had enough. Would this be another wave of Woe? I prayed it wouldn't be. If I had to go back to the woods for the winter, I was afraid I'd start crying and never stop.
I was almost there when there was a clanging sound from behind me. I stepped to the side to allow what turned out to be a doctor's cart pass. It parked hastily in front of the Inn and a small man in a red cap carrying a big black bag hurried up the stairs and through the front doors. Curious, my pace quickened as I followed after him. I've always been a bit too nosy for my own good.
By the time I arrived through the doors myself, the doctor was already halfway up the stairs and then was gone, off to do his duty. I wished him luck within my head before I approached the front desk.
"Hello there, dearie." chirped an older woman in a knitted cardigan that was dyed a lovely rich plum colour. "How can I help you?" Her smile was so warm and bright that I forget my money worries entirely.
"I was hoping you might have a room, actually. I'd be looking for something all winter long, from now until spring," I told her.
"Hmm, let me have a look," she said, reaching for the large ledger in front of her and flipping through the pages. "Normally we welcome long-term guests. We even offer discounts for stays of that length, but I'm not sure about availability right now."
My heart sunk all over again. Availability! I'd forgot all it in my worries over coins. "Oh, of course. I'll take anything, really, I'm not picky. Even a broom closet is still a room, right?"
I laughed weakly, which she did not return. She was looking at her ledger with a frown on her face. It wasn't looking good, and I prepared myself for disappointment, telling myself not to let the tears fall until I was safely back in the forest.
"No, dearie, it looks like we're fully booked up until next week, and even then we wouldn't be able to-" We both heard a great deep sigh behind us and so we turned to see the cause. It was the doctor coming down the stairs. His pace was much slower than it had been on his arrival and his brow was heavy. Whatever news he had, I could already tell it wasn't good. "Oh my, do excuse me," said the woman as he reached the bottom step. She hurried out from behind her counter to speak with him. "Doctor, what can you tell me?"
That was the last word she said that I could understand, as he answered her back with the low tone of a man delivering a sad message. Still, I could easily understand the shake of his head and the drop of her shoulders. Someone had surely passed on. They spoke for a moment longer before she plucked several coins from her pocket to place into his palm before they parted.
"I'm sorry for that," she said softly as she returned to her station. Much of her earlier cheer was gone now, and I felt a rush of sympathy at her expression.
"No, not at all! I hope everything is okay," I added, knowing it wasn't, but hoping she would let me know what was going on.
"I'm afraid it's not. Old Mrs. Thompson, she's finally thrown in the towel. She lived in the north hall suite for almost fifteen years now. The building just won't be the same now that she's gone." She sighed deeply, shaking her head gravely. "A loss for certain."
I had no idea what to do or say, not wanting to disturb such a sensitive moment when she suddenly straighten up as a new thought occurred to her. "Wait! A silver lining, that's what we have here! Oh, how wonderful that something good can come out of something so tragic."
"What do you mean?" I asked her.
"I mean that we have a vacancy now, and a long-term one at that! Wasn't that just what you were looking for?"
Mrs. Thompson, I couldn't be more grateful for your timing.
~
When all was said and done, my horded gold had been shrunk to almost nothing, but I had secured a room for the entire winter! I was caught between being thrilled over having a place to stay and being horrified that my entire budget was now destroyed. I would have to find a way to earn some extra gold during my stay here. Otherwise I'd be scrounging for stale bread outside the village's trash pit before I knew it.
I wondered what the job market was like in a little spot like this. Maybe I could help out at the market, or wash dishes at the pub. Although, I don't know, pubs don't tend to be a very good place for me, work-wise. The whole Woe thing leads to more broken plates and glasses than I would like to admit. It's why all the utensils I travel with are made of wood. Much sturdier! Even if I do get splinters every now and then when I wash them... Yes, keeping myself fed long-term was turning into a minor problem, but that was a problem for another day. Today I only wanted to focus on the good.
I wanted nothing more than to bask in the luxuries of my new room, but alas, I would have to come back for that. After all, there was a corpse currently staying there, but the woman behind the counter, whose name turned out to be Geraldine, assured me that they would have everything handled in a few hours. "You'll never know anybody lived there but you!" she had said, which I doubted very much, but it was nice of her to say.
I asked her where I could get a bite to eat while I waited and she directed me to the local pub. "It's just down the street and around the corner. I wouldn't recommend the fish, but the stew is heaven in a bowl!"
Heaven in a bowl sounded pretty good to me. It had been ages since I'd had a warm meal that wasn't just a dried hunk of protein on a stick over a fire, so I was quite excited to sit down and eat something made by someone else for a change. Not that I was a bad cook, far from it! It's just difficult to make something decent on the road, especially when you weren't staying put for long.
The barmaid was cheery, with a round face and lovely sausage curls. "What can I get for you?" she asked and I ordered the stew without a second thought, barely giving the rest of the menu a glance. When the deep bowl arrived along with a plate filled with crusty bread slices, I gave a silent thanks to Geraldine. It was clear this was made by someone who knew what they were doing, which wasn't always the case in small local pubs.
I took my first bite and closed my eyes in pure pleasure as the flavours spread out over my tongue. It was wonderful, just the kind of meal I'd been dreaming of. The turnip and potatoes were cooked to perfection, and the chicken was as juicy as could be, with wonderful herbs swimming in the rich gravy. I sopped up every last drop with the crusts of my bread and by the time I was done the bowl shone as if it had been licked clean. I felt satisfied in a way I hadn't felt in a very long time.
"Anything else I can get you while we wait?" the barmaid asked as she came to collect the empty bowl and plate.
"While we wait? What are we waiting for?"
"You're not here for the band tonight? That's what the others are here for. I just assumed you were too." She nodded to the other side of the room, where several other young women were sitting.
"No, but I've got another hour or so to kill before my room at the inn is ready. I suppose I'll stick around and give them a listen."
She grinned. "I bet you like them! They're really popular around here. The lead singer, Traxton, is soooooo cute!"
I paid my bill, and sat back with a drink, watching as the members of this so-called band arrived on stage and began to tune their instruments. Some of the women who had been waiting began to cheer, and the man at the microphone raised his hand to them in response, which only made them cheer harder. He was pretty cute, but he obviously knew it and that was a turn-off for me. Besides, it was clear he had enough fans based on the swooning going on around me. There was also a guitar player and a drummer. A very attractive drummer, actually. I had a bit of a weakness for drummers because I love a well-built arm and they tend to have two of them.
Still, now that I was fed and watered, I could feel exhaustion making itself known. I couldn't wait to fall into my new bed, even if a women might have died in it only a few short hours ago. To have a real mattress under me and not the rocky ground of the woods was so exciting I probably would have taken the bed with the corpse still in it!
Well, not literally, I mean. But you get what I'm saying.
The band started to play and while they weren't awful, they were clearly just medium fish in a tiny pond. The girls up front were acting like they were superstars, but they were far from the best I'd ever heard. I stuck around for a few songs, but eventually my eyes began to close no matter how hard I tried to keep them open or how loud the band played. I decided to pack it in and head back to my hopefully ready room.
Geraldine was all smiles when I arrived. "Everything is all set for your stay. Here is your key, and do let me know if you need help with anything else during your visit." Then she motioned for me to come closer, looking around to make sure there's nobody else about to overhear what she had to say.
"Yes?" I asked.
"I just wanted to let you know, just for your peace of mind tonight, that it wasn't the bed." she said said in a low tone. I simply stared at her, not getting the message she was trying to send at all. "You know, what happened before. When Mrs. Thompson, God rest her soul, departed for the worlds beyond."
"You mean when she died?" Then the light came on. "OH! You wanted me to know she didn't die in the bed?"
She nodded. "I wanted you to know, she just crumpled right down on the floor, so you don't need to feel strange about using any of the furniture, all right? Now you have a lovely evening and get a good night's sleep."
What a wonderful woman to warn me like that. I'll have to ask her about the area when I next get the chance. She'll know whose hiring! I can just tell that she not only knows all the best village gossip, but she'll share it with those willing to listen. If I wasn't so tired I'd plop myself into one of the lobby armchairs for a chat, as she's obviously in the mood to talk, but that will have to wait for now. There will be time for her tomorrow. Or the next day! Or the next. I had weeks to fill.
I took the key and followed her directions up the stairs to the second floor. She'd told me I was staying in the Raven suite, so I opened the door with a big black bird on it and stepped inside excitedly, ready to see the space I'd get to call my own for the next several months.
"Wow," I breathed as I took it all in. The room was obviously one that had been at the height of fashion when it was originally dressed, but it was clear that had been some time ago. The curtains were a mess of ruffles and lace, and the rug on the floor in front of the fire looked like a giant doily that you would put on a teapot on. There was a small table and chair set up by the window, dark wood that matched the dresser and the bed.
And what a bed it was! A real bed! Not a lumpy thin mattress on lumpier dirt, no, not this time. Between the fluffy pillows and cozy looking quilt, I had the wild urge to dive right into it and pass out just as I was, but I knew I'd sleep far better if the grime of the open road had been washed off me. Plus I knew those were brand new fresh sheets and I wasn't about to destroy them out of pure laziness. I'd been raised better than that, bless my dear Aunt's soul.
The sting of the extra money I paid was eased considerably when I stepped into the attached bathroom and saw the shower set up. It was crude, but serviceable, and standing under the weak spigot, I felt myself tear up at the feeling of warm water on my shoulders. No matter how hot the day, a bath in a pond just doesn't stand up to this. I washed myself twice, making sure all the dirt between my toes and under my arms and all the other sensitive areas had been banished before I stepped outside, dripping on to the bathmat.
I towelled off, feeling almost delirious from the pleasure of being so freshly washed. There wasn't a tangle or leaf anywhere in my hair and I managed to get all the dirt out from under my nails too. I felt as if I'd been reborn and for a moment or two I stood in the middle of the room as naked as the day I was born, letting the fire dry me off. I wiggled my toes against the rug beneath me and felt better than I had in a very long time. There was a real sense of safety that only a proper room could provide and I hadn't realized how long it had had that feeling until just then. A tent could never feel as secure as four sturdy walls with a floor and ceiling to match.
The bed once again began to call to me and with all my other needs met I could finally give in to its siren song. I opened my backpack to find something to sleep in, but the state of all my clothing was the same; grubby.
I couldn't bear the idea of wearing anything dirty into such a perfectly clean bed, so I slid myself in between the sheets without a stitch on. I don't usually sleep naked, but so long as the room is warm enough I don't mind it. Thanks to the fire burning in the corner of the room, I was as warm as toast.
That was the last thought I had before passing out. I fell into the deepest, darkest sleep possible, where no dreams can reach you.
Or so I thought.