The Humble Noble Wanderer 16 The Innkeeper

The clouds hung over the city. The inn was located near the slums, and the night obscured the poverty and anguish within the impoverished area. That said, these slums were better than most. Only this inn looked dilapidated, while even the slums had decent clay bricks as the walls and roof. After all, the rest of the town accepted the funding...

The inn owner welcomed Leo and Solomon.

He said, "Welcome, please make yourself... at home..."

The inn owner's eyes welled with tears. A tear drop ran down his cheek, when he saw the old, disheveled Solomon. Solomon's clothes contained residue from dirt and tears fro, his and Leo's journey. Leo's clothes were in better shape. The black leather showed no signs of weakening and even glowed a bit in the darkness. The enchanted wire that weaved through Leo's skin maintained its appearance and overall integrity.

"Milord! It's so good to see you!" said the inn keeper, "You're... You're finally here!"

"Yes, Raynark, old friend," Solomon said, "But I'm no longer a king. Please, call me Solomon for once will you."

"But you said you would reclaim the city one day did you not?" Raynark said with hope in his eyes.

"Yes... I did," said Solomon, "But things have changed."

Raynark's face fell; his neatly trimmed grey hear seemed to turn a little white in that moment from Leo's perspective, and the wrinkles in Raynark's old face creased with the furrow of his brow. Raynark was possibly a handsome young man at one point... But now, he was simply another old man, one who cared dearly for the past.

"What has changed? The city still stands. The clouds still move, and the night is merely upon us. Wasn't it you who gave me hope? You said, 'Joy will come in the morning.' Wasn't it you?" Raynark pleaded.

"No, old friend," Solomon said, "Our city is beyond saving. Only through destruction will remedy this city... And I'd rather it be me than a demon."

"Demon?" Raynark weakly laughed, "Demon... Hahaha.... You're the demon! I've waited forty years for deliverance, but you bring me destruction! Haha! hahahahaha.... What a joke! Get out of my sight!"

Solomon sighed then said, "Have there been disappearances in the slums?"

Raynark said not a word.

"Frequent, almost rampant and chronic disappearances in this city?"

Raynark looked at Solomon with a tinge of skepticism and wisp of fear.
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Raynark said, "You don't mean..."

"I'm afraid so," said Solomon, "This city is a breeding ground for demons."

Raynark collapsed into a chair. He laughed for a while. He laughed with a deep madness. He raved fr a bit... And then finally, resolve settled in his eyes.

He said, "You'll destroy this city?"

"I give you my word," said Solomon.

"Your word means nothing," said Raynark, "If this city doesn't burn to the ground in five days, consider us strangers. No! Enemies!"

Solomon had a pained expression on his face, when he realized something.

He said, "What did this city take from you Raynark? What made you this way?"

"Everything," said Raynark, and in the next moment he cut off Solomon who wanted to pursue the matter, "But, I don't want to talk about it... Take the second room on the left, once you reach the second floor. You and your Black-cloth can stay there for net five days..."

"Leo," Leo said, "My name is Leo Lionsmane."

Raynark chuckled, and a shard of longing twinkled in his eye.

He said to Solomon in a joking manner, "I see you still name your pets!"

"What are you talking about?" Solomon said, "You were one of them..."

As Solomon and Leo headed up the clay steps, Raynark yelled, "Five days! Nothing more, nothing less!"

So, Solomon and Leo entered the room, when Solomon began to talk.