CHAPTER 44: WELCOME TO BOWEN

Just gotta put a word in here before the Chapter starts.

Welcome new people! Just got nearly 20k extra views yesterday!! Wtf! I was used to getting a few hundred new views a day and seeing the view count skyrocket over the day has been a awesome sight to see!

I hope you enjoy the story and thanks for reading and all that jaz! Anyhoo back to the story!!

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Supprisingly we didn’t get ambushed by disgruntled bandits that night, which allowed the girls to use me to their hearts content. In fact other than some minor monster attacks the rest of the journey went by without worry.

And so it was that after 1 week on the road we crested a final hill to see 2 new sights before us. First the hilly multicoloured grasslands finally came to and end and we were greeted by vast open plains. Spreading for hundreds of miles in nearly every direction. Only to be broken up by a wide river that snaked from what looked to be mountains over to the North West. And traveled east, likely towards the ocean. And directly in front of us we saw the second new sight, the city of Bowen.

It was a majestic sight, tall walls of what looked like marble or another white stone ringed a city that was littered with tall monuments of civilisation. The first building that I noted was a huge spire reaching into the sky its narrow width conspired to its imposing heights seemed impossible if only considering Earth architecture. It almost looked like a classical wizard tower but I always thought they would only be found out in the wilderness hidden away in mountains and forests, guess that shows what I know eh.

The spire itself also looks to be made of the marble like stone but has blue struts that ring around it and even from this distance I can almost taste the magic that is pouring off the buildin. It is both awe inspiring and slightly terrifying to witness that level of magical might.

After that i spot the palace? Or the central building which towers over the walls and has 4 towers of its own which encircle it, magic also radiated from the top of each smaller spire but seems to link together with its 2 neighbours linking them all together. I cannt even begin to guess what they can do other than know deep down that it must be awe inspiring.

As I sit there staring like a true tourist at the city I blankly take in the several other tall buildings that litter the city’s skyline, the white marble seeming to be a staple of this city. Wondering where exactly all that stone came from considering that it is located on a plain I ask Derek about it. "Well the largest stone mine in the kingdom is located in the mountains north west there, they transport a good chunk of it down river and Bowen was mainly built using it."

Finding that reasonable I went back to admiring the view as we slowly approached the city.

It took us another 30 minutes to reach the city itself where we joined a small queue to get into the city. Thankfully we didn’t have to wait too long and before long it was our turn to enter. Derek handles the talking and other than having to show the guard our adventure badges and oay the entry fee of 1 Iron coin each we were let into the city without much fuss.

Entering the city we were greeted by a plaza of sorts which split off in multiple directions 2 led around the base of the walls and 3 more branched off deeper into the city itself. We went down the right road to go further into the city. Whilst no stores were present in the plaza once you left that area numerous shopfronts and streetside stalls littered the streets. Similar to Tenebre village the streets were lined with a wide assortment of race.

As we went down the wide road we stuck to the left side as it seemed their were certain lanes for wagons to travel down to avoid unnecessary interference with pedestrians. After a further 10 minutes of travel during which time I noted that Beastkin seemed to be the predominant race here although humans were a close second. We arrived at well appointed shop front and traveled behind it to a courtyard of sorts. Here we disembarked and Derek approached us.

"Well it has been a pleasure traveling with you all thank you for keeping us safe, as agreed 60 Iron as your fee. And do stop by the shop if you need anything!" He grinned at us after giving us all a firm handshake. We had learnt over the trip that Derek specialised in selling rare materials found from monsters. The reason he travels to Tenebre is to purchase raw materials found in the forest on the cheap to resell at a premium back here. Past that he had a good selection of enchanted equipment as they had an in house enchanter which was apparently quite the rarity.

Smiling back at him and giving our promise to come by if we had the need Shara walked up to us and offered her thanks and goodbye as well. After parting ways we decided that we would hold off on going to the adventures guild till the morning and instead would first find a bathhouse and then enjoy the city somewhat today.

And so going off directions Shara had oerviously given us headed back out into the city. We didn’t rush instead slowly meandered through the bustling streets. For a change both myself and Kana hardly revived any odd stares, seems that in a city as busy and full as this one both bury and prejudice held less value. That or we just got lost in the crowd, either way that was just a happy supprise for the two of us.

Finding a bathhouse we eagerly entered and booked ourselves a private room for a reasonable fee and enjoyed washing away the accumulated grime that a week on the road gave us. Feeling refreshed and ready for anything we spent some more time wandering around the city till we found an inn that we liked the look of and entered.

The exterior was similar to most others in the city so far, white marble adored the walls with wood panels to add some life to the exterior on the ground floor. A sign of a drunken dwarf holding two mugs of ale hung merrily above the door. Inside a wide common room greeted us, many tables were spread through the establishment with a good 2/3rds of them occupied. In the right wall stood a long bar behind which a pair of dwarfs manned the bar.

We did attract some attention as we entered with several drunken and lust filled gazes landing on me in particular, it was approaching dusk so it was no supprise that a lot of the folk here were several drinks deep.

Heading up to the bar one of the dwarfs stopped cleaning the bar too and approached us. His accent was thick and reminded me of the Scottish but with a lilt to it that I couldn’t quite place. "Welcome lassies what can I get ye?"

Smiling down at the man I gave him a once over, he was classically short around 4 and a half feet tall, a thick black beard and a bald head, his beard had intricate braids on each side and was adorned with beads, and was dressed in a simple tan tunic and pants. "Hi we are looking to spend the night and have some food and drink, you have a room free for us?"

Smiling up at me he nodded and spoke. "Aye we have rooms free, how many will ya be needin?"

"Just the one will do us, with a larger bed if possible." I added with a smirk.

Laughing at that the dwarf slapped the bar top as he grinned up at me. "Oh I like ye lassy, I think I have just the room for you’s." Flashing a winning smile at us he spoke again. "As for food and drink we can most definitely provide you with that! Finest dwarven ale this side of the White Stones you hear me!"

"White Stones?" I query unfamiliar with that term.

He gives me a quizzical look before shrugging and then replying. "Aye the White Stone Mountains, ya know the big ass pointy hills up north of us?"

Ahh I probabally should have guessed that one I think to myself. "Well that would make sense." I instead say out loud. "Well then I guess we shall just have to enjoy a mug or two to find out for ourselves then eh?"

To that he gives me a wide grin and before I can even realise how 3 mugs are suddenly in front us us. I blink at the sudden appearance of the drinks but shrug because well magic is a thing. "Grab a table and food will be brought to ya soon! Oh right after ye pay of course." He finishes with a toothy smile.

Finding in quite a fan of this slightly mad dwarf I smile at him before replying. "What’s your name barkeep?"

"Fuarder be mine how about you lassy?"

"I’m Lilly lovely to meet you, now how much for the room and dinner?"

He looks the 3 of us over quickly before responding. "1 iron 5 Copper for the lot of ya and that includes two drinks tonight cos I like ye." Smiling at that I happily had over some coins grab my drink along with the two girls and we head to find a vacant table.

Sitting down Kana looks at me with curious amusement and asks. "I have to ask how did you understand him so well? I could hardly understand him!"

Laughing at that all I can do is think that compared to some of the Scots I knew his accent really wasn’t that bad at all! "Let’s go with practice? He had a similar accent to some people from back home but slightly tamer." I laugh at the stupefied look Kana gives me before taking a sip of the drink and feeling a searing burn travel down my throat.

Finding myself struggling not to cough at how potent the drink is I speak up with a wheeze. "Ok that is damn strong!" Before carefully taking another sip. "But it is also bloody great!

And so as we enjoy our drinks, slowly so as to not die we enjoy the night, food soon comes and just as we are digging in a couple of musicians come out and claim a spot to the left side of the room and start playing a jig. I also catch Dawn trying to sneak a drink of the ale on to recoil in horror when she tried to swallow it and retreats back to my neck in protest of the taste.

The night is fun filled but before long I am been given bedroom eyes by the two women I have grown to love and decide that it is about time we try out the fancy bedroom we were promised by my new dwarven friend!

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Some Lemmon be cumin next Chapter!