This choice: Strange Village: Kairi awakes in a hidden village, but not is all as it seems! • Go Back... A surge of pain rushed through the young sorceress’ head. However, as Kairi moved to pinch the bridge of her nose, she immediately realized she was lying on her back. The pain dulled beneath the panicked return of her last memories. The purple flash rendered her unconscious, but opening her pained eyes now revealed her surroundings. This was not her library, and somehow she was tucked into… a bed? Not her bed by any means, and Kairi had never seen this room before.
The mage hastily sat up, swinging her feet over the side of the bed. To her relief, whoever tucked her into bed did not take the liberty of changing her clothes. Her hands mindlessly gripped the baggy waistline of her robes before laying their palms atop her slender thighs, lightly gripping the violet fabric. “Wherever could I be?” She frowned and looped a strand of golden hair behind her ear before rising to her feet. The soles of her simple shoes met a wood floor, and peering around the room hinted that she may be at an inn. But her hometown had no inn. “This is absolutely strange…” The young woman glided toward the door, hoping to keep herself hidden for just a bit longer. With an ear to the door, Kairi could hear loud laughter and the hum of a lively tavern. Her room had no window, but she wagered it must be night if the pub had so much business.
“I suppose I should thank my host.” More than a little anxiousness filled the young mage, but she reached for the doorknob before her eyes set on the golden ring. “The book!” Whirling about, Kairi leapt at the bed, frantically rummaging through the bedside drawers, baskets, and she even dove under the bed in search of that wicked tome which spirited her to this strange place. Yet with all her ruckus, she found no sign of the spellbook. The search did yield one result, however, as a knock came to her door. Prone on the floor, Kairi froze. The doorknob creaked, and the mage turned her head with fearful delay. The man who now filled the open doorway quite literally filled the doorway. His frame was almost as broad as it was tall. He wore rough, heavy clothing, but the stained apron tied around his hefty middle identified him as the barkeep.
“Looks like ye be awake, then. How’re ye feelin’, lass?” A thick, northern accent poured from his wide, gapped smile. The warmth of his voice melted the frigid fear in Kairi, and she stumbled to her feet, smoothing out her robes. After clearing her throat, the mage offered a deep curtsy, almost falling over to one side.
“Thank you for allowing me to stay in your fine establishment, sir.” The mage offered a practiced smile, bowing her head some. To her shock, the innkeeper slapped a hand to his belly and burst into deep laughter.
“Sir? Ain’t nobody be callin’ me sir, lass. The name’s Finn. I’m just a simple man who enjoys takin’ care o’ good folk like yerself.” He folded his arms across his wide chest, still beaming. Although still a stranger, something about the man left the young woman feeling more at ease.
“Oh-- I… Yes, how silly of me.” Kairi, bowed her head again before glancing toward the bed. “Thank you again.” A low rumble rose in the pit of her stomach, and she clasped a slim hand over her middle. Redness instantly flushed over the mage’s cheeks, and Finn barked another laugh.
“C’mon, lass. Ye must be starvin’. Let’s get ye somethin’ to eat.” The broad innkeeper bobbed his head, motioning her to follow. Turning about, his footfalls down the stairs sent a slight tremble through the whole floor. Having had no chance to respond, Kairi gnawed at her lip before following after her host. Kairi shut the door behind her and breathed in a familiar scent. The warm, spicy sweetness of cinnamon met her nose and left the mage salivating. Gripping the railing tightly, the poorly balanced mage tread down the stairwell, descending into the soft light of the main tavern. Hunger renewed as the savory scent intensified. To Kairi’s astonishment, the tavern was absolutely packed with patrons, though perhaps the general state of each patron caused this sensation of occupancy. Not one of the people in the pub were anything less than overweight. These folks ate well, and with such a delicious scent in the air it was no wonder why.
“C’mon over, lass. Ye’re just in time fer a fresh batch o’ the wife’s bakin’!” Finn’s voice pierced the buzz of the tavern, and Kairi turned her head toward the bar. Cinnamon rolls. Not just any cinnamon rolls, but the fluffiest, stickiest, most heavenly scented cinnamon rolls that Kairi had ever seen. A small pyramid of the delicacies sat atop a wooden tray, each roll drizzled with a heavy hand of sweet frosting. Kairi all but floated toward the beckoning baked goods. A few of the portly patrons stretched their thick fingers toward the perfectly stacked pyramid, but Finn swatted them away. “Not just yet, lads. Let the lil’ lassie have first pickin’s.” As Kairi approached the high counter, she looked up and was met with a grinning nod from the broad barkeep.
“They smell divine, sir.” She paused, and he raised a brow at her. “Finn.” She smiled and corrected herself before eyeing the pile of pastries. Again the girl gnawed her lip as a low rumble rose in her slim tummy.
“Well go on, lass. No one’s stoppin’ ye.” Somehow his grin widened, but Kairi still felt nothing but warmth from his presence. Each of the cinnamon rolls looked absolutely fantastic, but the mage could only imagine the unhealthiness of such a treat. The roll at the pyramid’s peak was fluffier and stickier than the rest, still visibly steaming. Perhaps only one couldn’t hurt. After all, she was dreadfully hungry...
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