Lost and Alone

[Flamebird]

The dim lighting of the tavern left me feeling blind. I was quite disturbed by the sound of pleased moaning. The dim fireplace had enough of a spark to light the edges of the inn. A half closed door seemed to have a couple in the middle of that deed. Thankfully, the bed was not visible and it was too dark to see the dresser as a man chuckled from within. It was still disgusting. I still could not understand the lack of dignity that could cause a woman to sell herself like that. In the corner, two drinking buddies gambled away in silent misery. The tables were set unevenly, the chairs half pulled out or turned over. It felt more like a forest in here than in the actual pine forests I had recently navigated through. The tables were splattered and polluted with drinks, dishes, and other kinds of ungodly slop left behind by customers. It appeared as if this place had not been touched with a cleaning rag for weeks. The sound of the persistent dripping of a leak echoed across the entire room. It was hard to believe, but this tavern was even more out of shape than the rest of the town.

At the counter, a sloppily dressed man talked with a half dead looking inn keeper. The guest noticed me before the tender. "Aye, traveler."

In a dead, monotone voice, the inn keeper muttered, "Want anythin' ta' eat, or whatev'r?"

Oh no. I did not trust any food from this place - if there was anything edible here at all. I shook my head and got down to business, "Does this place have a map maker or anything?"

With a smirk, the customer pointed at himself with his black tainted thumb. "That's me. I can give you a map for free if you give me a night."

I scowled, my chest fluttering with dread as I spout, "I would literally rather die in the wilderness."

"Aw..."

The inn keeper scoffed, "If ya do an'th'r job fir' me, I could buy a map fr'm 'im."

I turned to the inn keeper with a raised eyebrow, "Hmm?"