The Inn and other tales

By Kane Banway

Welcome to the Dashing Pony! Varrik, the innkeeper, will be happy to offer you his tasty beer while you get to know his customers... most charming!
Between an enchanted sword reduced to slavery and alcoholic elves, take a stool and take a moment to rest.... drink, vomit, and laugh at the misfortunes of masochistic heroes...
Sometimes, adventure doesn’t always require going through a door!

Afterwards, if you still have a train station to go (or a meal at the end of digestion...), some short stories:
"Sekai, where the tribulations of an immortal or divine being...and his gaze on our world."
- The Flower, when Faerie invite itself into the trenches of the First World War.
- The lift, don’t always escort your friends after a party...
- Humanity, the last moments of a condemned man.

Good reading (I hope!) to you...

• Language: English
• Publisher: BadPress
• Release date: Sep 15, 2021
• ISBN: 9781071556276

Kane Banway

Né à Paris le 3 avril 1980, son père décide pour ses 12 ans de balancer sa collection de BD pour les remplacer par l'intégrale de Sherlock Holmes, ainsi qu'un curieux livre contant les aventures d'un nabot aux pieds velu nommé Bilbo. De ce jour est né un grand amour pour l'imaginaire, l'évasion, le fantastique et les causes perdues(retrouver ses BD). Verne, Tolkien, Doyle, Zelazny sont rapidement devenu ses compagnons, bien plus que ses pauvres livres scolaires délaissés. Pour des raisons indépendantes de sa volonté, un grand nombre de mondes sont restés emprisonnés, derrière les barreaux de ses multiples boulots liés à l'informatique. Jusqu'au jour où la nécessité de laisser sortir ses prisonniers s'imposa...

Book preview

The Inn and other tales

Kane Banway

The Inn

1. Lighting

Varrik climbed on the ladder, positioned the nail and skilfully placed two hits. Focused, he did not hear the sly looking little man slide under him. His strident voice resonated, causing the strike to land on Varrik's forefinger. He stilled, grinned his teethes and closed his eyes for a short moment.

Hey Varrik! Are ya ahpenin de Inn? Abooeht time, what are ya doin?

Holy shit Daniel, you’re speaking the local dialect again! And I’ve told you to not appear out of nowhere like that. I've hurt myself!

The little man seemed upset, Varrik hesitated to hit the nail a fourth time before giving up. Daniel would be capable of killing another finger with that high pitch voice. So, he slowly stepped off his ladder and checked his sign was straight, it wasn't of course. He shrugged his shoulder: as long as it didn't kill anyone. Raising his head, Daniel narrowed his eyes whilst reading out loud.

De drashin pahny?

The dashing pony Daniel corrected Varrik Dashing, not with an R.

I know an ahther Inn wit de same name – started Daniel.

You're accent Daniel, I don't understand a single word of your jibber jabber.

I was saying –

Don't torture yourself Daniel, I'm opening tonight, I'll probably see you then.

Varrik pushed the door open, stepped into the still dark main room, and once again closed the door behind him. Daniel was nice, but a ten minutes discussion with him gave the impression of a troll wiping his feet on your skull.

Three steps in toward his bar and Varrik stomps on a metal object, that clearly put itself in the way. He grumbled an insult toward the gods and their unamusing humor. He leaned down to pick up the object, revealing it to be a sword. Finely decorated with silver veining. She shined immediately from his touch, a beautiful and frank white light.

Who would you be? Ask Varrik to the sword

A Messenger of Fate! Replied the artefact in a playful tone. Answer the call of adventure and grab me!

To die in a ditch or end up in a troll's plate? Why would I?

I will illuminate your path and protect you from danger! As dark a battle can be, I will be there to enlighten you! Didn't you receive other Messengers of Fate before me? Is it the reason they are not returning?

Hmm, something like that surely. It's true you have a pretty light you know?

The sword took an instant to respond.

Hu yes ...

And you light up even if you're not hold in hand?

Of course, if you command it. But you must accept to walk on the path Fate placed before you! I will do to your orders, only on the unrestricted condition of accepting the adventure! It's a contract of honour ...

OK, I accept. Let see you glow brighter.

Executing, the sword gave off a strong light. revealing a dusty room, tables overturned against the wall. The light also scaring off an entire civilisation of spiders.

Ouch, dim it a bit, do you want me blind or what? A little bit more. There perfect, and now I am placing you over here and you shut up.

In a swift and precise motion, Varrik throw the sword, now planted on the wall above the counter. She illuminated a fine network of cracks, and a thick layer of dirt. As well as some shelfs full of empty bottles and broken glass.

That was not part of the plan! You are supposed to go on an adventure! With me!

Hmm, tell that story to your friends. Now your job is to obey me. You said it yourself. My order is simple: I clap my hands once, you light up. Twice, you switch off, mouth include. Can you manage?

But ... The adventure?

I told you I accepted, never said when I would go. Sorry, you got fooled and you have to respect your part of the contract.

But ... it sucks!!!!

No actually its awesome. Three more like you and I can open the first floor...

Three mo... What? No!!! You can't do th –

Varrik clapped his hands twice, and silence filled the room.

––––––––

2. Youth Mistakes

Varrik! It's about time you opened your greasy spoon! Exclaimed the newcomer.

Varrik teared his nose out of the book he was reading. He recognized Elric, a regular on the crappy plans. He wasn't very tall, quite skinny, a fire like mop of ginger hair on top of his head and a jovial smile always hung askew on his face. He'd never go unnoticed, the sign 'pigeon' blinked repeatedly above his head every time he opened his mouth. He went for the counter, greeted a table of fellow friends, avoided Daniel and his incomprehensible accent, and stretched his lips in a big naive smile, whilst fixing Varrik.

What did happen to you? Did you know the whole neighbourhood was languishing when you closed down? Tell me all of it!

" I travelled, here and there. I see you're not wearing the badge of... what was it?

Oh that? The Young Adventurers... Nah I stopped. They asked too much fee each week. Can you believe they wanted eleven gold pieces just to be allowed to wear the badge?! Eleven! Do you realize? And it did not give me less troubles to find work.

Above all, I realize that when you first told me about it, I told you exactly the same thing.

Yes, yes I knew you would say that ... but I was young and naive! Proclaimed Elric with a slightly forced laugh.

Varrik looked at him, opened his mouth, then closed it: lost cause.

You want a drink before telling me of your latest findings?

Hydromel if you please! Do you still do your herbal wine? It was really good you know!

Yes, I still have some, but I will pull the barrel out later this evening.

Anyway, it's good to see this place again. Open, with the noise and all ... But the lighting is weird, those are not torches you are using, it looks like swords.

They are swords.

Are they Swords of Fate?

I suppose.

But does that not give you a quest to accomplish? Or something, like an artefact to find?

I am supposed to do that. Indeed.

And? You're not going? I mean, if they obey you for the light it's because you have accepted to fulfil your destiny, no?

I accepted yes. But their offer never said when I had to do so. I just have to do it. Not to do it immediately.

But quests save lives no?

They save lives in here as well: They prevent the combination of ‘barbarian - drunk – depressive’ to be in the same room as ‘oil lamp or torch within reach’.

Elric let out a whistle of admiration.

I would not have thought of that. It's very clever ... By the way, I saw Neil when heading here.

Ah! the poor fella is still alive? Said an astonished Varrik.

Neil was an elf. He courted a king's daughter, gave up immortality and all out of love for her. She ended up dying from a silly illness, but not him. Since, he came to grow old at the end of his counter.

Yes, he still holds on apparently. I don't even know how he did to survive without your tavern for so long.

Elves, even mortals, are robust. I think that's him coming in.

The door opened slowly. An old man with a skeletal appearance walks through the main room as a table greeted him with laughter. He replied with a vague gesture of the hand and continued his way toward the counter. Keeping his eyes looking on the ground, and not without difficulty, he rose to the unique barstool. Varrik