Chương 17

Village Ellen Topping off the oil in the lamps was just one of her tasks… and Ellen was getting much better at these little chores. It was still only late afternoon, some time before nightfall, and she was already done with the basic chores around the tavern.

"You're getting really good at that," Tobias said from behind her, where he was placing some chairs down.

"Not just the oil thing, but taking care of the place. Are you sure you're an adventurer?" Ellen turned and smiled at the innkeeper, giving him a polite, playful curtsy.

"Well, as you've noticed, my sister is the one who really gets into it. If I can stay here and support her, that's fine with me. I like it here." She now knew more about the warm welcome… and why there was a dress roughly her size. The aging couple had no children now, but they did at one time. Even if it was just for a little while, the pair enjoyed having someone younger around to remind them of better days. The days before the Wasting had taken their original daughter.

In a painfully ironic twist, Ellen had learned that their daughter's name had been Ellen as well. Now the adoption of the Bea and Trisha aliases was even more awkward. She'd really have to make it up to them somehow. Some day.

"Have you considered a Class change into something more domestic?" The question from Tobias jolted through Ellen, and she gave him a strained smile.

"Well… I have considered it, yes." She couldn't help but mentally bring up her Status when she thought about that. ATTRIBUTES Strength: 8 Agility: 8 Endurance: 8 Willpower: 8 Affinity: 8 Perception: 9 SKILL ENHANCERS STAMINA: 80/80 MANA: 80/80 CLASS: Tender 6 EXPERIENCE: 5430/8000 (4, 380 Banked) PERKS Presentable ABILITIES She wasn't advancing as fast as some of the other Ellens, but even with most of her time there in the inn it had still let her surge right past the first five levels and into choosing a Class.

She was definitely headed right for some kind of domestic line… and she wasn't sure she disliked that idea. There was something comfortable and warm about just being a person with no expectations. No great family to live up to… or avoid living up to.

"You've got that look on your face again," Tobias noted.

"Getting homesick?" Ellen shook her head quickly, giving a more genuinely warm smile to the innkeeper.

"Oh, no sir. Actually I was thinking of home, and how funny it is. My parents probably wanted me to do something just like this, and I fought them every step of the way. I think it's more comforting now that it's my choice, you know?" Immediately, Ellen regretted saying that. A brief expression of pain passed over the older man's face, but his smile returned an instant later. He nodded to her and leaned on the table.

"We all want what we think is best for our kids, but it's hard for some to realize that they aren't just smaller versions of us. Glad you're finding your own way." Relieved that she hadn't upset the man, Ellen gave him a light smile back.

"Yeah, maybe I just needed a chance to figure it out for myself." She shuffled over to the back to empty the excess oil back into the oil jar.

"I think my sister has other ideas though." Tobias laughed.

"Yes, even twins can't be exactly alike, can they?" Ellen bit her lip, but didn't argue with that.

"Right." She was rescued from the slightly uncomfortable moment by the sound of voices outside, and the thumping of travelers cleaning their boots on the boot scraper. The inn had an awning to keep the area just outside reasonably dry, and the cleanup would often give a pretty good warning of incoming guests. It was only drizzling outside, but that would still lead to some cold, wet travelers wanting some warmth and company. If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen.

Please report the violation. Lauren, who had walked in while Ellen was chatting with Tobias, shooed her off toward the front.

"Go greet the guests, dear. You have a knack for it." Flashing a quick smile to the kind woman, Ellen hurried forward to greet the incoming guests. She was really getting a lot of use out of her Presentable Perk. She hadn't been sure about taking it, at first, but it was doing a lot of work. Even the subtle effects it had—resisting dirt, smoothing wrinkles in clothing, keeping her complexion clear—generally gave her better tips than she'd earned before picking it.

"Welcome to the Treetop Inn and Tavern!" Ellen called out to the small group as they tromped in and finished wiping their boots on the reed mat.

"Please hang your cloaks on the wall over there! We have some stew if you need something to warm yourself up! And a local ale!" Instead of a grateful greeting, the slender, dark-haired man in front just stopped and stared at Ellen. The blonde woman behind him almost bumped into him, deepening her scowl… until she met eyes with Ellen and her expression twisted into one of confusion as well. A third figure behind them ended up stuck just outside the door, the tall and becloaked form grumbling.

"El-… Trisha?" The man finally blurted out something, and it all clicked for Ellen. The initial fumble of her real name, followed by Merchant Ellen's current alias… she knew what happened. She didn't even need to explain as she heard the light laughter from outside. As the large third form shuffled in behind the blonde, a more familiar redheaded one squeezed past, pulling her hood down to show herself. She had an impish grin and was still giggling while unclasping her cloak.

"I may have forgotten to mention my sister works here," Merchant Ellen teased playfully.

"Edmund, Miriam, Vincent… meet Bea. She may look like me but she's more… domestic." Ellen stuck out her tongue at her other self, then cleared her throat and smiled to the newcomers.

"I guess my sister was pranking you. She does that sometimes. Stew and ale?" Behind her, Tobias and Lauren were both laughing as well. The Ellens had never done this particular variant of the prank before, but it wasn't the first time they'd teased others with their lookalike appearance.

"Welcome back, Trisha!" Tobias waved from the back of the inn.

"Didn't realize you'd be bringing guests. Bea can help you folks, I hope the journey wasn't too bad." The leader—Edmund—shook his head as the shock wore off.

"It certainly wasn't what I expected. Nice place, though. It's a lot bigger than I thought such a small village would have." The man hung his cloak up and pulled up a chair at the table nearest the fire. As the other two took their seats, Ellen watched the larger man, Vincent, chuckling to himself. The blonde woman, Miriam, gave a thin smile before resuming her apparently omnipresent scowl, but the way she was shaking her head seemed to be appreciative of the joke rather than angry.

Merchant Ellen also hung her cloak up, then stepped right up to… hug Ellen. The expressive and affectionate gesture caught her by surprise, but she returned the hug almost automatically. None of the Ellens had been particularly 'close' like this, despite often sharing a bed or blanket, but the warmth of a hug wasn't unpleasant.

"This is a really nice inn, but it will probably need more room when the crowds start coming in," Vincent remarked, looking about.

"That stew smells pretty good, though." Lauren was moving to the lamps to light each one, leaving Ellen to fetch the ale from Tobias. So it was Lauren who was close enough to cast a puzzled look at the trio.

"Crowds? Are we going to be getting more traffic?"

"This place already gets some good traffic because it's a well-known detour for merchants operating out here." Ellen slid three mugs over, one for each of the newcomers. Merchant Ellen hadn't joined them at the table, despite bringing them in. The trio at the table looked at one another, leaving it to Edmund to explain the problem. Ellen already knew, but it would be better from someone else.

"Well… it sounds like someone has discovered a new dungeon in the area." He scratched his head.

"We're the team sent out to confirm it, but we're pretty sure it's true. In a few weeks this place may get pretty busy. It's been a long time since there's been a new dungeon, and this is basically the only one in the region."

"Oh dear…" Lauren fussed with her apron, then hurried over to serve out some of the bubbling stew. Three guests it could handle, but with more people coming through they'd have to start making a lot more. Tobias grumbled louder than he likely intended.

"Probably make the taxes higher, too. We haven't seen an assessor in years."

"You'd have to ask the owner about that." Edmund reached out to take the bowl.

"Smells good though. I don't think you'll have much trouble if you can scale up your work. At least you have a nice draw into the inn with your helper!" He cast a wink toward Ellen.

"Stop flirting with my sister!" Merchant Ellen yelled that from the corner of the room, where she was putting her boots back on.

"I'm going to go put Melissa in the stall. I bought a donkey while I was in town. Poor girl is probably soaked." Miriam, the blonde, swatted Edmund in the shoulder as well. Ellen just rolled her eyes. Edmund laughed and leaned away from Miriam, but Lauren took it all in stride. She ladled out more stew for each, and sighed to the group.

"Oh, we don't have a landowner here. Haven't for generations! This is unclaimed Crown land now, so we've been sending our due without a tax assessor. With a dungeon the value will go up much higher…" Vincent was the only one paying close attention, and his brow creased with a puzzled expression.

"Unclaimed? The Guildmaster said the dungeon had an owner… seems odd they wouldn't claim the surrounding land as well." Oh no… Surely Merchant Ellen wasn't stupid enough to get everyone involved in that kind of problem. Just that moment, Merchant Ellen peeked in the door again.

"I'm sure the new owner won't demand any terrible taxes! They're a friend of mine! I know a few people in Merriweather! I can put in a good word for you if you want?" Ellen groaned and ran a hand down her face.

"Ngh… Trisha… please don't tell me it's who I think it is…?" Merchant Ellen wiped her boots off and sent a beaming smile toward everyone. She shook out her hair and huffed, "Oh sis… you know there's only one person in the city we know who could afford to buy land out here! Do you think they'll be a mean and cruel and high-taxing lord of the land? Is that in their personality? I really didn't get that impression!" Her head dropped into her hands as Ellen let out a tortured sigh.

She knew she was drawing the attention of everyone in the room, who were looking at her in bafflement, but she didn't care.

"You two really are sisters." Miriam broke into the conversation, her face softer without the scowl she'd worn ever since walking into the room.

"You don't just look alike, you fight like sisters. Reminds me of my little sister back home…" Ellen felt her cheeks heat up as she strode over to Merchant Ellen and, without any further fanfare, pinched one ear.

"Excuse me," she said to the rest of the room.

"I need to go have a private talk with my sister upstairs."

"Ow ow ow ow ow!" Merchant Ellen squeaked as she stumbled along, flailing arms and almost falling over as she felt the tug. To her credit, she didn't actively resist the pinching punishment. She had to have known ahead of time that this would get her a firm talking-to. Plus it made a pretty jovial atmosphere for the guests on the way out.