Chapter One: The Town of
Clearspring (2)
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In the middle
of the road you see the inn, a two-storeyed building that’s in pretty
good repair. A fresh coating of white paint has been applied only a few
weeks ago, it still glistens in the sunlight. Dark wooden beams
crisscross the walls, quaint counterpoints to the fresh white.
Hanging over
the broad entrance, there’s the inn’s sign. It’s made of the same
dark woods as the beams used in the building. The Drunken Badger
is written in a swerving, easy way along the upper rim of the sign, and
below you see a badger that’s obviously tipsy, judging by the silly
grin on its face, as its paws reach for a thick, fat mug of inviting
ale.
You hear bits
and pieces of conversation coming from inside, interspersed by laughter.
If that weren’t enough, there’s also the scent of a roast pig
hitting your noses. (Anyone else want some bacon chips?)
The
Drunken Badger is actually a very good inn, a bit surprising perhaps
when one considers that relatively few strangers find their way into
Clearspring. But the owners, Jerasp and Dwyhaney Shelft, are rather proud
of their little place, and like many people in Clearspring believe that
the future will bring a lot more business their way.
In his youth
Jerasp was a bit of a traveller himself. He’s seen quite a lot of the
Wild Coast and brought home several souvenirs – amongst them a prized
tooth from a forest dragon he killed himself – that he keeps on display
in the commons. In his mind, Clearspring has a lot of trade to offer to
the outside world, which means that merchants aplenty will have to come
into town as soon as the word gets around. In preparation for that he and
his wife have put a lot of work into The Drunken Badger, improving
every part of the inn to perfection. The top floor has several guest rooms
that are comfortable and pleasant, even though – currently – they are
almost always empty.
That the food
is so excellent it attracts many locals is not a result of the Shelft’s
business intents but only due to the fact that Dwyhaney enjoys cooking.
(It helps that everybody in Clearspring continuously congratulates on her
food and encourages her to get better and better.)
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