Escaping the Inn

Panic surged through me as I instinctively edged closer to James, seeking protection in his presence. The innkeeper, an older man with a nervous twitch, darted glances between us and the intruders, clearly uneasy. The lively chatter of the patrons had died down, replaced by a tense silence. All eyes were fixed on the unfolding confrontation. The burly man’s sneer deepened into a grin as he sensed the fear in the room, savoring the power he held.

"Scared, are we?" he taunted, his voice a low growl.

James’s hand drifted to the hilt of his sword, his posture tense and ready. His eyes never left the two men.

"Step back," James warned, his voice steady despite the threat.
"You do not want to do this."

The lean man chuckled, cold and humorless.

"We do," he said, advancing with a wicked gleam in his eyes.

The knife in his hand glinted ominously in the dim light. Suddenly, the burly man lunged at James, but James was quicker, drawing his sword just in time to parry the attack. The clash of steel echoed through the room, and chaos erupted. Patrons scrambled to get out of the way, tables and chairs crashing over in the frenzy.

The lean man moved toward me. his knife slashing through the air, I stumbled backward, heart pounding. Before he could reach me, James dispatched the burly man and swiftly intercepted the lean man’s attack, striking with precision. The knife clattered to the floor, and the lean man cried out, clutching his wounded hand.

"Stay behind me," James barked, his voice sharp with command.

I obeyed; my eyes wide with fear. The burly man, undeterred by his earlier failure, roared in fury and charged again. James met him head-on, their swords clashing violently, the sound of metal-on-metal ringing through the inn. Despite James’s skill, the burly man’s brute strength made him a formidable opponent.

The patrons cowered in the corner. The innkeeper had disappeared, no doubt seeking help or hiding from the violence. The lean man recovered and made another attempt to reach me. I grabbed a heavy pewter mug from a nearby table and hurled it at him with all the strength I could muster. The mug struck him square in the face, and he staggered back, dazed.

James seized the moment, delivering a powerful blow that sent the burly man sprawling to the floor. Breathing heavily, he turned to the lean man, his sword raised.

"Leave," James ordered, his voice brooking no argument.
“Do not ever come near us again."


The lean man, bleeding and defeated, nodded frantically. He scrambled to his feet, dragging the burly man with him as they stumbled out of the inn, their earlier bravado shattered. The door swung shut behind them, and the room was left in stunned silence. Slowly, the patrons began to right the overturned tables and chairs. The innkeeper reappeared, his face pale but relieved. James sheathed his sword and turned to me, his expression softening.

"Are you all right?" he asked gently.

I nodded, still shaken but grateful.

"Yes, thanks to you."

James smiled.

"We need to leave," he said quietly.
"It is not safe here anymore."

The tension in the inn gradually ebbed as the patrons settled back into their seats, cautiously resuming their conversations. James turned to the innkeeper, who had been eyeing the aftermath warily.

"Sir," James called, his tone calm yet authoritative.


The innkeeper looked up, still trembling slightly.

"Aye?" he responded, his voice unsteady.

James reached into his coat and tossed a small leather pouch toward the innkeeper. The man caught it with a surprised expression as the unmistakable jingle of coins rang out.

"For the trouble," James said sincerely.

The innkeeper weighed the pouch in his hands, his eyes widening.

"This is more than enough," he stammered.

James nodded once.

"Consider it compensation for any damage, and for your silence about us."

The innkeeper’s eyes narrowed, suspicion mingling with curiosity.


"Who are you to carry such a coin?" he asked quietly.
"Just travelers," James replied, his gaze steady.
"Best if no one knows we were here."

The innkeeper hesitated, then glanced at me, his expression softening when he saw the lingering fear in my eyes.

"You are in some kind of trouble?" he muttered.

James sighed and looked back at me before meeting the innkeeper’s gaze again.

"Yes.”
“It is nothing you need to worry about.”
“Just keep our presence to yourself."

The innkeeper nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes.


"I have seen enough trouble to know when to ask questions and when to keep quiet," he said.
"Your secret is safe with me."
"Thank you.”
"We will be on our way."

With a final nod, James returned to my side, his expression serious.

"We need to move quickly," he said softly.

I nodded, my heart still pounding. Together, we stepped out of the inn into the cool morning air. The innkeeper watched us from the doorway, a mix of concern and curiosity in his gaze. I knew he would not betray us.

The pale morning light cast long shadows over the quiet streets as we made our way toward the edge of town. The urgency of our situation pressed us forward, and we moved swiftly along the winding forest path. After what felt like an eternity, James stopped before a dense thicket. He pushed aside the heavy branches to reveal a hidden path.

"This way," he whispered, guiding me through the foliage.



The path led to a small, concealed cave, its entrance almost entirely obscured by vines and moss. James ducked inside, pulling me with him. The cave was dimly lit by faint shafts of sunlight filtering through cracks in the stone, casting eerie shadows on the walls. Yet despite its rough appearance, it felt secure.

"This is a safe spot I made when I first became a pirate," James explained, his voice echoing softly.

He moved to the back of the cave and pulled out a small cache of supplies hidden behind a loose rock.

"It is not much, but it will get us through the night,” he said.
“We leave at dawn."

I watched him unpack blankets, dried food, and a canteen of water. His foresight and preparation struck me.

"You planned all this," I murmured, awe in my voice.

James glanced at me with a faint smile.

"I always try to stay one step ahead," he said, spreading a blanket on the ground for me.
"In our line of work, it is a necessity."

I sat down, the blanket a welcome barrier between me and the cold, hard ground. James handed me some dried meat and the canteen.

"Eat," he urged.
"You will need your strength."

I nibbled on the meat. I could not help but ask.

"Why did you make this place?”
“Did you always expect trouble?"

James leaned back against the cave wall, his eyes distant.

"When I became a pirate, I learned quickly that having a retreat could mean the difference between life and death.”
“This cave has saved me more than once."

I nodded, understanding the wisdom in his words.

"Thank you," I said quietly.
"For everything."


His gaze softened as he looked at me.

"You do not need to thank me, Isabella," he replied gently.
"I swore to protect you, and I will keep that promise."
"Try to get some rest," James said after a moment, handing me another blanket.
"We have a long day ahead of us."

I lay down, wrapping the blanket tightly around me. Despite the chill in the air and the hardness of the ground, I found comfort in James’s presence.