Cider

Cider

  I'm dropped off about a mile outside of the nearest town, probably to avoid people associating me with the Demon Lord. That's fine by me. I'm used to the exercise.

  As I approach, guards take up defensive positions, spears crossed as if to bar entry.

  "Halt!" the first yells. "Who goes there?"

  "Hiyori Chiba. I was summoned to have tea with the Demon Lord, and he kicked me out of his castle." Honesty is the best policy, right? "I'm seeking sanctuary in your town."

  They confer between themselves.

  "Is that right?"

  "You can see from what I'm wearing that I'm not from your world," I insist, surprised at myself for being able to make such a nonsensical argument. "And that I came from the direction of the castle."

  "You aren't wrong. You don't look like anyone from around here. And there have been other girls who've claimed the same thing." The guard looks at his partner, who shrugs and lowers his spear. "We'll let you in, but at the first sign of trouble, we know who we're tracking down."

  "Thank you!"

  They let me pass beyond the large gate, and when I'm finally inside, the town is pure mayhem. Throngs of people crowd the streets; merchants yell and haggle with patrons; there's not a moment to hear yourself think. There's no way I'm going to be able to find the missing girls here. Who's to say they haven't already moved on to another area? Who's to say they even made it safely here and are still alive?

  I give them all a small living wage and send them off to town. Sinensis had been nothing if not completely honest with me, so I'm inclined to believe I have a fighting chance. I steel my resolve. I'll rescue everyone, boys and girls alike.

  Following my nose, I make my way to what I guess you'd call the tavern. Food and drink are served to raucous patrons while armored hero types are gathered around a bulletin board. I take a seat at a table and, before I can do anything, I hear a glass shatter. Frothy liquid pools on the floor. The waitress who dropped it meets my gaze and her eyes widen.

  Do I look that odd?

  Does she look a bit familiar? There's a flash of red around her neck that doesn't look like traditional clothing from this world.

  "I'll clean up!" she announces to the room with a nervous laugh, taking a rag from off her apron's waist and mopping it up.

  Someone else is along to sweep up the pieces of broken glass, leaving her free to approach my table when she's done cleaning.

  "Hiyorin?" she asks.

  It all falls into place. The way her hair's a different color at the roots. The brown eyes. The red scarf that looked so out of place—

  "Izumin?"

  We'd been friends in middle school but never kept in touch after going to different high schools. She was one of the kidnapping victims. The first kidnapping victim. The reason I'd heard about the disappearances in the first place. This was Izumi Chisaka.

  "It is you!"

  "You've been missing for a year!"

  "Did you meet that creep Nakamatsu?!"

  "What a total creep!"

  We talk over each other, excitedly, hurriedly, nervously. I motion for her to take a seat. She shakes her head.

  "After I get off work."You work here?"

  "The apron didn't clue you in?" She laughs. "We all have to make a living somehow."

  "Have you met any of the other kidnapping victims?"

  "I didn't know there were any others."

  I reach into my small pouch of gold pieces and hand one over to her. "If you wouldn't mind getting me something to drink? Anything but tea."

  "Coming right up. Along with your change – not much around here is worth more than a few silver."

  "He sure is generous for a kidnapping egomaniac," I mumble.

  Izumi comes back with something that smells like spiced cider. It's really good!

  The sun is starting to set outside, and I'm getting tired despite my forced nap at the castle. I wonder how much longer she has to work. I'd love to catch up with her and learn about this place we're stuck in.

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