Undorn: The Beginning

Part Eighteen

Bones, Region of Orrosta

Location: Route 1, Wharton Wharf

The foursome had woken up fairly early and had used loud, blaring music to caffeinate themselves for the early drive. It was only about a hundred miles to the Wharf, and they wanted to get there with a decent amount of daylight left.

When they finally arrived, Beo decided to park the Cruiser in the woods off the main dirt road that led into the Warf's town center; they would walk the rest of the way. The plan for the day was to look for work and try to earn some money for fuel; they barely had enough to get to the Wharf as it was.

The Wharf was one of Orrosta's biggest cities, but it had more of a relaxed, less commercial vibe as the main economy revolved around fishing and shipping. People were friendly and humble, and pretty lively during the day. People usually milled about the town center and the docks until about 7, then the town shut down pretty quickly. The only lights to be seen in the nighttime were from the lighthouse and a few pubs.

As soon as they reached the first signs of civilization at the town square, Beo halted the group. "Let's meet back up here around 6 or 7. We'll pool resources and see if we can get a room at an inn. If not, we'll head back to the Cruiser."

"Sounds good," Orwell was always the first to respond to Beo's instructions. Taide nodded along silently.

"Good deal, Princess."

Bones didn't miss the pink tinge to Beo's cheeks before he rolled his eyes in response.

Well, that was new. Princess never used to get a such a reaction from Beo. Smiling to himself, Bones saluted his friends, then took off down the familiar cobblestone path toward the docks. Afterall, Bones had lived here, in the Wharf, for six years. He had loved it, too. Well, up until he got arrested.

Beo, Region of Lufe

Location: Wharton Wharf

Beo was back at the meeting spot where the four of them had promised to regroup at the end of the day.

He first spotted Orwell heading toward him. The boy's smile these days was brighter, and he had a renewed bounce in his step like he did when Beo first met him. The thought of Orwell beginning to act like himself again made Beo smile.

"Good day, mate?" Orwell clapped a hand over the taller boy's shoulder.

Beo nodded. "I've got loads to tell you guys. But I'll wait until the other two turn up."

Slowly, Taide and Bones joined them. Taide had managed a job doing some manual labor for a local fisherman, and Bones claimed he had a gig set up for the week ahead. Orwell had turned up with nothing but a few new friends. But Beo didn't care. Beo, in fact, had struck gold.

He began explaining to the other boys just exactly how he managed to do so.

He had tried a few shops to see if they needed help with any sort of grunt work, but no one seemed interested. It was likely, Beo thought, that they just didn't want to hire an outsider. It also didn't help his case that he was three days overdue for a shower and a shave.

But then he stumbled upon an old library of sorts. The plaque above the old shop entrance read Brandy's Books. Admittedly more interested in the contents of the bookshop rather than work, Beo pulled open the heavy brass handles and stepped inside. This was a quick break, Beo told himself. There was no harm in just looking around for a while. He had been job hunting all morning with no luck—he deserved a mental health break.