All That From A Snowball (A Herobrine Adoption Story)

Demon Hunters

          "Thirty? What are you feeding her, golden oats?" The cloaked traveler glared at the man across the counter from him. The man was older, grey hair in shocks at his temples, with a beard of silver, and he'd introduced himself as 'Jan Cerdons' or something. Cerdons rubbed calloused hands on an old leather apron as he looked at the strange traveler with glittering, dark eyes. This traveler obviously wasn't from around here...and looked irritated enough without the rather high price he'd been offered. 

          With a sigh, Cerdons leaned on the rough, wooden counter, weathered and chipped from all its years serving as a barrier between angered customers and the inn's owner, "Nay, no golden oats for ye... our stables are small, an' in high demand..."

          The traveler's dark brows furrowed further where they sat above harsh, green eyes, and his thin-lipped mouth parted to expose gritted teeth. His face, chiseled and plain, lined with a beard of black, looked to have once been fair but had since hardened and tanned from weather and traveling. To Cerdons, this traveler seemed to be the type who would, and had, killed for lodging.

          Hm...well...no need to risk his life for a few gold.

           "...But listen 'ere...I'll give ye a deal. It's mighty late, an' I'm not one t' keep a traveler from 'is bed because of money issues. Thirty in all will be both your and the beast's room 'n board, and any food ye buy can be covered by that ten."

          With a grunt, the man nodded, producing a small sack of coins, "Very well...my bed better not have silverfish."

          "Ach, not on my watch sir."

          "Call me Ephrim."

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          Lying on a straw mattress that seemed to have random rocks within it wasn't a new experience...inns were so cheap nowadays. Sighing, Ephrim tucked his forearm behind his head, scowling at the rough, wooden planks above his head. Thrandyr wasn't an overly popular city...though it was one of the largest in the Western Territories. All he cared about what he could find within the city...

          "...that demon from the legends...what's 'is name...was seen fleein 'ere mighty quick. Didn' see 'im again, but we sent out a few o' the braver lads to try and track 'im. He was gone, vanished..."

          Ephrim huffed, shifting a little on the bed, fumbling in his pocket for his carved, wooden pipe and pulling out, only to remember he had nothing to smoke. He contented himself with nibbling on the end as his thoughts drifted again. The old man had proven extremely useful...he'd been a treasure trove of information, exactly what Ephrim had needed.

          "...Thandyr's the place ye'll want t' go...'s a bit northeast y'see, but 's the biggest ol' town ye'll find within three days' travel. There'll be plenty o' people to hear yer story...plenty o' hunters..."

          Hunters...the word had lit a match in his very soul. And these would be no mere game-hunters or trappers...they would real, genuine trackers...hunters of fugitives and criminals...

          ...and hopefully...of demons.

          Biting down on the end of his pipe idly, Ephrim smirked a little. Of course...they might demand money for such an expedition...but with the right...persuasions...they would almost certainly head after this evil apparition. After all...he'd run across at least five different travelers from towns all throughout the western territory...and all of them had mentioned a certain, empty-eyed being...

          ...and all had wanted him...be it dead or alive. He was some sort of evil ruler of a hellish dimension, according to legends and stories...and he would drag those he wished into the pits of that fiery place and torment them for his pleasure...