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Ira walked along beside her horse. Both rider and animal looked tired, the horse a little moreso than its rider.
"Easy, Issa..." She murmmured gently. The horse nuzzled her arm affectionately. Ira smiled and kept walking. She was wearing a long traveling cloak, its hem torn and covered in dust and mudd. On her feet she wore a pair of thick leather boots, they looked like a good quality of boot. Her legs were covered in a pair of dark brown trousers underneath a long dark green tunic. Her hair was back in a braid, out of her eyes. Her eyes were quiet remarkable. Grey-blue ringed a light green with golden-brown towards the pupil.
Ira was walking beside her horse because they had ridden many miles that day. She was now in a place called the Shire. She had never heard of such a place, but it seemed to be inhabitated by children. The whole place made her nervous. She wasn't used to being much taller than anyone, in fact her friends teased her about being short. Not here. She saw a group of what really was children and her eyes widened. Twice as small as their parents. They all stopped their play to wave at her. She waved hesitantly back, not quite sure what was expected of her. They all giggled and ran off.
Ira continued on, her head up more now. The little people were at work everywhere...And all the children! She shook her head in amazement. There seemed to be hundreds of their children everywhere! She finally caught sight of the inn sign. Finally! She thought, quickening her pace. She looked forward to being able to wash the dust and grime of the road from her skin. She walked Issa around the back to the stables and pulled her gear off. After she had spent some time tending to her mount, she left Issa alone to eat and rest.
Ira walked inside the inn, pushing her cloak back a bit.
"Scuse me! You'll need to leave your sword at the door!" one of the little people from the back hollered. Ira froze and stared at the little man.
"Why?" She asked, her voice betraying her upset at the request. The man smiled at her
"Just Inn policy miss..." He said. Ira reluctantly pulled her sword from its sheath. Its blade shone dully in the firelight.
"Take good care of this..." She whispered, not really at him, just at anyone in general. She set her sword down gently against the wall then walked up to the bar to order some wine. After she had the bottle and glass she went and sat down at a table to relax for a while.
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