The High Harbour Inn

20250609

Prompt from PrideOnThePage

The High Harbour inn sat at the centre of what had once been Tempest Valley. The legendary thousand-year storm quietly quelled by the couple who’d made this place their home.
“Oh, well, once the weather smoothed out people started passing through.” Zephyrine said breezily, topping up the table’s coffee. “And, what with there being no other buildings around, they’d often stop at our place, and we found we loved having company, so setting up a proper inn was inevitable really.”
“And what a boon it’s been!” One trader declared. “Used to take three months to haul goods between Contin and Emor. You two are a true blessing.”
“Heh.” A wry smile danced around Zeph’s pale lips. “Funny you say that. We actually moved out here because we thought we were cursed.”
Everyone paused eating breakfast to clamour in confusion.
“I guess humans don’t believe that stuff, but… a rain sprite and a wind sprite?” Zeph glanced over at her wife, who was busy topping up the drinks boilers. “We were taught that us getting together would cause terrible storms. That our love would doom those around us.”
“Uh, well…” The grateful traveller waved at the window - or rather the placid sunshine streaming through it.
“Uh-huh.” Zeph gave a jaunty wink. “Thankfully we were so foolish and love-drunk that we decided we couldn’t bear being apart, so… we moved to Tempest Valley. Figured that since everyone already avoided the place, even if we did make the storm worse it wouldn’t matter.”
“And instead your love silenced it?” The traveller marvelled.
“No, us being here had no effect whatsoever.” Zeph shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Turns out simply being in love does nothing to the forces of nature, sprite or not. After all the horror stories we’d been told it was… kinda annoying, actually.”
“Then, what…?”
“Hard work.” Nephele scoffed, wandering over. “We got tired of the terrible weather. Decided to see if we could expand the eye, and found out by working together we could unravel the storm itself.”
“Took years and a ton of tinkering to figure it all out, but here we are.” Zeph helped herself to a spiced bun. “Now that the way stones are set up it’s nice and easy to maintain. And with this being such a good shortcut across the mountain range we always have people passing through! We’ve gone from lonely exiles to happy business owners.”
“In fact the inn is doing so well our families are willing to talk to us again.” Neph sniffed. “We might even answer their letters, one of these days.”
“Mm. I suppose we really ought to.” Zeph mused. “I mean, they have all apologised. And your parents did send a lovely card for our hundredth anniversary.”
“Humph. One of these days.” Neph said primly. “At least to ask if they’re supporting the council motion to allow inter-elemental marriage.”

Prompt was “Storm”.