“Do you know Warden Kalher well?”
“Jonas? I should do. We fought in the Great War together. My name is Gregory Tabar,” said the farmer. “We were getting into mischief long before either of you were born. And probably before you parents were born too,” the old farmer chuckled.
“Thank you for your time, sir. We better hurry, if we are to catch him.” The pair nudged their horses onward.
“If you get there after dark, the town gates will be locked. There is an inn called the Pick and Shovel on the Kalteberg Road, east of Treemere,” Gregory added. They thanked him and nudged their horses onward. “Good luck to you, youngsters.”
As predicted, the sun had gone down before the two friends reached Treemere. The last few miles of their journey were dark, but the road was lit by the moon. Although nothing moved on the road, Finn felt like they were being watched. He turned at every sound and stared into the shadows, looking for a sign of attack. No one jumped out at them, though, they travelled the road alone.
“You look jumpy. What’s wrong?” asked Ann.
“Nothing. I just don’t want any surprises.”
The pair reigned in their horses when they reached Treemere’s northern gate, which stood twelve feet high and was closed. Finn dismounted and handed his reigns to Anna. He tried to push the gate open, but it was securely locked.
“What will we do now?” asked Anna. “Should we call for someone to open it?”
“No—I don’t want to draw too much attention to ourselves,” replied Finn. “Besides, we are unknown here and any decent warden wouldn’t open their gate to strangers. I wouldn’t,” he paused. “I guess we should look for the Pick and Shovel Inn.”
Finn mounted the old mare and they rode east alongside the town wall, before they were on the open road, again. Finn looked back at the town, which appeared much larger than Freewater and many times bigger than his birthplace.
After a short ride in the dark, the travellers reached the Pick and Shovel Inn. A lamp illuminated the front of the inn and a sign displayed a picture of a crossed pick and shovel. The inn was located a little off the road and it was a compact dwelling. Light shone out from the bottom windows but the second story was dark. A small stable was behind the main building and was also dark.
“This looks welcoming,” said Anna, “and warm. Let’s go inside.”
“What’s our plan? What’s our cover story?”
“What story? We are looking for Kalher, aren’t we? That’s our story.”
“What if there’s a bandit spy in there? We have to be careful—this isn’t sleepy Freewater.”
“‘Sleepy Freewater?’ You get bashed every second day in ‘Sleepy Freewater’.”
“It was only twice.”
“What do you want our cover story to be?”
“Hmm. We are travelling farmers looking for work.”
“That’s a terrible cover story,” Anna grinned. “Let’s just hope no one asks.”
The pair led their horses across the tiled courtyard and into the stable, before grabbing their packs and walking back to the inn.
Chapter 8
They entered the inn’s main taproom through the front door, and the warmth from a roaring fireplace washed over them. Finn hadn’t realised how cold he actually was. The room smelt like wood smoke and home-cooked food, which made his mouth water. The place fell silent and Finn felt as if every eye in the room was on them.
No one spoke.
This is uncomfortable.
“Remember our story,” Finn whispered, as he looked around the room. There were only four other people, three humans and one gnome. The humans looked like farmers and they waited for the newcomers to make the first move.
Fortunately, a short dwarven woman came out of a back room and the tension broke. Upon seeing the travellers, smiled and went to them. She was barely five feet tall, stout in build, and wore a stained, white apron. She looked jolly, with long, red hair and rosy cheeks.
“Hello, my darlings. Come in, out of the cold,” she said in a motherly way. She gently took Anna’s arm and guided her to a table close to the fire. Finn followed. “Now, I suspect you two are hungry. What about a big plate of Martha’s zwiebelkuchen?” She quickly vanished into the kitchen, but poked her head back out a second later. “Just holler for Martha, if you need anything.”
“She seems nice,” said Anna rubbing her hands in front of the fire.
After a few moments, the farmers resumed their conversation and their beer-drinking. The gnome sat at the bar, openly staring at the pair. Finn didn’t like the attention. The gnome was slightly smaller Martha, and, like most gnomes, he had a large nose, bushy eyebrows, and a round belly. He appeared to have come in out of the cold recently, himself, as he still wore a dark grey travelling cloak. His boots were covered in road dust.
Martha entered the room with a tray containing two wooden plates of steaming food and two cups of tea. “Here is something to warm your insides.” She placed the tray on the table and set a plate in front of each of them.
“Thank you, Martha,” said Finn. He didn’t wait, and grabbed a spoon to dig into the thick, tasty pie.
“I am happy to help. So, what brings you to the Pick and Shovel?”
“We are eloping,” Anna said softly.
“What—” Finn almost spat out his mouthful of food.
“Congratulations! That’s fantastic. Don’t tell me, your parents don’t approve of mixed marriages? Where are you young lovers going?”
“Somewhere away from our families. Maybe to Krystoria,” replied Anna.
“You look like a great couple,” said Martha and gave Anna a wink.
“We were supposed to keep it secret, but Anna couldn’t.” Finn raised his eyebrows at her as he spoke.
“Well, there are some things a girl can’t keep a secret, and love is one of them,” said Martha. “Are you pregnant, dear?”
“No, not pregnant.” Anna’s cheeks started to colour with embarrassment.
“Good. Babies should always come later. Well, I better leave you young lovers in peace. Let me know if you need anything.” She took the empty tray and went to the group of farmers.
“Your mouth is open—it’s not a good look,” Anna smiled.
“What possessed you to say that we were eloping?”
“Well, I thought it was a better story than travelling salesmen looking for work.”
“Travelling farmers looking for work!”
“Keep your voice down. So, you agree, mine’s a better story. Eloping sounds more convincing. We are young, it’s the middle of the night, and we’re in the middle of nowhere.”
“It’s just after sundown, and we are just outside Treemere,” said Finn.
“This is good,” said Anna, as she ate the food.
Finn tried to hide his smile. Yeah, it’s a good cover story, but I won’t tell her that.
While Finn ate, he looked around the room. The inn, with its exposed timber beams and fireplace had a cosy feel. Almost like home.
He couldn’t help noticing that the gnome still watched them. As he slowly sipped his beer, his eyes never left their table. It made Finn feel uncomfortable.
After they finished their meal, Anna and Finn sat beside the fire and discussed their plan to find Kalher. He mentioned the gnome, but Anna didn’t appear concerned.
“I don’t see him, now. Maybe he left,” said Anna.
“No, he is over—where did he go? He was just there.”
The gnome was no longer seated at the bar. In fact, he was nowhere to be seen.
“That’s odd.” Good. He was giving me the creeps.
After the farmers said their goodbyes to Martha and left, Martha walked over to them. “Will you darlings need a room tonight?”
“Yes, if you have any vacancies,” replied Anna.
“I will prepare the warmest room for you,” Martha gave Anna a wink and went up the stairs, humming a tune.
They were alone in the taproom and
the crackling fire sounded loud.
“What was that wink for?” asked Finn.
“It was nothing—just women’s business.”
Finn stared into the fire, deep in thought. “Why do you think that gnome was watching us? Do you think he knows we’re investigating the bandits? Maybe he’s part of their gang.”
“We aren’t investigating the bandits, we’re looking for Kalher,” said Anna.
“Well, yes, but…”
She was right. They had no information about the bandits, except that the merchant wagons had been attacked somewhere near Treemere. It wasn’t much to go on.
Martha appeared again and informed them that their room was ready. “It’s upstairs, at the end of the hall. We have no other guests, so it will be quiet up there. If you need anything, my room is just off the kitchen. Goodnight, my darlings.”
“Goodnight, Martha, and thank you,” said Anna.
“It’s my pleasure to help two young lovers.” She turned off the oil lamps and tended to the fire before she retired to the kitchen.
At the top of the stairs, an open door at the end of the short hallway indicated their room. An oil lamp hung from the ceiling and light poured out into the dark hall. They entered the small, cosy room, which was dominated by a large bed, and closed the door.
“Well, this is awkward,” said Anna, as she looked at the bed.
“This room’s not cold. I will sleep on the floor in my bedroll.”
“If you stay on your side of the bed, you can sleep with—” Anna trailed off, more than a little embarrassed.
“That’s okay. I’ve slept on harder things than a timber floor, before.”
Finn dropped his pack and went to the window, which looked out over the stable and the dark countryside behind the inn. Movement caught Finn’s eye, and he looked down at the stables. In the dim moonlight, the stable door appeared to be slightly open.
I’m sure I closed it.
Just then, a shadow slipped out of the stable’s interior and crossed the courtyard to the rear of the inn.
“Anna, come over here,” whispered Finn.
“Can you see the Lover’s Star?”
“No. Quick!”
Anna stood at the window beside Finn, looking down into the courtyard, but she could see nothing.
“What am I looking for?”
“Someone is outside. They just crept out of the stables and to the inn. They might be trying to break in.”
“Why?” she asked.
“Why what?”
“Why would someone break into this inn?”
“Maybe they are looking for us. I bet it’s that gnome.” He tried to get a better angle to see where the shadowy figure disappeared.
“Just open the window and stick your head outside.”
“No—he’ll know we are onto him.”
“Okay, then. I am going to bed.” Anna took off her boots and coat and climbed into bed with her travelling clothes still on. She snuggled under the thick blankets. “Let me know in the morning what you find.” She yawned and closed her eyes.
Finn turned off the lamp and went back to the window. The courtyard was dark and nothing moved.
Was it my imagination? No, I definitely saw someone. Is it the same person who has been spying on me in Freewater?
Finn rolled out his bedroll in front of the door. No one was going to sneak past him. He removed his boots and coat and climbed in under the blanket.
Within minutes, he was asleep and dreaming of shadows chasing him through unknown, dark streets. The shadow never caught him, but he could almost feel its hand on his shoulder.
Finn opened his eyes. It was morning and he could hear someone moving around the room. Anna was dressed in clean clothes and the bed was made. She looked ready to face the day. Finn could smell the faint scent of lavender.
“Hello, sleepy head,” said Anna. “I am going ask Martha to make us some breakfast. You can bring our packs downstairs.”
“Okay,” he said as he stretched. Anna smiled and left the room. The pleasant smell of lavender lingered.
He listened to her footsteps fade down the hallway, before he got out of his bedroll and went to the window. It was still early, and it looked cold outside as a light frost had settled on the grass. In the low morning light, he could see that the stable door was definitely open. He went to the basin and splashed water on his face, which instantly woke him up. He dressed quickly, rolled up his bedroll, and gathered both packs. After taking a quick look around the room, he headed downstairs.
Finn looked around. The taproom looked the same as it did last night. Fresh logs were on the fire, which had filled the room with warmth and a smoky aroma that Finn liked—it reminded him of him of village life. He and Anna were the only people in the room.
“It’s quiet here,” he whispered.
“Why are you whispering?”
“I don’t know. I guess I am not used to an inn being so quiet.”
Martha walked out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of hot food.
“Martha, why is it so quiet here?” asked Anna.
“It’s been quiet ever since the mine closed down. Most of my patrons were miners.”
“Why did it close?” asked Finn.
“I’m not sure. One of the miners said it wasn’t making any money.” She placed the tray on their table. There were two large mugs of hot, black tea and two bowls of vegetable porridge. It smelled fantastic to the hungry eldon.
They thanked Martha and ate their breakfast in silence. The porridge had an earthy flavour and was hot and filling. When they were satisfied, they paid Martha and decided to look for Kalher.
Finn and Anna carried their packs out the inn’s back door and walked across the tiled courtyard to the stable. As the pair approached it, Finn noted that the stable door was now closed.
That’s odd. I wonder if Martha has been out here this morning.
They went inside, and Anna’s horse snorted a greeting to her. They saddled both horses, tied on their packs, and led them outside.
The pair rode back onto the road and headed toward Treemere. After a short distance, Finn felt like they were being watched. He looked around. The surrounding farmland was devoid of life, apart from a few cows chewing grass. As he looked back toward the inn, he could see someone standing in the shadow of the main building. He couldn’t determine who it was, though.
“Turn around and look back at the inn,” said Finn. “Try to act naturally.”
“What?”
“There is someone watching us.”
“Where?” Anna spun to look over her shoulder. “I can’t see anyone.”
“Act natural!” exclaimed Finn.
“I still can’t see anyone watching us.”
Finn looked back at the inn. The person had gone. “You scared them off.”
“Excuse me?” Anna looked directly at him. “I did what?”
“I mean, they’re gone. There was definitely someone watching us. Now they know we are onto them.”
“I think you are being a little dramatic. No one knows we are here—and who would be watching us, anyway? We’re not important,” said Anna.
“Someone has been watching me in Freewater for some time. I haven’t had a good look at them, and I don’t know why they’re watching me. It might be because I work with Kalher. He is an important man—the king’s representative. Maybe he has enemies.”
“You have a good imagination.”
“I hope I’m wrong, but we should remain alert,” Finn said.
“That, I agree with.”
They rode in silence through a countryside dotted with fields and farm houses. Finn kept a look out for anything suspicious as they rode, but no one appeared to be following them. After a couple of miles, they were riding through Treemere’s eastern gate, along with a dozen other people, who were mostly farmers and merchants bringing wagons full of stock to the market.
“Kalher should be at The Bronze Perch,” Finn said. Anna n
odded.
Treemere’s buildings were similar to Freewater’s. The streets here, however, were constructed of worn cobblestones.
They followed the flow of people to the centre of town, where the market was situated. It was huge compared to Freewater’s. There were all types of stalls, from butchers, vegetable and herb sellers, cloth and sewing, pot and kitchen implements, and many livestock sellers. This market also contained a weapon smith, armourer, book and paper seller, leather worker, jeweller, wine and beer seller, and even someone who claimed he had one potion that could cure any known ailment. The market was busy with people buying, selling, and haggling over goods. It was a loud place full of different types of aromas, some of which he couldn’t readily identify.
The pair dismounted and led their horses through the crowd.
“Let’s ask for directions,” Anna said.
“Excuse me, sir,” Finn asked a fat, middle-aged man who walked past. “Can you please give me directions to The Bronze Perch?”
“No!” said the man, before he walked off into the crowd.
“Well, that’s rude,” said Anna. “Ask someone else.”
The next man explained that it was just one hundred yards down the road, with a large fish on its sign. “You can’t miss it,” he said.
They led their horses across the market and around a group of children playing hopscotch, who were oblivious to the crowd.
As promised, one hundred yards from the market was a large, two-story building, which displayed a sign of a large, bronze-coloured fish. On the building’s wall, “The Bronze Perch” was written in a flowing script. The building was a solid stone structure and displayed true craftsmanship in its quality. Five wide sandstone steps led up to the entrance door. The door had a coloured glass panel in the shape of a bronze fish jumping out of blue water in its centre. Finn had never seen glass used in this manner before.
“This inn is bigger than any building in Freewater,” Anna observed.
They led their horses around the corner of the inn and down a small alley to a stable at its rear. As soon as they arrived in the cobblestone courtyard, a boy of twelve ran out of the stable and grabbed their horses’ reins.
A Warden Born (The Warden Saga Book 1) Page 5