by Melina Grace
Caris began to feel that the buildings were closing in around her. There were too many people staring at them and nowhere to hide or escape.
She was glad when she saw Crispin was heading towards a building that stood slightly apart from the others. Instead of going to the front door, he led them straight around the back. Caris was startled to see that behind the building was another row of smaller buildings that, she realised, must face onto another street. She had never imagined so many buildings in one place. If this is only a town, then what must a city be like? She asked herself.
Crispin led them over to a stable where he dismounted. A boy approached them from the stalls as a man came hurrying out to join them from the back door of the building.
“Welcome!” his voice boomed at them. “Welcome, my name is Darnon, and this is my inn ‘The Blue Swan’. You are most welcome here, we have rooms for you all, and of course at a discounted rate for members of The King’s Horse, and for seers,” he bowed his head at Kalen and Caris in turn, “and elves,” his voice dropped to a whisper on the last word as he looked wide eyed at the elves.
Embarrassed and amused by Darnon’s greeting, Caris glanced around to see how the others were reacting to him. Seeing the twinkle of mirth in Jeniel’s eyes, she almost started laughing. She looked away hurriedly before the temptation became too strong. She tried to see Janen’s reaction but he was standing on the other side of Prince, and wouldn’t have been able to see Darnon’s enthusiastic welcome anyway.
Caris watched as Syngar stepped up to Darnon, greeting him with a deep flourishing bow. “We are most grateful.”
A small furrow creased between Darnon’s eyes.
“And that discounted rate would be?” Syngar asked.
“Only a mark each for a bed and the best meal you’ll find in Nader’s Crossing.”
“Come, Darnon, the best in Nader’s Crossing? You know I have eaten here before and unless you’ve stolen the Orange Turtle’s cook then we both know we won’t get the best meal in Nader’s Crossing here. Come to think of it,” Syngar said turning to Crispin, “I am really hungry, let’s go there for half the price.”
“You won’t go there; they won’t look after your horses proper!”
“We look after our own horses,” Syngar replied with a wide smile, starting to turn his horse away.
“Fine, fine, because you’re such distinguished company you’re welcome to stay for only 10 marks for the lot of you,” he said turning to Crispin.
Crispin smiled blandly but refrained from answering.
“Darnon, you know you’ll more than triple your ale sales tonight when every man and half the women in town come to gape at our friends,” Syngar said nodding at the elves. “It seems to me you should be paying us to stay.”
“My good man, if only I could. I would dearly love to bless you all with the generosity I am renowned for, but the times are so hard and with The King’s road closed to the north and nothing coming through, the price of meat is so expensive.”
Syngar snorted. “The day you serve meat with board I’ll eat my boots, we all know we’ll get nothing but fish here.”
“Seeing you eat your boots would be inducement enough,” Darnon mumbled.
Syngar laughed, then beginning to lead his horse, called to his companions, “Come we’d do better bedding down with the grey people, Darnon will rob us blind to share his roof.”
“Alright! Eight marks for all of you and the elves eat and drink in the common room.”
Before Syngar could reply, Kilew stepped forward. “Six marks for all of us, my companions eat and drink in private and I will tell a story in your common room.”
Darnon stared at him wide eyed and momentarily speechless, then coming to himself he stepped forward and hastily shoved his hand toward Kilew, “It’s a deal,” he stammered, then regaining his composure repeated himself loudly and with a flourish, “It’s a deal!”
As they led their horses into the stable, Caris heard Syngar grumbling to Kilew, “If I knew I had that to bargain with I could have had him pay us.”
“I am sorry, I didn’t realise money was tight. I should have spoken to you first.”
“Money is not tight, The King provides us with more than we could ever need. We let Syngar bargain because otherwise certain people,” Crispin nodded back toward the inn, “would get the idea they could charge The King’s Horse outrageous prices.”
“And because Syngar loves to bargain,” Kalen laughed. “It is his favourite hobby.”
“Then I am grievously sorry, to have robbed you of such a great pleasure,” Kilew said with a small smile.
“Just tell me first, if you feel inclined to honey any of my deals tomorrow, so I can make the most of it,” Syngar grumbled as he began unsaddling his horse.
Crispin climbed down easily from Indira and went to nuzzle her face. “You have been a wonderful horse; you have saved my life almost as much as your owner has. I thank you for carrying me so dutifully and patiently.” He turned to Caris, “Thank you for loaning me your horse for so long, Caris. Tomorrow you get her back,” he said with a smile.
He turned around to the stable boy who was hovering around uncertainly, waiting for them to relinquish the horses into his care. Crispin put a few small coins into his hand.
“We’ll brush our horses down but please prepare a warm mash for them; they’ve earned it. And give them a generous feed of grain in the morning.”
They tended their horses, while the elves stood uneasily around the outside of the stable. Caris wondered how they were coping with being in a town and how much stranger it must be for them than it was for her.
Caris overheard Janen quietly speaking to Crispin. “I’ll stay out here with the horses tonight.”
Crispin looked at him in confusion.
“I have no money to pay my share of the board and this stable will be more comfortable than the woods were anyway.”
“Janen, The King is paying for our lodging tonight, as he will provide for all your needs. You have no need to pay for anything.”
“I will not live on another’s charity.”
“If you are not ready to accept his generosity, then accept what you have earned. You are one of The King’s Horse. He does not expect you to work for nothing. And besides we need every one of us close to protect our mission,” Crispin said, avoiding mentioning the pendant. “Do you not think the elves would rather sleep amongst the trees? They stay close out of duty, as will you.”
Janen bowed his head in submission. Crispin began to turn away, then as another thought occurred to him, turned back and speaking softly said, “Part of your pay will include two new sets of clothes. You will go with Syngar as soon as you have put your things in your room.” Red-faced Janen looked down at the two ragged shirts he had once again combined before entering the town. He turned back to Prince with a clenched jaw and resumed brushing him down.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Excited by the new environment, Caris followed the others to the back door of the inn. A large woman with red cheeks, dressed in a long pale blue apron over a dark blue dress bustled over to greet them as they entered. “You’re in, you’re finally in. I had thought the elves might come in straight away, as they didn’t have ‘orses to tend. Most people leave their ‘orses to the boy’s care. And I’m sure you shouldn’t worry ‘bout them, as we only employ the best.
But not to worry, you’re in! Come, come, you must be tired from your journeys. Word is you came through the forest. Not surprising given your company,” she said glancing at the elves, “And it’s truth The King’s road is impassable this last s’ven day or more, but we don’t usually get visitors come by way of the forest. I wouldn’t say never, but it’s not usual. Come, I’ve given you the best rooms, this way, follow me. You’ll be most comfortable, I assure you.
Darnon said you had thought of going to the Orange Turtle, but I assure you, you don’t want to stay there, ours is a much more comfortable ‘stablishment, have no doubt
‘bout that.” The innkeeper’s wife led them up narrow wooden stairs that creaked under the burden of so many feet. She talked constantly while showing them their rooms. When she finally paused to catch her breath, Kalen pushed a coin into her hand saying,
“We will need hot water.”
“Of course you will, after all your travels, I’ll go get the boy on it right away, I’m Mernon, anything you need, you just let me know. Nothing’s too difficult to supply for The King’s ‘orse,” she continued calling over her shoulder as she hurried down the hall.
Caris was sharing a room with Kalen and Jeniel; she took off her boots and lay down, with a loud sigh, next to Jeniel’s pack on the large two-person bed, leaving the smaller bed free for Kalen. She smiled at Jeniel, who was wandering around the spacious room, examining its sparse furnishings and contents.
“It all feels so solid and closed in,” she murmured before going to her pack to remove a hairbrush.
Caris lay, staring at the ceiling, luxuriating in the feel of a soft mattress beneath her. A hot wash, a warm meal, and collapsing in a soft bed sounded like bliss, but she knew they would be heading out the next morning and she wanted to see the town.
She sat up and started pulling her boots back on, “I’m going to explore, any takers?”
“Yes!” Jeniel responded with an excited twinkle in her eye.
“Mmm, I don’t expect too much has changed since last I was here. I’m going to enjoy a hot wash and an ale. You two go ahead,” said Kalen.
Caris made for the door, but stopped when Kalen spoke, “Here, take this.” She pressed a coin into each of the young women’s hands.
“I have money,” Caris replied at the same time as Jeniel said,
“I am amply supplied.”
“Now you have more,” Kalen smiled.
“Thank you,” Caris replied.
Jeniel paused looking at it, “Thank you,” she said, and followed Caris out through the door.
Caris and Jeniel walked the streets of the town in amazement. They discovered the road, they had walked along initially, was the main street. Two story buildings lined the side of the road. The lower levels seemingly shops or places of business while, from what Caris could tell, the top floors were where people lived.
They passed by shop doors, gawking at all the different things people were selling; wondering that there were enough buyers to warrant so many shops. They stared frankly back at the women in their large dresses, who stood idly by watching them, and ducked their heads away from the men who ogled them.
Before dark, the shops began to close their doors and the road began to empty. Caris and Jeniel wandered back toward the inn, giggling about the things they had seen and eating the sweet pastries they had purchased.
When they entered the inn, Kalen waved them over to the table where she was sitting with Crispin, “I told Mernon you would let her know when you wanted your water. If you want to wash before your meal I suggest you let her know now so she can get the water heated.”
“Where is she?” Caris asked as the woman’s voice reached her from the back of the inn. Caris smiled and, followed by Jeniel, headed toward the sound of Mernon ordering her kitchen staff around.
Caris sat, crammed into a booth with Jeniel, Janen, Syngar, Crispin, and Kalen. She sipped appreciatively at a creamy hot chocolate. She couldn’t remember how long it had been since she had drunk milk, or sat in a room with so many people, or eaten fish. After Syngar’s comments earlier, she had been pleasantly surprised by the spicy meal Darnon delivered to their table. But then, she supposed if the Orange Turtle really was that much better, Crispin would have taken them there first.
She looked around at the crowded inn. There seemed to be more people crammed within its walls than she had seen in the whole afternoon. She caught Janen looking at her and offered him a smile. He seemed a lot more relaxed tonight than he had when they entered the town. Her breath caught in her throat as he smiled.
“Did you see Darnon when you were exploring earlier?” he asked Caris. She shook her head in reply. “Perhaps he was finished before you went out.” His smile expanded as if he was about to laugh, “He was in and out of every shop, bellowing about the elven master-story-teller that was to regale us at the Blue Swan tonight.”
“Kilew is not yet an elven master-story-teller,” Jeniel said.
“Darnon is not the kind to let the truth get in the way of a good sales pitch,” said Syngar.
“He is elven. He could tell a much poorer story than Kilew does and no one here would be disappointed,” said Crispin.
Suddenly a hush fell over the room and Caris turned to see that Kilew was standing at the front of the small stage. He began with a short humorous story that had the crowd laughing uproariously. To Caris’ surprise, he followed that with a song. His voice was rich and beautiful like all the elves. He sang of lost love that had many of the young women wiping tears from their eyes. He then launched into another song about a large innkeeper’s wife who could talk the wings off a blue swan that had everyone, including Mernon, roaring with laughter.
Kilew entertained them for the evening with a gusto she had never seen from him before. He finished, before people could begin to tire, with an epic saga about The King. He told a tale, Caris had never heard before, about a grand adventure The King had gone on when only a young man. He described The King’s daring and bravery, his great skill with the sword and his defence of a young woman and her child against fifteen derks. His story showed how compassionate and merciful he had been to his enemy and his great love for all his people.
By the time his tale was finished, there was not a dry eye in the inn. Silence settled over everyone as Kilew quietly left the stage and the room.
Finally, people began to murmur to each other. Caris looked around as if waking from a dream. People were quietly gathering their things and, with smiles on their faces, heading out, arms linked with their loved ones and friends. Caris smiled at Janen and then, hand clasped in Jeniel’s, followed Kalen upstairs. She felt so grateful that she was on the way to meet her King; just hearing about him, always filled her with a feeling of hope.
The morning found Caris accompanying Syngar, Crispin, and Janen to buy horses and supplies for the remainder of their journey. While Caris and Jeniel had been exploring the previous afternoon, Crispin and Syngar had put their time to good use gathering information, which they now shared with the others.
“Less than a month ago a small band of King’s Horse passed through from the north. Three young men and a woman stayed only one night, reprovisioned and left early on their way over the mountains. The rest, who were mostly wounded, stayed a seven-night before following them. I got mixed answers about how many there were, but their leader was an uninjured woman,” Crispin said.
“Bonny?” asked Janen.
“I believe so, and by the sounds of it Tilda was one of the first four to set out.”
“Any news of Bek?” Janen asked.
Crispin shook his head.
Caris looked at Janen with concern; she had hardly spared a thought for Bek, after leaving the others behind. Initially, her only thought had been to save Crispin and since then, there had been so much to distract her, she had hardly spared a thought for the rest of the band. She had imagined them safe, for some reason, expecting to see them again when she met with The King’s army.
She felt a twinge of guilt at her lapse and hoped that they were all okay. Bek was Janen’s friend though; he had spent a lot of time scouting with him and had fought to save him from the grey people. She tried to imagine how she would have felt if it had been Bonny who had been seriously injured. Oh, that would be too terrible. She shook the deeply saddening image from her mind.
Seeking to comfort him, Caris reached out to stroke Janen’s arm. He tensed and she pulled her hand away, looking away red faced. Something had changed between them, she knew. They were no longer as comfortable with each other as they once had been. I have made my feelings too obvio
us, somewhere along the way.
She felt a hand on her arm and turned to see Janen smiling at her. She felt a fluttering in her chest that always seemed to come, these days, when he smiled at her that way.
“I’m sorry Caris, you startled me. You’re pretty terrifying with that bow over your shoulder you know.”
She shoved him in the chest and he laughed. The tension broken, they fell into step with each other and followed behind Syngar and Crispin, laughing about their impressions of the town. The morning passed quickly. Caris and Janen’s help wasn’t really required but they watched in awe and admiration as Syngar haggled for horses and the other supplies they would need for the arduous ride through the mountains.
They arrived back at the inn trailing a packhorse, to find three young men and a young woman standing out the front. Two of the young men stood confidently beside their horses, swords buckled to their hips, chatting happily.
The woman, who didn’t look much older than Caris, stood nearby with her horse and sword. Caris thought there was something strange about her, but as she examined her, she realised it was just her clothing that made her stand out. Absent was the voluminous dress the other women of the town wore. Instead she wore well-tailored riding clothes, the like of which Caris had never seen before.
The three of them approached, quickly declaring their desire to ride with The King’s Horse. Caris was surprised when instead of immediately welcoming them Crispin asked,
“Why?”
The two young men seemed taken back. One of them spoke up, “We heard the elf last night.” Crispin nodded, as if he already knew. “Well, it seems to us, there’s a war on and we’re loyal King’s men, so we should do our bit.”
“The King’s road is clogged with lost ones who could attack your town at any time; wouldn’t you be better off staying here to serve The King in protecting your town?” Crispin asked.
“They may attack or they may not. If they do, I don’t like our chances, whether we’re here or not. The way I see it, if The King can defeat the Dark One then all them grey people are gonna turn tail and run, so we’re better off doin’ our duty by The King than sittin’ round here waiting to see what’s gonna happen.”