were to be happenin’.”
I marveled again at Ragnar’s ability to say so much in one breath while simultaneously clearing plates, stacking mugs, acknowledging orders, and never missing anything happening in the rest of the taproom.
“So I could be ridi…, errr… ride Deor over?”
“Oh, aye, it’s to be bein’ old and them as to be keepin’ up them roads don’t be spendin’ too much time there, but it’s to be bein’ better than the Old Road even if it’s to be seemin’ not so good at first.”
“Excellent, thank you.”
“Yer to be wantin’ me to be havin’ me boy saddle yer lad in the mornin’ then. I’m to be tellin’ him, and he’ll be bein’ happy…”
He wandered off before I could say I could saddle my own horse, thank you, never stopping his conversation though I could not hear all of it. At least Deor never bit Eirik. He even let Eirik tighten the saddle properly where I would have to punch him in the stomach first.
I settled in for a relaxing night, anticipating a pleasant ride in the mountains.
Chapter 2
Morning, 30 Gersmoanne, 1712 MG
Over the past week Branimira, a seamstress recommended by Zoe who lived just down from the Fourth Serpent on Medusa’s Way, had repaired the rips and tears that various knives had added to my tunics. I chose the one with the lightest linen, dyed light brown with walnuts, and shrugged it on over heavier linen riding pants of woad blue and my old, comfortable riding boots.
I always wore the saex my father had given me as a lad that identified me as a free man. I also carried a small dagger that once had been thrust into my left shoulder. Eirik had made a sheath for it that fit inside either my boots or winingas. By this point it seemed odd not to have it strapped to my calf.
I decided to wear my sword, even though few people walked around Achrida routinely with one. No longer could I roam Achrida without worry, given the enemies I had made. I made sure I could slide its water-patterned steel out smoothly and swiftly.
I hesitated, but finally chose to bring my shield as well. Better to hang it off my saddle and have it with me than wish I had it should Katarina, Pal, or Gibroz decide to deal with me.
I went down to the stables to find Eirik feeding Deor one of the old apples they kept in a bucket there.
“I see you’re spoiling him.”
Eirik laughed shyly. “He likes them.”
“That he does.”
As we chatted, I double-checked that Eirik had saddled Deor properly, also taking the time to check Deor’s his hooves and legs. Not surprisingly, Eirik had made no mistake.
“You’re doing well, old friend,” I said as I patted Deor’s side.
He showed his agreement by nipping at my arm, but I knew him well and dodged the bite and slung my shield on his saddle.
Atop the stable wall, in her normal perch, Akantha watched with heavy-lidded eyes. With a great yawn, she dismissed us and curled up under the rafter.
Eirik opened the stable doors and waved at us as we went down the Fourth Serpent to Medusa’s Way. That led to the Square of Legends, where I turned north up the Trade Road.
The guards at the North Gate surprised me slightly. The Pathfinder Company had served as gatewardens all of the time I had been in Achrida. However, as I thought about it, the change made sense, with over a dozen Pathfinders slain and at least as many badly wounded helping me with the Gropa Council.
Their dead included my friend Desimir. I sighed, remembering his smile.
Despite the fact that the guards at the gate belonged to a company other than the Pathfinders, they recognized me as I rode up.
“Gospadar Edward,” called their leader, a small but powerfully built, balding man.
“Greetings.”
“I am Vojin, a decarch of the Feroun.”
“And the Feroun have gate duty.”
“Hecatontarch Piriska asked us to take over for a while. The Pathfinders need a break and the Enchelei companies seem to be distracted.”
His smirk reminded me that the
I marveled again at Ragnar’s ability to say so much in one breath while simultaneously clearing plates, stacking mugs, acknowledging orders, and never missing anything happening in the rest of the taproom.
“So I could be ridi…, errr… ride Deor over?”
“Oh, aye, it’s to be bein’ old and them as to be keepin’ up them roads don’t be spendin’ too much time there, but it’s to be bein’ better than the Old Road even if it’s to be seemin’ not so good at first.”
“Excellent, thank you.”
“Yer to be wantin’ me to be havin’ me boy saddle yer lad in the mornin’ then. I’m to be tellin’ him, and he’ll be bein’ happy…”
He wandered off before I could say I could saddle my own horse, thank you, never stopping his conversation though I could not hear all of it. At least Deor never bit Eirik. He even let Eirik tighten the saddle properly where I would have to punch him in the stomach first.
I settled in for a relaxing night, anticipating a pleasant ride in the mountains.
Chapter 2
Morning, 30 Gersmoanne, 1712 MG
Over the past week Branimira, a seamstress recommended by Zoe who lived just down from the Fourth Serpent on Medusa’s Way, had repaired the rips and tears that various knives had added to my tunics. I chose the one with the lightest linen, dyed light brown with walnuts, and shrugged it on over heavier linen riding pants of woad blue and my old, comfortable riding boots.
I always wore the saex my father had given me as a lad that identified me as a free man. I also carried a small dagger that once had been thrust into my left shoulder. Eirik had made a sheath for it that fit inside either my boots or winingas. By this point it seemed odd not to have it strapped to my calf.
I decided to wear my sword, even though few people walked around Achrida routinely with one. No longer could I roam Achrida without worry, given the enemies I had made. I made sure I could slide its water-patterned steel out smoothly and swiftly.
I hesitated, but finally chose to bring my shield as well. Better to hang it off my saddle and have it with me than wish I had it should Katarina, Pal, or Gibroz decide to deal with me.
I went down to the stables to find Eirik feeding Deor one of the old apples they kept in a bucket there.
“I see you’re spoiling him.”
Eirik laughed shyly. “He likes them.”
“That he does.”
As we chatted, I double-checked that Eirik had saddled Deor properly, also taking the time to check Deor’s his hooves and legs. Not surprisingly, Eirik had made no mistake.
“You’re doing well, old friend,” I said as I patted Deor’s side.
He showed his agreement by nipping at my arm, but I knew him well and dodged the bite and slung my shield on his saddle.
Atop the stable wall, in her normal perch, Akantha watched with heavy-lidded eyes. With a great yawn, she dismissed us and curled up under the rafter.
Eirik opened the stable doors and waved at us as we went down the Fourth Serpent to Medusa’s Way. That led to the Square of Legends, where I turned north up the Trade Road.
The guards at the North Gate surprised me slightly. The Pathfinder Company had served as gatewardens all of the time I had been in Achrida. However, as I thought about it, the change made sense, with over a dozen Pathfinders slain and at least as many badly wounded helping me with the Gropa Council.
Their dead included my friend Desimir. I sighed, remembering his smile.
Despite the fact that the guards at the gate belonged to a company other than the Pathfinders, they recognized me as I rode up.
“Gospadar Edward,” called their leader, a small but powerfully built, balding man.
“Greetings.”
“I am Vojin, a decarch of the Feroun.”
“And the Feroun have gate duty.”
“Hecatontarch Piriska asked us to take over for a while. The Pathfinders need a break and the Enchelei companies seem to be distracted.”
His smirk reminded me that the
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