Monday, November 17, 2003
Nightfall came and finally Janna took pity on the poor sap, trailing her heroically through the least horse friendly trails. It was the least she could do to invite him to the fire and food she prepared, apparently the prince new nothing of the woodland and got stung with bees collecting wood for his fire.
“Thank you.” He said abashed. His words sounded as if his mouth was filled with cotton and rocks.
Janna poked the fire. “Are you still persisting in accompanying me?”
“Yes.”
“You do realize your bag of silver was taken and so were the maps?”
A look of anger and defeat fired into his eyes but was soon replaced by resigned acceptance. “It’s alright.” She sighed and threw a bottle at him he caught it and looked down on it, puzzled.
“An ointment, trust me, you are in need of one.” He looked both gratified and embarrassed. He also looked in the firelight, grotesque his face was bloated and so was his arm, it was amazing he even moved at all. The prince had a thicker hide after all. She watched as he applied the ointment he winced each time he moved Janna was almost compelled to help him but thought otherwise.
The beef jerky was tough but it was enough to stave off her hunger, the prince moved and took an envelope from his person and began to chew on his jerky, provided by Sita Janna guessed.
It was a balmy night enough to soothe a body from the day’s heat Janna unfurled her bedding and spread it against the flattest ground she could find. The prince followed her lead and struggled to lay his cloak on the ground but all Janna could hear was his breathing and the constant snap of sticks under his boots.
Elias was too intent on his task and failed to see the movement until it was too late the cloak was snatched from his hands he stepped back his hand drifted instantly to his sword his movement and was shocked into amazement. The lady—Janna laid his cloak on the ground with crisp efficiency and placed his saddlebag next to it then without speaking further she returned to his horse and tended it. Shame and gratitude whirled around him more and more he was becoming a burden. He looked down at his bedding then at Janna tending his horse a duty rightfully his Elias stepped forward and was stopped.
“You’re in no condition to work not with those bee stings not with the Roamers herbs still in your blood.” She said, still tending his horse not even glancing his way. “Get some rest.”
The stubborn Yrdle blood in him refused and she seemed to guess his next action because she raised her dark eyes to him, it was a glare Elias was familiar with and often received from his exasperated guards and parents and that reminder, that severe glare brought Elias to the bedding and forced sleep in him.
The hard saddle as his pillow he said. “Thank you.”
She didn’t answer.
“That addled headed, idiotic boy!” David growled pushing his horse to greater speed. “I’ll strangle him and bring him back home in chains his father should have never allowed this idiotic quest!”
David was fairly certain that Elias slipped away the night before, even fooling King Erlan! Thankfully the King was only amused by Elias’s stunt otherwise it would have been a great diplomatic incident. He attached a few more curses to the boy’s name remembering the marks he saw earlier, there certainly was a struggle and from what David gathered the boy was overpowered, the boy must have foolishly ‘rescued’ someone from the roamers annual toll and quite possibly got the person in trouble with the roamers (“Might be Horton’s band, sir,” Jamis, King Erlan’s loaned guard told him) and got chained to a tree.
This is what he meant by naïveté the boy knew nothing of the cultures of the places he planned to visit, the roamers were no menace, nor were they thieves of the rabble sort. They were fair and in some parts well respected. Something the boy didn’t know and was drugged but fortunately or unfortunately Elias was not long tied to the tree from the looks of it the chained person freed the boy. He wished the mysterious rescuer left the boy tied it would save David the trouble of doing it.
“It’s too dark, Cap’n.” Ardmir said riding as close as he could. “The horses need to be resting soon.”
David let out a frustrated breath and was about to answer when he saw a light not far off. “Jamis, what is that?”
Jamis sped at his side. “Sita’s cabin sir, an old wise woman.”
David did a quick recall and found none that he knew. “I don’t know her.
“She’s been here ten years, sir.”
Ah. He had stopped his wanderings at that time. “We will stop at Wise Woman Sita’s home and beg hospitality of the night. It’s possible our erstwhile prince was brought here.”
His men murmured and they resumed their riding. They reached the house and found the old woman standing serenely by the door David came to her and said his words she welcomed them generously and in return they need only water her plants and cook their own fare.
Her next words surprised and alarmed David. “The young master left earlier this morning, sirrah.”
“Young master.” It didn’t come out as a question more of an irritated statement David amended it. “He was here earlier?”
Sita nodded and smiled. “Brought in all a daze with that herb, must have annoyed Horton much, that lad. “
“He has that affect.”
She led his group into the warmth of home. “He is a sweet child.”
“And naïve.”
A callused and old hand touched his arm that caused him pause. “Willful and strong of heart he will be safe.”
David stared at the old wizened face, at her calm serenity and knowing eyes and sighed, the men were gathering round softly murmuring and laughing. He was pushing too much. “I’m worried.”
Again that smile, she lifted her hand to his face. “He will be safe.”
“I pray to Akmesh it is so.”
The next days progressed in silence and even Janna’s questions ceased Elias did not know what to make of it, his injury certainly did not do well in Janna’s esteem but thankfully the ointment reduced the swelling of his bloated face and arm. He looked less a bloated head and arm and more of a diminished round fruit.
Ino, his horse (he finally decided on a name) trudged behind him peacefully, Elias was still certain that Janna despite and because of her silence was still trying to discourage him, what with the foot paths she chose it certainly did not bode well for Ino.
It was in mid-afternoon when the town came to view, the walls rock solid appeared to have grown from the ground and the thatched roofs of red and brown filled Elias with such love for it, he could have a bed finally, after nights on rough ground and occasional stone.
“That’s Traska, it’s a small village.”
It was the first time Janna spoke since the night she ordered him to sleep; her voice was as husky and as layered as he remembered her voice to be.
“What’s your task in Traska?”
“My job.” Perfunctory. His duty was done he supposed was done, perhaps he could ask for a map his scrolls were stolen by the ruffians and so was his bag of silver. The impulse to ram his sword into something ran rampant but was defeated by exhaustion.
The wooden gates were opened and he was welcomed to the sight of people selling, walking buying and eating. Children were on their knees playing an unknown game. Janna stopped at an old inn and looked at him, really looked.
It was a startling sensation her examination of him that steady dark gaze under the silky brash of raven hair. “How do you propose to pay for lodging?”
That question had actually been raging in his mind ever since he saw the village the prospect of another night in the hard ground was not something he welcomed but the reality of his situation brought the necessity of it too clearly. He had no money to pay for lodgings and he would rather be rammed in the wells of infinity than let Janna pay for him.
“I would volunteer service to the Innkeeper.”
Janna nodded. “What service would you give? Do you know how to cook? Mend broken chairs? Brew Ale?”
The answer to all was no. “Wash dishes?”
“He has servants for that.”
The cold ground and the decreasing beef jerky seemed more his fare tonight after all. Depressing.
“Do you play an instrument?”
“Anything with strings.”
“Good.” She said and entered the inn leaving him confused. The door swung open and closed and suddenly her dark head appeared. “Are you coming?”
When he didn’t move her hand snatched him from the steps. “The horse—“
“The stable boy will handle your horse,” Janna said and pushed him to a stringy looking man. “Here is the harpist I promised when I return, Har.”
“I never doubted, Janna.” Har said grinning at him in a kindly way. It would seem he would have a warm bed after all.
word count: 5,948 and looky it's Nov. 17th (my bro's bday) and I still need to reach 50,000! Woe!
“Thank you.” He said abashed. His words sounded as if his mouth was filled with cotton and rocks.
Janna poked the fire. “Are you still persisting in accompanying me?”
“Yes.”
“You do realize your bag of silver was taken and so were the maps?”
A look of anger and defeat fired into his eyes but was soon replaced by resigned acceptance. “It’s alright.” She sighed and threw a bottle at him he caught it and looked down on it, puzzled.
“An ointment, trust me, you are in need of one.” He looked both gratified and embarrassed. He also looked in the firelight, grotesque his face was bloated and so was his arm, it was amazing he even moved at all. The prince had a thicker hide after all. She watched as he applied the ointment he winced each time he moved Janna was almost compelled to help him but thought otherwise.
The beef jerky was tough but it was enough to stave off her hunger, the prince moved and took an envelope from his person and began to chew on his jerky, provided by Sita Janna guessed.
It was a balmy night enough to soothe a body from the day’s heat Janna unfurled her bedding and spread it against the flattest ground she could find. The prince followed her lead and struggled to lay his cloak on the ground but all Janna could hear was his breathing and the constant snap of sticks under his boots.
Elias was too intent on his task and failed to see the movement until it was too late the cloak was snatched from his hands he stepped back his hand drifted instantly to his sword his movement and was shocked into amazement. The lady—Janna laid his cloak on the ground with crisp efficiency and placed his saddlebag next to it then without speaking further she returned to his horse and tended it. Shame and gratitude whirled around him more and more he was becoming a burden. He looked down at his bedding then at Janna tending his horse a duty rightfully his Elias stepped forward and was stopped.
“You’re in no condition to work not with those bee stings not with the Roamers herbs still in your blood.” She said, still tending his horse not even glancing his way. “Get some rest.”
The stubborn Yrdle blood in him refused and she seemed to guess his next action because she raised her dark eyes to him, it was a glare Elias was familiar with and often received from his exasperated guards and parents and that reminder, that severe glare brought Elias to the bedding and forced sleep in him.
The hard saddle as his pillow he said. “Thank you.”
She didn’t answer.
“That addled headed, idiotic boy!” David growled pushing his horse to greater speed. “I’ll strangle him and bring him back home in chains his father should have never allowed this idiotic quest!”
David was fairly certain that Elias slipped away the night before, even fooling King Erlan! Thankfully the King was only amused by Elias’s stunt otherwise it would have been a great diplomatic incident. He attached a few more curses to the boy’s name remembering the marks he saw earlier, there certainly was a struggle and from what David gathered the boy was overpowered, the boy must have foolishly ‘rescued’ someone from the roamers annual toll and quite possibly got the person in trouble with the roamers (“Might be Horton’s band, sir,” Jamis, King Erlan’s loaned guard told him) and got chained to a tree.
This is what he meant by naïveté the boy knew nothing of the cultures of the places he planned to visit, the roamers were no menace, nor were they thieves of the rabble sort. They were fair and in some parts well respected. Something the boy didn’t know and was drugged but fortunately or unfortunately Elias was not long tied to the tree from the looks of it the chained person freed the boy. He wished the mysterious rescuer left the boy tied it would save David the trouble of doing it.
“It’s too dark, Cap’n.” Ardmir said riding as close as he could. “The horses need to be resting soon.”
David let out a frustrated breath and was about to answer when he saw a light not far off. “Jamis, what is that?”
Jamis sped at his side. “Sita’s cabin sir, an old wise woman.”
David did a quick recall and found none that he knew. “I don’t know her.
“She’s been here ten years, sir.”
Ah. He had stopped his wanderings at that time. “We will stop at Wise Woman Sita’s home and beg hospitality of the night. It’s possible our erstwhile prince was brought here.”
His men murmured and they resumed their riding. They reached the house and found the old woman standing serenely by the door David came to her and said his words she welcomed them generously and in return they need only water her plants and cook their own fare.
Her next words surprised and alarmed David. “The young master left earlier this morning, sirrah.”
“Young master.” It didn’t come out as a question more of an irritated statement David amended it. “He was here earlier?”
Sita nodded and smiled. “Brought in all a daze with that herb, must have annoyed Horton much, that lad. “
“He has that affect.”
She led his group into the warmth of home. “He is a sweet child.”
“And naïve.”
A callused and old hand touched his arm that caused him pause. “Willful and strong of heart he will be safe.”
David stared at the old wizened face, at her calm serenity and knowing eyes and sighed, the men were gathering round softly murmuring and laughing. He was pushing too much. “I’m worried.”
Again that smile, she lifted her hand to his face. “He will be safe.”
“I pray to Akmesh it is so.”
The next days progressed in silence and even Janna’s questions ceased Elias did not know what to make of it, his injury certainly did not do well in Janna’s esteem but thankfully the ointment reduced the swelling of his bloated face and arm. He looked less a bloated head and arm and more of a diminished round fruit.
Ino, his horse (he finally decided on a name) trudged behind him peacefully, Elias was still certain that Janna despite and because of her silence was still trying to discourage him, what with the foot paths she chose it certainly did not bode well for Ino.
It was in mid-afternoon when the town came to view, the walls rock solid appeared to have grown from the ground and the thatched roofs of red and brown filled Elias with such love for it, he could have a bed finally, after nights on rough ground and occasional stone.
“That’s Traska, it’s a small village.”
It was the first time Janna spoke since the night she ordered him to sleep; her voice was as husky and as layered as he remembered her voice to be.
“What’s your task in Traska?”
“My job.” Perfunctory. His duty was done he supposed was done, perhaps he could ask for a map his scrolls were stolen by the ruffians and so was his bag of silver. The impulse to ram his sword into something ran rampant but was defeated by exhaustion.
The wooden gates were opened and he was welcomed to the sight of people selling, walking buying and eating. Children were on their knees playing an unknown game. Janna stopped at an old inn and looked at him, really looked.
It was a startling sensation her examination of him that steady dark gaze under the silky brash of raven hair. “How do you propose to pay for lodging?”
That question had actually been raging in his mind ever since he saw the village the prospect of another night in the hard ground was not something he welcomed but the reality of his situation brought the necessity of it too clearly. He had no money to pay for lodgings and he would rather be rammed in the wells of infinity than let Janna pay for him.
“I would volunteer service to the Innkeeper.”
Janna nodded. “What service would you give? Do you know how to cook? Mend broken chairs? Brew Ale?”
The answer to all was no. “Wash dishes?”
“He has servants for that.”
The cold ground and the decreasing beef jerky seemed more his fare tonight after all. Depressing.
“Do you play an instrument?”
“Anything with strings.”
“Good.” She said and entered the inn leaving him confused. The door swung open and closed and suddenly her dark head appeared. “Are you coming?”
When he didn’t move her hand snatched him from the steps. “The horse—“
“The stable boy will handle your horse,” Janna said and pushed him to a stringy looking man. “Here is the harpist I promised when I return, Har.”
“I never doubted, Janna.” Har said grinning at him in a kindly way. It would seem he would have a warm bed after all.
word count: 5,948 and looky it's Nov. 17th (my bro's bday) and I still need to reach 50,000! Woe!
Nightfall came and finally Janna took pity on the poor sap, trailing her heroically through the least horse friendly trails. It was the least she could do to invite him to the fire and food she prepared, apparently the prince new nothing of the woodland and got stung with bees collecting wood for his fire.
“Thank you.” He said abashed. His words sounded as if his mouth was filled with cotton and rocks.
Janna poked the fire. “Are you still persisting in accompanying me?”
“Yes.”
“You do realize your bag of silver was taken and so were the maps?”
A look of anger and defeat fired into his eyes but was soon replaced by resigned acceptance. “It’s alright.” She sighed and threw a bottle at him he caught it and looked down on it, puzzled.
“An ointment, trust me, you are in need of one.” He looked both gratified and embarrassed. He also looked in the firelight, grotesque his face was bloated and so was his arm, it was amazing he even moved at all. The prince had a thicker hide after all. She watched as he applied the ointment he winced each time he moved Janna was almost compelled to help him but thought otherwise.
The beef jerky was tough but it was enough to stave off her hunger, the prince moved and took an envelope from his person and began to chew on his jerky, provided by Sita Janna guessed.
It was a balmy night enough to soothe a body from the day’s heat Janna unfurled her bedding and spread it against the flattest ground she could find. The prince followed her lead and struggled to lay his cloak on the ground but all Janna could hear was his breathing and the constant snap of sticks under his boots.
Elias was too intent on his task and failed to see the movement until it was too late the cloak was snatched from his hands he stepped back his hand drifted instantly to his sword his movement and was shocked into amazement. The lady—Janna laid his cloak on the ground with crisp efficiency and placed his saddlebag next to it then without speaking further she returned to his horse and tended it. Shame and gratitude whirled around him more and more he was becoming a burden. He looked down at his bedding then at Janna tending his horse a duty rightfully his Elias stepped forward and was stopped.
“You’re in no condition to work not with those bee stings not with the Roamers herbs still in your blood.” She said, still tending his horse not even glancing his way. “Get some rest.”
The stubborn Yrdle blood in him refused and she seemed to guess his next action because she raised her dark eyes to him, it was a glare Elias was familiar with and often received from his exasperated guards and parents and that reminder, that severe glare brought Elias to the bedding and forced sleep in him.
The hard saddle as his pillow he said. “Thank you.”
She didn’t answer.
“That addled headed, idiotic boy!” David growled pushing his horse to greater speed. “I’ll strangle him and bring him back home in chains his father should have never allowed this idiotic quest!”
David was fairly certain that Elias slipped away the night before, even fooling King Erlan! Thankfully the King was only amused by Elias’s stunt otherwise it would have been a great diplomatic incident. He attached a few more curses to the boy’s name remembering the marks he saw earlier, there certainly was a struggle and from what David gathered the boy was overpowered, the boy must have foolishly ‘rescued’ someone from the roamers annual toll and quite possibly got the person in trouble with the roamers (“Might be Horton’s band, sir,” Jamis, King Erlan’s loaned guard told him) and got chained to a tree.
This is what he meant by naïveté the boy knew nothing of the cultures of the places he planned to visit, the roamers were no menace, nor were they thieves of the rabble sort. They were fair and in some parts well respected. Something the boy didn’t know and was drugged but fortunately or unfortunately Elias was not long tied to the tree from the looks of it the chained person freed the boy. He wished the mysterious rescuer left the boy tied it would save David the trouble of doing it.
“It’s too dark, Cap’n.” Ardmir said riding as close as he could. “The horses need to be resting soon.”
David let out a frustrated breath and was about to answer when he saw a light not far off. “Jamis, what is that?”
Jamis sped at his side. “Sita’s cabin sir, an old wise woman.”
David did a quick recall and found none that he knew. “I don’t know her.
“She’s been here ten years, sir.”
Ah. He had stopped his wanderings at that time. “We will stop at Wise Woman Sita’s home and beg hospitality of the night. It’s possible our erstwhile prince was brought here.”
His men murmured and they resumed their riding. They reached the house and found the old woman standing serenely by the door David came to her and said his words she welcomed them generously and in return they need only water her plants and cook their own fare.
Her next words surprised and alarmed David. “The young master left earlier this morning, sirrah.”
“Young master.” It didn’t come out as a question more of an irritated statement David amended it. “He was here earlier?”
Sita nodded and smiled. “Brought in all a daze with that herb, must have annoyed Horton much, that lad. “
“He has that affect.”
She led his group into the warmth of home. “He is a sweet child.”
“And naïve.”
A callused and old hand touched his arm that caused him pause. “Willful and strong of heart he will be safe.”
David stared at the old wizened face, at her calm serenity and knowing eyes and sighed, the men were gathering round softly murmuring and laughing. He was pushing too much. “I’m worried.”
Again that smile, she lifted her hand to his face. “He will be safe.”
“I pray to Akmesh it is so.”
The next days progressed in silence and even Janna’s questions ceased Elias did not know what to make of it, his injury certainly did not do well in Janna’s esteem but thankfully the ointment reduced the swelling of his bloated face and arm. He looked less a bloated head and arm and more of a diminished round fruit.
Ino, his horse (he finally decided on a name) trudged behind him peacefully, Elias was still certain that Janna despite and because of her silence was still trying to discourage him, what with the foot paths she chose it certainly did not bode well for Ino.
It was in mid-afternoon when the town came to view, the walls rock solid appeared to have grown from the ground and the thatched roofs of red and brown filled Elias with such love for it, he could have a bed finally, after nights on rough ground and occasional stone.
“That’s Traska, it’s a small village.”
It was the first time Janna spoke since the night she ordered him to sleep; her voice was as husky and as layered as he remembered her voice to be.
“What’s your task in Traska?”
“My job.” Perfunctory. His duty was done he supposed was done, perhaps he could ask for a map his scrolls were stolen by the ruffians and so was his bag of silver. The impulse to ram his sword into something ran rampant but was defeated by exhaustion.
The wooden gates were opened and he was welcomed to the sight of people selling, walking buying and eating. Children were on their knees playing an unknown game. Janna stopped at an old inn and looked at him, really looked.
It was a startling sensation her examination of him that steady dark gaze under the silky brash of raven hair. “How do you propose to pay for lodging?”
That question had actually been raging in his mind ever since he saw the village the prospect of another night in the hard ground was not something he welcomed but the reality of his situation brought the necessity of it too clearly. He had no money to pay for lodgings and he would rather be rammed in the wells of infinity than let Janna pay for him.
“I would volunteer service to the Innkeeper.”
Janna nodded. “What service would you give? Do you know how to cook? Mend broken chairs? Brew Ale?”
The answer to all was no. “Wash dishes?”
“He has servants for that.”
The cold ground and the decreasing beef jerky seemed more his fare tonight after all. Depressing.
“Do you play an instrument?”
“Anything with strings.”
“Good.” She said and entered the inn leaving him confused. The door swung open and closed and suddenly her dark head appeared. “Are you coming?”
When he didn’t move her hand snatched him from the steps. “The horse—“
“The stable boy will handle your horse,” Janna said and pushed him to a stringy looking man. “Here is the harpist I promised when I return, Har.”
“I never doubted, Janna.” Har said grinning at him in a kindly way. It would seem he would have a warm bed after all.
word count:
“Thank you.” He said abashed. His words sounded as if his mouth was filled with cotton and rocks.
Janna poked the fire. “Are you still persisting in accompanying me?”
“Yes.”
“You do realize your bag of silver was taken and so were the maps?”
A look of anger and defeat fired into his eyes but was soon replaced by resigned acceptance. “It’s alright.” She sighed and threw a bottle at him he caught it and looked down on it, puzzled.
“An ointment, trust me, you are in need of one.” He looked both gratified and embarrassed. He also looked in the firelight, grotesque his face was bloated and so was his arm, it was amazing he even moved at all. The prince had a thicker hide after all. She watched as he applied the ointment he winced each time he moved Janna was almost compelled to help him but thought otherwise.
The beef jerky was tough but it was enough to stave off her hunger, the prince moved and took an envelope from his person and began to chew on his jerky, provided by Sita Janna guessed.
It was a balmy night enough to soothe a body from the day’s heat Janna unfurled her bedding and spread it against the flattest ground she could find. The prince followed her lead and struggled to lay his cloak on the ground but all Janna could hear was his breathing and the constant snap of sticks under his boots.
Elias was too intent on his task and failed to see the movement until it was too late the cloak was snatched from his hands he stepped back his hand drifted instantly to his sword his movement and was shocked into amazement. The lady—Janna laid his cloak on the ground with crisp efficiency and placed his saddlebag next to it then without speaking further she returned to his horse and tended it. Shame and gratitude whirled around him more and more he was becoming a burden. He looked down at his bedding then at Janna tending his horse a duty rightfully his Elias stepped forward and was stopped.
“You’re in no condition to work not with those bee stings not with the Roamers herbs still in your blood.” She said, still tending his horse not even glancing his way. “Get some rest.”
The stubborn Yrdle blood in him refused and she seemed to guess his next action because she raised her dark eyes to him, it was a glare Elias was familiar with and often received from his exasperated guards and parents and that reminder, that severe glare brought Elias to the bedding and forced sleep in him.
The hard saddle as his pillow he said. “Thank you.”
She didn’t answer.
“That addled headed, idiotic boy!” David growled pushing his horse to greater speed. “I’ll strangle him and bring him back home in chains his father should have never allowed this idiotic quest!”
David was fairly certain that Elias slipped away the night before, even fooling King Erlan! Thankfully the King was only amused by Elias’s stunt otherwise it would have been a great diplomatic incident. He attached a few more curses to the boy’s name remembering the marks he saw earlier, there certainly was a struggle and from what David gathered the boy was overpowered, the boy must have foolishly ‘rescued’ someone from the roamers annual toll and quite possibly got the person in trouble with the roamers (“Might be Horton’s band, sir,” Jamis, King Erlan’s loaned guard told him) and got chained to a tree.
This is what he meant by naïveté the boy knew nothing of the cultures of the places he planned to visit, the roamers were no menace, nor were they thieves of the rabble sort. They were fair and in some parts well respected. Something the boy didn’t know and was drugged but fortunately or unfortunately Elias was not long tied to the tree from the looks of it the chained person freed the boy. He wished the mysterious rescuer left the boy tied it would save David the trouble of doing it.
“It’s too dark, Cap’n.” Ardmir said riding as close as he could. “The horses need to be resting soon.”
David let out a frustrated breath and was about to answer when he saw a light not far off. “Jamis, what is that?”
Jamis sped at his side. “Sita’s cabin sir, an old wise woman.”
David did a quick recall and found none that he knew. “I don’t know her.
“She’s been here ten years, sir.”
Ah. He had stopped his wanderings at that time. “We will stop at Wise Woman Sita’s home and beg hospitality of the night. It’s possible our erstwhile prince was brought here.”
His men murmured and they resumed their riding. They reached the house and found the old woman standing serenely by the door David came to her and said his words she welcomed them generously and in return they need only water her plants and cook their own fare.
Her next words surprised and alarmed David. “The young master left earlier this morning, sirrah.”
“Young master.” It didn’t come out as a question more of an irritated statement David amended it. “He was here earlier?”
Sita nodded and smiled. “Brought in all a daze with that herb, must have annoyed Horton much, that lad. “
“He has that affect.”
She led his group into the warmth of home. “He is a sweet child.”
“And naïve.”
A callused and old hand touched his arm that caused him pause. “Willful and strong of heart he will be safe.”
David stared at the old wizened face, at her calm serenity and knowing eyes and sighed, the men were gathering round softly murmuring and laughing. He was pushing too much. “I’m worried.”
Again that smile, she lifted her hand to his face. “He will be safe.”
“I pray to Akmesh it is so.”
The next days progressed in silence and even Janna’s questions ceased Elias did not know what to make of it, his injury certainly did not do well in Janna’s esteem but thankfully the ointment reduced the swelling of his bloated face and arm. He looked less a bloated head and arm and more of a diminished round fruit.
Ino, his horse (he finally decided on a name) trudged behind him peacefully, Elias was still certain that Janna despite and because of her silence was still trying to discourage him, what with the foot paths she chose it certainly did not bode well for Ino.
It was in mid-afternoon when the town came to view, the walls rock solid appeared to have grown from the ground and the thatched roofs of red and brown filled Elias with such love for it, he could have a bed finally, after nights on rough ground and occasional stone.
“That’s Traska, it’s a small village.”
It was the first time Janna spoke since the night she ordered him to sleep; her voice was as husky and as layered as he remembered her voice to be.
“What’s your task in Traska?”
“My job.” Perfunctory. His duty was done he supposed was done, perhaps he could ask for a map his scrolls were stolen by the ruffians and so was his bag of silver. The impulse to ram his sword into something ran rampant but was defeated by exhaustion.
The wooden gates were opened and he was welcomed to the sight of people selling, walking buying and eating. Children were on their knees playing an unknown game. Janna stopped at an old inn and looked at him, really looked.
It was a startling sensation her examination of him that steady dark gaze under the silky brash of raven hair. “How do you propose to pay for lodging?”
That question had actually been raging in his mind ever since he saw the village the prospect of another night in the hard ground was not something he welcomed but the reality of his situation brought the necessity of it too clearly. He had no money to pay for lodgings and he would rather be rammed in the wells of infinity than let Janna pay for him.
“I would volunteer service to the Innkeeper.”
Janna nodded. “What service would you give? Do you know how to cook? Mend broken chairs? Brew Ale?”
The answer to all was no. “Wash dishes?”
“He has servants for that.”
The cold ground and the decreasing beef jerky seemed more his fare tonight after all. Depressing.
“Do you play an instrument?”
“Anything with strings.”
“Good.” She said and entered the inn leaving him confused. The door swung open and closed and suddenly her dark head appeared. “Are you coming?”
When he didn’t move her hand snatched him from the steps. “The horse—“
“The stable boy will handle your horse,” Janna said and pushed him to a stringy looking man. “Here is the harpist I promised when I return, Har.”
“I never doubted, Janna.” Har said grinning at him in a kindly way. It would seem he would have a warm bed after all.
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