by Bob Blink
“Then we can come back here and get ready to leave,” Asari finished.
Jolan shook his head. “I don’t want to stay here tonight. Besides the friendly bed bugs, I want to take advantage of some of the conveniences the inn offers. Besides, this place is a bit remote, and I don’t know how quickly news of our sudden affluence will spread. Staying in more public surroundings seems wise.”
Asari nodded slowly as he thought over the arguments. “The inn will cost, but it might be wise.”
“Let’s go see Lorem, then stop by the Long Walk Inn on our way to that country store you pointed out.”
Asari frowned at the term, but knew what Jolan meant.
“Ya came back,” Lorem said with a smile when he saw them come into the stable. He smiled at Asari who he assumed was carrying out his side of their side deal.
Jolan held out his hand with the two intact bullets. Before the man could complain about the missing cases, Jolan added the four copper pennies to the handful.
“This is all almost pure copper. It also should come close to the limit you said you would like to stay beneath. Did you have a chance to check the metal we left with you?”
Lorem nodded. “It is as ya said; nearly pure. I can do the same with all of this and have the coin fer ya a bit later.”
“How about the horses? Asari asked.
“You said you were going to see Crikel over at the mart. It’s getting a bit late. How ‘bout ya come by later, pick up yer coin, and tomorrow ya can look over my animals and give ‘em a bit of a ride. No point rushing. Ya have a long ride ahead and need to be sure of yer mounts.”
This seemed to make sense, and while it would delay departure for a day, Jolan didn’t mind a bit more time to unwind. Lorem was correct; they would be traveling for a long time, and hurrying wasn’t going to get him home any sooner.
Crikel’s store was far better stocked than Jolan would have suspected. He gave Asari a verbal list of things he should get for himself along with instructions to grab anything else he thought would come in handy. While the youth was off chasing down his garments, Jolan began his own search. Lorem’s suggestion to deal with choosing their mounts the next day proved wise, as it was more than four hours later when they next walked out of the store.
They each had a small package of clothing, with the rest to be delivered by the storekeeper. Asari had elected to wear one set of his new clothing, whereas Jolan was carrying his, hoping for a shower before he slipped on the new duds. He had to admit that the boy looked like a different person, and had actually made a few adjustments to his own purchases when he saw the items Asari had found.
The boy had a cream colored linen shirt under a heavier green leather vest with collar on top. The vest was halfway between a vest and a jacket, and had several pockets, two on the outside and another on the inside. It could be held closed by several buttons, or left loose if the weather was warmer. His pants were tan colored and made of a flexible but very sturdy material. Asari said they were comfortable, and the material was known for its durability. On his feet he now wore a pair of sturdy walking boots, and around his waist was a thick belt of matching leather. The belt held his old knife, but also a small pouch that hung near his left hip.
Asari also carried a thin cloak that could be attached around his neck and wrapped around the body to provide rain protection. It was extremely light, almost transparent, and totally waterproof. It had to have been fabricated with a touch of the power, and cost a pretty penny. When Jolan asked where he found it, the boy had brought his other hand from behind his back and handed him one just like it.
Asari had also insisted that Jolan buy a sword. He found one that was older, but of reasonable quality. It was a prop as he had no intention of using it. They finally located a scabbard that was fit with a shoulder harness allowing him to wear it with the handle resting just above his right shoulder as opposed to around his waist where the damn thing would bang against his leg as he walked. The bill for all of this, including the spare sets of clothes that would be delivered to the inn came to an amazingly modest three silvers and ten cerms.
They had already made arrangements to stay at the Long Walk Inn, so they had a short walk across the street to their room. Jolan hadn’t appreciated the structure when they’d walked past the other day, but the brief look when they talked to Elmlia, the innkeeper’s wife, had changed his perspective.
The inn was old, but had been built with great care to last. The walls were two-inch thick slabs of iron hard jinga wood, which wouldn’t rot and resisted all known insect attacks. The planks had been carefully fitted together using a system not unlike a tongue and grove slotting, but given the hardness of the wood and the fact that the slotting had to be done by hand, a remarkable feat. Of course, the power may have had a hand in the effort, but after more than a century any traces to indicate the fact were long faded. However it had been done, the result was a structure that had stood against all forms of weather here in the high mountains far longer than any of these people had lived.
The inner walls had been smoothed through some unknown means at the time the inn was built, and remained remarkably unblemished even now. The few windows were equipped with sturdy shutters, which were thrown open this evening, letting in the cool air of the summer night. They were sufficiently stout to ward off the worst of storms, or to seal the inn against unwanted assault from vagabonds or wild beasts. A large stone fireplace occupied one corner of the great room, and was capable of containing a very large and warming fire, but now held only a couple of small slabs of burning hardwood, for light and ambiance, since it was already comfortably warm.
This time the two men passed quickly by the great room and turned up the stairs at the far end that led to the best of the guest rooms in the inn. Upstairs, Jolan used the large and almost ludicrous key to open their room. He could bypass the lock with a knife, but then most of the guests probably had no concept of how the mechanism worked. Once inside, far more effective options for securing the room were provided. Set into the wood on either side of the door were thick metal slots into which a jinga wood bar with a two inch cross section could be placed. This prevented the inch and a half thick jinga wood door from being opened, and provided a very secure environment for the guests inside.
On their way past the entrance, Asari had informed the innkeeper, master Aldom, of their return, and that they would appreciate the bath water they had discussed earlier as soon as would be convenient. When they entered the room, the two large wooden tubs were already in place in the far corner near the outside wall. Jolan discovered the drain spouts of the tubs had been position adjacent to a small penetration in the jinga-wood walls and would allow draining the bath water outside the inn when they were finished.
Before long a series of servants were making trips down the hall from the heating room, bringing large buckets of warm water and filling the two tubs. When they finished, Jolan bolted the door, stepped out of the smelly clothes he’d worn too long, and slipped into the warm water with a sigh. With a bit less urgency, Asari followed suit, and the two discussed plans while using the coarse soap to scrub away at the accumulation of grime that had worked its way deep into their skin.
Afterwards, Asari dressed and headed back to his place to close it up for another long absence and to pick up some of the items he planned to bring along, including the Muloka skull which he had wrapped against prying eyes, the binoculars, and a few personal items. He also took all of Jolan’s old clothes to the house for storage, except the shoes that Jolan wanted to bring along on their journey against the new shoes causing blisters before they were broken in. He also planned to stop by the stables and pick up the coins for the copper from Lorem, and make arrangements for the next day. While he was doing this, Jolan made his way down to the lower level and located the barber and had a shave and a bit of a trim. He was waiting in the great room when Asari retuned.
Asari made his way across the room with a big smile, and as he sat down he sa
id “Four and seven,” indicating they’d gotten four golds and seven slivers or seven silvers, however one preferred to think of it. They had over eight golds in their possession, and while they hadn’t paid for the horses yet they were obviously flush. The room, with the baths, was costing fifteen cerms, and dinner was likely to be no more than six cerms if they went all out.
Their discussion was interrupted by one of the inn’s serving girls, a pretty young woman who was just a bit older than Asari, wearing what Jolan would have called the standard uniform of serving girls in all the old movies. She wore a brightly colored skirt that extended a couple of inches below her knees, soft serviceable shoes, and a cream colored blouse was predictably very low cut to emphasize her assets. Jolan noted that the boy’s eyes were locked onto the offered view although he was trying not to be too obvious about it.
“Drinks sers?” she asked with a bit of a twinkle in her eye. “Or are you here for dinner as well?”
“A tankard of ale,” Asari said without hesitation. No concern on age here Jolan decided, but then the boy was beyond the age of sixteen that labeled him an adult here.
“That sounds good to me as well,” he said knowing it wouldn’t be the ice-cold lager he missed, but merely cooled in the stone basement below the inn.
After going through the dinner options they made their selections, and the girl treated them to a big smile and walked off.
They relaxed and looked at the other patrons in the large room. It was a bit late in the dinner hour, and there were only a few left. For the most part it was obvious they were merchants, with one family in a far corner with two toddlers. The man must be well off, because families usually stayed in their wagons or one of the cheaper boarding rooms.
Minutes later the young woman was back with their drinks, setting the large tankards carefully on the table, bending to do so and yielding another pleasing look at her assets. Jolan almost choked on a mouthful of the agreeable brew when Asari observed, “I think she likes you.”
“Excuse me,” he said when he got his wind back. “She’s just doing her job.”
“Did you see her smile? I think she’s trying to let you know she’d be agreeable to a little side arrangement afterwards.” Asari said this without a trace of embarrassment.
“You’re saying she’s available for sex?”
“Of course,” Asari replied. “Why not? She’s old enough and it’s a way she can make a little side money.”
“Just out of curiosity, how much are we talking?”
“Probably three silver slivers. Maybe four – half a silver. For that she’d stay the night with you.”
“Isn’t anyone worried about picking up something?”
Asari looked at him blankly. Finally he shook his head to show he didn’t understand.
“Disease,” Jolan said quietly.
“She didn’t appear sick to me.”
“Sexual disease,” Jolan whispered, hoping he wasn’t being overheard.
“What’s that?” the youth asked with a frown.
Briefly Jolan explained what he meant.
“Dragons!” Asari exclaimed. “What is wrong with your world that the people are being punished so. To have to worry of such a thing every time you consider. . .” He stopped with a look of shock on his face.
“How about you?” Jolan asked suddenly curious. “Do you fool around with the ladies a lot?”
Asari blushed and shook his head. “I , , I haven’t had time, and then the cost. . . .’
“Ever?” Jolan asked.
Asari shook his head again, the flush of embarrassment still visible.
He was saved further probing by the arrival of their dinner. The girl treated them to another smile, and Jolan noted how the youth watched her as she walked away, shapely young body and fine calves holding his attention.
A bit later in the room, Jolan handed Asari one of the two money pouches he had purchased at the store earlier in the day. Asari opened it and found more than a dozen silvers and at least twenty cerms inside, plus all of the smaller coins they’d accumulated.
“What is this?’ he asked surprised. “You don’t owe me any money?”
“We are partners,” Jolan explained. “You not only deserve at least that much, but it will be expected as we travel that you have your own money. No discussion. Please accept that with my gratitude.”
Asari was about to object when there was a knock at the door. He got up and walked across the room to see who was there. When he opened the door he found himself staring at the beautiful young serving girl from downstairs.
“Jolan, I think someone is here for you.”
“Not tonight,” he answered. “She’s here for you.”
While Asari was looking away the girl winked at Jolan. They’d made this arrangement a bit earlier when Asari was occupied elsewhere.
Confused, Asari looked back at the girl, who smiled and beckoned with her hand, urging him to go with her.
“I’ll see you in the morning,” Jolan said with a smile. “Have a good time.”
Disbelieving, Asari took the girl’s outstretched hand and was lead away from the room and down the hall to where the staff had their rooms.
“Good-nite,” Jolan said softly as he closed the door to the room behind the disappearing couple.
Chapter 12
Jolan woke reluctantly slightly more than an hour after sunup when an insistent pounding on the door brought him back to the present. He hadn’t known when to expect his friend, but had assumed he wouldn’t be back during the night and had blocked the heavy door with the stout bar as a precaution. With little scheduled today other than the afternoon with Lorem to select their horses and gear, he’d intended to get as much rest as possible. Once they started out, he couldn’t be certain how much of the time they’d be back to camping out. Now, as he opened the door to allow Asari to enter, he noted the young man looked more tired than he’d ever seen him, but even so had a bit of a bounce in his step. Asari gave Jolan a sheepish grin, which suddenly transformed itself into a wide smile.
“Tired,” he said as he stepped into the room. “Want to sleep a bit.”
He must be tired Jolan thought. This was the first time he’d known him to sleep after the sun was up and watched as Asari plopped down on the second bed after setting aside his bow which had been laying there since the previous evening, and fell almost immediately to sleep.
It was almost mid-day when the two men made their way out of the inn after a satisfying lunch and headed across the road to the merchant’s store. Jolan already knew he was going to miss the inn and its excellent selection of meals once they moved on.
“So you want a carry pouch for the gun?” Asari asked.
Jolan had done some experimenting the previous evening after Asari had gone off with his new friend and decided with a few minor modifications the pouch and shoulder strap arrangement that Asari had purchased the other day could serve as a better means of carrying the Colt. He didn’t need a normal holster, but putting the pistol in his belt didn’t feel completely secure, and he’d ended the practice when the gun had almost fallen out a couple of times. In the backpack it was a bit slow to get at, and on the horse wearing the pack wasn’t practical. He could put it in the saddlebags he expected to have, but that meant he either had to retrieve it each time he walked away from the horse, or risk being separated from it.
Jolan nodded and explained his reasoning. Inside the store, he looked over the available selection and chose one that was a bit smaller than his friend’s bag. This one had a flap that could be secured by wrapping a piece of leather string around a riveted leather circle near the bottom.
“Is it possible to make the following modifications?” he asked Crikel a few moments later, showing where he’d like some additional stitching. The minor changes would allow the pistol to sit securely butt upright, and provide a second small pocket where he could store the spare magazines.
Crikel looked over the proposed changes. “Seems t
o me like what you want will make the pouch far less versatile, but if that’s what you desire. I can have it for you by the end of day.”
The cost of the pouch and modifications was insignificant, and Jolan couldn’t help wondering if that was because the money didn’t seem real to him, or because they’d gotten so much for what his mind considered a few pennies worth of real money.
“Last night went well I assume?” Jolan asked finally, raising the subject of the young lady with his friend.
Asari colored a bit, but nodded enthusiastically. “It was,….she’s really.” He stopped trying for a minute. “Now I understand,” he said finally.
“Now you understand?” Jolan asked.
“Some of the things that people say about, well, . . .you know,” he said.
“Have plans for tonight?” Jolan asked with a smile.
“I hadn’t thought about it,” Asari replied, although it was fairly obvious it had crossed his mind. “We have to leave tomorrow.”
“I’d give it some thought,” Jolan replied. “I don’t see a need to leave early. It will be the first day on horseback and from what I’ve always read about inexperienced riders, we, me at least, probably should approach it with a bit of restraint.”
“Ah, here ya are,” Lorem said as they walked into the stable. I think I have a couple of animals that will suit ya just fine.”
“Morning ser,” Asari replied.
“Out back,” the stablemaster indicated, waving his heavily muscled arms. “I stable the horses for sale out by the riding yard.”
A half dozen horses in separate stalls watched them stroll by as Lorem led them into the yard for a quick look, pointing out the characteristics of each. Asari spotted a large midnight black stallion he liked the look of, but Lorem was emphatically against him.
“He’s a looker I’ll give ya that,” he said. “The problem is, he ain’t got no stamina. He’ll run like the wind for a half mile or so, then he’s done. Ya want a horse that’s good for all day, or a long run if needed.”
