“Excuse me, sir.” Garret addressed the guard standing to the left of the large gate. “The knight Sirus said he would have an inn room and horses awaiting myself and my companions once we arrived. Do you know perhaps at which inn he might have made such accommodations?” Garret tried to sound as if this were a normal conversation for him.
“Yes, young sire,” the guard responded immediately, as if talking to a superior officer. “Please visit the Stamping Steed. It is most certainly where Lord Sirus would have arranged your accommodations.” He quickly related to Garret directions to reach the inn.
The group set off with purpose now that there was a bed and a hot meal just around the corner. The buildings were closer together than in Stone Haven and the streets narrower. As they had noticed from a distance, the further they traveled into the city the taller the buildings became. The city had basically the same design as Stone Haven but with rings of buildings starting at the center of the city, working their way outward, with one street running through it from north to south, and another east to west. Each of the rings of buildings had a small street between them that intersected these two larger roads making the city fairly easy to navigate.
They had only passed seven or eight rows of buildings when Garret led them down one of the narrower side streets. He stopped in front of a tall, wide building with torches burning all along its front. The building was made of some sort of clay brick and stood several stories tall. Windows were spaced regularly throughout the front wall and from each window shone a lantern. Above the wide, double door swung a sign carved into the shape of a stallion rearing up on its hind legs. The four of them approached the large door together, and Garret would bet that each of his companions were imagining the warm bed and hot food that awaited them.
The inside of the large building was just as well lit as the outside. Coming through the door, the small band of travelers walked into a huge room that spanned the entire length of the building. It was filled from end to end with tables of varying sizes, and many of them were attended by groups of men and women. Between the tables brick pillars jutted at regular intervals from the floor to support the ceiling. At each end of the room there stood a large staircase leading up to the higher levels.
This inn was unlike the one in Stone Haven in more than appearance however. Here no one looked to see who had come through the door. It was as if no one had even noticed them enter. No one hollered a greeting to them. They walked into the room allowing the door to close behind them and stood hesitating, looking the room from end to end. This inn too had a large bar directly across the room from the door. Garret, again taking the lead, walked towards the bar. It appeared to be made from a single enormous piece of wood, cut smooth at the top and polished to a shine. The front of the bar was an intricately carved scene of two armies facing one another across a field of battle. Before it were dozens of stools from one end to the other, though none of them were currently in use.
Seth, Sara and Ashton caught up with Garret and they approached the bar together. Seeing that it was unattended, they seated themselves upon the stools and waited. A few moments later a young girl, perhaps in her mid-teens, came through the door behind the bar. Spotting them, she turned and thrust her head back through the door and shouted, “Whalen you have customers!” She then turned back to the four at the bar and smiled. To their surprise the girl then walked to a table across the room and seated herself there with two other people. A few moments passed and the door behind the bar swung silently open again and a short, older man came through carrying a tray of glass mugs which he sat on the bar. He approached them then, a comfortable grin on his face and the flickering light from the lanterns hung behind him shining off his bald, round head.
“What can ol’ Whalen get for ye m’lady and gentlemen?” the short man asked, all the while managing to maintain his grin.
“Sirus said you would have a room and horses waiting for us when we arrived,” Garret told him.
“Ah yes. You must be Master Garret then.” As he spoke, one of his white eyebrows rose, as if it were a question more than a statement.
“Yes sir, and these are my companions.” Garret motioned to the other three.
Whalen seemed to be taken aback as his small grin faded for just a moment, and then returned.
“Well, Lord Sirus did not mention that there were four of you, only that you would need a room. The room I had prepared for you only has two beds so let me see if I have another room near it still available.”
Without waiting for a reply the old man knelt down and from behind the bar he brought out a large tome bound in leather. He unwrapped the leather expertly and flipped through the pages. Finding the desired one he ran a stubby finger down the page, nodding and mumbling to himself all the while. He then closed the book, wrapping it again in the leather, he returned it to somewhere behind the bar. Seemingly finished, he turned back to Garret, again with the grin on his face, only this time it looked less natural.
“Well, it seems, Master Garret, that I have no other rooms available on the second floor, but if you are so inclined I can send someone up to prepare another room for you on the fourth floor. Or if you wish, I can have them prepare you two rooms on the fourth floor, and I can give the other one to another customer.” He looked at Garret expectantly awaiting an answer, his forced grin still in place.
“That won’t be necessary, sir. We would not want you to go out of your way for us. The one room you already have prepared will be quite enough for us for this night.” Garret said hoping his companions would feel the same way.
“Well then, young Master Garret, consider your room ready for you. The horses will be delivered here in the morning from the stalls across town. Is there anything else you require?” Whalen asked the group, his natural smile reappearing.
“Some hot food would be welcome as well as cold drink,” Garret stated, all his companions nodding their agreement.
“In that case,” Whalen began, “we have a nice beef roast with garlic, onion, potatoes and carrots with some bread rolls baked only a couple hours ago, if that suits you.”
None of them spoke but nodded their acceptance of the food to Whalen who told them he would soon return with their food and drinks. He was true to his word and returned only moments later carrying a large wooden tray loaded with bowls of food and mugs of ale. He placed a large bowl full of roasted beef and vegetables in broth and a mug of cold ale in front of each of the four companions and without a word again disappeared, waddling on stubby legs through the door behind the bar. He returned, this time carrying one large platter piled high with buttered rolls. He placed this on the bar between Ashton and Seth who passed them to either side to both Garret and Sara. The four thanked Whalen graciously, who accepted their thanks, then turned and walked back through the door again leaving them to their food.
All four ate vigorously, devouring the food to the last roll, and washing it all down with the strong, dark brown ale. No one spoke as they ate, all too eager to finish the food while it was hot. When their plates were clear they each complimented the food and drink and waited patiently for Whalen to return.
It was not long before the short, balding man again came abruptly through the door. With his apparently permanent grin remaining, he greeted the companions once more.
“I do hope the food was acceptable,” Whalen said, again his statement sounding like a question.
“It was perfect,” Seth answered. “What do we owe you?”
“No need to be worrying about payment tonight, young masters. Any friend of Lord Sirus is a friend of the Stamping Steed. We can settle up in the morning after you’ve had your breakfast and your mounts have been delivered.”
“Thank you, Whalen, you are a gracious host,” Garret added.
“No. Thank you kind masters. Here is your key,” Whalen said handing it to Garret. “Room twenty seven is half way down the hall on the second floor. I hope you find our accommodations suitable.”
“I�
��m sure we will,” Garret assured the old inn keeper.
Biding the innkeeper goodnight, the companions rose with Garret at the lead and collecting their packs from the floor, they turned towards the staircase at the end of the room. Reaching the staircase, each began to climb, and for the first time Garret realized just how tired his legs were.
Climbing to the second floor, they found their room easily and hurried inside. It was much larger than they had expected. Inside were two large beds, one on either side of the room. Beside each bed sat a small writing table equipped with quill and ink, and a stool. Directly between the two beds was a long wooden table with two large wash basins, several towels and a hairbrush upon it. Across the middle of the floor sprawled a decorative rug, brightly woven in contrasting patterns, and upon the walls hung several paintings depicting the city itself from different views within its walls.
After entering the room and taking in all its contents, Ashton, the last to enter closed and barred the door, then stood with his companions waiting to see what they would do.
“Seth, you should take one of the beds,” Garret stated, knowing his twin needed rest more than any other.
“No, that’s fine. I’ll take the floor again,” Seth replied with a sidelong look towards Sara.
Yup. That was it. Seth was hopelessly in love with the girl. Seeing this battle was lost, Garret then tried to reason with Sara, pleading with her to accept one of the beds, saying that a lady should never have to sleep on the floor. Sara too declined his offer. If Seth was sleeping on the floor, so would she. Garret tried to reason with them each once more saying they should at least share a bed, he would sleep on the floor and Ashton could use the other bed. This proposal was replied to by Seth with a look that could have melted the walls around them.
Garret quickly gave up his protests after the look from his brother and went to wash his hands and face in one of the basins on the table. The others joined him, each washing their face and hands in turn. Then Garret and Ashton climbed into their beds, each blowing out the lantern next to them before rolling to face the walls of the room.
CHAPTER 59
Sara
The only light remaining in the room was a small candle upon the large table holding the basins. Sara stopped Seth before he left the table, and pulling his head low to the basin of water, she rinsed the dried blood that still remained in his hair as best as she could and helped him to dry it. Smiling in satisfaction, Sara then took up the brush and began to brush the tangles from her own hair. Seth stood watching her practiced strokes. He stepped behind her as she worked a knot from her hair and placed his hands upon her hips. Hearing his brother’s and Aston’s light snoring he pulled her into himself and reached around her waist. Taking the brush from her hand, he returned it to the table. Raising one hand Seth gently pulled her hair back over her shoulder, keeping the other hand firmly around her waist. As he exposed her neck, he bent slightly and bringing his lips to the warm flesh of her neck he kissed her softly. Sara trembled with the kiss. Seth kissed her again, this time a little higher than the last. Again Sara’s small frame quivered. So he kissed her neck again and again, working his way up her neck to her fragile jaw and continued to kiss her all the way to her ear lobe. Here he exhaled slightly, blowing warm air into her ear, sending a powerful shudder through her small body, and she spun in his arms, turning to face him.
Sara’s face was flushed red and she threw her arms around his neck and jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist. Seth held her there tightly, their bodies entwined. Sara kissed him several times on the mouth, each time more passionately, each time more vigorously than the last. Seth kissed her back, giving her everything in return that she gave him.
Seth relaxed his hold on Sara and gently pulled back to look her in the face.
“I’m sorry Sara,” Seth whispered to her. “I let it go too far.”
“No you didn’t,” Sara stated matter-of-factly.
“Yes I did, and it won’t happen again, I promise,” Seth said painfully.
“It had better happen again,” Sara replied in a joking tone.
“What? Why?” Seth asked, not understanding her tone.
“Because, my love,” Sara said, barely louder than a whisper. “Because I want it to happen again, because I want you to love me freely and because I love you.” Sara made the last statement more boldly than the previous one, making sure he heard her.
Seth was taken aback. He had not expected this turn of events. Not so soon in any case. He had hoped for it, wished for it, even prayed for it, but never expected it. Wanting more than anything to make her happy, he too whispered to her.
“I love you too, I have loved you from the moment I first laid eyes on you, and I shall love you beyond the day when my eyes no longer open.”
Seth did not hold back this time, and he kissed her furiously, yet gently, all the while crushing her body to his.
Seth was unsure if it was due to the weakened state of his mending body, or to the long hours on the trail, or simply because of the fact he was so overcome with emotion, but his knees began to tremble. Afraid he might fall and hurt Sara he finally forced himself to put her down. She acquiesced, unwillingly, but soon realized he had released her due to necessity, not because it was what he wanted. Sara helped to steady Seth and walked him across the room towards the door. Seth pressed his back to it and slid to the floor landing a bit uncomfortably, seated against its wooden frame. Sara dug through his pack and retrieved their blanket. She wrapped it around his shoulders and began to climb into his lap. Seth put his hand up in protest, stopping her in her tracks. Thinking he was in more pain than she had imagined she sat down next to him and rested her head on his shoulder.
“That’s not what I had in mind,” Seth stated, a jovial tone to his voice.
With that, he reached one arm around Sara’s waist and pulled her around in front of him, facing him. He pulled her to his body and gently lay down on his side, bringing her body with his. Seth stretched out his legs and wrapped one arm under Sara’s head to support it. Then he pulled her close, bringing her face to his chest. He wrapped his other arm around her waist, and slid one leg between hers. Bending his neck slightly he kissed the top of her head, breathing in the scent of her long black hair. They lay in the light of a single distant candle, their bodies pressed together tightly, entwined lovingly, reveling in each other’s embrace.
For long moments they lay together in silence just enjoying one another’s company, however, it was not long before Sara spoke words that Seth hoped he would hear each and every day of his life from that moment forward.
“I love you Seth,” she said simply.
“And I love you, my beautiful Sara,” Seth replied.
Again Sara pulled her face into his chest and Seth pulled her tightly to his body. This way they remained until darkness took them and they passed into sleep.
The following morning both Seth found himself still entwined with Sara, though only briefly. They had awoken to a muffled conversation Garret was having with Ashton across the long room, and seeing Seth and Sara stir, the conversation had ended.
Seth rose to greet their companions, extending a hand to help Sara rise as well.
“What you guys talking about?” Seth asked.
“We were discussing our options,” Garret stated simply. “We’ve been on the road six days now, but with horses we aren’t really in a rush.”
“Yeah,” Ashton chimed in. “We could stay another day here in Paldoon’s, and explore a bit, or continue on to Valdadore and see the sites there.”
“So if we’ve been on the road six days already, then we have six more to go until The Choosing,” Seth thought out loud. “What did you guys come up with?”
“Both of us kind of want to keep going,” Ashton stated.
“Just in case there are any more delays,” Garret added.
Seth thought it over a moment and agreed with them. Thus far they had encountered several delays. It was best t
hey move on now while there was time to spare, rather than wait and run out of time altogether.
“I agree,” Sara said, beating him to the punch.
“Yeah, me too,” Seth added.
Unanimously decided, they gathered their belongings and headed back out the door, down the hall, and down the grand stairs to the first floor.
The common room looked exactly as it had the night before, rows of lanterns in the windows and along the walls. People sitting in groups or in solitude at the various tables throughout the room talked quietly amongst themselves. The bar this morning was unoccupied, however, Whalen stood behind it and waved the travelers over to join him. They accepted his unspoken request, and quickly seated themselves upon the same stools they had sat on the previous night.
“G’mornin young masters” Whalen greeted them, his grin spread naturally across his face. “I hope ye all rested well.”
They each nodded that they had, and Whalen’s grin seemed to widen with their unspoken approval.
“It’s good to see you all rested. Will you be leaving Paldoon’s Hold today then?” Whalen asked the question in earnest, though it was apparent to Seth that he actually only wanted to know if they would be staying another night at his inn.
“Yes,” Garret answered. “We have decided to make haste to Valdadore to enjoy its festivities before the ceremony.”
“Indeed that should be enjoyable,” Whalen agreed, nodding to himself as he did. “Then I shall send for your horses. Is there anything else you will be needing then? A hot breakfast? Some supplies for the road perhaps?”
“I’m sure we would all welcome some more of your delicious hot food, as well as two days’ worth of food and water for the four of us,” Garret replied, and then added as if it were an afterthought, “that is, if it isn’t too much to ask.”
Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) Page 15
