Saif's Story by Barbara G.Tarn

Author:Barbara G.Tarn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: assassins, street boy, m/m, fantasy world, short novel
Publisher: Unicorn Productions
Published: 2017-06-16T16:00:00+00:00

10.

The Lonely Maid Inn seemed somewhat grubby but decent. A large establishment not far from the palace, the smell of its food was what drew in the six youths between the ages of seventeen and twenty-four.

The bartender immediately glared at them, especially at Karan who looked too young to drink. Prem slapped his hand on the counter and said his younger cousin had become a man, and therefore they needed to celebrate before going home. The bartender scowled, but asked them what they wanted.

The menu was very plain-looking, but the smells from the kitchen were so enticing, that they ordered full meals for all and some cheap red wine to go with the meat. Kris and Bhuj actually ordered fish, but they weren't used to drinking wine anyway, so they settled for water instead. None of them was particularly fond of ale or beer.

The tavern was crowded with loud and cheerful patrons. A quick glance around the room told Saif it was a dangerous-looking crowd, with half the dark corners occupied and about half the patrons already drunk, but he was with a group of assassins and felt quite secure. Most patrons were openly armed, unlike him and his friends who had daggers and their nooses – except the princes, of course – but looked quite harmless.

There was decent music played on a lute by a thin, depressed young man, mostly covered by the drunkenly singing soldier sitting near the entrance. The six sat in the center of the room, Saif next to Prem and Karan, Nimdja in front of him next to Kris and Bhuj.

Two maids brought the trays of roasted meat and fish with vegetables along with wooden plates and goblets. The six distributed the plates and the food, and then eagerly attacked their meal, all hungry after their relaxing day off. Poor Yafita wouldn't have been able to feed them with what she kept in the guild's kitchen, and the cousins were glad to buy a meal for their assassins friends with their golden coins.

The wine soon raised their spirits even more, making them laugh at nothing. They drank, they ate, they sang with the rest of the crowd, and then Karan's head started lolling and Saif decided it was time to leave.

The sun had set and the cool air of the street helped him clear his mind. Prem counted on him to lead him back to the palace, and they were the least swaying couple. Karan leaned on Nimdja half-passed out and Kris and Bhuj sustained each other.

"We better go back to the guild," they muttered, heading down the street the other way.

Saif nodded, and he and Prem helped Nimdja carry Karan who had to stop and vomit up his dinner in a corner. As they rose again with the teen still dazed, they realized they were surrounded by armed men.

Saif recognized the coat-of-arms of the late Lord Arfan, but not the other. The dozen men must have been chosen from the private guard of two noblemen and their faces looked threatening in the growing darkness.

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