A Chance Beginning by Christopher Patterson

Author:Christopher Patterson [Patterson, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780998407005
Publisher: Rabbit Hole Publishing
Published: 2019-01-24T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 38

ERIK WOKE EARLY, FINDING THAT Rory was the only one in the bar.

“Just us?” Erik asked.

“After the debauchery last night,” Rory replied, “I expect it will be just us for a while.”

“Good,” Erik muttered.

“You don’t like my new guests, lad?”

Erik shook his head.

“I don’t blame you,” Rory laughed. “Neither do I. It’s a good thing they’re paying me so much.”

Rory poured Erik a cup of spiced wine and filled a wooden bowl with porridge.

“What’s the matter?” Rory asked after several moments, looking at an untouched bowl and a cup from which Erik had taken only a single sip.

“Nothing.”

“You’re a bad liar,” Rory said.

“Just nervous, I guess,” Erik replied.

“I could see how you would be,” Rory said.

“Do you think we will be able to sit in on this meeting?” Erik asked.

Rory shrugged.

“I suppose,” the old sailor replied. “There’ll be quite a few people here. I think it might be impossible for The Messenger to know the face of every single mercenary he’s invited. If you sit in the back and make yourselves look small.”

Erik nodded in agreement.

“It’s a good plan,” Rory said. “If no one here wants your services as a porter—you still have time to make it to the docks and sail east like you originally planned.”

His breakfast untouched, Erik helped Rory put out chairs and more tables. Apparently, he had never had a need for so many more, at least another half dozen tables and four dozen chairs which he kept in a back room of The Lady’s Inn. As soon as they had set the last chair, men began arriving.

Some had been staying at Rory’s inn, and Erik had seen them before, but most he had never seen. Tall and short, thin and fat, midnight-black skin and snow-pale skin—all combinations of men showed to this special meeting.

“Take that table right there,” Rory whispered, pointing to a smaller table in the back of the inn, just a step away from the door. “It’ll be away from everything—very unsuspecting.”

Erik nodded.

“Where is your brother?”

Bryon’s voice startled Erik. He hadn’t noticed him walking in.

“In the room,” Erik replied, turning. He pointed to the small table in the back. “We’ll sit there. It’s away from everything.”

Bryon nodded. “Let’s get your brother.”

“Befel,” Erik said, walking through the door of their room.

Erik’s brother was sitting at the edge of his bed, rubbing his shoulder.

“Men are starting to show up,” Erik continued. “We have a table in the . . .”

“. . . in the back,” Befel said, cutting Erik off. “Aye. It’s a good idea.”

“Are you all right?” Erik asked.

“What is taking so long?” Bryon asked, standing behind Erik.

Erik looked at his brother.

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