A Dark Foretoken by Edelheit Marc Alan

Author:Edelheit, Marc Alan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-04-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“Welcome back, sir.” Legionary Kollus held the door for Stiger. The legionary had been posted on sentry duty outside the Nag. A lantern sat on the ground, its flame lighting up a small cone of darkness by the legionary’s feet. Stiger paused and gazed across the street toward the boarding barn. His escort came to a stop and waited respectfully a few feet behind. Tiro had insisted on the escort, especially after Stiger had told him about his meeting with Hanns.

The double doors of the barn had been pulled back and stood open. Under lantern light inside the barn, Stiger saw Tiro working with a couple of young men. A cart with a tethered mule was parked along the street. They were unloading and stacking supplies that had been drawn from the garrison’s supply depot. Two additional sentries were posted outside the barn, watchful and alert.

The Nag was on a side street, near the wall on the eastern side of the town. The tavern was on the small side, but easily large enough to accommodate his men. Stiger had been pleasantly surprised to find the tavern clean and apparently free of pests. Unlike the Dancing Goat, it was well-maintained and kept up.

The owner, Powel, turned out to be a retired legionary. He seemed outright overjoyed to have the legionaries quartered in his tavern, even after he found out that they were led by a Stiger. It seemed to make no difference. Powel was an older man, in his sixties, and had served twenty-five years in Fourth Legion, retiring as a sergeant. He had explained to Stiger there were a good number of veterans from the Fourth who had settled around Larensus.

Stiger turned back to the tavern, gave Kollus a nod, and stepped inside. The six legionaries of his escort filed in behind him. Unlike the Dancing Goat, the Nag did not stink. It smelled of an incense that Stiger could not identify but found quite appealing. A brazier set in the corner by the kitchen smoked, burning the incense.

All of the tables and stools had been moved against the walls. The common room was filled with his legionaries, working and preparing to bed down for the night. The men would be sleeping on the floor, which was a sight better than the hard ground. They would have a real roof over their heads and a fire.

“Attention,” one of his escort called out behind him.

Stiger’s legionaries ceased what they were doing and stood to attention.

“As you were,” Stiger said. The men went back to what they had been doing.

Once the last of the escort was inside, Kollus closed the door.

The tavernkeeper was nowhere to be seen, nor was his family. Stiger trudged across the room to a table that had been reserved for his use. He dropped his toiletry kit down on the table. It was the only one that had not been pushed against the wall. It sat near the fire, which, having recently been fed, snapped and popped loudly.

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