The Golden Dagger by Ed Dunlop

Author:Ed Dunlop
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: kingdom, dungeon, battles, castles, knights, chronicles, terrestria
Publisher: Ed Dunlop

The rising sun cast its ruby rays over the eastern hills as three travelers stumbled down a gentle slope, tired and hungry. Sterling had insisted that they travel most of the night, and had finally consented to stopping for three hours of sleep just before daybreak. Just now they found themselves approaching a small village.

“I sure would like to stop for breakfast at an inn,” Dathan sighed with a yawn. “I’m so hungry I could eat a whole hart and so tired I could sleep for a week!”

Sterling stopped in the roadway and turned to face him. “I think you have a good idea, my friend. Let’s do it!”

Dathan snorted. “And what would we use for money?”

Sterling stared at him. “My father is a marquis—do you think he would send me penniless on a quest such as this?”

It was Dathan’s turn to stare. “You’re serious about stopping here, aren’t you?”

“Of course.”

“Oh, dear, do you think it’s safe?” Lanna asked with a worried frown.

Sterling nodded. “I think we can do it with little risk of discovery. I figure we’re more than thirty miles now from Melzar’s farm.”

The twins were overjoyed. “I’m going to eat until next Tuesday without stopping,” Dathan declared. “See if I don’t!”

Sterling grinned. “You think you can afford that since my father is paying for it?”

Dathan shrugged. “To be honest, I wasn’t thinking about the money; I was thinking about the food!”

Five minutes later they approached the front door of an ivy-covered inn, stepping around two stacks of lumber placed close to the door. “Watch out for that plank,” Lanna said, pointing to a long beam standing on end. “It looks like it could topple over at any moment and crush someone.”

“They must be doing some work on the building,” Dathan commented.

“Aye, but you would think they would stack their lumber a little further from the door. Who wants to climb over beams and planks just to get inside?”

“If anyone asks any questions, keep quiet and let me do the talking,” Sterling instructed his companions. “It will be safer that way.”

“Do you expect any trouble?” Dathan asked quietly.

“Nay, but it’s best to be prepared.” With a broad smile, he opened the door. “Sweet cakes and creamery butter, here I come!”

The proprietor of the inn led them to a table in the dining salon. “It is an honor to have you with us today, sire,” he said to Sterling, bowing low as he spoke.

“Thank you, sir,” Sterling responded. He turned to the twins. “Order as much as you want. You deserve it, and we have no idea what lies ahead.”

“We have a rich venison stew, sire, accompanied by the most excellent fritters and fruit jellies. In addition, our chef has prepared the finest trout…”

“Bring us three full orders of all of it,” Sterling ordered. “We’ve been traveling a bit this morning and we’re quite hungry and tired.”

The proprietor bowed. “Of course, sire. Right away, sire. And how is your father, sire?”

“I haven’t been home in a few days, my good man,” Sterling replied.

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