Thrice by Andrew D Meredith

Author:Andrew D Meredith [Meredith, Andrew D]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Games Afoot, LLC
Published: 2021-11-11T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18: Crime

Cold seeped into the bedroom as morning dawned. A knock came at the door and Jovan rose, groaning as he did so, to answer it. Aramz walked in with a platter of herbs and cups sitting atop a stack of their folded and dried clothes. His daughter carried a heavy water bucket.

Going to the wardrobe, Aramz pulled out a small but heavy iron cauldron and set it down in the center of the room. Ilge poured the water and then left. Leaf was rubbing his eyes free of sleep as Ilge reappeared holding a red hot bar of iron with tongs. She approached the cauldron and dropped it in. The warm steam that rose cleared the air of some of the cold. Herbs dropped into the water gave off scents that encouraged wakefulness.

Ilge returned with two more iron bars, warming the room with steam.

Aramz ladled out tea from the cauldron into cups and offered them both to Jovan and Leaf.

“We will have breakfast for you soon, when you are ready to come through.”

“Thank you, Aramz,” Jovan said.

The man nodded and left.

“What will we do today, Papa Jov?”

Jovan looked down at the boy and sipped the tea.

“I wish I had someone to leave you with,” Jovan said. “But I expect trouble would catch us unaware. I think today we’ll simply go and see the city. That will take time enough.”

“So we can find a new shop?”

“Yes. And so we can discover why everyone seems intent on harming us.”

“I wish we could find a home,” Leaf said. “I think I’m done traveling.”

“I am too, boy.”

Breakfast was a simply toasted bread. The jars of preserves for the toast more than made up for the simplicity. Jovan had to stop Leaf from putting a sixth type on the first piece of bread he took. The womenfolk thought it adorable.

Kallidova did not come down to join them and they did not wait for her. Jovan went through his pack to make sure there was nothing he might fear losing if someone searched his room. He tucked silver into his boot and into the small satchel he carried on his hip with a roll of tools. The trip had not hurt his savings nor what he had earned in Stoneweks.

Leaf had taken out his “Sword of Danger” stick. He had gone through six since they had parted ways with Slant and Zvediz.

“You cannot swing that around as we walk,” Jovan said.

“I know, Papa Jov. Today it’ll just be a walking stick.”

Jovan nodded. Together they walked to the front door.

Aramz came out from another room to see them off. “Where will you go today?”

“I’d rather keep my business to myself,” Jovan said. “But we go to see the city, and to see if we can’t find a place to set up a shop.”

“Very well. Tonight, over dinner, I’ll make sure you know of each district and what it contains.”

Jovan walked out of the Bather Inn, Leaf’s hand in his. A layer of frost clung to

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