Beidrick - I was just finishing breakfast when the knock came at my door. I had my rent ready for days now, but I just couldn’t bring myself to cross town to deliver it.
I jumped to the door forming a good excuse as I moved to the door.
“How the hell are ya!” came the collective greeting. Floki, Sig, and Bromm were the first through the door. Followed by Danin and Hakaar.
“How is the boat?” SIg’s tone suggested he wasn’t really concerned about the welfare of the boat. More correctly he was inquiring as to my, its availability.
I had been courting Viki for just under a week. Her father was a thatcher, which in Hlofreden meant he was in high demand ten months of the year. Viki was nearly nineteen and of a marriageable age. She had always been attentive when I was around, which is as much as admitting she was interested. I wasn’t sure I was ready to settle down just yet, but Viki had many fine qualities, beauty least among them, but a fine woman all the same.
“Were headin’ to Dowery for a few days, maybe a week. We’d like to talk business along the way.” Sig had emerged as the silver-tongued one of our group when it came to business. Within a few minutes my thoughts of a quiet night with Viki were forgotten and were leagues from Hlofreden. My only regret was forgetting to get a message or note to the young lady.
Sig took me on a tour of his bat cave and a narrow channel that lead to a sulphur mine. I explained that if we were going to navigate that channel at any tide the dead wood and debris would need to be removed.
Our next stop was Pike Pier in Dowery, We arrived on the evening tide. I had forgotten how small Hlofreden was by comparison.
Gas lamps and chanted glass turned the shore into a sea of colored lights. It had been more than a year since I set foot here, but I haddn’t forgotten that a few extra coins to the doc master would be as much as a guarantee of security while we were away from the boat, my boat. Sig was happy to pay the surcharge.
When I returned to the others we had grown in number from seven to eight. Hakaar, the ex-soldier from the south, was escorting a lass of surpassing beauty. Before I could clarify who she was or where she came from we were making our way toward an inn and tavern located near the docks.
I hadn’t bothered with inns in the past if a could avoid it, this one had an open area with a large stage. Several men belted out songs of the sea while we wetted our tongues on some local brew.
“We’ll have the bratz and cabbage.” Bomm's voice cut through the chatter of the room. Our server, a plump blonde with rosy cheeks, took our order with the enthusiasm of one who works for tips. Bromm called after the waitress, “A round of your King’s port for the gentlemen at the next table. I hadn’t noticed them before now. The table was crowded with soldier types. Officers or well paid mercenaries. I was trying to wrap my head around what was different about this crew when I realized every one of them was wearing a firearm.
We were nearly done with our meal when Bromm, Sig and Danin invited themselves over to their table. I turned my attentions to the maiden in our midst. Hakaar introduced her as Silah. I was still getting accustomed to Hakaar’s imposing size and pronounced teeth, er tusks. Whatever he calls them. The woman appeared to be with him. She was charming to a degree that shamed my Viki back home. Her features were delicate enough to suggest nobility, but she seemed to have a common touch that only deepened her beauty.
I noticed that one of the gunfighters was taking with a merchant or messenger near the entrance. The soldier seemed annoyed. I only caught fragments of their conversation. Something to do with hunting down a noble woman who stood to inherit a fortune now that her father had passed.
Bromm and the others returned after a spell.
“Queen’s Men.” Bromm said. Here all the way from Akeron. They served with our famous Captain Cateras of the Salamanders.
The music had changed to a more danceable tune as we drifted toward the exit. A number of local gals entered the tavern as we pushed out the door. A wink from the chesnut haired beauty was all it took for me to change my own tune.
“I think things are looking up here.” I said loud enough for the young ladies to hear.
“I’d rather see what other sport there is in town.” Said Floki. “We can always come back if nothing else pans out." The old mining town metaphor was not lost on me.
“We’ll I see no reason to waste dancing legs on a long walk. I’ll be testing these waters if anyone would care to join me.” I wasn’t surprised when the lot of them pushed out into the night. Less competition for me.
I gave them a wave and turned my attentions over to a long skirt and coy smile.
