It was dusk by the time we reached the gates to Tarn. As you might remember, Tarn is located where the road from Ansdron to Magrin meets the road to Naugbar, Kralnik’s home in the mountains. It is famous for its brothels and gambling houses and therefore collects a lot of money from its visitors. That’s why it is the only village in these parts with a sturdy stone wall capable of defending against most things short of a drant war.

The wall is manned and although the gates are usually open, to encourage visitors to enter straightaway and begin spending all of their money, this evening it was not. While that was undoubtedly a wise precaution it was unfortunately going to mean it would be that much longer before we were happily eating and drinking in an inn. I turned to locate my very handy knight and saw him riding near the back of our group, hopefully his mood had recovered. I called his name loudly and waved for him to join me. Once he did I sent him forward in the hopes that having a Knight of Ral Amin requesting entrance would speed things up. It did.

“I have never seen so many men manning the walls here.” Delik Slin said as we rode through the now open gates.

I nodded. “It does seem like a good time for it, though.”

“Do you think it will be enough? Now that we are in the middle of a drant war the walls do not seem quite as formidable as I remember.”

I chuckled. “Does anything?”

We made our way to the Buxom Lass but were informed by the guard at front door that they had no available rooms for the night.

I had just gotten down from my horse. I turned to Delik Slin, who was also no longer mounted. The rest of our people had stopped what they were doing and were waiting to see what I decided to do. “No rooms? And a guard at the door?”

“I do not think either of those things should come as a surprise, but I will see what I can do.” He tied his horse’s reins to the hitching post and climbed the stairs up to the guard. “Could you ask the proprietor if he is available to speak with Lord S’Vig, Commander Rilmer of the Ansdron Warders and Sir Aryoss, a Knight of Ral Amin?” I swear I could hear all of the capital letters when he spoke. The guard must have, too, because he nodded quickly and then disappeared inside. Delik turned back to me and smirked.

“Nicely done.” I said. We waited a few moments before the proprietor himself appeared, bowing and apologizing. He was not a heavy man but he was sweating like one. His greying hair was glistening from it.

“I’m so sorry, my lords, but the entire village is full up. You wouldn’t believe how much I’m charging for my rooms! And I’ve still got some who are offering even more.”

Delik Slin put an angry frown on his face. “Lord Tarin of Ansdron sent us to start the evacuation of Tarn tomorrow. We killed a troop of drants on their way here earlier today. Do you expect us to continue to defend you and yours without a good meal and a place to sleep? Perhaps we should just return to Ansdron and leave you to your own devices?”

Genuine fear played across the innkeeper’s face. “No, sirs! I mean, my lords. And my lady.” His shoulders slumped in defeat. “How many in your party?”

“Twenty-three.” I said with a smile.

“Twenty-three? I have no idea how we’ll do it but you may as well come in and eat while I figure it all out.” He grabbed the guard standing next to him by the arm. “You get the boys and help them get all these horses stabled. They will have to go two to a stall, including those already in there.” The guard nodded and the innkeeper turned back to us with a half-hearted smile. “My name is Blick, my lords and lady. Now, if you will follow me to the common room.” He headed inside and Delik Slin and I started after him while the rest of our group dismounted.

The common room was much as I remembered it from my last visit, except very crowded. Blick had to kick out some locals who had already finished eating. “I cannot have you lazing about taking up seats while these lords and their people are waiting to eat. They have come to save us and they need good food to do it!”

Delik Slin thanked them so then we all had to. There was a lot of bowing but I soon made my way to a seat at a table by the fire. It was a table for six so I asked Delik Slin, Vone, Kralnik, Thilos and Imprid to join me and motioned for Sir Aryoss, Venzik and Padral to sit at the table next to us. I let everyone else figure it out on their own. My father sat next to Padral, as close to me as he could get, I suppose.

“Who wants to find horses for Thilos’ two warders?” I asked.

“I will do it.” Thilos answered. “If there are any to be found.”

“We can commandeer them using Lord Tarin’s writ, if we have to.” Delik Slin said with a shrug.

“That’s true. Let’s just make sure we have them before Captain Klote arrives with our missing men. If he takes everyone back to Ansdron horses will be in even shorter supply. I think that also means we need to keep guards on our own horses. I anyone in the stables with them now?” I looked around the two tables and saw Venzik nodding.

“I have Lintok and Burdor watching them, sir.”

“Great. Good thinking, Venzik. You’re obviously a step ahead of me.” I smiled. “Again.”

He nodded. “Just part of the job, my lord.”