After discussing the Prince’s imminent arrival, we went about assembling the task pouches. These would be given out to members to complete or see to in order to set things in motion. Father grabbed a couple of stacks of flat stones from his desk while Torin grabbed a woven basket of empty pouches. The baskets displayed layers of intricate patterns woven into the basket itself. Each of us settled in with stones and cinch pouches and started marking the stones with the necessary tasks to be assigned to the people of The Tavern.

Father went back to his desk and Torin took his seat. I was tucked into the cushioned chair, with Jonah sitting beside me. I quickly began writing tasks and assigned names. At this point, I haven’t slept in over a day and a half and found the monotonous task a welcomed one.

In a matter of moments, a hush swept the room, with the warm fire serving as the only noise besides the scratching sound of writing on the stones. As each of us diligently went about marking down tasks on stones, several task bags were filled and labeled go out in the morning. Heavy cinch bags filled two baskets that laid between Jonah and me. The tasks range from daily tasks to longer, more elaborate tasks. Usually, if the task required further conversation, it would state who to see as the task versus the task itself.

After what felt like the hundredth cinch bag, and my stomach made a loud demanding rumble, protesting to be filled. there were only a few bags left to be filled on my lap, so I pushed through the gnawing of my stomach.

As if in answer, Father cleared his throat, gaining each of his children’s attention. “The rest of these bags can wait. Let’s go eat before all of Tavern hears Bronie’s stomach” Father said humorously. Each of us laughed, finding comfort in our family when we are putting into motion something so drastic. “I will finish the tasks when I return from the meal,” he finished.

“You’re coming back?” Jonah asked.

“There’s still much to do besides the task stones,” Father said with a sigh.

“You need to sleep,” I countered. I couldn’t help but think back to the meeting when I could see his weariness. When is the last time he actually got a full night’s sleep?

“A day for a Chief rarely ends,” Torin says ominously and Father nodded in agreement. Father gave Torin a half smile as if Torin had finally learned a lesson Father had been trying to teach him.

I have long assumed that Father planned for Torin to follow in his footsteps as Chief of The Tavern. Though Torin states he left my sect because didn’t want to be a Bastard anymore, I knew that Father had something to do with his leaving. Though the role of Chief doesn’t move from father to son, a Chief can support someone who they believe will fill the role honorably. Sometimes that person is the Chief’s child, and in other instances, it has been a disciple or someone else entirely.

Father stood and walked out of the hidden door to his office with Torin Jonah and I behind him. We quickly made our way out of the Command Longhouse and walked down the main trail that through the rest of the Tavern valley. The walk was a quiet one as we finally ran out of topics to talk about.

Father was never one for idle chit chat.

Halfway down the Tavern’s valley was a circular clearing with a large longhouse running parallel with the mountainside at the edge of the clearing. In the center of the clearing was a pit for large bonfires. Though there was nothing within the pit, well worn in tracks could be seen around it from celebrations past. The main longhouse was large enough to fit every person in Tavern within its walls. Thus it was the center of most Tavern life, including meals.

Some people were trickling out of the main longhouse and congregating in the clearing. The evening meal started well before sundown, so many had already eaten. Jorah started to walk a little faster as he spotted three figures waiting beside the doors of the longhouse. One was a tall and thin figure with two much smaller figures on either side. Jonah slid beside Torin and I before finally dodging ahead of Father. He sped up his walking pace and was halfway across the clearing when we were just past the treeline. Jonah and I had been gone on task for three days, and the gentle giant missed his people.

“Papa!” A small voice cried out and the two small figures ran toward us and collided with Jonah’s legs. Jonah let out a joyous laugh and proceeded to hoist them both up into the air. He held one in each arm and kissed both small bundles.

In his left was his youngest child Astor, who might be a season cycle older than Ella. She had long and curly brunette hair with an adorable round face. She looked like she could do no wrong, but she was quick and cunning, making her a younger version of her mother Mala. Plus she was covered in mud and sticks, showing that she definitely found something to get into today.

In Jonah’s right arm was his son, Valery. Though Valery was as ecstatic as his sister to see his giant father, he was old enough to want to be put down quickly after being hoisted in the air; being a few season cycles older than Astor put him at the age where he was easily embarrassed by his parents. He was starting to sprout up and looking like a bruiser like his father. Valery displayed a brute force as a Flyer that no one confused who his father was.

Jonah walked up to give Mala a soft kiss while still holding Astor and a loving arm around Valery, the boy leaned in with a smile. Mala’s dark curls were pulled back in various twists and braids that led down her back. She wore a blue dress with an apron tied around her waist. She was covered in flecks of dirt from working in the fields all day. I’ve never seen two people know each other so well. She was originally from The Farm, thus had extensive training on growing food for the masses. They met while we were making our way through our Flyer training at each Guild sect when we were children.

At first, they were just friends as she was the first female friend my age that I was able to make. As the seasons passed that cycle, it became more. So when it was time for us to move on from The Farm and go to another sect, she joined our motley crew and went from sect to sect with us. Eventually when the time came to choose a sect, she settled down here in The Tavern with us Stones when we became Bastards. Mala used her training from The Farm and now is Father’s main consult on all things food and sustaining the masses.

The happy family waited for us to walk join them. Though we were hailed and greeted from individuals throughout the clearing, I couldn’t help but be momentarily transfixed by the loving family. Jonah listened animatedly as Astor recounted the goings of the last three days. We were just over halfway through the clearing when Valery turned and spotted us. His smile grew and he vigorously waved towards us. Unfortunately our progress towards the Main Longhouse doors was constantly halted by individuals wanting a brief word with Father.

“Ladies fighting, it doesn’t seem right. That’s all I’m saying,” Dornson said, an elderly Bastard who was around when Frigga’s was owned by Frigga herself. He was one of those individuals who enjoyed bringing up difficult topics to argue his point.

“I understand Dornson, but things change with time. Sometimes it is best to embrace the changes. Look at my Bronie, for example. She’s excellent at farm work and other labor tasks,” he said in faked admittance. “But, put a sword in her hand and she can best most of my Bastards,” Father said with a smile.

“Yes,” Dornson huffed. “She is a good fighter. But,” Dornson started, but Father interrupted.

“I have to use all of the resources I have at my disposal to best serve The Tavern. It does us no good if I ignore half of what the Tavern has to offer by excluding our women. This isn’t a new outlook Dornson, it’s time to adjust,” Father said in with

Dornson looked down momentarily, resigning to the verbal defeat. “It was different when I was a young Bastard is all I’m saying,” Old man rattled. Father looked towards me and his waiting son, then smiled back at Dornson. “I don’t mean to keep ya. Have a good evening Chief Eurus.”

“And to you as well, Dornson,” Father said fondly. He patted Dornson on the shoulder, then continued towards the longhouse. Father was able to make the remaining journey to the doors and his waiting family unmolested by questions and inquiries.

Father stopped to hug and peck his grandchildren then motioned for us to follow him inside the longhouse. As Father walked into the longhouse, he was greeted by a large cheer that quickly spanned the length of the longhouse. Chief Eurus has always been a beloved Chief of his people. There are very few instances where this isn’t the case though. Sellswords and spies have little tolerance for the idiotic or morally repugnant. But Father had a way about him, a certain charisma, that begged to be followed.

Father walked through the open doors of the longhouse Torin and I followed Father in after a few moments with Jonah and his family in tow behind us. Father quickly left us once he entered the longhouse, assuming his usual routine as Chief. Before getting food, he always spent time going from table to table around the room, checking in on various individuals in regards to life, tasks, or general Tavern life. He hates small talk within the family, but he could small talk for ages with the people of The Tavern.

As we entered, our processional stopped to look about the longhouse for a seat. Multiple tables filled the space of the hall, with some starting to open up. The laughter of the Tavern and smoke from peace pipes filled the air, and thus started to fill me with a sense of comfort and feeling of being home. I continued to take in the scene in front of me. The walls were carved with scenes depicting the history of The Guild, similarly to the carved wall in the Command longhouse. Above us, candle chandeliers hung up by pulleys. The chandeliers themselves displayed stories when they were lowered for lighting.

I finally spotted Roy at a half-filled table by the rear wall of the longhouse. Jonah bumped my side, pulling my attention away from the longhouse and its occupants. As I turned to face him, I was surprised by another hug around my neck from Astor. I couldn’t help but returned the embrace. The unconditional love of children is always something to lighten one’s heart, even if they aren’t your own. I made eye contact with Jonah over Astor’s shoulder and saw his familiar smile.

“I’m going to sit with these ones tonight,” Jonah said with a smile. One arm was still holding up Astor while the other was lovingly wrapped around Mala’s waist. Torin looked on beside me, looking for a table for us.

“I don’t blame you,” I said smiling at Astor. I looked back to Jonah before continuing. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the meeting of the Bastards.”

Torin looked back towards his siblings in time to wave his goodbyes to his niece and nod in understanding toward his brother. Without further ado, our group divided, with Torin and I made our way through the crowd to grab food by the left side wall. Two spikes were set up with a cooked deer on each, both in various states of consumed. Between the two were large cauldrons of a meat and vegetable stew. And a place called The Tavern would be remiss if there weren’t several large barrels of ale propped on a table on either side of the buffet.

Once we both filled our plates with meat and our mugs with ale, Torin and I continued to search for a place to sit, waiting just beside the buffet to take in the tables. Finally, I heard a cackle of a laugh towards the back of the longhouse. Torin and I make eye contact, both knowing exactly who that laugh belonged to.