(7)

The rain continued throughout much of the night and only when the sun began to rise did the sky seem to fully relieve itself of its water. The camp hummed with the persistent noise of activity. Tents were being packed on the baggage trains, and some of the men still suited themselves for the day's march when Saurus left his pavilion. He received a flow of salutes from his men as he passed them, some destroying their conversations to do so. Saurus headed in the direction of his mare; his boots lifted with a squelch as they pulled free from the mud that now occupied much of the camp’s floor.

When the Lord Commander arrived at his mare, which was being fed her morning breakfast of oats and a fresh green apple, he found Hadwin awaiting him, his bearskin pelt glistening wet.

“Good morning Lord Commander,” he said with an air of modesty in his voice. “I wanted to extend my thanks for the feast last night. It was—” He broke off looking at the servant feeding the Lord Commander’s mare. He was a young lad to be of the age no older than eighteen. The boy looked at Hadwin and bowed to leave, successfully reading the situation. When the boy was out of earshot Hadwin resumed.

“It was gracious of you to share what happened that day. All these years and I had no idea.”

Saurus looked at his good friend with reverence, but inside his stomach twisted. He felt as if he was naked somehow, that he betrayed some part of him that wanted to stay secret. He was not sure whether it was his own secret he betrayed, or the Tree Nymph’s; Saurus raised his head and breathed deeply through his nose.

“There is still much and more you don’t know my friend,” Saurus said. “Perhaps after we retake Wetbrook, we can talk about it further.”

“If that would please you, my Lord,” Hadwin replied.

“It would. But right now, we need to focus on the town of Wetbrook. Be sure to send out your wolves today captain, I want eyes on the town, and on the Whitegull Inn. If the gods are good, we’ll reach the inn before nightfall. Then we might rest beneath an actual roof for a change.”

Saurus mounted his mare as soldiers continued to move energetically around them, Hadwin looked up at his Lord Commander.

“It will be done my lord,” he said and began to turn, but before he could Saurus added:

“This situation with the camp follower, the woman. It ends today, captain.” His words were flat, monotone, and commanding.

“Yes, my lord,” Hadwin said, and Saurus rode past him to form the head of an already loose column of men.

The morning’s march was hindered slightly by the burden of rainfall that softened the forest floor, Hadwin and his wolves rode off ahead to scout, their wolf pelt skins trailing from their head as they galloped atop their horses. Every now and again the column halted to cut through an obstruction, but by midday, the army had arrived at the patch of open field called ‘Shrubland’. From here Saurus predicted the march would quicken and when they veered south, they could reconnect with the Wetbrook road. There they would only need to march west, using the road to guide them until they eventually reached Wetbrook.

The Whitegull Inn resided just west of the Dober Cliffs and travellers often relied on the inn for rest bite before they made the crossing. It was also a welcome sight for travelers arriving from the east. The Dober Cliffs were unnerving at best, and many wary traders spent good coin if they survived the journey through the cliffs. Saurus had not visited the inn in some years and doubted if it had the same proprietor. Nevertheless, their march would not have gone unnoticed or unheard. Chances are Saurus and his men were already being expected; Saurus hoped this would to be the case.

Before the sun began to crest its decent in the sky Saurus saw the scouts return, led by the bear. The two wolf brothers at his side meant that most of the scouts were still out, likely the ones heading to Wetbrook. Hadwin slowed when he reached the head of the column, Hadwin had to raise his voice over the marching drum of soldiers.

“We’ve scouted the Inn, my Lord,” Hadwin announced. “It looks quiet, possibly abandoned. We saw no signs of any sack. It’s likely the owners fled in fear of Wetbrook being so close.”

Saurus considered and looked over at his Captain. Windermere had wrapped his left arm in a noose after spraining it during his fall yesterday. He had assured Saurus it wasn’t an issue and no real damage was done; the healing master’s agreed as much.

“Abandoned or no, the inn will offer some of our men a good roof,” said Windermere. “Maybe some additional food as well, reserves the owners could not carry.”

“We’re not thieves good Captain,” chimed Alaric.

“No, but we are soldiers here to help them,” interjected Saurus looking over his shoulder at his son, “If they have left some food, we’ll take it. A letter of debt can be created. Once the town of Wetbrook falls, the proprietor can redeem the value of supplies taken.”

Captain Windermere nodded his approval and Alaric conceded. Good food was not to be wasted this far into a march.

“Maintain your scout's captain,” Saurus said, “Await our arrival before nightfall.”

“Yes, my Lord,” replied Hadwin before turning his mount and riding off, his two wolf brothers flanking his rear closely.

*

By the time Saurus and his men had reached the Whitegull Inn, Hadwin had already taken the liberty of investigating the establishment and helped prepare the inn for occupation. Saurus saw the torchlight emanating from Inn’s interior from a distance beneath a blanket of stars. The thatched roof looked well equipped to defend against any more rainfall the night might have installed for them.

The stables to the inn were empty and as Hadwin had observed, the inn did in fact look abandoned. It was not until the main door opened to greet Saurus and his men, he saw Hadwin standing beside a stout woman. She wore a white apron that looked to be stained with the last five years of use, her hair was a bird’s nest and her skin looked to resemble the age of someone nearing their one hundredth name day.

“My lord, this is Lady Aggie, the proprietor.” Said Hadwin and Saurus noticed he was clutching the woman’s arm rather forcefully as if expecting her to flee. Saurus dismounted and approached, treading across a few strands of broken straw that littered the ground outside.

“My Lady,” Saurus announced, removing his helm, and bowing. “I trust you were aware of our comings?”

Aggie only stared absently at Saurus’ breastplate, the lids of her eyes seemed too heavy to fully lift. Saurus noticed the gentle sway she had as if she was drunk, maybe she was he considered.

“He said you’d come,” she said dreamily, “Said you came to take his queen.”

Saurus looked up to catch a glimpse from Hadwin, still clutching the woman’s stick-thin arm tightly. He read fear in Hadwin’s eyes and wondered what else the woman might have said before he had arrived. Saurus looked around at the stables again, at the thatched roof that still trickled the odd droplet of rainwater. Inside was quiet and through the sunken glass, Saurus saw it was empty, except for the odd scout bearing a wolf pelt atop their head. ‘This place is abandoned, except for her.’

“Where is everyone? where are the horses?” Saurus asked.

“He took ‘em, my Lord.” Came the old worn voice. “He ate them right in front of me. Made me watch while they begged for mercy.”

“Who?” Saurus asked and saw Hadwin’s grip grow even stronger, but the old woman didn’t seem to notice.

“The one with many eyes, my Lord. The Weaver of Will.”

Aggie looked up and for a heartbeat, Saurus saw a smirk creep across her face. She lunged herself at him. Saurus felt Aggie’s bony fingers claw against his eyes. The attack came so sudden and abruptly, he could do little but lean backward to protect his face. Hadwin still had his steel grip on her arm and it was lucky he did. Before Saurus had taken a step back, Hadwin had brought his free hand around to strike Aggie in the temple, the woman fell to collide with the soft ground.

For a moment Saurus thought Hadwin might have killed her, given her age, but as he knelt to check the old woman that had just tried to claw his eyes out, he noticed her chest slightly moving; she was breathing. He brushed back her copper hair to look at her face and there on her neck, were two small red dots.