Leisa spent most of the day talking to Jasen and the soldiers, but when the inn became crowded with patrons, it got loud. Her head hurt. She decided to lay down for a time, though with the intention of going back down to search for hirelings. Surely they would come, but it wasn’t yet dark out, so she decided to sleep. I will show Sorela I can be useful, she told herself. It still rankled that the mage hadn’t allowed Leisa to accompany her.

When she finally went down to the common room the inn was bustling with raucous laughter and music. Leisa glanced around for Sorela and couldn’t find her. It seemed Jasen and the others weren’t there either. She pushed her way to a table with enough free room to sit and a serving girl, not much older than herself, came to ask what she’d like to eat. Leisa paid for milk, porridge and some roasted chicken. After finishing, the ache in the back of her head was only a distant memory. She glanced around. What do hirelings even look like?

There were several big men with swords drinking mugs of ale, eating from plates of mostly meat, pausing from time to time to slosh their food down with a gulp. They clapped to the tune a bard was playing as a girl danced atop one of the tables. The song she sang made Leisa blush.

She wondered how to strike up casual conversation with some of these men as she watched the girl dance atop the table. She was of a similar age as Leisa, and showing far too much leg to be decent. Leisa could go over to their table, put on as much female charm as she knew how... Her face already felt hot. She could just pretend the big one was Jasen and the others were his friends.

Where is Jasen? she wondered looking about the common room. Was he already asleep in the hay loft? It was still early. More likely he was chatting up the soldiers. He didn’t get very many chances to do that.

Finally Leisa worked up the courage to sit at the other table. “Is this spot taken?” she asked a large bearded man near the edge. She had to look up at him.

He scowled, took a gulp of his ale. “Move along, serving wench.”

“I am no serving wench, you lout! Mind your tongue before you find out what’s best for you.”

The man flinched, stood up and pushed the bench backward. Leisa’s eyes widened and she nearly toppled over. The bard cut off abruptly and the girl stopped dancing.

She cursed as she stood, peering into the man’s ruddy face. She sounded like the lady mage just then... Where did that come from?

The huge man towered over Leisa, double what he had before. She tried to keep an air of confidence about her without revealing the fact that her hands were shaking.

“If not a servant,” he said harshly, looking her up and down, “then you must be a whore.” He thrust a hand between her legs.

Leisa jumped back reflexively, a cat that had just turned a corner to find a barking mastiff. She slapped at the lout’s arm. He laughed raucously along with his companions. Leisa unsheathed the dagger at her belt.

“What are you going to do with that, darling, tickle me?”

More laughing.

A door slammed shut loud enough to draw everyone’s attention. Two new strangers had entered the inn—a shorter man in front with his fists on his hips. He was wearing an oiled leather cloak like his friend, and had black trousers and a yellow shirt. “My friend wants to make a wager.”

The lout beside Leisa arched an eyebrow. “A wager...? Against what?”

“You,” the taller of the two strangers said, pointing a finger. “Me and you—we brawl—the winner gets the girl.”

Leisa’s eyes nearly bulged out of her head.

What? “Nobody gets the girl!” she yelped.

The tall stranger smiled. He was actually quite handsome—they both were, but Leisa quickly pushed that thought out of her head.

“I only want a quick dance and you can be on your way. I assure you my intentions are pure, young maiden.” He gave a flourishing bow.

Leisa’s face grew hot as the louts behind her barked out, laughing. The big bearded man shoved her aside. “You have a wager!”

Moments later the center of the common room, despite the innkeeper’s protests, was cleared of tables and there was a large ring of patrons, men, women, and serving girls alike, forming a large circle surrounding the two men.

Good gods, Leisa thought, looking for the door, but she couldn’t see it for the press of onlookers. She’s going to kill me!