CHAPTER TEN

Davram and Slim Rowon dried out back in the tavern. They had no coin left for anything.

Simon came over.

"They cleaned me out," Slim Rowon said.

"The offer still stands," Simon said.

"We'll do it. A good dinner and more ale and we leave in the morning. Point us the way."

"Eat and drink on the house. Take a room up the stairs. I'll wake you at dawn."

"I'm coming as well," Marasoldig said, standing at the entrance, dripping from the rain.

"Why should we take you?" Slim Rowon asked.

"I could shove your own cheap sword up your asshole and break it off instead."

"Well. Welcome, then."

"I want a chicken and beer. And a room my own," Marasoldig said and sat at their table.

She tossed Slim Rowon's sword on the floor. He picked it up.

"You're a soldier?" Slim Rowon asked.

"I am a fighter," Marasoldig said.

"Where did you learn to fight?"

"Nowhere."

After that they sat in silence until her chicken and beer came. Slim Rowon was served mutton and Davram drank the ale. Marasoldig stared at Davram as she ate. She wiped chicken grease from her chin.

"Why did you help me?" she asked him.

"It did not seem kind, what he was doing."

"Kind?"

"I must be kind. Somei said to me that I must never forget."

She stared at him for awhile, chewing her food. Then she nodded and drank the entire mug of beer.

"I will follow you until I am dead," she said to him.

Slim Rowon froze with his mouth open.

"Are you my friend, then?" Davram asked.

She seemed to ponder this. Then she shook her head.

"We are no friends. I am to serve. These are the rules."

Davram blinked.

"What are the rules?" he asked.

"There are rules to the world which we must abide by."

Marasoldig stood up and took the pitcher of beer up to her room and shut the door.

"How fortune turns in a single day," Slim Rowon whispered, "Let's be wary of her."

"I trust her," Davram said with a smile.

"You trust too easily, my friend."

"Do I?"

"She's a stranger."

"You were a stranger."

"I am obviously trustworthy and honorable to any eye. It is a different case. Let us retire, Davram. Tomorrow will begin soon, and today has been long."

They found an empty room with two beds and soon were asleep.