Chapter 4

Anula

Thunder roared as if the gods were dancing in the heavens. Heavy rain falling upon the roof and windows threatened to overcome the commotion of the tavern. Standing in the shadows, Anula watched the collection of people feasting and drinking. Servant girls ran from table to table unable to keep up with the call for more mead. Her father stood behind the bar filling wooden mug after mug from the barrels lining the wall. The Foaming Horn was busy with travelers and locals taking shelter from the monster storm that attacked Lasteel.

Lightning flashed and Anula tapped her foot on the dark oak floor counting the seconds. As she reached her fourth tap the door blew open, the wind throwing rain and three cloaked men into its opening. Thunder announced their entrance to the tavern as the largest one forced the door shut against the strong wind.

Anula squinted, her eyes cutting through the darkness with ease. Their hoods hid their face until the leader looked back to his companions. Anula noticed his red hair and a grin as he nodded over to the bar. She stood her ground against the wall and out of sight, but rested her hand on her pommel, going still.

Outsiders were not uncommon in The Foaming Horn. Traders, guards, and mercenaries who stayed out of the main city found their way in often. When she was younger, it was one of the only taverns that served half breeds, which attracted even more oddities.

Anula watched the men pick their way through the crowded tavern, ignoring the only open table in their path. When they reached the bar, one of them leaned over, tapping the wood with the point of a dagger.

“Bakka the Bold? Is tha you? Ay, look here Ian, that fella looks like Bakka, no?” The man said lowering his hood. Anula noticed his red hair covering his right eye, a discolored scar etched into his skull. The other two men lowered their hoods as well revealing a man with an uneven scruffy beard and another with dark stubble.

“That old man with the gray hair? Nah, can’t be. Bakka is ten feet tall with arms as thick as tree trunks.” Scruffy beard said with a smile.

Anula listened to their obnoxious banter as the red-haired man flipped a coin onto the bar. What caught her attention was the larger of the three. His eyes flashed along the tavern assessing and judging while the other two began to speak louder. His eyes landed on Anula and paused for an instant before dismissing her. The slamming of a fist snapped her attention back to the bar.

“Pour me a glass before my mouth goes dry will ya. And another two for my brothers here. Tha road has been dry and dusty.”

Anula was about to intervene when her father turned around at last. The outsiders halted their bantering and her father grinned at last, breaking his stone, emotionless face. Laughter erupted from the three and Anula could hear her father’s words clearly when she focused on them.

“Thom, Ian, Andre. Welcome to The Foaming Horn.” Bakka said raising an empty mug and cleaning cloth up.

“You would be the only twit crazy enough to hang those horns on your wall.” Ian said, scratching his uneven beard. They all laughed as Bakka placed four cups on the bar, filling them with whiskey.

“What brings you to Lasteel?” Bakka asked topping off the last cup.

“Jus passing through really. We three were hired to guard a caravan. Trouble with the halvras raidin’ between cities.” Thom said holding his cup up. They brought the cups together, the wood clinking. Each downed their whiskey and placed their cups on the table.

Anula watched her father pour them another round, then look her way. He motioned for her to join him. Looking over the crowd, they were calm and not eager to leave with the storm raging outside. Content that there would be no trouble, she left her shadow lookout and made her way to her father and the strange men. When she reached them, her father smiled and motioned her way.

“Meet my daughter. Anula, this is Thom, Ian and Andre.”

Each nodded while Bakka placed the whiskey bottle on the bar.

“On the house. Happy to see your all still alive. Thought for sure you would be dead by now Thom, I thought Ian died the night I left.” Bakka said.

“Hey, I’m not that daft.” Ian said with a scowl.

“Ayy, yeah you are, I have kept you alive more times than I can count.” Thom said.

“You both still live because of me.” Andre said dryly looking back to Bakka.

“Now that I believe!” They laughed and Anula listened as they began to talk of the days her father served the king. She knew little besides he served. Whenever she would ask of his past, he found ways of deflecting her questions. Listening to her father’s friends now revealed more about him than she could have ever dreamed. After a few jokes Ian turned to Anula.

“I’m sure you have heard of us though. Pulled your father out of a few difficult situations.” Ian said winking at Bakka.

“No, he has never spoken a word of you. Any of you.” All eyes went from Anula back to Bakka who shrugged.

“Not a single word? Now I’m truly offended.” Thom said frowning.

“Don’t blame him.” Andre said shrugging. “Difficult times those were, still can’t shake the dreams I have.”

“I’ll give ya tha one. But we certainly had some good ones.” Thom leaned forward, a smile forming. “Tell me lass, he has at least told you about those ornate horns he has above the bar?” Thom pointed to the large wooden plaque with two ornate horns with metal tips attached. Anula glanced at the horns then shook her head.

“No? Bakka. You never told her the story behind The Foaming Horn?” Bakka smiled shaking his head.

“Crazy twit was the only one with the balls to take down that Pure Blood, then remove its horns to have a drinking horn.” Ian said laughing. “Crazy bastard removed both horns and tied them to his belt mid battle. Said he was going to be thirsty after the skirmish and was going to have a cup worth drinking from. We three kept the bulls back while he did it too. Pissed off a good number of the Pure Bloods watching in the distance.”

“Aye, how they howled at the disgrace they witnessed. Sent their whole legion of underlings upon us. Had to pull your da behind the shield wall as they came running. He stood their laughing holding a horn up to me like it was gold.” Thom said with a beaming smile.

“Didn’t act much like a general that day. More like a kid who found hidden treasure.” Ian said grinning.

Bakka kept cleaning the mugs but stole a look up to the ornate horns with a wry smile.

“Had the best drinking horn in all the legions. Pure bloods don’t get caught up in skirmishes, they use their underlings for that. Not sure why the Pure Blood joined those ranks, but your dad made him pay for it.” Andre said.

Anula looked to the three men then back to her father.

“Trained each of us he did. Taught us how to use all sorts of weapons. He was a weapons master turned general by King Guiin himself.” Ian finished his mug, peering at Bakka. “Hey, why did you leave his land? You had it good. Land, title and luxuries of the finest nobles.”

“Why ya think?” Thom asked. Ian sat puzzled for a few moments, until a realization hit.

“Caris.” Ian said lowering his voice.

“True enough. She was Lasteel blood, and her roots were deep in the land. Loved her more than the land I was given, so I stayed with her. What is the point of everything I had if there was no one to enjoy it with?” Bakka said. “She was good to me and has given me something worth more than all of it.” He smiled looking at Anula.

“Aye, there is truth to that. She was a good woman.” Thom said finishing his mug.

“Thought so, been what? forty years?”

“Hm hmm.”

“Ayy. Where does the time go? We were young, strong and nothin’ hurt after a night of sleep.” Thom said squaring his shoulders back, small pops sounding from his shoulder blades.

“Thought that was why we drank.” Ian said after finishing his glass.