Erik shouted, Lights.
Roo looked out from under the sodden brim of his once handsome slouch hat. Wilhelmsburg?
I think, said Erik. Well be home by tomorrow afternoon.
I dont suppose I could convince you to sleep in some strangers barn, could I? said Roo, having spent more money on this journey than he had planned.
No, answered Erik without humor. Im for a dry bed and a hot meal.
That image overcame Roos reluctance to spend another coin, and he followed his friend toward the lights of the town. They found a modest inn, with a sign of a plowshare swinging in the wind, and rode through the side gate to the stable. Erik shouted, and a lackey came out, bundled against the weather, to take the horses. He listened politely to Eriks instructions and nodded, and Erik assumed he would be wise to return after supper to see the boy cared for the animals as he ordered.
They hurried into the taproom and, once inside, shook off the water from their cloaks.
Evening, sirs, said a young girl, pleasant-looking, with brown hair and eyes. Will you be needing rooms for the night?
Yes, said Roo, obviously displeased at the cost, but now that warmth was returning to his bones glad they were not returning to the weather outside.
Fit to be blowing up a rare storm tonight, said the innkeeper as he came and took their cloaks and hats. Will you be dining? He handed the cloaks and hats to the girl, who took them somewhere warm to hang and dry.
Yes, said Erik. What wine have you?
Fit for a lord, said the man with a smile.
Any from Ravensburg? asked Erik as he made his way to an empty table.
Save for a solitary man with a sword in the far corner and two merchants obviously taking their ease before the fireplace, the inn was deserted. The innkeeper followed them, We do, sir. Its the next town over, then one more, and on to Ravensburg.
So we are in Wilhelmsburg, said Roo.
Yes, answered the innkeeper. Are you familiar with the area?
Were from Ravensburg, answered Erik. Its just been a while since weve been there and in the darkness we werent sure which town this was.
Bring us some wine, please, asked Roo, then supper.
The meal was filling, if not memorable, and the wine better than expected; it clearly had a style and finish familiar to both Roo and Erik. It was the common wine of Ravens-burg, but compared to what they had been drinking the last year and more, this seemed a bottle fit for the Kings table. Both young men fell into a quiet mood, anticipating the homecoming the next day.
For Roo it was nothing much to do with his past; his immediate family was his father, Tom Avery, a drunken teamster whose only legacy to Roo had been beatings and teaching him to drive a team of horses. Roo was much more interested in seeking out some minor wine merchants he knew and arranging what he hoped would be the start of his rise to riches.
For Erik it was coming home to his mother and the shattered dream of his youth: a blacksmiths forge and a family. He had served old Tyndal the smith for years before Tyndals death, then a year and more with Nathan, who had been the closest thing to a father he had known. But life took its own course, and nothing seemed to be as he had hoped it would, when he was a child in Ravensburg.
What are you thinking? asked Roo. Youve been quiet a long time.
You havent exactly been bending my ear, replied Erik, a smile on his face. Just about home and what it was like before.
He didnt have to say before what. Roo knew: before a struggle with Eriks half brother Stefan ended up with Roos dagger driven into Stefans chest as Erik held him. After that they had fled Ravensburg and had not seen friend or family since.
Roo said, I wonder if anyone told them we live?
Erik laughed. If they didnt, our arrival tomorrow will be something of a surprise.
The door opened and the howl of the wind caused the two young men to turn. Four soldiers in the garb of the barony entered, cursing the nights foul weather.
Innkeeper! shouted the corporal as he removed his sopping great cloak. Hot food and mulled wine! He glanced around the room, then his gaze returned to Roo and Erik. His eyes widened.
Von Darkmoor! he blurted. The other three soldiers fanned out, not quite sure why their corporal had called out their Barons name, but clearly alerted to trouble by his tone.
Erik and Roo stood, and the two merchants moved away from their chairs before the fireplace, hugging the wall. The only other person in the room, the swordsman, looked on with interest, but didnt move.
The corporal had his sword out, and as Roo made to draw his own, Erik motioned for him to return it to its scabbard. Were not looking for trouble, Corporal.
The corporal said, We heard youd been hung. I dont know how you and your scrawny friend escaped, but well soon put that right. Seize them.
Roo said, Wait a minute
The men moved quickly, but Erik and Roo were both quicker, and the first two soldiers who laid hands upon them found themselves on the floor, their heads ringing from swift blows. The two merchants spied a pathway past the trouble and beat a hasty exit from the room, running outside into the rain without their hats or coats. The man at the table laughed. Well done! he shouted.
The corporal leveled his sword and thrust, but Erik slipped aside and had him by the wrist before he could react. One of the strongest men Roo had ever seen, Erik also had been trained in barehanded combat, and his iron grip wrung the corporals sword from his fingers as he gasped in pain.
Roo simply thrust with his hand, palm out, fingers extended, and delivered a sharp blow with the heel of his hand upward to the chin of the other standing soldier, who went down in a stunned heap.
Wait a minute! commanded Erik in the voice he had developed as Robert de Loungvilles corporal on their return from Novindus. The other two soldiers, who were slowly standing, hesitated, and Erik shouted his command: Hold, damn you!
He released the corporals wrist while kicking aside his sword so he couldnt reach for it easily, then showed that his hands were empty of weapons. I have a paper. He reached slowly inside his tunic, removed the document given him the day before by an officer in the office of the Knight-Marshal of Krondor, and handed it to the corporal.
The man took it and glanced it over. Got the seal of Krondor at the bottom, he grudgingly admitted, while still sitting on the floor. Then his eyes lowered as he said, Cant read.
The swordsman stood and with a relaxed air moved to Eriks side. If I may help, Corporal, he said, extending his hand.
The corporal handed back the document and the man read aloud: Know you by my hand and seal that Erik von Darkmoor is sworn to my service and His eyes glanced to the bottom of the document. Its a lot of mumbo-jumbo, Corporal. The short of it is you just tried to arrest one of Prince Nicholass personal guards. A corporal, like yourself, it says.
A fact? asked the corporal, his eyes widened.
Yes, not only is the document signed by the Duke of Krondors own Knight-Marshal, the Prince himself signed it.
True? was the corporals next remark as he slowly rose to his feet.