She wore a floppy, wide-brimmed hat, secured by a chin tie, and she cast it back as she threw her arms around Declan and hugged him hard without ceremony, lifting him off the ground. She was not a heavy woman, but she was muscular from years of driving mules, loading and unloading wagons. She grabbed his buttocks playfully, with both hands, and squeezed hard. Hows my favourite apprentice smith? she asked as she let Declan go.
Laughing as he disentangled himself, Declan said, Its been years since I was an apprentice, Roz.
Smacking his arse, she said, I wasnt talking about you, fool. I meant Jusan. Hes turning into a lovely young man.
Declan laughed again as he moved to the rear of the wagon. It was a converted dray Declan had worked on a few times. The sides and rear boards could be removed if Rozalee needed to lash down large crates or other cargo, as they could be held in place by the iron bolts Edvalt had fashioned for it years ago. With the sides and rear boards attached, a variety of goods could be transported.
Rozalee untied a series of ropes threaded through the iron eyelets set in the heavy oiled canvas on top of the wagon. With a nimble leap she mounted the cart and rolled back the covering. Declan admired the way she moved.
No one would call Rozalee pretty she was somewhat long-faced and her unremarkable light brown hair was now turning grey but she possessed a confidence that attracted men like honey drew bears, and she was open about her appreciation of the attention.
She handed down the first crate to Declan, who put it next to the doorway. From the aroma it contained some variety of fresh fruit. Besides the berries found in the hills, fruit was rare in Oncon and Marius charged a lot for it. Edvalts wife, Mila, had been threatening to plant fruit trees behind their home for years but never had; everyone knew that this close to the sea, there was too much salt in the soil to grow anything but the heartiest of plants.
When they had unloaded three more cases, Rozalee said, Thats the last of the fruit, I think until next spring. She handed Declan a large crate of meat and said, Freshly butchered, but needs to go into the cold cellar now.
Declan nodded and lifted the heavy crate onto his shoulder. Mutton and chicken were usually available in the village, and pork after piglets were weaned, but beef had to be shipped in: another rarity that Marius charged well for.
Declan entered the inn to find Marius conspicuously absent the tavern keeper avoided heavy lifting as much as possible then he moved through the small common room to the rear yard. The only structure in the ill-kept yard was a ramshackle run-in shed rarely used for horses; the few that did end up in Oncon were usually stabled at Edvalts place. To the left of the inn door, steps led down to the cold cellar located deep under the building. Once again Declan felt annoyed that Marius was too stingy to have built a staircase inside the inn, but quickly dismissed the feeling: it was like being upset with the tide for rising in the afternoon; it was simply the mans nature.
Declan set down the crate and opened the unlatched wooden door, admitting just enough light so he could see. He carried the crate down the steps into the underground cellar, found a cool back corner for the meat, and set the crate down. A quick glance around told him Marius wasnt stocking much that wasnt local. He moved a crate of withering vegetables near the door so it would be used before turning completely. Marius wasted nothing, so Declan knew the tavern stew should be avoided for the next two or three days.
He returned to the wagon and carried several more crates down to the cold cellar, then, when he was finished, Declan found Rozalee tossing the canvas into the wagon bed. As she raised the tailgate and locked it down, she said, You heading back to the smithy?
Im finishing my ale and have one for you. Marius is buying.
Then Im drinking, Rozalee said with a chuckle. She climbed up to the drivers seat and turned the mules around. The animals had been to Oncon village numerous times and knew that they were only a short journey from being unhitched from their traces, watered, and fed, so the often-recalcitrant animals were eager to please as she drove off.
Declan nursed his ale until Rozalee came back. He fetched two fresh mugs of ale from Marius, who passed them over the bar with a scowl but said nothing.
Once he was seated opposite Rozalee, he asked, What news?
After taking a long pull of the ale, she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and said, The usual. War in the east; Sandura is moving against a couple of the free lords who have done something to displease Lodavico. And rumours of bandits, emboldened by the turmoil, raiding in the Covenant.
Declan nodded. Youre not the first to warn us. Though, theres not much booty in the Covenant, so I dont see the reason.
Food, rape, a few trinkets, and little risk She paused, then said, Consider the men who would be tempted by that.
Declan shrugged. Youre widely travelled, youve seen much. I only know what Ive experienced here. Still, you hear things. The king of Sandura can dare much in his little wars, but the first ruler to move on the Narrows will find three other kings and most of the free barons opposing him. He tried not to grin but couldnt help himself.