There was plenty of activity we could see around the town as we rode into the gate, even though daylight was failing. We slowed and walked our mounts through. Gavendor waved at the guards as he passed. I had been here before many years earlier and the village looked larger than I remembered it. There were a significant number of rough huts that looked recently made. The outer perimeter of the village was reinforced with stakes and a thick wood walls, double thickness in many places.

  My cursory assessment of the village and fortifications were interrupted when we got to the stables and dismounted and I was swept into a hug by none other than Kaarlo, my ex-fiancee.

  “I'm so glad you have come,” he said into my hair with emotion breaking his voice. It embarrassed me in a strange way. I pulled away from him and patted his arm like a male friend would.

  “Baron Issakainen,” I said loudly, using his formal title. “Thank you for your confidence. This is my comrade in arms, Meig. We have ten others with us, well-seasoned men, fairly well armed. They are riding behind with a cart of supplies. I hope we can help with your situation.” If he was disappointed in my behavior, his countenance didn’t show it.

  “Excellent. I’ve arranged quarters for you…” he started.

  “Meig and I can room together. The men-at-arms are a bit rough around the edges…” I said, but he caught my meaning easily.

  “We have room in the barracks for your men. Too much room, truth be told. Gavendor will see them settled. Your luggage…?” he looked around.

  “There is a carriage with a few things. I travel light these days,” I told him, smiling. He looked over at Meig. “We both do.” He nodded and waved to us to follow him.

  “I will arrange baths and, perhaps, some robes until your things arrive. You must be tired from your journey. Rest tonight and in the morning we will discuss things,” he told us as we walked into the front door of his manor home.

  A lovely woman with light brown hair, still immaculate despite the hour, and in a brocaded green dress was waiting to greet us as we entered.

  “This is my wife, Pardama. Pardama, this is my friend Aebbe and her companion, Meig,” he said as he strode forward and linked his arm through hers.

  “Pleased to make your acquaintance, madam,” I said formally, bowing while Meig gave a slight curtsey.

  “Oh, please, call me Pardama or Pardy, if you will. Kaarlo and Gavendor speak of you often and I’d like to think of you as family,” she told me and I was surprised. “I make Kaarlo include me in all the war talk, I’m afraid, so I get to hear everything. I knew you would approve!” The lady of the house was impressing me very positively, but perhaps it showed more on Kaarlo and his appreciation of the fairer sex.

  “As you please, Pardy. I am glad you are kept informed and I hope to be of some help to you all,” I told her sincerely. Her smile was genuine as was mine in return.

  “It's so late. I had hoped to welcome you with a good meal, but instead, I have arranged for some food delivered to your room in case you are hungry. And perhaps a bath would be welcome…” she said.

  “I'll see to it,” Kaarlo told her, giving her a swift kiss on her cheek and striding away.

  “Come. I’ll show you to your room, er…,” she muttered to a servant nearby and then waved us to go with her up a grand staircase and down a short hall. There was a heavy wooden door which stood open. Inside, there was a large bed with heavy curtains to draw around it and a hearth with a fire already going in it. “I… er…”

  “This will do just fine for us,” I reassured her, glancing at Meig to make sure it was. There was only one bed, but it was easily large enough for Meig and myself. The slight nod of her head let me know it was.

  Aelfie jumped up on the bed before I could tell her off.

  “Aelfie!” I told her sharply, noticing the muddy paw prints she was making.

  “Well, that’s your side,” Meig said, chuckling.

  “I'll leave you to get settled. The baths will be set up just a few doors down. I’ll have some gowns and robes brought for you as well so you don’t have to wait for your luggage and can rest comfortably as soon as may be,” the lady of the house said before taking her leave. We thanked her as she left. I pulled Aelfie off the bed. We set the things we were carrying down and warmed ourselves by the fire until the baths were ready.

  This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

  The bath tubs were separate, but next to each other. I had hoped there would be no awkwardness between Meig and I as we stripped and there wasn’t. It occurred to me that she may have also been a Lady once that had been surrounded by lady’s maids and servants. We both groaned in unison as our bodies hit the warm water of the baths, making us snicker. Some lady’s maids asked if we wanted our hair washed and we both eagerly agreed.

  “Maybe I’ll finally get the soot out from my hair and fingernails,” I mused. I had kept my hair short, mostly with Meig’s help cutting it for me, but it still felt stiff from grime.

  “And every other crease and seam,” muttered Meig and I chuckled. The soot did seem to get everywhere and I was beginning to forget the color of the skin of my arms and face under the blackening stuff.

  When we finished, we were provided with some simple frocks to sleep in and a robe to fend off the chill until we got into bed. Back in our room, the maids had heated the bed for us and we both hopped in and were asleep before we had much time to register any discomfort at sharing the bed along with Aelfie curled up at our feet, no doubt having found one of the spots the warmers had been.

  ***

  In the morning, Meig and I woke almost at the same time. We stretched and found that our trunks had been brought up while we slept, so we dressed into some relatively fresh clothes that had the least amount of soot on them we could find. Aelfie found her chew toy and we tossed it for her as we drifted down the hall and back down the stairs in search of some breakfast.

  A servant noticed us and directed us into a grand hall that was set for about twelve to eat. Kaarlo was already there with Gavendor.

  “Good morning,” Kaarlo told us with a smile. “I trust you slept well?”

  “Very well, thank you,” we assured him as we sat down at the table near them. Kaarlo sat at the head of the table with Gavendor on one side. I headed to the seat next to him on the other side with Meig beside me.

  They waved us over and servants brought food for all of us along with hot koff, a bit of a luxurious drink I hadn’t had since I’d left my father’s house. The smell of it brought back memories. I waved my hand over my food as I’d been doing all trip and got an alarming sense of foreboding from none other than Kaarlo’s cup.

  He was just bringing it to his lips, so I shot out my hand and knocked it away from him. The whole room seemed to freeze in shock at my actions and I felt many eyes on me.

  “Oh, it’s bad luck to drink koff at the start of a job. Sorry, Kaarlo. I should have said,” I told him rather lamely. I looked at Gavendor and slightly shook my head when he continued to bring his own cup to his lips. He put it down. A servant ran up to mop up the spilled drink from the table cloth. Kaarlo looked as shocked as anyone.

  “I'm sorry, but the boys are pretty strict on it. They’d never forgive me if we started out the job on a wrong foot,” I explained. Kaarlo collected himself and told the servants to take away the hot drinks. I noticed that Meig did her own spell over her food and gave me a slight nod.

  “Is…everything else to your satisfaction?” Kaarlo asked with an edge to his voice.

  “Yes. Yes, of course. Just no koff,” I said and we ate what was before us. Water was brought out which in no way substituted for the lovely drinks we had turned down. Luckily, many people had all sorts of strange superstitions and I was hoping the staff would think no more about my odd behavior.

  “The goblin raids had been becoming more frequent. We’ve brought in many people from around the country side to provide them protection, but some are refusing to leave their farms,” Gavendor explained gravely. “It’s harvest time and they have to bring in their fall crops. Plus, many are putting in the winter wheat to have an early crop in spring.”

  “It's the same everywhere. People are fleeing the west. We passed many burned and blackened houses and fields on the way here,” I told them. “Wellswood seems to have avoided the worst of it in many ways. I wonder why that is…”

  “It is wetter here. Maybe, just harder to burn?” suggested Meig.

  “Possibly. But a house will burn all the same, right? We should look around. Have a look at places that have been raided,” I suggested, shrugging. “See those that haven’t?”

  “The lizard people have been affected as well and we are interacting with them much more,” Gavendor informed us.

  “Really?! How does that work?” I asked, remembering their chittery language.

  “There are some who still remember we had a system of signs that we used to communicate with them. Much has been lost, but we’re relearning things,” Gavendor explained. Meig perked up.

  “That sounds really interesting. I’d like to learn about that and meet these lizard people. I’ve never heard of them before,” she said.

  “And, she’s got a knack with communication. It might help,” I added, only slightly teasing. We finished eating and split up. Kaarlo took me into his study and shut the thick door behind us.

  “What was that about?” he asked.

  “The koff was poisoned. We need to check all the food. I’ll do it in a bit. This is not good. I’m here one night and this attempt is made? Has anyone in your family been attacked or gotten sick lately?” I asked him.

  “No,” he said, but worry etched his brow.

  “Where is your father these days?” I asked him.

  “He…he passed on his title to me and moved East to the coast to ease his joints. Should I send for him?” Kaarlo asked and I wondered if he was hurt by my question.

  “No, no. I… Please, don’t be offended by my question, but who would inherit your Barony if you should die? Would your wife?” My mind was reeling with possibilities.

  “I…yes,” he started, but I cut him off.

  “And if she passed?” I continued. “Is your father still in the running?”

  “No, I mean, I don’t think so. I think once you abdicate you can’t go back, but I’d have to ask my steward to be sure…” he explained.

  “No, don’t ask anyone these questions, Kaarlo. This stays between us. But I think you should send your wife away for her own safety. I’d ask you to remove her from your inheritance, but that could be too obvious a move and not really ideal,” I said and noted the frown on his face.

  “I…,” he sat down heavily at his desk and put his head in his hands. I could see a lot of emotion playing across his face.

  “Think on it. I want to go into the kitchen and check what your wife is eating. I’ll be back,” I told him and dashed out the door.