Dem sat at the bar in the Pony, fighting his ever present lure to his first love. Whiskey pulled harder when Jaesper left on his trips and he stayed behind, but it was their job. Well, their official job at least. Sometimes the barristers sent them as a pair, but most times they sent the two desperately to various places. Jaesper’s current assignment promised to keep him away for two weeks, perhaps longer.
“Odd t’ing a girl travelin’ by herself,” a man remarked to another man.
Dem feigned being lost in his thoughts but turned his complete attention to the pair of caravan guards chatting.
“From the small glance I got of her she was a comely lass.”
“Aye, reddest hair I ever seen outside of dah Mark.”
“Maybe she was a headin’ back to dah Mark.”
The other man shrugged.
“Yah know I ‘eard some fathers married der daughters off tah men outside dah Mark to get ‘em to safety.”
“Think maybe she left dah husband?”
“I ‘eard dem folks from dah Mark die when dey leave.”
The man looked thoughtful. “She wore crofter’s clothes, not some fine ladies frock.”
It has to be the crofter’s daughter they’re talking about, Dem thought. He ran upstairs to his room. The girl still slept, and he debated waking her. No, he thought, she can stay here until Jae gets back, if she desires. He grabbed quill and ink and snatched a piece of parchment.
Mom,
Found a lead, and off to follow it. If something happens tell Jae I will always love him.
Love
Dem
P.S. I told the girl she can use my room until she finds out if the Umaarh’s will hire her. If she is still here when Jae gets back what he says goes.
He folded the letter and sealed it with his mark on the melted wax. Then wrote the name Arrygg on the outside. He knew she would understand. After all, it was her that told him of the missing crofter's girl. He went back down and the caravan guards still talked near the bar.
“Excuse me, I couldn’t help but hearing you’re caravan guards. You didn’t by chance come through Trollshaws did you?”
“Aye, we did.”
“How were the roads? I’ve business up that way.”
“Eh, you know, not good, but better den some of dah other places.”
Dem raised his eyebrows.
“No bandits, but be careful a’ night, saw a horde of trolls dat damn near saw us.”
“Anything else?”
“Aside from rabid animals, nah.”
“Thanks,” Dem slipped a gold piece to the man and rushed out of the inn.
The man looked at the gold piece in his hand. “Guess he don’t want us tellin’ others where he went.”
“We’ll drink well tonight,” the other man said and slapped his companion on the back.
They smiled and turned to Barliman ordering the best whiskey he had.
