Jeremy Laszlo - The Choosing

As the twin’s and their companions neared the gate they fell into line behind the mass of people waiting to gain entry to the city. In front of them was a large cart of turnips and carrots, drawn by a mule, lead by an old man. They waited patiently behind the cart, moving forward as it did ever nearing the gates to the city. Finally as they neared the entrance through the massive stone walls, Garret led them directly towards one of the guards posted at the gate.

“Excuse me sir.” Garret spoke to the guard standing to the left of the large gate. “The Knight Sirus said he would have an inn room and horses awaiting myself and my companions once we arrived, do you know perhaps at which inn he might have made such accommodations? Garret asked trying to sound as if this were a normal conversation for him.

“Yes young sire.” The guard responded immediately as if talking to a superior officer.

“Please visit the Stamping Steed. It is most certainly where Lord Sirus would have arranged your accommodations.” The young guard stated knowingly, and quickly related to Garret directions to reach the inn.

The group was back on the road walking through the city in no time at all, with a bed and a hot meal just around the corner. They walked still with purpose, though not as fast as they had the last few hours, here the buildings were closer together than in Stone Haven, and the streets narrower. As they had noticed from a distance, the further they traveled into the city the taller the buildings became. They realized that the city had basically the same design as Stone Haven however, with rings of buildings starting at the center of the city, working their way outward, and a single street running through it from north to south, and another east to west. Each of the rings of buildings had a small street between them that intersected these two larger roads making the city fairly easy to navigate. They had only passed seven or eight rows of buildings when Garret led them down one of the narrower side streets, and then stopped in front of a tall, wide building with torches burning all along its front. The building was made of some sort of clay brick and stood several stories tall. Windows were spaced regularly throughout the front wall and from each window shone a lantern. Above the wide double door swung a sign carved into the shape of a stallion rearing up on its hind legs. The four of them approached the large door together, each imagining a warm bed and hot food that would be behind the door in front of them. Seth released Sara’s hand for the first time that day, and pulling her closer to him he placed his arm around her waist as they followed Ashton and his twin brother inside.

The inside of the large building was just as well lit as the outside. Coming through the door the small band of travelers walked into a huge room that spanned the entire length of the building. The room was filled from end to end with tables of varying sizes, and many of them were attended by groups of men and women. Between the tables brick pillars jutted from the floor to support the building above it at regular intervals. At each end of the room there stood a large staircase leading up to the higher levels. This inn was unlike the one in Stone Haven in more than appearance however. Here no one looked to see who had come through the door. It was as if no one had even noticed them enter. No one hollered a greeting to them either as they entered. They walked into the room allowing the door to close behind them and stood, unsure, looking the room from end to end. This inn too had a large bar directly across the room from the door, and so Garret again taking the lead, walked towards the bar. The massive bar appeared to be made from a single enormous piece of wood, cut smooth at the top and polished to a shine. The front of the bar was an intricately carved scene of two armies facing one another across a field of battle. In front of the bar were dozens of stools from one end to the other, though none of them were currently in use. The twins and their companions approached the bar and seeing that it was unattended, seated themselves upon the stools and waited. A few moments later a young girl, perhaps in her mid teens came through the door behind the bar. Spotting them, she turned and thrust her head back through the door and shouted.

“Whalen you have customers!” The girl yelled then turned back to the four at the bar and smiled.

The girl walked right past the quartet at the bar and walked to a table across the room and seated herself there with two other people. A few moments passed and the door behind the bar swung silently open again and a short, older man came through carrying a tray of glass mugs which he sat on the bar. He approached them then from across the bar, a comfortable grin on his face, and flickering light from the lanterns hung behind him shining off his bald round head.

“What can ol’ Whalen get for ye M’lady and gentlemen?” The Short man asked all the while managing to maintain his grin.

“Sirus said you would have a room and horses waiting for us when we arrived.” Garret stated matter-of-factly to the short balding innkeeper.

“Ah yes.” The man replied in his jolly voice. “You must be Master Garret then.” The man stated one of his white eyebrows rising as if it were a question more than a statement.

“Yes sir and these are my companions.” Garret said motioning to the other three.

The old man seemed to be taken aback for a moment as his small grin faded for just a moment, and then returned.

“Well Lord Sirus did not mention that there were four of you, only that you would need a room. The room I had prepared for you only has two beds so let me see if I have another room near it still available.” The old man stated.

Without waiting for a reply the old man knelt down and from behind the bar he brought out a large tome bound in leather. He unwrapped the leather expertly and flipped through the pages of the large volume, and finding his desired page ran one stubby finger down the page nodding to himself all the while. The man made a few mumbled notes to himself then closed the large tome and again wrapped it in the leather, and returned it to somewhere behind the bar. He turned then back to Garret, again with the grin on his face, only this time it looked less natural.

“Well it seems Master Garret that I have no other rooms available on the second floor, but if you are so inclined I can send someone up to prepare another room for you on the fourth floor, or if you wish I can have them prepare you two rooms on the fourth floor, and I can give the one I have prepared now to another customer.” The man looked at Garret expectantly awaiting an answer, his forced grin still on his face.

“That won’t be necessary sir, we would not want for you to go out of your way for us. The one room you already have prepared will be quite enough for us for this night.” Garret said hoping his companions would feel the same.

“Well then young Master Garret, consider your room ready for you. The horses will be delivered here in the morning from the stalls across town. Is there anything else you require? Whalen asked the group, his natural grin reappearing once again.

“Some hot food would be welcome as well as cold drink.” Garret stated, all his companions nodding their agreement.

“In that case.” Whalen began. “We have a nice Beef roast with garlic, onion, potatoes and carrots with some bread rolls baked only a couple hours ago if that suits you.”

None of the companions spoke, but they all nodded their acceptance of the food to Whalen who then stated he would soon return with their food and drinks. Whalen was true to his word and returned only moments later carrying a large wooden tray loaded with bowls of food and mugs of ale. He placed a large bowl full of roasted beef and vegetables in broth and a mug of cold ale in front of each of the four companions and without a word again disappeared, waddling on stubby legs through the door behind the bar. He returned again this time carrying one large platter piled high with buttered rolls and placed this on the bar between Ashton and Seth who passed them to either side to both Garret and Sara. The four thanked Whalen graciously, who accepted their thanks, then turned and walked back through the door again leaving them to their food. All four ate vigorously devouring the food down to the last roll, and washing it all down with the strong dark brown ale. No one spoke as they ate, all too eager to finish the food while it was hot. As they all finished they each complimented the food and the drink and waited patiently for Whalen to return.