Chapter 8
As the late evening faded into the dark of night, Joshua finally broke the silence. “We should camp somewhere just off the road for the rest of the night.”
“No fire tonight I would suggest.” Jirah said. “If there is another assassin out there, he may be still looking for us.” Jirah led them off the road for a few hundred yards into a grove of large cedar trees. “The ground should be soft enough here and the large trees should hide us well enough.”
“This will be just fine sister.” Josh said. “I will take the first watch tonight. I am not ready to sleep yet anyway.” They all ate a little dried meat and fruit that was packed, and then took out each a bed roll to sleep on.
“Wake me whenever you get tired Josh.” Jirah said. “You will need your sleep after almost burning to death.”
“I need some prayer time before I get to sleeping anyhow. Thank you for your concern though. I will be fine.” Joshua moved over to a fallen log to sit for his watch. The two ladies settled down quietly on their mats and quickly fell asleep.
The night passed to morning without event and Rose awoke well rested, yet sore from sleeping on the ground. Josh was still sleeping, not too far off, so Rose moved over quietly to talk with Jirah, who was still keeping watch.
“Did you sleep well dear?” Jirah asked.
“I have slept in many unsavory places, so out here in the woods was no worse than anywhere else. It was nice to have you guard over me as I slept. I’m not used to that.”
Jirah thought a moment before responding. “I miss being cared for. My husband was good at watching over me, but I cannot imagine what it would be like to be mistreated as you were.”
Rose shrugged, “Being hurt is normal for me, but now that I have felt the caring concern of you and Joshua, I don’t think that I could go back to being alone.”
Jirah smiled at Rose and clasped her hand firmly, as if to share her strength with the young girl.
Rose smiled back. “I have never had a girl friend before Jirah, so thank you again for all you have done.”
“No problem dear. I was getting tired of being alone too, so I am glad to have a girlfriend to share with. Now let’s go wake up that sleepy Cleric and get on with this trip.”
Rose moved over to where Joshua was sleeping and nudged him with her feet as Jirah started packing. “Wake up sleepy head!” she said as Joshua stirred and groaned. The holy man was obviously still sore from the previous night’s ordeal. The three companions gathered up all their gear and packed up the horses.
“We are about six days journey from Jeru, so we better get going ladies.” Josh instructed.
“Hey, you are the one who slept in brother.” Rose chided with a smirk.
Josh groaned again as he got on his horse, “This old body is not used to jumping through burning walls I guess. I will be glad if we can recruit the companion we seek in Jeru. He is much more suited to fighting enemies that brandish blades of steel.”
As they rode off down the road together, Rose asked Joshua, “So this hopeful candidate is a warrior of some type I take it?”
“His name is Logan and yes, he is a good fighter.”
“Will he be willing to go on this quest with us Josh?” Jirah asked. “Men at arms and mercenaries are everywhere, but they usually charge quite a large amount of gold for their services.”
“This man is not one to be hired out to anyone. You will understand more when you meet him. He is quite unique as far as soldiers go.”
Sensing that Joshua did not want to say much more on the subject, the ladies did not press him further.
The next three days were quite uneventful as they continued on towards the capital city. Joshua would pretty much keep to himself, and the two ladies talked about things that were of interest to them. Rose was curious about what it was like to be married while Jirah knew nothing of what it was like to live a life on the streets in poverty and shame. As the miles turned into leagues the two women became very close and solidified their new friendship. They traveled from dusk till dawn each day, camping just off the road at night. In the evening Jirah did what she could to teach Rose the basics of cooking and they both enjoyed the lessons. On the evening of the third day, just before sunset, they arrive at the small town of Throan.
“I think we are due to spend one night indoors. Let’s seek out an inn for the night.” Joshua said.
“You could really use a bath too brother.” Rose teased. “It is starting to smell a little downwind of you.”
Joshua patiently smiled and responded, “I was thinking that it would be nice to get a break from your cooking actually.”
Rose pulled her horse in closer to Joshua’s and gave him a playful yet firm punch on the shoulder. “Hey! I thought I was doing pretty well for my first time you stinker.”
Jirah smiled at the sight of the two teasing each other and said, “Get along now children. And besides, if you knock her cooking Josh, then you are saying that I am a poor teacher.”
“You are nothing of the sort sister. I was teasing of course. I may be a quiet old man, but I do know how to tease back when the situation calls for it.”
They continued on to the center of the town and stopped at a quaint little inn. It was a clean and well kept little building so it stood out from all the other buildings in the town which were quite shabby.
“You two go in and see to a room while I stable the horses.” Jirah spoke as she gathered their reins and led them out back of the inn.
As Rose followed Joshua in through the neat little entrance, she noticed some strange writing on the door posts and asked, “Do you know what these symbols mean Josh? I have never seen them before.”
Josh nodded and answered, “They are runes from the old language. They are invoking the blessings of Ya on this place.”
As they entered the large common room they were warmly greeted by the owner and Rose soon understood why such a blessing was carved into the front door.
“Welcome my good Cleric!” the man spoke. “Ya bless’ us with your presence this day.” The cheerful man was short and quite fat. Sweat beaded on his bald head as he came over to greet the two travelers. He shook both their hands briskly and then continued back to working at his hurried pace.
“It is good to see you Barnas.” Joshua greeted. “I hope that all is well with you and your dear Forelle.”
“Yes, yes, we are in good health.” the man answered back then inquired of Josh with a curious look on his face, “Will you and the lady need a room for the night?”
“We will need two rooms my good man, one for me and one for two other companions. Jirah, whom you may already know is also with us, but you have not met Rose yet.”
The man stopped from all his scurrying for a second and looked at Rose closely. There was a distinct look of surprise on his face and his eyes opened wide. “Ya be praised.” he whispered, “This young thing is the chosen one?”
Joshua put one finger up to his lips and shushed the man. “True friend, but she has yet to be revealed. Please keep this secret between you and Forelle at the moment.”
“Yes, yes, of course.” Barnas said, now with a serious look on his face. “Come along my dear and I will show you to your room.” The officious little man quickly grabbed the bags for Rose and hurried towards the stairs, motioning Rose to follow.
“I will go and pay my respects to your dear wife then. I assume she is working hard as ever in the back room?” Barnas nodded and continued up the stairs with Rose close behind.
Out back of the inn Jirah was just finishing up with the horses. The stable was in fine condition just like the rest of the building, with plenty of food and water for the animals. As Jirah was coming around the front and into the street, her eye caught a figure in a dark black robe entering the tavern across from where she was. With the memory of the triad’s attack still fresh in her mind, she was
not willing to take any chances with ominous looking men. She waited for the stranger to disappear from sight then moved over to the tavern to have a look. As she entered in quietly she was immediately taken back by the stench of booze. This was a well frequented drinking hole so it was very loud and full of rabble rousing men. She took a seat at the bar besides a smelly drunk that had already passed out in his seat.
“Drink?” the bartender asked.
“No thank you. I’m here to pick up my uncle.” Jirah lied slyly. “I do have a question though. Did you see a man enter just now with a black robe?”
“Why do you ask?”
“The dirty cheat owes me money is all.”
“That weirdo comes in here all the time, but never buys anything. He looks like trouble so I leave him alone. He went out back I think with another one of those weird dark robes. Don’t cause any trouble in my tavern, hear?”
“I wouldn’t think of it.” Jirah made her way carefully to the back of the building and poked her head out the rear door. Now she could hear two gruff voices whispering around the corner.
“What will it take for that cursed Cleric to die…..” she could barely make out what was being said, but she was sure they were talking about Joshua.
“….looks like I will have to do this myself,” an eerie voice intoned. “…wait for them on the outskirts of town…..” Jirah had heard enough now to know what was going on so she backed in through the door and made her way out the front of the tavern. She was more than a little worried about what she had heard and briskly walked over to enter the Inn and find Joshua.
Joshua had already finished greeting Forelle in the kitchen and was now seated at a fireside table at the end of the open common room when Jirah entered. She came over to talk and Josh could tell by the worried look on her face that something was amiss.
“You look upset sister. What is it?” he asked.
“I think we have caught up with the last member of that triad. I followed him around to the back of the tavern next door and heard him talking with a cohort.”
Joshua groaned at the news and frowned. “This is unfortunate. We will have to leave here sooner than expected. What did you all hear?”
“I didn’t hear much, but I heard enough to know that they are hoping to ambush us just outside of the town as we leave tomorrow.”
Joshua thought silently for a moment before answering. “We will only get a short rest here it would seem. We should leave in the early morning while it is still dark.”
Jirah nodded and got up to leave. “I will go and tell Rose what is happening. Is she in a room already?”
“Yes. She went up with Barnas. I think I better go up to my room now too. It would be better if we kept out of sight till we go.”
With that, the Cleric sighed and left to find his room upstairs.
Rose was just getting settled in her room when there was a knock on the door.
“May I speak with you a moment sweetie?” the voice was from the chubby little wife of the inn’s owner.
“Come in,” Rose answered and the rosy cheeked little woman entered with a big smile on her face.
“Is there anything you need my dear? I will wash and mend your clothes if you need. It is not every day that the chosen one of Ya is in my care.”
Rose blushed slightly and said, “Thank you. I’m Rose by the way. I do have a white dress that needs cleaning. I got it from Joshua and it has a special meaning for me.” Rose handed her plain white dress to the woman.
“You may call me Forelle. Rose is such a pretty name, and I’m sure you look just lovely in this white dress with that head of hair.”
Rose was blushing even more now and twirling her hair around one finger as Jirah entered the room.
“Well, I will leave you two to settle in and I’ll get a bath ready for both of you,” Forelle said as she closed the door behind her.
“We will not be here for very long Rose.” Jirah announced with a serious look. “There are some men in town who seek to ambush us as we leave, Josh hopes for us to sneak out in the night.”
A knock came on the door just then and Rose moved over to let Joshua in.
“Has Jirah told you the plan?” the Cleric asked Rose.
“Yes she did. Is it one of those triad things again?”
“It is hard to know for sure, but I think it was the remaining member of the group we fought the other night. He talked with someone else that I could not get a look at,” said Jirah.
“If this other man is who I think he is then, I want to be far away before he figures out that we are gone. I will have Barnas wake us just after midnight so we can leave while they sleep,” Joshua instructed.
“Well I need a good bath still before I go to bed,” Rose told them. “I can get more sleep another time.”
Jirah nodded, “I will watch the door for you dear if you will do the same for me.”
Joshua went to the door to leave and informed them, “You two make sure you are ready to go, and say a prayer before bed.”
The ladies went about cleaning up and were in bed asleep before too long. Joshua returned to his room after informing Barnas of their plans.
“Ya protect us.” he whispered quietly to himself as he nodded off in a shallow sleep.
***