LITMIR.BIZ

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aside, and a few dishes on the floor, he added, ‘This was special. It’ll start calming down tomorrow.’

      ‘Still,’ said Hava as she sat and motioned for Declan and Gwen to do likewise while Hatu returned with a pitcher of wine and four glasses, ‘we need food.’

      Hatu said, ‘I was planning on riding down to Marquenet in a few days to pick up some things, but I think I made four … no, five trips to the cold cellar. We are out of cheese, have no sausages, no fruit except oranges, and I think our spices could use a bit of restocking as well.’

      Gwen held up her goblet, and said, ‘You did well enough for the madness that descended on you tonight.’

      ‘If you and Declan hadn’t pitched in, we’d still be serving, assuming people didn’t leave in disgust over the wait.’ Hava looked at Hatu. ‘I think we need to hire someone.’

      Gwen glanced at Declan and said, ‘Well, with Millie doing most of the work around our house, I could spend a little time here and help until you find someone.’

      Hava reached out and squeezed Gwen’s shoulder. ‘That would be appreciated more than I can say.’

      Declan said to Hatu, ‘I’m shipping a wagon of swords down to the baron the day after tomorrow. Why don’t you ride with me, and get everything you need and bring it back rather than order it and wait for it to be shipped up?’

      Hatu glanced at Hava, and as he did so let his gaze pass over the two men who were sitting opposite him behind his wife-to-be and Gwen. He considered a day’s delay in sending word to Coaltachin of these two men’s arrival and thought he also might learn a thing or two more. ‘That’s a welcome idea. Yes, I’ll ride down and back with you, and I’ll pay the freight back.’

      Declan smiled. ‘I was hoping you’d say that.’

      All four of them chuckled.

      As they ate and chatted, the two men in the corner rose and went upstairs, and both Hatu and Declan tried to observe them without looking obvious.

      Hava noticed Hatu’s intense expression. ‘What?’

      Hatu whispered, ‘Just watching our last guests going up.’

      Hava instantly understood. ‘Fine. When we’ve eaten we can finish cleaning down here.’

      ‘Unless someone else shows up for a drink.’ Glancing at Gwen, Hatu asked, ‘When did your father close up for the night?’

      Gwen laughed. ‘As long as someone had the coin to pay for another drink, we were open. Da would close up after the last customer left.’

      ‘So, sometimes late,’ observed Hava.

      ‘Sometimes when the sun was coming up,’ answered Declan. ‘There were nights I was supposed to spend time with Gwen after she finished, but I’d have to give up and go home so I wouldn’t be useless at the forge the next day.’

      Gwen gave him a mock disapproving look and said, ‘Faint heart.’

      As Declan and Gwen began to stand, a familiar voice from the doorway shouted, ‘Declan!’

      All four turned to see Ratigan entering the inn. ‘Look who I found!’

      He was accompanied by a tall woman with light brown hair, her suntanned face set in a broad grin. Despite grey dusting her hair, and age lines in her sun-darkened face, she moved vigorously as she ran forward to throw her arms around the smith, hugging him tightly for a long moment.

      Gwen’s expression became very still: this woman’s greeting was clearly one born of close familiarity.

      Declan said, ‘Roz!’ He gripped her shoulders, but then caught a glimpse of Gwen’s face and stepped back. ‘How … What are you doing here?’

      Rozalee smiled broadly at his clumsily hidden embarrassment. ‘Which of these pretty girls is your betrothed?’ she asked, poking him playfully in the chest.

      Flushing with embarrassment, Declan beckoned Gwen to his side. ‘Gwen, this is an old friend from Oncon, Rozalee. Roz, this is my fiancée Gwen!’

      Roz smiled and gave Gwen a hug. Gwen looked uncomfortable.

      Declan glanced at Ratigan, who grinned at him. He’d thank the teamster when they were alone for telling Roz that Declan was now betrothed. He could see that Gwen was already wondering, so it was just as well that Roz had not given him her usual greeting of a bear hug while grabbing his arse, or a deep kiss, let alone saying some of the things she used to say to him in public, or he might not have a fiancée after tonight.

      Roz let go of Gwen and held her at arms’ length. ‘You’re a beauty, for certain.’ She glanced sidelong at Declan. ‘You know you can do better than him, don’t you?’ she said, grinning.

      Hava and Hatu watched the meeting with barely contained amusement, and at last Hatu said, ‘Welcome to the Inn of the Three Stars. Ale?’

      ‘Thought you’d never offer,’ said Ratigan, grabbing two chairs from another table and moving them around so they could all sit in a semi-circle.

      As Hatu filled six flagons with ale, Declan said, ‘How’s Jack?’ Quickly he added to Gwen, ‘Roz’s husband.’

      ‘Dead,’ said Roz in a matter-of-fact tone.

      Declan’s expression instantly changed from a self-conscious smile to one of shock and disbelief. After a moment, he regained his composure, and asked, ‘What happened?’

      Roz turned to Gwen and said, ‘Your lad here saved my life. I got into it with a bunch of bandits working for that bastard Lodavico, and after I gutted a couple, they got me. I turned the knife on myself and just in time Declan found me. He nursed me a bit, then he and Ratigan loaded me up into my wagon and took me back to my husband. Did you know that?’

      Softly Gwen said, ‘No, he never said.’

      ‘That’s like him,’ replied Roz. ‘It’s funny, but there I was hanging by a thread for a bit and finally got some strength back and just as I was getting up and about, old Jack dies in bed. Heart gave out, I expect.’ To Declan she added, ‘It was the way he would have wanted it. I was starting to catch up on the business, but he was … in the company of his most devoted servant.’

      Suddenly Declan realized that Jack had died in the arms of the pretty maid he had met. The unexpected image of the fat old man dying on top of that young girl almost caused Declan to burst out laughing, and only by an act of pure will did he stop himself. He gulped air and let out a long breath, his eyes watering a tiny bit. Finally he was able to say, ‘I expect you’re absolutely right, Roz. That’s the way he would have wanted it.’

      Seeing Declan fighting for control, Roz looked at Gwen. ‘Jack and I had an … unusual marriage. We had no children, and I ran the shipping, drove the wagons – did all the bargaining out of town – while Jack took the orders from merchants in Ilagan,’ she said, naming the capital city of the neighbouring kingdom of Ilcomen. ‘Anyway, I expect it’ll be different with you and this lout. Children underfoot in no time, I’m sure.’

      ‘It’s not that I’m not pleased to see you, Roz, but what brings you to Beran’s Hill?’ Declan said. ‘Certainly not just to visit me and Ratigan.’

      For a second her expression turned serious. ‘I do owe you two my life, and I’ll never forget that, but I’ll let my partner explain.’

      ‘Partner?’ asked Declan, looking at Ratigan.

      Hatu had placed an ale in front of each of the other five and sat next to Hava, the two of them content to silently watch the others, though Hatu occasionally glanced at the stairs against the possibility one of their two guests might appear.

      Ratigan said, ‘I ran into Roz in a town called Amberly, halfway between Ilagan and Marquenet; you take a little road a few hours up into the hills, and down to a nice little valley. I was delivering some freight but mostly picking up a big load

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