The Firemane Saga

‘I know,’ said Molly. Though she was usually a woman of few words, she added, ‘Once you get her with child, things will change.’

Declan fought against smiling at the thought of children but couldn’t help it. His life had taken some unexpected turns since his own childhood and he wondered how he had been so fortunate.

‘If you find those men let me know,’ Molly said. ‘I’m curious.’ Without another word, she left the forge, leaving Declan alone with his thoughts.

Since returning from a visit with Baron Dumarch, Declan had informed everyone in town that he was authorized to organize a militia. Over the weeks since then, the able-bodied men of Beran’s Hill had organized a spot of training here and there. Some grudgingly, some enthusiastically, but all understanding that since the raid on the town by a mercenary named Tyree and his band, who had burned the Inn of the Three Stars, killed Gwen’s father, and abducted two women, it was necessary – and each man serving who didn’t miss training received a few coins, which tipped the balance.

As a result, Declan found himself more and more inclined to think of himself as the party responsible for town defence, even though the baron’s authorization of a militia was vague in terms of organization and mandate. The arrival of this mysterious man, escorted by elite troops, fully reinforced that sense of responsibility. It made him curious as to who the two men were and what they were about.

HATU FELT REFRESHED AFTER BATHING. His hair was still damp – and he had used the hair dye he had bought in Marquenet to keep the bright red toned down to a brownish red that was almost as dark as Hava’s. Given his upbringing, regular bathing never occurred to him, but as he had a proper bathhouse just outside the rear entrance to the inn, he planned on using it regularly – once a week, perhaps more often.

Gwen’s father had owned the Inn of the Three Stars, and she had literally been born here. Hatu and Hava stood quietly waiting for Gwen’s judgement.

Gwen surveyed the common room and nodded. Her eyes had a slight sheen to them, but no tears. Softly she said, ‘Better than new. Da had some fixin’ he never quite got around to, and the old bar was roughly used.’ She nodded towards the highly polished, massive oak bar. ‘Splinters, stains from spills, cracks here and there. This one’s … beautiful.’

Hatu smiled. The two women stood in stark contrast to one another, Gwen voluptuous, not quite stocky, and Hava with her slender, not quite boyish figure. He recognized that most men would find Gwen more attractive, yet to him Hava was the most perfect beauty he’d ever seen.

‘Before I began travelling with Hava and her father, I was apprenticed for a time to a boatbuilder. He showed me how to seal wood and put a finish on it …’ Hatu said to Gwen, who let out a long sigh.

After a short pause, Gwen asked, ‘You two ready?’

‘Not really,’ said Hatu jokingly.

Hava said, ‘We’d be helpless without you, Gwen. When we agreed to buy the inn and repair it … let’s say there’s a lot more to running an inn than either of us imagined. How to stock the supplies, and what keeps and what doesn’t, which ale to buy …’ She fell silent a moment, then added, ‘Just so much.’

Hatu nodded agreement. ‘Had I known, I might have changed my mind.’ He kept his tone light.

Gwen appeared to him to be on the verge of tears, but she took a deep breath, slowly let it out, and smiled. ‘No use pretending things aren’t as they are.’ She crossed her arms and looked at Hava. ‘Whatever you need to know, ask. Da was a good man in many ways, but in truth he could be lax when it came to keeping the cold cellar stocked, or ensuring fresh vegetables. We had our share of nights serving meats that hadn’t quite turned, hard cheese, boiled potatoes, and day-old bread.’ She took another long look around the room, slowly turning as she added, ‘Some things you can buy easily, but others …’ She again let out a sigh. ‘You’ll manage as long as you don’t run out of ale, wine, and whisky, but a well-stocked larder and clean beds will have the regular travellers always stopping here.’ She smiled. ‘Adding those two new rooms upstairs was … Da talked of more rooms for travellers, but never quite got around to it. Too much interest in finding the perfect whisky.’

Hatu nodded. ‘That whisky takes a bit of getting used to.’

Gwen laughed, for the first time since Hava and Hatu had met her. ‘Did Declan give you that first taste?’

Hatu nodded, and tears gathered in Gwen’s eyes. Then she laughed again, squeezing her eyes so the tears fell – but they were those of joy. ‘My father did that to him, leaving him to swallow that first taste without warning. The coughing and watery eyes, red face, and the rest seems an odd rite of passage, but there it is.’ She took another deep breath and said, ‘Now you have a legacy to carry on, Hatu.’ Then she turned and left. Hatu thought it was before he saw her weep in earnest.

‘I’ll do my best,’ Hatu said softly.

After she left, Hava said, ‘I find it strange.’

‘What?’

‘Having feelings … for a place.’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t think I understand.’

‘It’s all she knows. Her parents both died here.’ Hatu reflected for a second that he had never known his parents, so he could barely imagine what it must feel like to have such bonds of affection. ‘I guess that leaves … memories? It seems important to her that this inn returns to what it was.’

‘Which is a good thing for us,’ admitted Hava. Looking around the empty common room she added, ‘There are too many things we know nothing about …’ She chuckled. ‘More things we never could have foreseen.’

‘Bedding,’ said Hatu, and Hava broke out laughing. ‘Wouldn’t it have been wonderful to welcome our first traveller and have no place for him to sleep?’

‘Well,’ said Hava, ‘what about …?’ She left the question unspoken, knowing he’d understand.

‘Let’s see what they do in the next few days. I can always claim to need something down in Marquenet.’

She nodded agreement and the two of them set to work on those tiny details neither had anticipated. After the sun set, Hatu spent a quiet evening with Hava talking about mostly unimportant things – not having to constantly confront life-and-death issues was welcome – before she fell asleep in his arms.

Hatu had never been one to chase every girl he saw, unlike his friend Donte, and it had been Donte who had paid a barmaid to initiate Hatu into sex. Since being with Hava he had felt no desire for other women; he could admire them, admit they were attractive, even have a passing thought that he might have been interested had Hava not existed, but Hava was his world.

It was a love he could hardly understand, let alone explain. He knew she cared for him too, but he had lingering doubts that she was able to feel for him what he felt for her. One moment it was because he felt unworthy of her, and the next it was because of how she was trained to deal with men. And at other times he had no idea how she felt. Neither of them was prone to speaking of feelings, as it was not the way of Coaltachin. He had been taught that feelings could interfere with duty and as a result, he had rarely mentioned to the woman he loved – who now lay tightly against him, slowly breathing as she slept – how he felt; not since his first protestation of love. And she had spoken of feelings even less than he.

Was he still serving the Kingdom of Night, and didn’t know it, or was he to be a simple innkeeper until fate demanded otherwise of him? Or was he a prince of a fallen kingdom with duties and obligations to that heritage he couldn’t remember, let alone understand? As sleep began to overtake him, he wondered which part of his life now was an act and which was real?

Questions without answers swirled around his head as he finally drifted off to sleep.

THE NEXT DAY SAW THE hanging of the repaired and repainted sign, a black square edged with white, with three stars set at the top and lower left and right.

Gwen nodded her approval. ‘I wasn’t going to say anything, but I was worried you might wish to change the name.’

Hava put her arms around Gwen’s shoulders and squeezed. She felt no genuine urge to comfort the daughter of the former owner, but she knew it was the sort of gesture people in this part of the world expected.

‘There was no good reason to change it, Gwen,’ said Hatu. ‘It’s a familiar name, with a good reputation built by your father.’ A slight nod of approval from Hava led him to add, ‘Now all we have to do is live up to it.’

Gwen smiled. ‘Thank you.’

‘Bring Declan over this evening and the first meal is on us.’

Gwen grinned and headed back to the house behind the forge where Declan was working.

Hava said, ‘Well, we are now innkeepers.’

‘Given some of the places you and I have slept, this is a palace.’

‘Never seen a palace,’ replied Hava, ‘but I agree it’s better than most of the inns we’ve seen.’

They went back inside. ‘I guess now we just need some customers,’ Hatu said.

‘I’ve made a list of a few things,’ said Hava, holding out her hand.

Hatu removed the coin purse from his belt and handed it to her. ‘Such as …?’

‘A loaf of bread, and some of those beef sausages Parter the Butcher sells.’

‘We already—’ Hatu interrupted himself. ‘Ah, yes, of course.’ He knew she was going out to sniff around about the man who’d arrived yesterday with the escort of soldiers. The baker they used was close, but the butcher she mentioned was on the other side of town. As she was the ‘new woman’ in town, the other women were interested enough in Hava to want to stop her and ‘gossip’. Hatu wasn’t sure what the difference was between gossip and rumours, but he assumed it was something the women of this barony did, or just another word for the same thing. Either way, it was useful for gathering intelligence on odd comings and goings.

Hava left and Hatu suddenly felt abandoned. He found that very odd, then realized that it wasn’t so much abandonment, but that with Hava here he had someone to talk to, something to do. Now he found himself presented with two choices: either sit and do nothing while waiting for a customer or repeat every inventory check, room inspection, and the other tasks he had seen to repeatedly over the last two days. For the first time in his memory, Hatu found himself wide awake with nothing obviously needing to be done. He found the situation wryly amusing. Most of his life had consisted of studies, work, or trying to sleep. He moved behind the newly restored bar and once again familiarized himself with his array of bottles and kegs. In coming to learn the innkeeper’s trade, he realized that the previous owner, Leon, had stocked a wider variety of wine, spirits, and ale than most tavern keepers. It had not occurred to him to ask Gwen about that, and his best surmise was that it would attract travellers with varying tastes.

Well, he thought, best take advantage of the opportunity to rest. Hatu moved to a chair at the table closest to the open end of the bar and sat down. After a moment, he reached forward, pulled another chair out and put his feet on it.

HATU WAS DOZING WHEN HAVA returned. He sat up and pushed away the chair on which he had placed his feet. ‘Sleeping?’ she said, obviously amused.

‘No,’ he said. ‘Just resting my eyes a little.’ Coming to full alertness as she put the bread and large sausage on the bar, he asked, ‘Discover anything?’

‘Nothing important, though we seem to be the subject of some speculation, as we appear exotic to our neighbours.’

‘Well,’ said Hatu. ‘We are from about as far away from Marquensas as anyone is likely to be. I’ve seen a few travellers pass through here that are darker-skinned than you, but no one who lives here.’

‘They’re a fair-skinned lot around here, aren’t they?’ Hava sat in the chair opposite Hatu. ‘There is some talk that the number of travellers has gone up recently. Just a sense there’s something going on out there that is causing more travellers than usual to pass through town.’

‘Business?’ asked Hatu.

‘The merchants are happy: they’re selling more. Declan’s busy repairing gear and horseshoes and the like.’ She fell silent for a moment, considering. ‘It’s the … type of people who are passing I … I think we need mention to …’ Reflexively, she glanced around to make sure no one could overhear, but of course the only two people in the building were Hatu and herself. ‘When we send that message, we should make it clear that bands of armed men seem to be moving towards Port Colos. And some of the trade goods … Barons Dumarch and Bavangine aren’t the only ones having weapons made. Armour, swords, who knows what else in those tarp-covered wagons.’

Hatu nodded. ‘If you care to make notes, I’ll memorize them and pass them along.’

‘When are you going to Marquenet?’

‘Next week or the week after, I’m thinking.’ He stood up. ‘If we don’t have a customer soon, I think I’ll …’ He shrugged. ‘I don’t know what I’ll do.’

‘You have never known how to simply sit and … just be!’

He was forced to return her laugh. ‘I suppose so. Donte always knew how to find something fun to do, didn’t he?’

She lost her smile at the mention of their friend’s name. When last he had been seen he had been hanging from chains in a cave beneath the waves, a prisoner of a coven of witches called the Sisters of the Deep. ‘He did, didn’t he?’ Looking at Hatu, she said, ‘I know one thing you can do.’

‘What?’

‘Run upstairs and open those little windows at each end of the landing. Now that the roof is done, it’s getting hot up there. Get a breeze going through and we’ll shut them at sunset.’

He laughed. ‘That will certainly keep me busy for a few minutes.’

He went upstairs and moved to the window at the far end of the landing. He had made some improvements at the suggestion of the carpenter Declan had hired to start the repairs – Hatu had enough carpentry experience to see the man knew his trade. He’d added two new rooms overlooking the rear of the inn, which would increase profits once the inn filled up, and these windows, which created a breeze through the upper floor to help keep the rooms from getting too hot in summer, which was now quickly approaching. He swung the hinged window inwards, four panes cleverly separated by wooden grilles that could be removed should the glass break, allowing him to slip unbroken glass into the grooves set into the larger frame. The configuration would keep costs down as only a broken piece of glass would need to be replaced, rather than the entire window.

He also judged that should the weather turn cold, he might need to put heavy shutters on the outside. He’d wait until he saw what winters were like, assuming he was still here then. Every plan was plagued by unknowns, something that had bothered him since childhood.

He opened the window at the opposite end of the landing and was heading back down the stairs when he heard a voice. A man said, ‘… heard you’d reopened, so we hurried over. Sleeping in a barn is …’ The man stopped speaking as Hatu came into view and nodded a greeting. Returning his gaze to Hava, he said, ‘So if you have a room and a bath, it would be welcome.’

Hava seemed slightly wooden in her posture to Hatu, but the two men seemed unaware of it. Hatu required all his self-control to maintain his easy manner. The first man was the one who had been seen around town for the last few days, the one Hava was seeking information about, which meant the other man had to be the one who arrived with the armed escort the day before.

What caused Hatu’s chest to tighten was that he recognized the second man. He was the man Hatu had spied while investigating the cathedral in Sandura, the one who had been speaking to the assassins known as Azhante, dangerous men somehow related to the sicari of Coaltachin.

Hava said, ‘This is my husband, Hatu.’

Both men nodded, and Hatu said, ‘We have a bathing room out back. I’ll heat up some water while my wife shows you to your room.’

‘Two rooms,’ said the second man.

Hatu nodded.

After a few minutes of hauling water from the well to an iron kettle, and starting a small fire beneath it, Hatu heard Hava enter the bathhouse. She held some folded cotton towels and hung them over a wooden bar next to the tub. ‘Well,’ she said, ‘I guess we’ll find out what those two are up to.’

‘I have to travel shortly,’ he replied.

Her eyebrows shot up. ‘Why?’

Master Bodai had given firm instructions after Hatu had seen those assassins speaking with this man, who had worn the clothing of a soldier of the One Church. Slowly he said, ‘I cannot tell you.’

Hava’s face remained impassive, but her eyes searched Hatu’s face, seeking a clue about what was happening. Her training took over and she nodded slightly. ‘I’ll tell them the bathwater will be hot in a few minutes.’ She left him alone in the bathhouse.

Hatu watched her vanish through the door and wondered if he should have said more. Again he considered how the line between truth and lies could be blurred and the fact that she was his wife – or would be once their marriage took place at the summer festival – only because she was ordered to play the role. That made him painfully aware that he had been told his obligation to Coaltachin was over with his return to Baron Daylon Dumarch, yet at the same time being told to continue as an agent for the Kingdom of Night. If his duty to Coaltachin was over, why did Master Bodai order him to continue as if it was not?

Hatu had no ready answer to this conflict he knew would only grow inside him. He knew a time might come when he would have to elect one side or the other. Whichever choice he made might end his relationship with the woman he loved.

• CHAPTER TWO •
An Unplanned Event and A Surprise Reunion

Gwen entered the forge and Declan asked, ‘How is it?’

She didn’t need to ask what ‘it’ was. She nodded and smiled. ‘Fine. To be truthful, Hatu’s fixed up the place far better than Da ever did.’ She fell silent, looking puzzled.

‘What?’

‘There’s something about that man.’

‘Hatu?’

‘Yes. Hatushaly. It is a bit of a foreign name, isn’t it?’

Declan crossed to the forge and began putting his tools away. ‘Well, I expect there are places where Declan sounds foreign.’

She nodded. ‘I like him, in a way. I also like Hava; she’s been kind.’ She let out a slow breath. ‘And as I said, the inn has never looked this good. They even cleaned out the cold cellar and completely organized the bathhouse. I’d bathe there myself.’

Declan had never used the bathhouse, having the luxury of a tub of his own in the house that came with the smithy. But he’d heard stories, and judged Leon, Gwen’s father, to be a less than fastidious innkeeper. Given how run-down the place that passed for an inn in his own home village of Oncon was, Declan hadn’t been put off by the condition of the Three Stars. He rather enjoyed it there, but the truth was that what he had enjoyed was Gwen’s company, and it didn’t matter much where that was.

‘Speaking of bathing,’ he said, ‘I could do with a wash. Would you mind heating some water while I clean up?’ He glanced out of the door where the afternoon light was starting to fail. ‘Or if you need the time to get supper ready, I’ll bathe when I’ve finished.’

‘Supper?’ she said as if remembering something. ‘Actually, we’ve been invited to dine at the inn tonight, as Hava and Hatu’s guests.’

‘That’s kind of them,’ said Declan. He smiled broadly. ‘So, if you’d please heat up some water for me, I’ll be as clean as that new inn!’

She laughed, one of the few times he’d heard a sound of genuine amusement from her since the murder of her father. ‘I’ll do that.’ And off she went.

Declan continued to put things away and wished Jusan was there to help, but he was down at Ratigan’s new freight yard arranging for a wagon to ship more swords south to Baron Dumarch. The order had surprised the young smith, for the baron had his own weapons smith in his keep. Still, it was a good order and would settle all of Declan’s costs for the coming half-year, perhaps longer. For a moment Declan wondered if there was enough trade coming his way to take on another smith. Jusan was now a journeyman, and they didn’t have a proper apprentice … perhaps it was time.

He finished up just as Jusan appeared at the door. Declan said, ‘So, are we set?’

Jusan nodded. ‘Ratigan’s fellow … ah, Randal? I don’t know why I have a problem remembering names.’

Declan frowned. It was something about Jusan that annoyed him – one of the few things – that he seemed almost unable to remember names of people until he’d met them several times.

Jusan said, ‘Anyway, we have a wagon ready to leave the day after tomorrow.’

‘Not tomorrow?’ asked Declan.

‘No,’ said Jusan. ‘Seems Ratigan had only two in the yard, both due to leave at first light, and … Randal said there were more wagons bringing up goods from Marquenet late today, and as they’ve just made the trip and back, he’s going to rest the horses for a day before they make it again, so they’ll be free the day after.’

Clapping Jusan on the shoulder, Declan said, ‘Business is good all over, it seems.’ Jusan smiled at that. ‘It’s time to bring in an apprentice, I’m thinking.’

Jusan paused, then nodded. ‘I wouldn’t say no to an extra pair of hands to do the work around here.’

‘Well, you were a poor apprentice,’ Declan said jokingly, ‘but perhaps you can train up a better one.’

‘Funny,’ said Jusan, showing he didn’t think so.

‘I’ll spend a bit of time in the city when I get there and ask Gildy if he or the other smiths have a boy who’s ready to train. If not, we’ll ask around here.’

‘Jacob Berry’s son, Callum, seems a likely lad. He turns up now and again and asks questions.’

Declan said, ‘Curious type, then?’

‘A bit scrawny.’

‘So were you when you first arrived,’ said Declan, amused. ‘Solid work and good food will put some muscle on him.’

Jusan nodded. ‘When you get back, then.’

‘If I haven’t found a more likely boy, we’ll have a word with Callum Berry. Now, I’m off for a bath and Gwen and I are going to eat at the inn.’

‘It’s open then,’ said Jusan with a satisfied nod. ‘I’ll tell Millie we’re on our own.’

‘Where is she?’

‘Down at the market, I think,’ said Jusan. Millie had been the other barmaid at the inn when it had burned down and had been terrified to the point of refusing to leave the house Declan and Gwen shared with Jusan and her. She was slowly recovering, and her being at the market alone was a good sign that healing was under way.

‘That’s good,’ said Declan. ‘Now, finish closing up: I’m off for a hot bath.’

Jusan smiled and started on the work while Declan walked briskly towards the house, as if truly eager for a bath. Then Jusan realized Declan would be alone with Gwen for a while and chuckled softly. Two young couples sharing close quarters had put a strain on privacy, so the journeyman smith decided he’d take some time organizing the smithy and wait until Millie returned from the market before entering the house.

THE COMMON ROOM WAS BUSY. Word had spread that the Inn of the Three Stars was again open and many townspeople had decided to stop in and see how the repairs had turned out.

Hatu was learning quickly that working behind the bar was a great deal more demanding than he had anticipated, for while a few folks had just dropped in to look around and then departed, many decided to have at least one ale before heading home.

Gwen and Declan entered the chaotic common room and Gwen had taken one look before motioning Declan to take a seat, then hurrying over to Hava’s side. The new proprietors of the inn appeared overwhelmed, and Gwen saved Hava from dropping a large platter of food on the floor. A quick consultation ended with Hava handing the tray to Gwen, who turned and carried it to a corner table where four men waited to be served, while Hava disappeared back into the kitchen.

Declan observed the commotion and saw his wife enter the kitchen. He waited a minute, then rose and worked his way through the growing crowd as more people entered and finally got behind the bar next to Hatu. ‘Lend a hand?’ he asked.

Hatu looked at him with gratitude. ‘Where did they all come from?’

Declan chuckled. ‘We should have expected this.’ Without another word to Hatu, he turned to three men clamouring for attention and took their orders. Within a few minutes the pace at which drink orders were filled increased noticeably. After the demand for service died down, Hatu exclaimed, ‘Thank you!’ He grinned. ‘I’d still be swamped had you not joined in.’

Declan smiled. ‘I came here so often courting Gwen, I often lent a hand behind the bar. So, you’ve never tended a bar before?’

‘No,’ said Hatu with a rueful tone, drying his hands on a bar rag. ‘I thought it would be simple. I’ve not frequented many taverns, and I’ve never seen one this crowded.’

‘They get like this once in a while in a big town,’ said Declan as he started piling up empty mugs next to a big wash pan, sunk into a counter behind where they stood. ‘Today, it was curiosity. You may see a bit of a rush tomorrow when those who couldn’t come tonight decide to see how it is, but it’ll die down. Once in a while, if a large trading company – eight, ten wagons with teamsters and helpers – or a company of soldiers comes through, it will get very busy, but most days you’ll be bored. Still, even when Leon owned it, as run-down as it was, it was the most popular inn with the local folk. With all the talk of your opening, people have started calling the road outside “Three Stars Road”. That’s a thing, right?’

Hatu looked amazed and nodded slightly. ‘Indeed.’

Without thinking, Declan started washing mugs and stacking them on a draining board. Hatu realized he was just standing there and took his rag and began wiping down the bar just as another group entered the tavern, and pushed their way through the crowd to order drinks. Hatu turned to Declan and said, ‘I think we’ll be eating late tonight.’

Declan laughed.

MORE THAN TWO HOURS WENT by before the majority of townspeople departed, leaving the four friends alone in the common room with only the two strangers who had arrived earlier quietly occupying a table in the corner. Declan and Hatu had marked them earlier in the evening and both had seen them quietly observe everyone who entered and departed. Neither spoke of it.

As they cleared the empty tables and piled up plates, bowls, and mugs, Hatu looked at the mess and reckoned he’d be cleaning for a couple of hours after his guests left.

Gwen and Hava entered from the kitchen carrying plates of bread, fruit, a bit of sliced pork, and a sliver of cheese. Setting them down on the table, Hava said, ‘I need to go to market early tomorrow. We have barely enough for the four of us!’ She sighed. ‘Is it always like this?’ she asked Gwen, her tone somewhere between amusement and concern.

Gwen smiled and shook her head.

Declan said, ‘As I told Hatu, the town turned out to see how things stood.’ Glancing around at the room with chairs out of place, some tables pushed 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.’