Escana by J. R. Karlsson Page B

surrounded by barns. Had the exterior been any other
shape he would have called it a mansion.
    A
large woman in an apron bustled her way out of the kitchen. The
unfriendly gatekeeper pushed Jakob toward her and made his way out
the door again, apparently he was leaving him in her hands.
    'Why
hello there dearie, how may I help you?'
    Jakob
couldn't help but smile, it was nice to hear such an openly friendly
voice. 'I'm looking for Mr. Harvester, have you seen him?'
    The
woman ignored his question. 'Have you had anything to eat, dear?'
    Jakob
did a double take. 'I'm sorry?'
    'Food.
Have you had anything to eat today?'
    The
sudden mention of food elicited a groan from Jakob's stomach, he
couldn't remember the last time he had eaten. A faint pain in his
head suggested that it had been before he had got here. 'No, are you
offering?'
    The
old woman tsked at him. 'We can't have you working on an empty
stomach now, can we? I'll fry something up.'
    Her
friendly nature made sense, she had to know that he had already got
past the dogs and was here to work. He certainly wasn't going to pass
up a free meal given his circumstances. He felt a heavy pushing at
his legs and realised that one of the hounds had brushed right past
him, even if he had deceived them somehow, this area of the farm
remained well-protected.
    She
had wandered back into the kitchen, giving him chance to take in his
surroundings a little more. Large lamps had been placed strategically
about the room, bathing the area in a yellow hue. To his right a
roaring fire led up to a chimney he must have missed on his approach.
A large shelf above it contained a number of plates and bowls,
clearly placed there for practicality rather than show.
    The
smell of bacon wafted in through the archway leading to the kitchen,
he didn't know what he'd done to deserve such a wonderful breakfast
but he was more than happy to wait for it.
    The
door opened once more and a man came in, wordlessly he picked two
plates off the shelf and set them down on either side of the table.
    He
was an imposing figure with calloused hands and dark hair. Jakob paid
his appearance no more heed and they sat silently, not looking at
each other.
    Eventually
the newcomer stopped listening to the sound of cooking and turned to
Jakob. 'Are you new here then?'
    Jakob
froze. He recognised that voice. This was the man that Ella had
spoken to this morning at the Chipped Flagon, that had been pounding
on the door and suspected her of sleeping with someone. The man who
had been right to some degree but had acquiesced at Ella's
insistence. He tried not to feel guilty or exposed but couldn't stop
the rising tension that he hoped he was alone in sensing.
    He
nodded silently at Solomon, hoping that he wouldn't try and make
conversation.
    The
big man stuck out a hand. 'I'm Solomon, a pleasure to meet you.'
    Gone
was the temperament that he had witnessed before with Ella, in its
place was a mild-mannered and friendly persona that Jakob couldn't
help but feel was totally disingenuous. He knew then, it was a gut
instinct, he wasn't going to like this man at all.
    He
also knew how to keep up appearances, he shook his hand firmly and
responded in kind, two can play at lying.
    'So
how did the old man get you roped into this then?' Solomon asked, as
the woman heaped a steaming fry on their plates.
    'I
was trying to get work in the Flagon but he offered me this instead,
I thought I'd be more suited to it.'
    Solomon
frowned. 'Were you at the Chipped Flagon overnight?'
    Jakob
shovelled an egg into his mouth in what he hoped was a nonchalant
manner. 'No, I arrived in the morning but they didn't have an
opening, Harvester took pity on me and said I could work here
instead.'
    Solomon's
smile returned, apparently the lie had been enough to ease his fears.
'He'll hire anyone and anything so long as they have two hands and a
strong back. You appear to qualify.'
    Jakob
put on a false grin that belied the nervous energy coursing through
him.