"Yes. I am heading through Tamriel and then onto the fortress, Turambar. I understand that you will be following much the same route after you are finished here."
"Tamriel will be the next to fall, then we join forces with those from Boraila for the attack on Turambar. When do you leave?"
"Tonight."
"Then we must drink to our impending victories before you go. You will join me?"
"Of course, commander."
Balthus shook his head at the commander's words. Impending victories . The arrogance would be their downfall one day. The Rotians may have been foolish, but they were not just going to lay down their weapons and surrender. He was sure that much blood would be spilt over the coming weeks, both Rotian and Shada-Kavielian.
Chapter 6
Gorric pushed the tavern door open and was greeted by the sights, smells and sounds accompanying such an establishment. The bar room beyond was busy, but not overly so. The people in there ranged from dockworkers to merchants, all of whom had finished their day's work and were spending their well-earned money on the alcohol Gorric never had a stomach for.
The two-day journey from Tamriel with his father and Khir had been dull and unexciting. The only real conversation was with his father as they discussed Gorric's training in Vylandor. He was looking forward to some warm food and a nice, soft bed. The nobles from Ashgar, with whom his father was to talk, were most likely already in the tavern by now, but Gorric hoped that any bartering was left until morning.
"Go on in, Gorric," ordered Celestius, moving up behind his son and pushing him into the bar room gently.
Khir peered from behind Celestius and tried to see what sort of people were within. He had heard rumours that taverns nearest to the docks were usually the roughest. He had brought his hunting knife with him, but had left it with the wagon. Celestius and Gorric had both ridden with their swords at their sides, but they too had left their weapons with the wagon. Khir took a deep breath before entering the tavern behind the other two.
Celestius looked around the room and then pointed to a vacant table. "Gorric, Khir, sit there and I'll order some food for us."
The two young men nodded and made their way to the table. Gorric's stature forced people aside who stood in their path, whilst Khir just tried not to make eye contact with anyone.
Celestius turned to the serving girl behind the bar. "Good evening, I'm looking for a group of noblemen from Ashgar. They usually stay here."
The girl thought for a moment. "Ah, yes. They arrived this morning, sir, but I believe that they went up to their rooms a good hour or two previous. A long, hard trek it is from Ashgar."
Celestius glanced back at Gorric and Khir. "Very well. I'd like full board for two nights then please. Two rooms, one single and one shared."
As Celestius arranged their stay in Barentin, Gorric and Khir sat nervously at their table. Gorric looked around at the strangers surrounding him. On the table nearest to them sat five men gambling. He caught the eye of one of the five, a man roughly his age with slightly tangled brown hair and a fixed smile, then looked away. He could clearly hear what was being said at that table and found himself listening in.
"You have luck on your side tonight," one gambler said to the man with the fixed smile. "Where did you say you were from?"
"Ashgar," came the answer. "Just arrived this morning."
"What was your name again?"
"Varayan…Varayan Devohr. Why do you ask?"
"I like to know the name of those who take my money," replied the gambler.
The man named Varayan laughed. "I'm sure you'll get it back. I don't usually win."
Gorric lost interest and looked back at Khir. "You look nervous."
Khir shrugged. "I don't like these places much, Gorric. You know that."
"I think you're safe enough. With father here, I feel at ease."
"Really? You seem as nervous as I do."
Gorric smirked at his friend. "You know me too well."
Celestius
"Tamriel will be the next to fall, then we join forces with those from Boraila for the attack on Turambar. When do you leave?"
"Tonight."
"Then we must drink to our impending victories before you go. You will join me?"
"Of course, commander."
Balthus shook his head at the commander's words. Impending victories . The arrogance would be their downfall one day. The Rotians may have been foolish, but they were not just going to lay down their weapons and surrender. He was sure that much blood would be spilt over the coming weeks, both Rotian and Shada-Kavielian.
Chapter 6
Gorric pushed the tavern door open and was greeted by the sights, smells and sounds accompanying such an establishment. The bar room beyond was busy, but not overly so. The people in there ranged from dockworkers to merchants, all of whom had finished their day's work and were spending their well-earned money on the alcohol Gorric never had a stomach for.
The two-day journey from Tamriel with his father and Khir had been dull and unexciting. The only real conversation was with his father as they discussed Gorric's training in Vylandor. He was looking forward to some warm food and a nice, soft bed. The nobles from Ashgar, with whom his father was to talk, were most likely already in the tavern by now, but Gorric hoped that any bartering was left until morning.
"Go on in, Gorric," ordered Celestius, moving up behind his son and pushing him into the bar room gently.
Khir peered from behind Celestius and tried to see what sort of people were within. He had heard rumours that taverns nearest to the docks were usually the roughest. He had brought his hunting knife with him, but had left it with the wagon. Celestius and Gorric had both ridden with their swords at their sides, but they too had left their weapons with the wagon. Khir took a deep breath before entering the tavern behind the other two.
Celestius looked around the room and then pointed to a vacant table. "Gorric, Khir, sit there and I'll order some food for us."
The two young men nodded and made their way to the table. Gorric's stature forced people aside who stood in their path, whilst Khir just tried not to make eye contact with anyone.
Celestius turned to the serving girl behind the bar. "Good evening, I'm looking for a group of noblemen from Ashgar. They usually stay here."
The girl thought for a moment. "Ah, yes. They arrived this morning, sir, but I believe that they went up to their rooms a good hour or two previous. A long, hard trek it is from Ashgar."
Celestius glanced back at Gorric and Khir. "Very well. I'd like full board for two nights then please. Two rooms, one single and one shared."
As Celestius arranged their stay in Barentin, Gorric and Khir sat nervously at their table. Gorric looked around at the strangers surrounding him. On the table nearest to them sat five men gambling. He caught the eye of one of the five, a man roughly his age with slightly tangled brown hair and a fixed smile, then looked away. He could clearly hear what was being said at that table and found himself listening in.
"You have luck on your side tonight," one gambler said to the man with the fixed smile. "Where did you say you were from?"
"Ashgar," came the answer. "Just arrived this morning."
"What was your name again?"
"Varayan…Varayan Devohr. Why do you ask?"
"I like to know the name of those who take my money," replied the gambler.
The man named Varayan laughed. "I'm sure you'll get it back. I don't usually win."
Gorric lost interest and looked back at Khir. "You look nervous."
Khir shrugged. "I don't like these places much, Gorric. You know that."
"I think you're safe enough. With father here, I feel at ease."
"Really? You seem as nervous as I do."
Gorric smirked at his friend. "You know me too well."
Celestius
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