the direction of Aldington?, he asked waving the stick threateningly.
Aerys knew the answer luckily as Erasmus had made him study the maps of Amestris intensively until he was knew every part of it. He pointed to the north. He thought that he would receive some praise or acknowledgement of his improvement but the hunter said nothing. He put the stick away and took the northern road. Aerys followed him a bit disappointed. If he wanted him to say a kind word, he could wait forever.
They walked on for the rest of the day and stopped near an abandoned farm near the road for the night. Aerys was sent to inspect it and after that he ensured that it was safe they established their camp. Needless to say that they had salted meat for dinner. Aerys did not mind it so much for it was a long time since he had last tasted it. After he finished eating he leant against the wall and watched the stars in the dark sky. The roof had fallen down and he was glad that it did not rain tonight. The hunter sat on the opposite side of the fire and drank as usual. Aerys was tempted to ask him about the reason he drank so much but then he remembered Erasmus’s words. It was probably not the right time to do so.
They did not spoke that much that night and Aerys went to sleep as usual while the hunter took the night guard.
The next day, they continued their journey at dawn as always. The landscape started to change a bit and the weather became colder. It did not rain but the sky was clouded and the sun was rarely seen. The wind rose and blew hard. Unfortunately it came from the north and hence it hindered their progression. Aerys lost a great deal of energy trying to follow the hunter along the deserted plains. There was not a soul all around and the only thing he could see was green stretches that went on and on for miles.
When they stopped to eat, he put on the coat that Erasmus had given him. It greatly diminished the coldness he felt. The hunter did not bother with one. Aerys guessed that the wine was enough already. They ate quickly and Aerys drank from one of the rare streams that they found. The water was really cold and he could not drink more than a couple of mouthful. He shivered when the liquid went down his throat. It was really unpleasant and many times he was tempted to ask the hunter for the bottle of wine but he refrained from doing so.
They covered just a couple of miles before nightfall. Aerys did not particularly like the idea of sleeping outside in such weather as the wind had gained in power. Luckily they saw some light some time before dusk a little way off the road. It was an old inn known as the Greenfield inn. A fitting name he thought as they entered inside. The cold air followed them as the hunter opened the door and the innkeeper rushed towards them shouting at them to close it. Aerys did not get the chance to do so for he pushed him to the side roughly and closed it himself. He then turned towards them with a warm smile on his face.
-Welcome…welcome to the ‘Greenfield Inn’. What can I do for you?
He turned out to be an excellent host and after taking bags in our rooms he came back to their table with food. The inn was nearly empty except for them and a couple of men who did not care much about us. They were talking around the fire and I noticed that they did not seem too joyful. Aerys asked the hunter about it but he merely shrugged and ordered a bottle of elixir. The innkeeper brought his finest bottle, according to his say, and sat by in an empty chair.
-What brings you here?, he asked.
-Business matters, replied the hunter ignoring the glass that the innkeeper provided and drinking from the bottle itself.
-You are not from here, so I should warn you, said the innkeeper in a low voice. You are probably heading towards Adington right?
The hunter nodded.
-That’s what I was thinking. Well if I were you I would not venture there. (He moved his chair closer and whispered.) It is a dangerous place.
He watched
Aerys knew the answer luckily as Erasmus had made him study the maps of Amestris intensively until he was knew every part of it. He pointed to the north. He thought that he would receive some praise or acknowledgement of his improvement but the hunter said nothing. He put the stick away and took the northern road. Aerys followed him a bit disappointed. If he wanted him to say a kind word, he could wait forever.
They walked on for the rest of the day and stopped near an abandoned farm near the road for the night. Aerys was sent to inspect it and after that he ensured that it was safe they established their camp. Needless to say that they had salted meat for dinner. Aerys did not mind it so much for it was a long time since he had last tasted it. After he finished eating he leant against the wall and watched the stars in the dark sky. The roof had fallen down and he was glad that it did not rain tonight. The hunter sat on the opposite side of the fire and drank as usual. Aerys was tempted to ask him about the reason he drank so much but then he remembered Erasmus’s words. It was probably not the right time to do so.
They did not spoke that much that night and Aerys went to sleep as usual while the hunter took the night guard.
The next day, they continued their journey at dawn as always. The landscape started to change a bit and the weather became colder. It did not rain but the sky was clouded and the sun was rarely seen. The wind rose and blew hard. Unfortunately it came from the north and hence it hindered their progression. Aerys lost a great deal of energy trying to follow the hunter along the deserted plains. There was not a soul all around and the only thing he could see was green stretches that went on and on for miles.
When they stopped to eat, he put on the coat that Erasmus had given him. It greatly diminished the coldness he felt. The hunter did not bother with one. Aerys guessed that the wine was enough already. They ate quickly and Aerys drank from one of the rare streams that they found. The water was really cold and he could not drink more than a couple of mouthful. He shivered when the liquid went down his throat. It was really unpleasant and many times he was tempted to ask the hunter for the bottle of wine but he refrained from doing so.
They covered just a couple of miles before nightfall. Aerys did not particularly like the idea of sleeping outside in such weather as the wind had gained in power. Luckily they saw some light some time before dusk a little way off the road. It was an old inn known as the Greenfield inn. A fitting name he thought as they entered inside. The cold air followed them as the hunter opened the door and the innkeeper rushed towards them shouting at them to close it. Aerys did not get the chance to do so for he pushed him to the side roughly and closed it himself. He then turned towards them with a warm smile on his face.
-Welcome…welcome to the ‘Greenfield Inn’. What can I do for you?
He turned out to be an excellent host and after taking bags in our rooms he came back to their table with food. The inn was nearly empty except for them and a couple of men who did not care much about us. They were talking around the fire and I noticed that they did not seem too joyful. Aerys asked the hunter about it but he merely shrugged and ordered a bottle of elixir. The innkeeper brought his finest bottle, according to his say, and sat by in an empty chair.
-What brings you here?, he asked.
-Business matters, replied the hunter ignoring the glass that the innkeeper provided and drinking from the bottle itself.
-You are not from here, so I should warn you, said the innkeeper in a low voice. You are probably heading towards Adington right?
The hunter nodded.
-That’s what I was thinking. Well if I were you I would not venture there. (He moved his chair closer and whispered.) It is a dangerous place.
He watched
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