Jarryd: Chapter 6

Lenno was in the common room when they got back to the inn. He looked from one to the other. “I was going to ask how your day was, but I can see I don’t need to.”

“It was magical,” Kath said. “I think he’s going to work out.”

Lenno laughed. Jarryd winced. “Do you have to say things like that in front of me?”

“Yes. I do. It’s ever so much fun.”

“That’s great.” Lenno beamed. “I’m happy for you kids.” He put his hands up. “Sorry. Adults. Even if you’ll always be my kid no matter how old you are.”

He turned serious. “I’m sorry to bring the harsh world into your day, but I’m really glad you’re here. I just got word a small caravan is rolling into town. Once they get their camp set up, we’re going to be flooded here.”

Kath nodded, all business now. “All right. We can do this. Is Keven here?” Keven was a boy around thirteen who helped on busy nights.

“I sent word to him. He should be here soon.”

“Marka and Anney are both in the kitchen?”

“Anney just got in.”

Kath thought. “We’ve got that big pot of beans that’s been cooking all day. We can chop a ham into it. We have to get some potatoes boiling.” She looked at Jarryd. “I need you to bring up some casks from the cellar.”

“Just tell me what you need.”

“Ale. Mead. Wine. Cider. Bring one of each. No, make that two ales.”

“I got it.”

As Jarryd hurried away, Kath was giving instructions to her father. He remembered that it had always been Kath’s mother, Jenine, who ran the inn. It appeared that Kath had stepped into her shoes since the attack. He really needed to find some way to get Hamisi here to look at her mother.

He started hauling the kegs and barrels upstairs and stowing them behind the bar. Once he had them all in place, Kath gave him new orders. More mugs. More glasses. Bring in more wood for the hearth.

By then some people from the caravan were starting to trickle in. The first were the merchant and his wife. They paid for the best room in the inn and stated they would be taking their dinner in their room.

After that a handful of men came in who were clearly guards. They wore short swords and daggers, hardened leather armor and helms. They pushed some tables together and hollered for ale. Jarryd was already behind the bar, pouring. Keven started running them over to the table.

Last to arrive were the drovers. Hard-looking men carrying whips and staves banded in metal. They also pushed tables together and began yelling for alcohol.

The evening was a different one for Jarryd. He’d never been in the inn when a caravan came through. The few times he’d been planning to, he’d changed his mind as soon as he saw them. Very few of the locals showed up when they filled the place. It was too crowded, too noisy for proper conversation with friends and neighbors.

It was also more dangerous.

Jarryd had been around drovers and caravan guards before. He knew how they were once they got drunk.

And they were getting drunk. The food slowed their drinking some, but not by much. They required a steady stream of alcoholic beverages. More like a river, really.

It was dark and things were loud when Jarryd looked over and saw Lenno across the bar. He looked troubled, twisting the rag he held, biting his lip. Lenno wasn’t a big man, but he carried himself with confidence. Jarryd had seen him break up fights between much bigger men, and he’d always handled it well.

But he didn’t look the same tonight. Jarryd realized he hadn’t been the same since he got back. The dragon attack and the injury to his wife had taken a lot out of him.

He looked a lot older. He looked uncertain.

That could cause problems. These were rough men who lived rough lives. When they saw weakness, they took advantage of it. It was their nature. Which meant eventually…

Jarryd made his way over to Lenno.

“Hey. Just know I’m here to help. If any of them gets out of hand, I’ll be here.”

Lenno gave him a look of unbridled gratitude. “That’s good to know. I’m not as young as I used to be.”

The night grew older. The last of the locals left, not that there were ever many to begin with. Even more drovers showed up. A third barrel of ale had to come up from the cellar, along with a number of bottles of liquor.

Jarryd was manning the bar by himself when Kath came over. Lenno had gone to check on his wife.

“Time to start slowing down,” she told Jarryd. “Don’t serve them any more liquor. Drag your feet on everything else.” Her eyes roved around the room, measuring. She pointed out several of them. “Don’t serve them anything at all.”

“I won’t.”

“I need to catch up on their tabs. If this goes sideways, we want to collect what they owe first.”

“You want me to do it?”

“No. I’ll handle it.” She frowned. “Where’s Keven?”

“I think he’s hiding in the kitchen. They’ve got him pretty spooked.”

“I’m not surprised. He wasn’t working for us the last time a caravan came through. Let him be. Since we’re not serving food anymore, we can get by without him.”

“Yes, boss.”

She gave him a smile. “I like the sound of that.”

“I bet you do.”

She went away chuckling.

She went to the drovers’ table first. “Okay, let’s see some coins, fellas!” she called out. “Time to pay up!” Her voice carried. Clearly, she’d had to speak over the din before.

“I’m not done drinking!” one man yelled. He had two fingers that had been badly broken and never were set right. They stuck out at odd angles to the rest. He banged his mug on the table for emphasis.

“With an attitude like that you are,” Kath told him sternly. “But I’m not shutting the bar yet. You can keep drinking. But we’re catching up the tabs now.”

“Sure. Whatever.” The speaker had a thick, red beard. “Why don’t you run along, little darling, and get me another ale like a good girl?” He patted Kath on the bottom as he spoke.

That got Jarryd’s hackles up. He started to come around the bar. But he made himself stop. Kath knew what she was doing. He needed to stay out of it.

In an icy voice, Kath said, “You, sir, are cut off. Pay up and get out.”

The man scoffed. “Says who?”

“Says me.” She glared at him. “Out.”

“Aw, I didn’t mean nothing. Don’t get all worked up.”

“You’re done. There’s the door. After you pay me…” She consulted her list. “For dinner and nine ales.”

He looked like he was going to argue more, but the look on her face dissuaded him. He stood up unsteadily and threw some coins on the table. “Well, if you’re going to be a bitch, I’ll just take my business elsewhere.”

Kath had her arms crossed and was tapping her foot. Her expression never changed. “Go.”

“Fine. Ugly place you got here anyway.” He stumbled to the door and out into the night.

Kath looked around the room. “Anyone else?”

Men shook their heads and muttered, but no one challenged her. She started collecting money.

Jarryd shook his head in admiration, his respect for Kath increasing. She was so much more than he ever realized. It made him wonder. What was he expecting from her when he got here? Definitely someone a lot quieter and reserved. More ladylike? Whatever that meant.

He’d built her up as this perfect woman, but that mental construct bore no resemblance to the actual person. And he was glad of it. Maybe at one time he’d wanted to partner with a woman like he’d imagined her to be, but not now. He loved how strong and capable she was. She reminded him a lot of Hamisi. He wondered how they would get along together.

Kath collected money from everyone. A few more men left. The rest continued drinking, complaining that each round was taking too long, but not causing any real trouble.

It was after midnight when Jarryd called Kath over. “I have to go to the privy. I’m bursting. I’ll be right back.”

Keven and the kitchen help were long gone by then. Lenno was in their quarters with his wife, who was having a bad evening. It was just the two of them and four guards.

“Sure.”

Jarryd used the privy and hurried back inside. In the kitchen, he saw that Marka had returned. “I forgot to set the dough out to rise,” she explained. “Can you get the big bowl down from the top shelf for me? I can’t reach it.”

Jarryd did so. “Also, can you move that pot over to the other table?” She pointed to a large pot full of beans that were soaking for the next day. He moved the pot. She said goodnight and headed out the back door. He latched the door and headed back to the common room.

Entering the room, he saw that the four guards had Kath backed into a corner. One of them grabbed her arm and jerked her forward. Another was pulling at her dress.

Jarryd reacted instantly and charged them.

One of the guards glanced over his shoulder and saw Jarryd coming fast, his speed enhanced by kriyana. He opened his mouth to warn his fellows, but he never got the words out.

Jarryd leapt a table that was in his way. As he landed, he punched the one who’d turned in the face. He pulled his punch, not wanting to kill the man, but he hit him hard.

The guard flew backwards, slamming into one of the other men. They both went down.

One of the guards had his sword out by then. He hacked at Jarryd. Jarryd caught the blade in his left hand, hardening his hand with kriyana so the blade wouldn’t cut him. With his right, he grabbed the man’s other arm, turned and threw him halfway across the room. The guard hit a table and bounced onto the floor.

When he turned back, the final guard had his knife out and was holding it to Kath’s throat. His face was white, his eyes bulging. “Stay back or I’ll cut her!”

Jarryd hesitated.

Kath stomped down on the arch of the guard’s foot. He cried out and dropped the knife. She took the opportunity to slam the mug she was holding against the side of his head. He dropped to the floor with a surprised look on his face.

Jarryd went to Kath. “Are you okay?”

She nodded, her face pale.

He turned around. Two of the men were getting to their feet. The one he’d punched, and the one Kath clocked, were still down.

“Get out of here.”

He grabbed one of the fallen by the back of the shirt and the other by the leg.

He dragged them to the front door, the two who were upright staggering before him. He threw the unconscious men out into the street.

“Don’t ever come back to Creekside.”

He went back inside. Kath ran to him, and they held each other for a long time.

“You’re sure you’re okay?” he asked when they pulled apart.

“I am. I’m just shook up.”

“I’m sorry.” Jarryd was shaking badly. “It’s my fault. I didn’t come back right away. I shouldn’t have left you alone in here with them.”

“I didn’t think it would be a problem. Normally, I can handle the rowdies.” She shivered. “That was close. They must have thought you’d gone home. They came at me in a rush.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sure glad you showed up when you did.”

“I shouldn’t have been gone that long. I’m so sorry.”

She touched his face. “It’s okay. I’m okay. That’s what matters.” She managed a smile. “That was something to see. You moved so fast, and you tossed those men around like they weighed nothing. That must be the famous Knight power.”

“I did use kriyana. Almost too much. I have to be careful. I could have killed those men. I’m just so glad you’re okay. I don’t know what I’d do if one of them had hurt you.”

“No point in talking about it because it didn’t happen.” She looked over her shoulder at the door leading to her family’s quarters. “I’m glad Father didn’t see that. We’re not going to tell him. He worries about Mother so much. I don’t want him worrying about me as well. I probably should have kicked them out sooner, but we need the extra coin. With the costs of rebuilding this place, along with Mother’s doctor expenses, we’ve been a little short lately.”

She put her arms around me. “Hold me. Don’t let go until I tell you to.”

(Are you enjoying Jarryd's tale? Would you like to read his adventures before this, when he fought the Dragon Queen? Just click here to check it out!)