Ah! The afternoon sun felt good on his face. He had stopped at the Bywater Pool to rest a while. His back against a sun warmed rock, he let the warm face of Anar shine full upon him, easing the kinks in his aching muscles. It had been a long and dusty trip from the Overbourne Marshes. He looked forward to a clean bed and a pint of nut brown ale from the Green Dragon, just a few more hours hike along the banks of The Water.
‘Best not get too comfortable.’ he said to himself, as he heaved his tired frame up once again. He scooped some water from the pool and washed the dirt from his face, smoothing back his dark hair as he did so. There was little help for his tunic or breeches. Both black, they wore countless layers of dust, and mud stains and various spills. His grey cloak he slung back from his shoulders. His worn, brown leather boots were unbuttoned down to his knees and the cuffs were ragged from long use. He wriggled his toes in them thinking how nice it would be to have a clean pair of socks on once again.
Little thoughts like this flitted through his mind as he travelled on, eating up the miles with his stride, boot heels throwing up small clouds of dust as he walked along.
‘Ah! So here I am at last!’ he said, taking his pack from his shoulders. The sun was just above the Tower Hills as he entered the Inn. Standing in the entry way for a moment, he let his eyes adjust to the softer light within. His grey eyes glinted with delight as he spied the Innkeeper behind the bar.
‘A pint of the nut brown, if you please.’ he told her. One foot on the low railing, he leaned against the bar, watching the foamy head as it pushed up the sides of the tankard, threatening to spill out at the last moment. With a deft hand, the Innkeeper cut the flow and handed him the ale, not a drop spilled.
‘To your good health, Mistress!’ he said grinning at her, ‘And to your little bairns, too!’ He took a long pull at his drink, then turned and leaned against the bar, looking to see a familiar face.
|