My eyes shot open. There was little or no light in this small room above Harwick's tavern and the sun had not yet risen, yet I had felt a cold touch upon my cheek and heard the soft sounds of breaths quickly taken.
Grabbing one of the knives I always kept beside me, I sat up. Peering into the darkness and searching for the intruder I saw two eyes gleaming near to the floor beside the bed. It was a fox, who no doubt had squeezed through the none too well built walls of the ramshackle Inn. It looked at me calmly, panting a bit in the excessive warmth of the tavern. I saw a silver emblem suspended from a soft leather collar around its neck, the image of "The Silver Sickle" had been finely engraved on the delicate charm that gleamed in the dim darkness. I smiled...Dwimmer's work was unmistakable.
I gently held my hand out to the fox, who sniffed it politely. "So Milady sends for us, does she?", I said softly. "Well, we'd best be on our way then...I'll still need to look for Folc's horses as I go, though... I promised." The fox sat on his haunches and looked at me with grave attention, still panting.
"You can tell her I'm coming..."
The fox rose to all fours and glanced around the room. Downstairs I heard voices and bustling as the Tavern keep and his wife were beginning their day. The fox seemed to consider a moment, then sat on his haunches once more, looking at me intently.
I sighed, "Oh, all right...but don't you dare tell anyone. It will ruin my reputation as a hunter!"
I sheathed my knife and, rising, bound it and its brother around my waist. I donned the cloak I had draped on a nearby chair and slung my bow and quiver over my shoulder. Then I stooped and gently picked up the fox, cradling him under my arm and drawing the edge of my cloak over him. Walking carefully downstairs, I greeted the Tavern keep and placed a few silver coins in front of him with my free hand.
" Ic ðoncie ðe", I said with a nod of thanks.
He looked at me under his bushy, blonde eyebrows, " Hwonne cymst ðu hider eft?"
I shrugged, " Na, Nælles...I must travel from this place." the fox wiggled impatiently under my arm.
" Ferthu hal, wes gesund," I smiled and, turning, walked out the door.
Turning a corner, I looked around quickly. No one was stirring...yet. I placed the fox gently on the ground, and gave him a stern look.
" Now go carefully...they favor pelts for their cloaks, these horse lords."
The fox gave me one last look , then turned and ran silently along the city's outer wall. At last he disappeared into the stable yard.
Adjusting my cloak about me, I looked up at the lightening sky. Time to wake Daysey for a morning ride...
