He made his way down the dirty city streets, the thick wet clay sticking to his boots and making a sucking sound every time he lifted his foot. He followed the waterway, past the church and the public market, and turned the corner to the seedier part of town. It was a few hours after sunrise now, and the morning gloom and dark skies made him sulk. The clouds were building up over the mountains in the distance, and he feared rain would arrive shortly after mid-afternoon tomorrow, which would make tracking her down more difficult. He hated being in the wilderness in the rain, sleeping on soggy ground and fighting off the damp chill that went all the way to his bones. Not to mention not being able to keep warm by a fire that couldn’t be lit with damp wood. He grumbled to himself. Maybe he was getting old, soft in his advancing years. Maybe he was starting to prefer a cozy goose down bed over a life of freedom in the wild. He sighed. If his mission wasn’t so important, he would pack it all up, get on his horse and go back to Drydon Keep to curl up until spring. This side of the kingdom was already being taken over by an ever present darkness and cold that chilled his soul as much as his body. He dreaded the thought of it reaching Azlyn, which right now, was starting to show the signs of spring. Warm air and fresh smells.
He pulled his cloak tighter around himself and his hood closer to his skull and huddled up inside it as much as he could. He was weary, of that there was no doubt, and although he had hardly slept in the last twenty-four hours, he knew it was just the dreariness of the weather and the growing fear that was taking over the country that tired him. He knew he had to get rest soon; he wouldn’t be able to go on without some kind of rejuvenation, but he didn’t want to fall more behind. He assumed that Fallon and his cortege arrived at the castle last night and probably already discovered Melenthia’s disappearance. He had to find her before they did.
He came up on a row of shabby buildings, mostly taverns and inns along the waterway, and stood in the middle of the street deciding which one to hit first. A nice warm mug of spiced ale would really hit the spot right now anyway, so any one of them would do. He chose the one at the end of the street. He could make his way from back to front, and if he found out nothing, he could go back to the woods from the east side instead and actually save a couple of leagues.
There was light coming out from the only window in the place, and he could hear a few voices from inside. He entered and looked around. There were three tables occupied. A couple of people were eating breakfast and talking quietly, and one man sat at the bar, finishing off a mug of something. He sidled up to the counter and slid onto a stool. A large man with big arms and legs, wearing an apron over his linen shirt, was washing a mug with a wet cloth, but turned when Alekzand’r sat down on the stool. Alek nodded to him, the barkeep smiled congenially.
“What can I get you, stranger?”
“I’d love a mug of some spiced ale if you got it.”
“It’s a bit early in the day for that, don’t you reckon?”
“Since the sun doesn’t seem to know what time it is these days, I suppose I can forget as well. I’ve been traveling awhile in this cold that chills to the bone. I think my body could use a bit of warmth, no matter what time of day it is.”
He laughed and nodded his head. “Here, here.”
He turned his back on Alek, poured a mug full of steaming liquid, then turned back, sliding it across the bar to him. Alek took a long pull on it and smiled. The warm liquid coated his raw throat. He was so content he almost audibly sighed.
“That hit the spot I reckon. Looks like we’re in for a wet few days. Are you just passing through?” Garreth asked Alek, who was halfway through his drink already.
“Yes. I don’t expect to be here long. I’ve purchased my supplies and I’ll be on my way. Just thought I’d get a drink and warm myself before I get on the road again.”
“Where are you headed?”
The other man at the bar had finished up, left a coin on the bar, and went out the front door. Alek watched him go, then eyed Garreth again.
“Azlyn.”
“I can see why you want to go there. Warmer country over there. That’s a way’s off yet. What, about a three week ride I suspect?”
“That’s about right,” he paused. “I’m actually looking for someone. Thought maybe someone in town might have seen her. She might have come through last night, maybe yesterday afternoon.”
“Your her have a name?” Garreth said, eyeing Alek warily. He knew this must be the stranger that had visited Bale early this morning. He needed to tread carefully.