The weather outside was starting to cloud over and rain could be smelled upon the air, and that meant bodies were crammed into the tavern because no one wanted to stand outside and drink, as they so often did. But Cole, Addax, and Essien had the best seats in the house and when anyone would drift near, they would kick them away. They didn’t want to be crowded on, especially when many of the tavern guests were armed.
And they weren’t all English.
Otterburn was near the Scots border, although that particular stretch of the border was somewhat barren. However, there was a major road that ran between England and Scotland nearby, and that meant Scots traveling south. It was fairly common here. When the three of them had entered the tavern, they’d already seen at least two small parties of Scots, men who were keeping to themselves, but they certainly eyed Cole and Addax and Essien as they entered the tavern.
There were suspicious glances all around.
But the truth was that Addax and Essien were used to be stared at, given their family roots were not in the northern hemisphere, so that wasn’t unusual for them. Once the three of them assumed their seats, the staring was interrupted as the owner and his wife brought out beef and ale stew along with warmed wine against the cold night. There was bread, peas, and stewed fruit, and the hungry knights ate their fill with their eyes on the Scots over on the other side of the common room.
Since the inn was so crowded, they were certain there would be no sleeping accommodations, but Cole made the attempt to secure at least one room. The only thing the tavern owner had left was his largest room, and it was costly, but Cole gave him the money without hesitation. There was only one bed, he was told, but the wife went upstairs to fashion two pallets for the floor.
Comfortable beds awaited and, hopefully, a peaceful evening.
“Well, lads,” Addax said. “One night in this ghastly place and we should be at Pelinom by tomorrow evening if the weather holds.”
Essien was elbow-deep in his meat stew. “Did you see the announcement as we came into town?” he said. “The ones that were nailed to the buildings on the outskirts?”
Cole was shoveling stew into his mouth as fast as Essien was. “Don’t even think about it,” he said.
Essien’s head came up from his meal. “Think about what?” he said. “The tournament? And why not?”
Addax looked between the two of them. “What tournament?”
“It was posted on the bills as we entered town,” Cole said, mouth full. “They were huge bills, Ad. You truly did not see them?”
Addax shook his head. “I was looking for the tavern,” he said. “Where is the tournament?”
“Morpeth,” Essien said. “Lord Ashlington is sponsoring them. It has been a long time since we have competed for sport and prize money, Ad.”
Addax looked at his brother as if the man had gone mad. “Now?” he demanded. “You want to compete now?”
Essien didn’t back down. “It would only be for a few days,” he said. “The tournament does not start until next month, anyway. All I am saying is that it would be fun to compete if we are not committed elsewhere at the time.”
“You mean if we are not fighting off a Scots invasion,” Cole said quietly. “Essien, we have responsibilities elsewhere. There will be time enough for a tournament when this is over. The one in Morpeth will not be the last.”
Essien returned to his food, but he wasn’t happy. And he wasn’t ready to give up, either. “Those were the days,” he said with fondness, trying to coerce his brother into agreeing with him. “Weren’t they, Ad? Destroying our competition in Ghent and Brussels and Roubaix? You should have seen us, Cole. The Black Dragon was unbeatable in the joust and the God of Vengeance dominated in the mass competition. We were unstoppable.”
Cole could hear the excitement in Essien’s voice as he reveled in the memories of his tournament days. “You were unstoppable because I was not there,” he said, lifting his cup of wine to his lips. “Had I been there, you would not have won.”
Essien’s dark eyes twinkled. “Would you care to put that boast to the test?”
Cole took a long drink of wine, belching loudly when he was done. “Of course I would,” he said. “But not at Morpeth. We have more important things to do, Es. The tournament will have to wait.”
Essien returned to his food, none too happy yet again. “I will hold you to that.”
“I hope you do.”
Essien took another bite of his food, his mind still lingering on the tournaments of his past. “It’s strange,” he said. “When I look back on my life, and all of the things I have done in that short time, I think it was the tournaments that I liked the best. The excitement, the money, the women…”
“It was the women who got you in trouble,” Addax reminded him.
But Essien waved him off. “I have always loved competition,” he said. “When I was a very young boy, I was always fascinated with games. We had games in Kitara, long ago. Remember, Ad? They were called Qurucu.”
As Addax nodded, Cole spoke. “What does that mean?”
“It means The Founding,” Addax said. “It was a festival to honor our ancestors, the ancient Kings of Kitara. There were horse races, music, games of strength and skill. Es and I were too young to compete, but our father did. I swear that I remember him winning every game. Our father could do no wrong.”
Cole had slowed his eating, watching the brothers as they reflected on their homeland, which was rare. They had been very young when they’d been forced to flee, something neither of them liked to remember, and Cole was aware of that. But it seemed that this reflection wasn’t filled with angst, but of admiration.
It was a rare good memory of home.
“What was his name?” he asked. “I do not think I have ever asked you that.”
“Amare,” Addax said. “He was a man of great vision and great honor, something that threatened some people.”
Cole sat back with his warmed wine, interested in a rare glimpse into their past. “And these people are the ones who started the rebellion against him?”
Addax nodded. “Mostly,” he said. “My father had a younger brother, Ekon, who coveted his power. It was Ekon who started the rebellion against my father and stole his throne.”
Cole nodded faintly. “Surely he would have wanted you dead, too, Ad. You are your father’s heir.”
“That is true, but we had the loyalty of my father’s servants,” he said. “When the rebellion started, they took Essien and I away, dressing us as servant children. We had a sister, you know. Adanya was her name. I do not know what became of her and that will always haunt me. I am the eldest son, after all. I should have made sure she was protected.”
Cole had never heard that before. As the music blared and the roar of conversation filled that stuffy tavern, he found himself in a serious conversation with Addax and Essien on a taboo subject. Perhaps it was the wine causing them to speak of things they kept well-buried, but Cole had seen them both drunk before.
This was something else.
Perhaps it was simply time to speak on it.
“You were a child,” he said. “You cannot blame yourself for not being able to help her. It sounds as if you were lucky to escape with your lives as it was.”