His fingers ran over the crossbow, feeling the cool metal to which droplets clung. He pulled out a wet leaf that had managed to get inside the weapon and dropped it to the floor. He noted a shadow easing itself toward him, and turned to see a girl giving a curtsey. She seemed almost nervous; he figured it was because of the crossbow.
He cleared his throat, “Some soup, please, with ale.” The girl nodded and turned to leave. “Oh, and, some raw meat,” he nodded to the fresh kill that a woman under a hat had brought in. Eksile reached into a pouch and produced several coins, which he poured into her cupped hands. He didn’t bother to search her face for whatever confused or disgusted look she may have had in regards to the raw meat he ordered. Once she had counted out the currency and left, he turned back to his crossbow, breathing hot fog on the shiny metal and rubbing it with his sleeve.
As he sat in silence, awaiting his food, he cleaned his crossbow, picking up on the conversations around him.
”I don’t know, Will.. The sex just isn’t good anymore.”
He breathed more fog onto the crossbow, and rubbed again, holding back a little bit of laughter.
”They’on know ‘bout that.. brooaaadsword I got in these trousers.. I fuck ‘em girls in half!”
He recognized it as the drunk young one he had observed upon entering.
”It was big.. black.. Two feet yeah.. No I’m not crazy.. Strange lights in the woods.. I’m telling you it wasn’t a bear."
Eksile flicked off some grime.
”You have two big armored dogs outside the inn. They’re makin’ my wife nervous she won’t even come close to the establishment.”
He turned the weapon over.
”I sawr it wif my own two eyes!.. She was standing there in mi kitchen! Never been so frightened in mi life I tell ya!”
He wiped off some mud.
“Sir?”
“Name’s Loras.”
“Sir?”
Eksile turned around to see a man, older than himself, looking down on him, “May I help you?”
“I’m Sloan, the innkeeper. Are you the one who ordered raw meat?” he ended on a curious sounding note.
“Yes I am,” Eksile confirmed.
Sloan gave him a quizzical look, “Well I can’t just give it to you in the inn.. It’ll get blood on the table. Would you mind receiving it outside?”
“That would be fine.”
“Great..” Sloan slowed his speech; he was clearly wondering why this man wanted raw meat. Then he seemed to beam with self enlightenment, “Planning to cook it when you get home huh?”
“No.”
“Oh..”
“I’ll take my soup outside too if that’s fine with you.”
“That’s fine..” he turned away slowly, with a perplexed expression. Eksile got up to step outside, and smiled very discreetly when he heard him mutter ”What the hell?
He walked past the drunk kid, looking at him out of the corner of his eye. “I’m telling you!” the boy leaned forward awkwardly, “the sky is purple and made of mushrooms!”
Eksile opened the door and stepped outside. He looked at the puddles that dotted the townscape and the water drops falling from the inn roof. Going down the steps that lead to the door, he walked over to his animals.
Blood and Steel were laying down next to Aesos, who was doing nothing in particular. The moment they saw their pack member approaching, they got up and walked towards him, tails wagging. They clearly thought he had food on him, as he told him he would bring them some earlier. He opened his hands and they sniffed his palms. “I have nothing as of yet,” he said. “Don’t worry, soon,” he patted them. “You’ll get fresh meat.”
The door of the inn swung open, and Sloan came walking out, holding the deer leg as far away as possible, as not to get blood on himself. “Sir! I have your meal!” However, it was heavy, and that coupled with balancing the bowl of soup made for the situation awkward. The dogs watched him; even the horse turned to look.
Thus, Eksile walked over to save him the trouble, “Allow me,” he said. He took the bowl, and the deer leg, which he dragged across the ground. That alone made it easier, but of course, Sloan wouldn’t have done that out of respect. In the end it was going to animals who ate off the dirt anyway, so Eksile didn’t care.
He dropped the leg to the ground, and to Sloan’s surprise the dogs didn’t rush for it. Instead, they waited patiently as Eksile got to his knee and undid their helmets.
“Are these your dogs?” Sloan asked as Eskile hooked the helmets onto the horse.
“Indeed,” he said.
“They seem very well trained.”
“They are,” Eksile clapped once, “Eat up.”
It was then and only then that the dogs made a move. They both reached the leg at the same moment, with Steel snapping at Blood, who did the same in retaliation, leaving Sloan to literally step back and completely re-think what he had just said.
The dogs had pushed at gnashed at eachother only a few times, and Steel emerged victorious, returning to the leg while Blood hung back. No blood or fur had been shed or torn. In fact, they seemed completely unharmed.
“Why do they fight then?”
“That wasn’t a fight. Blood just wanted first pick for once.”
“I suppose the bigger one is in charge then?”
“Aye.”
“I have people –“
”Ello mates!”
Eksile and Sloan’s heads both snapped up to the sound of a loud, authorative voice. The door of the inn had swung closed, muffling it out. The dogs had looked up from their meal, and Sloan ran over. Eskile followed at a quick walk, but hung back at the door steps.
Sloan opened the door and before it closed Eskile recognized the man who had barged in as a guard. Comfortable with the situation now, he walked closer, stopping right at the entrance and listening to what he was saying through the door.
There had been a sighting up North.
Payment.
”The party meets ‘morrow ‘mornin’, here!”
Eskile leaned back and contemplated.