Page 36 of Quest of Fools

Warf got Alianna and the children secured in the cart, ensuring they were in snug, safe, and warm.He then helped Kaltin in after them, making certain his injured limbs wouldn't suffer from the jarring of the cart ride.

Then he climbed up beside Helia on the driver's bench, leaving her sons to ride behind with Viletti in the path that would be crudely cleared by the oxen and cart.The day was bitingly cold, and the wind didn't help, but at least it wasn't snowing.

Yet.The dark, heavy clouds coming up behind them promised that wouldn't remain true for long, but they were all determined to do what was necessary to get to the safety of the town, Callit, before the snow forced them to spend another night outside.

By horse, the journey was roughly another six hours in perfect conditions.With the weather against them, they'd be lucky to get there by nightfall.Thankfully the oxen were as unbothered by the snow as promised, and on the rare occasion they couldn't get through something, Warf worked with Helia and her sons to clear the impediment away.

The snow of course made it impossible to tell when they were on the road and when they veered off it, but Helia clearly knew what she was about, so that was the least of Warf's concerns.

They paused to rest, eat, and feed the animals, but didn't dare linger longer than strictly necessary as the clouds loomed ever closer.If they managed to reach their destination, Warf would be exhausted enough to sleep for a week straight.He couldn't imagine how the others felt, if he was this tired.

When he saw smoke from chimneys, he nearly shouted in triumph.If they could see the smoke, even through the snow, they were close.That realization seemed to spur everyone on, and they pushed as hard as they could until at last, the sign indicating the town was close came into view, and shortly after the town entrance itself.

One of the figures on guard there, a young man by the flailing and exclaiming, rushed up to them."Mistress Helia!Everyone was starting to worry about you three.You all right?"

"We're fine, Bili, but we've some companions that could use immediate attention.Run ahead to the tavern and let Milla know that we've got a woman, two children, and a man with a broken arm and bad leg headed her way, and two guests in addition to that."

The boy snapped an impressive salute and then took off running, leaving Helia shaking her head and chuckling softly."Oh, to have the energy of youth."

Warf grunted in agreement.

Thankfully, the snow meant most people were indoors, so there wasn't much of a crowd to gawk at their passing—at the man nearly the size of the oxen, as they so often did when he passed.Large equaled immediate threat, no matter how careful Warf was to disabuse people of that notion.

He smelled the tavern, the fragrant scent of something roasting, before it came into view.A large woman clutching at her apron waited outside the door, and the moment they were close, she bustled forward, found Alianna and the children, and put all her focus on them.

Smiling, Warf put his own attention on Kaltin, frozen, in pain, and as exhausted as the rest of them, even though he'd scarcely moved.Warf knew from experience that pain wore a body out faster than almost anything.Ignoring Kaltin's protest, he hefted the man into his arms and followed the group into the tavern, stopping only when he found a suitable chair by the fire to set Kaltin in before pulling a stool close to prop his damaged leg on.

"Thank you," Kaltin said."I think you're confused about who assists who, but I'm grateful."He winked.

Warf grinned in reply before turning to their hostess, who was still fussing over the children."Thank you, Mistress, for helping us."

She scoffed as she wiped her hands on her apron."Fates condemn me should I ever turn away people in need.I'm Mistress Milla.Who are you and these other fine folks, sir?"

"I'm Warloff Diggson, just Warf is fine.This is my personal assistant and friend, Kaltin.That's Viletti, she's a royal guard assigned to keep me out of trouble, and I think you've already met Alianna and her children."

The woman's gaze snapped to Kaltin."Oh, my Fates!Kaltin— That old witch— I mean Lady Clarkson—"

"She is an old witch," Kaltin replied."She left me for dead.Say whatever you want about the hag.Did you see her when she was here?Was there anyone with her?"

"She only stopped at the store to order supplies," Milla said."Only people I heard about being with her were some reprobate guards she must have hired from the bottom of a mudpit."

Warf snorted a laugh before thanking the man who came up with a tray of drinks that proved to be hot cider.When the tray was empty, he kissed Milla on the cheek before vanishing into the back again.

Pulling up a chair close to Kaltin, Warf finally sat, every joint in his body cracking and popping.He yawned as he listened to the conversation around him, Kaltin and Viletti taking it in turns to tell the story of how and why they'd come to be here.

"I should have known that woman was up to something rotten," Milla said, hands on her hips."She never visits this time of year.I assumed she was fleeing some scandal, and I guess that weren't wrong, but Fates alive."She looked Viletti over critically."All that, and they only sent one royal guard?"

"Many, including Their Majesties, believe Marian left of his own volition."

"No person in their right mind chooses that woman, least of all when they already had a better option."She gave Warf an approving look."Now then, here comes my men with food for all of you.I'll get the rooms made up while you eat, and then you can all get some sleep, and we'll sort out someone to take you up to the manor tomorrow after breakfast."

"I cannot repay all you're doing for us," Warf said.

"Oh, I'll get what I'm due, never fear that," Milla said with a smile."Take it straight from that damned woman, I will."

Warf laughed, and then the two men carrying large trays piled with food reached them, and after that it was minimal conversation between bites of food.It had been so long since he'd sat in a tavern, surrounded by other people, enjoying good food and drink, that it felt a little strange.Who would have thought that sitting around a campfire would become his normal?

A few more months, though, and this would be over.Hopefully with a happy ending.

---