Tales of an Eccentric

"Wake up," grumbled the alewife to the patrons who had stayed in her lodging. As she shuffled about the creaking oak floor the lot rose slowly from their beds, many shivering from the frigid morn. She flung open the shutters. The sudden dawn breeze and glow struck one man in the eyes as he attempted to roll over for more rest. The lady kicked the leg of the bed, "I have little patience for those late to god's glory, and even less patience for the supposed learned lot that laze until lugged out to tell the rest what they ought to have done!" These words struck the man more forcefully than the dawn and as such he quickly rose out of bed, disheveled and disoriented.

The man was young, or at least young of skin compared to his fellow guests. He reached over for his purse while clearing his throat. "Excuse my delay," he began, "I am unaccustomed to such riding and have found myself grappling with a lifestyle foreign to me. Apologies." She grumbled and began grabbing up the linens as he settled himself with a personal mirror he held in his pocket. "Breakfast in the dining hall," she said dismissively. "Bless your kindness," he said before she abruptly added, "For coin, of course." Nodding curtly he replied, "Of course."

After freshening up - a constant for him, but perhaps not the other guests - he sauntered into the dining hall. No man had ever clashed with the elements of this lodge more harshly than he. Coming in late the night before, not all had a chance to spy the patrician before bed. Now, however, they watched him like a priestess in a brothel - and with as much concern too. "Look at the pretty'n. Thought I was sleeping next to a lady, almost got lucky!" The gruff group laughed except one fellow who motioned for the young man to come sit by him, a small gesture unseen by the many.

The boy-man observed his unlikely friend warily as he realized the situation he found himself in. The mystery comrade was of a darker complexion, tall, and thin. He wore an outfit of similar quality to the rangers employed by the young man's king. Upon noticing these things the young man came over and sat with a nod of appreciation. "Thank you kind sir," the young man gratefully said in a hushed tone. The barkeep and cook of the hour brought them both trenchers of a cuisine new to the patrician.

"Bran pottage," uttered the thin dark man, "sticks to your ribs and good for long travel." Perceiving that the rest were already striking their spoons against the wooden bottoms, the young man began eating without hesitation. He found it to be nourishing. Pausing midway his feast he stated, "Excuse me, sir, but I did not introduce myself properly. My name is Caden Aufroy of Roundnock, and you?" The thin man squinted at him, not fully raising his head, and said plainly, "Jonah."

Taking the social cue with some grace Caden decided to eat the rest of this meal in silence. By the time Caden had finished the majority of the patrons had spilled out to prepare for the day. The alewife that had been spying him stepped forward, "Coin." As he pulled a small coin purse from his vest the lady eyed it greedily. "Do you intend to fool such a wise nobleman as he," spoke Jonah as he quickly stood. Jonah and the alewife locked gazes, an uneasy encounter Caden was all too familiar with. Noticing the cook of the day walking forward and reaching for a dagger Caden quickly stood and spat out, "A small gratuity expected of such quality!"

They all stood still for a moment as Caden reached out, his fist holding a few small bronze coins. The lady reached, but she was too slow. Caden saw the coins glimmering in the air before he could comprehend what had happened. Bracing himself he noticed his hand was swatted upward and beginning to look around he saw the very table he was just seated at was in the process of flipping towards the large maid. She took this poorly as her very feet lifted in the air sending her as well as the table a good few feet. Looking to his left he saw Jonah now already wrestling for control of the barman's dagger. The man was older, heavyset, and completely outmatched. Before Caden could speak Jonah had relieved the man of his weapon and straddled the fellow on the ground, edge to neck. "This display is compensation enough. The man paid his debt as the rest and doubly so the night before, or do you disagree with this account?"

People began to trickle in at the sound of the commotion as well as a swine herd clearly more distraught. The swine herd yelled out, "Please take what you will, just us leave my father's life!" Caden, not knowing what to do said to the swine herd, "My friend here was simply coming to my defense, nothing more, and my token of thanks for your hospitality is here." He began the scramble to pick the coins of the ground and hand them to the son. As this was happening Jonah sighed and stood saying, "He buys this dagger, then," before sheathing it in his belt. "Come," Jonah said as he grabbed Caden by the upper arm - like one would a child. Caden was too busy apologizing to notice he was being pulled out to the stable by Jonah.

"Unhand me! What have you done?!" Caden said this as soon as they filtered past the crowd. "You're welcome. We need to hurry. Now," Jonah spoke without waste as he saddled and prepared his horse. The stableman came forth asking, "What happened in there? What has you two storming off like so?" Caden ignored the man and continued to voice his frustrations toward Jonah. "I never asked for any favors and what favors you've given have caused me naught but trouble. You're mad!"

"Which steed is yours," asked Jonah as he had finished saddling his and carried on their three-way conversation of passing over one another's concerns. Unflinchingly, Caden pointed to the immaculately groomed chestnut palfrey with dark mane and tail. Jonah chortled, shaking his head as he began to saddle it while Caden proceeded to continue complaining as if nothing had happened.

The stableman frustratingly stormed off toward the inn.

"No horse for long travels," said Jonah as he finished. "And who, pray tell, told you that I was going on some long travel, and better yet, why does this matter to you at all - now step away from my horse and right this mess," replied Caden now seemingly breathless. Jonah approached Caden with a seriousness about him once more. Caden worried took a few steps back. Jonah deftly, softly grabbed his shoulder and said in a somber manner, "If they could get away with robbing you, they could get away with killing you. Get on your horse."

Men began to walk out of the inn and were murmuring amongst themselves before they started walking towards the stable. Seeing this with newfound knowledge Caden quickly mounted his horse alongside Jonah. He nodded to Jonah before they set off blazing through the courtyard out to the road before them.