laugh.
“Of course I have,” Thor shot back defensively.
He was blushing, though, and hoped no one could tell, because, in fact, he never had. His father had never allowed it. And even if he did, he was sure he couldn’t afford it.
“Very good then!” cried out Conval. “Bartender, give us a round of your strongest. Thor here is an old pro!”
One of the twins put down a gold coin, and Thor was amazed at the money these boys carried; he wondered what family they hailed from. That coin could have lasted his family a month back in his village.
A moment later a dozen casks of foaming ale were slid across the bar, and the boys pushed their way through and grabbed them; a cask got shoved into Thor’s hand. The foam dripped over the side of his hand, and his stomach twisted in anticipation. He was nervous.
“To our hunt!” Reece called out.
“TO OUR HUNT!” the others echoed.
Thor followed the others, trying to act natural as he raised the foaming cask to his lips. He took a sip, and hated the taste, but saw the others gulping theirs down, not removing them from their lips until they finished. Thor felt obliged to do the same, or else look like a coward. He forced himself to drink it, gulping it down as fast he could, until finally, halfway through, he set it down, coughing.
The others looked at him, and roared with laughter. Elden clapped him on the back.
“It
Thor reddened as he wiped foam from his lips. Luckily, before he could reply, there came a shout in the room, and they all turned to see several musicians shove their way in. They started playing on lutes and flutes, clanging cymbals, and the rowdy atmosphere heightened.
“My brother!” came a voice.
Thor turned to see a boy a few years older than him, with a small belly yet broad shoulders, unshaven, looking somewhat slovenly, step forward and embrace Reece in an awkward hug. He was joined by three companions, who seemed equally slovenly.
“I never thought I’d find you here!” he added.
“Well, once in a while I need to follow in my brother’s footsteps, don’t I?” Reece shouted back with a smile. “Thor, do you know my brother, Godfrey?”
Godfrey turned and shook Thor’s hand, and Thor could not help but notice how smooth and plump it was. It was not a warrior’s hand.
“Of course I know the newcomer,” Godfrey said, leaning in too close and slurring his words. “The whole kingdom is alive with talk of him. A fine warrior I hear,” he said to Thor. “Too bad. What a waste of a talent for the alehouse!”
Godfrey leaned back and roared with laughter, and his three companions joined him. One of them, a head taller than the others, with a huge belly, bright red cheeks, and flush with drink, leaned forward and clamped a hand on Thor’s shoulder.
“Bravery is a fine trait. But it sends you to the battlefield, and keeps you cold. Being a drunk is a better trait: it keeps you safe and warm-and assures a warm lady by your side!”
He roared with laughter, as did the others, and the bartender set down fresh casks of ale for all of them. Thor hoped he wouldn’t be asked to drink; he could already feel the ale rushing to his head.
“It was his first hunt today!” Reece yelled out to his brother.
“Was it then?” Godfrey replied. “Well then that calls for a drink, doesn’t it?”
“Or two!” his tall friend echoed.
Thor looked down as another cask was shoved into his palm.
“To firsts!” Godfrey called out.
“TO FIRSTS!” the others echoed.
“May your life be filled with firsts,” the tall one echoed, “except for the first time being sober!”
They all roared with laughter, as they drank their casks.
Thor sipped his, then tried to get away with lowering it-but Godfrey caught him.
“That’s not the way you drink it boy!” Godfrey yelled. He stepped forward, grabbed the cask, put it to Thor’s lips, and pushed it down his mouth. The men all laughed as Thor gulped it down. He set it down, empty, and they cheered.
Thor felt lightheaded. He was beginning to feel out of control, and it was harder to focus. He didn’t like the feeling.
Thor felt another squirm in his shirt, as Krohn reared his head.
“Well, what have we here!” Godfrey shouted in delight.
“It’s a leopard cub,” Thor said.
“We found it on the hunt,” Reece added.
“He’s hungry,” Thor said. “I’m not sure what to feed him.”
“Why, of course, ale!” the tall man yelled.
“Really?” Thor asked. “Is that healthy for him?”
“Of course!” Godfrey yelled. “It is just hops, boy!”
Godfrey reached out, dipped his finger into the foam, and held it out; Krohn leaned forward and licked it up. He licked again and again.
“See, he likes it!”
Godfrey suddenly retracted his finger with a scream. He held it up and showed blood.
“Sharp teeth on that one!” he yelled out-and the others all broke into laughter.
Thor reached down, stroked Krohn’s head, and tilted the remnant of his cask into his mouth. Krohn lapped it up, and Thor resolved to find him real food. He hoped that Kolk would let him stay in the barracks, and hoped none of the Legion objected.
The musicians changed their song, and several more friends of Godfrey’s appeared. They came over, joined them in a fresh round of drinks, and led Godfrey away, back into the crowd.
“I will see you later young man,” Godfrey said to Reece, before leaving. Then he turned to Thor: “Hopefully, you’ll spend more time in the alehouse!”
“Hopefully you’ll spend more time on the battlefield,” Kendrick called back.
“I very much doubt that!” Godfrey said and roared with laughter with the rest of his compatriots, as he disappeared into the crowd.
“Do they always celebrate like this?” Thor asked Reece.
“Godfrey? He’s been in the alehouse since he could walk. A disappointment to my father. But he’s happy with himself.”
“No, I mean the King’s men. The Legion. Is there always a trip to the alehouse?”
Reece shook his head.
“Today is a special day. The first hunt, and the summer solstice. This doesn’t happen that often. Enjoy it while it does.”
Thor was feeling increasingly disoriented as he looked around the room. This was not where he wanted to be. He wanted to be back in the barracks, training. And his thoughts drifted, once again, to Gwendolyn.
“Did you get a good look at him?” Kendrick asked, as he came up to Thor.
Thor looked at him, puzzled.
“The man, in the woods, who shot the arrow?” Kendrick added.
The others crowded around close, trying to hear as the mood grew serious.
Thor tried again to remember, but he could not. Everything was fuzzy.
“I wish I did,” he said. “It all happened so fast.”
“Maybe it was just one of the king’s other men, shooting in our direction by accident,” O’Connor said.
Thor shook his head.
“He wasn’t dressed like the others. He wore all-black, and a cloak and hood. And he only shot one arrow, aimed right for Kendrick, then disappeared. I’m sorry. I wish I saw more.”
Kendrick shook his head, trying to think.
“Who would want you dead?” Reece asked Kendrick.
