Blood and Bone : Chapter III

The Inland Sea was freezing this kind of year, Yvette concluded as she watched Garret fasten their boat to the docks of Mandell, Isiryth’s capital city. The five-day trip had been long, cold, boring, wet and left Yvette feeling very un-ladylike. Garret, however, had grinned the entire way. Something she couldn't quite understand.1

"I'm never doing that again." She mumbled, shivering under the various layers of blankets that were wrapped around her body. Her cousin eyed her carefully.2

"Why? It was fun..."3

"It was a mess of cold wetness! I hated it."4

"Woe betide anyone who actually believes that you're the daughter of two rangers. Shouldn't you like this stuff?"5

"You're the son of a bartender and an assassin. Do you like drinking people to death?"6

"Well... no. But..."7

"You see my point then? Do not put me through that again, Garret, or else I will hurt you." Yvette growled, flicking, sea drenched hair from her eyes.8

"Of course not Madam. I was under the impression that you did want to come, and were willing to go through with this, but mayhap I was wrong?"9

She growled again and dropped her blankets.10

"I can go home the long way if I must. Let's go! I'm freezing and I need a wash. Can we please find somewhere to warm up?"11

Garret helped her off the boat, glancing around the foggy docks solemnly. 12

"I think I saw an inn just up a bit. They'll surely have a warm fire blazing. This time of night? There'll be people, but we'll get a seat in the common room. It's definitely late enough for people to be giving free rounds to the room. Here," He paused, throwing his cloak over Yvette's shoulders. "Wear this or you'll be seen as a wench. The inn didn't look too shabby so they'll have more then ale on tap, but they won't have anything fancy. You might be lucky to get water. And don't let the bartender grope you, 'cause I bet he will, understand?"13

He started up a flight of steps, only to be stopped by Yvette's weird look. 14

"What? Do you understand or not? "15

She grinned, seeing what Garret didn't.16

"I understand perfectly, Zander..."17

--------18

“So,” The innkeeper looked over them roughly. “Do you two have names or what?”19

“We do indeed, my lord. I am Yvette Tel – Ah!”20

She winced as the elbow hit her ribs. The bartender paused.21

“Tel–Ah?” He said, mimicking Yvette’s voice. Garret just sighed.22

“Yvette and Garret Tellar,” He said. “From Evinwood. We’d like a room.”23

A pause.24

“With two beds.” He said forcefully.25

The bartender sighed and scratched something out in his book. Yvette pulled her cloak tighter and watched the tender reach behind him for the keys as Garret fetched out his money pouch.26

“That’ll be thirty in gold for tonight. It’ll be fifteen in gold if you plan on staying longer.”27

Yvette looked to Garret as he payed. How long were they planning on staying? The thought had never occurred to her. When were they going to return? Were they ever going to return?28

Garret pulled his cousin over to a corner table and ordered two ales. She looked slightly pale. He waved a hand in front of her face and sighed.29

“Evie, we’re out of money.” He stopped. “Evie? Evie!”30

She shook her head and found Garret staring at her. He looked worried and barely blinked when two tankards were roughly placed on their table.31

“Hmm?32

“Evie, We’re out of money. I’ve paid for three days of the room, but I didn’t realise it’d cost so much. Unless you have money stash away on your persons, Evie, we are out of money.”33

Now she knew why he looked worried.34

“I have a few coins, but nothing more then three in gold.”35

Garret’s face fell as he realised the full extent of this problem. They were stuck in an unknown city, in the middle of a war, with no money. There was only one solution.36

“I guess we’ll have to go back. Guess I dragged you along for nothing. Sorry.”37

Yvette saw the disappointment on his face and rolled her eyes.38

“Don’t apologise. We’ll find more money and you know it. I can find a job. I know how much you want to be here, and frankly, it’s a breath of fresh air.39

Garret grinned.40

“Cheers Evie. That means a lot, honestly. But I’ll try to find some work as well, or else I’ll bore my head off.”41

Yvette took a small sip of her tankard and grimaced. She saw her cousin smirk and gulp down his ale. She kicked him under the table.42

“How can you stand this stuff?”43

“I’m an Arabia. I think its drink or die in our family.”44

She nodded, paused, then frowned.45

“Garret, why’d you hit me?”46

“When?”47

“Before. When I was saying my name. You hit me.”48

Garret swirled his ale around the tankard.49

“I didn’t hit you. I elbowed you. And you can’t go telling people that you’re the daughter of one of their sworn enemies.”50

“Why?”51

“I dunno. I think they frown upon it.”52