Chapter 5: Beavis

The road slowly widened as forest gave way to stands of trees and fallow fields, to pastures with sheep, to stone-fenced fields with waist-high grain. Instead of two, maybe three riders abreast, the road widened enough for two carts. Clearly, a village or town was nearby, so Heris rode further ahead of the others. When she spotted workers in a newly ploughed field, she stopped and asked two men how far it was to the village.

The taller man responded, “If I wuz walking, I’d be there by dinner. On your nice horses, I’d guess you’d arrive after midday meal ... mayhap, a little earlier.” He added, “Them’s nice scarecrows you got ridin’ with ya. Had problems with birds?”

Heris laughed and told him, “Only feathers; the kind attached to arrows.”

After thanking him for his directions, Heris returned to her friends and told them, “I’d like to enter town in the morning, rested. Let’s ride on for a few hours, then look for a place to camp for the night.”

The next morning, Heris led the entry into Beavis; unaware that the village was where the Hero Pēteris and his two Companions first appeared. It was not to be a pleasant visit. They stopped first at the inn to be sure of a room for several days and baths before the evening meal. The innkeeper wanted a quad per night for the large room and a pinch each for every meal with watered wine. The bath was an additional five pinches.

The rates were acceptable, so a bargain was struck. Then, before showing her the rooms and before Heris could offer her usual practice of paying in advance, the wary innkeeper held out a hand and demanded a day’s tariff. Normally, such a demand would be taken as an insult, but looking for goodwill, Heris gave him a purse with a shell and several quads.

“Return whatever is left after our stay ends,” she instructed the innkeeper, then asked, “Do you stable guests’ steeds?”

“Indeed,” sir, the now-cordial innkeeper replied. “Would the family wish your horses groomed? Any special feeding beyond hay? I offer rates that are quite reasonable.” Another deal was reached, and the innkeeper called for his stable boys to take charge of the horses.

“Take our guests’ horses to the stable, then bring the belongings to their room. Their horses are to be thoroughly curried and fed grain along with the hay. Then check their tack, clean it, oil it, and make any needed repairs.” His instructions were loud and detailed.

Finally, the remaining riders dismounted, and with their saddlebags and crossbows, Flora led the party inside and followed the chambermaid up to their room.

Heris turned once more to the innkeeper and told him, “We have horses, tack, and weapons that we no longer need. Is there a hostler and an armorer that might have an interest in purchasing them?”

“An interest, yes – coin for the transaction, not so much,” the innkeeper told her. “Not so long ago, a gang of thieves stripped our village of wealth and livelihood. Then another gang of three killed the larger gang, and instead of returning our wealth, left with it. Took away Robinblue, our healer, too ... We are still suffering,” he explained.

Heris, having heard Charlene’s tales of Healer Robyn and her two bodyguards, had a different view of these events and began to feel they might finally be on a productive trail. Deciding to keep four of the “extra” horses against need, she relinquished all but six to the care of the stable boys and instructed them to place the dummies in the stable lofts. Following the innkeeper’s directions (what was his name anyway?), she mounted one and led the remaining five to the nearby stable.

The owner was standing in the shade of a large oak watching a pair of bays that were obviously draft horses. He came forward when Heris rode up, and announced, “Hello stranger, my name is Purvis. That’s a nice string that I suppose you are wishing to sell or trade.”