Leisa sat with her in a privately reserved dining room. Frostwatch was a quiet inn located in the mountainous border town of Blinklight, where the borders of Nalandor and Nelothar intersected. It was considerably cleaner than Sorela thought it might be. The room was furnished with a table that could seat ten, as well as a crackling hearth and several other chairs and tables nestled in the corners of the modest room.

She had come down from her room after Leisa came through the door in a rush to announce that Falan had returned with more hirelings. Sorela all but chased the younger woman down to the common room. She had found the girl speaking with the tall Serafe concerning his latest journey.

Perhaps Leisa is a bit too taken with him, she thought. The girl’s hands were animated, her eyes alight with childish glee. The girl was entirely too taken with the man, perhaps even smitten. The younger woman beamed whenever the Serafe was near and Falan did not discourage her either. Sorela did not like that, so she had snapped her finger, gesturing furtively for the younger woman to follow her into the dining room. They took chairs, Sorela at the head of the table near the back of the room, Leisa sitting next to her, her back facing the hearth.

It was not long before the small host of men with Captain Caldren and the two Serafes at the head, entered the dining room, trailed by four others, their cloaks sodden with melting hoarfrost from the warm environ of Frostwatch Inn.

“My lady,” the grizzled man said with a quick bow. “We have found more help.” He gestured to the four men standing behind him.

“Thank you, Thalus,” She got up from the table, eyeing the men. Harsh men. Three of them wore furs like those barbarians Brassen and Yeisel, though the last was decidedly less harsh looking. Not as tall, and he wore a bow case on his back and a short sword at his waist. Not the weapons of a north man. “Are you sure these men are suitable?” She glanced to the captain, but also to the two Serafes lingering at the door, who, if anyone, would surely know.

“They’re rough, mistress, but they know how to fight,” the captain said.

“I agree,” Falan said.

That the two men were in agreement was enough. She turned to the four men, crossed her arms. “Your names and titles?”

If any…

The shorter man with the bow case spoke first, pushing back his green-tanned leather cowl to reveal a young handsome face of dark complexion. “I am Eagen, Mistress,” he said with a low bow, “of house Hornwal.”

He was obviously a southlander noble. A minor noble...very minor. Probably seeking fortune and adventure. He would surely find it where they were going.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Where does your house hale from, Master Hornwal?”

The young noble seemed mildly affronted she did not know where his house was located. “Valamor, my lady,” he said with a quick bow.

Being a noble herself, Sorela understood why the young man would be disgruntled, but it was impossible to know every house sigil and where said house was located within a dozen countries, not to mention the more minor houses, of which there were endless supply.

One of the other men, a tall muscular man with a great sword on his back, took the pause as an opportunity to step forward and introduce himself. The man had a bear hide cowl hanging over his head and two yellow braids, one on each side of his head that hung low to his chest. “Gorkis Sek,” he said in a deep voice without preamble. He thumped a fist to his chest, bowing his head as they did in the far west.

A commoner, Sorela thought, but the man was a warrior, a warrior where men like him had strange notions of loyalty and honor with little care for titles. He would do.

The other two men introduced themselves as Balin Thios, and Derin Sadon. Barbarians if ever she saw any. They almost resembled some of the filthy highwaymen that had attacked them. She looked them over doubtfully, but if the captain and the Serafes said they were suitable for what she needed... It was soldiers and warriors she needed, not footmen. Out of all the newest hirelings, she would be able to trust Gorkis Sek the most. The men of the west had strange notions of honor. Not that she would place trust in the man, but she took note anyway.

She looked the four men over, smiled graciously and introduced herself. She told them the same thing she had told the two Serafes, providing them with the same terms.

As soon as they accepted her offer, Sorela smiled again, gestured for them to take chairs and signaled the innkeeper, who was waiting at the door, to approach.

“Yes, m’lady?” the innkeeper said rubbing his belly with both hands.

“Bring us supper,” she said, gesturing to the room.

“Aye, m’lady,” the innkeeper said with a quick bow before hurrying off.

Gorkis Sek and Eagan Hornwal smiled in delight surprise as they sat down. “Thank you, Mistress,” Hornwal said. Gorkis Sek nodded solemnly. Balin Thios and Derin Sadon simply pulled out chairs roughly, making a lot of noise. They acted as though they deserved this.

Sorela turned to Leisa. “Tell the innkeeper to bring some of the food up to our room,” she said quietly. Even though these men were a part of her company now, the only man in the room she truly trusted was the captain. The wagons they had brought had enough dried meats and breads to last the company over a month, but her champions deserved at least one fine meal before they set out in earnest.

Later, after eating supper in their room, Sorela said, “I want you to keep your distance from Falan.” She said the words casually as she got up from the table.

“My lady?” Leisa asked.

Sorela did not turn to look at the girl as she began preparing for the next day, the day they would cross the border into Nelothar. “He is a hireling, nothing more. I do not want you to become emotionally attached to a man you cannot have.”

The younger woman giggled like she had been told some joke. “Why do you think I want Falan Nogal?”

“I did not say that you did, child, but you will keep your distance from him, if only your emotional distance. If you are to become a mage and study at my side within the Hall, you must be diligent. I know he is handsome, but in the Hall you will have no time, not even for the thoughts of a man. Upon becoming a mage you may then arrange your affairs as you see fit. But until then, or until I decide that you are not worthy, do as I say.” Then she left the room and headed for the baths before Leisa could respond.