At the End of My Rope

Day 7

The crown had been returned. The Duke had put on a ceremony to celebrate, followed by a banquet to which all were invited—including the champions who had recovered it. They were given a place at the high table, where they ate with varying degrees of discomfort.

Now the Duke had retired with his retinue. The nobles and common folk had lingered longer, but eventually they too retired. The servants had cleared and cleaned the lower tables and swept the floors. Now they kept the companions supplied with wine and ale and sat in the corners, waiting for them to go to bed so they could finish.

But the companions delayed. Perhaps they were unwilling to break up the group that had gotten them so far. Perhaps they were unsure of what the morrow might bring, and felt no need to hurry it along.

"D'you think they liked me?" Grimshaw mused, turning the unfinished sword over and over in their hands.

"They punched you at the end, didn't they?" responded Katrice. "I'm sure they liked you."

Grimshaw brightened a bit. "Is that so. Well. Maybe I'll just go back that way and see."

"Don't you need to return to your own lands?" asked Rosa.

"No. The Duke held the life of our king's heir in forfeit and they've left for home already. I don't need to go."

"They would hold you in honor."

Grimshaw touched the sword again. "Yes. That seems less important now."

Sassenac coughed. "If you would, I would travel with you a part of the way."

Grimshaw raised an eyebrow. "Of course. Where do you go?"

Sassenac coughed again. "Oh. Well. Perhaps I have unfinished business with the lady of the wood."

Grimshaw laughed, and thumped him on the arm. "Do you indeed. Good for you." Then he looked at the halfling. "And you, little one?"

"Home I guess," she said. "What of you, Beautiful?"

"I must go home with the reward, which will buy our way out of slavery," they said. "But I cannot go until my eye heals."

"Then come with me," she said. "You can rest and heal until you're ready."

"That would be—" the gnome sighed. "That would be excellent."

"And you?" Rosa asked Katrice. "Back on the road again?"

"For a little while," replied Katrice. "I have an appointment, a year from now."

"An appointment," said Sassenac, skeptical.

"Believe it. I plan to be there in a year's time, when the Horned King throws that idiot out of his train. I need to beat some sense into the lunk."