Doctor Abbott

Untitled Part 20

 Late into the evening they made it to King William's village where they were greeted by dozens of guards as they approached.

One of the guards pushed past all the others and shoved Mâvis directly on the chest. He was nearly as large as Mâvis was, "We do not need the likes of you unannounced."

Mâvis grunted and shoved back, "Like you have not had me tracked for the past day. Do you honestly play me for a fool Reagan?"

The heavily scarred, dark-haired guard let out a huge belly laugh. "Come, William is already getting dressed." A few of the guards followed Mâvis and Ben into the great hall. A fire was going in the center of the room, with a hole in the roof just above it letting out the smoke. Ben immediately peeled off his gear and made his way over to warm his hands.

Reagan tapped Mâvis on the shoulder and laughed as he pointed at the man hunched in front of the fire, "Your human is cold. Come sit and eat there is food on the way."

Mâvis chuckled and gestured to a chair at the table. "Come, human, we must sit. It is polite to feed guests after a journey. You have to pay your respects and eat what you are given."

He replied, "You won't find me turning down a meal. Especially when I'm not sure where the next will come from." Ben sat and a mug of ale was placed in front of him. It was warm and he found himself taking a long hard draw off it.

Mâvis took a seat on the opposite side of the table to keep his eye on the patrons of the room as well as the door. A few of the guards that had greeted them as they arrived sat at the table and within a few minutes King William and Olivia were in the room. Olivia waltzed right over to Ben and drew him off the chair for a hug. "It is so good to see you alive and well."

William took his seat and Olivia rounded the table to join him, "I echo my wife's thoughts, Ben. Last I heard you were food for the wolves and last I heard of you, Mâvis, you had been captured by Ormr." He folded his hands over each other threading his clawed fingers together as he repeatedly sized up the two of them. "Now it would never surprise me to see Mâvis sitting here after such news but you, Ben, you are human. My men saw you shot down. Now unless half my guard conspires against me or unless they are crazed you should by all means be dead. Please tell me how is it that you are sitting at my table?"

"I was rescued by another human, then sold to Ormr." Ben replied.

William reached for the ale that was put in front of him, "You were rescued by the spirit trader? That does make sense, he will do anything for a profit." He grunted into his mug "Now tell me how is it that you arrive here with the likes of Mâvis?"

The question was directed at Ben who shot a glance towards Mâvis. Mâvis's attention was solely on his sleepy daughter who was picking at a plate of food that was offered to her. He was deliberately dismissing the conversation.

Seeing that Mâvis was not going to offer any assistance with the questioning, Ben turned back to King William. "We are on the same mission. Both our wives have been sold and we seek to rescue them."

Large plates of food were placed before the rest of the folks at the table. Ben focused on his in relief that there was something to distract him from the uncomfortable conversation. "Well, would you look at that? This food looks marvelous, thank you for your generosity."

Olivia toasted him with her mug, "No, Ben, it is you we must thank, this is nothing."

William chewed through his first bite and put his fork down as if he was deep in thought, "I am sorry, what my wife means to call you is Doctor Abbott. After all you have earned that distinction have you not? Doctor Benjamin Abbott." He picked up his fork again and worked a knife through his meat.