The Five [EDITING]

Chapter Five: Movement

GEACOB

"Ain't you a little young ta be drinkin' this early?" Trinna, a busy, fifty-something year old with both frown and laugh lines creasing her face asked as she handed over a cup of ale.

"My da let's me do it." I said with a grin, already anticipating the conversation we've had every time she said this to me.

She grinned in return. "Y'r da's dead, Geac."

"But my uncle says he'd let me do it if he were living."

She laughed. "Y'r uncle's gonna get an ear-wackin' for telling ya stories when he shows his face in my joint." She ruffled my hair as if I were still a child before carrying on.

And that was why I was still here: for my uncle.

Across all five of the kingdoms there were eight named roads that connected each of the capitals. Each road forking off of another except for a single place here at The T. If you were to step outside the door, directly running east to west was Cove Road, while directly north was known as Dragons Path. The two road joining to make the only right angle joining of roads on the entire map.

Trinna, the owner of the inn/bar/sometimes-brothal/Ranger-hideaway, always kept the back door opened for Rangers passing through as a sort of safe place to rest.

Now though, with news of five dead kings spreading across the land, Rangers could walk through the front door and sit in the front room without having to keep an eye on the road for kingsmen.

The roads were Ranger territory now and The T had been claimed. My uncle would know to look for us here.

"He'll be alright, Geac." Trinna said as she approached the bar again, patting my hand. She must have been reading my face. "He's a willy one, he is, more so than y'r father was, and that be sayin' somethin'. Death won't take him easy."

I smiled at her words, her accent mostly of Tark and Dargolyn, but a bit of Averton as well, making it impossible to tell that she had been originally born in Florn. But my smile faded quickly. "It's been four weeks."

"Aye, an' if he lost his horse and had ta make it here by foot, it'll be another two a'fore he shows up at my door. In two weeks, I'd he ain't show'd, I'll be right there worryin' 'long wit'ya. But 'til then, enjoy y'rself, Geac; tis not of'en ye gets ta rest."

Advice given, she then picked up a pitcher of ale and glared at the corner table where another group of Rangers sat. "I'm comin', I'm comin'! For the sake of the gods and all their game pieces, learn some bloody patience!"

I sighed and took a drink of the spiced ale.

"She's right ya know." Angus said as he sat down beside me, nudging me with his elbow. "Nothin' will take down y'r Uncle Jack without his permission."

"Aye!" Falcon agreed, plopping down on my other side. "I'd fear for the one ta try and take down Uncle Jack!"

"Here, here!" Called the men from the other table, clearly overhearing Falcon's voice, loud as it was with drink. Darci, the only lady of the group and also their leader, slammed back her whiskey and raised her cup again. "I still remember that tourney with the cat!"

A few cheers went up at that. "Cat?" I asked curiously. I hadn't heard this story.

"Aye." Lenny, a red bearded man raised his own drink, directing it at me. "You were a babe then, boy. This was just after the war when things were still in chaos but they was tryin' to put things back together. King Gorje of Tark decided the best way to do it was t'have a tourney."