Exx Pulling the two coins from his
pocket, he laid them on the table. “I’ll take whatever
that’ll bring me.” He held up the mug. “Along with this.”
She crossed her arms over
her ample bosom. “Didn’t the guards tell you your first
day’s on us?”
“Yes, but—”
“You don’t ‘but’ me,” the
woman snapped, then added a smile. “By the way, my name’s
Berta. Not Bertha. There’s no H.”
“No H. Got it. And your
job here is?”
“I run this place.” “You do?” Henry chuckled. “I thought
this place was run by D’Jacques.”
“He runs the compound,
but this lodge is my
domain.” She grinned again. “He’ll even tell you that
himself. I’ll be right back.” She vanished through the
doorway. “Henry Elder.” Henry held out his hand. “Are you Cavender?”
“I am.”
They shook. “Mother told me to be expecting you.”
Henry
blinked. “Your mother?”
Cavender
pointed in the direction of the dining hall. “Berta. You met
her last night.”
“How did
she know I’d be coming to talk to you?”
“Oh, my.
News does travel fast around here. Uhh, do you suppose the
battle lord and lady also know—”
Cavender
laughed out loud. “Oh, yeah. They know you’re here, and
why.”
He
cringed. “I’m out of order here, aren’t I? I should have
asked permission first from the battle lord.”
The
weapons maker grinned. “Son, if either Yulen or Atty hadn’t
wanted you here, you would’ve been shown the front gates
first thing this morning.”
The
swordsmith chuckled. “Estelle overheard Barbazin and his
friends talking to you this morning at breakfast. He
suggested you come talk to me. Estelle told Mother about the
conversation, so she sent Estelle over here to let me know.”