The men found themselves at the bar again, though no one had called them there. They had all simply found themselves drawn towards the place that night. Dane had already been sitting down with a cleaned off plate of food in front of him, but when he saw Frederick he stood, ale in hand. As they walked silently towards the back table, the largest in the room, and the one with the most privacy, Frederick noticed that coins had somehow appeared on the table where there were no coins before. Dane had somehow slipped them on with a slight of hand. Frederick did not mention this to Dane, but quietly filed it away in his mind. Dane was a mysterious fellow, but Frederick would not force him to speak of his talents unless he wished to.
Tobias joined them a moment later, looking deep in thought. He himself was conflicted about the night, but he had brought himself (and his wife's shopping list) along, He had also brought a guest along with him: his sister's younger brother, Morrys. The boy was only a few years younger, and was the second son of the family. He had no place in the world yet, and his brother's home was filled to bursting with children. So he had arrived on their doorstep a few days ago, and was drawn into the plan.
It pained Tobias to hear him agree to join. He was excited at most about the matter. He had nothing to hold him back, no lady waiting for him in a bed. He sensed the adventure awaiting. He didn't have to come, but he wished to. Tobias wished he could have been in Morrys' shoes.
It pained Tobias to hear him agree to join. He was excited at most about the matter. He had nothing to hold him back, no lady waiting for him in a bed. He sensed the adventure awaiting. He didn't have to come, but he wished to. Tobias wished he could have been in Morrys' shoes.
Jeph ambled through the door a moment later, and spied the group immediately. He was sure of himself now, since he hadn't had a drink in the past twelve hours. With a fresh mind in hand, he sat at the table with confidence, and with a piece to add.
"Hello," he began. The other nodded their hellos, and Morrys was introduced to the group. "I am glad you are here," he continued, speaking to Morrys. "Since I have gained a few others in my party."
"Who?" asked Frederick, leaning forward. "And how many?"
"My children, a boy and a girl, both nearing adulthood." Frederick nodded. "And the woman who lives with me, and takes care of my home, as well as her children. Two girls and a boy, also almost men and women."
"Hello," he began. The other nodded their hellos, and Morrys was introduced to the group. "I am glad you are here," he continued, speaking to Morrys. "Since I have gained a few others in my party."
"Who?" asked Frederick, leaning forward. "And how many?"
"My children, a boy and a girl, both nearing adulthood." Frederick nodded. "And the woman who lives with me, and takes care of my home, as well as her children. Two girls and a boy, also almost men and women."
Yet when it rains, it pours, as his mother used to say to him. This thought came to Frederick as a man ambled over while the group was conversing.
He had finer clothing on, with fancy trim and clean boots. It was not like the rougher cloth Frederick was used to. The man had not said anything yet as he walked over, but Frederick knew.
"What's this about leaving?"
Frederick almost sighed.
He had finer clothing on, with fancy trim and clean boots. It was not like the rougher cloth Frederick was used to. The man had not said anything yet as he walked over, but Frederick knew.
"What's this about leaving?"
Frederick almost sighed.
Frederick paused for a moment. Five more people added to their group? That almost doubled them. And they were strangers as well. A frown settled on his face only for a moment. But Dane and Jeph were strangers as well, and Frederick has only just met Morrys. There were so many people looking to come along. and he couldn't know all of them, not unless he wished to delay the travel.
He nodded to Jeph. True trust would have to come later. "The more the better. Any elderly? My parents will be coming along. They no longer wish to stay here. They're both strong folk, so they'll come in handy." Frederick hoped he wasn't sounding like an excuse. He needed to sound firm on the matter.
Tobias nodded at him. At least Frederick knew that Tobias would hold steady. "My mother wishes to come along as well," Tobias said. "And you all know that Morrys will make my party into four." He grmiaced slightly when he pulled a folded paper out of his pocket. "My wife has begun to see to supplies for us."
"Good, we'll want to leave soon, before the heat of the summer begins," Frederick said. "I hope that we'll leave sooner rather than later, so that we'll have time to prepare for winter."
"We'll need seeds, and animals," Morrys spoke. The others nodded, thinking about the preparation this would require. Tjhe conversation continued, with someone pulling out a scrap of paper to scribble necessities on. Frederick was torn between them wanting to come along still, so there would be support. Yet he wished the group would shrink, so it would be easier to handle, so that he would know the people who were coming along.
He nodded to Jeph. True trust would have to come later. "The more the better. Any elderly? My parents will be coming along. They no longer wish to stay here. They're both strong folk, so they'll come in handy." Frederick hoped he wasn't sounding like an excuse. He needed to sound firm on the matter.
Tobias nodded at him. At least Frederick knew that Tobias would hold steady. "My mother wishes to come along as well," Tobias said. "And you all know that Morrys will make my party into four." He grmiaced slightly when he pulled a folded paper out of his pocket. "My wife has begun to see to supplies for us."
"Good, we'll want to leave soon, before the heat of the summer begins," Frederick said. "I hope that we'll leave sooner rather than later, so that we'll have time to prepare for winter."
"We'll need seeds, and animals," Morrys spoke. The others nodded, thinking about the preparation this would require. Tjhe conversation continued, with someone pulling out a scrap of paper to scribble necessities on. Frederick was torn between them wanting to come along still, so there would be support. Yet he wished the group would shrink, so it would be easier to handle, so that he would know the people who were coming along.