He pulled off the rough sheets and crossed the inn's tiny room in a single step, to the washbasin in front of the shuttered window. He emptied the jug of icy water beside the basin into it. The innkeeper would bring hot water from the fire around dawn, but the Brothers would not approve if he were tardy to rise, and he was no stranger to washing in the cold.
He dipped the coarse washcloth into the water and ran it over his body until all of the night's sweat had been washed away. He splashed water over his face and his bare scalp, and then daubed himself slowly dry. He pulled on his bare, black cassock, slung his satchel over his shoulder and stepped out of the door.
Brother Thanos was already sitting at the table in the inn's small common room. The Justicar glared at Matthias as though affronted that he had woken merely before first light, and not at the toll of the third watch. Matthias winced internally as he bowed slightly before taking his seat at the table. "Blessings of the Silver Crown, Brother Thanos." In reply, he received a begrudging nod. Crowns and clans, thought Matthias, even the set of the man's silver-lined blue tunic looked disgruntled.
They sat in silence for what seemed like forever, Thanos' glare boring into him. Once, he tried to break the silence; "Where does the road lead today, Brother?"
"Yours is not to know the road, only to follow those who lead you down it."
That put an end to that.
After another eternity of silence, Matthias heard with relief the sound of voices in the inn's corridor. The door swung open, and Brother Anat and Brother Valdis entered, talking quietly to each other. Matthias rose quickly and bowed. "Blessings of the Silver Crown, Brother Anat. Blessings of the Silver Crown, Brother Valdis."
Anat smiled. "Good morning, Matthias." Valdis merely nodded politely. Valdis sat at the table, nodding his greeting to Thanos; Anat stepped over to a counter against the wall and drew four wooden bowls from a cupboard. He walked over to the fire and stirred the stewpot with a ladle. "You stoked the fire, Thanos?"
"Let us not endure cold stew along with all the other indignities of travelling unaccompanied."
"This is true," said Anat as he ladled stew into a bowl and placed it before Thanos. "Indignities endured for a worthy cause, I think."
Thanos only grunted.
Anat served stew for Valdis, then for Matthias, and then for himself. He spilt a drop on his dark green cassock, and Matthias smirked at Thanos' face as he saw him smear it off with his thumb.
They ate the warm, meaty stew slowly. None of them wanted to begin the day's long walk. "The innkeeper added meat last night," observed Valdis. He was right, and in the rapidly descending winter, fresh meat was a rare find. The man clearly wanted to make the visiting clergy happy.
Thanos looked like he was about to say something, but he stayed silent.
Suddenly, something changed. It felt like a rough stone grating across his skin. He froze, spoon raised halfway to his mouth.
He glanced at the others; they were looking at each other with concern in their eyes. They had felt it as well. Valdis closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them suddenly, drawing in a sharp breath. "Ygn," he said quietly.
Anat stood and began gathering their bowls quickly. "Where?"
Valdis closed his eyes for a moment, then shook his head. "Her darkness lies heavy over these lands, it is hard to see. Northwest, I think." He looked questioningly at Thanos. "Do we go, Brother?"
For a moment, Thanos stared at the wall in thought. Then he stood quickly. "We go. There is enough darkness in these lands already, I will not stand by and allow it to grow further."
Valdis nodded and stood, adjusting the set of his satchel on his shoulder. Mattias did the same. Thanos was already at the inn's door, pulling it open and letting the cold air flood into the room.
"Brother Thanos," said Matthias deferentially. "The innkeeper...?"
"We are servants of the Silver Crown, novice. His payment is the safety of these lands."
"Yes, Brother." Matthias kept his gaze on the floor, and Thanos walked out of the door. Valdis followed behind him.
Matthias started to follow, but heard a noise behind him; the sound of metal on wood. He turned and saw Anat pulling closed his coin-purse; on the table behind him, gold glinted in the firelight. The old man winked at him and raised his finger briefly to his lips, then walked out into the darkness. Matthias followed, pulling the door closed behind him.
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