Darkness: Part III

"Zephraim! There you are!"

Zephraim Strongarm, proprietor of the Quill and InkPot, the best known inn for Camelot's students, looked up with a wide grin and a wave. The speaker was a veritable blaze of red and gold leaning languidly in the doorway, a cloth scented with rosewater held to his nose against common odors.

"Lord DeVelain! So good to see you again! Are you back to take up your studies once more?"

The Frenchman wrinkled his nose in disdain. "Mais non! I am here to inquire after my distant kinsman, Conary de Farne. He rooms here, does he not?"

"Not anymore." Zephraim frowned. If DeVelain were offended, it might jeopardize their lucrative arrangement, for Zephraim especially. Only he in Camelot knew of this man's true identity as a spy for France. He'd been passing on the gossip the wastrel sons of noblemen let fall about the inn in exchange for a monthly purse of 50 gold coins. Now all that might be lost. And knowing DeVelain, it might be best to tell the truth, not telling if this were a test of sorts. "He left in the spring, m'lord. He fell behind on his rent, and regrettably, ... these things do occur, m'lord! I must be firm about the house rules!"

The Frenchman nodded, "But of course! I quite agree. But why did my cousin fall into arrears? He had bright prospects!"

"That he did, m’lord! But after the end of his engagement, young De Farne slacked off, spent time umm... drowning his sorrows. He did poorly in his examinations. He spent the allowance his relatives had sent him." Zephraim held a hand plaintively. "But it was the dog that was the final straw! You know my policy, hounds are to be kept in the kennel out back at night. But that great beast of his would prowl about at night. Scared the dickens out of my charlady one eve. I could not allow that, you understand?"

"So! You evicted him, of course?" DeVelaine arched a brow as he once more took a sniff of his cloth. "Hmm... Would this cover it? " He produced a fat purse with a flourish, laying it on the bartop. "Of course, I would hope his things... ?"

"In my store room! I'll send them right around!" the innkeep fairly oozed cooperation. Of course, for that amount of gold Zephraim would have found new things "belonging" to de Farne if he'd hadn't already saved them. He stopped as the noble turned and motioned to his mute servant. "Charlemont will take them. I shall await them outside, in the fresh air. I will be by again next week for our usual exchange. Good day, Master Zephraim!"

*********

Dev stepped out into the narrow street facing the river and frowned. Conary had to have slipped badly to let his other nature be noticed. Even Dev himself hadn't an inkling the younger man was a shapechanger until the end of their voyage together. This was going to require close scrutiny. He was so intent on his thoughts he never saw the large man who grabbed his shoulder approach.

An angry voice hissed in his ear: "I don't care if you are working for the King or Queen of all of Scotland, MacDevlin! You were fiddlin' with me wife and now you ... URK!!" Any further harangue was cut short as the man was raised into the air by means of a large hand gripping his collar. 'Charlemont' had emerged from the inn as well and had quickly sized up the situation. As big as the angry husband had been, the "servant" was bigger, and he quickly carried the man over to the river side of the street and dropped him into the water.

"Har har. Devlin always finds fun! Korys likes this work!"
"Shh... it's... "
"Lord Devlinganger! Trouble?" A stout man in a Black Watch tunic ran up. He smiled as Dev shook his head. "Good! We don't want a cousin to the king of Norway accosted in the streets of Camelot by a ruffian. But I see your Olaf took care of it!" He saluted and moved along as Korys easily hoisted Conary's trunk. Devlin let out a sigh. Sometimes things were just too close for comfort.

"Come on, Korys, back to Grace's!"
The barbarian nodded. "Then I go look for Xannie!"
Devlin groaned. "Korys, for the millionth time... "
"Korys LIKE Xannie! Make good fifth wife! Clean hides! Make strong sons! Pitch tent... "

It was a long walk back to Graces. Unfortunately, Korys had a long list.