“Take this tray to table three.” Hal told Gwinn.

She blew a stray piece of hair out of her face and grabbed the tray with resignation. She carried it through the mass of people and over to the table. There was a local girl sitting at the table with several Riders. Gwinn had seen her face before but couldn’t remember her name. It was obvious the girl was trying to win the affections of the Rider. She was wearing a dress that was a little too low and she smiled way too much. Gwinn set down the tray and tried to hide her disdain.

“Get us another round.” The Rider slapped the table and barked out his order.

Gwinn nodded and backed away from them. She wasn’t surprised by the rudeness of the Rider just annoyed by it. She went around to the other tables and brought them food and drinks. She watched them laugh at their private little jokes and drink wine. Their jokes couldn’t possibly be that funny and she was sure she wasn’t missing anything by staying out of their conversations.

She brought more drinks to table three. She placed a mug in front of the Rider with a clunk and a bit of wine sloshed over. “Hey, watch it.” He said. She ignored him and placed the other drinks on the table. He pointed at her forehead. “Why is your hair like that?” His speech was slurred. “Can’t you hear me?” He grabbed her wrist and, she pulled it back. “What’s wrong with you? Are you stupid or something?”

“No, but she is cursed.” The local girl said. “That’s the mark of her curse. I wouldn’t get too close.”

He took a drink of his wine. “She looks like a skunk.”

“She smells like one too.” The girl laughed.

Gwinn slammed the tray on the table. “Shut up! You don’t know anything about me.”

The girl smirked at her. “And we don’t want to know.”

Gwinn pulled her hand back to slap the girl but a strong hand caught her and held her arm. She turned to see Hal behind her. “Stop antagonizing my customers.” He said.

“They were antagonizing me.”

“Just go back to the bar.” He told her.

She put her shoulders back and glared at the girl. She picked up the tray and stepped past the Innkeeper. The girl stuck her foot out and Gwinn tripped over the outstretched leg. She couldn’t stop herself from falling. Her chin hit the floor and, she groaned while the entire room burst into laughter.

“Maybe she really is stupid.” The Rider said. The room burst into another round of laughter.

Gwinn grabbed her chin and felt a bruise forming but on the inside she writhed. I don’t care what they say she told herself. This was why she hated people. She didn’t want to be a part of their laughter; it only meant that they would be laughing at her. They were all mean, hurtful people and, she hoped they choked on their laughs.

“Get up. You’re making a fool of yourself.” Hal said.

“Like you care.”

“I care if you’re making my establishment look bad.” He said.

She wanted to slap him but her wrist was sore from the fall. A hand appeared in front of her face. “I don’t need help from you.”

It wasn’t the Innkeeper’s voice that answered her. “You look like you could use some help.”

Her head jerked up. Kellin’s face was looking down at her and his arm was extended out for her to take. She paused. No one had ever offered her a helping hand before. Her hand trembled as she reached out to take his hand. This could still be a trick. He could turn on her at any moment and laugh with the others. His hand was warm and firm and it pulled her to her feet. She looked at him and studied his face curiously but it showed no sign of laughter. “Thank you.” She said under her breath and with a fair amount of confusion. Some people still laughed and, she was sick of them all. She ran out of the Inn and dashed across the yard to the safety of the barn.

She climbed up the ladder as quickly as her legs would move and threw herself onto the floor. The straw cushioned her body as she fell. She clapped her hands over her ears to stop the laughter that was ringing in her ears. Tears streamed down her face as she cried into the pillow of straw.

After a while she sat up. It was getting late and, the sun had long since gone to sleep. The egg was still sitting in the corner. It shimmered as the brilliant stars of night shined their light on it. She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and pulled the egg close to her. “There’s nothing wrong with me.” She put the egg in her lap. It was still warm. “They were just trying to upset me. They don’t know anything about me. They were just trying to make themselves feel better by putting me down and I can’t stand them. They're not worth my tears.” The egg was still sparkling and the dancing light began to ease her simmering mind. “At least you won’t say mean things to me. You’re beautiful and warm and I can trust you. Forget them. Forget people.” Eventually she drifted off to sleep with the warmth of the egg close by.

She awoke to strange rustling noises in the barn and sat up with a jerk. It was early in the morning and there was never anyone in the barn this early. She inched to the edge of her loft and peered over the side. Kellin was attending to his horse. She drew in a sigh of relief. He was nothing to worry about, even though it was still strange for someone else to be in the barn.

She crawled back to the egg and secured it in place. She patted it gently and said, “Keep warm. I’ll be back soon.” She tried to brush her hair and fix it as quick as possible then, flew down the ladder.

She surprised Kellin. “I didn’t know you were up there. Have you been there this whole time?”

Gwinn looked at the loft and her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She forgot people would find it odd that she lived up there. “I sleep in the loft.” She admitted.

His eyes grew wide. “You sleep in the barn?”

“Yes, but I…” She stammered. “I really do prefer it out here.”

He shook his head. “It would be nicer inside.”

“But I have so much room and there’s no.…no.” She stalled.

“There’s no what?” He asked.

“There’s no one to bother me.” She finished.

He brushed his wavy hair off his face and looked at her. “You know there are better places to live. Why don’t you leave this place?”

She walked over to his horse and rubbed the spot on its forehead. “And where am I supposed to go?” She asked keeping her eyes on the horse. “It’s not like I have a flying horse to take me away from here.”

He shrugged and patted the horse’s neck. “At least you might find a better place than here.”

She stopped petting the horse and looked at Kellin. “It would be the same anywhere I went. People don’t like me and I don’t like them.”

“I hope that doesn’t mean me.” The corners of his mouth tipped upward into a smile as he tried to lighten the mood.

She turned away. She didn’t know how to respond. Gwinn had never met anyone she liked before. Well, there was that Nun at the convent that wasn’t so bad and there was a guest who gave her a piece of candy once. Still, those people had been few and far between. She turned back around and gave him a pensive look. “I haven’t decided yet, but I do like your horse.”

Kellin laughed. “I know and he likes you too.”

“What’s his name?”

“His name is Markab.” Kellin smiled at his horse.

“That’s a silly name for a horse. Did you give it to him?”

“No,” Kellin shook his head and laughed. The horse pulled his head away from her and backed up. “They come with names. He named himself.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Gwinn apologized to Markab. “It’s a perfectly lovely name and, it suits you very well.” He settled down and stepped closer to her allowing Gwinn to pet him again. “Besides, you’re the prettiest horse in this barn.” The other horses neighed and nickered at her but Markab preened. Gwinn and Kellin both laughed at the horses.

The other Riders walked into the barn dressed in their crisp lined uniforms. Gwinn noticed them before Kellin and she stiffened in mid giggle. One of them yelled out. “Hey, Kellin, get ready.”

“I’m ready. I was just waiting for you slowpokes.” He yelled back and then gave Gwinn a wink.  “Gotta go.”

She stepped away from the horses as the Riders came in. “Good journey.” She said to Kellin. He gave her a curious look and, she shrugged. “What? Isn’t that what the Riders say?”

“Yes, but I’m surprised you knew that.”

“Just make sure you bring the horse back safely.” She added.

He smiled and nodded as if he expected that response. She disappeared into the recesses of the barn as the Riders saddled their horses. Kellin looked around for her before leaving the barn but she was hidden well. Gwinn had no desire to be around any of them, especially, not after yesterday.

She edged up to the door as they left the barn and leaned against it. Then watched them as they left the Inn on foot and headed towards the forest. That was curious. What could they be looking for in the forest? The Riders usually delivered messages for the King and other important officials. It was odd for them but, she shrugged. “Oh well, I don’t understand Riders anyways.” She paused as her thoughts wandered in an odd direction. If I did have a flying horse, I could ride away from here. I could fly off and live in the forest; far away from this Inn and all these people. The forest would be my home and I would be free.

She smiled and hugged herself at the thought. “Wouldn’t that be nice?”

“Gwinn.” Hal shouted across the yard. “Get over here.”

She grimaced as he burst her lovely dream. “I’m coming.”

“I need you to clean up in here. It’s still dirty after last night.” He said.

She nodded and headed for the common room. Without a word she grabbed a rag and washed down the tables. The room was almost empty now that the Riders had gone and Hal left to do more important things. She went to the bar to scrub it. There were two men sitting at the counter. One of them was a middle-aged Rider and, she recognized the other one as a local. He came here a lot. He had a round chin and scruffy brown hair with flecks of grey in it. People called him Chubs.

“Pour me another one.” He said to her.

She stopped scrubbing and glared at him. “Get it yourself.”

He pounded his fist on the counter. “Give me another drink.”

The furling squeaked from its perch nearby. Gwinn rolled her eyes. “I’m not supposed to serve alcohol.”

“Why not? I’m thirsty.” He complained.

She continued scrubbing and told him why. “Probably because I’d put too much alcohol in it and not enough water.” The Rider raised his eyebrow at her response.

“You could do it this one time.” Chubs pleaded. “You’re not afraid of Hal are you?”

“No, but I am afraid of his wife.” She said. The furling chirped again and Gwinn smiled.

Chubs frowned and banged his empty mug on the counter. The furling squeaked at him. “What’s your problem? Are you out of drink too? If you’re so lucky why don’t you find me a cup of wine?”

She chirped sharply and Gwinn laughed. “You think that’s funny do you?” Chubs said. He jabbed the Rider and pointed to Gwinn. “She says she can understand it. If, you’re so talented, tell us what it says girlie.”

Gwinn crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “She doesn’t like you.”

The Rider shook his head at Chubs. “It doesn’t seem to be lucky for you.” His hair was beginning to gray at the temples and his face was rough. It looked like he hadn’t shaved in a while but otherwise he was put together neatly. He turned to face Gwinn. He had been watching the whole conversation quietly. “Can you really speak furbble?”

She shrugged. “I don’t know about that but it likes me more than anyone else. I tell people what I think she says.” She scratched the little creature with the tip of her finger and it purred.

“And what does she say about me?” He asked.

“Oddly enough she seems to be alright with you.”

“You find that strange?” He scratched his scruffy chin and looked at her curiously. He eyed the streak in her hair and the scrutiny made her uneasy.

Gwinn began scrubbing the counter again. “She doesn’t like most people.”

“You mean you don’t like most people.”

“No, I don’t and least of all Riders.” She stopped in mid scrub and stared at him with cold eyes daring him to argue with her.

He took a drink from his glass. “That’s quite a charming attitude you have. You might want to think about making more friends and fewer foes.”

“The Riders have never been friendly to me.” She said.

“Still, you don’t want to make enemies with the wrong people.”

“That’s why I have the furling.” She laughed him off but his last statement spooked her. What kind of wrong people did he mean? She wanted to change the subject. He was making her uncomfortable and, she had questions of her own. “Why aren’t you with the other Riders?”

“I thought I’d stay back and see if I could find out anything from the locals.”

“Like what?”

“Like, have you seen anything strange lately? Have there been people in here talking about odd sightings?” He asked her.

She stopped scrubbing again and gripped the towel between her fingers. Gwinn hadn’t heard anyone talking but, she had found something strange herself. She wasn’t about to let the Riders know she found that egg. They’d probably want to take if from her. “Not that I’m aware of.”

“What about you?” He asked Chubs.

“Me? No I haven’t. The only strange thing I’ve seen is the bottom of my mug.” He glared at Gwinn.

She rolled her eyes. “I told you. I can’t help with that.” She kept wiping the counter like she was supposed to. Gwinn didn’t want the Rider to think she was nervous.

He went on with his questions. “Have there been any sightings of terrible creatures near the forest?”

She shook her head. “No, it’s been the same as always.” She shrugged her shoulders. “I really should be going. I have other chores.”

“Right, well if you do hear anything, be sure to let me know. My name is Marshal.” He rubbed his rough chin and looked at her pointedly.

She avoided looking at him as she put her towel away. “Sure.” It wasn’t entirely a lie. If, she did hear about strange happenings in the forest she would tell the Riders. She just wouldn’t tell them anything that had to do with her egg. She left the common room and busied herself with other chores to keep away from the Rider.