The sun is less than an hour from the horizon and they are on their second jug of ale before Alex recognises the three riders approaching from the east. Peta had been told to take his time and they seem to be moving at a comfortable and easy pace.

“Shit…” Brion mutters between gulps of ale.

“What now?” Alex asks him.

“I just remembered that Garvan snores like an earthquake!”

“Well,” Cato points out stoically, “after all that ale, you’ll probably sleep through it regardless.”

The three riders finally dismount, handing off their horses before coming over to the table at the side of the inn and joining their companions. Peta and Garvan seem relaxed and confident, immediately talking to Brion and asking for mugs.

Jamie looks tired and uncomfortable. Alex gestures for him to take the seat on the bench next to him and offers him a mug.

“I’m not really an ale-drinker,” he tells Alex with a rueful smile.

“Well, the wine will be mediocre, but they probably have cider you prefer. Of course, there’s always water, but not always trustworthy.”

“Cider? The apple drink?”

“Indeed. You’ve haven’t tasted it?”

“No, should I try?”

Alex turns to the serving girl who has appeared at the arrival of their friends. She’s petite and pretty, similarly dark-skinned like the innkeeper and alike enough in features to possibly be his daughter. “Do you have cider?”

“Yes, my Lord. We press and cask our own.” She smiles sweetly at Alex and then a little more coyly at Jamie who begins to blush at the attention.

“A small jug then for my young friend, please, my dear.”

When she returns a few moments later with a jug and a mug she brings it right round to Jamie and places it carefully on the table in front of him. “Here you are, my lord,” she tells him with another flirtatious smile, bending over the table more than needed, showing an ample cleavage to a clearly flustered Jamie.

She practically flounces away, back off into the inn with exaggerated movements of her hips. Jamie pours himself a mug of cider and sips it tentatively.

“You’re well in there,” Garvan exclaims to Jamie once she is out of earshot. “I’ve no chance with you and Alex along.”

Jamie almost chokes on his drink, spluttering and coughing enough for Alex to give him a couple of hearty slaps on the back and to make the lad’s eyes water uncontrollably. It’s hard to tell whether his almost beet-red face if from the coughing or embarrassment. Alex suspects a pretty even mixture of both.

“Give the lad a break,” Peta tells Garvan. “The lad’s had a sheltered life and surely has no wish to be half the man-whore that you are.”

“Man-whore. That’s a little strong, isn’t it? There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the company of a beautiful woman,” Garvan tells them.

“Not even a different one every night,” Brion adds with a grin at his friend.

“Well, I won’t get much chance of that now, will I. Not with these two pretty-boys along on the journey.” Garvan indicates Alex and Jamie at the end of the table.

Alex is thoughtful for a moment. He has to spend the next several weeks in the company of these men. They have to trust one-another with their lives and he doesn’t wish to appear aloof or stand-offish without a proper excuse.

“You’ve no fear of competition from me, Garvan,” he tells the group softly. “My tastes lie elsewhere than with pretty young ladies.”

“In some places and in certain company, that is a dangerous admission, my friend,” Cato tells him equally softly. “We are not in Meribor.”

“Trust me, Cato. I can look after myself.”

“So I have been told. Still, your honesty is refreshing. Have you ever travelled to Meribor?”

“Indeed I have. It was… Enlightening?”

“Now who’s the man-whore?” Garvan asks with a grin. “In Meribor anything and everything is possible – encouraged even.”

“It’s not quite as relaxed as some might tell you, but I’m not going to speak of it with children present,” Alex suggests with a glance towards Jamie. “All I will say is that anyone, no matter what their tastes or preferences, can learn something about themselves there.”

“And, did you learn something about yourself there, Alex,” Jamie asks in an almost whisper.

“Yes, I learned to accept who I am and what I like.”

“Come,” Peta suggests. “Let’s go and find our rooms for the night and get some supper. I’m guessing we’re off early tomorrow?”

“Yes. We’ll be along in just a moment. You’re sharing with me, Peta, and Jamie will be with Cato.”

Alex remains in his seat and looks questioningly at Jamie. “I’m sorry, Jamie. I did tell you that they would tease. I hope they didn’t embarrass you too much. When the banter starts, take it in good jest and join in.”

“I really am out of my depth, Alex.”

“With which part of this? The banter or the barmaid?”

“Both.”

“Well, I can’t offer much advice about young ladies. Just be discrete and be honest.”

Jamie nods gently and stands, wobbling slightly but enough to catch the attention of Alex.

“And no more cider tonight until we eat. You’re not used to it and it’s gone to your head. That’s what happens when you drink on an empty stomach. Come on, let’s go and find out where our rooms are and then have some food.”

The three rooms are on the first floor, towards the back of the rambling building. They are all together and the only ones on a short corridor. There’s also a rudimentary washroom at the end of the passageway. It’s nothing like the bathrooms of the castle and a swift reminder for Alex of the return to normality. At least it is clean and a couple of pitchers of hot water are on the stand alongside the cold.

Two of the rooms have open doors and Cato is sitting on one of the beds in the first one. The room is small, but not cramped. There are two single beds that don’t appear to be too lumpy and, like the washroom, it does seem to be clean and tidy. There’s a single lit oil-lamp on the stand between the beds.

Peta is lying on one of the beds in the next room, booted feet hanging over the end. “What’s the plan for tomorrow, Alex,” he asks as Alex enters and closes the door. Someone has already brough up his backpack and placed it on the second bed.

“I’d like to get away early and maybe make it as far as the ferry at Elvora. There are inns on both banks of the river and we can stop on either side for another comfortable night. We won’t get the chance to stay indoors for a couple of days at least after that.”

“It’s quite a ride from here, but both of our charges seem to have coped quite well so far.”

“Hm… Jamie did seem a little stiff. Hopefully he won’t get saddle-sore as long as we can stay at a walk.”

“Was he okay about the jesting?”

“Not exactly, but I’m not sure if it was the jesting or the attention from the young lady that had him the most bothered. If he has questions about sex, then I’m leaving that to you and Cato. I barely know the young man.”

“Not sure he’ll get much more than book-learning from Cato. He’s been on his own for as long as I can remember. I think he’d prefer to cuddle up with an engineering text.”

“Well, that means it’s down to you to be the fatherly figure that he might need.”

“Wasn’t expecting to have to deal with that so soon. My son is only nine after all. Besides, you’re the leader of this bloody expedition. Everything is your responsibility.”

“Look, Peta, I know that you know all about me. I have no doubt that the King has told you everything you need to know. It really will fall to you if he needs to ask about a young lady. It genuinely isn’t my area of expertise.”

“Well, if the questions are in a different direction, I’ll point him straight to you, then.”

“Well, judging by his initial reaction, neither you or I will be needed. Come, let’s go and get some food.”