After hanging her saturated cloak above the fire to dry, Lexi sat beside the boarded window. Looking out through a small crack in the wood, she could see lighting rip across the darkening sky, causing everything around her to rattle. When the thunder died down, she glanced at Aldah. The rat stood beside the hearth, carelessly watching the fire, while Barwick sat in a chair across from the ancient stoat, who appeared to be asleep. The sound of rain and the warmth from the fire had the same effect on Lexi. She could feel her eyelids drooping as she struggled to stay awake.
But the events of the day had left her weary and it was not long before she fell asleep.
Sometime later Lexi awoke to the smell of food. She raised her head to see Barwick enter the room carrying a steaming pot, which he set on the table.
The stoat fallowed him with sevrel bowls.
They then left, only to return a moment later dragging wooden chairs behind them.
After a few more trips into the other room, the table was set.
Lexi pushed her empty bowl aside and leaned back in her chair.
Around the table, the others were also finishing their dinner.
Thunder rumbled again, louder then it had in some time.
"We'll need to stay here for the night, if you don't mind." she said to the old stoat.
He fixed her with a scowl. "And if I do?" he challenged.
She shrugged. "Maybe we'll stay anyway." she answered.
The stoat rose abruptly and gathered the empty dishes. "You all can sleep in the back room if you're quite. But at the first peep... out. Got it?" he asked gruffly.
"Of course." Lexi answered smoothly as she pushed her chair backwards and rose to her feet.
"Wait." The silver-furred fox said, with a glance at the opossum. "There's something I need to say."
Lexi sat back down.
Sitting across from her, Aldah rolled her eyes. The silver fox stood at the head of the table and cleared his throat.
"I am Cedric of Zamari, and this is my friend, Ozzy Nolandsander." he said, gesturing towards the opossum.
"Our kingdom will soon be at war with the outlaw, Mirrikh, and his army. My father sent us to appeal to King Raja for help, but the wildcat has refused. As did every merchant warrior we have come across. Now, I noticed that you two carry bows, which are very useful in battle. If you will help us, my father will pay in gold." Aldah's eyes lit up greedily. "How much gold?" she asked.
"I don't know the numbers, but I can assure you it will be more then a handful."
"Deal." Lexi and Aldah said together.
Cedric and Ozzy exchanged glances, relief clearly evident on their faces.
Barwick looked confused.
"But we're--" He started to say but Lext quickly shook her head.
"If that's all that needs to be said, then make yourself useful and help clean the table." the ancient stoat ordered.
The young creatures were happy to oblige.
The sun had not yet risen over the tree tops as they prepared to leave.
Lexi checked her bow string and Aldah adjusted her hat. "Thank you for letting us stay the night." Barwick was saying the to stoat. "Don't munshen it. It was the least I could do. After all, I'm sure you will be able to help me sometime in the future." he answered kindly.
"I don't know." Barwick said. "I'd love to come back and visit, but I'm not sure--"
"That won't be a problem, because I'm coming with you."
Everyone stopped what they were doing to stare at the stoat.
"Oh, no you're not." Aldah said quickly. "It is bad enough that Barwick is here. We don't need anymore dead weight."
"No offence." Barwick tried to explain. "But the middle of a battlefields is not exactly the kind of place someone of your age wants to be."
The stoat scowled angrily as he hefted a heavy staff over his shoulder and rounded on them, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "My age, eh? Either of you two want to see what someone of my age is capable of?" he challenged. "Come on. I dare you."
Ozzy wisely backed away, holding his hands up defenselessly . "No need, sir. We all believe you."
"We'll I don't." Aldah said, drawing her knife from beneath her cloak and stepping forward. "And I'm not afraid to fight an old guy. Just say the word."
The stoat bared his teeth as he brandished the staff and Aldah responded in like manor.
Lexi was aware that once a fight started, only one would make it out alive. Aldah was not one to take prisoners and frequently criticized Lexi's habit of leaving them alive.
As she often said, they can't harm you if they can't draw breath.
But, to Lexi, the ancient stoat appeared to be no threat and it would be a shame to wound him.
Cedric looked at her, as if waiting for her to stop them.
The vixen turned to Aldah, who was preparing to rush forward.
"Aldah, cut it out! We've got to go." Lexi commanded sharply.
The rat kept her eyes fixed on the stoat as she answered. "Don't worry. This will only take minute."
The sun was rising slowly, sending it's golden rays across the meadow. The light shone off the polished wood of the stoat's staff.
Although she was surprised that he could lift it, she knew that one hit could break bones.
"I mean it, Aldah! We haven't time for this." Lexi snapped.
With a disappointed sigh, Aldah backed away and sheathed her dagger. "Be careful, old one. And make sure you don't slow us down because I'll be watching you." she hissed.
The stoat snickered.
Aldah brushed past them.
"Come on. We haven't go all day." She called over her shoulder.
Lexi hurried to catch up with the rat. "You're suppose to respect your elders, you know." Lexi said.
Aldah smirked. "I couldn't agree more." she answered.
Lexi shivered as the cool morning air bit through her cloak and shirt underneath.
It would be winter soon, she knew, which would make traveling much more difficult.
As the six creatures journeyed on in silents, she found her thoughts drifting back in time. But she pushed them away.
Now was not the time to dwell on the past. Instead, she focused on their three new traveling companions.
The stoat, who's name was Archie, walked along with a surprisingly quick pace and still carried the staff.
Aldah kept to the other side of the path, her eyes fixed ahead.
Ozzy and Barwick chattered quietly together, Cedric often commenting.
Although they appeared to be who they said they were, and Lexi had no reason to think otherwise, her life as a thief taught her to trust on one.
She studied the fox and the opossum closely. Both were strong and fit, and appeared to be able to hold their own in a fight.
Cedric carried a sword, while Ozzy had a long rapier.
They both wore grey cloaks, brown jerkins and breeches.
They seemed friendly enough, but she was always wary of strangers.
Ozzy looked back and offered her a smile. "Ever been to the Great Divide?" he asked. "No, but I've heard of it." she answered, quickening her pace until she caught up with them. "What's it like there?" she asked.
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