Chapter Two:

Arnan and Pepper sat in one of the many booths lining the back wall of Simon’s Pub. The place was overflowing with more characters then Arnan could keep track of; travelers and city folk all drowning their woes in ale and stew. He smiled at one particular sailor who seemed to have drunk one too many mugs of Mauria’s home brew.

“That ‘un will have an aching head tomorrow,” Pepper dryly observed of the weeping shipmate.

“And how would you know, Pepper?” The redhead imp smiled wryly and handed Arnan’s mug of untouched ale to him. Arnan shook his head as he realized that the cup he held was empty. He almost admired Pepper’s impertinence in drinking it out from underneath his nose. The boy was already sitting on his hands as punishment for attempting to pick a patron’s pocket, only a few minutes after entering the room. Arnan sighed inwardly as he realized he was teaching Pepper he would only be punished if he got caught, not for the deed itself. It was something his parents and siblings would have hated, but something that Arnan had no control over. They had to survive, and Pepper had quickly learned that morals were for people whose pockets were bulging with gold. Arnan swatted the little boy across the back of his head.

“Go on, git. If you can’t keep your hands to yourself in here then go outside and wait for me. I have business to talk with Simon. And no stealing!” The boy ran along happily and barely responded as Arnan yelled after him. Arnan heard a deep-throated chuckle behind him and turned to find Simon placing a fresh mug of ale in front of him.

“You know, boy, you might as well tell a bird not to fly,” Simon eyes were brightly shining with humor.

Arnan smiled as he realized the absurdity of it all, “ I guess there is still a part of me that wants Pepper to have a proper upbringing like I did.”

Simon stared at him for a moment and then let out a sudden roar of laughter, “Lot of good it did you, Romany!”

Arnan smirked and took a swig of the ale before he realized what he was doing. The terrible taste suddenly overwhelmed his senses and he remembered why it was that he never drank. Suddenly he realized that Simon was watching him. Doing his best to swallow, Arnan pasted a smile back onto his face and tried to squeak out a couple words.

“Good ale…” Simon slapped him across the back and Arnan had all he could do to keep his stomach where it belonged.

“Mauria’s newest brew, you like?” Arnan gulped down the ale that was rising up the back of his throat and slowly nodded. Simon smiled and sat down across the table from him.

“I was followed today.”

“You are followed many day, my friend. Most men who have as sizable a bounty over their heads are stalked by hunters.”

“Aye. But I was followed, and I was found.” Arnan watched calmly as fear started rising in Simon’s eyes. “They knew where I lived, it seems I’ve been too careless”

“That’s impossible, you’re the most invisible man I’ve ever met.”

“And yet they found me. This place is no longer safe.”

“Where will you go?” Simon’s eyes were defeated. They both knew the danger of being found. This meant that whoever was looking for him was no small time bounty hunter looking for hard cash. Whoever was looking him meant serious business. Usually this meant the criminals head, not necessarily connected to his body.

“To the Swamps of Negesh to take care of business…”

A woman’s voice broke into their conversation with barely concealed panic, “You’re not taking the boy back there!”

Arnan looked up to find Mauria staring down at him with tight-lipped determination. He knew his face matched hers but inwardly he smiled. Mauria had an indefinable protective quality about her that very much reminded him of his elder sister Daelia. He had often seen the same determination cross Daelia’s face over his latest dangerous exploit when they were children. Arnan pulled himself back to the situation and sighed.

“Pepper will go with me to Negesh and then we will make refuge in An Toan.” Arnan met Simon’s shocked stare at the mention of the deeply religious island, out of the corner of his eye he also saw Mauria’s shoulders drop in defeat. The silence between them was chilling, yet he knew that neither of the couple would try and talk him out of it. This was a matter of survival. Finally, Mauria slammed the mug she had carried over down on the table and spat out a few words.

“You’ll be the death of that little boy, Arnan Romany.” She twirled on her heel with a swish of her skirts and headed back towards the kitchen. Arnan turned his attention back to Simon ‘s piercing gaze only to find his dear friend also standing.

“I guess that’s it then,” said Simon quietly. Arnan caught the larger man’s arm as he began to turn away and placed a linen envelope into his hand.

“You and Mauria have been the only family I have known over the past three years and I can’t take everything I own were we are going.” Arnan paused as he searched for the right words, “ I know the swamps of Negesh are an unpleasant place for even the average man to wander into, but should you ever be in need that envelope will tell you where to find help.”

Simon nodded his thanks and grabbed Arnan in a bear hug before turning to take care of the needy customers lining the booths of the pub. Arnan looked around the familiar pub once more before shouldering his pack, in an attempt to burn the image into his mind. It was heartbreaking to leave the only home he had known since leaving his siblings, but the last thing he would have ever done is let himself bring danger to the beautiful couple he loved so well. Pepper would be outside, likely attempting to pickpocket a poor soul, and it was time to collect him. Arnan looked back over his shoulder as he stepped over the threshold of the back door, just in time to see Simon toss an overly inebriated patron out of the pub. He squared his shoulders and, with a prayer that Mauria would forgive him, he walked away knowing he would never again return.