Although I hadn't lifted my head from its resting place on the damp tabletop, I knew it was morning. Several young boys were busy mopping the floor near my chair. Their chattering had awoken me from my drunken slumber and despite my groggy snarls, they worked on noisily. I had spent the previous night guzzling ale and smoking my pipe amidst a crowd of strange faces. I should have been more careful. I was new to the area and unfamiliar with the people and their customs. And, I heard that river-bars were dangerous places. Lifting my head, I looked around at the tavern's main room and groaned. Through the window I could see the morning sun climbing over the distant hills, inching its way across the fields like spilt marmalade. And, just beyond the windowpane the sun glistened off of the river, sending dazzling sparks like lightning bolts into my bloodshot eyes. I groaned again and stumbled from my chair. My legs were uncooperative. "Good morning." The innkeeper was smiling the same toothless grin I had seen the night before when I first arrived at the River Rat. He was a fat, balding man with bushy sideburns and a single tuft of hair that he brushed over his shiny head. "Well, Mister Barkorcghasse, will you be staying another night?" "Yes," I mumbled. My hand fumbled inside my pocket for my room key. "Two more." "Great." His smile broadened and I thought that his face would split apart. "Should I wake you for lunch?" I scowled. "Right, should have known better than that. Well, let's settle your tab." "I'll pay when I leave." I noticed my words reduced his smile to a questionable smirk. "I'm afraid that's no good. You see, newcomers have a habit of skipping out on their debts and, well, it comes out of my pocket. So, I'd appreciate you settling yesterday's tab." With a nod I opened a leather pouch that dangled from my belt and removed some coins. The shiny tokens rejuvenated his smile. "Thanks," he said as he deposited the money into a locked box. "It's great dealing with you Southland-folk. Always got gold to spend." My room's lock snapped open and I shuffled in on shaky feet. Remaining vertical only long enough to slide the heavy bolt across the door, I collapsed on the feather-down bed. The sun was shining through the narrow shutter-slats, providing only thin, faint beams of light. The rest of my room was a shadowy-dark, which was good because I was going to sleep. I thought about undressing but even that idea was taxing. With a groan, I laid my head on the pillow's cool, downy cover. My entire body seemed to sink into the mattress. It was then I noticed the boot. It was a thick, leathery boot that sat facing me just within the shadows. My mind fought to comprehend the situation. My boots were still on my feet. I only had one pair of boots. Thus, the boot sitting in the shadows was not mine. And with this final realization, I sat straight up. It took a few seconds for my eyes to adjust. At first, I saw a hazy shape, a gray shadow in the thick blackness. Then, the form became clearer. Someone was sitting in a chair. Empty eyes were starring at me. My heart was pounding and the fear chased the liquor-cloud from my head. In an instant I had a dagger in my hand, pulled from a sheath in my boot. I wanted to reach behind me and swing open the shutters but I dared not turn my back on the stranger. "You're awful jumpy." It was a gentle voice that spoke to me. A familiar voice. With a growl I reached behind me and opened the shutters. The blackness dissolved. There, sitting before me, was a young woman with crimson hair and ashen skin. A delicate hand moved up to block the sunlight from her face. Her large, green eyes blinked and watered. "Hey, watch it with the light." I sat down so that my body blocked the sun and she lowered her hand and smiled. "I was beginning to think you found a tavern-whore." "Maybe I did." Now that I was awake, I returned my knife to its hidden sheath and began to untie my boots. All the while I watched my visitor. Her name was Amberlee. I knew her well. "What are you doing?" "I'm getting undressed." My boots made a heavy thud as they dropped to the floor. I then started to undo the buttons on my shirt. "With me in the room?" "Won't be nothing new to you." I removed my shirt and tossed it in the corner. "True." She slouched down in her chair and crossed her feet. There was a thin smile on her lips and several strands of her fiery hair dangled across her face. "Are you undressing me with your eyes?" "Depends," I said with a smile. "Can I undress you with my hands?" "Not smelling like that." "Like what?" "Like a swamp." I moved to the side so that the sunlight blinded her. "Stop that," she laughed. I moved back. "When's the last time you took a bath?" "Three weeks ago." I said after a short delay. I found it difficult to recall time. The days all seemed to blend together. "Right before I went into the Blood Marshes." "No wonder. Those moors are sickening. You should have taken a bath when you got to the River Rat." "Couldn't. I was too busy drinking." I noticed her cotton blouse was slightly open and I smiled as she buttoned it closed. Her eyes flashed with mock anger. "But if I had known you were going to be here I might have." "I doubt that," she laughed. "You never bathed when we were together. That's why I left, remember?" "Really? I thought that had something to do with the fact I ran out of money." "Maybe it was a little of both." The conversation was starting to become painful. Memories of her were flooding back into my consciousness. Memories I had repressed for years. I could feel the ache and I knew my words would sharpen if I didn't change the subject. "So, what brings you to the River Rat?" "Business. What else would bring me to a dingy river-bar like this?" Her fingers grabbed the dangling hair that had begun to tickle her nose; she tucked the strands behind her ear. "And," she added, "I was looking for you." "Really? And why would you be looking for me?" "Business." Her eyes washed over my body and stopped when they got to my eyes. "I need someone to help with a job. Someone who's not afraid of danger. Someone who can keep his wits under pressure. I immediately thought of you." "Right. I'm sure many names came to mind." "I won't lie to you," Amberlee said. I wanted to blurt back sarcasm, but I refrained. It took every once of my strength, but I restrained myself. "I did think of other names. But then I was on my way upriver last night and I found you here in the River Rat. What are the odds of that? Fate brought us together." "You still believe that superstition nonsense?" I could tell from her flaring nostrils that I had struck a nerve. I decided it was best to keep things sedate. "All right, so if I decide to do this, what do I get out of it?' "Anything you want." She leaned back and I noticed that her blouse button had opened again. This time, however, she did nothing. "Anything?" "You name your price." "Must be pretty important." "You could say that." "You going to fill me in on the details? Or do I have to run in the dark?" "I'll only say that this is the most dangerous job I've ever taken. I don't doubt that someone will die before it's over. I need the best of the best to see it through. And I'm willing to pay." She looked deeply into my eyes as the smile faded from her face. "I know I can trust you," she said. "And I need people like that." "Can I sleep on it?" "Since when have you needed to think things over? You getting cautious in your old age?" "No. Just smarter. Give me the day and I'll give you my answer tonight." She nodded her head, buttoned her blouse, and headed toward the door. I moved away from the window to allow the sunlight to fill the room. I didn't want anything hidden in shadow. Her legs were still long and thin and she knew how to walk. Sliding the deadbolt open, she paused for a moment to look back at me. Her clothes clung to her curves. "Take the day," she said, "but don't make me wait a second longer." And with that she closed the door behind her, leaving me half-naked in my room. Back to Table of Contents -- Barkorcghasse Chronicles Back to Barkorcghasse Chronicles List of Issues Back to MagWeb Magazine List © Copyright 2002 by Basement Games Unlimited, LLC. This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other military history articles and gaming articles are available at http://www.magweb.com