The Return Read Online Free Page A

me. “Open the gate and let me in,” I demanded.
    A murmur ran through the guards as one with a crest stepped forward. “Look up at me, warrior.”
    I looked him straight in the eye.
    “How did you come back out of the battle lust? No one does that once the craze is upon them. They fight all, friend or foe, until they are killed.”
    “Reaper, open the gate!”, I yelled at the top of my lungs.
    The gates swung open with a loud crash, as my horse kicked back and broke the bar holding them in half. I walked in and mounted Reaper. I looked down and asked a young girl who was standing there. “Is there an inn around here, where a man might find a hot bath and a hot meal?”
    “The Headless Griffon, sir, it is but a few blocks that way.”
    I reached into the pouch on Reaper’s saddle and pulled out a gold coin and dropped it to her. “Thank you.” I rode in the direction she indicated.
    Likka looked up at me.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    I looked up to see a sign in front of an inn. It was of a fancy griffon but somewhere along the line the corner had broken off the sign taking the head of the griffon with it. I chuckled to myself as I slipped out of Reapers saddle and walked in through the front door. I walked up to the bar to find a middle aged man standing behind it. “I need a room for the night, a hot bath, a hot meal, a bottle of good whiskey, and stabling for my horse with an extra measure of oats for him.”
    He turned to look at me, and when he saw my blood soaked armor, his eyes got wide as silver dollars. “Yes, sir, and could I interest you in my wife’s cleaning service for your armor and clothes.”
    “Armor I will care for -- clothing, yes.”
    I reached into my pouch at my hip and pulled out five gold coins and laid them on the bar. He looked at them and then scooped them up to disappear into his apron. He then reached under the bar and pulled out a square bottle of whiskey and set it on the counter. He then called out, “Peotter, get in here, boy.”
    A boy of about twelve years of age ran out of the kitchen area. “Yes, sir.”
    “Take this lord's horse and put it in the stable. Give it a double measure of oats, and brush it down real good.”
    The boy looked at me wide eyed. “Peotter, if you will move my stuff from my horse to my room, this will be yours; if everything is there when I get to the room.” I held out another gold coin.
    The barman said, “I will have Missa draw a bath for you, M’Lord. Will you be eating in your room, or will you come to the common area?”
    “I will eat down here good sir, and I am not a noble – I am just a common wanderer.”
    “I must ask, sir, is the wolf dangerous to my other guests?”
    “Only if they are dangerous to her.”
    “I would actually be more afraid of the man in front of you right now, Kinal,” A voice said from behind me. “He single-handedly killed twenty-one hundred of the Lithan just a few minutes ago. The only reason he didn’t kill more is because they ran.”
    I turned to see a young man dressed in fine clothing of soft cloth. “I am sure you exaggerate, Lord. I am sure if I killed that many, I would be at least a little tired.”
    He laughed. “Well, Armsmaster, what brings you to the western town of Quinn?”
    “I am traveling east and had hoped to speak with Father before I continue my trip.”
    “I am sure he would be glad to speak with you. I can ask him to drop by tomorrow, around noon.”
    “You do me a service, Lord.”
    “You have done us a much greater one. After your fight with the Lithan, it will be at least a year before they come back here.”
    I bowed