The High King: A Tale of Alus Read Online Free PDF Page A

town of Casmus had been spent by Simon trying to convince his younger sibling to return home. The shepherd Janus simply watched the exchange and kept his opinions to himself as he waited for Gerid to finally lose his temper. He knew the younger man well enough to know that he would and also knew that Simon was his employer so anything the young man said would only end with him in trouble with one or the other.
    As they were about to enter the barn, Gerid finally turned around and let his brother have it. "Enough, Simon! We're here now. If you want to know why Stephen is arranging these training sessions, then go and talk to him. I have nothing to say to you that I have not already said and I have a lot of men waiting for me to teach them. So leave me alone already!" the young man complained before stomping off to greet several men that had left the shadow of the barn to meet with him.
    Simon watched as the others greeted and spoke with Gerid. They gave the man a hero’s welcome tinged with the easy respect of friendship. Their manner surprised him. He wondered what exactly his brother had done to warrant such complete admiration from these other men. Was it the stories of his fighting the soldiers of Merrick? It was possible, but this rapport seemed built on more than just stories.
    As he watched the men beginning to break up into sparring pairs both inside the barn on its wooden floor and outside in the grass, Simon made his way to one of the benches surrounding the fighting area. He guessed that the furniture had been brought from Stephen's inn, which was built closer to the road for ease of travelers while the barn could serve as a stable or storage for the inn or farm. The barn and a small, separate stable were set far enough behind the inn to make them more secure for those that chose the White Horse. Simon noted that the quality was quite nice considering that they were made for the first floor of a tavern. He figured that Stephen must be doing well. The inn would bring a good income especially on such a well traveled road. That led him to question just why a respectable business man would be conducting sparring sessions, which could cause King Merrick's anger to be turned towards him. From what Simon had heard about the lord's evil moods, it would not be a very wise thing to test.
    Simon was still caught up in his thoughts, when a man moved in front of him causing him to look up. He blinked into the light cast by the doorway and the sunlight as it dropped in the west.
    "I noticed that you have brought your sword, Master Aramathea. Would you care to spar with me for a little while?"
    Simon looked at the man's face uncertainly. He had never met this man before and wondered at his seeming familiarity before Simon asked, "Do I know you, sir?"
    The man chuckled and shook his head with a smile still on his face, "Probably not, I would guess. I saw you enter with Gerid and Janus and based on your resemblance to Gerid, I made an educated guess. Your brother has spoken of you often enough and I figured that you would wind up here eventually.
    "Oh, I nearly forgot. My name is Stephen Tarsis. I own the inn and this building as well, of course," Stephen stated as he extended a hand to be shaken.
    Simon frowned, "So you are the man who has started to begin a rebellion. I'm guessing from your words that Gerid has already been talked into your camp."
    "No, no, no," Stephen pleaded with his hands acting as if to hold Simon's words back. "This is not planned as a rebellion, Master Aramathea. We simply have gathered here to learn to protect ourselves. Your brother chose to help us train. If Lord Merrick continues on as he is however, I am afraid of the troubles that will occur in our land. Those who were once barely eking out a living before, are on the verge of starvation after these new taxes. Most of these men are good honest people and will do what they can, even if they need to borrow if their pride can take that. Others will