“Or is that three?” the shorter man joked.
“Damned right it’s three!” Van shouted as he hugged this small man.
The small man hugged back with equal force. Van was impressed. Finnian Pell had gotten much stronger since the last time Van saw him. They released each other and Van was suddenly struck by something.
“Are you drinking two ales at once? Why order three?”
“It’s a day of celebration my friend. Thrace has been made captain of his own militia. He should be joining us at any moment to share in the festivities,” Pell said.
“Thrace is a captain now?” Van asked. “I’m not surprised. He was always the most ambitious of us. The most disciplined.”
“It’s true. But to be a captain at only twenty eight years old is no easy task, even for one who works so hard,” Finnian replied.
“You gentlemen can sit,” Cecily said. “I’ll bring your ales to the table.”
“Thank you Cecily,” Pell said with his warm smile.
“You’re welcome Finnian.”
Van and Finnian took a table in the corner of the place. They sat facing each other, unable to stop themselves from grinning at the recollection of the old boyhood adventures they had shared. They hadn’t sat for more than a few moments when Cecily came by and expertly dropped their ales. They toasted one another and took a deep sip of the amber gold in their tankards.
“Finnian how are you?” Van probed. “I have not seen you since you joined the king’s guard.”
“That was ten years ago at least,” Finnian said. “Has it truly been that long?”
“It has. I remember the very night you left. Both you and Thrace,” Van said as he looked up at nothing in particular and let his mind replace his sight with memory. “Two young men on fire for the kingdom of Bethel. Two young men who wanted the king to know their names.”
“Well, we’re still on fire for Bethel,” Finnian said. “But I’m afraid we’ve failed at getting the king to learn our names. Though Thrace has a letter with the king’s signature, so at least he’s a step closer.”
“But what of you, Finnian? Have you spent all this time simply serving the king under Thrace’s leadership?” Van asked.
“Not entirely. I’ve served under many different captains and generals in the king’s army. Trained with the best. But my greatest achievement these last ten years has been my daughter. Annabelle,” Finnian said with a proud smile.
“You have a little girl?”
“And a wife,” Finnian added.
“I knew you’d be the first of us,” Van said, giving his own proud smile.
“Perhaps the only one if you’re not betrothed. For I fear Thrace has no interest in marriage and you’re getting older everyday,” Pell mirthfully chided. “And I must be honest Van, you look your age.”
“We are not young men anymore, my friend,” Van said weightily.
“Young enough to do great things still,” Pell encouraged. “Tell me what you’ve been up to all these years. You were always bold and adventurous. I could never imagine a job in this town could satisfy you.”
“Your imagination is very truthful then,” Van said. “I have tried all manner of things since you and Thrace left for the king’s city. I have been a fisherman, a guard, a farmer, a merchant, a mapmaker if you can believe it, and five days ago I gave up on being a hunter. Perhaps it was six, all the ale has clouded my memory.”
“You still haven’t found your road,” Finnian said.
“We’re not boys anymore Finnian. Some men don’t have a road. I learn that lesson more and more everyday. But the shocking thing is that I’m beginning to believe I don’t need one,” Van said as he took another swig of ale.
“Everyone needs something to keep them going,” a strong voice said.
Van and Finnian turned to see a tall man, stout of body with an ornate broad sword hanging at his side. He was dressed formally, in a dark leather jerkin and fine cloth pants. On his wrists were gleaming, silver armlets with raised eagles etched in gold. The sign of the king.
“Thrace!” Finnian said as he stood up quickly and embraced the bear of a man.
“Hello my friend,” Thrace said with a small smile. “I am sorry that I could not ride back here with you. The general needed to speak with me before I left.”
“No apologies necessary,” Finnian said with a pat on Thrace’s shoulder. “I take it you presented the general with your dyad initiative for your battalion?”
“I did,” Thrace said flatly. “And he has agreed to let me try it.”
“That’s fantastic news my friend!” Finnian shouted as he clapped Thrace on the shoulder. “Come and drink with us to celebrate!”
“Hello Thrace,” Van smiled as he stood from his seat.
“It is good to see you Van. It has been too long,” Thrace replied.
The three friends gathered round their small table and sat. It seemed to Van that a sudden sense of formality had descended on their gathering. He found himself sitting up a little straighter and keeping his arms off the table. He looked around at his two old friends, feeling as though he was no longer in his own body and watching this scene from afar. Thrace looked down at his ale, studying it. Finally, the new commander picked it up and took a swig. Finnian used the opportunity to finish his own ale and signal for another round.
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