The Books of Renly.
Chapter 12: Keepers and Coin

Feeling slightly out of sorts returning to a place he was held only a short day ago, as if somehow he was going back to the cage to be locked inside only to repeat his battles all over again. Still wondering how he was to extract information from these keepers as he had no coin to barter with being the only thing these keepers have been said to love. The streets bustled with life all manner of traders shouting pushing their wares onto the passing crowds as he made his way through the city, the smells of food almost too much to resist in some places, he could almost feel his stomach churning as the sweet smelling cooked meats and fresh bread rolls filled the markets. Chatter and gasps of shock followed his movements with Sola in toe as they ventured, it’s not often such a large beast would be allowed to roam free within the walls unchained. Cheers from the battle or whispers of a fool and a cheat could be discerned from the crowds as they passed them by. The turning onto the pit road could not come at a better time as the chatter was beginning to annoy both of them, all to used to the quiet of the cages and forests roads.

Yet just before they could break free of the hustle and bustle of the markets a familiar voice began to call to them looking round they searched for it but to no avail, they began to move off again when Tajaars new squire stepped out in front of them beckoning him for his forgiveness trying to explain he had left the company of the halls and vanished so quick he did not have a chance to follow him when he left. Assuring him Tajaar explained his movements were not of a fowl nature and did not know he was to follow. sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ FindNʘᴠᴇl.nᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Sola now looking around and smelling the air for food “we must feed her and soon and I must see the pit keepers before finding where the Fragars are.” The squire removed his backpack taking out some chunks of oxen jerky he had stashed into his bag for Sola to gain favor, before he could even offer it out to her Tajaar whipped it out of his hand and began to eat it. “Sire that was meant for your hound,” looking down at the jerky in his hand and back at Sola then the squire Tajaar questions him “I suppose you think this sliver of dried meat is going to stop her from wanting a feed, night before last she and I ate a full oxen between us and last night we ate almost the same, Sola would not thank you for this you’re more likely to lose an arm as you try to feed it to her,” gulping the squire nods as if to agree with Tajaar’s assessment. “ We must move and get her fed as soon as possible I have a few stops to make before we can take her out to hunt.”

The familiar doors of the pit cages where in front of them before too long, today they were closed to visitors an eerie silence inside were creatures could be heard a short time before, the air now felt still almost dead. Tajaar took a deep breath gathering his strength shaking of the ill feelings of this place and rattled the doors to gain someone’s attention, No one answered, again he rattled the doors louder this time, not a soul seemed to be about. Sola pushed her nose passed them both sniffing the base of the door her tail began to wag as if she knew someone or thing was inside, from her actions Tajaar knew it as well. Beginning to lose time and patience Tajaar slammed his shoulder into the doors trying to gain access, a crack could be heard as he did so his squire says “try again sire I am sure I heard the lock cracking,” looking back at Tajaar now holding his shoulder in pain he realised it was not the door that cracked. Sola was not best pleased to see her master in pain and charges the doors bouncing a guard from the other side of the door straight into the air like an arrow, darting forward stopping as his helm became wedged between the bars of a cage dangling by the under strap of his helm, he was kicking, screaming and choking all the while. Tajaar stops for a moment and asks Sola why did she not do that in the first place, she did not answer him and looks off into the distance as if she heard a far off noise, shaking his head he rotates his shoulder crying out as it cracked back into position telling Sola she would not get away with her antics, she sneezes back at him.

They stepped inside and approached the guard looking a little blue Tajaar reaches up and unbuckled the strap allowing him to fall to the floor, in heap gasping in air as his first full breath was drawn with barely a second to recuperate Tajaar interrogates him for information on where the keepers where. Shaking still trying to catch his breath he stutters out that he was told to watch the gate while they collected a debt owed to them and they would be back once they had collected it, not to allow anyone into the compound until they returned. Claiming that’s all he knew caused Sola to growl at him now beginning to salivate as she grew more hungry, thinking he was about to be eaten the guard screams they had gone to the Ogre inn before passing out on them. The squire began to laugh uncontrollably at the guard as he defecated himself, called to an abrupt halt when Sola turned her attention to him, Tajaar observes for a few moments before telling her to calm down and that food was on its way. Standing to his feet again asking his squire if he knew the location of the inn, if so would he take the two of them there before Sola becomes more upset than she already appeared to be.

The three of them left the cages as quickly as they could checking they were not seen, if the keepers were about about they did not want them to know they had ever been there, pulling the now cracked doors back closed as they exited. The squire lead them down back alleys and pathways towards the Ogre Inn on the quickest roots so not to let Sola’s hunger grow too much, on the way she kept stopping sniffing the air searching for a morsel of food, slowing to a stop as she sniffed the ground the men stopped to check out what she had found, circling the spot of ground out side the back of a perfume house she squats and performs an unspeakable act right there in the middle of the ally, not much chance of hiding a pile of that size Tajaar picks up an empty barrel upturns it and places it over the top barely covering the mound as it squashed slightly. Taking off as quick as they could from the scene of the crime, with the smell of the cesspits not far off dampened only by the smells leaving the perfume house. “ the Ogre inn lies in the next road sire” the squire explained ducking behind a pile of debris discarded by the local produce houses pointing at the crowds gathering and cheering at an event happening not far from where they were hiding. Tajaar in no mood to hide wanders off towards the gathering people to see what the commotion was about, pushing through the crowds who were throwing rotten veg and scatt at two stockades outside the inn.

It did not take Tajaar long to recognise the people locked within the stockades made easier to tell as the Nomeys had between them a sign that told all of why they were there and who they were, telling the crowd they were debtors owing coin to the Fragar house for bets unpaid and were due for execution on the next sunrise in honor of the the wedding to take place for the Hatch clans new lord. Tajaar studied the scene for a while listening to the two men pleading for the crowds to stop pelting them claiming to be lords themselves wronged by a simple misunderstanding. The laughing and hurling increased more in response to their pleas, Tajaar had the urge to join in looking back at the alley they had just come from, thinking better of himself and his quest to clear his name he called upon the crowd to desist and leave while he has business here. Booing began to fill the air with the first thing launched at our friend Sola strolled up to the members at the rear of the crowd letting out a growl loud enough to wake the dead to the unfortunate nature of the man stood before her who had spun on heel to face what was behind him to come face to teeth with Sola now snarling baring her teeth, a moment of tense silence before her stomach growled at the thought of getting to dine on their would be attackers the crowd clearing in the blink of an eye leaving a few stood in place. The man stood in front of her was frozen still not a breath taken as his horror of his fate stood before him had flushed out all will to do anything, Tajaar broke the tense situation placing his hand on the man’s shoulder pulling him back away from her pointing his finger at her shouting “NO!” holding back laughter, her response was to snap at his outstretched finger moving off sniffing the floor for good food to eat.

With the scattering of bodies from the scene the Fragar’s had exited the inn now stood in the doorway. Fragar ahead of his two guards inspecting the events taking place and the approach of the hound to the Nomeys locked in the stockades not speaking a word. Tajaar had noticed their presence but cared not for their intervention of sorts, calling for Solas halt before she could take advantage of an easy meal, with almost a feeling of pity for them he began to question as to how they came to owe so much coin betting against him in the pits already knowing thanks to a wizard but with no evidence in hand that they had consorted to poison him. Questions brewing in his mind as to what end they had done this. Before a question had left Tajaar’s lips the two of them claim to know nothing of what had gone on trying to convince Tajaar they had made no such bet. Sola growled at them, sneezing a ball of mucus at one of them, unable to wipe his face clean it slowly ran down causing him to spit, bork and wriggle in his constraint. Lord Fragar’s interest in the situation changed upon hearing Tajaar’s line of questioning that was to follow, now approaching them while gesturing to his guards to stay put, who seemed only happy to obey given this hounds short temper made all the more obvious by a deep sigh they let off.

“What a day this is turning out to be first I have two keepers trying to claim the right of a debtor’s death upon these two fools, and now a lord seeking answers for a bet I found to be a little odd myself, previous knowledge of their underhandedness led me to think they had planned something but the Hatch’s keepers are not easily swayed into anything and these two fools don’t have that kind of clout in this city. Now just what would you have to offer two keepers to do your bidding?” he enquired of the Nomey’s wide eyed at the very question proposed of them, a brief moment passes before laughing brakes out from them claiming that they had no idea why the keepers nor Tajaar had to claim these things. Fragar looks at his guards and pointing into the door then the floor ordering them to “bring out the keepers” aloud. “We need to get to the bottom of this strange event unfolding before us.” Before the guard could even cross the threshold of the door the party heard a loud crash as the keepers bailed through a side window Sola did not wait for an order she took off towards the noise Tajaar calling to her telling her “we need one alive don’t eat them.” the Nomeys looking more worried than ever as they wriggled to break free as the party were looking the other way stopping when they turned to face them once more, “you did try to cheat me didn’t you?” Fragar calmly questioned them. Still maintaining their innocence they pleaded for mercy and the forgiveness of Tajaar trying to convince him this was all a miss read situation and that they had a moment of weakness when it comes to betting on them, Fragar still not convinced by their words grabs the fingers of one of the Nomeys hands breaking them with a single flick of his wrist.

Screaming in pain he calls for the torture to stop promising to tell all if they are to be freed for telling, laughing Fragar tells them “even if I was to free you how far do you suppose a pair of rats like you two are going to get, it seems you have more to answer for then a debt to me.” The Nomeys spat out of a tale that the house of hounds had tried to acquire the hound to breed with their stocks and they had promised them they could if they allowed them a win in the pits, but they must have to be… before they could complete another lie a crossbolt impaled itself into the stockade covering one of the Nomeys faces with the note they had left only days before. Without reading it Tajaar and Fragar jumped to attention swords drawn to see two men, one still in poised position after firing the bolt the other stood firm their armour was a fine polished steel making their rank all but obvious they were lords and the identity of which made even clearer by the hound shaped helms. One pointed back at the note as the other lowered the crossbow, in sync they began an approach.

Tajaar tears off the paper and begins to read of the proposal the Nomeys had left for the house of hounds claiming to have control of a large female who was entered into the fight but was loyal to a fighter in their midst and if they were to poison the fighter and kill him they would have breeding rights to her and choice of her offspring for two generations. Looking back at the hounds men Tajaar asks the only question that matters to him right now “ are you in the way of thinking you can take my beast from me because I can assure you, that would be a grave mistake to think I or my hound will allow that to happen?” stepping forward to confront the pair as they advanced to them. Fragar reached for Tajaar pulling him back “maybe there is a way to settle that for now we have to make our claim on these fools seems they owe a lot of debts to many right now and ownership is clearly with you if they own you by right then we do have a problem however?” Tajaar looks at the Nomeys with a promise of death hidden deep within him for the two of them if they dared claim rights over him and his hound after this treachery.

Tajaar spoke out to say he was told if he survived the fight they would consider him a free man and he had done so any claim to him was lost when he completed his task within the pits, their fate now was of their own doing and the beast was not theirs to offer, Fragar stepped in to add to the argument with the hound was not loyal to them and was to Tajaar indicating they did not control the beast. Then the houndsmen chose to speak “all we want is the right, if breeding was permitted” and they would settle their claim with her current owner and had no claim to the debt of the Nomeys but if they were to be refused they may have to claim their rights as the coin of hound was worth more than a single all be large bet owed to the house Fragar. The conversation was interrupted by Sola as she delivered one of the keepers in front of Tajaar missing a leg but very much alive white from the face down from loss of blood or fear remains to be seen, turning to the houndsmen Sola sniffed at them hard the smell of males wafted from them as they stood in the blistering sunlight. “She is amazing, they say no hound has been seen to grow this big out side the deep forest,” stepping towards her arm outstretched to touch her Sola swung round snapping at his hand. “Calm yourself Sola, ” Tajaar tries to calm down the situation before she gets out of hand.

Tajaar tells Sola of what has happened and their claim to her pups if she has them, I have told you of their wants. Tajaar do you think these men could handle such creatures as they grow and teach them how to hunt no amount of coin could sustain a pack of my pups they must be able to hunt. Tajaar beginning to explain Sola’s words of worry with such a deal when the two of them begin to laugh at the thought of them talking claiming him mad aloud as they laughed. Sola let them know he was no fool and he meant each word advancing on them teeth bared. Tajaar begged them to apologize to her before he has her feed upon them as they were due to leave for the forest soon for her to feed maybe this way it would save them a journey. “Save your threats we do not wish for conflict, if you clear your name with that note and we can argue over such things later either of you dead does not serve our means.” offering an arm of friendship to Tajaar, who takes a minute to speak to Sola. After some debate she agrees if they have have control over their breeding habits she would allow them to have some of her litter. Relaying Sola’s request to the houndsmen they begrudgingly agree to their terms, Tajaar finally takes their arm with a firm grip. The Houndsmen requesting “the chance to sit at counsel for allegiance to you when the time comes, first we deal, then we will see what time comes for us,” they declared. Bidding the gathering a good day the houndsmen left the rest of the party to their quarrels raising their hoods and disappearing as quietly as they arrived on the scene.

“All that remains is for us to take up a deal or quarrel who owns their lives Fragar,” Fragar turns to look at a Tajaar still holding the note “ it all depends if that note says what you say it does and bears the sigil of their house ring upon it?” Tajaar looks Fragar over before handing him the note, Fragar spends a short while going over it scratching at the sigil to check its real “it seems my new friend these men will have to answer to the Hatch’s for their betrayal I will stand in honor of your house claiming one of my guards heard this deal they made of you in return you will offer me a position in your counsel or at least a chance of gaining a new friendship with you and your hound here.” Tajaar felt his nerves tingling with suspicion of the situation and Fragar’s offer, with not much of choice in the matter he agrees to the plan and takes back the note from Fragar rolling it up placing inside his shirt for safe keeping. “As for these two I have not finished with their treachery with me, their death should be as mine was supposed to be pitted without weapons and weakened by poison let us make a few coin on their death,” Tajaar points at the keeper “and he comes back to council with me, once this matter is over I will let Sola decide your fate,” Fragar laughs as Tajaar mounts Sola pulling his squire onto her back as she picks up the keeper and the three of them take off towards the keep and council.

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