The short walk to the Plowman’s Rest Inn seemed to take days. And it was over way too quickly for Ryke to know what he would say to Nabis.

 

The old soldier-turned-foreman leaned against a post, arms crossed, occasionally spitting out the tabac seeds he never seemed to run out of. He grunted in greeting as Ryke stepped up to the walk and came to a stop.

 

“Nabis,” Ryke said by way of greeting. He looked sheepish. He didn’t know what to do with his hands. He smiled briefly and looked about, watching the others as they finished picking through the contents of the wagon. “Some homecoming, huh?”

 

Nabis spit out a seed and grunted again. He turned his eyes from the street to his friend’s son before him and stared for a long time. He allowed a short cough of a laugh.

 

“Any homecoming is a good one, son,” he croaked. He always croaked.

 

Ryke shrugged. “Just not much by way of an adventure.”

 

“Oh, I don’t know,” Nabis said, his jaw working the seeds in his mouth. “Looks to me like you fell into something big.” He nodded toward the street again, indicating the interest the youngsters and their wagon had garnered. “You got a town council meeting and a story to tell. Not bad for a day’s work.”

 

Ryke couldn’t help but chuckle. “Well, when you put it that way…” He stopped, his smile faltering. “But I wasn’t there for most of it. The fight with the goblins, getting the boy Risos back…”

 

“Goblins?” Nabis seemed somewhat more intent than usual, his grizzled countenance focused on Ryke. It made the youth uncomfortable.

 

“Y-yeah,” Ryke said. “There were goblins out there. They took the boy, then fought over who got him. That’s how they,” he gestured behind him, “got him out. They let the goblins fight, then finished off the rest. Or drove ‘em off.”

 

Nabis nodded thoughtfully.

 

“Anyway,” Ryke continued after a moment. “I didn’t do much. By the time I got there it was over. Nothing to do but come back here.”

 

Nabis nodded again, spitting out a seed. “Still, makes you a part of it.”

 

“I guess,” Ryke allowed. “I did notice the tracks.”

 

“Tracks?”

 

Ryke nodded. “Someone came to our camp in the night. Not a goblin. Not sure who it was, but they was curious about us. Circled us round before going off. I lost the trail.”

 

Nabis studied Ryke carefully, his jaw working slowly. “Yep,” he said after a moment. “Looks like you got into something big, of a certain.”

 

Ryke shrugged. “I guess.”

 

Nabis coughed his laugh again and clapped Ryke on the shoulder, his mood lightening. “Son, the stories tell the good parts. They never tell of the false starts, the false trails, the comings and goings that make up people’s lives. You just got to get through all that to find your tale, is all.”

 

Ryke looked dubious. Nabis sighed and tried again.

 

“Look, boy, your father and I went to and from town after town between our adventures. We had to get supplies, reshoe horses, get information…sometimes we just didn’t feel like sleeping in the cold.” He shook his head, smiling. “Lot of dead time between the excitement, I can tell you.”

 

“I guess.” Ryke squinted at the sky. “I just don’t want them to think I’m some latecomer looking for…I don’t know. Reward or something. Something I didn’t earn.”

 

Nabis managed to scoff and spit a seed at the same time. “Boy, you ever think that maybe they’re happy you showed up?”

 

Ryke looked questioningly at his erstwhile mentor.

 

“Whenever your da and I were in the thick of it, whether we had the company or not, we was always happy to see a fresh face. Them other kids, maybe they got scared. Not enough to run home, but a good dose of reality is good for the soul. Now they know what’s out there. They got an idea of the dangers of the world. Maybe they’re just plain happy they got someone else to help ‘em out. You’re good enough with blade and bow that you’d be welcome in any fight, and you can trail with the best of ‘em. You’d be a welcome addition to any company. I don’t doubt them other kids think the same thing.”

 

The old soldier nodded. “Yep. You just hang tight, boy, and you’ll see. You’ll have your chance soon enough, I don’t doubt.”

 

Ryke looked visibly relieved. “You really think I can trail with the best?”

 

Nabis bobbed his head. “Good enough. You’ll get better, too.” He jerked his head to the street. “Them others, they got their skills, too, and don’t you forget ‘em. That smith boy, he’s good with a blade. That girl is, too, if’n I had to admit it.” He spit a seed, his expression indicating he didn’t like admitting it at all. “That other lass, the taller one, she’s got a bit of the hellion in her, but I don’t doubt she’s handy to have around. Not bad to look at, either, if’n I had—“ he caught himself, cleared his throat. “Those other three, they got their skills, too. Just like you. Each with his place. You all work together I don’t doubt you’ll be just fine out there.”

 

He stopped, nodded toward the street. The others seemed to be heading their way. “Looks like it’s time to head in.” He caught Ryke’s eyes with his own. “You stay strong, boy. Listen when you ought and talk when you think you got something to say. Stand your ground if you’re in the right and duck your head when you’re not. You got all that?”

 

Ryke nodded solemnly. “I got it.”

 

“Good.” Nabis spit a seed and clapped him on the shoulder again. “Now go inside and get yourself a beer.” Ryke blinked and Nabis coughed a laugh. “You old enough to make your choices, pick your own road, I reckon you old enough to sit with the men and down a mug.” Nabis gave him a shove. “Now get. I’m a busy man.” He spit a seed and went back to leaning on the post.

 

Grinning broadly Ryke stepped into the Plowman’s Rest Inn to join his friends.