Pollywog King

Chapter 3

Home Sweet Home?

Its funny how the stars in the sky form animals and people, you have the Taurus, The Archer, the big dipper and the little dipper, and then there is the northern star that just so happens to be hovering over Koot's tavern where young Peter has slowed the wagon to a stop.

Cadell quietly climbs out of the wagon, trying not to wake Tamra from her slumber.

" Peter.... stay with Tamra... I'll only be a moment."

Yong Peter nods with a smile as Cadell steps on the old plank of the taverns porch. The boards creak under his weight, threatening to give way. The door is no better as it hangs on a pair of old rope that should have been changed months ago. Cadell has crossed this doorway many times in the past, and some of the times he was either being thrown out or kicked out due to a misunderstanding of a few words he may or maynot have said.

As he enters the tavern there's a bar to his right, if thats what you could call it, its more like the underside of an old oak tree, yes it's long and it's thick, the bottom still has its bark, but the topside has history.

Cadell runs his hand over the smooth top. It still holds rings from all the drinks that have passed over it, and Cadell can claim a few of these himself.

To Cadell's left is the open room with 3 and a half tables, Cadell knows why the fourth one is broken, Cadell smiles, knowing he had that one coming to him. Near the window on the far side of the room sets 3 patrons, well two to be expected, the big one is Koot, the taverns owner, a big fellow, with a long brown beard that flows past his big belly, I would describe his hair, if he had some, but instead there's a shiny dome that we will call his head.

" Cadell!... How was the journey to the city?... I hope there was no problem with the local tavern there?"

He greets Cadell in his deep, scratchy voice.

Koot holds his big arms wide to embrace his old friend. After giving Cadell a welcome home hug, he asks.

" So... what did the King say about expanding the farmers to the north?"

" The King has given us his approval... we can now start expanding the farm lands north to the Dawson River. "

As Cadell and Koot discuss the new plans for moving the farmers more to the north, Sarah and Clara walk into the room, Sarah is Koots wife and the only woman in the village that can keep Koot out of trouble, and Clara is the younger sister to Sarah.

Sarah is a tall, slender woman with long red hair that touches the back of her knees, she is a bit older the Koot with a few wrinkles that Koot himself bestowed upon her in the first few years of their marriage, but that's not to say Koot didn't get a few of his own.

Sarah and Koot was apart of the five that helped Cadell in the great war, Sarah and Koot was unfortunate to bare witness to the witches word's that fell upon Cadell just before he struck her down.

They was holding back the remaining few soldiers in the dark caverns when Cadell pushed forward into the witches chambers, Cadell had fought the witch while Koot and Sarah was finishing up the remaining guards, by the time they busted through the door the witch was on her back in front of Cadell,

" you may strike me down Raggedy Knight but you will suffer alone in this life, for every heart you hold will wither and turn to ash, you will live and die alone, you will never find happiness or love in this life"

Cadell brought his sword down on the witches heart and held it there until her breathing stopped, with his sword still buried in the witches chest he turned to Koot and Sarah, not a word was spoken for a long minute.

" Who is the pretty young las Cadell?"

Clara asked in her sweet, shy voice.

" Her name is Tamra, she's had a.... a hard life. "

Cadell looks at the doorway, and a small smile tugs at the corner of his lips.

" she's gonna need time and a safe place."

" Then she's family already."