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Malloy looked at her and said, "I never could keep anything from you could I?..No, don't answer that, I already know the answer. If you must know, I've got concerns about that mercenary that came into town yesterday. I saw him headed down towards Bathsuha's place, but he didn't stay long and then left again. Now you tell me, what business does a mercenary have at a brothel that doesn't keep him there for hours?" He took a breath to continue, but he was interrupted. "Constable Malloy," said Mirian from behind him, "what business is it of any of us? Could it not simply be that he was there to visit a friend? Why is it you always see the worst in a person instead of the possible good?" She stood there with her hands on her waist and a look of challenge on her face. "You'll have to forgive her Malloy," said Ophelia, "She's rather smitten with the young man." Miriam turned to her mother, her face suddenly turning beet red and tried without success to say something. When the words would not come out, she quickly retreated into the kitchen and out the back door. "Well, now I'm even more concerned," said Malloy. "If she's got her eye set on a merc, I think I had better have a word with him before this gets out of control." Ophelia couldn't agree more and she said so. Malloy finished his ale and left; his mission, to find the merc and have a good long talk with him about a certain tavern girl.

As they left the house, Eliander grabbed Renfir by the arm and swung him around to face him. "Are you out of your mind human?! There is no way you will get close enough to that book to do what you plan. I've seen the place you mean to travel to and it is no place for a human, let alone an elf. Content yourself with what you already can do and continue living. Go there, and you will die."

Pulling his arm from the elfs grasp he said in reply, "No one is asking you to come with me elf! If you're afraid, then stay here, but I thought you left your home to find adventure in the world of men. Look around you. I don't see much adventure happening in this town do you?"

Eliander said nothing to that and walked away, down the road, back towards the Inn. If the human wanted to get himself killed walking into orc territory, then he was welcome to leave. His own people had been at odds with the orcs for centuries and he himself had fought in at least one battle against them. He was no coward, but he was no fool either.

Renfir watched the elf walk away and let out a long sigh. He had hoped to gode the elf into coming with him by calling him afraid. It hadn't worked and now he was once again alone in his quest. He walked off in the opposite direction. Instead, heading further into town to find the weaponsmaster the old mage had told him about.

As he walked down the street on his way back to the Inn, Eliander couldn't stop thinking about what the old mage had told them. He also couldn't stop thinking about the Book. His people had sought long and hard for that book and now he had solid information as to its whereabouts. There was just one problem; Renfir. The mage was going to be a problem if he did decide to go after the book. He stood at a crossroads and the decision he had to make was not an easy one for an elf. What he had said to the mage was true. He had been to the orcs lands before, but what was not true was that it was certain death. Eliander was sure that if Renfir's magic was strong enough, then the two of them could make it across the border and into the orc stronghold. The problem was how to handle the mage after they had the book. He wasn't about to let the human keep it. After all, the book had not been written with humans in mind. It was and had always been intended for the elven wizards.

Ophelia was busy gathering dishes from the lunch crowd. Her attention was focused on Yosef, where he sat fidgeting on the chair by the fire. "Yosef, how's that foot feeling?" she asked him. He turned and looking at her said, "Fine mame. Just fine. I do believe I can make it out to the stable if'n you will let me." Oh please, please let me, was what he was thinking to himself. "Very well then lad. Out with you, but don't be standing on that foot for too long. Do what needs doing quickly and then sit down. Now off with you!" She smiled at him as he rose from the chair and hobbled off into the kitchen. She saw the door open and the elf walk in. He'd been gone since breakfast, so she approached him and asked if he wanted food. "No thank you madame. I'm on my way to my room." With that, he climbed the stairs and left her standing there holding the dirty dishes.

Yosef made it out to the stable and collapsed on a stool. His ankle was throbbing now and he was chiding himself for his impetuousness. He noticed that the merc's horse was back in his stall and wondered when the merc had returned. He knew he should brush the stallion down and water it, but he remembered his encounter with the brute earlier and his ankle hurt so much right now, he didn't trust himself to be able to get out of the stall quick enough should the horse spook again. Instead, his mind went to the ring. He reached into his pocket and taking it out, sat there gazing at it.

Miriam was still sitting under the tree when she heard the backdoor of the Inn slam shut. She peered around the trunk and saw Yosef hobbling towards the stable. The poor boy just couldn't sit still, she thought to herself. She got up from the ground and brushing off her skirt, she walked to the stable. She found him sitting on a stool with his foot propped up on a bucket. He was looking at something he held in his hand. "What have you found Yosef?" she asked, startling him so that he almost fell off the stool. He closed his hand tightly around the ring at the sound of her voice and looked up into her face. She was the prettiest girl he had ever seen and he didn't like that he had to lie to her, but he didn't want to risk losing his treasure. "Oh, it's nothing Miriam. Just something I found on my way here the other day." He quickly shoved the ring back into his pocket and started to get up. "Oh no you don't young man. You sit right there. I saw how you limped all the way here from the Inn. If mother had seen you, she'd have your neck in a noose. I can take care of the horses for today," and with that said, she went straight to Brekke's horse first.

Opening the stall door, she slowly walked inside and closed the door behind her. The stallion turned to look at this new intrusion into its world and smelled no fear from it, so it remained calm. Miriam picked up a brush lying nearby and began brushing its back and sides.

No one had seen him come in, but Renfir heard the whole conversation between Malloy and Brekke as he stood by the door. A mercenary? he thought. Just what he needed for his upcoming trip. It wouldn't do to have him thrown out of town now. He was going to have to do something about this. He hurried over to cut off the Innkeeper who appeared to be planning to say something herself.

"Uh, excuse me constable. I couldn't help but overhear just now. Is it true you are looking for employment sir?" He directed the question to Brekke. The merc turned to look at him and answered, "Yes, I am. What business is it of yours?" Renfir heard the angry tone in the mans voice and waved his hand through the air. "I ask, because I am in need of someone with your particular skills. I'm planning a trip into some rather dangerous territory and I need a good swordsman. You are a good swordsman aren't you?"

Ophelia decided to hold her tongue for the moment. This was totally unexpected and she wanted to see where it would lead. If the one called Renfir was willing to hire the merc and take him away, then her problem was solved. "I can hold my own," said Brekke. "What's your name?"

"Now wait just a minute!" interjected Malloy. "I don't remember inviting you into this conversation stranger." He glared at Renfir as he spoke. "Constable," said the mage, "It seems to me that I am just what you ordered. You want to run this man out of town, I want to give him a job, which will take him out of your town. It seems to me you should be thanking me for interrupting."

Ophelia spoke up just then, "Malloy, could I have a word with you in the kitchen? It's extremely important." She put a great deal of stress on the word extremely, which told the constable that she would not take no for an answer. She could see where this was going and she was not going to have the man ruin it simply because of his injured pride.

Yosef heard the door slam shut and turned just in time to see Miriam, in tears, running off into the woods. He wondered what could have happened to cause her to be so upset. He thought about going after her, but with his ankle, there was no way he would be able to catch up to her. Instead, he pulled the ring back out of his pocket and began turning it over and over in his fingers. After having cleaned all the muck and stuff off of it, he had found that there were symbols etched into the metal around it. But what was even more exciting, was the jewel fitted tightly into the setting on the ring. He had never seen a jewel of its like before. It was crystal clear, but he did not think it was a diamond, for it was not cut like the few diamonds he had seen on the fingers of women he passed in the streets. This jewel was more of a smooth, round ball, like a marble. That was it! It was like a child's marble only clear. He could see inside of it and there was nothing inside to see. The more he fingered the ring, the more he was tempted to put it on, just to see what it would look like on his hand. What could it hurt, he thought to himself. Just once, to see how it feels. He'd never worn a ring in his life, and doubted he would ever amount to enough to be able to afford one anyway. He held out his right hand and with the ring in his left, slipped the ring onto his index finger. He held it up to the light to look at it and was startled when a beam of light shot out of the gem, hitting him in the face. He blinked rapidly to clear the spots from in front of him and quickly took the ring off, placing it back in his pocket again. That was enough for one day.

Miriam stopped just inside the woods and, drying her eyes on the sleeve of her shirt, turned around to ensure that she had not been followed. She couldn't see her mother running out after her, but there was always a first time. Having found herself alone, she moved deeper into the forest, paused a moment, and then asked herself what in the world she was doing. Running away wasn't going to change the fact that Brekke may be leaving. Then again, if he was leaving, she would rather not be there to see it happen. Better to make that dreadful, horrifyingly painful discovery after the fact, when there was nothing left to do but cry her heart out and spend the rest of her days clinging to the wonder and beauty of his memory.

Before heading back to the inn, she waited a moment, just be sure she wasn't going to start crying again. That was twice in one day now, that she had run off like a little girl, abandoning her chores and instilling in her mother the prospect of losing their business, a business the woman had worked for and contributed to nearly all her life. She wasn't about to let it happen again, and certainly not over a man who would visit a brothel. She still didn't know why he had been there, and she really didn't want to. If he was the type, then he wasn't meant for her and never had been. Even if he wasn't the type, the chances of the two of them forming a union was just .... Well, it was just ridiculous. It was unheard of. People didn't form a relationship based on a partner they encountered in their dreams, and she was a fool for ever having thought so. A complete and utter fool.

Robinton awoke from his nap to see that, by the angle of light coming in through the window, it was nearly supper time. He rose and went downstairs to see that a few people were already in the dining room. Among them, Renfir and the mercenary spoke quietly, leaned in close to each other. Ophelia was running about, handing out mugs of ale. Malloy sat looking into the fire.

Robinton stepped into the kitchen. "What is all the rush, Ophy?" he asked when she entered the kitchen. "What's all the hurry?"

"Miriam got angry and stormed out, and now I've no one to cook. I've got to cook and take the food out and take drinks," Ophelia said very quickly, as though she didn't have time to speak as well. She picked up a knife and began slicing potatoes at lightning speed.

"What made her angry?" Robinton asked. He gently took the knife from Ophelia's hands and began cutting the potatoes himself. "You're going to lose a finger, if you keep that up."

"Malloy is trying to get the mercenary out of town and you know Miriam fancies him. The wizard may be taking Brekke with him on his journey. Miriam is so upset, she's acting like a child and leaving her chores undone," Ophelia said, stirring the lamb stew that was boiling over the fire. "I wish he would just get out of town and everything could get back to normal."

"But, lady, what if it doesn't get back to normal? For this man to leave, Miriam would be left heartbroken, and still may not be of any use."

"But the brothel, Robinton! The brothel! He says he was just looking for a job because he wanted to stay in this town, but I see no reason why! He's up to no good!"

"Deary, has it crossed your mind that maybe he wanted to stay in this town because he is infatuated with Miriam as well? I think perhaps someone should at least tell the man of her feelings and see if he has any in return. If not, well... he'll be leaving anyway, correct?" Robinton smiled reassuringly at Ophelia.

Ophelia bit her lip in thought.

* * * * *

"I don't know why it does that though," Yosef said to Miriam. He'd been caught with the ring shining toward the woods, and knew he couldn't lie or make excuses this time. Somehow, though, he felt he could trust Miriam. So, he showed her the ring and told her about it. "I was hoping I could sell it for the money to buy some new clothes and boots."

Miriam looked at the ring thoughtfully. It was a beautiful piece of jewelry, and she had absolutely no idea how it could have made its way into a bale of hay brought from various farmers in trade. There was no way to trace its origins.

"You know what I think?" Miriam asked, glancing from Yosef back to the ring in her hand. "I think maybe you should ask that wizard who has been staying in the inn about it. If it is some type of magical item, perhaps he could tell you what its purpose is."

"I'm afraid someone will try to take it from me if they see it," Yosef admitted.

"If it was just between you and the wizard, I do not think you should need to worry. He seems like a kind soul to me. I would not think him a thief," Miriam smiled at the boy in front of her. "Perhaps he could even appraise it for you so no merchant tries to cheat you out of coin when you sell it."