Owin #40 — An old acquaintance

The smell of smoke hung in the air as the Owin and Gwen neared the city of Solva. In the distance, they could see the vast spread of buildings across the harbor valley. The rising smoke from many distant cooking fires and chimneys indicated the city stretched well beyond the valley.

“How are we going to find that tavern?” Gwen asked. “What was it, the Green Tea?”

Owin nodded his head to a group of people passing them along the road. “It was the Green Leaf. I’ve been to Solva a few times. I’ve got a good idea of where it is.” He slowed to a stop and looked about the top of the rise they had crested. The few trees that had lined the road were now gone, cleared away for fields and buildings. A side road broke off toward the north and away from the main entrance to the port city further along the road. “However, before we find Denton’s friend Brent, I want to find someone else.”

Owin frowned and then turned down the lane between the fieldstone walls dividing two large fields of corn. “He lived on the northeast side of the city, but I don’t remember if this is the road we want.”

“What’s your friend’s name?” Gwen asked, hurrying to catch up to Owin.

“Well, the man I want to find is named Tam, but I would not call him a friend. He is a survivor of the late hostilities and old enough that he won’t likely be an active part in anything. However, he always seemed to know what was going on. If we are being setup, he might have heard something.”

Gwen slowed from her jog as she came beside Owin. “Then when we are done, can we get something good to eat?”

Owin smiled. “Yeah, you’ve earned a good dinner.”

The sun had set below the horizon by the time Owin found Tam’s house. The humble home was located in a small cluster of building just outside the city proper. A small flower garden filled the area inside the enclosed yard. The aromatic fragrance of lavender filled their senses as they carefully opened the three-foot tall wooden gate.

Owin led the way toward the front door and when he reached it, knocked twice. They waited for quite a while before the sounds of someone shuffling across a floor could be heard. Slowly the door opened and a man silhouetted in the light from a back room stood slightly hunched in the doorway.

“What can I do for you lad?” The man asked.

Owin bowed his head with respect. “I hoped you might enjoy a bit of company on this quiet evening. You may not remember me, but we met a few times several years ago.”

The man extended his head forward slightly, his wrinkled hand on the door frame. “Your voice is familiar.”

“I am Owin and this is Gavin’s daughter, Gwen.”

The man looked around Owin and took in Gwen’s presence. “If the two of you are here to harm me….”

“No, Sir,” Owin said quickly. While it had been several years since he had seen Tam, the man he remembered should not be as frail as this man seemed. “I was actually hoping you might have heard something. May we come in?”

The man stepped backward and motioned for Owin and Gwen to enter. Once they did, he led them from the front room into a small kitchen where a lamp provided light. The man’s gate indicated a limited range of motion with his left side though the hair on the back of his head was thick and only had a few strands of grey.

When Tam turned around, Gwen sucked in a mouth full of air and even Owin faltered a bit. The left side of Tam’s face was covered in white scars that ran down to the bone. His left eye was missing as were parts of his ear.

The older man smiled at them though his left cheek did not function entirely. “The two of you that squeamish?” Tam pushed back a chair that he appeared to have been using before they knocked on the door.  Slowly he sat down. “This happened a few years ago. It still pains me, but I don’t let it bother me.” The man picked up a mug and drank from it. He put the mug down and met Owin’s eyes. “I remember you, Owin. Though I remember your friend more. I thought you were out of this business.”

Owin forced a smile to his face. “I was.”

“What cause would Ravigar have to send you to me?”

Owin shook his head and moved a step closer. “None. I’m not here on his behalf. When Gavin was killed, the Duke didn’t think I had any value anymore. He considered Gavin the more impressive part of our team and since he had lost most of his hold on me by that point, I managed to win the freedom he had promised.”

Tam snorted. “That man never gave a damn for keeping his word.”

Owin shrugged and decided to take one of the other chairs that were around the table. “The Duke was trying to win over someone else. I became proof that the Duke kept his word.” Owin looked down at the worn table and the meal Tam had been eating. “I guess I was lucky with the timing.”

Tam pursed his lips, though part of his face disobeyed the attempt. “I’ve heard different.”

Owin looked back at the man. “What have you heard? I’m being pulled in a couple of directions and I suspect I’m on the wrong end of the rope.”

Tam glanced at Gwen. “Sit. Eat. You keep staring and I can hear your stomach.”

Gwen quickly obeyed and Tam turned back to Owin. “I’ve been out of this work for a long while. I’ve got enough money to live comfortably and I know enough secrets that would come out if something happened to me that people fear trying to touch me.”

“Which is why I came here. I want to know what is happening and I am hoping you can help me.”

Tam nodded his head and raised his eyebrows. After a moment, he tilted his head forward and looked at Owin’s pouch expectantly.

“Fine,” Owin said as he pulled a couple of coins from his pouch.

“Consider it payment for the girl’s dinner.”

Gwen looked up, a chunk of bread in one hand and more in her mouth.

Owin slid several coins across the table. It made nearly a crown, but if he could get an honest answer, it would be worth the cost.

“I liked Gavin. He always told good jokes.” Tam glanced at Gwen. “None that her ears should hear.”

“Hey, I’ve heard lots of good jokes,” Gwen protested.

Tam turned back to Owin. “The rumor I heard is you’re working for Ravigar. Back in his grasp because you ran out of money.” Tam glanced at the coins on the table. “Might explain how you could afford that.”

“Gwen and I worked our asses off to get that coin and it was promised to me as payment, but not by the Duke.”

Tam shrugged. “You still have shown up in town before a couple of other people are supposed to be in town for business, just as the rumor said you would.”  Tam shrugged.  “You telling me you are not here to kill them for the Duke to prevent a trade deal from happening?”

Owin shook his head. I hate being right. “I am here to stop the assassin from doing his job. Not paid by the Duke, but by those against him.”

Tam took another drink from his mug. “Then that would explain why I heard Urel was in town as well. He was pretending not to be, but someone I know saw him. Being very secretive about it, which is what caught my attention.”

Owin looked off into the distance as he rubbed the tips of his fingers against his thumb.  Aloud he mumbled, “so the original plot is true, but so is my setup.” Owin turned his attention back to Tam. “Do you know where Urel is?”

Tam shook his head. “Keep your fingers out of your pouch; giving me more money won’t help. The man was seen on the street, but only the once. I’ve no idea where he is. I just know that word about you is easy to hear.  It started a couple of days ago, but word about Urel is not.”

“How long has he been here?”

“Urel has been in town for more than ten days based on the report. Interestingly, subtle word that Duchess Emilia opposes the deal started around the same time. Very subtle, but it smelled like a plant to me. Your involvement smells worse, like someone is rushing to quickly implicate the Duke.” Tam put down the mug. “Word of the trade agreement has been fluttering in and out for nearly a month. It is one of those poorly kept secrets everyone knows. Duke Henry’s cousin has rented Morgan House and he talks too much in front of the servants.”

Gwen smiled. “They always do.”

Owin nodded his head in agreement. “Thank you, Tam. I suspected this would be the case. Knowing for certain will help me plan.”

“Plan what?” The scarred man asked.

Owin tilted his head and raised an eyebrow. “If I told you that, then you’d have to pay me.”

Continue to next episode.