The Green Dragon Inn - Part 4

[Envinyatar]

After Cook had placed a poultice on his ankle, and re-wrapped it for support, Derufin declared himself fit enough, he though,t to make it back to his quarters. ‘Just find me a cane,’ he directed Buttercup. ‘There were several in the mathom sale, surely not all of them have gone.’

Cook put a plate of food in front of him and insisted that he eat, take the sleeping powder she had given him in a twist of paper when he got back to his quarters, and give his leg a healing rest. Derufin nodded his head at her instructions, and mumbled a 'yes' round a mouthful of hot food.

A slice of pie and two cookies later, all washed down with a cup of strong tea and honey, Derufin tottered back toward the stable with the assist of Ruby and Buttercup at the insistence of Cook. ‘Leave me here,’ he instructed them as they reached the great oak tree near the stable. I fancy a smoke beneath the stars before I go in.’ He noted their frowning faces in the moonlight, and laughed. ‘You can tell Cook I’ve got my foot up on the bench here, and will go directly to bed when I’m done.’ He waved them off with a firm look on his face.

It was pleasant beneath the stars. The night was warm, his belly was full, and truth be told, he was in no mood to go to sleep just yet. Nor was he really inclined to smoke, either – it was just a convenient excuse invented at the moment to get the two lasses to leave him be.

Derufin leaned his back against the bark of the tree and re-ran the events of the afternoon in his mind. He was concerned about what he had seen and heard in the basement of the Inn, and wanted to puzzle out what few clues he had.