Hobb rested his head in his palm.
- I know, I shouldn't have assumed that you couldn't slip through unnoticed - he leaned closer again - And where is that road?
For a second Mest contemplated what to answer.
- Sorry Hobb, but are you sure you want to know? I think it's safest if I don't tell you. I don’t want anyone to find out where this road is and figure that it’s time for some adventuring. Otherwise I don’t think anyone would find it by themselves anyway. Don't get me wrong, my friend, I don't mean to say you'd tell the world, but you can always drop a careless word. As I said, I'm convinced there's no danger from there. Just have an eye on the wilderness as you always had, and all will be well.175Please respect copyright.PENANAG9DCXAvrl0
Hobb silently digested what he heard for a while. He nodded with a serious expression.
- I understand what you are saying and I accept it, but I'd still rather you told me. Not because I doubt your word. If you say there is no danger from there, then I believe you. But what if we should ever need that road...?175Please respect copyright.PENANAhSijtikpjO
Mest rubbed his stubble again, wondering. He pondered his friend's words for a few seconds, then sighed.
- You convinced me. All right. But it’s easier to draw it. Do you have some kind of paper and ink here?
- Of course.
Hobb pulled out a heavy creaking drawer from under the counter. After some rummaging, he placed in front of Mest a slightly yellowed, crumpled sheet of paper and a small jar of ink, into which he dipped a long bird feather.
Mest picked it up and began to draw swiftly. He worked for several minutes. He drew many small details, directions, road markings, little figures of rocks and trees with their characteristic appearance, while occasionally puffing the leaf hanging from his mouth. Sometimes he added short, small-lettered descriptions of important places, while others he marked with numbers and explained their significance on the other side of the page. Hobb watched his guests with a keen eye, lest someone should happen to see the map and start asking questions. Mest blew on his creation, and the ink quickly dried. He handed the finished work to Hobb, who ran his eyes over it in a few moments before hastily folding it up.175Please respect copyright.PENANAMgAIiWimJ0
- I see that it indeed is difficult to find the way, even with a map. 175Please respect copyright.PENANA2GczK3DJjV
- Put it in a place where even you can hardly find it.175Please respect copyright.PENANASFrnXDfE8S
- Understood my friend, and thank you. I'll keep it for now - he slipped the folded sheet of paper deep into his vest pocket - Is there anything else important I should know?
- Let me see... Maybe one thing. If the road leads to the same place where I came from, it doesn't hurt if you can swim.
Hobb thoughtfully tapped a keg, this time serving himself as well.175Please respect copyright.PENANA6N8jpLtyN0
- I have to wash down all this excitement with something. Cheers!
The wooden jugs knocked dully.
After a few sips, Hobb sighed deeply and contentedly.
- Ah, that feels good. I seemed odd that none of the guards had accompanied you here. They tend to be very suspicious of latecomers, and that’s the way it should be. Especially since you came from the forest... no one ever comes from that way. And you've got the suspiciousness of a dozen people anyway.175Please respect copyright.PENANAGRK54PzfHO
- Thank you, I take that as a compliment.175Please respect copyright.PENANAjrPawbi2Sq
A bluish-white light flashed across the room, followed by a loud thunder. The noise in the inn died down. Concerned murmuring sounded from the tables. Mest sighed.
- I thought the rain had hit me hard enough, but I see the worst is yet to come.
Hobb frowned and shook his head.
- That's strange... and unsettling.
- What's the matter?
The mood in the inn turned gloomy. The guests watched as the light from the street lamps danced through the windows. Outside, the storm grew fiercer by the minute.
- We always have pleasant, spring-like weather. Sometimes there is a light shower, but it soon blows over, and then we have sunshine and rainbows, like in a fairytale. That is why we have such a bountiful harvest. Such storms we haven’t seen since our life got better here, only before that, and that worries me. I don't want the old days to come back.175Please respect copyright.PENANA0k6jCDHbrV
Mest rested his chin on his hand.
- From where I came from it was only drizzling, but by the time I got here I was soaked. I must admit there were unusually black clouds rolling in from the east and I haven't seen such far-reaching lightnings in a long time. It's going to be quite a downpour here.
Hobb shook his head again.
- Do you have any idea why this is happening? I mean, it really shouldn’t be like this... Why now?175Please respect copyright.PENANAWtSnNQkeLh
Mest let out a puff of smoke. He watched it drift away, wondering.
- No idea.
- Damn this rain – Hobb grumbled as he began to take out his anger on a plate with his rag.
They remained silent for a while. Mest pondered the faint glow of the embers flickering at the end of the leaf. They almost faded away when suddenly a tiny flame flared up, casting a yellowish reflection in his eyes. Again the silky smoke traced a thin path towards the ceiling.175Please respect copyright.PENANANXzKE0VJu9
- Hey Mest, how do you always find your way? How did you come...from who knows where to us? Especially since you came by roads unknown to you too.
- Sixth sense.
- It's like the thing with the fresh air, huh? - he waved his rag again - Why I bother asking.175Please respect copyright.PENANAlNaK6IxFjJ
Mest laughed softly.175Please respect copyright.PENANA46qCumv6Eo
- I admit it was luck this time. I was on my way here in the first place, but I still had a long way to go. And then I stumbled upon this little hidden path. Although I had to scratch my head a bit before I realised where I was.175Please respect copyright.PENANAcgI9JRU5HK
- Mhm, I get it. You'd rather be lured by some unknown road than continue your journey here. Who knows where you might have ended up.
- Don't take it personally, man, you know how it is. My curiosity gets the best of me and I jump into every dark hole to see where it leads. You can imagine how happy I was when I saw that of all the countless shards it led to this one.175Please respect copyright.PENANATWCtdE9VEH