Chapter One:

A SHAKY BEGINNING

The hangover was terrible and the coach ride was not making it any better. The road evidently was not smooth going into the Moot as I felt my stomach rise and fall with every bounce. The inside of the coach was stuff and hot. I could feel the sweat drippings down my back. I drew back the cloth curtain keeping out the dust kicked up by the horses and wheels of the carriage to see the countryside and hopefully get some fresh air. I could see that the road was following a river and across the river, as far as the eye could see there were rolling hills of lush green plants. A few farms with sheep dotted the pleasant countryside. I knew this area of the Empire was called the Moot, and the Halflings controlled it. Few outsiders had ever ventured into this area, not because it was dangerous, but because nothing exciting ever happened in the Moot.

I leaned back into the coach as the dust from the road was making my mouth even drier then the cottonmouth I had from drinking. I remembered from my school days at the Ostland State University, that the Emperor gave the Moot the race of people called the Halflings. These halflings ruled the Moot as their own land but still answered to the Emperor. I wasn’t too sure about the politics but then again no one had ever accused me of being a politician. I wasn’t too sure what a normal halfling looked like. The only halflings I had seen were in human bars or taverns and to be honest I hadn’t really been sober when I had seen them. I was told that halflings looked like plump little human children, so I guess that the Halflings got their name because they were just that, about half the height of a human.

Another bump and my stomach gurgled and my head pounded. Something solid in my stomach would help calm it down and at the last Coaching Inn, the Ostler told me that I would be in the Moot before sunrise. That had happened awhile ago, and if we didn’t arrive at a Coaching Inn soon, someone was gonna have to clean a mess up.

In fact, good food and drink was one of the main reasons I had taken this job in the Moot. Even I knew that Halflings were known for their excellent cooks. It was rumored that the best chefs in the Empire were all halflings. Only once did I have the pleasure of sampling halfling cooking and that was when I had the pleasure of dining with the Emperor and Elector Count of Middenhiem. If I thought hard enough, I could still taste the filet minion and garlic butter sauce as it had melted in my mouth. My stomach grumbled and began to rebel some.

Of course the other reason, and perhaps the real reason, I had taken this job was that I was broke, flat broke. For the last month, I had been living on borrowed credit from my landlord and I wasn’t sure where I was gonna stay or how I was gonna eat next month. So the arrival of the Moot’s agent couldn’t have come at a better time and the fact that I received a large, well maybe substantial, payment in advance allowed me to clear my debt and come to the Moot to see more about this job.

My contract, which I felt in my breast pocket, also included all of my expenses to be paid. I could remember the most important phrase of my contract, which was Section B, paragraph 1. It stated "any and all expenses, whether directly or indirectly related to said contract, shall be paid by the First Party, also known as "Employer". The Second party, also known as "Employee", shall stay at five star hotel accommodations when staying overnight, shall have a personal coach and four for all travel, and a personal halfling master chef for the duration of employment." At least during this job, I will sleep, travel and eat like an emperor for awhile, and if I can convince the master chef to come back to Altdorf with me, I could live in luxury for the rest of my life. All I needed to do was open a small restaurant with that chef and the money would roll in faster than this coach and four was moving.

Another large jolt brought me back to reality and made my stomach felt queasy. The extra tankards of Bugman’s Brew the friendly dwarfs had bought me last night were coming back to haunt me. Friendly dwarfs, I had to smile at that. Who would have thought that when they had found out who I was, they would pat me on the back like I was some dwarven war hero and order round after round of Bugman’s Brew on their tab too. Finally after too many rounds to count, the dwarfs had to go and I was able to stumble up to my room. The feather bed was very comfortable but unfortunately, the Innkeeper woke me up before the sun rose so that I could get an early start.

The coach began to slow down, so I drew back the cloth curtains to see a small town across the river. The coach and four clacked onto some type of stone bridge and I could see that the river below was moving quite fast. I leaned back in the cushioned seat and wondered about what type of greeting I would get at this town. It had been three years since the incident. Three long years and I had hoped people had forgotten it. Maybe in the Moot they had not heard of it. At least the agent of my new employer had not said anything about it.

The coach lurched to a stop and my stomach began to revolt again. The door swung opened and I looked out into the harsh sunlight. There were no adoring fans or crowds. No bands, no cheerleaders and no boosters. Only the distant noise of the river could be heard. A dog barked in the distance. The only people present were the coach boys, who were standing in front of the wheels so that my new silken blue cloak, a gift from my new employer, did not get mud on it.

I stepped out of the coach and into the sunlight. My head whirled and my stomach finally rebelled. I puked onto the cobbled stone road. When my stomach calmed down and my head stopped spinning, I looked up and around at the coaching boys. After my eyes adjusted, I could see that the coaching boys were standing at attention and making it obvious that they were not looking at me.

Still leaning over I shaded my eyes with my hands, and croaked to the closest boy, "Where is everyone?"

"My lord," said one of the trembling coaching boys.

"Sorry, I ain’t a lord, boy." The boy was even small for a human boy. Probably about two feet tall and weighed about 50 pounds. "Now where is everyone?"

"Sir, everyone is at the town meeting right now," said the boy still trying to avert his eyes from me. Great, so no one was here to greet me and tell me where to go or what to do. I need to lay down or get some food quickly.

"Fine, so where do I stay?" I stood straight up and dusted off my doublet. My head swam a little bit but my stomach remained calm.

"Right here in the Coaching Inn, sir," answered the nervous boy and pointing at the building in front of me. "I am told that you have the whole third floor for yourself." He seemed very impressed with that.

I looked up at the Coaching Inn. It seemed like a normal three-story building made of wood that would have fit right in at Altdorf.

"Right, so get my stuff off the coach and put it in my room." I guessed I’d better tip the little guy. "Here take this, youngster." The gold crown was probably worth the boy’s whole month salary, but I had a bunch more gold crowns and even letters of credit in my chests thanks to my employer.

"Thank you, no thank you sir," the boy said as he refused to take the coin offered. "It is an honor and a privilege to serve you."

"Right then," I raised an eyebrow at the boy and tucked the coin back in my pocket, "so am I to wait here until the meeting is over?" I looked around and didn’t see anyone else around. The peace and quite was really helping my hangover.

"I can take you to your room first sir," stammered the boy nervously, "then I will run and tell everyone you are here while you freshen up."

"Sure, lead the way." I picked up my small personal chest from inside the coach and put it under my arm. The boy and the coachmen took down the numerous chests and began to carry them into the coaching Inn. I looked at the sign hanging outside the coaching inn, it had a picture of a Black Rooster on it and the sign read "The Black Rooster, established 1066."

****Will Post More Later If Someone Likes It.