“My good man Horn”, Gabrey said. “I did not live four years in that dungeon, surviving on naught but rats and dripping water, to give up here. If there is one thing I will never do, it is give up. If there is one thing that my life has taught me, it is that life is always worth living. Even if there seems no place for me to belong, even if the world has turned against me, I will still struggle on, I will find my happiness, or I will make it. Now that that has settled, lets have a look at your catch, eh? Share me some fish and a safe night’s rest, and I shall take you into the castle. I recall its ins and outs clearly now, and I’m sure the treasury still has a jewel or two worth salvaging. That should pay nicely for all the trouble I would cause you.”
Horn seemed to not have heard anything. He was struck by the words Gabrey had begun with. Gabrey could see the old man’s brows knitting together, trying to gauge whether his words had been sound or were just empty naivety.
“Me lord”, Horn said, “forgive me for this, but I fear your words are foolish. No one here will allow you to live a life of joy. This kingdom is not what it once was”-
Gabrey interrupted Horn, “My good man. My life is mine to live. It is mine to discover joy and protect it. Let them come I say, they will not find my spirit so easy to conquer. Joy is always present, Horn, you just need to be prepared to struggle for it.”
“Forgive me lord”, Horn said, “perhaps I had misjudged you.” Gabrey took a hard look at the old man then, but it seemed that any hints of doubt had gone from his face. He smiled. “Let us dine here, on the river bank”, Horn continued. “It would be foolish for us to head to my hut without you regaining your strength.”
Horn took a small metal pan and a knife from his pack, set the pot down and began skinning his catch, two moderately large river trout. His hands, were quick and deft, no doubt due to years of practice. He cleaned the meat with water from a gourd, then set it down upon the pan, built the fire, and sprinkled on some pepper and dried herbs from his pack. Gabrey watched him work.
They had their meal just as the stars were coming up. They finished in silence, with Gabrey relishing each bite. After four years on rats, this hastily prepared fish was heaven on a plate. Once they finished, Horn gathered up his things and said “We should set out now, my lord. My hut is a half dozen hours away, at the edge of Baek Town. We must keep to the shoreline lest we lose our way or risk meeting wolves on their nightly prowl. Patrol riders are rare this far away from town, but it would not hurt to be alert.” Gabrey nodded his understanding, and off they set.
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