“Please feel welcome in my home. It is about as safe as a place can be in this age,” Gunther said invitingly, turning to face the four. “Let me show you where you will sleep. Soon you will eat your fill, though I have only a humble fare, and then you will rest.”
Lee was more than ready to take the woodsman up on both offers. Even Erin seemed not to be overly bothered about the rather stark nature of their surroundings, or at least she kept any misgivings to herself. Under other circumstances, Lee had no doubts that a pompous veneer would have shined forth from the young woman.
“This way,” Gunther remarked.
He gestured towards the staircase, as he moved forward and led them up to the second level loft. It was difficult to make out all of the features in the upper room, but enough light leaked in to reveal that it was fairly barren.
At present, there was just one rather plain, straw-filled mattress, with a rough-spun woolen blanket heaped atop it, and a couple of hides set to one side. Gunther walked over to the end of the room opposite the top of the stairway, and pulled forth several more coverings out of a deep pool of shadow, mostly turning out to be hides.
“It may not be the most in comfort that you may find within this world, but for now you will have to make use of it,” he said, indicating the skins. “I cannot say I was prepared for several visitors, but I have accumulated some extra hides which you may use for warmth, and to cover the floor surface. You may use the mattress as well… though it is for you to decide who amongst you will do so. For the time being, I will sleep below.”
He then bid them well, and informed them that he would see to the preparation of the evening meal. Exiting down the stairs, Gunther left them to their own devices, as he turned his attentions to stoking a fire in the cold hearth.
The others remained silent as they quietly listened to Gunther bustling about the hearth below.
“Not the best I’ve had, I’d say,” joked Lynn in a low voice, looking around the room. Walking to the edge of the room’s central area, she looked up at the square opening above them, before glancing down upon the cooking hearth on the first level. Lee casually strode over and joined her.
He looked up to the ceiling as well. There was a raised square of timber positioned just above the roof opening, designed to deflect the bulk of any rains out, while allowing smoke from the hearth below to exit.
“I would have to agree,” Ryan stated, as he drew up next to Lee, resting his hands on his hips while he looked around. “I come from a poor family, but our little house was a mansion compared to this.”
“Well, I don’t know about you all, but right now I could use some rest, at least until there is some food to be had,” Lee said, as he turned and walked away from the opening.
He pulled one of the large animal skins that Gunther had brought out over to an open space. Lee spread it out along the rough wooden boards that formed the flooring, and lay down upon its surface. He immediately made a little grimace, shifting about as his sore, tired body adjusted to the unforgiving floor surface. He moaned, “Ooohh… I think this is going to take some getting used to.”
He rolled his head to the side, looking to see what the others were doing.
With little hesitation, Erin all but dived down upon the straw mattress. A triumphant look was splayed across her face as she stretched out. “I will take this one. Called it first.”
Lee saw the irritated looks crop up on the faces of Lynn and Ryan, and also observed that Erin was alert enough to take account of them as well. “For the time being,” she quickly added, suddenly seeming a little abashed at her own rash impetus.
“Good diplomacy, Erin,” Lynn said, with a noticeable edge to her voice, as she followed Lee’s example in pulling out another large skin and claiming a spot on the open flooring.
“Wonder where that door downstairs, in the back, goes to,” Erin stated from where she lay, looking back towards the staircase.
“Who knows? Maybe we’ll find out after we get a little of our strength back,” Lynn said.
“I’ll go with that,” Ryan said, unleashing a wide yawn as he dragged a skin over, laying claim to some space that was close to the central opening.
“Be careful,” Lynn said, watching Ryan lie down. “There’s no railing there.”
Ryan smirked, and retorted sarcastically, “I think I’ll be fine… but thank you for your concern, Mother…”
Lee chuckled. If Ryan tumbled over the edge, he would not fall terribly far, and would likely be rewarded with a nice singe. All the same, Lee was not too worried over the likelihood.
Letting their bodies relax, and looking forward to dinner, the full effect of fatigue began to descend upon the four.
Before very long, the first tendrils of smoke wafted up through the opening in the center of the floor, accompanied by a glow of light. Shortly thereafter, the scents of something cooking over the hearth reached up to Lee from beneath. It was enough to make his mouth water, but not enough to rouse him.
Despite the discomforts, all four had drifted into sleep by the time that Gunther unmercifully awoke them with a rather forceful greeting. Lee jerked awake, feeling immediately as if his aching body had begun to turn into stone. He felt the series of cricks in his stiff neck as he turned his head to look towards Gunther.
“Come on, get up now! Evening meal is ready!” the woodsman told them, with little expression to his face. He stood at the top of the stairs, and did not depart until he was sure that they were all waking up.
Many winces and groans were elicited from the four newcomers, as they slowly sat up, stretched, and tried to dispel the greatly increased degree of soreness in their bodies. Lee’s muscles throbbed with the rigidity caused by napping upon the hard floor surface.
Lee grimaced further as he arched his back, filling the air with some audible pops and cracks. Seeing Ryan’s mirthful grin as the youth eyed him, he responded in jest, “You find it funny, don’t you? Time is merciless, and will be my avenger, which I guarantee you will discover someday.”
“I’ll enjoy the here and now, you don’t get out of it that easy,” Ryan retorted. “Come on, Lee, it’s time to eat.”
With a little effort, they all got to their feet and went back down the stairs to the first level.
Gunther had set up the room for the meal. There were a couple of narrow wooden trestles, resting upon plain stools. A few other three-legged wooden stools had been pulled up for the guests to sit on.
A few bowls made of undecorated pottery were sitting upon the wooden planks, filled with a steaming pottage. A large hunk of dark bread rested by each bowl. A small wooden bowl held a full portion of some kind of nuts. A clay jug finished out the general arrangement, next to which was a trio of wooden cups.
“I do not have many drinking vessels, so you will have to share what I do have. It is not the offering of a lord or king, but it will fill you up and bring strength back to you,” Gunther said without apology.
The others took their seats at the various stools. Erin stared down at the bowl in front of her.
“Does this have meat in it?” Erin said, wrinkling her nose slightly.
Lee listened with amusement, knowing what was about to come.
“Oh yes, and you are very fortunate, as it is some of the best western boar that you can find in these woods. It is the same quality of boar that a great thane would be proud to have served to honored guests in a longhall. And it is all I have until I get to attempt another hunt, which you and your friends interrupted. I admit that what I had left is a bit salty, as I had to store what remained from my last hunt, before I left on the sojourn that ended up with finding all of you.