"What's going on Brionde, something happened? Why is it you and not your son who bring us the meat? Jho, getting out of the kitchen, asked him.
"This idiot? He broke his ankle slipping on wet wood this morning while hunting. So I had to carry him and the game from the forest to here. Sorry for the delay Jho I did as fast as I could." The hunter replied
"No worries, hope it's not too serious?" said Jho handing him a beer and the money for the meat.
"No, it's not but he will need time to recover and a Lupar like the blonde is probably not going to come back anytime soon.
Whatever, it was sentinels that I saw leaving?" Brionde ask.
"Yes, it was"
"It doesn't bode well"
"You say it"
Bother of them agreed.
Brionde was a man in his fifties, short and had a wrinkled face. He and Jho were good friends. Some say both had been soldiers and fought in the same battalion. But nobody knew if it was true or just gossip that people in the village told each to others. Moreover Brionde was a regular at the tavern. He was the one who picked up Martin when he came out of the forest and brought him here.
"The hunt is going to be more difficult now, I'm getting old and without my son to help me it's going to take me longer.." Brionde told to Jho thinking about his task which was going to be heavier in the following days.
"Why don't you take Martin with you, he's a good guy and he learns fast." Jho asked.
"That fool that venture alone into the forest of the damned! Look at him, he must have never touched a crossbow in his life. I bet you, he's the son of an aristocrat. Some time ago he was as fat as a molduc. You can't be serious? Besides, why do you keep him with you? A stranger like him is going to bring us trouble, I'm telling you."
Jho didn't answer and Brionde understood in his look that he had, as usual, spoken too quickly.
" Hum.. Ok tell your guy to wake up before dawn I'll wait for him in front of the Dent." Brionde finally accept in front of the silence of his friends.
(glup)
"Well I have to go I still have to deliver this birds to the Kendac farm, the women gonna roast them" The hunter said finishing his beer and Brionde left on her way.
Jho when he was going to bring the news to Martin. He wasn't surprised to learn that he was in the kitchen and had heard all the conversation.
'At least that will change a bit my days.' Martin tell to himself.
Nothing particular happened the evening. some farmer come, have a drink and when they were drunk enough they go on there way.
Mitra was already at bed. Only Martin et Jho were left. Cleaning the plates, pots and chops used today.
The tiredness could be seen on both of there faces and after a long silence. Martin asked.
"I hear you talking with Brionde and since a question can't get out of my head. I appreciate all the things that you have done for me but why are you so kind to me. I mean, as Brionde say, I am a stranger and it's not really the type to like stranger around here?"
Jho stay silent for some time. He put away his pans. He filled mugs with beer and motioned for Martin to follow him into the dining room. They sat down near the fireplace where some embers were still glowing.
"You remind me of my son." finally said Jho with a sad look.
"Your son? I didn't know you had a son." replied Martin
"He is dead, he and my wife were once attacked by a monster. One that came out of the forest while they were walking around the fields near where you were found. Monsters rarely come out of their forest. But this day, nobody knew why, one of them ventured here. Maybe because of the hunger or simply because of their madness."
He paused then spoke again
"My son's body has never been found and for my wife's... Mitra was still a baby so she has no memory of it. When Brionde brought you back here from such a terrible place, I think I mistook you for him. He should have your age now." Jho told him
Martin, not knowing what to say, stayed silent. The two stayed here for a while, not saying anything, taking a sip from time to time.
"Go to bed, I'll finish the job. Tomorrow, you will get up early to go hunting in the forest with the grumpy old man." Jho told him
"I hope I'll do well, I've never hunted in my life. Wait! The forest! We go hunting in the forest? He said panicking.
""Don't worry, not the forest you think. Another, safer, one at the west from here. No one go into the forest of the damned. It is far too dangerous." Said Jho who seemed amused by Martin's expression.
Martin got up and went to his room. It took him some time to fall asleep, disturbed by what he had just learned.
Jho went back to cleaning his kitchen. His inn was very dear to him. He had bought it with his wife years ago and since her death he couldn't get rid of it. Sometimes he felt like he still saw her serving when he sees Mitra doing it.
Before the sun rose, Martin woke up, pit his clothes on and joined Brionde who was waiting for him outside.