Wilson and Aella rode into the small village of Riverdell, which lay on the southern edge of the Xol District. The cobbled main street held court to only a double handful of buildings. As they tied their mounts in front of the tavern, a tall, wiry young man stepped out. His face broke out into a giant, infectious grin that made Aella smile in spite of herself. "Wilson!" he said.

Wilson looked up from where he was rummaging in his saddlebag. "Dev!" he yelled in return.

The two hugged and patted each other's back excitedly.

Dev stepped back and looked Wilson up and down. "It's been a long time, Wil."

Wilson nodded. "Three and a half years." He looked at Dev. "You look good. How’s your dad?" he asked.

Dev smiled. "Ornery as ever." He glanced at Aella.

"Oh, Dev. Sorry," Wilson pointed at Aella. "This is my squad mate, Aella. She and I trained together at the Collegium." Wilson looked over at Aella, "Aella, this is Devon, the local excuse for a Brew Master’s Assistant."

Dev laughed with him. "Actually, Wil, last year Dad promoted me. Now I am the Head Brew Master."

"Really," Wilson said with a sly grin. "Then let's get in there and see if you are worth your title."

They walked in the swinging door and Devon led them over to the far table. A mahogany affair with various marks of well-worn age, the square table sat behind a slight divider that made it a semi private table. It was the only one like it in the small tavern.

Wilson smiled as he looked around the tavern. "It looks great, Dev. How's business?" he asked.

Devon's smile turned a bit sour. "Baron Doomstill keeps making it hard for a decent businessman to survive. Keeps raising taxes." He pointed at Aella, "Sit there, Aella. Any friend of Wil deserves a good seat. With what you probably have to put up with, working with Wil, it is only proper I get you fed some decent food. Would you like some stew or the lamb chops?" he asked.

Aella smiled. "Lamb chops would be perfect. Wil hasn't quit talking about the lamb chops since we left camp."

Wilson laughed as he sat down. " I told you not to say anything, Aella. It'll give Dev a swollen head. If it gets much bigger, I'll have to tell him to quit dating my sister."

Dev blushed and walked into the kitchen.

After a few moments, Dev walked back out balancing three plates on his arm and carrying three mugs in his hands. He set them on the table with practiced ease. "Dig in, there's more where that came from."

After a few minutes of satisfied eating, Dev cleared his throat. "Wil, I'm sorry about your mom. It was sudden like. No one even knew she was sick."

Wilson put down his fork and knife. "Tell me what happened, Dev."

"Nine days ago, your sis came in to drop off the honey for the mead and told me that your mom had come down with a fever that morning. We talked for a few minutes, but she left soon after. I could tell she was worried." Dev set his fork down and pushed his chair back a bit. "Next morning, she came in crying something fierce. Said that your Mom had passed in the night."

The Black Oak Sword

Chapter 1: Part 1

Chapter 1: Part 2

Chapter 1: Part 3

Chapter 2: Part 1

Chapter 2: Part 2

Chapter 3:Part 1

Chapter 3:Part 2

Chapter 3:Part 3

Chapter 4:Part 1

Chapter 4:Part 2

Chapter 5

© 2017, Stone Golem Publishing

**All pictures used are labeled for reuse. They come from Max Pixel

Follow @bigpanda for more flash fiction.