Kared's Children - Chapter 11

Karec arrived shortly after the others had awoken, guards in escort at his side. Dressed in simple clothes, he wore a pack and floppy hat, and carried a walking stick taller than he was. The guards retreated deferentially at the door of the house, where other guards waited. Karec ignored them all while he leaned his stick against the wall next to the door and knocked.

Piskin answered, wearing a thin shirt and pants. From what Karec could tell, he may have slept in them. "Chairman Karec! Good morning!"

Karec removed his hat. "Good morning. Piskin, I believe?"

Piskin grinned and retreated into the house. "That’s a nice hat you’ve got, Chairman Karec."

Karec entered. "Call me Karec, please."

"Then you may call me Chairman Piskin." Piskin eyed the guards outside, then closed the door behind them and led the Chairman, who soared above Piskin the way the stick soared above his white head, into the front room where the others had piled their equipment.

Karec eased his pack from his shoulders and set it near the others. "Chairman Piskin. I like it. So it was as easy as that to pass the responsibility?"

"Someone has to be in charge." Piskin waited by the door. "Just do me a favor: tell the others you’ve given me your authority." He took Karec into the kitchen, where the morning sun was shining through paned windows and Dox and Morgan were puttering around, preparing breakfast.

"Ah, Karec. Good morning!" Morgan held plates in his hand, some sort of pewter.

Karec appraised the other; Morgan was dressed like Piskin, but with a leather tunic. "Good morning, Morgan. You look ready for adventure."

Morgan took the plates into another room. "Well, you know, we have a heritage to live up to."

Piskin peeked around Dox’s shoulder. "You two are brothers?"

"Our father was Karec Stonen," Morgan said.

Piskin grinned up at Dox. "The brothers on our little escapade are going to take over, big fellow."

Dox smacked at him with a wooden spatula. "Let us hope they can help make breakfast as easily."

Piskin winked at Karec. "Don’t mind him. I had to get a special decree before he’d even let me into the kitchen while he was cooking."

Karec still was standing by the door. "Is there something I can do?"

"You can help me set the table," Morgan said, coming back into the room. "That seems to be permissible."

Dox was stirring something briskly, his big arms working quickly. "We don’t usually ask our guests to work."

Karec followed his brother into the adjoining room, where Raven was clearing the table of maps and other papers. "Good morning, Chairman."

"Karec, please."

"Better not let Piskin hear that. He’ll claim the title and make us all calling him Chairman."

Karec arranged goblets. "I think he’s already accepted the position."

"We’re in for it now." Raven stuffed some papers onto a small, narrow shelf. "Just set the stuff however. We’re pretty informal."

Karec edged around the table. "A good day to be traveling."

Raven yawned as he scooped up parchments. "How can you tell? It’s so early yet."

"I thought everyone here did their work at night."

"Yesterday we made the mistake of sleeping all night." Raven stuffed the parchments next to the papers. "It’s messed up my sleeping patterns."

Karec offered Raven another parchment. "You could ask Morgan to tell you one of his history stories. That would put anyone to sleep."