Jasper of Moline

chapter four

He got up at first light, at the sound of birds chirruping. The fire he made the night before had long since died out. He reached for his sword that was inside it’s scabbard.

He got up, brought out the sword and began to wield it. One could say he danced, not actual dance, but his movements were so fluid, his steps so balanced, it was easy to think of a dance. sweat ran down his back, as the first light of morning came and still he kept at it, with sheer determination pushing at his body tirelessly, even though a voice at the back of his head reasoned with him to take it easy. He would, he reasoned back, when he was satisfied. But the more pushed, the harder it was for him to drop the sword.

Eventually he did, he listened to his body and he did, and did his best to not be frustrated with himself. 

He fell to his knees and panted, his hand clutching his sword, his eyes cast down to the ground.

“ Dear God,” He breathed out, “ For you. always for you.” 

He stayed in that position until he got back his strength, although how he stayed there he wasn’t sure, but got up at the first pang of hunger. He still had some food his mother had packed from the day before. He said grace and dug into the meal ravenously, his sword beside him the entire time. He had learnt from time past to keep it ever close to him at all times, as much as he could. Evil never rested, He had discovered.

He walked to the stream and stripped down in order to wash off the sweat. when he got out and was dressed, he ran his hand through his day worth of beard. he’d grow it out, he wasn’t much for growing his beard, but he thought keeping a clean shaven beard would hardly at the top of his priority list.

“Ah well.” He said to hiself as he picked up his rucksack. “ah well.” he said again, and got going.

He walked for a few hours and came across a tavern, and that was when he realised he was hungry, he looked up and  the dark clouds forming,

" storm's coming." he muttered to himself. he was going to need to find shelter and wasn't sure if to keep going and look for that shelter or enter into the tavern and then wait for the storm to pass, that is, if it came while he was still in the tavern. He decided on the latter, given that he was hungry.

He walked into the tavern and was greeted by the smell of food, and stranger who spoke in hushed tones. He looked around and spotting the counter, headed for it. His hat still in place, he was happy for the little disguise, although he didn't people really knew who he was in this place anyway. 

He sat on the stool, that laid available and waited for the waited to come to him,

" what can I get you today, kind sir?" the man behind the counter asked, as he dried the inside of a tumbler, his face a cheery picture of grace,

" ah, what's your specialty?" the man's face lit up some more, if that was even possible,

" Today, we have the 'pig's in blanket. have that, and we throw in a free jar of booze." Jasper nearly laughed, 

" Fine by me." He replied, and the man winked.

" c'ming right up." and he left to go get Jasper's meal. Jasper reached for his pocket and brought out a pouch of gold. To him, money wasn't going to be the problem, it was where he was going to spend the money that he felt would be the problem, brought he tried to trust that God would provide. on all accounts.

He brought a gold coin from the pouch and put the rest back in his pockect. and started drumminng a bit with his fingers as he waited for his food. He gazed around the place and noted some dark parts of the room that made him think of hoodlumsand dark business deals. He thought the palce would be packed at night, he wasn't why he felt that way, But was brought back to the matter hand when a voice caught through his thoughts,

" Order's up!" the waiter hollered, and placed a plate of food in front of him that made his mouth water and his belly dance, he dropped the Jar of beer beside it, and said something about 'good food and happy stomachs.'

Jasper only nodded as he handed him the gold coin, he didn't the surprise the waiter's face as he bowed his head, said a short grace and began eating, doing a good job at making his stomach happy