Roald pushed back the flap of the large tent and stepped inside. He didn't need to announce himself as he knew that his boss, Salem, had heard him approach. Roald muttered a good morning and Salem waved a hand in greeting. The man was quite a few years younger than Roald but he had proven his capabilities to him several times. Roald had always had a bit of an issue with authority but Salem was different. He was passionate, driven and most importantly to Roald, he was strong. He always wondered about the mask Salem wore. Roald had never seen him without it but it wasn't important enough to him to ask. The tent was simply furnished with a small writing desk and chair, a simple cot and a work bench on the opposite end. The work bench was covered in what Salem had told him was 'alchemy supplies'. All Roald knew about it was that Salem used herbs and things to make medical supplies, and when they needed it, poison.

Now Salem sat behind a small desk mulling over some papers and Roald pulled up a chair to the other side of the desk, Salem raising his head only slightly to look at him.

"We didn't find any signs of anyone last night." Roald said and Salem nodded setting down the letter he had in his hands. Last night Salem had told Roald that someone was watching their meeting. Roald insisted on looking for the trespasser but Salem had assured him he would find nothing.

"I didn't think you would" Salem said tapping a finger on his desk. "They sent someone faster than I thought." 

"You saw a Ranger?" Roald asked "Then we should go after them" Salem shook his head.

"He's long gone by now." Salem replied "I'll have to go out and look for his camp." He straightened the papers on his desk "It's not a problem. Judging by my crowd last night you've had good luck?"

"Baz and Lem have had good luck" Roald said "I don't do the talking" Salem knew his larger companion was less of a talker than he was a man of action.

"We should be ready to make a move soon." Salem said, half to himself. "Our men to the south still have full control over the castle. Seems no one has noticed yet."

"I told ya" Roald said "When your Baron is a good for nothing lump on a log no one takes much notice when they don't do nothin" Salem chuckled, shuffling through his papers and grabbing another letter and tapped his pen thoughtfully on the desk.

"I suppose you were right" Salem responded "That makes taking this good for nothing Baron out of his seat a bit easier." Salem had always appreciated his large companions input. He knew too well his habit of overthinking things and Roald tended to put things into perspective for him, helping him act more decisively.

"Maybe. Folks have been sayin that guards have holed up in the castle. No one really goin in or out" Roald was fiddling with a paperweight on the desk, a polished river stone. "We need a bit more man power for somethin like that."

"I'll handle it" Salem said "Guards can't function well without their leader after all." Roald shrugged and assumed his boss must have a plan. That was another thing Roald liked about the young man. He wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty. "Any new arrivals of note in the town?" Roald scoffed.

"Just a pair of Jongleurs" Roald said and Salem stopped what he was doing to look at his companion "Right annoying pair. Don't know when to shut up"

"Jongleurs?" Salem asked "What did they look like?" Roald shrugged again

"Didn't pay much attention" He was surprised Salem was interested, he didn't think they were two important. "Scrawny pair, man and a woman" He scratched his chin as he tried to recall the pair of entertainers. "The man played one of those funny lute things and the woman was a dancer. She was a bit feisty too, almost stood up to me. Baz wouldn't shut up about her 'pretty blue eyes' till I threatened to knock him senseless" Salem stood up from his chair and Roald sat up straight as Salem paced across the tent. "Are they a problem? Should we run em off?"

"Go back to the tavern tonight." Salem said. "Get me a good description of them. Have Lem sketch them out for me." Roald raised an eyebrow at the young man and set down the paper weight.

"You think you know 'em?" Roald asked. He had a feeling his boss had something on his mind.

"I certainly hope not." Salem replied.

-

The day went by smoothly enough. Will and Lea drew in a decent crowd now that the town was used to their presence and Horace was having a good time chatting with the locals. None of them wanted to tell him about the goings on in the town but that wasn't surprising. Even with Horace being friendly and approachable he was still a Knight. The three old men that like to sit near the hearth took a particular liking to Horace and kept offering to buy him drinks. Horace would politely refuse but he did play a few lively games of spades with the old men. Will noted that while the large Knight was present the man named Olly didn't cheat like he had a few nights ago.

Around lunchtime Will and Lea were taking a break. They were sitting at the bar eating watching Horace lose another game of spades against the old men and hearing the rather contagious laughter that followed. The two talked amongst themselves about their plans for the evening performances when Halt entered the tavern and walked up to sit at the bar, striking up a friendly conversation with Barley. Whenever he put in his order and Barley turned away, Halt slid a folded piece of parchment under Will's plate. Will took it and slipped it into his pocket.

Halt left the tavern after his meal and the day continued into the night with the dinner rush coming into full swing. Will and Lea had full control over the crowd again tonight and Horace had found himself with a group of working men enjoying their after shift drinks. Everything was going smoothly and Lea was making her rounds around the floor asking patrons for a dance. She pulled the young waitress Lorie for a quick dance and noticed she was waiting on her group of friends that Lea had talked to a few days prior. She let Lorie get back to work and the youngest boy Jory, Lea guessed he was about 14,  asked Lea for a dance and she obliged, letting the young man lead her to the open area in front of the hearth. Before they could finish their dance however, the tavern door swung open the same as it had the night before. Same as before the tavern grew quiet, Lorie jumped as the door hit the wall and Barley called her back behind the bar, telling her to go into the kitchen.

Roald, Baz and Lem walked through the tavern and Will and Lea eyed them as they walked through to the bar. Roald didn't spare them a glace but Will saw Lem studying them. Across the tavern Horace watched the men, his drinking friends didn't seem too happy the music had stopped and one of them piped up about it.

"Why'd ya stop mintsrel!" He called from their table and Will waved an apology. Roald and Lem sat at the bar while Baz walked over to Lea and Jory.

"No need to stop the music tonight miss." Baz said with a smile that seemed anything but friendly. "I talked to my buddy over there and he said it was all well and good."

"Well I'm blessed to have his blessing" Lea said, a bit cautiously as Baz stepped closer. 

"Only condition is you have a nice dance with me." Baz said and before Lea could respond Jory spoke up.

"She doesn't want to dance with you!" The young man said and Baz looked surprised. "She's dancing with me right now!" Will watched Jory's older brother Joseph leave his seat and make his way through the tables.

At the bar Roald had noticed Horace, and Horace had noticed him, the two men glaring at each other as Lem sat next to the large man, scribbling in a notebook.

A sour look crossed Baz's face covering the superficial smile and Will spoke up now to relieve some tension.

"Now you can't just steal a dance from this young man." Will said cheerfully "He worked so hard for it! You'll have to wait your turn like everyone else." Baz didn't seem to like that and turned towards Will.

"I don't recall asking you music man" Baz retorted in a harsh tone and Lea shoed the younger boy back into the crowd towards his brother. Baz turned back towards her. "So about that dance sweetheart"

"Like my partner said," Lea replied evenly "You'll have to wait your turn like everyone else."

"Now don't be like that!" Baz said, the feigned smile returning. Lea took a step back as he took another step towards her and pulled her hands to her chest. Outwardly it seemed like a defensive move, but she was reaching for the knife in her sleeve. Before Baz could approach any further a voice called out from across the tavern and he turned towards the source.

"It sounded like she said no." Horace had stood up from his seat and his new found buddies uttered a wave of encouragement. Baz was about to retort when he caught a glimpse of the longsword at the man's side. The uniform he wore marked him as a Knight. Baz was plenty confident in his brawling ability, but anything larger than a dagger never felt right in his hands. He put up his hands in defeat and backed away from Lea, she slipped her knife back into her sleeve and put her hands down. 

"Alright alright" Baz said quickly, looking towards his companions "We don't want any trouble with a Knight. Do we boys?" Horace looked at the two companions. Lem didn't look up from his notebook and Roald turned to glare at the Knight again and stood up. "R-Right Roald?" Roald sneered at the Knight and nudged Lem with his elbow and gestured for Baz to move towards the door. 

The three trouble causers left the bar and Horace stayed standing as they left, Roald giving him one last glance before he slammed the tavern door shut.