By the time Halt and Horace rode into town it was nearing supper time. They rode up to The Hollowed Goard and Horace rubbed his stomach.

"This place smells like they've got some good cooking" Horace said as he dismounted Kicker and tied his reigns to the pole.

"Is my cooking not good enough for ya anymore?" Halt said, side eyeing the young man who was paying him no mind. He set Abelard's reigns over the pole.

"I wouldn't say that." Horace said. "You know how adventurous my stomach is." Halt rolled his eyes to heaven.

"More like bottomless." Halt muttered to no one in particular as he patted Abelard on the neck. As they got ready to head inside they could hear a jumpy tune coming from the tavern and Horace couldn't help but smile. He always loved hearing Will play and when Will and Lea sang together even Halt couldn't hide the subtle tapping of his foot.

"We better get a seat before the place fills up. Seem like the entertainment is killing it tonight." Horace smiled at Halt and Halt gestured for his young companion to go ahead.

Walking inside the two were hit with the usual warm air and savory smells of a tavern like this. Additionally they were greeted with a fun bouncy tune about an old man and his goat which always had some of the most crowd participation. Though they didn't appear to look his way, Horace smiled at his friends across the tavern. He knew they saw him. Halt sat them down in the back corner nearest the entrance.

Naturally both Will and Lea saw them come in and as Lea worked her way around tables, encouraging patrons to sing along and participate she glance by Halt and Horace's table. "Keep an eye on the door." She said softly in passing and then was on her way again.

Of course, she didn't need to tell Halt to watch the door. He was already doing that, but she told him that they were expecting something, which gave him something to look for.

The waitress came over and took their drink orders, she introduced herself as Lorie and told them if they needed anything to flag her down. Horace thanked her as she walked away and leaned back in his chair. Traveling with Rangers as much as he did he picked up on a few things. Things like looking around without making it obvious you're looking around and making it seem like you were just another face in the crowd. Halt noted Horace's actions and nodded almost imperceptibly at him, but Horace caught it and allowed himself a small grin.

~

About an hour passed and the dinner rush was in full swing now. Will and Lea had begun taking requests from the crowd. Every few songs Will would play a fairly catchy tune and Lea would traverse the crowd for someone to dance with. This particular time she took herself to the back of the crowd to Halt and Horace's table.

"You two have been awfully quiet back here." Lea said cheerfully, smiling at them and she looked at Halt. "You look like you could use a good dance." Horace snickered slightly.

"Me? Oh not me." Halt waved his hands innocently. "Now my son here on the other hand" He jabbed Horace with his elbow. "He's had his eye on a dance all night." Before Horace could protest Lea wrapped her arm around his and scooped him out of his seat. "Isn't that right son?" Horace pushed some air through his lips and resigned himself to fate, letting Lea pull him away towards the open area in from of the hearth.

"You know I have two left feet" Horace said softly as Will got the crowd laughing with one of his many prepared jokes and began a jovial tune, something he thought even Horace could dance too.

"Blame Halt." Lea said with a sympathetic smile. "No one will notice, they're all watching me." She did a flashy spin and her dress twirled a lot more than a normal one would. It was designed that way, to catch the audiences attention.

"I'm guessing you had something to tell Halt." Horace said while doing what could only be described as his best.

"Either of you really." Lea said. "Honestly my main goal was to try to get Halt to dance with me but I figured I better not push my luck." By this point Will had almost the whole tavern singing a jaunty old folksong about a man trying to sell his cows. "Apparently anyone speaking up in defense of the King has been turning up missing rather quickly. Anyone who speaks against these rebels are from what we've heard." Horace nodded. "One of the waitresses, Lorie, said they come in about every other night and ruin the mood around here."

"I'm guessing tonight's that night?" Horace asked and Lea spun around again as Will climbed to climax of the song.

As if in response to Horace, the door of the inn opened and like a ripple effect the taverns enthusiasm died down. Horace stiffened up as three, rather large, men walked in, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword that wasn't there and realizing it was at the table with Halt. Lea saw the motion and moved in line of sight of the newcomers to keep attention off of Horace as he regained his composure.

"Where did everybody go all of a sudden!" Lea said in a cheery voice, appealing to the patrons closest to her. "We were almost finished with the song!"

"Well now I'm going to have to start all over!" Will said dramatically. "I've gone and lost my place!" The three men made their way intentionally slow to the bar, shooting glances at patrons as they passed, no one daring to meet their eye.

"We've got to find our crowd first!" Lea said back to Will. The whitty back and forth was a staple among jongleur partners, no sense in breaking character now. "Seems they've all up and vanished!"

"And what about our newcomers!" Will chimed in. "We didn't see you lot last night!" All the while passively playing a bouncy tune.

"You're right you're right!" Lea said walking across the open area in front of the hearth, she was on the other side of Horace now. "Do you gentleman have any special requests?"

Only one of the three spared her a glance, Lea assumed he was their leader. A rather brawny man with close cut dark hair. He carried a rather hefty axe on his back, arms that suggested he knew how to use it and scars to back up the claims. "I request," he said rather rudely. "That you keep it down." His two companions had already seated themselves at the bar and were waiting for him to join them.

"Now sir that's completely against our job description!" Lea said never breaking character but Horace could see her smile no longer reached her eyes. "But if you have any serious requests while you're here just let us know. We love to improvise!" The man snorted as a very timid laugh came from somewhere in the tavern and walked forward towards her, Will stopped playing.

"I was serious little missy." The man said, he was standing in front of her now and she had to look up to meet his eyes. Horace came up to about his shoulders and the rest of his companions were the same size as Horace. "When we're in here we don't want to hear no music. Understand?" Stubbornness was a common quality among jongleurs and Lea wore it well.

"I do sir, I do." Lea started. "But I can't say that you're the only ones here. And we've all been having a wonderful time tonight." Lea saw out of the corner of her eye that Halt had stood up. "I'm sure you could stand just a few-"

Lea took a half step backwards as the man grabbed his axe and swung it in one smooth motion, the blade digging into the wood at his feet and she heard Will's stool jostle as he stood and Horace grabbed her arm. Lea put up her hands in a defeated motion.

"Alright alright!" Lea said. "I think we get the message." She glanced at Will as Horace let go of her arm.

"Loud and clear. Loud and clear." Will said in the same tone. "I suppose we're turning in early tonight."

"I suppose we are." Lea said as the man retrieved his axe from the floor board and turned back towards his companions who were snickering between each other. Lea noted their faces, the two other men were twins, she wondered how she hadn't noticed before. She turned back towards the crowd who had their eyes on her and Will. "My apologies folks!" She said. "We'll be here tomorrow night as well if you didn't get your fill of us." She made an exaggerated bow that was mirrored by Will and they got a few sparse claps from the crowd. As she walked past Horace she said in a low voice. "Second floor, third on the left. Knock three separate knocks." Horace nodded slightly and made his way back to the table with Halt, who was still standing.

"I believe it's time to head out son." Halt clapped Horace on the shoulder and they left their payment on the table and walked out as Lea and Will walked up the steps towards their room.