Chapter 1

Tarsha hurried up the stairs from the cellar to the kitchen of the inn carrying a large barrel of ale that her mother had asked her to go down and grab as all her brothers and sisters were busy. They in turn were helping their father keep track of what was going on in the tavern as well as upstairs making up bed rooms for guests.

She carefully dropped the barrel behind the bar near her father who was waiting to serve up fresh ale. For the moment she had a few minutes to herself to look over the crowd that had descended on them because of the storm that was about to break over their heads. No traveller really wanted to head out and get caught in the storm, especially when the next place to stop was over six marks away, two by floundering the horse.

When business got busy like this, Tarsha always thought that her parents must appreciate the amount of children that they had so there wasn't so much work for them to do.

Ten children to her parents, all twins aged eighteen to ten with another lot on their way. She was the fifth eldest being fifteen along with her twin brother, they came from the third birth. The eldest had just turned eighteen both boys, James and Devid who were continually helping their father keep up with everything in the tavern, the second two both girls, Jazmine and Annabell at seventeen helped their mother in the kitchen and the guest rooms bedrooms, Tarsha and her brother Travis were fifteen and worked as servers attendants in the tavern as well as in the and in the stables, the fourth lot, at thirteen Daniel and Jessica worked morning shifts with their youngest sibs Garry and Karen, who were ten, they carried luggage to rooms and helped serve the morning meal.

None of them complained about the work load knowing that their parents did a lot of the heavier work but they all had shifts that they worked and gladly. It was only between the morning meal and the lunch meal that any of them got a small break to do some learning or teaching for about an hour or two before they were called back into do chores.

"Tarsh" She slipped out of the small resting nook near the bar to where her father stood looking around for her, on her way over she quickly re-braided her raven black hair that had been coming out of its confines.

"Pa?" She raised an eyebrow, her own shift usually finished an hour after sundown, but when-ever there was a crowd the children willingly stayed longer to help out. She knew that her father would be short handed as the youngest sets of twins would already be in bed.

"Go and help Travis in the stables, I heard a few horses ride in." He jerked his head towards the front door. How he ever heard customers was beyond any of them, considering the noise that was being created. He was a good strong man in his late forties, his raven hair was starting to silver at the temples and his dark blue eyes were still as bright as they used to be when he was a child. Most of his children looked like him, raven hair and dark blue eyes, bar the two eldest girls who were as golden as wheat and had pale blue eyes from their mother and Tarsha and Travis who looked like their father but had green eyes from the Grandam.

She nodded and hurried out the side door and dashed across the court yard where wagons were stored overnight and into the stable where Travis was trying to settle down eight horses on his own.

"Help to the rescue." He chuckled when he spotted her coming towards him and handed her two of the horses that he had yet put into stalls. "Not only does it seem that we have merchants and a few nobles tonight but we have Heralds." He nodded off to his right where two men in white stabled their white horses that were known as Companions, which were said to be as smart as a human being and could talk to their partner.

"We haven't had a Herald in these parts for a good two years." She nodded as she unsaddled the nearest horse and quickly groomed him before turning to the next. "I just hope that we don't get anymore customers tonight or we will have no where to put them for the night other then the loft." She commented as she heaved a saddle off a horse and on to a near by rail to dry.

"Excuse me Miss." She turned to the dark brown haired man, brown deep eyes that seemed to see the truth in any matter and dressed in Herald whites. "But do you know where we can find Jacob Mannerly?"

"Behind the bar, Herald." She replied with a faint smile, knowing that she looked tired as she had been working since before dawn. "You will find that the inn is just a little full tonight because of the incoming storm." They all turned towards the inn as the sounds of a fight reached them. "Oh heavens..." She gasped as she dropped what she was doing and ran towards the inn, with Travis at her side. She didn't notice that the Heralds were only a few steps behind them. Then with out a single thought they pushed in through the crowd that was slowly dispersing and grabbed an unconscious body while James and Devid grabbed the other man and dragged them both into a room that they called the sleep tank, where drunks slept. Before returning the tavern room and they immediately began to help right tables and chairs and to sweep and mop up any mess that had been made due to the fight.

"Tarsh, Trav, you can have an hour free..." She saw her father hesitate.

"It's okay pa, we know that you need the help." She smiled at him as her brother Trav and her slipped into the kitchen to grab something to eat.

"Wonder what the Heralds want with Pa." Travis whispered to her when they found an out of the way corner to sit in to eat.

"Don't know, but Heralds always stop in to talk to Pa when they are in the area." Tarsha shrugged as she sipped the soup from a mug. "Where are Jaz and Anna?" She asked her mother when she realised that they were alone in the kitchen.

"They have gone to bed." Their mother replied with a sigh. "They couldn't stay awake any longer."

"Two bowls of stew." James requested as he stuck his head in the door way. "And a loaf of bread." He added before he ducked back out again.

Their mother quickly served up the two bowls and the loaf and handed them to Tarsha.

She carried them out and glanced at Devid who was tending the bar and saw him nod towards the private room that her pa kept for Heralds and Nobles and carried them to the door, she knocked with her foot and waited to be called in. She smiled in thanks as her father opened the door for her and placed the bowls and plate on the table before heading back out to the tavern.

Much to her relief she saw that everyone was finally heading to bed.

"Finally some peace." James sighed as he lent up against the bar a stack of empty plates and mug in front of him that he had been collecting up. "Too bad we can't just all fall into bed." He muttered as he yawned, picking up the dirty dishes and carrying them into the kitchen.

"Shame." Travis agreed shaking off his own yawn. "Gonna go and check on the horses before I head to bed..." He waved tiredly as he headed out the side door.

Tarsha and Devid finished cleaning up the room before slipping into the kitchen where their mother was setting everything into water to be cleaned.

"Leave it, guys." She asked when she saw that they were going to get in and wash them. "I'll do it, I'm awake anyway, and you are all ready to drop."

"Pa will get angry." James shook his head as he began to dry the dishes that Tarsha handed him after giving them a thorough scrub. "You should have been in bed ages ago, just remember what the healer said." He reminded his mother with a stern look.

"Well if you want to help out you can always get married." She smiled at her sons.

"And break up our little happy family and routine?" They both look horrified but she could tell that they were gently mocking her. "None of us boys have found a lady that we like yet, so I am afraid that you are going to have to just put up with us a little longer." Devid sighed in mock sadness.

"Oh you two." She laughed as she began to put away the dry dishes.

As soon as everything was washed, dried and put away she sent her children off to bed before seeing if her husband needed anything else before she too retired to bed.

OOOOOOO

Tarsha yawned as she made her way to the kitchen two hours after dawn, still tired from her long day yesterday, she grabbed herself a quick breakfast as she listened to the report James was giving to their father about the storm that had paused for a moment but many thought that it would return as the dark clouds still hung heavily in the sky.

"Did the yard flood?" He inquired as he ate his porridge quickly.

"No, the drainage system we installed seems to be working." James shook his head.

"Father!" Annabell walked into the kitchen carrying dirty breakfast dishes. "Some of the merchants are going to move on today, they can't wait much longer."

"They will be fools to head out in the middle of the storm." He shook his head, leaving what was left of his meal he headed out to see if he could persuade the merchants to stay until the storm ended. A few moments later he came back shaking his head.

"Travis, Tarsha, saddle up Merchant Johan's horses, he will be leaving as soon as that is done."

Tarsha nodded, mid swallow and followed her brother out to the stables, saddling four horses before leading four others out to be hitched up to the wagon.

"How long before the storm breaks again do you think?" Travis asked his sister as he looked up at the clouds as he finished hitching the horses.

"Maybe two hours." Tarsha replied also looking up. "Possibly three if no winds come along." She looked around to make sure that they had the right horses saddled and saw Johan heading towards them, with his five workers but saw another three men with him.

"Kurit will be leaving also." She heard James call out to her from the kitchen table, shrugging to show that he had only just been told himself.

"Right." She sighed as she ran back into the stable and saddled Merchant Kurit's horse along with his two brother's horses and led them out.

As soon as they were on their way she moved back into the stable to clean out the now vacant stalls and notice that one of the Heralds was grooming his companion while holding a conversation...of which she could only hear his side.

"You're sure that the storm will hold for two hours?" The Herald asked. She smiled slightly as she mucked out the stalls. It wasn't often that Heralds didn't come to Traveller's Rest but when they did she always felt safe and that nothing bad was going to happen. "Ahrodie did you sense that disturbance last night?" She laid out fresh straw in each empty stall before turning to clean out the occupied stalls. "It almost had an echo on it...like there were two different things happening at once."

It was then that she recognized the, dark blonde, blue eyed Herald.

Uncle Dirk, she had always liked it when he had come visited around when she was a little girl because some times Ahrodie the companion, would give her a little ride and always welcomed the apples that she used to sneak out to her. She patted her pockets and chuckled silently as she found an apple in her pocket, she cut it into four pieces and walked up to the companion that had always been her friend, Dirk was bent over and checking her hooves as she held out the piece of apple to her. She stroked Ahrodie's nose as she gulped down the first piece and fed her another. "I didn't see you there." Dirk exclaimed a little startled.

"I wasn't." She shrugged as she fed another piece of apple to Ahrodie. "I was mucking out stalls, but I thought that I recognised Ahrodie...I thought I would see if I was right."

"That you Tarsha?" Dirk blinked in surprise.

"Who else would feed Ahrodie apples?" She smiled as he recognised her. "I'm not surprised that you didn't recognise me, after all it's been close to six years since you last visited." She scratched Ahrodie between the eyes.

"You certainly have grown up." He shook his head a little, chuckling. "Ahrodie says I'm being silly because every child grows up fast."

"It's true." Tarsha nodded, smiling slightly as she fed the last piece of apple to her. "How is Aunt Talia?"

"Busy, as always. But she is in good health." He replied as he put away the grooming brushes. "Your father tells me that your mother is once again with child."

"Yes, the Healer says that it will be twins again." She smiled. "Another few months and we will find out."

"How many of you are there now?" He smiled as he scratched Ahrodie's neck.

"Ten... same as last time you visited. Mother found a way to prevent pregnancy for awhile, she wanted a break." She patted Ahrodie and sighed. "I've chores that I have to get back too, how long are you here for?"

"A few days." Dirk replied with a shrug. "As long as the storm lasts really."

"It will be here for at least three days, if not more." She nodded. "I guess then you will have plenty of time to catch up with the family." She said as she turned to finish cleaning out the stalls.

She had just finished in the stabled, walking into the yard rubbing her aching arms when she felt the air shift and bolted into the inn and signalled James that the storm was about the drop. With in a few moments Trav was beside her near the door helping her raise the removable veranda, so the rain wouldn't splash into the inn, while Annabell closed the shutters on the windows.

"Are all the horses locked in their stalls?" Devid asked as he passed carrying a few mugs of ale. "They might panic when the thunder starts."

"I'll check" Daniel offered and bolted out of the inn before any one could say anything.

"I hope the merchant's got to the next rest stop." Tarsha muttered under her breath, standing at the door and waved at Daniel to hurry. He had just stepped under the shelter when the rain dropped. With in seconds everything was soaking wet and the temperature dropped.

"Close the door Tarsh." Her father called over the din of the customers. "Devid get the fires started" She latched the door but didn't bar it in case the got an unlucky traveller who had gotten caught in the storm. She rubbed her forehead as her head began to ache more then it had before she had seen the storm. She had a bad feeling that this was by no means the worst part of the storm. "You okay honey?" her father asked as she paused at the bar.

"I got a feeling that the worst is yet to come, Papa." She told him quietly. "Usually when a storm breaks my head stops aching but my head is getting worse."

"Maybe a bad blow is coming." He frowned a little as he pulled out two mugs for ale. "You let me know if it hurts too much to keep working, as busy as things are I'm sure that we can cover for you if you want to try and sleep it off." He poured out warmed wine in to the mugs. "Here can you take these to Dirk and his friend in the spare room?"

"Sure." She nodded. "Have they eaten yet?"

"No lunch is only just being served." He shook his head and smiled as Anna carried out a tray with two bowls of hot stew, warm bread, fresh butter and a few slices of roast on it. "For the Heralds?" He asked.

"Yes, they ordered early before every one else." She nodded and set the tray down in front of Tarsha. "Can you handle it on your own?" She asked.

"I'll manage." Tarsha nodded and added the mugs to the tray and easily weaved through the crowd with out spilling a drop and tapped on the door and smiled as Dirk opened the door. "Lunch as ordered." She commented as she slipped into the room and set the tray down on the table. "Would you like anything else before we get really busy?" She asked as she took everything off the tray.

"This isn't busy?" The second Herald asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Oh no, wait until everyone wants lunch at the same time." She shook her head with a chuckle.

"Just a few apples for later, thanks Tarsha." Dirk shook his head. "Is anyone in the stables keeping an eye on the horses?" Dirk asked tilting his head a little as the first rumble of thunder was heard.

"Not yet, but Garry and Jess will be heading over now that the thunder has made its self known." She shook her head. "Give us a wave if you want anything." She added as she slipped out of the room and towards the kitchen as she saw her siblings were going around the tables handing out meals and set a few bowls on her tray with a platter of bread and headed out to help serve.

Once all the customers were served did she get a chance to stop and grab a bite to eat herself and made herself a quick herb brew to help ease her headache before heading back out to collect dirty dishes and serve drinks.

OOOOOOO

By dinner her headache had almost faded to nothing and the worst of the storm had passed.

By two mornings later the storm was gone, leaving the sun to try and dry the flooded ground. It also left her exhausted as most of their customers left an hour after dawn, right after breakfast. Three hours after dawn they were only left with six customers including the heralds, the younger siblings and her mother went right back to bed as soon as the worst of the mess was cleaned up to catch up on lost sleep.

Tarsha was in the middle of cleaning out one of the fires when she heard Dirk talking to her father about heading out after lunch and asking for some food they could take with them. Once the fire place was clean and ready to be lit that night she hurried to the stables to start cleaning the stalls out, ready for the next batch of visitors.

"You look like you are ready to drop." Dirk commented as he came into the stable with a cut up apple for Ahrodie.

"It's been a couple of busy days." She smiled brightly at him as she shovelled in more hay into the cleaned stalls. "The busiest that I remember this place being in a long time. A good few years I think since we were that full." She checked one of the occupied stalls and gave the mare a pat on the neck as she rubbed her nose against her chest. "At least it relieved the boredom that we were all suffering from." She added as she cut up and apple and fed it to the mare and gave the other half to the mare next door.

"Too the extreme I think." Dirk chuckled.

"Tar, Tar" Garry called as he led in a dainty little mare that was looking a little worse for ware covered in mud. "There is a bard in the inn." He told her excitedly.

"Too bad he wasn't here last night." She smiled as she began to remove the mare's tack and set it aside to dry before grooming the horse to try and get the mud out. "He would have gotten quiet a bit of money."

"That might explain why he looked a little gloomy." Garry shrugged before racing back inside.

"I wonder where he stayed last night?" She commented with a frown. "There isn't a farm or another inn for furlongs around here." She pulled down a hoof pick and checked over the mare's hooves for stones and pulled out all the mud that was packed into them.

"I'm sure you will hear about it if he had to make do with shelter under the trees." Dirk smiled and began to tack up Ahrodie.

"On your way again?" she asked feeling a little down at the thought that he couldn't stay a little longer.

"Yeah I gotta get back, I haven't been home in nearly a year. Been showing Deren the ups and downs of being a herald." He nodded slowly.

"How bad was it up north?" She asked quietly, remembering some of the tales she had heard about bandits up there.

"Not as bad as it is usually, only really had one skirmish and it was a small one. For that I will be forever grateful."

"Here you go sir." Jessica said as she carried in his saddle bags. "Mama added food so you can eat tonight if you can't find a place to stay."

"My thanks Jess." He smiled at her as he tied them to his saddle, just as Deren came into the stable with his saddle bags slung over his shoulder.

"Oh before I forget again this is for Aunt Talia." Tarsha spoke up, pulling a thick letter from her apron and handed it to him. "There is a letter from nearly everyone in there."

"I'm sure she'll read them as soon as she gets her hands on them." Dirk grinned at her. "She's been complaining that she can't get up here to visit as often as she likes so she might find away to head up here soon."

"I'll keep my eyes open then." Tarsha chuckled. "If not we'll settle for letters just like every other year." She gave him a hug before he mounted and waved them off before returning to her chore of cleaning up the stables, all the while wondering where Travis was as he was supposed to be helping her.

"I brought you a drink." Annabell called out as she entered the cool stables.

"Where is Trav? He is supposed to be helping me out." Tarsh asked as she gulped down the water, after she had wiped her hand off on her apron.

"Papa has him helping James and Devid fix up what was damaged in the storm." Annabell replied with a small smile of sympathy, knowing how hard it was to do stable duty on your own. "He would have sent the little ones out to help you but Mama has them trying to rescue the garden crops."

"Oh I don't mind all that much, I just wish some one would have told me." She sighed as she handed the empty mug back and went back to scrubbing a very dirty stall.