Excerpt: The Stone of Tides

“Larsa! Miss Larsa.” Through the fog she heard a name being called. Her vision swam. She coughed.

“Nyssa” A man's face came into view. Gildos. The barkeeper.

“What?”

“My name. It's Nyssa” She saw confusion on his face, but dismissed it and struggled to sit up.

“Easy there,” he said helping her. “Easy. Cattia!” He stood up and called to one of the waitresses. “Some watered wine here.” He reached down and helped her stand, pulled a chair out and bade her sit. The waitress placed a beaker in front of her, evidently intensely curious.

“Sip it slow, mistress,” she said before Gildos waved her away. Nyssa took the beaker between two hands and sipped it slowly as she had been bidden. Gildos watched her a while, waiting for the attention of the other patrons to shift back to other things, giving surreptitious glares to those who didn't go back to their ale quick enough.

“So you remembered,” he said. Nyssa nodded and placed the cup back on the table. “Everything?”

“No,” she said, eyes downcast. “Just my name.” Nyssa knew the knowledge of her amnesia was common in the village. In the tight- knit community, nothing stayed secret for long. Especially not the arrival of a terrified girl wearing little but rags and unable to remember a thing about herself or how she got like that.

“No fear Miss Nyssa” Gildos smiled at her. “You'll remember it all when it's time.” She nodded, and sipped again from the cup.

“This man,” Nyssa asked, “Did he truly look like me? Do you think he might have been someone... close to me?” Gildos sat back.

“Close to you? I think not. His attitude... It didn't seem to fit for someone searching for a loved one. Oh he was fairly passionate, but not in a way I would associate with a frantic search like that.” Gildos paused, a twinkle in his eye. “Not that an old inn keeper from the mountains would know such a thing.” Nyssa blushed slightly, but Gildos continued. “As for looking alike, I'd say so – so far as the skin colouration, the eye and the hair. Around here most people are fair.” he tugged at his own scruffy locks. “'Tis something in the mountain air I think. And most people's eyes shine blue. You, how shall I say, are distinctive in that land.”

“Have you, oh humble inn keeper, ever seen anyone like me,” she held up a hand to pause him, a smile back on her face, “beyond, of course, the stranger last night.” Gildos smiled back then frowned in thought. For a long time he sat there before finally admitting,

“No. I never have.” he took a glance at her face. “I'm sorry.” Nyssa tried to smile again.

“'Tis not your fault,” she said. They were quiet a moment longer.

“Why did no one tell him I was here. He must have given a description. As distinctive as I am, why did no one speak out?” Gildos sat up, looking mildly consternated.

“What? We would never- How where we to know if he was friend or foe to you? We look after our own here gel. We'd never give you up just on some stranger's askance.” Gildos took her hands. “You listen here, and you listen good. You're safe here, we'll not ever tell any one about you if you don't want to be known about.” He released her hands and sat back again, still appearing mildly put-out. “Safe as houses here girl, always will be, for as long as you want to be. And if that old bugger Pedro ever gives you any hassle, there'll always been a bed for you here.” A wide smile formed across Nyssa face and she giggled.

“What's so funny then?” Gildos demanded, as the giggle scaled up to a full blown laugh.

“Your expression!” Nyssa let out in a gasp between chuckles. Slowly Gildos's expression changed from one of mild annoyance to hilarity also as he realised what she meant, and he began to chuckle as well.

“I'm sorry,” Nyssa said when they had calmed down. “I didn't mean to cause offence. You truly are kind people, and that was a generous offer Gildos, I hope though I never have to take it.”

“Aye, neither I, but you never can tell sometimes with that old fogy.”

“Speaking of such, it's probably best I depart. I'd never hear the end if he had to come looking and found me here, at cup, in the company of such men.”

“You'd never hear the end? Think of these poor old ears here!” Nyssa stood as did Gildos, and she collected her basket, still on the bar top. Gildos placed the bracelet on top of the loaves. Nyssa looked at him, surprised.

“It's patently yours, you may as well have it.” For a moment the laughter sparkle in her eyes died.

“I thank you. Truly,” she said, and left before he could say another word.