Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) by Jeremy Laszlo

invitation. The three of them made their way to the bar and seated themselves where, the night before, Ashton had performed a miracle of his chosen deity.
    The barkeep approached them from across the stone bar, a smile still on his face, and greeted them with his loud booming voice. He thanked them, his eyes on Ashton, for their help the previous night and graciously offered them breakfast ‘on the house’. The boys happily accepted, and the barkeep turned and disappeared through a large door behind the bar.
    All three of them sat quietly for a while, taking in the room now lit with the morning sun, and realized it was quite a cheery place. Seth couldn’t help but to compare this inn to the one they had been raised in. All in all, the inns had little in common, besides the fact they both had a bar in the center of the common room and a kitchen past that. Beside that singular similarity, the two were hardly comparable. Seth, still looking around, noticed that many of the inn’s patrons were looking at them, speaking in whispers and muffled tones. Some of them pointed towards the bar when they spoke, others simply jerked their heads in the boys’ direction. Thinking that Ashton’s acts last night must have spread through the town and these were people come to see the healer, Seth glanced at Ashton to see if he had noticed as well.
    It was immediately apparent that Ashton had. His head was hanging low to hide his face, and his cheeks burned crimson with embarrassment. Garret too was looking at Ashton with pity on his face. Meeting eyes with his twin, Garret gave Seth a questioning glance. Both brothers knew their friend was uncomfortable, but neither of them had any idea what they could do about it.
    The door to the kitchen burst open then, and all three of the boys looked up in anticipation. Through the door came the Barkeep, head held high scanning the room, his gaze lost among his patrons before landing on the Boys at his bar. In each arm he carried a tray. Upon one tray rested three plates, the other bore three mugs. He gingerly sat the plates in front of the boys, scanning their faces to see their responses. The boys eyed the food hungrily. Upon each plate was what appeared to be a small pie, as well as a large pastry. The mugs, the innkeeper told them as he passed them out, were filled with warm, spiced cider. The trio each in turn thanked the innkeeper for his hospitality and graciousness. He nodded in response to them happily, and scanned the crowd again with his eyes, all the while telling the boys if they wanted a room again this night they could have it at half price. They thanked him again but declined his offer.
    “You boys seem to have made this a popular place this morning,” the barkeep stated. “If you would like, why don’t you go have your food on the front porch? People are less likely to stop in the middle of the street to stare at you there.” He spoke the last sentence much louder than he needed to, as if to convey the message to the whole room.
    Ashton, all too happy to take the man’s advice, stood up immediately thus making the twins’ decision for them. They all three slung their packs on their shoulders and snatched up their plates and mugs. The barkeep watched them knowingly, and told them that they could just leave the plates and cups on the porch when they were finished as he would collect them later. They all nodded to him in thanks, then turned and headed for the door.
    The boys sat upon the top step of the porch facing the street as they ate. A couple of people passed them by, hardly giving them a second glance as they went about their business. The small pies, as it turned out, were just that. However, unlike any of the pies Seth had ever had before, these were filled with eggs, meat and cheese. They were delicious and filling, but nothing compared to the warm pastries. Obviously freshly baked, these were coated in a delicious syrup-like frosting and filled with a cut medley of