Castle Wode

Lord Alfric was a thin man, as tall as Egan, but severe. He kept his castle in strict care and the knights under him well-disciplined. Roderic liked him. He understood a man who set goals for himself and his people, who believed in the high ideals of knighthood. Egan did not seem to share Roderic's opinion. In all fairness, it seemed a mutual disdain. Alfric had taken one look at Egan and decided to address himself to Roderic instead. 

"Castle Wode is at your service. We've not seen hide nor hair of this supposed beast, but the herders insist it exists, and  we will provide was aide we can."

Roderic dismounted and bowed, handing the reins of his horse off to a stable-hand. "We are in your debt, Lord Alfric." He winced at the sound of Egan flailing himself out of his saddle behind him. Alfric raised an eyebrow in question and Roderic shrugged sheepishly. After all, he had no idea why His Majest had insisted that Egan accompany him. He'd just as soon come alone.

"Well," said Alfric, "one of my men will show you to your quarters. This is a working castle, so do not expect the lavishness of court. They'll be dry and warm, though." Alfric walked as he spoke, and Roderic followed him into the common hall where knights and soldiers and other working men were taking their evening repast at long wooden tables.  "If you like, you may eat first. We don't muck about with sending words to a person's rooms so if you want to eat, you'll show yourselves here at the proper times."

Roderic nodded. "Of course, my Lord."

They sat down with Alfric at the head table and availed themselves of the simple but hardy fair on offer. There was roast meat, bread, and wine. Nothing lavish, as Alfric had said, but filling and warm in the coolness of the mountain climate. After supper was finished, Roderic and Egan were shown to their shared quarters. The stone walls were bare, the furniture heavy and plain, but there was a fire going and their belongings had been brought up from the stables. Roderic smiled in satisfaction. 

Egan flopped himself into a chair close to the fire, the expression on his face far from the satisfaction Roderic felt. "Well, here we are then." 

"We can start looking for the dragon first thing tomorrow. Lord Alfric said he would have some the peasants come up to the castle to speak with us about what they've seen. That should give us a good idea of where to start." Roderic began to strip off his light armor almost cheerfully. "With any luck, we'll have a sighting within a few days time."

"Yes, well. I wouldn't be so sure about that if I were you," said Egan, sourly. "You heard Lord Alfric, no one here at the castle has seen anything of the sort."

Roderic raised his eyebrows at Egan. "Yes, of course. Because if a dragon has any intelligence at all, the last thing it's going to do is show itself to a castle full of knights."

If anything, that seemed to push Egan further into his uncharacteristically black mood. Roderic shrugged if off and washed what he could of the road from himself in the room's basin. He was tired, and one of the two beds in the room was certainly calling his name. Egan could sulk all he wanted to, Roderic had every intention of getting an early start come morning.