Argus stood aware of his responsibility. The mist of dawn brought the weight of his mission upon him. The message must be delivered.<br/><br/>He knew that Erina was in her room but entering the tavern and claiming to be on a King's Mission would be dismissed as heresy when only hours ago he was shown out the door. To claim that he had been in the presence of the King in the past night would be ridiculed and labeled as thoughts of a man deranged. How in such a short time could a man, a cripple, have traveled to the palace, met with the King, and return? The idea was certainly a poorly-crafted story to approach the woman.<br/><br/>He was aware of a false claim of such a King's Mission. To claim falsely of being on such a mission brought swift and deadly consequences. And also, to interfere with the carrying out of a mission would bring those same consequences.<br/><br/>But considering the time and distance from the King, it would be impossible. He would not be believed. He would be scorned and ridiculed and the innkeeper would think it his duty to carry out the swift and deadly justice required.<br/><br/>Argus stood deep in thought. Indeed, the problem seemed impossible. He looked at the coach with its wheel removed and the horses in the stable. He wondered if while he was asleep the driver had returned to the tavern. Or perhaps with the lateness of the hour, he had bedded down at the stable.<br/><br/>Looking at the broken wheel an idea started to form. He decided to have a walk around the village at this very early hour of the morning. The morning's silence would help him find what he looked for.<br/><br/>Argus expected the village was similar to all the villages in the realm. A residential area that was populated by people of little means. A small area of shops that looked to be randomly placed. There was no particular Main Street. A couple of stores haphazardly placed. Another tavern. The stable would be near the edge of the populated area. Argus was looking for a place not near the center of town, nor at the edge of town. Somewhere in between.<br/><br/>He thought he might be in luck when he heard the rhythmic<i>clang, clang, clang. </i>He cocked his head to discern its direction and following the sound he was soon at the blacksmith. Outside, near a crude building, a man was forging the hot metal in a shape Argus didn't recognize. He was wearing a thick leather apron and was covered in sweat at this early hour.  He was built like a bull and had muscular arms like tree trunks. Argus smiled to himself as he approached the smithy. This was just what he was looking for.<br/><br/>The smithy seeing Argus approach stopped his work and turned toward him. Argus looked at him and realized his physical strength far outmatched mental strength. The puzzled look on his face showed that of a dullard. The smithy was confused at seeing a man, not of the village and of odd appearance. Maybe that is how he saw everyone. Argus didn't know.<br/><br/>Argus nodded and smiled, though, and started to speak. "To you sir I bring greetings. I am a courier of the King and on a King's Mission. As you know it is a great honor to be asked to aid a messenger of the King. I have a wagon with a broken wheel. It would be of service to me, and to the service of the King if you could fix it. Also, I need a man of a muscular build to help me if perhaps I run into those who might wish to interfere with the delivery of this message. You are needed to come with me now, at this minute to perform this duty. And as the King rewards me for the mission's completion, I shall share my reward with you."<br/><br/>Having spoken, Argus looked at the man. The smithy gazed back in the same dull fashion he had when he approached. Argus realized that the man had no idea what was said to him.<br/><br/>Trying another approach, Argus motioned with his arm and said, "Come with me."<br/><br/>That seemed to get through to him. The smithy put down his hammer and followed Argus as he walked back toward the tavern.<br/><br/>Returning to the tavern, Argus pointed to the broken wheel and said to the smithy, "Fix this."<br/><br/>Without emotion, the smithy dully nodded and began his work.<br/><br/>Argus stood aside and watched him work. But creeping at the very edge of his consciousness was a thought Argus knew was there but refused to let himself think it:<i>What if this guy does the work and expects to get paid?</i>