Chapter 6
The Way Things Are
Rance stood frozen, ready to turn and bolt for the door.
“Thank you?” He finally managed to say. “Why do you think I am a convict?”
The woman clapped a hand on the man in grey’s shoulder and started to chuckle. Rance could see the man’s shoulders bouncing up and down in his own chuckle.
“Why do we think?” the lady said, “What do you say, Vevor?”
Without turning or looking up the man said, “Rough tan tunic, rough woven pants, a bit of rope for a belt, and sandals. Plus he’s probably carrying one of those things they call a Noob pack. All cut up looking and beat to shit. How did I do? He said not looking up from his bowl.
“Not half bad.” The woman said, “‘Cept he ain’t all beat up.”
“Must have missed the Veldt Hare is my guess.” He said
“Uh, I killed it.” Rance blurted out, “It was trying to kill me.”
At this, Vevor dropped his spoon into his bowl of soup, pushed back his chair and turned to look at Rance. He gave him the same head to foot scrutiny he had gotten from everyone he had met and said. “How?”
“With this,” Rance said, leaning his staff out to one side.
“Ain’t never heard of a Veldt Hare ever being kilt by a Noob before.” He said
Rance told them about his fight. How he had missed and been attacked, his climb into the tree and the rabbit latching onto his staff with its teeth, then the big swing into the tree to end it.
“That rabbit kills most of you convicts when they show up in that valley.” the woman said, “I’m Beulla by the way this is my tavern. And this lump o’ pudding is Vevor, our town constable.”
Vevor nodded at Rance and asked “What are you in for?”
Rance shifted uncomfortably as he contemplated lying about his sentence. In the end he decided the truth would be best since for all he knew the system would have informed the local constable of his impending arrival in the area. “Murder” he finally answered.
“Didja do it?” Beulla asked as she winked and smiled at him.
“Well he’s dead but it was an accident.” Rance said.
“Of course, of course, that’s why yer here,” she smirked. “I suppose you be wanting a meal then.”
Rance hesitated “How much would that cost me?” He asked
“It’ll cost you two of them five coppers you gots in yer bitty pouch there.” Beulla said. “Bowl o’ soup bit o’ bread and an ale.”
Rance winced at the price. He had no idea of how much things cost in the local economy but that was almost half of his money!
Beulla saw the look and said “That is unless you got somethin’ to sell or trade.”
“What kinds of things are you looking for?” Rance asked.
“I’m always interested in fresh game.” Beulla said. “I get a bit of mutton and pork, along with the occasional chicken from the homesteaders when they bring their wares into town, but wild game makes a good stew that my customers like.”
“What about a rabbit?” Rance asked “I have the veldt hare.”
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“That would be lovely” Beulla answered “You would get your whole meal for the rabbit.”
Rance removed the rabbit carcass from his inventory and held it out for Beulla. She snatched it away and hurried through the door behind the bar calling over her shoulder “One lunch coming right up.”
Vevor took this opportunity to call “Beulla! There’s a hare in my stew!” and started cackling.
“Seriously tho,” he started “Since I am constable we need to have a conversation. I suppose you will be moving on toward the city as soon as possible.” He raised his eyebrows inquiring.
“I’ve only just arrived and have no clue as to my options.” Rance stated.
“Well it’s like this,” Vevor said “Every other convict we had had through here has left for the city to seek their fortune, so to speak. No one is interested in frontier life. There are opportunities here for people who want this lifestyle. There is land for homesteaders, abundant fish and game, and work for those that want it and will put effort into it.”
“To be honest, Rance said “Sounds like my kind of place.”
“The problem we have is being a convict folks around here may be a little tough on you.” Vevor continued, “and for a time you will need to check in with me on a regular basis, consider it like a parole to stay in the area.”
Beulla came back through the door with a wooden bowl of soup, and a small hunk of bread, and set it across the table from Vevor. “You two seem to be needin’ a talk,” she said as she went behind the bar and drew a wooden tankard of ale.
Rance moved to the place set for him and leaned his staff against a chair behind his seat and sat down.
Beulla brought the tankard over and set it in front of Rance. “There you go, a right proper meal for a veld hare.” she said “Any other game you can bring in I will barter or buy. Also I’d be wanting any herbs and spices, like wild onions, or garlic.
Rance nodded his head a few times. “You two seem kind of nonchalant about a murderer sitting here talking to you,” he observed.
“Well I’m a retired Legionnaire.” Vevor said “Even with that hare slayer stick you got there you wouldn’t do me much harm. You will need several levels before I have much to worry about from you. No offense intended mind you.”
Rance nodded again “Okay”, he said slowly. “Can you tell me about getting a homestead? What are the requirements?” He asked tasting a spoonful of the stew. “Needs salt” He thought.
“The good land up river is all claimed up.” Vevor said “If you had coin you could buy one easy enough, ‘cause even the good ones ain’t all that great. On the other hand you can go and start your own anywheres that isn’t blazed. You see when you homestead you have to blaze the trees around it to claim it.”
Rance continued eating his stew. The ale however tasted like moldy grain. He pushed the tankard away saying “No offense but I need to cut back, do you have any tea?”
Beulla harrumphed. “I gots water, and I gots ale.” She said.
“Could I trouble you for water then?” He asked
She grumbled as she replaced his tankard with one of water. He could still taste the moldy grain in the new tankard. “Probably soaked into the wood.” He thought. “Can you point me in the direction with the fewest people?” he asked.
“Oh that’s an easy one,” Vevor said. “Just head right back to where you came from. Everyone avoids that area because that’s where the undesirables spawn.”
Rance finished his stew and sopped up the liquid with his bread. “That was pretty good he announced” patting his belly. “I’ll need to be heading back if I want to set up camp for the night.”
“You can lodge here if you’ve a mind.” Beulla said “Three copper a night for a room with egg toast and ale in the morn.”
“I’ll pass for now.” Rance said “As you know I have very little coin. I will however be back when I have more to trade or sell.”
“Don’t forget to check in with me.” Vevor said “I think once a week will be fine to begin with.”
“I’ll try to do that.” Rance said as he stood up and collected his staff. “I thank you for the fine meal Beulla, and it was nice meeting you both.” He turned and left the tavern.
Rance had planned on checking out the blacksmith since he had real world experience smithing, and the chandlery to see what he could buy or trade for there, but he decided he needed to get his affairs in order before dark by setting up his camp.
He only met a couple people on the road as he made his way back to the spawn point, and he didn’t see another hare on the trip.
He decided to go across the stream and up the slope a bit from the spawn point so anyone new wouldn’t be able to see his camp from it. He sat about clearing away debris where he planned to sleep and was shaking out his oilcloth to hang it for a canopy when he realized he had no cordage.
“Crap!”
Instead he collected some kindling and started looking for something to make a nest with to catch a spark from his flint and steel. He settled on milkweed pods which he broke open to get to the fluffy insides.
Just a few strikes of his flint and he caught a spark and soon had a small fire going.
Once it was dark he wrapped himself in his blanket and drifted off to sleep.