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ARC 2
Book 1: Ch 11
Being the grandson of a farmer, I had my own share of farm work. It’s difficult but rewarding, after seeing all the plants sown in the ground and started to grow gives you a feeling of accomplishment. Now that I’m doing the same work in a different place, I don’t feel the same feeling of accomplishment.
“You look tired.” Ron noted as he walked beside me. He was carrying the same load as mine as we walked from the edge of the farm to the carts in the center. He was grinning as he said that and he looked to be able to handle more.
“What gave it away?” I asked, not even bothering to look at his direction. To do that would mean that I have to adjust the heavy laden basket on my shoulder and I’d prefer not to do that.
“It’s just the simple fact that you stopped cursing in every breath. You got pretty creative too on the last part” he said, laughing. He also said it in the local language of this place. Fucking Mr. Linguist here even had the accent down pat that he sounded almost like a local. That was both coming from me and the old man.
The load started to dig into my shoulder, so I did a little toss and scooched in. much better. “You know if I hadn’t known any better, I’d have thought that you're cheating on the loads.” I replied.
We needed time and a safe place to lay low after that time with the bandits but it had been about a month after that. That bear meat we got in the beginning had already been halved. Cyril had already started walking fine without a crutch, Sydell had developed to be deadly with a rifle, while Notus and Ilya are getting to be reliable shots given that they aren’t rushed. Due to that, we have about half a can left of that unusual military surplus ammo.
Most of it wasn’t just target practicing, between Sydell, Ilya and Notus, they have bagged about twenty big sized game that was all sold in the town five miles away using the old man as a middleman. This also gave us the opportunity to visit the town itself and scout it out. Take a measure of the societal structure of this land and maybe get a piece of ass once in a while.
We then reached the pair of carts parked in front of the old man’s house, there we saw the old man seated atop the lead cart and Nick running around checking the wagons with the seriousness akin to a fighter jet ground crew. Getting to the back of the second cart, we laid our loads with a thud. “Heey, looks like whatever you did worked. This cart doesn’t creak like it was as old as the old man now.” Ron quipped. “So, what did you do?”
Nick grinned and gave a wink, he then straightened, “You heard that old man? Looks like somebody owes me a piece of silver.” he yelled.
“What did you say? I didn’t quite hear that.” the old man yelled back, as he tossed the dull gray coin towards Nick. Nick caught the coin deftly and bit it in front us with a smile full of satisfaction.
“Careful, he might’ve stashed that up his ass.” I warned.
“Good thing I eat ass all the time then.” he replied confidently then paused. “You know, that sounded a whole lot better inside my head.” he confessed and we all laughed.
“You three queers stop fooling around and get going, were burning daylight!” the old man yelled. And we complied, Nick went to the old man side, riding shotgun while me and Ron sat on the second wagon. “My turn.” Ron declared as he grabbed the reigns and gave the horse a good whack. To which the wagon started to trundle on the dirt road leading towards the town of Lewe.
“...In the valley of the shadow of death…”
The ride towards the town usually cost us about a couple of hours as even though the distance is a measly five miles, the carts were heavily laden and moves on just about the speed of a slow walk. So that gave us a lot of time of doing nothing but stare at the forest we are slowly passing by. So in order to fight boredom, I was rapping Gangster’s paradise in the common tongue. It was hard, and this language didn’t really seem to be great at raps but practice is practice.
“You know, I think it was a good thing you aren’t black because you’d be the shame of all blacks if you were. You suck.” Ron said. “Like. Goddamn! I bet the west coast blacks and the east coast, the bloods and the Crips, would team up with the Hispanics just to hunt you down if they ever hear this song.”
“Yeah, I’d bet you’ll be right at home with the KKK too even if you're not white.” I snapped back.
Ron chuckled. “Dude, even with the very minute chance that you’ll ever get good. You won’t get any chicks out of that.”
“Just like writing them a lame poem would? You can’t even fucking write.”
So the banter continued until a quarter of an hour later where we got within sight of the gate. The heavy oak doors studded with iron bands was wide open with a considerable line of carts waiting to get in. I looked up, by the angle of the sun I would guess the time would be about eight o’clock in the morning. The town folks would be already wide awake and are making their way to the market district where wares coming from outside the town would be gathered. That is also the place where are intended to dispose of our goods.
I then looked in front of me, the city guards patrolled along the line of carts, looking at everyone while giving a cursory glance at the contents. The guard then reached us and waved at the old man, “Good to see you old man.” he greeted.
“Got any news for us Rollo?” old man hues asked.
Rollo nodded, he was wearing chainmail over a thick padded shirt called gambeson while armed with a wicked sharp spear. It was well kept and oiled. “The illustrious kingdom’s knights have finally returned after subjugating the bandits blocking the road towards the frontier. Finally well have the chance of trading with the towns, there is also talk that someone is gathering people for a new expedition to reclaim another abandoned town.”
“How about you give me something I could have some use for?”
“I know your time is left in this life is limited but at least spare some time for some gossip.” Rollo grinned “Those knights didn’t seem to come out with a lot of loot and they looked a little irritated. For that their commanding officer had prepared a feast in celebration of the success of the mission causing the price of food to go up for a little bit. So I whenever someone asks for the usual rate, think of your good friend Rollo.”
The old man grunted, “Here’s the toll.” he said as he fished around in his pouch and gave the guy an extra silver on top of the toll. Rollo then took the payment and grinned, “Ot’s always good to catch up with old friends one in a while.” he said.
With the toll paid, we waited for our turn for the gate which gave me enough time to take another good look of the town’s walls. It was made of stone, held together by mortar and looked to be pretty sturdy. Watchtowers were erected along the walls in intervals and I could see people peeking out inside. They had rifles sticking out their backs and they looked to be alert in their posts. I haven’t seen them shoot yet but by judging by what I could currently see, I would expect them to at least hit their shots.
Our turn then came and we trundled through the gate then made our way to the market district. The town of Lewe, from our previous visits looked to be designed like a roman camp with two main avenues running through the center, dividing it into four quadrants. Residential, where the common folk resides, Business where craftsmen and others do their transactions, Market where the people form outside would go to hawk their wares, and Government for where administration of the town is located. It is where the mayor of the town lives, along with where the church is located.
We were traveling on the main avenue separating the Crafters and Market, stalls and wagons lined the street opposite the Crafters.
“Only the freshest fruits and vegetables sold here!”
“Fresh meat, fresh meat! Deer just killed and butchered this morning!”
“Live fish, caught two miles up the river Ars, nothing will be as delicious and juicy as these!”
They were hawking their aggressively, standing on their wagons and out-yelling the one next to them with their produce laid in full view of everybody. Multitude of people passed by as we followed the old man driving deeper into the town. We then parked our carts in a clear spot and unloaded our goods; apples, cabbages, and turnips, there were some peaches too and some strawberries but that was in the old man’s wagon and for him and Nick to sell.
At first, no one came to buy but loyal customers started trickling in and bought our produce at an astonishing rate. One of the customer's in particular was a pretty looking young woman, her blue eyes kept looking at my face and somehow I always catch her doing it, in which she would give a shy smile and coyly look away, blushing.
This time she was buying a basket of everything we have, which she gave us a single gold coin. An apple usually costs between 2 to 3 coppers, depending in size, while a head of cabbage would fetch for 3 and a bundle of turnips would go for 5. But with the increase in demand the prices went up one copper each. We then counted the contents of each basket and did a mental arithmetic.
A gold coin would be equal to 8 silver coin would be equal to 24 copper coins. Oh, did I mention that their numerical system is in base twelve? Fuck that.
I smiled, “Thank you for your patronage Lady Marshall. Here’s your change.” I said as I handed her change, it was about 4 silvers and 2 copper. She took it and the men escorting her then moved to pick up the baskets, they usually bring the baskets back a little while later so no worries.
The first time I saw her, I was so interested in her that I reached out and inquired every contact we had in the town and came back with the information that she is the daughter of the Town’s head honcho. Which translates that she should be off limits. No one would dare mess with the daughter of the most powerful man, not even a person with a deathwish.
With our goods all bought up, we took whatever was left and cleaned up, feeding the fruits and vegetables our horses parked nearby. We then had the carts hitched and got it outside the gates where there would be a better accommodation for both the horses and the carts.
The old man then tossed us a bag of coins after the job was done. Ron caught it and gave a questioning look. “How ‘bout you boys get yourselves some women so my goats back home could get some break.” he said and walked away laughing.
We watched the old man go, waiting for him to get out of earshot before talking, “Ron, I think you're rubbing off on the old man, and in a bad way.” I said.
“At least this is better than his dad jokes” Nick chimed.
“Let’s go get some beer, I gotta’ see my contacts.” he said and winked. There was no objections to that.
We got in our usual watering hole and was met with the sounds of raucous laughter, which is unusual in this time of day. Looking around the dim interior of the tavern we saw a group of about ten men gathered around a table. They were wearing some polished armor that somehow emits its own dim glow, it could be my eyes but what the hell.
We went to the bar to meet with the keep, “You boys are early.” he said as he approached, reaching under the bar then laid three wooden mugs. He wore a stained white apron over his tunic that reached just shy of covering the entirety of his massive belly. This, of course didn't fool us, under that fatty exterior is a muscular physique. “Where’s the old man?” he asked as he poured beer on our mugs.
We shrugged, “He just threw us a bag of money then walked away, probably went to get himself a woman, probably one as old as him.” Nick said, and the barkeep chuckled.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“So, what’s the word?” Ron asked and I screened everyone present. The big group by the table seems to still at it, it seems as their loud laughter echoed inside the tavern once more.
The barkeep, named Boothe, was one of the old man’s old comrades that he recommended for us to meet and get to know. Booth, looked to the sides before lowering his head. “Word says something took out half of the bandits forces and took their loot. That pissed those knights off, so don’t be fooled by their jovial attitude.”
“How about the thing we wanted?” I asked, as I looked away from the group.
Boothe shook his head, “Someone is buying everything that turns up, the ones you wanted along with everything else, even the ones no one wanted is all gone. It’s no surprise that something big is about to go down, the only question is what. I’ll get you what I managed to get. Wait here.” He knocked on the bar “If anyone comes tell them I went to take piss or something” he said then went to through the curtains blocking the back from prying eyes.
“I hope it’s something good.” Ron said as he drank his beer.
“Anything is good, as long as we could get some.” Nick added and I nodded, looking back again at the group, they had their swords laying on their tables and bulging pouches hanging off their belts along with knives and other personal effects. They wore fine red cape that reached down to the floor that soaked itself with some of the spilled beer.
“Shame we couldn't help those knights waste all their money faster with a game of cards right Nick? I’m still having some problems thinking of the probabilities of card counting it would be nice going out on my own.” Ron said.
“All it takes is practice, bro. You'll get good soon enough.” he replied.
Boothe then came back holding a large sack on his back. “I managed to snag a can with that money you won on your gambling sprees, it should buy about one big can and a small one but with the market nowadays, I was even lucky I managed to get one.” he said.
“If there was still something left, then it’s yours.” I said, and he smiled, bowing his thanks.
“Got any rumors?”
He shook his head. “I got nothing worth noting.” he said. He then raised his head to look behind us and raised his chin, “Maybe you could get some from him.”
A man then pulled a stool and sat next to us, “Give me a beer will you Boothe?” he said.
I gave the man a side-glance and I could see him wearing a plain looking tunic and a plain looking trousers, his face is also plain looking with nothing noteworthy. He is a person that blends among a thousand faces.
“You got anything?” I asked.
“I got something worth a piece of gold.” he replied.
I looked at the others and they seemed curious, they nodded and I fished a gold coin on my pouch, laid it in the counter and placed hand on top. “You got it.” I said and Boothe took the coin.
“A messenger came to the gate of the Lord Marshall holding a letter sealed by the Lord of the Town of Turin. What was inside is a message asking the Town of Lewe to accept the refugees from Turin as the town is being besieged by a remnant of the destroyed demon army. The Lord, along with every fighting man in the town, stayed to defend as the town’s provisions could last them as six months. The letter also states that the Lord will reward mercenaries coming to their aid accordingly and considering the urgency of their situation I would bet that he will be grateful to anyone that will come. The refugees will get here in about a week’s time and with that, the news will then be widespread.” he said, and downed his mug of beer. He looked at Boothe and knocked the counter.
Boothe smirked, “here’s your change.” he said sliding two silver coins and four copper coins in the counter.
The man looked at it, “I can’t owe you that much, do I?”
“You wouldn’t if you haven’t had a mug of beer every time you come to visit.”
“Damn! We’ll have the rest on my tab then. Thanks for the drink boys.” he said then walked away, his head bowed low and his face downcast.
“Here’s for you.” I said, laying another gold coin on the counter.
“Thank you.” he said smiling as he palmed the coin then reached under the counter. “Got anything else you want to ask?”
“Is your daughter here?” Ron asked, grinning.
“She’s. Not. Here.” Boothe growled.
Ron raised his hands in surrender, “Just asking. Could you at least tell her that I’d like to see her again?” and no came the answer, he grinned and the three of us left the bar with me carrying the sack he gave on my shoulder.
We then met the old man coming up the steps as we went through the door, he then looked up with a serious face and said. “Follow me, I got something that might interest you.” At that, we looked at each other and realized that this might have something to have with the info we just got. We followed.
The old man then led us through side streets and alleys, only to come up on the back of a mansion. Its perimeter walls were about twenty feet high and was sturdily made with stone. I could see heads peeking between the crenellations, some of them had rifles hanging on their shoulder which suggests that whoever owns this place is rich, and powerful. While waiting on the back door of the place, I leaned over to the old man, “Who owns this place?” I asked.
“The Lord Marshall.” he replied.
“You mean the father of that girl?”
“What girl?”
“No one, don’t mind Nick.” I quickly answered, trying to deflect the question I asked, “So, why are we here?”
“I think you already know.” he answered as the backdoor to the villa opened. A pair of knights welcomed us and ushered us in, they positioned themselves behind us as we walked to the mansion. We entered it and was welcomed by a serious looking old man standing in the middle of the mansion’s atrium, behind him is grand staircase covered with velvet carpet that forked into two different directions, probably to each wing of the mansion. The girl back in the market was behind him and had a flash surprise in her face as she recognized all of us.
The old man, which I would guess to be the Lord Marshall grunted. “These men you brought doesn’t look much Hues. I asked if you know any competent mercenaries, not farmhands.” he said.
“Don't let your eyes fool you, these men are the best you could have considering the urgency of your situation.”
He gave us another look but then sighed “Fine.” he growled. “Follow me.” he said as he ascended the staircase and we followed him with the lady trailing at the back.
“I’d really appreciate the reason we are here.” Ron whispered as we walked up the stairs.
“You're not in trouble for anything, anyone of you have done. You three are here for a job I applied you three for, it gives good pay and also gets you known to the people who matter, it may even earn you a favor or two.” he said and we entered a massive room.
I guessed it to be the Lord Marshall’s working room but anyone could compare it to a library. Shelves reached up to the ceiling that required ladders covered the whole length of the walls, an ornately decorated desk dominated the center of the room and behind him is an enormous window that afford a beautiful panorama of the town. We then went to a long table in front of the desk and on it laid a huge map of what I think is the territory and the ones around it. I then laid the burlap sack on the floor and studied the map.
The center was the Town of Lewe with to which four winding roads intersected which connected it into two different townships. Two of the roads seemed to lead nowhere to which I would guess to be the badlands; the land abandoned during the great demon war and is now infested with man-eating monsters and remnants of the defeated army.
The three of us studied the maps I gave a glance to Nick who was tasked to always carry his phone. He looked to be itching to take a photo as to which we could greatly use, since maps are considered a national resource and its circulation is strictly controlled.
The Lord Marshall cleared his throat and took our attention, he then approached the map and pointed to the neighboring Town of Turin, about fifty miles south of the town of Lewe. “Yesterday, a messenger came here with an almost dead horse and a very dirty messenger carrying a letter covered with the seal of the Town of Turin’s Lord. Lord Lundur. Inside is a message calling for immediate aid, he needs it so much as to call for mercenaries as the town is besieged by a Demon army numbering an excess of five thousand commanded by a surviving captain.
“Of course, I wouldn’t send a scraggly band of mercenaries to aid someone in need, but Hues seem to think very highly of you. You're task is to escort a cargo of weapons that will be sent to reinforce the town, once there you will add to the already established command to defend the town since you along others will be the only ones I could send in the shortest amount of time. My daughter Hilna,” he gestured to his daughter standing behind her, “will accompany you on your mission. She is there to oversee the operation and your group will answer to her. Payment will be issued on the on the return of my daughter unharmed, and untouched. Is this clear?”
“How much are we talking about?” Ron asked, “Why are we taking a girl into a battlefield and why don’t you just send the knights roaming around your town?”
The Lord raised an eyebrow at the question, “The reason of why you are taking her there is not of your concern, the only thing you need to know about her is that you keep her safe. As for the knights, the knights are here after a mission and I do not have the authority to order them around. I have sent a missive to their commanding officer to ask for the reinstatement of their orders to be placed under me for the duration of the crisis. That, of course takes a while so in turn I made steps to delay their departure in hopes that orders will come to aid the besieged towns in time or they will have no other choice as to help in the defense as they will be trapped in here along with us. Your payment will be issued on the conclusion of the job and will be a sum of five hundred crowns.”
A crown costs is equal to ten gold coins which means that money won’t be an issue for us by the time we complete it. Even with the cost of the bullets. The high compensation must’ve included the bodyguard job which means that we have to protect the girl while we fight a war. And if we fail our mission and get the girl killed, I would bet that it would be better if we don’t ever come back.
“How will be the cargo transported?”
“The cargo will be transported in carts of two pulled by a team of horses, the drivers, along with a score of fighting men will be provided by me and they will fight if the need arises. The road leading to the town will be dangerous so I suggest that you get to you destination as fast as you can.”
“Give us a hundred now and a can of ammunition, and we will be ready to depart on the day after tomorrow, we will be bringing four others.” Ron replied.
“Fair enough, the money will be ready when you leave the manor along with the can of ammunition of your choosing.” he said.
I nodded. “That’s a deal.”
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