Aria hurried down the hill, struggling to keep up with the rest. The last few days had been jarring. Unlike back at the palace, she was expected to keep up with everyone’s pace. No one coddled her, or paid her any mind. Different from the ways her tutors and servants had treated her, to them even the slightest breeze could blow Aria apart. While it felt liberating to be away from the eyes of the servants and tutors, it was also very frightening.

She had broken a number of family taboos in the span of a single day. She had eaten with her bare hands earlier in the day, a sin that would no doubt make her mother weak in the knees. But that paled in gravity compared to what she was wearing, the women of the Arai did not wear men’s clothing. It hadn’t registered to her earlier, no doubt from shock, but now that her mind was clear she had a chance to reflect.

She could see movement at the foot of the hill, a good dozen or so men hurried around, sharpening primitive spears and lighting torches.

“What’s going on,” Sigil asked the nearest man, who was sharpening a blade by torchlight.

The man looked from his task and frowned. “This doesn’t concern you, outsider,” he said. “We can handle this on our own.”

“The caravan got attacked,” the strange woman in black said, stepping forward. “It may not concern them but it sure as hell concerns me, tell me what happened, Janis.”

Janis shifted in place. “Look, Verse,” he said. “I don’t think the magistrate would want you involved either.”

So Verse was her name, Aria thought. Unless Aria was reading something wrong it didn’t seem like Verse was fully accepted by the villagers either.

“Remember when I fixed up your generator,” Verse said. “Without me, your family would have froze that winter, you can trust me.”

Janis sighed. “Bandits,” he said hesitantly. “Only a single man broke free from the encirclement. Looks like it’s the Steiner Boys, but since he was in a rush he wasn’t sure.”

Verse frowned. “So you’re group is planning to confront them?”

Janis nodded. “We can get the edge on them. Ulster says we can’t let them keep robbing us like this.”

“Your group will be decimated,” Kaius said from the side, his voice as frigid as always. “The bandits are likely deserters from the war up north, they’ll be well armed, and trained as well. Your motley group of plant munchers won’t last even a minute against trained soldiers, and certainly not at night.”

“So what?” a voice growled from behind. “We let them take what they want? Let them kidnap our women and children? Are we supposed to roll over for these bastards?”

Aria looked over at the new arrival. It was the young man from earlier, the rude one who had rudely slammed the door in her face. She didn’t like him very much, but it seemed the villagers held him in high regard as they all hushed for him.

“We can’t go on living like this,” he continued. “We push hard, take them by surprise, and then drive them away. Anyone scared of a few malnourished brigands can stay back in the village, and let the real men protect our home. The brigands may have these strangers trembling in their trousers, but I know the men of this town are made of sterner stuff.”

Kaius’ eyes flashed with a familiar emotion. He was angry, and even more so than usual. “Are you a fool?” he spat, marching towards the young man. “You’re an ignorant, immature, little boy, I’ll teach you what-”

“Now, now,” Sigil interrupted, placing herself between the two and separating them with her hands. “I think you’re both being a little immature.

“I can see where you’re coming from,” she said to the young man. “But you’re being too rash. Don’t underestimate men pushed to the brink. Brigands are a dangerous lot, and fighting them won’t be nearly as easy as you think.” She then turned to Kaius. “And you could’ve talked it out first, instead of resorting to cheap insults. It’s a bad habit of yours.”

The young man sniffed. “Perhaps you’re right, I must have patience, little woman, thank you for reminding me.”

Aria didn’t know if his insult was intentional or not, but Sigil ignored it, so Aria would do the same.

“Take stock of what was lost,” Sigil dictated. “If it’s something you can go without, then no point in setting out after them. Contact the nearest lord and request troops instead.”

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The young man inspected Sigil, the passion in his eyes fading away. “We can’t. . . no, I can’t go to the lord for help. And we need what was in that caravan. It was the profits for the textiles we shipped to the capital. Without them we won’t have enough for food or taxes.”

Sigil raised an eyebrow. “Surely the local lord would be understanding of your circumstance. Your people can hardly be expected to account for robberies on the road.”

The young man shook his head. “We can expect no help from the lord,” he said softly. “This township is under special circumstances.”

That drew an inquisitive stare from Sigil. “Why?” she asked. “What kind of lord lets his hold be pushed around by brigands?”

“Ulster,” a frail yet firm voice said. “You should tell them the truth.”

The crowd of villagers parted for a stately old man in white robes. Although he was supported by a young girl, he stood as tall as he could, his cloudy-white eyes staring straight ahead. Hushed whispers from the crowd confirmed that the elder was the magistrate.

The young man turned to the magistrate and sighed. “But they’re outsiders.”

“Outsiders that are willing to help,” said the magistrate. “You can’t carry this burden on your own, even your father employed external help during his trials. Karion and Dender are still recovering from last weeks raid, we should be welcoming these outsiders with open arms, not pushing them away.”

The young man, Ulster, stared at Sigil, then Kaius, and finally his eyes fell on Aria. He folded his arms and groaned. “What if they’re spies? I wouldn’t put it past those rats to slip agents through our walls.”

The magistrate barked out a harsh laugh. “Do you really believe that? Does that sound like brigand activity? Sending spies to hamlets?”

“No,” Ulster admitted. “But that’s beside the point. I don’t need the help of common vagabonds and thugs.” He turned to the villagers. “Sharpen your blades and prepare to move out.”

The villagers stirred but did not move, they looked to the magistrate who merely nodded in silence. With confirmation from the magistrate, they resumed their previous activities. But now an oppressive silence hung over the village, fear, anxiety.

He turned to Sigil and said, “I. . . wish to converse, in private.”

. . .

The hearth cackled softly as the magistrate bowed his head towards Sigil. “Please. . . go with Ulster. He is rash, and not prepared for the cost of a true battle. The way he has treated you and your friends has been. . . unfortunate, but I am prepared to make it up to you. Earlier today, you wanted something from me.”

“Yes,” Sigil said. “We did need something from you, but I’m afraid that was before your man insulted us before the whole village. I’m sure you won’t mind if we ask for something a little extra.”

Aria glanced towards the others. Verse was seated on a stool near the fireplace, she seemed to be paying no heed to the conversation. Kaius stood off to the side, he inspected the magistrate with eyes that betrayed no emotion.

“I will provide all that you ask,” the magistrate said. “And more, if you ensure the well being of Ulster. Exterminating the bandits is not the main priority.”

Sigil raised a finger. “But let’s be clear, we need answers to what’s going on in this town. What are the special circumstances your man mentioned earlier?”

The magistrate sighed. “Very well, Ulster is the second born of Lord Villefort, the lord of our township. It is Yularian custom for all heirs of nobility to undergo a trial. The trials vary in difficulty depending on the size of their inheritance. Lord Villefort has sizable holdings all throughout the Yularian countryside, as such, Ulster was tasked with managing one of his holds for a year.”

Sigil folded her arms. “Something tells me these are no ordinary brigands harassing your town.”

“You’re an astute one,” the magistrate said, “for a vagabond. Indeed, they are likely agents of Tor Villefort. The eldest son of the Villefort family. He was passed over for heir-ship years ago, it appears he isn’t quite over it just yet.”

“I appreciate your frankness,” Sigil said. “Since you’re so earnest, I think we’ll lend you a hand. What do you say, Kaius?”

He nodded.

She then turned to Aria. “And what do you say?”

Aria stared at her blankly. “You’re asking me?”

Sigil smiled. “Of course, you’re with us now. No reason for you not to tag along.”

“But I’d be a useless tag along,” Aria said. “I don’t even know the first thing about fighting. I’ll only slow everyone down.”

Sigil shrugged. “You won’t have to worry about fighting,” she said. “Kaius will be handling that.”

He raised his eyebrows. “I will?”

“Of course,” Sigil said, a small grin on her lips. “I’m the negotiator, you’re the fighter, and little Aria here is our princess.”

Aria blushed and looked down at the floor.

The magistrate cleared his throat. “So do we have a deal?”

“I ensure your boy makes it through the night,” Sigil said. “And you give us what we want, and more.”

“Indeed,” the magistrate said, his expression darkening. “So we have a deal.”