Chapter 073:
Anton awoke early the next morning, a tiny beam of light warming his face, with both girls had curled up in his arms. It seemed they had been awake for a little while. They were mumbling something to each other, a brief giggle, then it stopped the moment they realised he was awake.
“Good morning you two.” Anton said, giving both girls a squeeze on their rumps. They smiled as they stretched out their bodies, Anton's head nearly struck by both arms.
“Looks like nothing happened during the night.” Verona mumbled. “I suppose that's good. No more of those Mole Rat things.”
“Weren't you supposed to be on watch for the last part?” Anton asked.
Verona giggled and rubbed his cheek. “Yeah. But I've only just crawled into bed.”
She threw off the sheet covers and began to pick up their scattered clothes.
“But you managed to take off your clothes?” Anton asked. Verona chuckled once and continued collecting their clothes.
Kal remained his his arm and squirmed as she rose up. Anton took a moment to admire the toned mocha coloured back, the muscles twitching underneath her skin with every breath. He ran his hand up her back, Kal throwing him a wry smile as she patted his chest. Before they went to bed Anton checked Kal's body again and found nothing. Why the witch called her an Orison Templar was still beyond him, perhaps she would get powers in the future.
“At least they didn't try something.” Kal spoke quietly.
Kal glanced to the door. They had moved the table, and their packs, to act as a weight against the door. Nobody had tried anything during the night. Anton would have been surprised if they had done something after their display that previous night, though there was still their three horses unaccounted for. That would be interesting.
“After seeing what Verona did I don't think they would be that dumb.” Anton said.
Verona, having collected their clothes and separated them, grunted loudly as she gripped hard onto her elbows, hard enough to for her fingers to turn white.
“I wonder if they've cleaned that up?” She asked, a look of pain on her face.
“Are you okay?” Anton asked, getting up and holding her hand.
It shook lightly but she gripped tight on his own. “I'm fine. I'm fine. It's...It's just that it can be a little difficult seeing and remembering all that...blood.”
Kal made a noise, a frown on her face. Anton didn't know if she knew what happened to Verona when there was too much carnage around her.
Verona slapped her face with both hands. “It's getting easier to control.”
Anton kissed her deeply, her hands entwining with his. “If something happens, you will tell us?”
Verona nodded. “I will.”
They dressed in silence and made sure that they had collected everything. Kal spent a bit of time on her cloth wrappings than normal, she didn't want anything to happen now, and double checked that everything was fastened tight. When they were ready they moved the table, picked up their gear, and headed out. Anton half expected there to be someone outside waiting for them but it was completely deserted. When they walked back into the main area of the tavern he found the elderly tavern owner alongside over a dozen villagers. Anton stopped, Verona and Kal staying very close, as they stared back at him. Their faces were a mixture of awe and fear. He guessed that it was something that was going to happen a few more times before he was even done with his first trip through Graterious. And this was just the first village that they had found. At least they didn't have to destroy too much when they went through.
“Good morning everyone.” Anton said. One villager averted his eye and made for the door. None of them stopped him from walking away. “Is there something wrong?”
The elderly tavern owner shook his head. “No...Everyone's terrified about what happened last night.”
Most of the eyes were focused on Verona. She huffed and folded her arms underneath her chest, partially hidden by the armour. “I'm not that terrifying.”
Anton smiled and gave her a kiss on her forehead. It cheered her up a little.
“Are our horses ready?” Anton asked. “And what about Virgil and his men?”
“They're outside.” The tavern owner nodded to the young boy. “He'll get your horses and meet you outside.”
Anton got the feeling that they kind of wanted them gone; the elation of surviving the attack of the Mole Rats had disappeared over the night and now they were just left with the fear of what power the three of them contained.
“Thank you.” Anton said. He pulled out a few silver coins. “I know that we paid for the night, but I think you might need a little bit of help to rebuild.”
The elderly tavern owner looked down at the silver coins, like this was some sort of test, like the coins were worth more than their actual value. Nevertheless, he took it. He gave a nod as they exited the tavern, Kal giving them a little wave as they left. Verona still seemed a little miffed but warmed up with the early sun on her face.
Outside was beginning to smell a little rank. Most of the dead Mole Rats had not been removed. Only those that were directly in the way had been moved, creating a strange series of snaking paths through the dead bodies. The red paths were a little disturbing. Verona groaned as she dug her fingers into her arms, trying to use the pain to overcome the feelings of elation that were travelling through her body. After taking another deep breath she calmed down again.
In front of the tavern stood Virgil and his Bandit Hunters, already mounted on their eager looking horses. They straightened their backs at seeing them approach. A few gripped them tight on the pommel of their swords. It was probably out of instinct, they knew there was probably little they could do against them in an outright fight. Anton was sure that Kal could take down most of them herself after seeing how she dealt with eight Orcs.
“Morning.” Anton said as he approached Virgil. “Seems that we aren't the most popular people anymore. I thought they would have been trying everything to get us to stay.”
Virgil shrugged. “What can you do about these provincial people? You saved their lives and now they're acting like they're next to die. Even though you've only helped them. Superstitious idiots. You could have just let them all die and deal with them yourselves. But don't worry, the people in the cities are far better bred and cultured than these idiots who decided to build on a Mole Rat nest.”
Virgil seemed to have had a change of heart since last night. It was a bit of a gamble to travel with them, they probably thought they were just some travelling fools, but now he spoke a bit more formally and respect.
“Um...Mr. Mage?” A voice came from behind.
They turned around and saw the small boy leading their horses towards him. Verona smiled and took the reins off the kid. The moment that she had taken them he ran away back to the tavern, keeping one eye behind him. Verona sighed, shook her head and brought the horses to them.
“I thought they would at least be able to say something like thanks. We did save their lives after all.” Verona grumbled. Anton ruffled her hair as he took his horse.
“We've got people coming.” Kal pointed to the side of village, opposite of where the Mole Rats attacked from.
It appeared to be nearly every person in the village of Soulthor, minus the ones still in the tavern. They walked like they were preparing to confess to someone they loved. Or to a horrific crime. It made them all a little anxious. They stopped a few meters away, those at the front had large baskets infront of them.
“Is there anything we can do to convince you to stay?” One asked.
Anton looked into the baskets. In it was a selection of dried meats and fruit, more than enough to live a week on comfortably. He saw that the others were filled with the similar items.
“We can give you anything to stay. Even my daughter.” Another said, a middle aged woman. She grabbed a young girl, a little younger than Verona, and thrust her forward towards him. The daughter didn't look too thrilled by the proposition. Verona looked at Anton incredulously while Kal grumbled. This was not something that he could entertain, even jokingly, if he didn't want to be slapped very hard.
“I'm afraid that I cannot stay or accept your gifts.” Anton said, to the dismay of the villagers and the awkward relief of the girl. “You need your food and people far more than I do. We need to keep moving to Porswea. I can only wish you luck in your future.”
“What about the Mole Rats?” The young girl asked. “Will they be back?”
Everyone looked at the piles of dead bodies. Now there was nothing alive or moving in the mass now.
“Not for a little while.” Anton replied. “But, you should all prepare as best you can. Everyone should be able to fight when the time comes. Even if you are not a match for a professional soldier you will have a fighting chance.”
The villagers remained silent. He didn’t know what they could have said. Anton got light shrugs from Verona and Kal. They weren't planning on staying in the village in the first place. There was virtually nothing that they could gain by staying here.
Anton looked to Virgil who nodded as they mounted their horses.
“Good luck.” Kal said as they passed.
The villagers remained silent as they exited the village. Anton hoped that, if they would come back through here, they would be alright. There were a lot of Mole Rats that ran away and were still lurking in the forest.
---[]---
When Soulthor was out of sight Virgil laughed in relief. He looked back to Anton, Verona and Kal, who were at the back of the small group, and slowed so he was alongside them.
“How did you do that?” He asked Anton and Verona.
“Magic?” Anton asked, a slow nod from Virgil.
“I couldn't see a charm on either of you.” Virgil said. “And you don't look like a mage.”
“Is it the clothes?” Verona asked.
Virgil nodded, a tiny quiver of fear flashed over his face. “It is. You can normally see one from a hundred miles away. Always walking like they've got a stick up their arse.” He tried his best to imitate a pompous walk on his horse.
Anton chuckled. “I hope that we aren't ever going to be like that. But what we know isn't much. Being isolated in the mountains means that there's only so much that we can learn. Does Porswea have books on magic?”
Virgil frowned as he scrutinised them deeply. Did he believe their story? He finally shrugged, let out the tiniest sigh, and looked forward.
“Of course. Porswea has a large magical academy. They'll have books on magic. Just about every type imaginable. Either that or you could go to a magic tome store. You'll find them near the academy. I don't know how much they cost, or how much money you've got, but that's something you're going to sort out yourself.”
“Books on everything?” Verona asked.
“I haven't been their myself, but I'm sure they'll have knowledge about everything. Even your...magic.
“That's interesting.” Anton nodded. “We'll need to stop by there. So do the rulers control this academy, or-”
Kal started behaving oddly, taking deep sniffs at the air.
“What's wrong?” Verona asked, leaning forward.
“Smoke.” Kal replied. “Fresh smoke. But not from a stove. I can smell burning leather and paper. Spices and thick oils.”
Anton sniffed at the air. Now that she had mentioned it he could smell something on the air. It was definitely smoke, and there was something else. Even without his enhancements he heard something underneath the rustling of the leaves. A slight clinking of metal striking metal. Then a loud shout. Virgil nodded to the Bandit Hunters and they drew their swords and readied their bows.
“We've become all too familiar with that sound.” Virgil said, his face turning into a scowl. “Bandits. I know we got most of them in this region, bit it seems that those rats find somewhere to crawl out of.”
He turned back to Anton. “I know that you three are not a part of this, hopefully, but could you three help us with our job? Help save some poor people from a terrible fate?”
Anton had already decided on yes, but he looked at Verona and Kal. Both nodded furiously.
“Sure.” Anton replied. “We'll help. But I want you to put in a good word for us to the rulers if you get the chance.”
Virgil nodded and charged forward, everyone else close behind.
Barely a minute later of hard riding they came across the bandits. The bandits were assaulting a caravan of what appeared to be brightly coloured merchants riding large Ix drawn caravans. Bright yellow, blue and red clothes darted about as men and women desperately fought off an overwhelming mass of bandits, even the caravan's guards were equipped with flamboyant armour with bright fluttering clothes underneath. Anton received a flash back to the Orc from Qaiviel, Zig. So too did Kal as she squeaked in surprise. Thankfully it was clear who the bandits were. There were over forty of the bandits; dressed in rough animal skins mixed with patches of peasant clothes, dirty bodies covered in fresh blood, all wearing a murderous smile as they swung their dull and rusty weapons with tremendous strength but no skill.
The merchants, and their colourful guards, were slowly faltering. They were outnumbered three to one and yet were still holding on. Anton admired their determination and strength.
“Who are those?” Verona asked. “They look like that...” Verona stopped and glanced at Kal. Kal remained unmoving, her hand was gripping tight onto the hilt of her daggers.
“Um...Anton?” Virgil said, glancing towards him as he drew his sword. “Can you use your magic from here?”
Virgil looked at Verona and Kal. “I do not doubt the strength of you magics, but...”
Verona huffed. “I can do that pretty safely. My magic isn't that messy. Though they might think that I might be a bad guy.” She looked at Anton. “Knock 'em dead, Grand Mage.”
Verona's grin widened from ear to ear, even Kal chuckled at hearing his assigned name. Anton rubbed her head and turned to the fight infront of them. He whipped the reins of his horse and rode closer. While his lightning bolts could kill the bandits with ease there was still a chance that he could miss at such a large distance. That would make things a little awkward.
When they were almost in range one of the merchant guards stopped and looked towards him. He nearly received a blunted rusted sword to the face but deflected it effortlessly, countering and thrusting his own sword through the throat of the bandit. The bandits at the back of the group turned around and shouted when they saw them approach.
Anton raised his hand and fired lightning bolts at the bandits he could safely get. The lightning arced and writhed through the air, hitting the dirty bandits in the back or sides. They screamed as the lightning tore through their light armour and into their flesh. The flamboyant merchants backed away and kept their swords and shields raised.
“Run!” A bandit cried out. Anton fired a bolt at him as ran, hitting him in the leg and blowing the entire limb off. His body continued moving until he needed to step again, the stump having nowhere near the length to reach. He stumbled, all his weight travelling through his wound as it smacked into the ground, and screamed in pain. The remaining bandits began to flee.
Virgil turned to his men. “Run them down. Capture them if you can.”
The Bandit Hunters cheered and gave chase. Some were mounted archers, striking some down as they chased them into the thin forests. A few seconds passed and the merchants sighed in relief, many cheering as they hugged each other. They had survived. Now their eyes drifted to their saviours, full of worry and apprehension. Who were their saviours and what would they want in return?
“Thank you, most gracious of saviours.” The merchant guard, who first saw Anton, bowed deeply as he spoke, one arm swinging wide as he right foot lightly tapped the back of his left. “You have saved myself, my family, my business and my future prospects. For that, you have my eternal gratitude. And any and all favour that I may curry with the Holy Father for your most gracious actions saving us from those heathanous scoundrels.”
The man looked up. He was a relatively handsome man, but his features were different to the few people that he had seen in Graterious. His face was a little more rounded, dark red hair cut short only with his beard cut to a barely perceptible length, a dark red moustache that the ends turned into a little twirl. Two grey eyes, nearly shinning in the early light of the sun, studied them intently as he looked back up.
Virgil chuckled. “You seem lost, friend. Far more so than...” He looked back at Anton. “These people.”
The merchant guard smiled wildly, thrusting his sword into the ground. “Forgive me for saying this, men and ladies of Graterious, but your land is utterly bewildering and confusing.” He waved to the forest surrounding them. “Forest, trees, forest and then more forest. Only a few places where grasslands intersect, and then it's back to these maddening and confusing forests.”
Virgil frowned and looked towards all three of them. “Well, forests cover most of the east of Graterious. But your story makes even less sense than theirs. What are you doing so far south?”
The man's dark red eyebrows shot up in surprise. “Where are my manners?” He coughed and rested both hands on his hips, puffing out his chest. “My name is Duran de Yscar. Merchant Prince of Bebbezar.”
“You're a prince?” Kal asked, her mask looking between Duran and the damaged caravan behind him. Verona nodded as well.
“My...Ladies. I-”
“He's not a prince.” Virgil cut in, Duran huffing in response. “Not a real one, at any rate.”
“We don't know the difference.” Verona said to Virgil.
“Right. Well, Bebbezar has a royal family in the normal sense. But those with enough wealth can call themselves a Merchant Prince. It doesn't mean that they have any royal blood running through their veins.”
“I take offence to that, my good man.” Duran pointed an armoured finger at Virgil. “Four of my ancestors are directly related to the Great-”
“Nobody cares.” Virgil cut him off, shaking his head and throwing up a hand to stop Duran. He turned to Anton and smiled bitterly. “These Bebbezar types do tend to prattle on once you get them started. We might as well make camp if we got they try to tell us why they're so damn important.”
“But it's still barely morning.” Verona said. Virgil nodded. “Wow.”
Duran had recovered, his pout replaced by a smile. “Unfortunately, as I was saying before, we have been lost for some days. At least in the rolling clear hills of Bebbezar you can always find your way. We had to flee a Ghlotsm horde when we were finally making headway towards a city by the name of Porswea.” He glanced back to the caravan. “We've been lucky that we've only lost some cargo and not one of my companions.”
What's a Ghlotsm? Another beast or monster endemic to Graterious? I'll ask when we're on the move again.
Virgil smiled as he saw the Bandit Hunters return. Their horses were covered in blood, thankfully not their own, but looked eager and ready for more. The same could be said about the men on their backs. One at the back had a beaten and blood man tied to a rope trailing behind.
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“We managed to catch one.” The Bandit Hunter scowled. “Two managed to get away. I'm sorry.”
Virgil shrugged. “That's the way it goes. We managed to get most of them, so that's enough for now. We'll just have to let Lord Cassius know that this area isn't completely cleaned out yet.”
The bandit was thrown infront of Duran. He barely kept himself awake as blood poured out of a dozen wounds on his chest. Duran looked up, a confused brow dramatically raised on his face.
“You were the one that they tried to kill and rob.” Virgil nodded to the dying bandit. “We don't need him for information. There's nothing he would know anyway. His life is yours.”
Duran frowned as he looked down at the bandit. The bandit looked up, throwing up a desperate shaking hand, as he pleaded for mercy through bloody breaths. Duran sighed and shook his head.
“As a Merchant Prince of Bebbezar, I am a man of honour and virtue. And I am not going to strike down someone so clearly on the verge of death. Even if they are a despicable and pathetic villain such as yourself.”
The bandit relaxed.
“But doesn't mean I have to save your worthless hide.”
Duran lent down and picked up the bandit, nearly effortlessly as he was much stronger than he seemed, and carried him to the edge of the path and deep into the forest. He ignored the weak protests of the bandit and left him sitting against a tree. As he came back, ignoring the cries of the bandit, he shrugged to their confused stares.
“I will not strike him down.”
Anton hummed, so too did Verona and Kal. At least it wasn't as brutal as the Gravestone.
“Can your...caravan move?” Virgil asked Duran.
Duran looked back, receiving nods from the other brightly clothed people. “We can. We can't move as fast as you on horseback, but we will endeavour to try.”
Virgil smiled. “Well, you wanted to head to Porswea. And, as it turns out, so are the rest of us. If you are willing to cook for us we'll take that as payment for saving you.”
Duran looked towards Anton. He was the one who had used the lightning.
“Travelling in a large group would be safer than splitting up, especially with this many bandits on the road. I would also like to ask you a few questions while we travel.” Anton looked back at Verona and Kal. “There's a lot that's happened in the world that we need to catch up on.”
Duran raised a brow but didn't object. He bowed flamboyantly again. “Thank you. Our culinary skills are the best in the land. We will not disappoint.”
Virgil chuckled as the Bandit Hunters moved to assist the Bebbezar merchants get ready. Verona and Kal rode either side of Anton.
“Do we want to be travelling with these people?” Kal asked. Anton turned, seeing her raise a hand in apology. “I'm not saying it's the right, or wrong, choice but this many people, with those slow carts, will make a lot of noise. There's a much higher chance that we'll be spotted and attacked by beasts and monsters.”
Kal started fidgeting at the reins. “And I do like...being free.”
Anton held her hand, Kal entwining her fingers with his own. “I think this will be a good chance to get allies in Graterious. That could help us get to Seocuria much more quickly, if we have someone to vouch for us rather than having to go alone. We shouldn't turn down potential help.”
Kal sighed. “I know. I just like being able to strip down some times.”
Verona chuckled. “Me too. But we'll find somewhere in Porswea to rent, somewhere better than that tavern back there, and then we can have some fun for a few days.” Verona leered at Kal's backside. “Where I can play with that again.”
Kal groaned as she shook her head. However, Anton could see that her ears were twitching in happiness.
“Okay.” One of the Bebbezar merchants shouted out. “We're ready to go.”
The caravans started to rumbled back onto the path towards the north east. Virgil gave them a glance before following the merchants. Anton whipped the reins lightly and the horses started to move. They remained at the back travelling in silence for nearly a minute before Verona gently reached for Anton's hand.
“So, are we going to be doing what we did the other night? Where we try and find out information?”
Anton nodded. “It's a good idea. I would like to speak with that Duran man. If he's come from Bebbezar that means that he's probably travelled through Seocuria.” Anton felt Kal's restrained anger at that place being mentioned. “It'll be a good chance to find out what's been happening there since you left.”
Kal nodded. “I...I should come with you. I don't want to hear about that place but I know that I need to deal with that. I'll also know if they're lying about that place. Like if the Beast-kin are all free and happy, I'll let you know that he's lying.”
“Okay then.”
Kal coughed awkwardly. “Also I don't think that many people are going to open up to me wearing this.”
Her cloth wrapped fingers lightly scraped at the white mask.
Verona just laughed. “I don't know about that. But, afterwards you could try. The worst that happens is that they don't speak to you. I don't think they're going to ask you to remove the mask.”
“So.” Kal looked around Anton to Verona. “Who will you be talking with?”
“I'll talk to the women in the caravan. They might be more willing to talk with a woman, like me, and not the Grand Mage that effortlessly took out nearly twenty bandits. They might be a bit afraid or intimidated.”
“You might want to hurry on that.” Kal said, getting an odd look from both of them. “If Virgil, or one of the other Bandit Hunters, tells them what you did in Soulthor I don't think that they won't want to speak with you.”
Verona nodded deeply as she held her chin. “That they wont.” She turned and smiled to them. “Alright. I'll get on it before they start to chat. We'll catch up at lunch unless we see each other before then.”
Verona lent over and pulled Anton down for a kiss. She whipped the reins and moved to the other side of Kal, also giving her a kiss on the top of her mask. Verona whispered in her ear, both girls chuckled, then waved back as she caught up with the caravans. She began speaking with some of the women from Bebbezar, a few were guards, offering her hand for them to shake. When they shook Anton focused himself forward.
“Come on Kal. We need to do our part as well.”
Kal nodded furiously as they picked up pace. They moved to the other side of the cart that Verona was talking at, they heard a laugh from her and a woman as they passed, and towards the cart at the front of the caravan. That was where he had seen Duran go.
When they arrived at the front he found Duran sitting to the side of a woman holding the reins, what he presumed to be his wife. A slim and attractive middle aged woman. She wore the same coloured flamboyant clothes as Duran, the same dark red hair kept short in a bob. When Anton sidled along the cart the woman bumped Duran's arm, who was thoroughly captivated by her, and nodded towards them.
Duran turned and smiled when he saw them. “Hello my friends. Our saviors. I'm afraid that I have been continuously rude to all...three, of you. I haven't asked for your names or given my personal thanks.” Duran looked behind them for Verona. “Where, where is your silver haired friend?”
“She's at the back of the caravan.” Anton replied, Duran smiling in return. “My name is Anton, this is Kal, and the silver haired woman is Verona.”
“My pleasure to meet you all. Anton, the Lightning Mage.”
I wonder if they'll call me Grand Mage if they see me using all my powers.
Duran offered his hand to shake, which Anton took. It was rough and firm but he didn't try and rip Anton's hand off. He offered it to Kal who shook her head.
“Ah, my companion is a bit...” Anton trailed off at the end.
Duran looked quite shocked. “My apologies. I never mean to intrude on someone else's space or body without permission.”
Kal nodded once. At least she wasn't going to be exposed right now.
“This is my wife, Eluria de Yscar, the most fine woman a man like me could ever hope to aspire to marry.”
Eluria bowed her head. “Thank you...Anton, for saving us.” She looked him over, studying the both of them. “You were the one that used the lightning, yes?”
Anton nodded. “I did. I didn't think it was right to just leave you to the predations of those bandits.”
“For that we are very thankful.” Duran bowed his head again. “But, what is someone that can use such powerful magic so easily doing out this far from a city? Forgive me for saying this but you don't look like a mage.”
Well, we should keep the story straight.
“We haven't been away from the mountains for some time.” Anton began. “We are only just returning to civilisation after a long time. That means that we couldn't buy new clothes so we need to use what we found, caught and made. But, spending so long away from other people, it means that we have become a little out of touch with what is happening in the lands below. Perhaps you could help us with that.”
“Certainly!” Duran exclaimed. “After what you have done for us we have no right to refuse. Not that I would anyway. A man from the Yscar family would never miss an opportunity to talk with someone that he owes a great debt. I would like to think-”
Eluria bumped his arm, a thin smile on her face as she looked forward. Duran sighed as he rubbed her leg. “Forgive me. My wife says that, if I get going, I tend to talk and talk without end. I, personally, don't think-”
He was bumped again, this time he smiled again. They seemed to love each other quite a bit.
“We've managed to find out a bit about what's happening in Graterious.” Anton began. “A Triumvirate between three noble lords that keep the royal family on top and the country together. But I know nothing of the lands beyond Graterious, beyond what I can see on a map.”
“Well.” Duran straightened out his brightly coloured armoured legs. “I suppose that I should start with the land that I know best, my-our homeland.” Anton noticed the tiny wince in Duran's eyes, one of Eluria's hands had jabbed him in the side. “How can I best describe the land of Bebbezar...A large and bright open land, rolling grasslands filled with orchards and farms growing such delectable things you wouldn't have tasted before. The bright sun is nearly always shinning, the people happy and peaceful. Artisans and craftsmen make things of unparalleled beauty and quality. Always something to do and something to trade. I cannot do it justice with my words. There's no place quite like in the Shattered Kingdoms.”
Sounds a bit like a tourist advertisement. But, how would you really describe a place like the land around Atros? Grasslands, a lake in the distance and a mountain looming over it? Anyway, it sounds like it'll be a good place to visit.
Duran sighed as he closed his eyes, clearly reminiscing about home.
“Why did you come here then?” Anton asked. “Graterious is a long way from Bebbezar, at least according the maps I've seen.”
“It is.” Duran replied. Eluria's face turned crestfallen as she shook it barely perceptibly. “Even though the land is glorious...But, there are some tough times back home. Very tough and dangerous times. We've had to leave to make our fortune elsewhere.”
Kal made a noise, the beginning of a word. She looked to Anton, who nodded lightly, and she coughed to gather their attention.
“W...Was it bandits?” Kal asked.
Duran shook his head. “No, my masked dear. I only wish that it was something as simple as those bandits you so graciously killed for us. Again, I am thankful for that.”
“So no bandits?” Anton asked.
“No.” Eluria replied, Duran smiling as he rested against her shoulder. “That wasn't it. But there are some very dangerous bandits on the eastern side of Bebbezar. They aren't like these ones you fought off for us.” She shook her head. “They are more like an army. Large and pervasive in the east. A whole bunch of angry people that hate people with money. I heard them in one of the captured cities at the border with Seocuria. They were talking about how the workers and labourers should rise up and overthrow the king. To take back their lands...And then what?”
Eluria chuckled. “I...asked them, It was stupid to even raise my voice, what they would do once they overthrew the king. They said it would become a paradise. But when I asked them how they were going to do that they just got mad at me. They didn't have an answer as others began to ask the same question. Everyone there realised they were just angry men acting like children, angry at their lot in life. We've lost more than they've ever had, but we...” Eluria patted Duran's arm. “We manage to keep our smile. We have to, for everyone's sake. Otherwise we'll become hateful like them.”
Those bandits sound something like a communist style uprising. Kal mentioned something abut that after showing us that cave. I don't know if that can be useful to us, but something we'll need to keep an eye out if we get to Bebbezar.
“I'm glad that you managed to get through in one piece.”
Duran laughed. “Ha. Those people slinked back into the trees when we showed them some steel and arrows. For all their talk they aren't very brave.”
Kal made a little noise. “Why do you wear such bright colours?” Kal asked. “If you were trying to evade bandits or beasts and monsters...I could have spotted you a mile away without even trying. Why not wear something like this?”
She gestured to her armour and cloth wrappings. Compared to their bright blues, yellows and reds, Kal's grey and brown clothes were basically camouflage. Kal could hide in the bushes and forests and no one would know of her presence. That was exactly why she had chosen to wear those coloured clothes, though not to the extent that she had to wear them.
Duran huffed, even Eluria looked marginally miffed. “Even if Bebbezar was to fall into the sea and consumed by fire I wouldn't stop wearing these. These clothes are made by the weavers of Bebbezar, of colours, varieties and better quality than any of the other kingdoms and empires can match. We wear these like you would your skin. I feel uncomfortable without them. There is no way I would stop being proud of my heritage, not even at the point of a sword.”
Anton hummed. He had heard of nationalistic pride before, but never heard it being said to him like this.
Surely they would change their bright colours in a war...I wonder if that Clansmen, Ivano, would know more. If they actually fight wearing such bright colours. I wonder how he's going?
“So...” Kal shook her head. “But you look still like a giant target for bandits and monsters to hunt. I don't understand...”
Duran shrugged. He wasn't going to budge on the issue. “My dear, this is our way of life. And nothing will change that.”
“I must visit Bebbezar one day, see what your country has to offer. According to the maps I've seen there's another country between Bebbezar and Graterious.” Anton said. “Seocuria.”
He heard Kal grip tight on her reins. Neither Duran or Eluria appeared to notice.
“Yes.” Duran nodded. “A fine place. A very nice place to visit. If you're travelling to Bebbezar, you must stop there. I'm sure that you'll find it completely and utterly fascinating. So many little critters running around.”
Kal made the tiniest noise, her body moving forward like she was about to yell something, but she held herself back. She didn't want to ruin any chance of rescuing her mother and her people.
“What's it like?” Anton asked. “I've only heard a few things about Seocuria. The maps really don't show that much.”
“Well, how can I describe it...” Duran rubbed his chin again. “Okay. It's an arid land, with lush life for several miles either side of the many rivers that run down from the mountains of the Deweth Clans. The arable land is filled with massive plantations and farms. Around those are hundreds of cheap workshops and weavers. Their quality is nothing like Bebbezar or even Graterious but it's so cheap compared to everyone else. So, if you need to get a lot of cheap, and not very good, things it's the place to go. But I know you'll find this interesting, especially after being away from other people for so long. They're the only place that, bizarrely, keeps Beast-kin alive and working as slaves rather than removing them entirely. Them and Graterious. They just work the beasts hard as well, but they don't let them breed.”
Anton kept his face under control. He didn't look back to Kal, just in case it gave something away. He knew that she would be very angry of hearing his words. Eluria didn't make any reaction that she was offended by his words.
Bloody hell. No...This sounds like it might be the normal reaction that people have in this world. It's just us...well, myself and Verona right now, that like them. I'm sure the others have warmed up to Kal by now. But this...this is how Kal has had to live? I'll need to pamper her a lot when I get the chance.
Wait a second. If Seocuria didn't enslave them and killed them like everyone else seemed to have, does that mean that they could all be gone? Bloody hell. Humans can be real dicks when they want to be.
“Beast-kin?” Anton asked, getting an odd look from Duran. “What do you mean?”
“Ah, right. Beast-kin are the personification of our most vile sins, sent by the most gracious Holy Father to remind us of our failings. To remind us to keep our faith and that humans are the superior beings. Not that it's hard to see why they're inferior. Twisted parts of beasts and monsters forced into human forms. Some are giant things covered in fur, others barley as big as my leg that scurry about like rats. Damn smelly things too. Very smelly.”
“Hmm.”
Anton had heard this sort of thing before when he revealed Kal to the new bondsmen at Atros. Though that time he had Raston perform a little crowd manipulation so things didn't get out of hand. He didn't want to say anything yet. He glanced back at Kal, though he couldn't see her face he could tell that she was fuming on the inside. She must have heard this every time she met a human that didn't just attack her straight away. How she didn't go insane over the years was something he didn't understand. He wouldn't have had the strength she has.
Duran smiled as he lent back. “But, thanks to those disgusting creatures, we managed to make quite a bit of coin. They always need someone to move them about from one plantation to another.”
Kal was furious underneath her cloak. Here was a man that engaged in slavery, only thinking about the money he could make from it. Though Anton reasoned that why most people would deal in that trade. That, or power or desperation.
“It wasn't dangerous work.” Duran continued. “Though, at least we didn't have to worry about any bandits attacking us while we moved throughout the land. Bandits don't last long in Seocuria. It's very interesting what they do to them, you'll like this.” Duran leaned closer to Anton. “They don't hang them or kill them. They offer them a choice to be enslaved alongside the Beast-kin or kill themselves. Most kill themselves, usually with a blunted rusted sword. Doesn't say much for the Beast-kin, does it? That people would rather be dead than work alongside them.”
Is this just the casual racism against Beast-kin that everyone has? How rare is someone like me, or Verona, for that matter?
Kal grumbled lightly. Anton decided to change the subject a little, if to stop Duran from inadvertently insulting Kal before she lost her cool.
“So why did you come here to Graterious?” Anton asked.
“We heard in Seocuria that there was some good money to make in Graterious.” Duran's smile faded. “That and the tough times have followed us from Bebbezar.”
That sounds like your being pursued by someone, and not those communist bandits, and that's why you ended up in Seocuria. Doesn't explain why you haven't got rid off your bright coloured clothes. If I was on the run that's the fist thing I would have done. I don't get these people.
“I hope you have better luck in Graterious.” Anton said. “Are you going to establish some sort of business in Porswea?”
Both nodded. “I certainly hope so.” Duran replied. “It'll be difficult, I'm sure, but we aren't defeated just yet.”
“If we ever come back I'll have to try and find you. I'm sure that finding a Bebbezar Merchant Prince in Porswea wouldn't be too hard.”
Duran laughed as he looked forward.
“How are the roads to the north?” Anton asked. “If we were to head to Seocuria and Bebbezar, how safe are the roads?”
Duran looked back at Virgil and his Bandit Hunters. “If I'm very honest, not very good. I would advise you to travel with an armoured caravan. If at all. There are lots of bandits on the roads and there's always the chance that you could be attacked by Deweth Clansmen raiders from the north. Those frost warriors make my bones feel weak. Terrifying lumbering men and women, though I'm sure that you know all about them.”
“What about the sea?” Kal asked. “Are there many pirates out there?”
Duran glanced back at Eluria. She waved a free hand. “There are a few, but nowhere near as many as there are on the land. It would be...relatively safe out there, if you intend to travel.”
“Good to know.” Kal mumbled. She lowered her head, both Bebbezzarians shrugging at her actions.
I can find out what the others think about the Clansmen. Find what they think of them.
“You said something about Deweth Clansmen.” Anton began. “I saw in the map that they are in the center of all these Kingdoms and Empires. Does that make them a trading hub or something?”
Duran and Eluria laughed, an honest loud laugh. It was loud enough that the Bandit Hunters and the other members of their merchant caravan looked over.
“No.” Duran shook his head, wiping away a tear in his eye. “Oh, Anton, the Lightning Mage, you made this whole day's bad events worthwhile. No, they are not traders. Raiders. That's all those people are.”
“It's a shame.” Eluria added. “I've met two that aren't raiders, and they were very nice people. Though that was all of them.”
Ivano and Brenna seemed like nice people, if you weren't on the other end of their axes.
“They raid all the surrounding Kingdoms and Empires for people and valuables. Well, almost all of them.”
“Someone has made a deal with them?” Kal asked. She focused her mind so she wouldn't think about Duran's casual racism towards Beast-kin.
“Seocuria has.” Duran replied. “They pay them in gold and slaves to keep them away, and get some interesting things in return. They're the only people the Clansmen can trade with. But what I really meant they can't raid the dead. By that I mean the Kar Kingdom.”
“An entire Kingdom is dead?” Anton asked. “It's not on my maps that it's gone. How and when did that happen?”
Duran shrugged. “I don't know but it happened about thirty to forty winters ago. From what I know it just seemed to fall apart when a Goblin horde tore through their lands from the south. My heart weeps for those poor souls that were overtaken by those horrid little creatures.”
“You have them in Bebbezar?”
“Oh yes. Though just the Green and Yellow varieties. Not those Blue or Black ones. As long as you don't let them grow into big numbers they aren't really a threat. Good to train your tactics and sword arm on though.”
“That's good to know.” Anton said. “We've come across a few in our time. None have been particularly friendly.”
“No they are not. So, Anton, and Kal, what are you hoping to find in Porswea? You seem like you could survive in the wilderness easily and not need the trappings of city life.”
Kal perked up. That was her specialty, honed over years in the wilds. She seemed quite happy to be praised inadvertently.
“A number of things.” Anton replied. “Things that will help us immensely.”
Duran has said that he's a follower of the Church of the Holy Father. And they aren't too keen on the Old Gods. We got away with it in Qaiviel and Soulthor because of Verona's and my sheer magical power. They wouldn't risk their lives against it. And we left pretty quickly.
Duran smiled knowingly. “Everyone has their reasons. A man of Bebbezar won't pry into another's purpose without good reason. And doing that to our saviors would leave a mark on my reputation and heart that I couldn't remove.”
Anton smiled and nodded. As Duran looked forward, Anton reached over and gently held Kal's hand. Her body was trembling in a strangely calm anger, his touch calmed her a little. They continued in silence, the noise from the horses hooves and the creaking and rattling of the carts filling their ears.