Omen: 9, 12

“Misfortune, perhaps?” Jaygak asked, flashing a smile towards Adam. It was a knowing smile, and her brows raised in an accusatory manner.

“You never know with me,” Adam replied, meeting with the chief at the village’s centre. Jurot and Kitool stood, already waiting for the pair.

“It’s tax day,” Old Jim informed, glancing towards the newcomers. “The lord’ll come and take our taxes.”

“Tax day, eh?” Adam said, almost sighing. ‘Can’t escape death or taxes even in this realm?’ He shook his head slowly at his own thoughts, almost smirking.

They could see the shapes in the distance, three heavily armoured individuals on horseback, one towards the front, with two riding slightly behind them. One of the pair in the back carried a banner, chequered yellow and white. As they approached, Adam noted the leading rider wore full plate, while the others wore chain, with extra bits of metal strapped to them to form greater protection for their shoulders and front.

As the leading rider approached, slowing once he was within the village, he lifted his visor to reveal his face. He was scarred from cheek to cheek, and wore a thick beard under his helmet, which was hidden behind the chains that fell like a curtain to cover his chin and neck.

“Chief.”

“M’lord.”

The lord’s eyes fell across the four newcomers. He noted their plate mail, meaning they could have easily been nobles, though no doubt were just fortunate adventurers. Two did not wear armour, but they seemed quite fit and capable, and considering their weapons, they didn’t seem to be wet behind their ears.

“Any trouble?”

“No, m’lord.”

“The tax is due.”

“Of course, m’lord.” The chief nodded towards another, who brought over a small chest, opening it up to reveal the gold and silver. The knight glanced towards it, and seeing that it was mostly in order, he nodded, and the rider who wasn’t holding the banner, trotted up and took the chest.

“The tax from travellers is a gold per head,” the knight said. “It must be paid if you wish to survive in a village under my protection.”

Adam chewed on his thoughts for a moment, resisting the urge to speak up. He had so much he wanted to say, but realised he shouldn’t start a fight with every little lord that he met.

“Okay,” Jurot replied. “We have yet to be paid, but we have earned more than four gold.” Jurot’s head slowly turned to the chief, waiting to see what he would do.

“Right,” the chief said, nodding his head. “We’ll, uh, gather some more silver, shall we?”

As someone went to find some silver, the knight continued to eye up the group. Jurot thought for a moment, and noted the look in the knight’s eyes. It was obviously displeasure, something they had all picked up on, something which they were all used to.

“Adam,” Jurot called.

“Yeah?”

“Bring the pelt.”

“Okay.” Adam stepped away for a moment, feeling the gaze of the knight against his back. He grabbed the pelt which had been treated, and had been bundled to one side, and brought it out with him.

“We are new in this land, and have yet to learn of its customs,” Jurot said. “We will gift you this pelt.”

“A greatwolf pelt?” the knight asked, his eyes glancing across it. “I did hear that you had managed to kill it.” He continued to eye up each of them. He had also heard that only one of them had fought it, an impressive accomplishment. “Did you slay it?”

“Yes,” Jurot said.

“Unarmoured?”

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“I do not shirk from blows.”

“Shall I confirm such a matter?” the knight asked, reaching for his blade.

Adam cleared his throat, and was about to speak up, before Jurot spoke up.

“If you’re willing to-, the Iyrman stated, before he was interrupted.

“You may,” Kitool said. “If you are willing to allow him to do the same.”

“You wish to take a swing at a noble?”

“We have swung at many nobles,” Kitool said. “They are typically well trained, so are worthy to spar against.”

“You’ve sparred against nobles?”

“We have fought them in a setting which did not call for either side to die.”

The knight narrowed his eyes towards the young woman. She spoke in a peculiar way, a way which nobles preferred to speak. He wasn’t sure what she meant by it, or if it was a threat. No, who would wish to start trouble with nobles? They seemed to want to do the opposite, and they had kept out of trouble thus far.

“I will accept the pelt as a gift,” the knight stated, bowing his head lightly.

“Good ch-,” Adam said, wincing as Jaygak elbowed him.

“You almost managed to get through one meeting with a noble without trying to get yourself killed,” Jaygak stated.

“I think you’ll fine, Jaygak, that plenty of nobles love me. In fact, I was going to compliment the good lord, and then you so rudely stopped me. Forgive her, good lord, for she has no idea how to speak with nobles.”

“What about all the nobles you’ve offended?”

“Name one.”

“Only one?”

“Just one.”

“There’s Sir Har-,”

“See? You can’t even name a single noble.”

“Sir Ros-,”

“How is it that you can’t even name a single noble when you’re so confident?”

“Sir Ka-,”

“Anyhow, how about we stop this nonsense. We’ve got to show our best side to the noble, and it’s difficult with you bickering with me.”

Jaygak noted Adam’s light tone throughout, understanding he was joking, and she could see how he shook to stifle his laughter. “Adam.” Jaygak’s tone was serious, and very quickly Adam stopped shaking.

Jurot looked up towards the knight and blinked. “My brother is commonly known as a fool.”

“I see,” the knight replied, nodding his head. Once he had received the tax he returned back and followed the trail out, heading to the next village to receive more tax.

“I don’t think he likes us,” Adam said.

“I don’t think he likes you,” Jaygak corrected.

“You talking a lot of smack for someone whose within axe swinging range.”

“You talk a lot of smack for someone whose brother is within verbal range.”

“Jurot wouldn’t attack me.”

“He has.”

“When?”

“When you had the sword.”

“I didn’t have a…” Adam narrowed his eyes. “That doesn’t count. I was cur-,”

“Yes,” Jaygak stated, slapping his shoulder. “It does.”

Adam threw a look towards his brother for support, before sighing. “Alright. Sure.”

The chief stared at the trio, wondering if they were going to be the death of him.

The bell rung within the village. It had been a couple of weeks since the knight had taken their tax. As the days had passed by, the group continued to help the village deal with the beasts which drew close to the town. It had been a week since they had last seen any beasts, but even when they had attacked, the villagers hadn’t rung the bell.

Adam marched calmly through the streets, the villagers bustling chaotically, grabbing various arms as a group of ten figures approached the village. Three wore chain armour, six wore thick hides, and another was half naked, her chest almost bare.

The half naked woman carried a large scythe, one that was far too unwieldy for any normal person to wield, but she was even taller than Adam, and was thick with muscle. Her dark hair had been cut short, though not quite as clean as Katool’s bobs. It was as though she had used the scythe to cut her hair.

‘Nice,’ Adam thought. It was then he noticed that most of the figures were women, all save three.

“We’ve come for your taxes!” shouted the dark haired, half naked woman. She noted the appearance of the four, each far more heavily armed than the villagers, with two wearing full plate. Her lips formed wide grin, revealing her jagged, yellow teeth.

Adam looked to Jurot, wondering if he wanted to talk, but Jurot motioned Adam with his head. The Half Elf stepped forward, relaxing his arm between his axe head and his thigh. “Weird, that. I recall we paid taxes to the lord not so long ago.”

The woman grinned wider. “You’ve got a quarter, otherwise we’ll start ruining your farms, and beating a few of you.” She eyed up the four. They did seem quite tough, but they didn’t need to fight them in particular, they could just cause some trouble and retreat. They could always hit another village if they needed to.

“A quarter?”

“A quarter’s plenty of time for you to grab your valuables,” the woman said, smirking wider. “Nice armour.”

“Thank you,” Adam said, glancing to his side. “Quarter’s plenty of time to figure out what we should do. Hey, chief, bandits a common problem around these parts?”

“Yes.”

“Fair.” Adam nodded to Jurot. “You handle the woman, I’ll handle the three guys to the side?”

“You don’t want the leader?” Jaygak asked.

“If I beat a woman I’ll get cancelled,” Adam replied, chuckling lightly.

“What?”

“Never mind.” Adam cleared his throat. “So?”

“I will deal with the leader,” Jurot assured.

“You good to handle three women each?” Adam asked the pair.

“Hey!” the woman snarled, stepping forward. “What are you talking about?”

“Just how we’re splitting you all,” Adam replied, casually.

“Do you know who that is?” Jim asked, staring at the woman. “That’s Red Scythe Brenna. Hadn’t heard she had made her way here.”

“They got a bounty on their head?”

“I’m sure of it.”

“Looks like we’re eating good tonight,” Adam said, grinning wide.

“Can you really fight them?” Jim asked, while Jurot removed his tunic, revealing his under shirt, which he pulled off.

“Chief Jim, bandits are our speciality.” Adam shrugged off his cloak, and drew Wraith.

“Bastards!” Brenna growled. “Get ‘em!”