I put my stuff inside my home and regretted not being able to hunt for more ingredients. I really wanted to make those last three potions. The cleaning one, the water purification one, and the regeneration one were all useful, especially to me. My hand touched my face and the snake venom damage I had lived with for years. If I could somehow get rid of that, I think I would be that much happier.

I changed the content of my pack for going to town. I put in the marsh panther pelt and head that I had done before the winter, my set of clean clothing and boots, and added several water skins of stew and smoked meat. I knew that was a bit more than I actually needed; but, I was going to town and needed the extra food, just in case I wasn't allowed to eat anything there.

I also added a sealed leather bag that was full of the same stinky mud that I had used to adjust myself back to being the same smell as my environment last fall. I wasn't going to make that mistake again. I added a few of the ingredients that I would need to make more number ten potion, just in case. I had quite a bit in my bandoleer, along with the fortifying waterproof potion, to make molds if I needed to.

I had missed my birthday in the spring, which meant that I was now 18 years old from when the Hag bought me. I also missed the frog migration from their hibernation area to their mating area, so no tasty oat grubs this year. That made me sad. Of course, with the marsh dragon claiming the area where the fungus blooms were, I was pretty sure that a lot of things were going to change in the marsh over the next few months.

I grabbed my bandoleer of potions to hang over my shoulder and a case of empty vials. I switched it out for half healing and half general health potions. Even if something happened to me when I got to town, I had to give them to Diane. I also took all of my money, since I intended to go to the next village after stopping at the dock and getting cleaned up. Rebecca let me do it last time and I hoped that she would let me do it again.

I took the boat out through the large front door and put my pack under the tarp, along with six of the near-deer antler sets and the mixed case of potions. I went back in and grabbed my knifed-pitchfork and added it to the boat with the two partially metal covered pushing poles that I had made with experimenting with the number ten potion.

I shut and locked the door, sealed it with potion, and then I removed the old enchanted wooden coins from the boat and secured the two new square enchantments for movement and for weight on the bottom of the boat, under the seats where the old ones used to be. I couldn't wait to test them out and activated the weight one. I easily pulled the boat over to the waterway and had to smile.

Before I pushed it in, I took one of the poles and probed the slightly stagnant water that was just starting to flow a little. Nothing moved or tried to bite the pole, so I slid the boat into the water. I hopped in and sat down, I held the pole at the ready, just in case, and activated the movement enchantment. The boat took off like a shot and I fell on my ass and tumbled to the back of it. The pole I was holding flew out of my hand as I tried to grab on to anything solid and I heard the plunk and splash sounds as it fell over the side.

I caught myself just before I fell over the edge of the back of the boat and deactivated the enchantment. “Whew.” I said and shook a little. In my stupidity, I had used the same amount of magic that I had used for the old movement enchantment, that I now knew was very inefficient. The new one was like a whole different experience and scale of power, which meant that I needed to be very careful with it. I had also lost one of my poles.

I was glad that I had secured my stuff under the tarp, because everything would have slid into me and probably smashed. I checked my bandoleer and sighed in relief. Nothing was broken. I opened each reinforced padded pouch and checked each vial to make sure they weren't cracked or anything. Leaks for some of them would be bad, especially the number ten potions.

If there was one potion that you did not want to get on you, it was number ten. My prep table with part of a root merged with it was proof enough of that.

It took me several minutes of experimentation to activate the movement enchantment with as little magic as possible. Having a large and practically straight waterway was perfect for that and I managed to get it to work as I held on tightly to the wood plank seat. I was not making that mistake again.

I got the boat going and the lowest speed I had was double that of the highest speed of the old enchantment.

Of course, now that I knew that, I also knew that I could intentionally add flaws into the carvings to make the enchantments less efficient and also less dangerous. The 'real' one didn't need much magic at all and the wind was blowing my long black hair around.

It took me less than an hour to get to the village, and that was saying something. I didn't even want to think what going faster would mean. Of course, it was still dangerous to travel through the marsh and I had to fight off a few things that threatened me, like hanging vines, aggressive spiders, and dropping snakes.

The snakes were hilarious, because I had to slow down to let them drop into the boat. They would have missed, otherwise. I was tempted to leave a couple of them alive to protect the boat, then changed my mind. I didn't want to be accused of bringing them to the village to attack people, and that was exactly how they would see it. I killed them all and left them on the tarp. The sight alone might impress people enough to leave the boat alone.

I deactivated the movement and weight enchantments as I approached the opening of the waterway to the harbour and the boat slowed down and settled into the water. I realized my mistake of waiting too long to do it, when a large wave was pushed from the square bow and out into the harbour. It was much too big for a poled boat to make, even when coming to a stop, and I sighed. If anyone was out on the dock, they would easily see the wave because the water was almost completely calm.

I picked up my remaining pole and eased over to the opening and peered out to see no less than six people were staring at me, one of which was a man in uniform. I silently said one of the Hag's favorite curses and poled out into complete view. Two of the six men let out laughs at the ramshackle boat, not realizing it was actually a great boat, no matter what it looked like.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I ignored them as I stared at a large boat, almost like a schooner. Four of the men went back to doing whatever they were doing on different boats and I looked back at the dock. One man stared at me like he wanted to kill me and the man in uniform had a completely blank face. I poled around the edge of the harbour and went over to the dock.

I thought about ignoring the dock and just going up on shore, then realized that wasn't a good idea. My boat would be completely unprotected and anyone could get to it.

“You fucking bastard.” The older man spat at me as I bumped into the dock. “You actually had the balls to come back here.”

“Mr. Powell.” The man in uniform said in a stern voice. “Do not forget that you are here at my leisure.”

“I've been standing here every fucking day for a week for this little shit to show up here.” Mr. Powell said. “He killed my boy and I want him hung at the end of the rope of justice!”

“The army does things the proper way, sir.” The man in uniform said. “We are here now and what you want may actually happen... after a proper trial is held.”

“Ha! A trial!” Mr. Powell said. “All you have to do is ask him! He won't deny it!”

I opened my mouth to admit it and the man cut me off.

“That's not my job, sir.” The man in uniform said. “I am only here to deliver him to the new garrison.”

_______________

You have a choice to make. It will change how things play out from now on.

A) Go along with it. B) Try to run. C) Fight. D) Kill them. E) Burn it down. F) Distract them.

Screw it. I knew something like this would happen. At least it's not the mayor screaming for my death. So, let's see where it takes me. I choose A.

_______________

I tied up my boat properly and discretely applied some number ten potion to merge the side of the boat to part of the dock to secure it. “Where's the new garrison?” I asked, as if it didn't matter to me. It did, and I activated my vigilance technique.

“It's just outside the village in a field owned by the Addams family.” The man in the uniform said.

“I know one of them.” I said, since I couldn't tell if he lied.

“I had assumed so, since they offered the field when they discovered what was going on.” The man in the uniform said. “No one in their right mind would give up prime farming land for someone they didn't know.”

“Can we make a few stops?” I asked as I took out the pack I had and put it on.

“I am supposed to take you right to the garrison.” The man responded.

“I'm here to make sure that you don't run.” Mr. Powell said.

“Why would I run?” I asked and picked up the knifed-pitchfork. Both men stepped back from the edge of the dock.

“What the hell is that?” Mr. Powell asked, shocked.

“What's it look like?” I asked and waved it at him. “It's a knifed-pitchfork.”

“You... you can't have that kind of a weapon.” The man in the uniform said.

“Who says?” I asked and pointed it at him.

He didn't respond and just stared at it.

I moved the tarp aside and they both gasped at the six sets of near-deer antlers. “Did Diane get her store built?” I asked and did my best to tie the antlers to my belt. I looked like I was growing antlers out of my hips when I was done.

“Yes, she... has a small shop... with almost nothing in it.” Mr. Powell said.

I frowned at him. “Diane's not stupid. She would have some things in there.”

The man's face went a little red and he didn't respond.

I picked up the case of potions and stared at the two of them. They stepped back even further and I put the case onto the dock and put the tarp back into place and moved the snakes around to stop anyone from grabbing the tarp. I climbed up onto the dock and looked at the man in the uniform as I slid my knifed-pitchfork into the little holder on the pack on my back, just like the one John had on his belt for his axes.

“I assume we're walking up the main road.” I said and he nodded. I picked up the case of potions and started walking. I made it to the end of the dock before they realized I wasn't going to wait for them and they ran to catch up to me. Several people were out on the street and stared at me. I ignored them and walked up the main road.

Mack saw me pass by the general store and came out. “David!” He nearly yelled. “I need those potions!”

“I don't deal with you anymore.” I said and kept walking. I ignored a slight scuffle sound behind me and kept walking. When I reached the empty lot that used to be Diane's, there was a tiny little shack there. Even to my eyes, it was pathetic, and I used to live in a hut. I knocked on the door with my foot, such as it was, and waited. The door opened and a much thinner woman than I remembered stood before me.

“DAVID!” Diane yelled and jumped out to hug me, then saw I was in no position to either receive a hug or give one. “Let me take that from you.” She said instead and took the crate with the potions in it. “I know it's not much, since I couldn't get an actual lumberjack to build it.” She said and went inside. “Come in, please.”

I nodded and stepped inside. There was almost no room inside and the walls and shelves were nearly bare. “I forgot to ask why near-deer antlers were valuable.” I said and untied them from my waist.

“There are a few reasons, a few of which I don't think you need to know.” Diane said, her face a little red. “Let's just say that a lot of men come looking for them and they are a potent elixir ingredient.”

I didn't remember seeing antlers in any of the books I had looked through, so I shrugged and gave her all six sets.

“This is wonderful, David.” Diane said and hung two of them on the wall behind the little counter. She put the others under the counter.

“I still have that special item.” I said and took the knifed-pitchfork off of my pack. I ignored Diane's gasp at the sight of it as I leaned it against the counter and then I slid the pack off of my back.

“David, you... you don't mean...” Diane started to say.

I opened the pack and pulled out the fully cured and preserved black panther pelt with the head still attached. I heard two inarticulate shouts behind me and ignored them.

“By the Son's Light.” Diane whispered at the sight of the silky pelt.

“It came out so well that I was really tempted to keep it.” I said and her eyes widened. “I promised it to you, though.”

“Oh, David.” Diane said, her voice soft.

I laid it out on the tiny counter and it was much too large and hung off the sides and the end of it.

“It's beautiful.” Diane said to me.

“I hope you can sell it.” I said and she nodded.

“Once word spreads around that I have something like this...” Diane pet it. “...it's going to be bought. I guarantee it.”

“All right. See you later.” I said and looked at the man in the uniform. “I need to get cleaned up at the inn.”

“We can take care of that at the garrison.” The man responded.

“Don't worry, David. I told them all about what happened.” Diane said. “This is just a formality.”

“What's that mean?” I asked and picked up my knifed-pitchfork.

“Ma'am.” The man in the uniform said. “You know what the garrison commander said.”

“He's not presiding over the trial, is he?” Diane asked and the man shook his head. “Then I will see David tomorrow and I will see him free.”

“Come with me, please.” The man in the uniform said. “You've made your delivery.”

I nodded and walked out of Diane's shop.

“I'll be there in the morning, so don't worry!” Diane said as she leaned out of her door. “I believe in you, David!”

I nodded again and walked up the main road beside the man in the uniform and John's father.