The quiet moment between the two ended after a few moments and Kilniara leapt into the conversation where she was at Gwenvair’s side and she began peppering questions about what just happened and Gwenvair explained more in detail. The boys proved just as curious and soon all three were asking Gwenvair some tough questions about people’s behavior with Joe joining in more and more as his basic intro to psych classes, while very basic, still proved to have much more in depth knowledge and experimentation backing their claims and explanations for human behavior than the anecdotal knowledge that Gwenvair had gained over her decade or so of experience with other clansman. The conversation was fun and their meal ended with all in a good mood.
“Well. I guess it’s time to go. Do you know where they want us, Gwenvair?”
Gwenvair smiled at that and nodded, “My clan would be honored if you could help defend our clan’s walls.”
“Oh, then the inner city walls?”
Gwenvair nodded as all stood to head out of the inn. Joe followed after, Kilniara joining both of them while the boys trailed after, all seeming excited. As they traveled, however, Joe paused, remembering a problem: Telnia.
“Oh. Uh… I told Telnia to find me on the walls. Will she be able to go where we are going?”
Gwenvair paused at that, looking at Joe with consideration before asking, “Do you wish to be found… by her?”
Joe smiled and chuckled before grimacing, “Not particularly, but I do want to deal with this quickly and I did tell her to meet me there. It would be poor and inappropriate behavior if I hid from her. Can she be allowed to meet us on the walls?”
Gwenviare stared at Joe carefully, thoughts obvious and rapidly whirring through her mind before she seemed to smile brightly at Joe, apparent relief radiating visibly, “Of course. It should not be difficult.”
Joe found her relief a bit confusing but didn’t know how to broach the subject politely, not wishing to embarrass her in public, setting it aside for later, if he could remember.
As they prepared to head out from the entrance to the inn, Joe noticed Chulnan awkwardly to the side and suddenly considered, “Chulnan. I know you said no to helping in a dungeon, but, I could use some help during the monster tide. My muscles, especially my fingertips, are going to be pretty torn up or exhausted and any heals and help I can get will help me keep going. Would you be willing to come?”
Chulnan glanced towards Gwenvair and Joe immediately felt like an idiot and turned towards her, “I’m sorry. I just kinda invited someone into your house. I apologize. I didn’t mean…”
Gwenvair interrupted with a soft smile and shake of her head, “Think nothing of it. Healers are always welcome and desired.”
“Well, thanks for the forgiveness, but that was still rude.”
Gwenvair’s smile grew, “Then… all is well.”
“Thanks.”
Gwenvair nodded to Chulnan and he seemed to pause at that before looking at Joe, “You go to the clan city.”
“It seems. I wasn’t sure where I was going.”
“Then I would find it an honor.”
Joe nodded, “Well, I find it a great help as well. Any heals you can offer me will help me keep going! Thanks so much.”
Chulnan nodded and Joe nodded back before all turned, this time everyone moving as a group. Joe did turn them from the inner city, however, and led them towards the woodworking section of the city to pick up his arrows.
When he arrived at the woodworking section of the city, he garnered quite the bit of attention as several of the carpenters quickly came forward excitedly, calling out to him.
“Ah! Young master! I have completed your arrows. Please, come and see!”
“But you will find mine to be superior. I had the help of a seamstress. I assure you, mine will do well!”
The first man glared at the comments of the second and began to interject, “Pay no heed to…”
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Joe held up a hand, shaking his head, “Please. Everyone, calm down! I promised to pay for all good arrows. Please bring me what you have made. I wish to carefully evaluate them.”
Joe’s statement had the various carpenters crowding around Joe, the noisy clamor bringing in more and more with their bundle of arrows. By the time Joe had the various craftsmen lined up and in order, a good sixteen or seventeen were lined up with bundles of arrows prepared for him with most only having a single bundle although there were several with two and even one with three.
Joe took the first bundle of arrows and looked at them carefully, evaluating them but not spending too much time on it as he really didn’t want to delay getting to the walls as he didn’t know what the monster tide would bring. He randomly checked arrows from the bundle of arrows, taking two or three before nodding with satisfaction. The first bundle proved straight, at least, which excited the rest of the carpenters as one of their numbers found success. In the end, Joe had to reject three bundles, but luckily those three bundles were from people who had two or three to give to him so they at least got paid for some of their work. After all were examined, Joe prepared to leave but he did turn to one of the carpenters.
“If I could have my arrow returned to me, please?”
Several of the carpenters jerked at that but then one nodded quickly, “Old man Jarrel has it. I’ll get it now.”
Joe nodded in thanks as he waited then realized the three people who’d had a bundle rejected where still there looking forlornly at their bundles and Joe spoke to them, offering encouragement.
“You don’t have to throw out all those arrows, you simply have too many which were poorly made and not straight. Just take out the crooked ones and replace them so that they are all straight arrows. It is vital that they are straight. I’ll need more tomorrow, I think, so I will return to buy more bundles.”
The three men smiled at that and nodded, quickly taking their bundles back to their shops to test the arrows once again. The other carpenters that had been watching perked up at hearing Joe’s return tomorrow and they excitedly left as well, some actually running back to their shops. Some of the young boys and girls that had been watching the whole affair also seemed to perk up at that and turned to run back, too. Huh… apprentices… maybe? Telling the other’s they can make another set?
He’d paid as promised, a core for each bundle, but made sure to pay them the damaged cores. Him passing out cores had electrified the crowd that had been watching who began to look on a bit greedily. Joe worried the carpenters might be targeted, but he didn’t see any seedy group of people trail after any of the carpenters so let it go. A few moments later, the carpenter with his arrow arrived and handed it to Joe.
“Eccentric. If you could, please, tell me this material, if you would?”
Joe smiled at that and nodded, “It’s a material you are unlikely to be able to work with or make, but if I were to guess it appears to be some form of plastic or carbon fiber, but I really don’t know. I can only guess.”
The carpenter seemed excited at the news, “Could I purchase some of the material?”
Joe’s smile soured at that, “I’m sorry, but I do not have any access to it nor do I know how you could find it. I apologize.”
The carpenter’s excitement quickly died at that and he grumbled fiercely before turning away. Joe immediately recognized the disappointment of a craftsman denied so did not become upset, simply upset at the loss of his passion. Joe sighed but took no offense, actually feeling his pain before turning away. He turned and waved to Gwenvair, having her lead and the six of them chatted as they moved rapidly through the streets, each carrying a couple of bundles of arrows each.
* * *
Gadun shifted under the walls of the city of Coushar, awaiting the monster tide. It was a dangerous and very undesirable place to be, especially given the soon to be arriving monsters. But, as the city guard, it was his responsibility and duty to corral the slaves that butchered the monsters; an unpleasant responsibility assigned to the lower guard. Those manning the walls were the freemen and clansmen. The one benefit he did have was his responsibility for assigning the defenses. This gave him significant power to both protect himself and his friends. A monster tide was never something to look forward to, especially for the lower guards and doubly so for the slaves. He had survived over a dozen now, thanks to his luck for the first few, then for his wise planning once he’d gained power within the lower guard and was able to assign himself the safest place to defend the bottom of the city walls; under the protection of the Matriarch, herself.
The same held true for this tide as well, and he quickly assigned himself and his favorites to be under the wall the Matriarch was to defend. However, when he began to assign his other, less special, friends to the left and right of the Matriarch, he was shocked to find the eccentric Joe listed as one of the protectors of the wall, just to the Matriarch’s right. His eyes widened and breath quickened as he remembered the eccentric’s entrance to the city, the three cores still sitting uncomfortably in his stash of belongings at home. Selling dual cores, it turned out, was a lot more difficult than he’d thought.
He’d found himself frozen in uncertainty, his thoughts whirling as he tried to decide what he would do. The Matriarch had done well protecting her wall every tide, but to be under the protection of a seven digit monster… His breath quickened and his thoughts stuttered. His assignments for the various guards quickly shuffled, his position now under the eccentric when he froze once again, realizing that everyone who knew him and knew his nepotistic tendency to protect himself would wonder why he’d changed… or how he knew to change. A cold wash shuddered through him and he ground his teeth, angry and uncertain once again. Finally, with a deep breath, he returned his position back below the Matriarch. Maybe… I can find myself … sliding to the eccentric, just by happenstance! The press of the fight, the chaos of the monsters… finding myself out of position would not be unusual? Gadun convinced himself of the possibility, placing the rest of the guards in their positions without much thought as he continued trying to find a way he could place himself under the protection of a seven digit master.
* * *