I looked up into the furious faces of the bandits who had captured me. The expressions were cold as ice. One young man held a spear while the other a bow, the string held taut.

You know those times when you are younger and you imagine being confronted by bad guys? You always said something clever and then used your wits to defeat them. Unfortunately, looking at someone who had a bow pointed at my heart, I couldn’t think of anything clever to say. In fact, I couldn’t think at all. Later I would realize that my career as a hero was over before it even began. If they had asked me for all my money, I would have gladly gone back to the manor and given them everything.

“Who are you?” The guy with the bow shouted.

My mouth moved, but nothing came out. Finally, in a shaky voice, I said, “Amos.”

The guy with the spear stepped back. “Is he the Baron?” He said in alarm.

“He’s not our Baron,” the other young man growled.

"I'm not anyone's baron," I said obstinately. I was a regent. They ignored me.

“What do we do?” The spearman said. He looked more and more nervous as each second passed.

“Well, bring him to the council.”

“We can’t bring him to the village. If he gets away, he will tell everyone.”

“First, he was going that direction anyways, so it doesn’t matter that we show him, and two, look how fat he is. Do you actually think he could make it anywhere without us catching him?”

I didn’t like them talking about me as if I wasn’t there, and I especially didn’t like them pointing out that I was helpless. But what could I do? As my mind started to calm down, I began to think about what they had said. I thought bandits had camps, not villages. Murdering and plundering didn’t go hand in hand with permanent locations unless you were able to support a population. And if they were bandits, why haven’t there been more raids on our villages? We have to be the closest place to them. Was Dwaine a traitor? Was he just pretending to shoot at the enemy? He was the one who told me to use this trail. Now I find out the bandits have an entire village here. This is just crazy.

My attention was brought back to the two guys when the one with the bow glared at me and said, “Ok, you, get up. We’ll let the council decide what to do with you. Don’t try anything stupid, or I will shoot you.”

I got up off the ground and brushed off my dirty hands on my pants. Fortunately, I hadn’t wet them, my pants, not my hands. That would have been embarrassing. A noble showing up to a meeting with a bandit council with wet pants. The trail was not too far from what I assumed was the village. Tucked away in the trees, it really was a pathetic sight. I thought my serfs had it bad. I saw little kids running around almost completely naked. Their faces were gaunt, and they looked like they hadn’t eaten in a month. The women who were washing clothes in a small stream near the edge of the village did not look much better. Small gardens were everywhere, and a few of the older kids were pulling out some sort of root plant. I saw no old men around. Perhaps the harsh conditions did not let people live long. The houses were made of mud, sticks, and straw. Not a single one looked like it was more than one room. As we approached, people started to clap. It wasn’t the type of clapping you do for welcoming someone home. It was one sharp clap from a few people and then all the other women did the same. Suddenly, all the children had disappeared into the houses, and the women wrapped up what they were doing to follow the children.

For some reason, I couldn’t help myself and said, “I guess you guys don’t get many visitors.”

I thought it was funny, but the two guys behind me didn’t say anything. I started to feel bad for these families of the bandits. They had it rough here. I had to remind myself these were the people who had killed my men. The only reason I hadn’t already been killed was due to the fact that these two guys looked like they weren’t part of their raiding team. I’m sure this council will have no problem executing me.

We approached a small straw house with the oldest woman I had seen so far. She may have been in her fifties. She looked as tough as nails, and I was sure she could lead this whole bandit village into battle by herself.

“Is this the boy who was seen along the shore?” she said in a strong, stern voice.

“Yes, Ma’am. We stopped him when he started heading up the trail to the village. He said his name was Amos. With his fine clothes and fat body, I believe he is the Baron Bicman.”

“That true boy, are you the baron?”

“Well, technically, I am regent to my nephew, you know, since they won’t let kids in diapers make many decisions.” I couldn’t help it. I tell jokes when I am nervous.

“You are regent to a baby! The reports I have of you are not very flattering, little lord. I would have thought you would have gotten rid of him by now.” scoffed in disbelief.

That made me mad. “What is wrong with everybody around here?! Why the heck does everyone think I am going to kill my nephew? I mean, seriously, I know you are bandits, but would you kill your nephew or grandchild just so you could keep your position?”

“Bandits? What makes you think we are bandits?” the woman said, raising her eyebrows.

“Well, let’s see here. You ambushed me and my soldiers and slaughtered them. Then the traitor who set everything up sent me right into your camp or village or whatever this is so you could capture me.

The lady’s face morphed into one of alarm. “Your men were killed? Where?

"On the western side of the bay. Your man Dwaine led us straight into their trap.”

“Uncle Dwaine!“ One of the guys shouted.

“Paul, go get the men. Tell them what happened and that I need the council.”

I hadn’t really looked at my captors before. The one she was addressing was about my height but much thinner. He had dark brown hair that was hacked short. He wore a dirty set of rough flax pants and a shirt. The sandals he had on were merely strips of leather tied to his feet. His spear was made of bone or white rock. His face had gone pale at the mention of Dwaine. He only nodded at the instructions and took off.

“Now, Amos, is it? Let me assure you that the men of this village are not bandits. They are fishermen and farmers. I am calling the men in to see what, if anything, we can do now that bandits have moved into our territory."

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

“I didn’t realize this land was claimed. Does your lord have any men to send?”

The old woman arched one eyebrow in the same manner Marsh always did. “I can tell you're not that stupid. You know very well there is no baron here, nor has there ever been one. We are here precisely for that reason.”

I did, in fact, realize that, but I was trying to be polite.

“Well, as long as we are being direct, can I assume that you have liberated yourselves from the status of serf or peasant and founded your own nation here on the shores of this bay?”

This made the woman snort. “That seems like such a nice way to put it. But let me ask you something, Amos. What brings you here?”

“First, you seem not to be big on titles, and frankly, neither am I, but how should I address you?”

“Lisa is fine.”

“Well, Lisa. I was hoping for a white sand beach where I could take up some skimboarding or surfboarding.” I was so glad the words surf and serf sounded nothing alike in this language. That could make for some awkward imaging. “I found out this was a pebble beach and not many waves, so those plans were dashed. But I think we could use this bay to drain the marshes, which is another one of my goals.”

“Why would you drain the Marshes? The land is outside your barony.”

“My people are getting sick. Part of that sickness comes from the marshes and swamps around here.”

“How do you plan to do that?”

“Well, my initial plan was to break down the ridge and dig a series of canals that would eventually become streams or rivers, but now that I found out you have already claimed the land. I have to figure something else out. I’m not going to step on your toes.”

This seemed to take the woman by surprise. “You would not build because of us. But we are just a bunch of-”

I interrupted her before she could continue. “You are not on the king's land, you do not pay taxes to the king, you do not receive assistance from the kingdom, and you have your own laws. Therefore, you are a foreign government. I would consider you a trading partner if you are interested in selling fish. But according to the laws of the kingdom I am part of, I cannot claim land without the express permission of the king. If I were to tell him about the village, he would most likely come and gather you all up and relocate you, but all I would get is a pat on the head. I don’t think he will give me the land. Even if he did, I wouldn’t have the manpower to run a fishing operation two to three days away. No, I think dealing with a foreign government would be much less hassle than dealing with the king.”

She just stared at me for a moment. It seems she did not expect this type of reaction from a baron. Our conversation was interrupted by a few people hurrying over to the hut. There were three men and another woman. Who gathered quickly around us. They all looked me up and down for a moment. A big, burly man stepped forward. “Well, it looks like we found out who that beautiful horse belongs to.”

“You found Blaze,” I said excitedly. “Thank goodness. Is he alright?”

Ignoring me, the man said, “Who is he?”

“This is Lord Amos Bicman, and if he is to be believed, he and his men were attacked by bandits to the west. Lord Amos, may I introduce Johnathan Founder.”

“Councilor Founder, it is a pleasure to meet you. I only wish it could be under different circumstances. As Councilor Lisa has stated, my men and I were attacked by bandits to the west. If I am correct, I believe that our guide, Dwaine, is known to you. At first, I thought he had led us into the trap, but now I believe he was just trying to prevent us from discovering your village.”

“My brother, he is dead?” The large man said with rage in his eyes.

“I cannot say for sure. The last I saw of him, he told me to flee east along the coast, and I would come across a trail that would lead me back to Melnon.”

“So you just left them to die!”

“Johnathan!” Lisa said sharply.

“No, he is right. I did leave them. But the reasoning was that I was more a liability than an asset. I was not trained in combat, and they would have been trying to fight off the bandits while protecting me.”

The other woman, younger than Lisa but probably only by five to ten years, shouted, “And now you have led them to us!”

“No, if they knew I had escaped, they would have already had me. I am a fat guy who was traveling slowly along the coast. They would have caught up to me and killed me by now. I do need your assistance. I need to get back to my barony so I can organize my men. I know this is your land, and I hate to intrude, but we need to get rid of this threat before they start to pillage.”

“You will just bring your men here and take our village.” The other woman snarled.

“Cori, I believe this is a matter to discuss as a council. Lord Amos, if you would please stay in my house while we discuss what we have heard, It would be most appreciated.”

“Of course. I would be very grateful for the rest. I am not very fit, and it has been a long day.”

“I will send over some food.”

“Thank you, Ma’am Councilor, but I would hate to take food from people who are struggling as it is. I do have a few rations in my sack.”

“Nonsense, Kim’s fish soup is delicious. Now, if you will excuse us."

Jonathan Founder

I was seeing red. That fool of a baron had gotten my brother killed. Dwaine was the whole reason we were here. The hidden trail that we had made had been his idea. When he first contacted me five years ago, I told him he was crazy. He had visions of us building up a town on the coast, fishing, and draining some of the swamp to plant crops. We would gather people from all over. Help them to run away and travel to our little town. After Baron Jarmin raped my daughter, I decided he was right. Looking back, I wondered if we were all a bunch of fools. So many of us had starved or fallen to disease. Even my Becky had died. We only survived from the new blood coming in. That slow trickle of people helped us expand the farms just enough to feed our population. Another ten years, and maybe we could have made something of this place. But now… now that cursed baron had to show up and ruin everything.

“I’m sorry about Dwaine, Jonathan,” Michael said, shaking his head. Michael was a great organizer. He had joined us last year and immediately filled the vacant spot on the council. Michael had planned out the land and work for each person. He could even read and do numbers. His father had been a disgraced steward of some duchy.

I said nothing back. What was there to say? We were all suffering and starving due to the nobles who only wanted more work for less pay. We starved while they sat at their tables enjoying feasts. The scraps they fed to their dog were better than most serfs could hope to ever get. At least this time, a noble would get to feel our pain.

As we reached the pavilion, others had gathered. Few could come at this time of day, but anyone was welcome to sit in on our council meetings. Only council members were allowed to speak, but there was always gossip afterwards. Having more people there kept the truth of what was said from getting embellished too much.

As we sat on the stumps, Brock lit his pipe. He never spoke much, but when he did, it was always good advice. “Well, now what?” Lisa said.

“We kill the baron and prepare ourselves against the possible bandits,” I said. “I don’t even know why we are having a council about this.”

Cori nodded in agreement. “One less baron is always a good thing.” She knew firsthand the cruelty of the nobility. As a young woman, a baron’s son had raped her, and then when it was discovered she was pregnant, he had his men set fire to her family's house at night. Even though the door had been barricaded on the outside, a neighbor with an axe had broken through a side wall as soon as the soldiers had left. She was the only one who managed to crawl out of the hole before the building collapsed. She hid with friends as she recovered from her injuries. She fled, but since she had no peasant papers, she was picked up by a tax collector on his way back to the Capital. She was sold as a serf to a count. Because she couldn’t admit to anyone where she was from and who the father of the baby was, everyone in the manor assumed she was a loose woman. She was constantly belittled, and her son was only called a bastard. He died at two years old, and it broke her heart.

Lisa shook her head, “I know you are angry, Johnathan, but you have to consider the consequences.”

“No body, no consequences,” Cori said.

That sounded logical to me, but then Michael spoke up, “And when they come looking for him?”

“We tell them that there are bandits to the west,” I said.

“What if the bandits have fled or if there never were any, and the boy just got lost in the swamp? The men will return and blame us. The other problem is if there are bandits and his men take a while to come looking for him. Our village cannot withstand a bandit raid. Not without heavy losses. He says he wants to bring men back to kill them.”

“He is lying. Once he is out of the marsh, he won’t be sending anyone.”

“Johnathan, even if you are right, we need to hedge our bets. Too much of his story makes sense for us to believe anything other than that there are, in fact, bandits. If we kill him, then the bandits will come, or his men will come. Either one is likely to kill us. If we get him back to his barony, he may not help, but at least his men won’t be a threat. No matter what, we have been discovered. Getting him back to his barony will at least make him more favorable to us. Before you all came to my house we were discussing possible trade. He wants our fish, but the boy says that it doesn’t make sense for him to try to take this land. He also said if he tells the king, then he will just lose access to the fish because we will be rounded up, and he has no one to replace us with. He said he would treat us as a foreign government.”

I snorted, “The day a baron doesn’t want more land is the day my sow will fly.”

“Lisa is right,” Brock said, “There are no good options. We have to choose the one that has a slight chance of avoiding the total destruction of our village.”

“You want to trust a baron?” Cori spat.

“No, I want to save our people, and if letting the baron go gives us a better chance of that, then I will take it," Brock said.

Lisa and Michael nodded in agreement. This meant that even if I didn’t agree, the vote was cast in favor of the baron going free. I wanted to be angry with their decision, but ultimately, they were right. Cori looked ready to murder everyone here to make sure her vote counted. She held her tongue, though. She knew that she wouldn’t get to bloody her hands today.