After a long but uneventful walk, I was at the crossroads once more. And with the new information from Mrs. Amarille, at least that's what I thought her name was, I thought the forests and shrubs of the northern route would be a safer bet than the open fields and rolling hills.
Soon passing into densely packed stands of oak and pine, I made note of the direction of the sun before heading left off the road Brown and white mushrooms dotted fallen logs as I made my way deeper into the brush, the sounds of insects and birds telling me no dangerous creatures were nearby.
A splash of red stuck out against the green and brown maze of mossy logs and towering ancient oaks. It was a small bush with red thorny berries, and despite the hooked spines, Mrs. Amarelle told me and showed me the minor pain relieving properties of the juice inside. The same type of berry the young elven woman was collecting the day before.
Taking only half the berries nearly filled the pouch the grandmotherly woman insisted I take, and I moved on marveling at the size of the trees. Maybe some elves do live here after all, I could almost imagine houses and bridges suspended in the canopy, with travelers below completely unaware.
I hope I'm not trespassing. I thought with a start, ducking under a branch and peering skyward, where only faint slashes of azure were visible through thick bunches of emerald leaves.
This place must be gorgeous in fall. I thought and daydreamed as I picked my way through the woods. Having filled the bag given to me, I resorted to using the jacket I appeared here in as a makeshift bundle for the variety of medicinal herbs I found.
Light knifed through the branches at a steep angle, signaling nightfall was not far off. Carefully I tried starting a small fire to roast the raw meat.
Curling wisps of gray smoke filtered through my blistered hands as I blew on the little ball of tinder, hoping this time the ember would catch.
Flames licked burst forth from the small bundle and caught on small twigs as I methodically fed the growing fire nestled from the soft earthy breeze in the hollow between two arching roots of a massive oak.
Dinner was skewered pieces of the hound that nearly killed me the night before, with pieces of dry bread and hard cheese from the rations I was given.
I'm still not sure how much these herbs will go for, but anything has to be better than fighting monsters. I thought, then recalling the peasants shoveling horse dung into hand pulled carts along the main road I revised that assessment.
"Almost anything." I said softly to myself and laughed. Relaxing slightly for the first time since coming to this strange world. Cocooned in my woolen cloak, and the fire burning down to a nice bed of coals.
I added more damp sticks and branches and laid the strips of meat over the faintly glowing mound as I dozed in the early night. Rousing myself from the clutches of true sleep once the meat was cured, I banked the fire against the evening chill and settled once more into a restless sleep.
-----
The first light of dawn broke and filtered through the mist shrouded trees, standing like the moss covered columns of some druid's holy site. I stretched in the crisp morning air, and after smothering the remains of my fire, I set off in the general direction of the road.
Picking once more through the calm forest, the birds and insects adding their chirps and calls to the pristine atmosphere.
The trek back was uneventful, and trying not to be too hopeful I planned my next moves.
Gathering herbs and medicinal berries for Mrs. Amarelle was all well and good, for now at least.
The weather was warm, but the primitive yet sturdy buildings were all equipped with fireplaces and chimneys signaling the inevitable approach of winter's chill.
Magic or not, any city still had to worry about malnutrition and disease once the weather turned. Even if they didn't have plague to contend with, I couldn't imagine it would be pleasant conditions. At least in any lodgings I could afford.
Maybe I could build a cabin out here? I thought, eyeing some of the more manageable trees.
My mind wandered as I stuffed spiny purple leaves into the makeshift bundle, imagining the cabin I would build, nestled in a clearing and surrounded by ancient trees, untouched by highways or chainsaws.
I thought of smoke curling from the chimney as I made my way back from town, from the bustle and noise of crowds to the sounds of children playing in the forest.
Who knows? Maybe Mrs. Amarelle has a daughter, or more likely at her age granddaughter. Don't elves age slower than humans anyway?
But no, this place might as well be a nature preserve or private forest for all I knew.
The makeshift bundle was nearly full as I tied it shut with a bit of twine.
Climbing a shallow embankment, my sneakers slipped on the loose dirt of the winding forest road.
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Maybe I'll have enough to buy a pair of boots and a new bag? I thought, making my way down the quiet trail.
-----
The guards gave me no trouble this time, as they waved me through without even a glance at my offered papers.
Maybe carrying a dead dog on your back is a bit suspicious.
Making my way to Mrs. Amarelle's apothecary, she was overjoyed to see me, or more likely the large bundle and bursting sack I carried.
She soon set to work dividing up the haul into neat piles, and indicating the amount they were worth, the total amount was nearly three silver. However she seemed hesitant to give that much.
After a bit of negotiating, we agreed upon one silver and eight copper, and in return she would teach me some of the language while I learned to make basic medicines from the various herbs.
Soon I was able to form broken sentences, and we began to speak haltingly as we worked.
Picking up the grammar in fits and starts, I tried with much trouble to ask about the world I found myself in.
Many kingdoms, many peoples. Some dangerous, some family.
Wars between the kingdoms were almost eternal, with factional alliances forming and breaking at the whims of backstabbing nobles.
We talked until evening, and after feeding me a meal of porridge with the meat I offered, she let me sleep in the back of the shop. No doubt glad of all the work grinding herbs I saved her old hands.
-----
The next morning, I waited for Mrs. Amarelle to open up her shop before leaving to find a tanner or leatherworker to do something with the hide I still carried, and possibly buy some bags or pouches from.
Thanks to the lessons from the grandmotherly woman, haggling with the tanner went smoother than expected. I ended up selling the pelt for five pieces of copper and a strip of leather to use as a belt in place of the rope.
Next stop was the tailor I bought the clothes from, I only had a bit of difficulty finding his shop amongst the packed market stalls.
The man seemed pleased to see me and smiled enthusiastically at my attempts to speak what I thought was one of the more common local languages.
Purchasing three large drawstring bags that hung on my belt, and repairing the torn pack cost me all five of the copper coins from the sale of the pelt.
The rest of my meager funds, the two silver and nine copper coins clinked softly in a cloth pouch that hung around on a cord around my neck as I tied the new pouches securely to the leather belt.
Stopping once more at Mrs. Amarelle's shop, she indicated what she was in need of most before heading out once more.
-----
Returning the next day with another full load, there was more than she could buy. And dragging me around to some of the other herbalist's shops, she proudly showed off me and my wares.
-----
Days flew by like this, my language skills improving at a steady rate. Matched by the amount of coins hidden in various pouches and pockets.
Leaving another herbalist's shop with a silver coin and a handful of copper, I picked my way through the now familiar streets towards Mrs. Amarelle's apothecary.
The warm earthy smells of dried and ground herbs mingled with the scent of wood smoke as I ducked into the low roofed building.
"Have a good trip dear? I hope the guards didn't give you any problems this time." The proprietor said warmly.
"No stopping for paper today. Think they know I by now. I finded more mushrooms. The reds and the whites." I replied, eagerly awaiting the corrections she would give.
"Oh good good." Mrs. Amarelle said smiling as I unlaced two of the pouches from my belt.
Producing four copper coins for the contents of each pouch, the old woman set to work dividing caps from stems as I set a pot of water to boiling over the low fire.
"Now these here." She said, indicating with the knife two piles of chopped red and brown mushrooms. "Are boiled till the caps turn white, then we drain the water off and set it to simmer in another kettle. We want to drive off as much of the water as we can."
Nodding along, I watched as she prepared a salve that worked wonders at healing burns and minor scrapes or scratches.
Evidently she made a good business selling it to some of the local blacksmiths and armorers.
"Now dear, would you grab me some of that dried spikeberry in the jar over there?"
"Yes, gettings it." I said, searching the rows of shelves packed with jars of multicolored powders, bundles of herbs, and tied bunches of fragrant roots.
Finding the jar in question, Mrs. Amarelle began scooping some of the reddish powder into the still simmering pot. "We just need to add some of that over there." She said, pointing at groups of leafy twigs hanging from twine tied to the rafters. "The one with groups of three leaves. Yes that's it dear, now bring some here would you?"
After setting the kettle of brown colored paste to cool, we sat waiting in silence. And after noticing my fidgety expression, Mrs. Amarelle prodded me with the handle of her ladle.
"What's on your mind hon?" She said with a hint of concern.
Sighing slightly I spoke up. "How do someones make the house? Where to buying the lands? I go to the forest. Get the leafs, get the mushrooms. I like it there. Want to live there, but don't want to break the rules. Not wants the guard be mad."
"Well dear, you know you can always sleep here if you need to. Before you came I was afraid I might have to close up shop. Few came to sell herbs, and I had few medicines to sell as a result. It's not like I can walk all the way to the forest at my age anyway."
Settling down in her chair, the old elven woman continued. "But you can build a cabin. You'll need to visit the surveyors guild to get a permit. I can't remember the cost.."
"The who guild?" I asked, not understanding the unfamiliar word.
"They measure land, say where you can and can't build."
"Oh I understands now. Like [surveyors] and gettings the [construction permit] and [land deed] from the city." I said smiling.
"Yes I suppose so, but I don't know what those words mean either." She said with a chuckle.
"The land is cheaper the farther into the forest you go. There are however carved stone boundary markers about 3 days ride out from the town walls. That marks the territory of Duke Erinson, beyond that you are outside the protection of the laws and guard."
"If I recall correctly it's at least a two week ride to Oaksrest if you follow the forest road. So there's lots of wilderness beyond the boundary, and inside of it for that matter." Mrs. Amarelle said looking serious.
"Duke Erinson is still consolidating his control over the region. It hasn't yet been five years since his father took the town and handed it over to his son. This place may not look it now, but the siege was hard on everyone. We've rebuilt as best as we can, and thankfully the Duke is lenient on taxation. And unlike his father, you don't have to worry about getting press ganged into his service. That is unless there's another siege."
"But fret not dear." She said, smiling once more. "You can go down to the Surveyors Guild tomorrow morning and see what they have to say on the matter. And don't worry, any free adventurers or citizens can own land. And only those in bondage are prohibited, but that's only done for some criminals and prisoners of war."
My mind buzzed with possibilities as I lay wrapped in my wool cloak on a hard wooden pallet in the back of Mrs. Amarelle's shop.