Via few random citizens, we get recommended an inn. I am not risking staying at the dormitory, as an escort from my house should show up tomorrow to retrieve me. Due to our rather limited funds, I chose the cheapest inn we could find. It is only 50 copper for a night, 1 silver for staying with breakfast, 2 silver for a full course meal.
So, for only 6 silver, we get to stay here and have breakfast the day of our departure. The current day is at an end though, and I can’t help but feel some remorse regarding the decision of going with the cheapest inn I could find. The rooms are incredibly small. So much so, that there is basically only a bed there. It is so cramped that the bedframe covers more than half of the doorway, and one has to step over it to get into the room proper. How do they even clean it? What if they don’t?
I bend down and smell the sheets. I recoil at the pungent odor that enters my nostrils… Gross. Pist should have received the room next to me, but he immediately just went inside and to sleep. How could he do so? Does he not have a sense of smell?
As much as I dislike it, moving around the whole city today has left me rather tired and I do require the rest. I find myself inspecting the bedding, so lay upon the least dirty, while using my backpack as a pillow. I don’t dare drape anything over me, nor lay my head down on the bed itself, as everyone knows the filthy masses are prone to being host to a variety of parasites.
I feel it takes hours, laying on the hard, uncomfortable, smelly bedding, but eventually, I do fall asleep.
I am awoken by knocks on my door. I try to ignore them, but they just don’t stop. They’ve been going for a few minutes, when I finally rise from my slumber. Shit, my head ended down on the bedding anyway, I hope I don’t have lice now.
I wonder who it is that is knocking. It couldn’t be Pist, I don’t think he would disturb me like this. He would probably just get up and obediently kill time until I got up on my own. Maybe it’s the proprietor of this establishment, waking us up for our paid for breakfast?
I force myself up, stand up with my knees still on the bed and push the door oprn, and upon witnessing who’s behind it, I almost close it once again, but I manage to control myself.
My guest is Gia. The woman, who is taller thank me and equipped with hefty assets, looks down upon me as I open the door. Shit, this again.
“AL!” Is what I hear as I am smothered into her ample bosom by her powerful arms. I am usually more prepared to enjoy this gesture of hers, but here it takes me by surprise and I feel a legitimate discomfort at being taken by surprise. Still a pleasantly soft sensation, though, that flesh of hers.
“Al! I heard all about it from Pist! To think fate had taken such a turn for you! Oh, how you will be a great Arkon!” her voice is loud and she just blabbered out sensitive information, but I find myself unable to protest, due to being locked in her arms. It feels somewhat emasculating, being overpowered so easily, but I don’t sweat it. My strong suit is in another color.
She eventually calms down and I can somewhat separate myself. I would be surprised if an imprint remained on her, considering how long she pressed my head against her.
“Little Gia, please, consider the time and place of our meeting.” I admonish her lightly, before elaborating in a softer, lower tone, all the while drawing closer to her “What if someone heard you, and thought they could seize me to influence the future of the nation?”.
She freezes and looks uncomfortable, but I simply reach up to the top of her head and stroke it. “It is fine, it was an honest mistake. Those are what we learn from and grow as people”. Treating Gia properly as a young junior is one of her weak points and she obediently nods and a wide smile starts forming on her lips.
“Now, let’s talk, but in private” I drag her into the way too small room, where she has to step over the bedframe as I did yesterday. Once inside, she obediently sits down on the bed and flushes red. The red shade I not brought upon her for the same reasons that make Fotia red, but rather one of embarrassment. Whether it is the fact she had no courtesy in handling the sensitive information, or if it because I pulled her into a cramped room, I don’t rightly know. Maybe a mix of both.
I start the conversation, as she appears in no shape to do so. “So, how did you find us, and why did you come?” I lean in a little close to her as to tease her, causing her to avert her face and reply with barely audible voice.
“I heard it from those who returned from the ball yesterday. I was asking about you and they… They said you caused a fuss at the monument… And that you left the group.” Why is she talking like that? Between the lines sometimes a very deep breath is taken.
“But how did you find us here?” I think she is melting down, judging by how much she starts shaking, as I lay a hand upon her shoulder. Really, is her being pulled into this tiny room making her imagination run amok?
“I… Asked any… If they’d seen you… And some… Had seen you walk… Into the merchant’s guild… So I thought… You’d be leaving… And wouldn’t come back…” Hoh, from my impression, she has so far been severely addled when it came to rational thought, often coming and requesting tutoring from me, in which she severely proves her lack of ability, but she seems capable enough in light of these actions. “And then… I asked… strangers… with your description… And somebody… Recognized it… Said he pointed to this inn…” Her breaths have increased rather much in pace. I better terminate this little talk before she breaks down or jumps me. Additionally, some luck was required, asking one of the strangers, who directed us to this place.
“Thank you for sharing, little Gia. But know you know what we must do, and you must return”
“No!” And exclamation, followed by her turning and grabbing my arm closest to her. Ouch. You’re hurting me, Gia, but I don’t show it. I have to maintain a superior attitude to this girl to have her like me.
“You can’t! It’ll be dangerous! At least let me help!” Contrary to her earlier sentences, she is rapid-firing these line with startling precision.
A thought appears in my head. Did I make a mistake? Instead of seeing this girl as a potential Fotia, should I have seen her as a potential Pist? To track me down and offer her help in a situation like this.
But she isn’t Pist. The largest difference is likely that her unwavering belief in me and willingness to help me, doesn’t come out of some deep-rooted trust, as it does with Pist, but rather with a false promise of romantic, or even sexual gratification.
To be honest, we could use more money, but if I take her up on the offer and have her liquidate her assets, I think there’s a possibility it will come back to haunt me… No matter. I suddenly remember the end goal of our journey. If I am Arkon, can I not deal with her, in any way I please? While I won’t be heartless enough to punish her for providing me aid, I will be able to renege on unspoken promises without fear of repercussion. It is decided.
“Listen well, little Gia. I have the outmost faith in you, but you must act quickly. Should one more student disappear, this time from the still active student body, alarms will be raised. You are to meet us again here later today, with the most valuable possessions you have, which you can also bear to sell. Our most limiting factor is currently money and I would be honored to have you help me.” She rises up, full of panic.
“Of course! I will go right now!” Before I can reach out to calm her down, to tell her to avoid suspicion, she has flow out of the room with incredible speed. It was my mistake, not calming her down first, let’s hope she doesn’t cause too much of a ruckus.
In the meantime, I’ve got to talk with Pist. While the outcome this time appears to have turned out positive, I can’t have him divulge information like this at his own discretion.
I open the room next to mine, where he should have been sleeping, but it is empty. He must be enjoying breakfast. I make my way down the stairs and see him shoveling some bizarre mass from a bowl into his mouth. We didn’t eat dinner yesterday, as it would have cost us at least 4 silver to do so, so he must have been hungry. Now that I am reminded, I feel the hunger welling up in me too.
“Oh, you’re up. Hang tight for a second and ill fetch you some gruel” the innkeeper we paid for our stay yells over the counter, as I come down the stairs.
I sit down opposite Pist and wait for him to catch that I am here. Oh, right, there we go.
“Good morning Al!” He spoke still having food in his mouth. To think this person attended the same etiquette class I did.
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“Good morning, Pist” I weigh my options a little about how I was to go about this. “Gia woke me up” I start.
“Right, I just talked to her! She totally thinks you are right too, Al! She’s a good girl.” Are you seriously judging someone based on whether they believe me or not?
“Al, when I told you that, was there anyone else around to hear?” I ask him, and I can see the gears turning in his head, after moving his pupils to the corner of his eyes.
“No, Al, we were already walking alone away from the rest of the class” Good, at least his memory isn’t faulty.
“Then, why do you suppose I didn’t attempt to tell the rest of the class.” The same motion with his eyes as before, but more time passes, before he speak up again.
“I don’t know, Al”
“Information is important to conceal. The more you tell people, the easier they can predict your actions.” I lean a little closer and invite Pist to do the same, then continue in a lower voice. “Knowing I might be the Arkon, will cause many to not only think of me as an enemy, but if they have some sort of knowledge, of where the other half is, they may very seek to intercept or stop me.”
Pist doesn’t seem to really understand, but says “You are right as always, Al, sorry”
I pull back and lean into the chair. “As long as you understand. It might have turned out to be a boon this time, though. Gia is going to join us.” A slight smile spreads across his face. Hmm, he has not given much indication of it earlier, but has Pist come like Gia? That could be trouble, with how much she is fawning over me.
Pist is about to speak yet again, but I hold up a hand to stop him. The inn-keeper has returned with the promised gruel, and he should not be allowed to overhear any sensitive details, Pist may release now.
“Here you are!” The inn-keeper says proudly as he slams the wooden bowl down on the table. I had expected something like delicious Sago gruel that has been fed to me, whenever I have fallen ill, but the contents here are obviously far less appetizing.
Instead of having a clear, white color, only tainted by the mix of cinnamon and sugar poured over, what is staring at me is gray, watery mess. I carefully lower the spoon and transport some into my mouth.
It is bland, tasteless and hard to swallow. Eugh, if this is the food standard we will have to live with going forward, I don’t know if I can make it.
After breakfast, Pist and I kill time with some idle chatter, purposefully absent of any details regarding or plans or upcoming journey, when Gia returns. Like Pist, she too has filled two sacks and her backpack. I sigh, fearing the consequences.
“Did anyone see you leave academy grounds like this?” I ask her.
“Ehmm, I don’t know” Right, I should have calmed her down first previously, so that I could have instructed her to take care not to be too inconspicuous. No matter, what’s done is done.
“Right, we will go and turn these things into gold and turn some of that gold into a spot on the caravan, but after that, you have to show your face at the academy again. If the last time people saw you was like that, they will surely come to the conclusion you ran away. Showing your face again may only slow that conclusion down a little, but it may be important. Then, after dinner, you will come here and we will arrange a room for you, and we will depart in the morning. Take great care not to be seen when you leave this time, and make your room look as representable as possible.”
She nods at my instruction and we execute on them. Girls seem to have more clothes and accessories, that are easy to sell, so when we visit the pawn shop, it comes out to an astonishing total of 15 gold flat. I have much more confidence in us making it without problems now.
I explain the tickets we each have, among our explanatory chatter on the way to the merchant’s guild, and Gia makes a surprising suggestion.
“Make mine a walking ticket too” I am a little baffled. I, a man, should be sitting on the journey while making a woman walk? I would be hounded by smears of my lack of courtesy, if anyone ever found out, but Gia insists.
“It will let you have more money, right? I am only really good at physical activies, so it is the least I can do” The girls do not have classes in swordsmanship and athletics, as the men do, but that doesn’t mean they have no physical education. On the first year, which Gia has completed, the girls are mandated for horseback-riding and gymnastics. Though I have never observed a gymnastics class, and don’t right now what it entails, other than keeping the body in shape, Gia seems confident.
“Very well, but a word of this to anyone, and I will live through quite the shame”. In the end, I cannot refute the boon an extra 3 gold and 50 silver would be. After securing the ticket, we see Gia off, while Pist and I go shopping for supplies.
The caravan “seated” ticket includes refreshments for the long journey, but Pist and Gia will have to manage their own supplies. The trip passes through eight cities and they should have the opportunity to restock at each of them, but we have to secure a few days’ worth first.
Luckily, the merchant guild informed us of a location to do that. A literal “supply” store. Once we enter, we can see all manner of things for travel inside. There is rope, pickaxes, backpacks, burlap sacks, daggers any many more different things available, but I can’t spot any food.
“Excuse me, where do you stock your provisions?” I ask the man tending to the counter.
“Eh, foodstuffs around the back, customers aren’t allowed to handle, guild rules, y’know. Ya pick amounts and variety from this here chart” He directs to a blackboard behind him with numbers. It filled with various preserved food types and their prices per pound. Dried fish, fruit and meat, as well something called hardtack is displayed on there. The more expensive options seem to be beans, sausages and apples. The hardtack is by far the cheapest.
“What is hardtack?” I ask.
“Eh, is bread. Hard, dry bread. It’s so tough your gums’ll bleed the first couple of time you eat it, but it can last for weeks, longer if you don’t mind the maggots” Eugh, the image of some eating a maggot sandwich entered my mind, but I quickly dismiss it.
“Right, we’ll have dried fish and fruit, enough to sustain a man for eight days” and so the transaction transpires. He fills a burlap sacks with some amount of each. We also purchase two canteens and two bedrolls, all-in-all totaling us 22 silver. Still, far cheaper than getting the seated ticket for my fellow travelers.
We end up not having much to do but kill time, which we pass idly chatting at the inn, until Gia joins us.
She is looking rather excited about this whole thing, which irks me. Pist is behaving as usual too. We are all of noble stock, not having had to care for ourselves out entire lives, now setting out on a journey that will bring us at least to the other end of the country. How can they be so callous?
We pay 1 silver for Gia’s room with breakfast, before going to sleep. Sleep comes much easier today, but I still have to roll around a little aimlessly.
The next day, I am once again woken by knocks on my door. Both Pist and Gia stand outside, already ready with their school backpacks, with bedrolls on top, ready to go. Did they forget we eat breakfast first?
“Why are you so excited for this?” I am in a bad, so during breakfast I crack a line with a bit of sneer to it.
“Ehm, well, it’s kind of exciting, isn’t it? I have never been anywhere without escorts before. It’s a bit like setting out on an adventure, like in a fairy tale!” Gia’s optimism around the upcoming journey is oozing off her, and I find it rather annoying. I am not going on this journey because I want to, but because I need to, and I would honestly prefer if she had the same mindset.
After breakfast, we go to the east gate, where we locate the caravan. It is easy to spot as people are loading carts and tending to horses, feeding them, fastening them to the carts and a bit of brushing is going on.
“We have secured passage with this caravan via the merchant’s guild, who do we see about that?” I ask a random man, loading the cart.
“Ah, just show them to me and I’ll carry it on” he says. Upon flashing the leather strips, he continues “I take it the lady’ll be the one riding in the cart” Oh no. I have but a split second to brace myself for the incoming embarrassment.
“Oh, no, that’s for Al here” Gia answers while pointing at me, to which the man makes a grimace like he heard something unpleasant… I will work out more in the future.
“Very well. We will be ready within half an hour. We will reserve a spot for… the young man” What’s that pause supposed to mean?
Half an hour later, our journey begins. I am sitting on some random crate, and the pace is quite slow. I can feel my ass is going to get pummeled sore by the vibrations on the road, as I lack the padding usually present in our noble carriages.
A few hours in I am already hurting and bored. I look to Gia and Pist every once in a while, but they appear to chat with each other with smiles on their faces. It bothers me, that they seem to have fun while I most certainly isn’t, so I try my best to willfully ignore it, and entertain myself by imagining my future as Arkon.
I know I want to boot off the incompetent lords and install capable ones instead, but how will I make sure the better man gets the job? I could devise some kind of written exam, but that will have dire consequences if the system persists past my lifetime. Then, normal, mortal men will once again be in charge of the system, and they could use these tests to seek out allies, that will enrich them or their enterprises.
No, a committee, chosen by me, then filling their own ranks after someone passes away, with rules restricting them from profiting from any nobility and being supported directly by national tax would surely be a much better idea. Their entire job could be conducting interviews and voting to select the best candidate for each position… But does that not run into the same problem? Could they not elect lords, that will help them gain power? I have seen human greed too often in this world to believe they won’t take advantage of it.
Such speculations fill my head, only disturbed by the pain in my buttocks, before we finally come to a stop. The sun is setting, and it appears the people are using the last light to make camp. I wonder what we will eat?
To my surprise, it is not preserved food of any sort. Rather, they appear to have fresh vegetables and milk procured from a local village. It peaked my curiosity, so I asked about it.
“Eh, well, that’s just standard when travelling, you know. Especially along known routes, there will be arrangements for villages, churches, farms or whatever to sell you what you need to eat.” I look at the stew that while basic, appears infinitely more appetizing than dried fish and fruit.
“What about preserved food? Is that never necessary?” I ask.
“Well, yes, but that’s for crossing the sea or mountain ranges. Places, where you can’t readily acquire food from the locals.” I feel stupid and slightly guilty now. I can’t see Gia and Pist, as they are not allowed to camp with us, but if I had investigated and figure out that things worked this way, instead of just assuming preserved goods were for travel, they would eat a lot better. Well, mistakes are for learning and so I have done. Although it isn’t myself that suffered from my own mistakes.
“How long will this journey take?” I suddenly remember I never got that sorted.
“Some 20-30 days, depending on whether we run into trouble or not. Don’t you worry, we will get you to Anatynoro in one piece” He laughs. Well, here’s hoping.