An empty clearing in the forest [https://i.imgur.com/UUjECaJ.png]

THE CAMP

Was Terran performing? He was speaking entirely too loudly, but the look on his face was that of someone with nowhere left to run. Monte assumed the pressure of overseeing the market in the middle of a crime spree was weighing on him. Maybe this was genuine behavior from Terran.

"What are you doing here?" Terran turned to Monte and asked.

Monte assumed Terran wasn't used to finding anyone else in the Guard station. Monte hadn’t said anything about coming here while they walked around the market. But word does travel fast in this village.

"He's here for questioning. And let me guess, it was the seamstress shop this time." Mavlo spoke knowingly. Moments ago, he looked shocked by some new information. Now he appeared collected and in control.

Mavlo came around to the front of the desk and started fumbling around under his coat for something.

"How did you..." Terran started his question and trailed off, a look of complete confusion now on his face.

If this was an act, Monte was sure it was the best performance he’d ever seen.

"She has plenty of metal crafts in her shop, it seemed like only a matter of time. When did the robbery occur Terran?" Mavlo spoke with the official tone Guard men use in serious situations. Monte shouldn’t have been surprised to here it.

"Must have been about… an hour ago?" Terran said, looking only slightly less disoriented.

"It's getting worse and worse. I had to untie the staff when I found them. I reckon it’ll be weeks before they can go back to the shop. The thieves really messed up the place, door’s off its hinges, broken glass everywhere. One of the men threatened them all with a sword." Terran described the scene.

Monte assumed that Mavlo's plan was to have the three of them head for the Company camp. They had plenty of time to catch them red handed with the stitching tools, not to mention everything else. Monte gave a little credit to Mavlo, the way things were shaping up, he would end up the hero like he wanted. This whole ordeal would be over in no time and Monte could be on his way.

"Where were you before you came to me?" Mavlo asked authoritatively.

He was now looking directly into Monte's eyes. Even so, it took a moment for Monte to realize the question was directed his way.

"I was with Terran. I was at the market" Monte answered.

"And how long ago was that?" Mavlo asked immediately.

Monte couldn't guess how much time had passed. Had Mavlo said he was here for questioning? They both knew he walked in of his own accord. Had Monte walked right into a trap? Monte was too flustered to answer. Mavlo's gaze lingered on him for a moment then turned to Terran.

"That was some time ago. I left Monte to attend to market business before the midday chimes." Terran added.

The chimes sparked Monte's memory somehow and he suddenly recalled the hours in the market with more clarity.

"That's right, after you had to go, I had some breakfast. Then I spoke with Neera from the tavern for some time." Both the other men raised their eyebrows and exchanged a glance.

"I'm sure she would confirm. She had just purchased fish to get me out of trouble with the vendor." Monte said quickly.

"Ah right, I had to come save you from the fishmonger this morning. He was stealing fish!" Terran said.

Monte regretted bringing it up immediately. He wished Neera would walk through the door and rescue him for the third time, but he knew it wouldn't happen. They would have to go find her and confirm his story.

"Well, I'm afraid I'm left with no other choice." Mavlo spoke up.

He revealed a pair of manacles from under his jacket and approached Monte.

"You are under arrest for suspicion of burglary by order of the Guard." Mavlo spoke the like as though he knew it by heart.

He began clasping the cuffs around Monte's wrists before there was a chance to react.

"I paid for the fish, and I can show you the camp. I can prove it wasn't me. We can go there right now!" Monte said, with a tinge of panic.

He heard his own voice and took a deep breath. Only the guilty lose control. Fighting accusations after his father died had only made things worse. He wouldn’t make the same mistake here.

Monte realized he was indeed in another one of Terran's farces. This one was of course far more serious, and he cursed himself for playing along. These men were friends, they were working together. Terran had tried to have him arrested earlier. Why had he not planned for this? Why had he let things go this far?

"Oh lad, you’ll take us to the camp. We need to know where you've hidden the goods! And if we don’t find everything, I'm sure the village will have something to say." Terran issued the threat, as obvious as it was ominous.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Monte had one more chance. Going to the camp would prove he wasn't a thief. Even In the light of day, finding the camp would be tough. He felt the cat brushing against his legs.

“If you find the camp again, I’ll buy you a whole basket of fish.” Monte thought. The cat looked back at him. Maybe it’s just how she always looked, but Monte detected confidence. He couldn’t explain it, but the cat made him feel confident too.

A new plan was coming together. Monte would take them to the camp and Mavlo would arrest The Company. Neera would get her spoons and knives back and confirm his alibi. Mavlo could still be the hero, and Terran would have peace in the market. Then, finally, Monte could be on his way. It wasn't the original plan, but now he had no options left. Plans change.

They left the Guard station and began the hike into the forest. Monte was forced to keep his eyes on the ground, looking for roots and rocks he might trip over. With his hands shackled behind his back he had no way to break his fall.

Terran walked ahead of him, taking directions when needed. Monte was following the cat, as he had done the day before. She so far seemed to know the way. Behind them was Mavlo. Monte heard him huffing and puffing a good deal more than a man of the Guard ought to.

About half an hour had passed, and Monte felt like they should have seen smoke from the campfires by now. A couple of tents in the expanse of the forest seemed like a needle in a haystack, but he had found it in the dark. Still, this time the stakes were much higher. He had to find it.

"How much more of this boy?" Mavlo grunted between wheezing breaths.

"It's just up here a little further." Monte responded, trying his best to sound sure of the lie.

Monte looked up from the ground. The cat, who was padding along a few paces ahead of them, suddenly stopped. Terran was also standing still. Monte couldn't tell who had stopped first.

Monte looked around at the trees and saw the same pattern he'd seen last night. He saw the dense brush he had hidden in. He saw the tree that had propped up the tent of the old man. At least, he thought that’s what he saw.

To his horror, there was no sign anyone had been there at all. Monte walked out into the opening a little further. He started kicking leaves where he thought a fire pit might have been but found nothing.

It was all over. Someone must have tipped the Company off. The men who had been here learned someone was coming so they packed up and left. His only chance to clear his name was gone, just like that.

"This is where they were. Someone must have told them we were coming." Monte spoke the truth, hoping for the best.

"Boy, look around. This is no camp." Terran spoke up, overly annoyed. Terran took a dramatic pause and spread his arms wide, looking around to emphasize his point.

"Do we look like fools to you?" Terran said, turning back to face Monte. He was performing again.

There were no villagers around to hear him this time, so this act must be for Mavlo. Mavlo wasn't looking at either of them. He appeared to be lost in thought.

"You think we're supposed to believe somebody told the Company, they packed up everything they stole in an hour, were gone just like that?” Terran snapped his fingers for effect.

“You're stalling, plain and simple. Let's get back to town before there's another robbery." Terran said.

He was laying it on very thick, trying to get Mavlo's attention. Just then Monte felt the cat brushing against his legs.

"Oh, what is it?" Monte thought to himself.

As he looked down, he spotted something. Inches from his left boot was a square shaped hole in the ground. He looked around. He was standing roughly where he entered and exited the second tent. He took a few paces and found another similar depression in the ground. Monte hadn't noticed anything out of place when they arrived, but maybe he just wasn’t looking hard enough.

"Hey look over here!" Monte yelled, pointing to the ground with hands still cuffed behind his back.

The shouts broke Mavlo out of his thoughts. He walked over while Monte explained the markings. Mavlo was still investigating the tent stake holes while Monte left to check for more of them.

Monte watched the cat climb into a tree and brush her face on the rough trunk. Right above her was a clear marking where a piece of rope had rubbed bark away, the area around the mark still looked damp and green as though it happened within the past couple of hours.

"Here's where another tent was set up. There were about four of them in this clearing earlier today I'm sure of it." Monte said.

Monte was following the cat around now. Slowly he was remembering what the camp looked like. He didn't have any proof the stolen goods had ever been here, but he had something. Mavlo did not appear to be convinced either way. Still, he seemed open to Monte's explanation.

"There could have been a camp here recently, I grant you that lad." Mavlo said, weighing the evidence.

"But if this was where the goods were, someone must have indeed told them we were coming." Mavlo half asked, half stated.

For a man of the Guard, Monte thought this was a pretty strong statement, bordering on an accusation. It was of course possible someone tipped them off. But it was just as likely the Company packed up and left of their own volition. A Guard wouldn’t normally say something so definitive. Did Mavlo know something he didn't? Terran hadn't been engaging in the clues at all, and appeared to remain convinced this was all nonsense.

"And we have the man who tipped them off right here!" Terran spouted.

He was pointing dramatically at Monte as though what he was saying was the undeniable truth. Had they been in the market, Monte felt sure Terran would have the crowd on his side. Luckily, they were alone. Terran’s antics once again failed to capture Mavlo’s attention, who once again appeared lost in thought.

Finally, the cat bounded toward the edge of the clearing and Monte watched her. Nearly as plain as day were two muddy ruts from wheels leading either towards or away from the camp. Monte took a few steps away from the group toward the tracks.

"Ho there boy. No further" Mavlo issued it as an order.

"I think this might be how they got everything out of here." Monte spoke, indicating the tracks.

Mavlo looked at the tracks and said nothing. Terran appeared not to be listening.

"I think we've seen just about enough. Let's get this thief back and in front of the village and be done with this mess." Terran said. With an emphatic turn Terran started walking back in the direction they came from.

There was so much evidence pointing to him. There were two crooked men interested in having the matter settled. Monte realized the chances of making it out of the village again were very slim.

Mavlo was making a face Monte hadn't seen from him yet. It wasn't his characteristic unreadable scowl, he looked concerned for Monte.

"Come on lad, let's go. I've had the cell ready for you for days." Mavlo spoke loud enough for Terran to hear.

With the words, Mavlo widened his eyes, still looking at Monte, and then glanced at the muddy cart tracks again. He then turned and followed Terran out of the clearing.

Any blacksmith in any town could remove his manacles. Monte could run and be free from this entire ordeal. Neither man could keep up with him for more than a few paces, and Monte had a head start. It was a decent plan, except that his father's sword and all Monte's meager belongings were in the Guard station under lock and key. If he ran now, he would double the number of towns that wanted him jailed for crimes he never committed. He thought about his father and the sword and remembered something.

The ledger!

Mavlo read through it and learned something about Terran. What did those names mean? What did Mavlo know?

Monte could run, and he would get away, but maybe allowing him the choice was Mavlo's way of saying he shouldn't. Monte thought for another moment, then followed the two men back into the village.