It was dark by the time they rode into Alaphon’s farm. His grandfather had conjured a magical light between them so they could see to continue onward. Sandoron took immense pleasure poking exploring a world he’d only seen from afar up to this point in his life.
“Well, we’re nearly at the end of our journey for the night. Let’s see what Alaphon’s lovely wife” Banya coughed, did Cronkose cough? “Er, “ continued his grandfather “Let’s see if lady Alaphon has anything cooked for dinner she wouldn’t mind sharing.” As they came around the corner passing the last trees the farm came into view, it was strangely active with several wagons fully loaded and a few more still being packed.
His grandfather waved shouting, “Alaphon you old dog!”
Alaphon started, turning his face grim toward them. “Old shorty…” his face scrunched with confusion “What are you doing here I thought you’d be well into town by now.” He gestured towards the wagons “We were just finishing our preparations to join you.”
Gramps shot a glance between Alaphon and and Sandoron, one that softened considerably as he turned to face his grandson. “No, the situation has changed in town we’ve come to discuss that with you. Strangely he nodded toward Banya who wuffled oddly.
Alaphon’s eyebrows shot up, glancing between the three of them; the third being the crotchety Cronkose. “Well then best you come inside and tell us your news. Should we continue packing?”
His grandfather pulled on his beard idly. “Might be for the best, we probably need to go and collect supplies from our farm as well. And maybe some weapons.”
Alaphon missed a step. “Things are that bad?”
“They could be…” his grandfather paused. “Speaking of, there are two in the wagon we’ll need to deal with you still got that stocks from the time you had to scare a couple of your young’ins?”
Sandoron and Alaphon dragged the two would be highwaymen towards what looked like a board with several different sized holes cut in it, but when they got closer he realized it was hinged to allow the top to open and close. Alaphon lifted one of the hinged sides and put his highwayman’s head and wrist on the other side before closing it and wrapping it with a leather throng to close it gesturing for Sandoron to do the same.
Gramps stepped up putting his hands on the stocks and muttered “laesnoc laes yfitrof” before saying “There now they’ll hold for a month.”
Sandoron glanced back as they walked away and rubbed his eyes. “Why is it hazy over there now?”
“One of the magics I laid on the stockades was to hide them from casual observation. Both to protect the men and prevent any of their possible friends from finding them.”
“Alaphon do you have any grub or should I bring one of our packs in?”
“I’m sure we can scrounge something up for an appetite as small as yours old man. And I’ll ask Lenoar to warm something filling for the boy.”
—
Alaphon leaned forward, his arms resting on the table. “Well, now that we’ve got you both something to eat and you’ve had a moment to collect yourselves after what must have been a rather eventful ride to town and back why don’t you explain what’s going on?”
Gramps explained everything that had happened, “After we saw the smoke I guess I got spooked, I was hearing things that weren’t there. I ran traipsing off into the woods chasing… “ he paused looking up at Alaphon and taking a bit of the cracker he’d been given by his wife “shadows.”
“I’m glad for all the training my wife has been able to give the boy, she’s the only reason he’s alive.” He said as Sandoron told his tale about the attack on the road.
“Sandoron, you’ve finished up, why don’t you go see if you can help the kids finish loading what they have to before midnight. Alaphon once you explain why they’re going to have to load even more why don’t you come back in here and we can have a chat while the youngsters break their backs?”
—
It wasn’t long before Sandoron came back into his home to find Aelene and Kasner sitting at the table drinking tea and chatting with his wife.
“Well, you’ve heard the boy’s tale, and my own. Let’s get the rest of the picture shall we?” Kasner replied looking towards his own wife.
Aelene took a breath and spoke of the riots and fires. When she got to the part about who’s head the rioters were chanting be handed over Lenoar gasped her hand covering her mouth.
“Well, that certainly explains why you returned for aid instead of lettig the men ride into town themselves” she said, shaking her head.
Alaphon pinched the bridge of his nose exhaling violently. “It’s not the fault of the rioters, it’s been too long since the last Calling, and we’ve not been as involved as many of the past heroes were after their own Calls were completed. However, something has to have stirred this up.” He looked towards Kasner “Do you know what has the taxes and tithes rising? Or what else might be pushing to unrest?”
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Kasner looked up from his tea “Nothing beyond the fact that The Call has gone out once more. If the King has word he may have raised taxes to prepare an army. We don’t know ho long they’ve been trying to reach Sando just that they have. And that bitch dryad goddess said they had only called two others this time.”
Alaphon rocked back, “A party of three? So the danger is not great enough for a full Calling?”
Kasner shook his head. “No, unfortunately if she is to be believed they chose three because the danger would be so much greater. They were to be bestowed with much greater power than the norm so that they might better have a chance to reach aid and each-other alive…”
“So the King is likely aware of The Call going out somehow, and he is preparing an army to aid the heroes. And that means the danger to the boy is greater than Alaphon told me.” Lenoar began.
“So, either this is random chance which is unlikely with a Call going out. Or something is actively working to prevent Sandoron reaching aid. Something must have know the gods had chosen him, and your wards must have delayed things long enough that they had time to pepare.” She mused, her expression dark.
Aelene nodded. “That’s what I believe as well. There was something stirring up trouble things don’t get this hot this fast without someone fanning the flames.”
Kasner shook his head. “We won’t know until we reach town. Alaphon, how many of your lads can bear arms? We’ll have to form a group to reach the city and see if we can help restore order as well as protect the supplies we are bringing in.”
They continued to talk and plan for an hour before they heard the door and voices walking inside. Aelene stood and stepped into shadows of the kitchen before Kasner called Sandoron we’re in here still. Have the the others with you join we’ll fill you all in.
—
Sandoron followed Bennett into the dining room, the group of men and youths looking exhausted as they took seats around the table.
One of the youths spoke up first “So, what’s got us loading up the entire farm into wagons in the dark of night? A dragon com’in?”
Alaphon laughed bellowing laughs, wiping his eye he looked the young man over. “No, Jens. Not dragons. There is trouble in town, a riot by the looks of things. We don’t know how many are hurt or who holds the town but we know there are people who will need help and the town will need food and supplies.”
He went on. “The Kasners will be staying the night here and we’ll roll the wagons to the road where we’ll split off and go get supplies from their farm. The rest of the wagons will remain and we will pick you up when we come back through in two days.”
“If we’re gonna have to camp for two days at the road why not just wait to leave?” one of the older boys asked.
“Because, if word comes that the town militia is in control and aid is needed from our farm I want you ready to ride out with their messengers immediately. If you are gone we will follow and catch up as quickly as possible.”
They went over the rest of the plans, including who would be staying and who would be going to the Kasner’s farm with them. In the end it was only half a cycle before they finished up and everyone headed off to their respective sleeping quarters.
—
As they rode back towards their farm the next day Sandoron asked his grandfather, “You going to give grandma that knife when we get home? And are we leaving her behind again?”.
Kasner tugged his beard, reaching up to stoke even his long eyebrows before he responded. “I think we’ll have to leave your grandmother behind. I’d prefer to leave you as well but we’ll need all we can. Someone will have to remain here to keep things going. One of the younger Alaphon boys will stay behind as well to help her.” He gestured to the young boy who must have been close to 16 riding a large animal beside them.
“He’s older than I was when you and Grams first left me to tend the farm on my own. If he’s staying back why not have Grams come with us she’s the one who taught me to fight I’m sure she’d be good to have around.”
“Ahh, just so. If she were to remain here she could defend the farm if anything slips through the woods past us and is there in case Lenoar needs to send one of the boys to get her to defend their own farm as well. I’ll leave some haste talismans for her in case she needs them while we are gone.
—
It was early afternoon when they reached the farm, his grandfather had been muttering under his breath again and they’d made great time. As they rolled up in front of the house his grandmother stepped out shielding her eyes to look at them.
“Well, come in and explain why you’re back so early, with such a party in tow.”
A few of the younger boys looked confused, but they remained quiet when Alaphon shot them a look. What was that about? He was sure they’d met his grandmother before.
In they went most of the Alaphon youth staying with the wagon, Gramps giving her a very abbreviated description of events ending with “And so, we’re preparing a caravan to head into town to supply and defend. We’ll take what we can from here and I’ll open the armory.”
Sandoron’s head shot up, armory? Since when did they have an armory? The closest thing he could think of was the tool shed behind the mill, and that was just hoes that needed a good hammering to get them back into shape.
—
The afternoon went by quickly, everyone packing all but two or three bags of grain they’d need to re-plant soon so that they’d have enough for themselves over winter. They had even packed a couple of the most stout haul carts with sand bags they had to labroisly fill with sand and dirt from around the river.
It was nightfall before they’d gotten the last of the wagons packed and the eldest Alaphon boys were standing with the Kasners in front of the milking shed. Gramps raised his arms and loudly proclaimed “Open Sesame The Hamburglers Commeth” his arms waving in a strange pattern as he did so.
Alaphon quirked an eyebrow at the gnome. Grams just shook her head.
The rest of their jaws however, dropped. A second door had appeared on the side of the shed, opening to reveal… a pedestal with a cookie on it?
Grams stepped forward, raising the cookie and said “I am not hungry, you eat it.” Before putting it into the slot that had appeared on teh pedestal. She stepped back, looking at Sandoron “We always figured you’d rather eat the cookie so it was a good second layer of protection to keep young fingers out of danger.” She smiled.
A couple of the Alaphon men had poorly concealed smiles but one of the youths stepped up to Sandoron and poked his belly. “Yeah, probably a good bet.”
Even Alaphon cracked a smile at the remark, Sandoron just blushed and sucked in his gut.
Gramps chuckled, and gestured forward “Well, we do need to keep moving I for one would like some rest before morning.”
There was an opening on the floor where the pedestal had been moments ago leading to a well list staircase heading down.