CHAPTER 3

Aeric crept as close as he dared towards the encampment then climbed a nearby tree. The climb was slow and tiring but it ensured that his movements wouldn’t be noticed.

Once he was satisfied that he had a good sightline on the camp, Aeric settled himself on a largish branch, using the thick leaves as cover.

The small camp was alive with Agoutian soldiers setting tents. The unit was comprised of twenty-four infantería, four of which are rangers, based on their coats sewed with leaves and branches, imitating the surrounding greenery.

The soldiers did not worry Aeric, it was the rangers that he was concerned with. They are well-trained in moving around trees and undergrowth, making them perfect scouts in the Howling Jungle. He doubted that he would be taken by surprised by the rangers. No matter how good they are, they are still no match for Titan. The stone dog would be able to detect them far sooner than they would be able to get wind of him. Aeric was slightly regretting that he left the stone dog with the Agoutinan Freemen but reasoned that he could defend himself if it comes to it. He was well-armed and trained and will be fighting in familiar surroundings. It’s was the only reason why he had the gumption to sneak up on the Agoutian unit.

Aeric saw the group making headway in the jungle on his way back towards his new friends. So consumed was he with the thoughts of Cornago’s siege that he almost stumbled upon the unit. It was a good thing that he had sharp ears and noticed the clanking and banging of armor before they came upon him. He was able to quickly find a suitable tree and made himself scarce. It amused Aeric a little that he was climbing trees so often this past few days that it almost felt like natural for him to do so.

The rangers were very competent in leading the unit. They were silent and efficient in how they move. Aeric could see the hard stares the rangers gave the untrained soldiers every time they made some noise but it was a lost cause. It takes a lot of preparation and training to move silently with metal strapped all over your body. He could see the teniente leading the group of soldiers give up and just admonished the rangers to get them as quickly as possible to their destination. There is no point in trying to make the untrained do something they cannot.

The soldiers moved quickly, now that stealth was no longer a concern. It did not take them long before they reached the clearing that Aeric was now observing. He shadowed the group, wanting to ensure that they were not heading towards his unprepared comrades. There are few reasons why they are currently bumbling around the jungle. Either they are looking for someone or they’re preventing someone from getting an eyeful on Cornago. There are probably some other reason that they might have come up with but Aeric couldn’t think of anything else. Those were the only things that made sense to him. Looking at the rangers, they were not used to the humid and difficult jungle. They were sweating and tired, drinking copious amount of water. Most commanders would have acclimatized their soldiers first before having them do extensive operations in foreign lands but these people looked like they were fresh off their ships. The soldiers were already complaining how their armor were baking them from the inside and were requesting to remove them. Only the threat of their sargento whipping those who remove their armor quieted the group but not completely, there were some that were grumbling under their breath.

Aeric was not familiar with how Agoutians soldiers conduct searches but he would bet that it would be a bit different of how Idacans do it.  Idacans prefer to use small groups, grouping people of three or four into units, sending them to different parts of the jungle, working their way inward. Aeric had heard from an old campaigner that was assigned to his unit when he was in the militia that the Agoutians use superior numbers in most of their strategies. He heard talk about when a lady from one of the influential families in Salvación got lost in the jungle after trying to meet a secret lover. The local hunters and garrison fanned the jungle, moving together at a slow pace until they found the lady, killed by a jungle cat.

Taking that into account, Aeric surmised that that the soldiers below would eventually find his friends if they don’t move. He does not believe that the soldiers were looking for them specifically, the death of the hunting party was just a few days ago and there were no witnesses to report Aeric’s murder of the nobleman. He suspects that this is more to stymie any attempt to warn Pavia, the nearest garrisoned town.

Satisfied that he had learned everything he could from the unit, Aeric silently descended from his perch and faded away behind the tall ferns. Once he was confident that he was far enough, Aeric started running. It was more akin to a fast jog than running, if somebody was to observe him. It’s impossible to run akin to running on flat ground when moving between trees. The few times Aeric ran himself to a tree was enough to force him to learn to move better.

It did not take him long before he was intercepted by Titan. Like always, the stone dog surprised him. He almost took a stab at his massive companion when he made himself known. The stone dog emerged from behind a small rise in the land, moments before Aeric would have passed it. His spear snapped up, his body crouching behind it, leaning forward onto a running charge. The panting stone dog just stood there, not at all bothered by the leveled spear. Aeric recognized titan and raised his spear but could not stop himself. He slammed on the side of the stone dog with a soft thump. He was thankful that the dog could control his natural armor. If Titan decided that he was threat, he could have hardened his fur and made Aeric’s crash like smashing himself on a stone wall.

“Boy, one of these days I’ll surprise you. Let’s see how you like it then.” Aeric said as he leaned on Titan’s side. The dog just licked him and sniffed his hair. Aeric spent a few moments petting the dog before he pushed him away.

“Right, time to leave, boy. Let’s find our friends.” Grabbing fur, Aeric hauled himself astride the stone dog. Titan immediately shot off, running more smoothly than a human could ever do.

Nearing their destination, Aeric had Titan slow down and got off from his mount. He cupped his hands and blew on it, the sound of the rainbow bird thrilling clearly in the surrounding trees. Aeric slowly made his way down the small hill until he came to a ditch. The ditch was a result of the land crumbling and it was the only way to safely navigate himself off the rise. He could see Kusaba below, spear ready and standing just off to the side of a large rock he could immediately dart behind if he felt in danger.

The tense Agoutian lowered his spear with a relieved sigh and waved at Aeric. He did not try to talk to the approaching man and Aeric was happy that he remembered his instructions. Aeric looked up and saw Tinu hiding behind some leaves and Amon was peeking from his concealed position behind a rock, just off to the side from Kusaba. Aeric made a complicated hand sign and both hiding crossbowmen stood up, getting the ‘no threats’ sigal from Aeric. The hiding ladies led the hounds from the behind the trees and undergrowth, waving at Aeric.

“We’re safe. We can talk.” Aeric said as his group crowded around him.

“What’s happening, señor? You told us that our new home is under siege. What will we do now?” A worried Kusaba asked.

Aeric immediately returned to the group as soon as he learned of Cornago’s plight. He quickly had the group move farther away from the port city and hid them in a place Aeric thought safe. He left them there to learn more about the Agoutian incursion. He was now left with a dilemma as what to do with the freed slaves. No, they’re no longer slaves. He should stop thinking that. They are freemen. They have renounced their homeland when they agreed to find sanctuary in Cornago.

“That are few options we could take. I could bring you to Pavia, it is a large, heavily garrisoned town. It is not far from here. It would take us four days to reach it since we would have to stick to the jungles to avoid the mounted soldiers. I could also escort you to a small village on the western edge of the Howling Jungle. A treewalker tribe that I’m friendly with uses a small cove for their fishing docks. I could arrange for them to carry you to their cousins on another island. They are a peaceable people so you would not have to be on guard with them all the time. Lastly, a sigilist circle two days away is looking for apprentices. Some of you might have the talent for it. I cannot guarantee that they would take you in though, they are a secretive bunch, those sigilist. They might come off as taciturn but beneath the stiff faces are kind hearts.

I cannot make the decision for you. I will guide you and give you opinions and warnings but being a freeman means making decisions for yourself. Take a moment to deliberate. I’ll check our surroundings.” Aeric left the group to scout the nearby area for threats. The freemen squatted in a circle, whispering to each other.

It was truly an unfortunate situation for them. To leave the clutches of an evil man only for their tormentors to dog their steps. Aeric is just one man but he made a silent promise that he would not surrender the freemen to those slavering Agoutians.

Aeric scouted in a wide circle, straining his senses against the possibility of being found. Titan faded in and out of the undergrowth but showed no signs of alarm. Satisfied that they were safe for the moment, he returned to the group to find them resting while still keeping watch. Amon was back hiding behind his rock with his crossbow in his hands. Aeric did not say anything but just looked at the collected faces in front of him expectantly.

Unsurprisingly, it was Tinu who decided to speak for the group. He has established himself firmly as the leader of the immigrants.

“Can we stay with you, señor?” Tinu timidly asked.

“What?” To say that Aeric was startled with the proposition was to put it lightly.

“Señor, we do not know these lands. You have told us of the future we can have here but our countrymen have invaded. We do not want to be slaves again.” Aeric could see Tinu clenching his fist. A determined look momentarily passing his face, signaling faint whispers of a recovering spirit. It gladdened Aeric’s heart that even for a short moment, Tinu was able to cast away years of being one of the downtrodden and put voice to his defiance.

“You have been good to us. You’ve freed, fed, and protected us and even now, with our own countrymen invading Idaca, you have not left us to fend to ourselves. We are more grateful that you can ever imagine.

We feel safe with you, señor. If you would have us, we would accompany you wherever you may go. We will work hard. We don’t need much and we’ll make sure that you’ll not find us a nuisance.” Tinu added earnestly.

“Please, señor. I know we ask much but there is nobody else we would trust.” Mella pleaded, patting the hounds by her feet for comfort. Aeric was silent as he considered the idea.

The Howling Jungle is not a safe place. Actually, living in the wilds anywhere presents a set of dangers that could turn deadly to those unlearned in woodcrafting skills. There is also the fact that there are very little luxuries in the woods. It worked well for Aeric since he is content with a simple life and his regular forays for supplies to Cornago once a month is enough to satisfy his need for a mug of beer or some well-cooked food.

Now that he was seriously considering it, the idea seems to have a lot of merit. It would fill his need of community, if he was to think about it selfishly. He would have to be careful though, he did not want to give them false pretenses.

"If you I bring back to my home, you do realize that you would be staying in the jungle. It is a simple life I live, you understand. Not only that, you have learned about the dangers of living in the Howling Jungle. You will always need to be on guard and respect the green canopies. Lastly, there would be a lot of hard work if you choose to stay. I have a small but sturdy home but it would not house all of us. We would have to build your own abode. We would also have to expand my garden to comfortable feed all of us.

Taking all of that in mind, would all of you still want to live with me? Note though, that I do not take you as men and women of my house. You can leave anytime you want to. All of you are freemen. What say you?"

 The group did not have to think long. A chorus of 'yes' rang out. Aeric surmised that they have made their decision long before. They were all happy that Aeric had taken them under their wing and he could see the look of relief in their faces. Aeric felt a little guilty not arguing more for their possible settlement in a different town or city but what's done, is done.

"All right then, brothers and sisters, for that's what you all are now, it's time for us to leave Idaca's part of the Jungle. We have a ways to go before we are home. We have to move quickly if we are to avoid the rangers and the soldiers but first, I'll have to leave them a surprise to dissuade them from chasing us if they find our signs." Aeric said.

The group stood up and made for their home. The way home is not difficult yet it is far. It would almost be almost a six days before they reach it. In that time, Aeric would make the most of their travel time by instructing the group the basics of how to live in the jungle. How to recognize poisonous plants, how to avoid duskwalker breeding grounds, how to fashion weapons and traps to protect themselves, and much more. It did worry Aeric a bit that teaching them what he knows would not be the best for the freemen but he knew nothing else. If he feels that the freemen are not able to adjust to life with him in the next few ten-days, he would forcibly suggest them to live in a town or city in Idaca where they could get proper care.

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Aeric left the group later in the afternoon to prepare his gift for the Agoutians. Aeric had the group wait for him in a cave by a ravine they were passing. He only took his spear, crossbow, and a water bottle and set off to find some game.

Aeric was able to poison a horned pig. He used a poison he extracted from a bright blue frog and spread it on some sweet potatoes he dug up. The poison is a mild sedative but with the right dosage, it could also slow and weaken a person. Aeric was careful to ensure that he doesn't kill the horned pig.

With the pig well and truly weakened, Aeric was able to chase it towards a small clearing that would be on the path of the Agoutians. Aeric picked this spot because he also knew that there is a small duskwalker broodmother denning in cave nearby.

Aeric stopped harassing the horned pig as he menaced it to move and it collapsed in the middle of the clearing. Aeric hid and waited until he spotted the unmistakable silhouette of a duskwalker. The pig had fallen asleep and never had a chance. The duskwalker bit hard on its neck and worried it like a hound. The pig's neck broke, killing the animal. The duskwalker broodmother is much larger than a male. They are also incredibly fierce when with young. He could see four younglings come out of hiding, loping towards the fresh kill. They still have the muted gray coloration on their skin, marking them as juveniles.

Aeric left the duskwalkers to eat quietly. The horned pig was of a good size and knowing duskwalkers, they will be engorging themselves until sleep takes them. The grass would hide the sleeping predators until it is too late for the Agoutians. Some people would be horrified with the fate Aeric engineered for the soldiers but Aeric has no regrets. He has very little care for slavers.

With his trap in place, Aeric mounted Titan and made good time returning to the group. He could have been there faster but he wanted to erase any lingering marks of their passage as best as he could. He could not hide everything, the freemen made too many signs for him to remove but it would take a keen eye to spot them.

Aeric was pleased to find that the group was not idle while he was away. They've replenished their water bottles and he could see them organizing the packs on the striders so that they would rattle less while moving. Tinu and Amon were also keeping an eye out for danger. They have taken to heart Aeric's suggestion to use the trees often and Aeric could see that Amon was sitting on a high branch with his crossbow on hand.

"You were successful, señor?" Kusaba asked while he was leading the striders out of the cave. The striders were reluctant to leave the cool and comfortable cave but Kusaba was able to urge them into movement in short order.

"Yes. Those duskwalkers would allow us more time. These Agoutians have never faced such creatures before. The broodmother alone would kill a number of the bastardos. Her young'uns are also not to be taken lightly. I would bet that they would take down a man or two before they are killed. The Agoutians would learn to respect the jungle." Aeric answered with authority.

The group made decent time. Aeric and Titan guided them around dangerous creatures and impassable areas. Aeric has also started their education by pointing out things as they travel and talk about how to use or not the bountiful nature around them. He generally quiz them at the end of the day and he was gratified to know that both Mella and Piyesa were learned women. They know their letters and a little of numbers. The men folk were uneducated but clever. Tinu and Kusaba worked in the mines at the beginning of their slavery while Amon worked in a plantation. The women had always been house slaves so their basic education was necessary if they are to serve the household masters.

The women have a quick wit and were able to deduce the answers to a lot of Aeric's guiding questions. The men were not dim however and were also able to share their thoughts. They made timid answers, as if they were afraid to be punished if they got the answers wrong but got more comfortable as the days passed.

By the time the party arrived at the entrance of Aeric's home, the group have understood the basics of jungle life. At least now Aeric was not afraid that they would ingest something poisonous or put themselves in a dangerous situation. The freemen were quick to learn and were eager to try them for themselves.

Aeric’s home is located inside an expansive basin. Aeric speculated that the basin was formed when Gaia was young. It is dry and overgrown with jungle life now. It was completely by accident that he found the place. Aeric was living in a cave just outside Idacan lands before and it was never really comfortable. He thought about building a house there but hesitated because he didn’t feel that he’ll stay there for the foreseeable future. He could not explain it but Aeric was looking for something that would make him feel like he’s home. He was not sure he would find it in the Howling Jungle, and it was daft for him to even think about it, but the cave was not it.

He was following a wounded boar on one of his far-ranging hunting trips when he stumbled upon a crack in the mountain. The struggling boar made for the opening and Aeric hesitated a bit. The crack was wide enough to fit two carts side by side but the entrance was overgrown with ferns and other plant life. There was even a large tree just in front, hiding the entrance unless you look at it closely at an angle.

Aeric finally followed the boar in after some internal deliberation and was astounded to find the massive basin open up as he left what he thought was a dark ravine. The basin was not as densely populated with trees and there were a lot of rocks around but it was as flat as he could see. He also noticed that it would not be a place howlers would want to live in. The trees scattered about the thick undergrowth were short and squat. There were also very little of fruit bearing trees to support a family of the noisy creatures. Aeric instantly knew that this would be the site of his new home.

The year of his discovery of the basin was hard on Aeric. He didn’t want to share the knowledge of his secluded home so he did all the labor in preparing it for his habitation with just the help of Titan, who was not fully grown then.

Aeric thought about building himself a bamboo house since it was easier to build and would take him little time to finish. He thought long and hard and finally decided that the harder option of building a log house would serve him better. The monsoon season runs powerfully during its course and Aeric doubted that a bamboo house would stand up to that kind of natural punishment. The surrounding mountains would protect him and his home from the worst of the monsoon but it was always better to err to the side of caution. A log house, if done properly, would take more time but would last him a lifetime if cared for.

For the next seven months, Aeric busied himself with preparing his home. He cleaned an open space in the land by digging up stones, clearing trees, and stomping the area flat before laying the foundation for a small and simple long house. He had to make regular forays to Cornago to purchase nails, hinges, and such as metalwork became necessary. He also consulted with builders, paying them for their expertise in teaching him how to more effectively build his home. The trips he had to make had proven costly, almost breaking all of his stashed money. He had barely enough coinage to pay for a couple of nights in an inn and some ale. Still, at end of his labors, the log house was well-built, if not of any particular distinction. It was very functional and missing any kind of decorative work but Aeric felt damn proud of himself. He felt sorry for how much he used Titan as a beast of burden, strapping him to logs to drag them around or to pull out stubborn stumps. He made it up to the stone dog by building a wide shack for him to den in. It was sturdy and comfortable. It even has windows for summer days that prove to be too hot. He almost teared up when he stood back and saw the completed house for the first time. It was definitely home now, he thought at that time.

“Señor? Are we to enter the ravine?” Tinu asked as he stared at the opening dubiously.

Aeric snapped out his reverie and brought himself back to the present. He could see that the others were also not enthused by the forbidding entrance which made him laugh. The freemen were startled and confused as they could see nothing funny about the situation.

“It’s the only way to get to our new home. It’s not as dark as it seems and it would not take us long to pass through it. Half a bell I would say. It is safe, I assure you.” Tinu didn’t look convinced but he nodded anyway.

“If you say it is, señor then it is.” Piyesa said with conviction. She squared her shoulders and walked up to the opening, giving it a good stare. The three hounds leashed to her belt were sniffing curiously at the opening. The others took heart from Piyesa's courage and followed her example.

Aeric was about to lead them inside when he was gently pushed aside by Titan. Without a backward glance, the stone dog silently padded through the opening, slowly disappearing in the dark passageway. Aeric laughed at the cheekiness of his companion.

“Why, you insolent bugger! You just had to show us up, didn’t you? What say you, friends? Shall we?” Aeric led the group as they enter the passageway. The group was somewhat surprised that the passageway was actually wider than they expected. The darkness was quite deceptive. They felt more comfortable when they notice that it was not completely dark. Trees were blocking the sunlight from illuminating the passageway from high above but lances of sunlight was poking through the greenery here and there.

The short trip through the entrance ended without any drama. Piyesa and Mella, who were leading the group just behind Aeric, gasped in delight as they saw the quaint, little log house sitting by its lonesome self in a clearing. The house was a long, squat thing with its gable roof running almost all the way to the ground on both sides. The house was unpainted, giving it a tired look. The brownish coloration had faded already due to the hard summer heat but the wood is still good and strong. It was definitely not of local design.

Most of the native houses are built with bamboo and Nipa thatching. They are usually built on struts, animals occupying the caged underside of the house. It is an effective design for most and is very light. A group of people could uproot a house and carry it somewhere else, should the owner feel the need to move his or her domicile.

The new residents of the basin took a slow look around the area, absorbing their surroundings. Another gasp caught Aeric’s attention. Mella has found his small flower garden off to the side of the house. Some of the flowers have healing properties that he uses for salves and ointments. It was easier to plant some of them at home that to have to scour the jungle every time he needs a bit.

The house was not far from the entrance itself. Aeric had fashioned a small gate made from bamboo to seal the entrance. It wouldn’t stop any attacker that decided to storm the place. It was mainly there to prevent critters from finding their way in. Aeric had to clear out the basin when he first moved here.

“What is this place, señor? We are like in a bowl.” Amon asked. He was shielding his eyes as he looked at the steep sides on the surrounding mountain.

“It’s a dried basin. There are few of places like this throughout Gaia. This was undiscovered since it is deep in the Howling Jungle. I found it by accident. It is quiet here. Howlers cannot live here and there is no prey for duskwalkers or other predators to hunt. It is my oasis of peace. It is safe here. This is your new home too.”

Aeric was startled when the group cheered. The freemen were laughing and exclaiming about the different aspects of the basin. Their excitement of finding a new place to live gladdens Aeric’s heart. Even the hounds were yipping and barking, caught up with the happiness of their handlers.

The group leisurely made their way to the house. The house was truly enough for a man like Aeric and it could probably accommodate another person, should he choose the share. That is one thing he was not ready to do yet.

“Welcome home. I have a rain barrel at the back of the house. Amon, please fill the bucket you see there and bring some fresh water for our striders. There is a nice cave not far from here. It doesn’t go deep but it will be a perfect home for the striders. Tinu and Kusaba, please unload the striders and put up the tents. Better to do it now before later when you feel tired. Mella and Piyesa, I think a good homecoming meal would do us just fine. I’ve some fishing rods that I’ll want you to try your hand in. There is a pool here where I get my water from. It has some wonderful fish we could eat. Let’s catch some for an early dinner.”

Everybody went through their task at the usual brisk pace they normally do. Aeric went inside his house to get his fishing rods and to unpack his bag. He had yet to learn how to tickle fish and there was nobody to teach him. No matter, he could use a line with no difficulties.

Looking inside his house after some time he was away, he could see nothing has changed. It was a cozy one room dwelling with his bed at the other end. He has a small fireplace where he does his cooking during bad weather but he prefers not to when the sun is out. Some of the dishes he prepares are well and truly stinky and he doesn’t want to smell it when sleeping. A rough table and two chairs complement his tiny kitchen while a trunk and some shelving are his only furniture.

The fishing tackle was leaning on the corner by the door so he grabbed the pouch and the rods. He left his spear on the rack he had fashioned just above the table. He placed the crossbow on top of the trunk, thinking about how he needs to make a place for it, and left the house with just his knife.

The ladies were already waiting for him by the door. He could see they were apprehensive about approaching his domicile and Aeric immediately wanted to squash that.

“Ladies, I hope that you feel welcome in my home. It is only right, since we’ll be neighbors soon. Don’t hesitate to knock or call out to me if you need something. It would be odd if you are always like walking on eggshells every time you are near the log house. Remember, you are going to be living here too.” Aeric said softly.

“It is not easy, señor. There are… some adjustments we have to do. Mella and I are very thankful of your generosity. It is just that we need to be constantly careful when we were serving in Señor Miguel’s house. His wife has a terrible temper. She… hurts us.” Piyesa said.

It made Aeric angry how such travesty is considered normal in some countries. Nobility! Pfah! Whoever made such word has no notion of what it was.

“I cannot fault you for that and I am sorry you had to have the life you lived but that is over now. Over time, we can only hope that the scars of your slavery would lessen their hold on you.”

“That is also our hope, señor.”

“I will help you anyway I can. For now, there is some fishing for us to do. Ho! Come with us, you lot. It would be good to rest our feet on the cool waters of the pool. We had a long and tiring trip. Time for us to luxuriate for a bit.” Tinu and Kusaba just finished setting up both tents and Aeric could see Amon hurrying back. The entire group trooped towards the pool a few knuckles away from Aeric’s home. Aeric thought about siting his house by the pool early on upon the discovery of the basin but the noise of the small waterfall would not make for a restful sleep. 

“Here we are! Nice pool, eh? There are some nice, fat fish you could catch here. I’m not really sure how they come to find their way here since the waterfall is the only way they could reach this place but I’m no fisherman.” Aeric commented.

The group found themselves on the banks of a good-size pool. The loud sound of the crashing waterfall fed the pool with fresh water. The freemen looked at the pristine pool, commenting on how they could even see some of the fish Aeric was talking about.

“It is so peaceful here…” Aeric heard Amon mumbled.

“Yes, it is. This is what I exchanged city life for. Nobody to tell me what to do, when to do it, and at whose order it is to be done. In this small paradise, I’m my own man.”

“Us too then…” Amon said in wonder.

“Yes, you too. You might change your mind once we start our work tomorrow.”

“Work?” Amon stopped staring at the others who were moving about to look at Aeric inquiringly.

“But of course! You cannot expect to continue living in those tents, could you? No, we are going to start felling trees to make your own dwelling. We are also going to have to expand the garden, or maybe make one near your own house, to supplement our food. My small plot, sadly, would not support our needs. Finally, and this is what I would insist on, all of you would start learning how to defend yourselves using the weapons you’ve been given. If I am to be overwhelmed, you and others need to be able to help me. It would be for your own good too. Titan and I would not always be there.

Saying that, we would also start exercising every morning. All of you are too thin and undernourished. Not of your own doing, of course, but a strong body is a healthy body as they say.”

“Exercise, señor? We don’t know how to. We see some of the caballeros and their escuderos train sometimes but I don’t think we could do what they do.” Amon shook his head as he thought about sight of men running around in armor. He could not imagine himself doing such a thing.

Aeric snorted, dismissing the idea of knight training immediately.

“You’ll do none of that nonsense. There is no need to as we are not knights. Simple calisthenics with the help of some weigh stones is enough for us. Most of the militia never had training like what you just described. Those are for those who are bred to fight. They start training at such a young age that normal exercises are nothing for them. Do not worry yourself with those thoughts. We will start slow. All of you have the spirit for hard work, being alive while also being slaves attest to that, so exercises will not faze you.” Aeric assured him.

“You know best, señor.” Amon replied.

“You will know too, in the future. Come! Let us join our friends. There is fish to be caught.” Aeric said enthusiastically.

That day was a day of remembrance for all. It was their first proper meal together and the first day they truly felt safe and relaxed. Aeric decided not to worry them about current siege of Cornago since it doesn’t concern him too. He doubts that the Agoutians would be able to capture the port city. Pavia is close by and undoubtedly, some Jin Xia traders had already informed the garrison there about the siege. Aeric believed that this was more of a delaying tactic. He saw some ship blockading the port but he couldn’t see what kind of ships. Most of the warships of the city were running the sea lanes, protecting the merchant cogs from piracy. When they hear of their home port’s plight, the mighty war galleons of the Idacan navy would be quick in coming.

Aeric didn’t spent any more thought about Idaca or Agoutia. His basin is far removed from the troubles of the civilized world and if he could, it would stay that way.