Judd stared up into Caste’s part angry, part frightened, expression and tried to process what he’d said.

“What did you say?”

“She’s gone!” Caste shifted backwards, allowing Judd the space to sit up and they both looked at where Aalis had been situated around the fire the night before. Apart from her bedroll, it was like she had never been there.

Judd’s brain was trying to keep up. “She…she was supposed to wake me…” He looked around at the shafts of light brightly shinning between the gaps in the leaves, the air filled rainbows of autumn hues. “Where did she go?”

“How should I know?”

Judd put his hand on her bedroll. It was cold. “This…this doesn’t make any sense. Why would she leave?” And as Caste opened his mouth he held up his hand. “And don’t say it’s because she’s a witch. She healed you, didn’t she?”

Caste’s teeth clamped shut and his eyes darted away. “Not necessarily…”

Judd rolled his eyes then caught sight of disturbed leaves. They had been lightly pushed to one side, the crisp golden leaves on top moved to reveal darker, older leaves beneath. Judd knelt and studied the odd track.

“What are you doing?”

“I think she went this way.” Judd gestured to the ground. “I think, as she walked, the hem of her skirt brushed the leaves aside as it swayed.”

Caste gaped at him. “That’s the sum total of your evidence?”

“No,” Judd quickly packed up the campsite, rolling his bedroll tightly and buckling it onto his swag, “I don’t think she left of her own volition.”

“What in Terra makes you say that?”

“If she was going to sneak away and take her pack, why leave her bedroll?” Judd eyed Caste. “We know there are bandits in the forest. What if they kidnapped her?”

“Then they’ll be delighted when they find out she’s a witch and curses them all.” Caste grunted. Judd heaved his swag onto his back. “Alright! Alright, just give me a minute.”

It took nearly ten for Caste to finally get himself together so Judd punished him with a march that was so fast it was just shy of jogging. The marks in the leaves continued, a sweep to one side and then to the other.

“It’s actually convenient,” Judd remarked, “footprints would be impossible to follow unless you were an expert tracker but this side to side gathering of leaves is something even I can see.”

“You sure…she didn’t just…take off?” Caste demanded, breathing heavily.

“Why would she?” Judd slid down an embankment and then watched as Caste slipped, slid and landed by his feet.

“Well…I can’t imagine she was too thrilled about being a part of your ‘entourage’.” He said as Judd pulled him to his feet.

Judd stared at him. “What are you doing with your fingers?”

“What?”

“When you said that would ‘entourage’ you wiggled the two fingers next to each thumb. You’ve done it before too.”

Caste slapped his forehead. “They’re quotation marks!”

“Who are you quoting?”

“Oh my goodness…it emphasises a word…in this case, sarcastically!”

Judd’s expression flattened. “You know, the only reason Aalis might not have been ‘thrilled’,” he said sarcastically with his fingers wiggling like Caste’s had done, “by being part of my entourage was because of all the grief you gave her about being a witch.”

“Judd, she called herself a witch!”

“You don’t need to go on and on and on and on about it and make her feel bad.”

“Have you completely lost sight of why you want to become a knight?” Caste demanded, running after Judd as he strode off in the direction of the sweeps in the leaves. “It’s to rid Terra of the presence of all of Maul’s monsters, witches included.”

“Well, maybe witches shouldn’t be included. I mean…they’re not the same, are they?”

“What are you talking about?”

Judd readjusted the pack on his back. “All the other monsters of Maul, minotaur, centaurs, goblins, ogres, harpies, cockatrices, basilisks and the rest…they come directly from Maul.”

“And a witch is an unnatural version of a woman who has been touched by the taint of the south.”

“But how is that her fault?” Judd demanded.

Caste shook his head. “Look, maybe Aalis’ touch wasn’t intentional…but there are multiple accounts of women seeking power in Terra who go in search of the tainted waters of the south.”

“So,” Judd put his hand out and stopped his clerical companion, “because of a few misguided, desperate…vindictive women whose actions are recorded in the book of Grail, someone like Aalis, who may or may not be touched by the south, are condemned?”

Caste gave a shrug. “Astaril and the Order of the Grail cannot be seen to condone anything that comes from the south. Next there will be committees on the cruel treatment of monsters. Parades will start with people claiming that monsters are just our misunderstood neighbours…and before you know it, the wall comes down and we lose everything we’ve gained since Andigre, Grail and the Four Spire Knights.”

Judd’s brows felt so oblique that they were touching in the middle of his forehead. “So…even though she helped you overcome a fever and insisted on watching over you as you slept…you’d condemn Aalis?”

Caste’s mouth was firm but his eyebrows were sad. “Her presence among us brings all our actions into question. Your knighthood could well be forfeited because of your ‘fraternisation’ with a witch.”

Caste began to walk before Judd had fully comprehend what he’d said. A few minutes later the taller young man with a dream of knighthood fell back into step with the cleric.

“I won’t deny that,” Judd finally admitted, “but you’re a cleric of the Order of the Grail and you keep an account of my actions, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Well…maybe in doing so, we’ll create a new account, an argument for the protection of women persecuted for something they could not prevent or change.”

Now they were both silent, each of them thinking over what the other had said.

“While laudable,” Caste remarked and Judd wondered if laudable was a good thing because it sounded a lot like laughable, “we still have to find Aalis first or else my account of her will be two lines of script in my journal.”

“We’ll just keep following the trail for as long as it exists.”

The swept leaf trail did not fail them and they followed it until the shafts of sunlight became so warm that it was a relief to step into the cool of the shade. Judd was impressed that Caste had not begged for a pause and was about to call one himself when there was a whistling noise and an arrow struck the ground only a foot away from his boots.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

“Is that a…”

“Don’t move.” Judd hissed and they waited in tense silence as four men and a woman appeared from behind trees, brandishing farm tools in place of weapons.

“One move and our archer will put an arrow through your eye.” The lead male warned.

“Duly noted.” Judd swallowed.

“Hand over your weapons.”

“Ah…” Judd slowly revealed his broken sword. The lead bandit took the two broken pieces and then looked up at him.

“Seriously?”

“It’s a long story.”

“You can tell it to our leader.”

The march to the bandit camp was not long. In fact, had the bandits not taken them captive, Judd and Caste would have stumbled on it only fifteen minutes later. It was a ramshackle hideout of stick and thatch huts, campfires and a mangy dog that barked at them before becoming distracted by its tail.

“Wait here.” Judd nodded as the lead bandit walked to the largest hut and disappeared inside. He glanced around and saw the archer, who had appeared during their walk, standing to one side. He was a tall, lithe fellow with blue eyes and black hair that was bound into submission by a bandana around his head but stuck out in defiance where the bandana ended.

“Thanks for the warning shot.” Judd said lightly.

The archer just glowered at him and said in a deadpan voice. “I was aiming for your head.”

Judd was actually relieved to see the lead bandit bringing the leader towards them, allowing him to reframe from responding. The leader of the bandits was a little disappointing to behold. He didn’t have a patch over one eye or any worthy of note scars. He wasn’t clad in leather armour or holding a sword or shield. In fact, apart from the archer’s bow and arrow, there appeared to be no weapons of any kind that were not originally farming tools.

“Are you sure they are the only two?”

“Yes. Goodness knows how they found us.” The young man put his hand on the leader’s chest to stop his advance. “Claud, we know they spoke with Sir Jesa.”

“And I’m sure he told you the violent and despicable tale of our treachery.” Claud remarked, his greying hair tied back in a relaxed tail.

“Absconded rather than violent or despicable.” Judd quipped and heard Caste’s groan.

“You can take a message back to Sir Jesa that we cannot be held responsible for not paying our taxes when we reported several times the state of the orchard and how last year, it only produced a half yield and this year…nothing!”

Judd glanced at Caste then turned back to Claud. “And the stolen livestock and burning of the storehouse was what? Your way of getting back at him?”

“Listen to the lies he sows!”

“Get back, thug of the oppressor!”

“Wait, what?”

“Kurst, calm down.”

“Hey, I’m just trying to talk here…”

“Put down the rake!”

“Stop!” All arguments ceased as Aalis ran into their midst and spun around. “Stop, for one moment and listen!”

“Aalis,” Judd gasped, “you’re alright!”

“I am fine.” She insisted then turned to Claud. “Claud, I know you are wary of anyone who comes in Sir Jesa’s name…but these men are not hired muscle.”

“Well, actually…” Judd clamped his mouth shut at her sharpened glare.

“They were looking for me.” Aalis explained. “You cannot abduct someone and then be shocked when her companions arrive, looking for her.”

Claud looked abashed. “This is true.”

“But it doesn’t change the fact that this one,” Kurst pointed at Caste, “is a cleric and bound to tell the truth and this one bore a sword!”

“A broken sword.” Judd said, happy to point that fact out.

Claud ran his fingers through his hair. “I…we…we have done nothing wrong.”

“Apart from abducting Aalis, stealing livestock…”

“Judd,” Aalis turned to him and took his hands, “please do not blame these people for their actions or those which they have been accused of. Come and see what they needed me to do.”

Judd glanced at Claud, Kurst, Caste who shook his head then back at Aalis. “Alright.”

Aalis breathed out in relief. “Claud, allow Judd to see what it is that is happening and perhaps we can get to the bottom of it.”

Claud put his hands in his pockets. “Very well.”

Both Kurst and Caste let out huffs of indignation as Judd followed Aalis to the larger of the huts built between two trees. Aalis paused at the entrance and turned to Caste who had followed to get away from his captors.

“Caste, perhaps you should stay here.”

“And leave me out here with these people?”

“There are sick people inside.”

Caste paused and Judd could see him calculating the odds. “I will wait out here.”

Aalis nodded and entered the hut, Judd ducking his head in order to do so. The light inside was diffused by the sticks bound together that did not form a solid wall, tiny beams of light cutting across the large space. Judd blinked several times until he adjusted to the dim light and realised the hut was full of people lying on bedrolls or on the ground, coughing and shivering. All walks of life were there, from the very young to the elderly.

“They’re…all sick?”

“Very sick.” Aalis knelt and soaked a cloth in water, wringing it out and putting it on the child’s forehead.

“What is it? A form of influenza?”

“No, it is not respiratory.” Aalis squeezed the child’s hand gently and stood up. “Claud tells me it started not long after they arrived but much milder and only striking the already frail. Now…it is affecting everyone and it is getting worse.”

Judd picked his way gingerly through the bodies curled up on the floor, dismayed. “If it is not influenza…”

“They all have fevers, hot and cold chills and at the height of the illness they are becoming delirious.”

Judd paused and stared at Aalis who gazed at him calmly. “But that…that’s…”

“Caste began to exhibit early symptoms last night.”

Judd pushed his fingers through his hair. “Is…but that means…it’s not contagious. Caste has been nowhere near these people.”

“No,” Aalis rubbed her arms, “it is a poison. These people are being consistently, maliciously poisoned.”

Judd felt the blood drain from his face. “But…you can treat it, like you did with Caste, right?”

Aalis grasped his arm and drew him aside. “I can treat the symptoms and give them a reprieve,” her voice turned into a hushed whisper, “but if we cannot find the source of the poison and stop it, their symptoms will increase and their bodies will wane until they begin to die from the fever.”

Judd was numb as he followed Aalis out of the hut to a fire where a large pot rested and Aalis’ pack sat nearby. Aalis inspected the pot, dipping her little finger into it and sucking it. She added some more herbs and gave it a stir.

“So these people…they kidnapped you to treat their illness?” Judd asked.

“One of their own had infiltrated the markets, trading for medicinal supplies and saw us yesterday. They trailed us to the campsite and watch as I treated Caste. They thought I could help.”

“And you left without telling us?”

Aalis cringed. “I did not have a choice. They said they would kill you both if I did not come.”

Judd groaned. “Just when I thought these people weren’t violent…”

“Judd, they are desperate.” Aalis insisted, waving to two women who hurried towards the fire. “One scoop of the broth for each sick person and, if there is enough left over, those who are not sick should have some to help fortify them.”

The women hastened to fulfill Aalis’ instructions. She wiped her hands on her tunic and turned to Judd. He was conflicted.

“I thought…Sir Jesa said these people were bandits…”

Aalis’ eyes dropped. “I do not know all there is to know about what happened…but Claud has been very polite and even apologetic about the manner I was brought here. Judd…he needs help.”

Judd sighed and nodded. “I’ll talk to him.”

Her shoulders relaxed. “Thank you.” She put her hand on his arm and ducked back inside the hut. Judd breathed out and looked around, jumping when he saw the archer leaning against a nearby tree, chewing on straw, his blue eyes glaring. “Ah…could you tell me where Claud is?”

The archer said nothing and Judd could only follow the slight inclination of his jaw. Claud was digging a hole with a shovel when Judd came across him. He looked up, breathing heavily.

“I’m a farmer,” he said at the unasked question in Judd’s eyes, “it’s hard to stop.”

Judd saw the mini orchard he was attempting to plant in the forest. “Then why abandon the orchard?”

Claud returned to his digging. “Didn’t Sir Jesa tell you all you needed to know?”

His tone was hard and bitter. Judd studied him quietly. “I was told all he knew…so now, because Aalis says you’re a good man, I’m prepared to overlook the kidnapping of my friend and hear what you know.”

Claud’s eyes closed and he sagged. “Judd…I am sorry. This is not who we are. This is not what we ever wanted to be.” He glanced at the spartan little village they’d cobbled together in the forest. “I certainly never wanted to be called a bandit.”

He leaned the shovel against a tree trunk and sat on the carpet of leaves, Judd reclining next to him.

“When I took over the lease of the orchard with my family, cousins, grandchildren and all, we thought all our good fortune had come at once.” Claud began. “This area in Terra has never known not to produce generous crops and for the first few years, paying Sir Jesa’s tax percentage was a breeze. There was always more than enough to go around. Then last year, the trees failed to produce anything like they had. I could not account for it. Apart from a few curling leaves, the orchard seemed in perfect health. In the beginning, Sir Jesa was very understanding and patient…but that did not last when the orchard failed to produce anything at all.”

“Did he not come and see the orchard himself?”

“He sent a couple of his guards who took a cursory look around, threatened us with the stocks and that Sir Jesa’s patience was at its end…I panicked.” Claud closed his eyes. “We gathered everything we owned and fled into the forest and tried to build a life here but whatever curse has plagued the orchard has followed us here too. I did not mean for my people to kidnap your friend so violently. You must know that they would never have harmed any of you.”

Judd thought about the archer and Kurst. “What about stealing livestock from Sir Jesa’s land? Or destroying crops and burning down a storehouse?”

Claud’s jaw dropped. “We had nothing to do with that!”

Judd raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“I swear.” Claud stood up. “We hunt birds for meat and scavenge the forest for berries and plants to eat. Only when we were desperate did any of us return to the markets of Fort Faine to trade with the sellers for things we could not hunt or find.”

Judd rubbed his hands over his face. “Why didn’t you just leave the forest and go elsewhere?”

“We talked about it but then the sickness began and I couldn’t leave anyone behind.” Claud’s arms dropped by his side. “We may not have always acted as wisely as we ought but I promise we have not committed these acts that Sir Jesa has branded us with.”

Judd glanced at the tiny, impoverished village and could see no truth in the accusations made towards Claud and his people.

“I believe you.” He said, standing up. “Now we just need to find out what’s making your people sick and who is targeting Sir Jesa’s land and livestock.”