County Wycliffe
Nearby Settlement
The Vaelmara’s had been staying at the Wycliffe Estate for a few months now, and in that time, a true friendship had formed between Q and Cedric. Neither had been raised with siblings, nor did they spend much time around other children growing up. The opportunity to interact with someone their own age being a novelty. The fact that they each had something to teach the other helped plant the seed of friendship.
That day, Q’s grandfather had requested he visit a nearby settlement to deal with a dispute over cattle, and Cedric had requested to join him for the trip. They rode side-by-side, surrounded by a small guard contingent led by Garrick.
“Did you plan to join the army for your term of service? Is that why you took up learning how to fight?" Asked Cedric between bites of the trail ration he’d brought as a snack.
Q shook his head. “No, I think I wanted to learn because my father knew how. I hadn’t even thought about what I’d do during my service when I started training.”
“I guess it helped, always knowing what I’d be doing. I’m honestly excited about the chance to prove myself.” Pausing to drink from his waterskin, Cedric continued. “Mother won’t say it, but I know she’s disappointed that I don’t have her skills.”
Cedric caught himself before he asked Q a question about his own gift. It had required a mental shift for him to remember he needed to be careful where he discussed the topic. Looking at the guards surrounding them, his thoughts wandered to a related, but relatively safer, subject.
“How do you feel about the whole marriage issue?” Cedric whispered, leaning close so his voice wouldn’t carry.
“Absolutely terrified,” admitted Q with a shutter. “I heard one of the guards saying that a man only suspected of being gifted was chased out of a town in a neighboring county. Apparently, there were too many husbands worried about their wives stepping out on them, hoping to try for the Crown’s gold. The man was forced to flee as soon as the rumor of his Gift started and the mob began to form.”
Cedric whistled. This being the first he’d heard of it. “I’ve read a few of mother’s letters. Nobles will send her flowery well-wishes, but each and every one of them will hint at having a daughter or a niece they would like me to meet. It makes me almost consider getting it out of the way just to get the target off my back.”
Q hadn’t given the idea of marriage much thought over the last few years, focusing more on his training. But if he were honest with himself, he had started to take notice of the fairer sex more and more as of late. He could still remember the love and affection within his parents' marriage, and saw much the same between his grandparents. He wanted that for himself, but his grandparents made sure he was aware that the new laws made the chances of that happening slim to none.
They arrived at the settlement just after midday. The Headman and a few of the senior villagers were there to greet them near the village center. Q could see a pair of young boys running in separate directions, and he assumed they were off to fetch the disputing parties. Their group dismounted, and the welcoming party bowed to Q, saying, “You grace us with your presence, my Lord.”
The man appeared nervous. He likely assumed that the grievance would be beneath the Count’s time. With an administrator being sent to handle the matter on the Count’s behalf. Not send a direct member of his family to pass judgment. He would have been correct, but Q suspected that his grandfather wanted him in front of the populace, and to put a face to his name.
“It was no hardship, Headman. Your village was only a few hours' ride. I am grateful for the opportunity to stretch my legs and take in the fresh air.” In fact, the settlement did smell decently clean. There was no way to truly combat the smells of so much livestock, but they did their part in keeping the area clean.
He bowed his head before announcing, “I have sent for the two involved, my Lord. They should be here soon.”
Q filled the time with questions for the man about the year’s harvest, and the recent weather patterns experienced in their area. His astute and honest interest in the Headman’s answers was a pleasant surprise to someone born and raised in the village. It was a home he was proud of and he was happy to see his young lord taking an interest in it. A short time later, the Headman’s estimation proved correct, when a man came running through the settlement.
By the time the runner came to a halt, he was gasping for air. As soon as he caught his breath, he began to speak, “My Lord, thank you for coming. That no good—”
Q raised his hand, silencing the man. “What is your name, Farmer..?”
Taken aback, the man blinked a few times before answering, “It is Gavin, my lord.”
“Thank you. Now Farmer Gavin, I will not hear a word about the dispute until the other party is present. I expect you would appreciate the same kindness if you were in their place. Am I correct?”
Looking sheepish, Gavin bowed his head in embarrassment. “Yes, my apologies, my Lord.”
“Good, I am glad we have an understanding.” Q said, putting an end to the matter. Their group lapsed into silence, and Q took advantage of that to listen to the mutterings of those around them.
It was an ability Q had learned from Cedric early in their time training together. Late one evening, Cedric described how he’d learned to channel magic into his ears, amplifying the sounds he could hear. It was a spell he’d created to eavesdrop on his over-protective mother. Q was using it now to get an unfiltered sense of the villagers and their opinions.
“It’s about time this got resolved. I’m tired of hearing those two piss and moan to anyone who’d listen.” Mumbled one man.
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Another, this one decidedly feminine, whispered conspiratorially. “My—my, but aren’t those two a pair of handsome ones? Wouldn’t it be nice if they turned out to be gifted, and you had an excuse to make a pass?”
Q lost his concentration on the casting and felt the heat rush to his face. Cedric noticed his blush and looked around in confusion. Q tapped his ear, earning a grin from the other man. He quickly forgot his embarrassment when a few moments later, a second man appeared, sprinting down the lane. Coming to a stop before the official party. He bent over, heaving like a bellows.
“Take a moment.” Said Q, “We haven’t started yet.”
“Thank… You… my Lord.” The man said between breaths.
Once it was clear that the man could stand upright, Q asked for introductions. “My name is Percy, er—Percival, my lord.”
“Well met, Percy.” Q said before moving to address the assembled villagers. “I am Earl Quinten Ashford, here at the request of my grandfather, Count Wycliffe, to settle the dispute between Farmers Gavin and Percy. We will start with the aggrieved party.”
Pausing for a deep breath, Gavin stepped forward and shared his tale. To hear him tell it, for some time now, Percy’s cattle had been trespassing into Gavin’s land. Continuing to do so even after repeated requests from Gavin for Percy to contain his livestock. They continued to enjoy Gavin’s lush field. Percy’s cattle had completely grazed down the paddock that Gavin claimed he needed to feed his flock of sheep later in the year.
Q turned to Percy and began to question him, “Have your cattle been trespassing on the land managed by your neighbor, Gavin?”
“Well, yes, my Lord, but—” Percy began, but Q cut him off with a raised hand.
Giving the man an encouraging smile, Q said. “Just answer the questions. You’ll have your time to explain. You have my word.”
With a sigh, Percy nodded his understanding and answered, “Yes, my Lord. They were on his land.”
“Did they graze the field he is referring to?”
“They did, my Lord.”
Q could tell that each question excited Gavin more and more, seeing each response as a nail in Percy’s coffin.
“Have you made an attempt to constrain your cattle to your own lands?”
“I have, my lord,” Percy responded with a wave of his hands, exasperation clear in his tone.
“Then why do your cattle keep ending up in Gavin’s fields?”
“Because, my Lord! They walk right through his star-blasted broken fence!” Percy answered, his voice rising with his sense of injustice. The village spectators gasped at the revelation and murmurs broke out.
Q faced Gavin with a raised brow. He could see it as sweat began to bead along the man’s forehead.
“You did not mention the fence separating your properties was broken.”
Gavin’s eyes tracked the watching faces, and he licked his lips nervously. “Well… yes, your Lordship. I keep meaning to fix it, but I just haven’t had the coin to do it.”
Q nodded and looked at the two men. He let them suffer in silence as he deliberated. Q had an idea of the cost of repairing a broken fence, the likely loss in weight gain of Gavin’s sheep, and the value of a well-fed cow.
Confident in his decision, Q cast his verdict. “By the authority granted to me by the Count of these lands, I make the following decision.”
It was the first time Q had made a public ruling. The weight of so many eyes and opinions settled on him, bringing with them a novel sense of discomfort.
“Farmer Percival, you will provide Farmer Gavin with a quarter-share of one head of cattle for damages.”
Percy’s fists clenched in anger, and a smile broke out across Gavin’s face.
Don’t count your chickens just yet, thought Q.
The crowd burst out in argument over the ruling, divided by those fore and against. Q raised his hand once more for silence, but the villagers either did not notice or did not care.
“SILENCE!” Roared Cedric, augmenting his voice to project over the yelling.
The sound echoed off the nearby structures, and then, like the calm after a thunderclap, silence settled over the village.
“Thank you, Baron Vaelmara. Now, as I was saying, You will provide Farmer Gavin a quarter of a cow to support him and his family for the next few months. He will need it to offset the expense of repairing the fence between your properties, and the lower price he will get for his sheep next year because of the loss of forage this winter. The higher price you will get per pound on your cattle will go a long way to reimburse you the cost.”
There were still grumbles on both sides, but no one could fault Q’s logic, nor his explanation. More importantly, his word on the matter was final.
Q and his group did not remain in the settlement for long after the ruling was made. Garrick subtly approached Q and Cedric, recommending they leave quickly. Cedric’s actions silencing the crowd had not gone unnoticed. The guards had heard the term gifted, used more than once.
As they rode away, Cedric couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you decide as you did? Was it not the sheep herders' fault for not repairing the fence from the start?”
Q thought over the best way to phrase why he ruled as he had. “You are right, it was mostly the fault of the sheepherder. He will be the poorer from the verdict, don’t be mistaken. It will cost him more to repair the fence than the cattle farmer will loose from that quarter of beef. But, next year the fence will be fixed and they will not have the same issue. The reason I punished the cattleman as well was that he could have fixed the fence on his own or worked with his neighbor to accomplish it together. He chose not to, and as a result carried some of the blame.” Scratching the side of his head, Q continued, “It goes back to a saying my Grandfathers like to use and both agree with. When making a ruling. If it stops the problem and neither side is happy, you’ve likely made the right one.”