Chapter 17 Being Cross Over Crossbows

Tine could see some of the tension drop from Marlynn's shoulders when she heard Autumnus’ plan to save the stolen children.

Marlynn’s eyes glistened. ”I won't lie, I'd be most grateful if you did go after them. I'm afraid I don't have any information on the monsters or where they are, but—” Her lip quivered. “Even if you managed to bring back one child…or just found out what happened to everyone…”

Kylia put an arm around the woman’s shoulder and attempted to console her. “ It must have been so hard to be strong on your own for so long.”

In response, Marlynn buried her head in Kylia’s shoulder and cried for an awkward moment. Well, a lot longer than that, actually.

“Ahem.” Autumnus finally broke in. “I hate to ask, but you said some of the children here have seen the monsters? Can we ask them for details? It would be most helpful, I think.” He tapped his gloved hands together.

Marlynn sniffed and tried to regain her composure. “Yes…of course.” She began to point out a few of the kids playing in the next room. "Elitzy is the girl with the blonde hair with the stick. Ophia is in the spotted dress, but she doesn't talk much.” Lastly, she nodded in the direction of a dark-haired boy sitting on the floor as he drew earnestly on some paper. “Artin is the oldest of the three. He also doesn't say much, but if you can get him to talk, you'll find he usually knows a lot."

Kylia approached Artin first, and sat on the floor next to him. “Hello Artin, I'm Kylia. what are you drawing?”

Artin kept his eyes downcast as she talked to him. Looking away, he handed Kylia two drawings he was working on.

Hafoc mumbled something about needing to go into Town and pick up some gear. “Maybe I can sell some rations n’ skins to get money for this lot…” He said, backing towards the door.

Hmmm. I guess suggesting charitable work is a sure way to get rid of him, Tine thought, flicking her tail.

Marlynn spoke up before Hafoc’s hand reached the door handle. "You are so kind! There is another farm nearby that's empty right now. If you need anything, you could just find it over there, I'm sure it’s fine if you take anything you need, since it’s for the use of saving our stolen children." She wiped away a tear, smiling. “Please don't feel like you need to give me anything, but, I will admit, rations would be a help. We sell wool for the rest of what we need."

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Without the rations he gave to Marlynn, Hafoc’s pack was near empty now. He hoped to fill it again, and fast. He took a short walk through the next field to the neighboring barn and house Marlynn told him about to scout for loot. As expected, the farm was vacant. Everything had been left open, so it was easy to look around.

The neighboring property was clearly a brewery among other things. There were a lot of to choose from, but Hafoc stuck to the business side of the place and found some brewers’ supplies for purifying water, if not making ale. Inside the house, next to the door, he found a decent crossbow. Well, mebbe not the best I’ve seen, he thought, as he took it off its hook on the wall, but not bad for free, anyway.

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The house was silent, melancholy even, in its abandoned state. He talked to himself to fill the hole left by its inhabitants. He filled his pack, too. ”This is a useful haul,” he muttered, unnecessarily. Who was he talking to? Get a grip. Satisfied with his search, Hafoc started to leave the farmhouse, but halted at the threshold. He dropped his hand from the door handle, and sighed. “You're getting soft,” he muttered, and shook his head as he stomped back to the kitchen to lay a couple of copper coins on the counter. Not much, but hey, it’s a good deed for just a buncha ghosts.

With a slightly lighter coin bag, and a surprisingly lighter conscience, Hafoc trudged back to join the others. As he passed the catsheep pasture. At a distance he could see an interesting panorama unfold.

First, the catsheep herd galloped over a nearby hill into view, shouting grumpy "mew-BAAs" with each step. They were followed closely by some of Marlynn’s orphans, who ran after them, giggling.

It seemed like this might be a usual pastime for the kids, but soon the true source of the pandemonium became clear; Hala raced after them all with gleeful, outstretched arms and laughter that was brighter than the sun. Vaitape ran by her side, grinning in his newfound role as shepherd pig. Hafoc watched them, stunned. He smiled the first true smile he could remember in a long time. Too bad I’ve got to go.

[https://i.imgur.com/U3nbJh5.jpg] [https://i.imgur.com/U3nbJh5.jpg] [https://i.imgur.com/U3nbJh5.jpg]

Lou, who had stuffed his pockets with jerky, left Marlynn’s house and went outside to bring the promised food to Hala, but she was still in the pasture with Vaitape and the catsheep flock.

Rhalie and the weird boy they found were still asleep in the barn. Lou nudged Rhalie with his foot. She scowled and rolled away from him.

He decided to wander outside again and spied Hafoc walking quietly back towards the forest with a full pack and a new weapon in hand. Where is that oaf off to? And why does he get to keep all that stuff?

Lou hollered at the retreating rogue, ”Hey, where DID you get that crossbow?"

“Where did you get your weapons?” Hafoc snorted in reply. He stopped in his tracks, but didn’t fully turn around.

Lou arched an eyebrow. "Me? I used to run an underground betting establishment, my friend. Most of my belongings were purchased at the black market." He rubbed his beard. "But you didn't have a crossbow at breakfast, lad. So...?" He tilted his head, looking pointedly from crossbow to pack and back again.

“Lou, I have many things you don't see.” Hafoc waggled his eyebrows.

“Hmm,” Lou scratched his neck. “I didn’t think you were like..that.” He winked. “But as intriguing as that thought is, I think I’d like to keep on not seeing your many things,” he continued, and lowered his gaze towards Hafoc’s pants.

Hafoc’s face reddened. He looked like he couldn’t decide whether to point a finger or his new weapon at the bard as he mustered a reply. “I…I meant…no, not—“

While Hafoc tried to think of a comeback, Autumnus poked his head out of the farmhouse door. He smiled with glee at Hafoc’s bundle of goods. “Hey! Hafoc! Can I take a look?” He nodded to the crossbow. “Did you find that in the other farm?”

Lou sniggered. “Forget that…Have we made any headway in our plans to finally earn some coin from all this?" Lou added. Charitable work for orphans is all well and good, but I’ll be damned if that lout runs off with a sackful of loot all for himself. Lou twirled a finger in Hafoc’s direction. “Like, maybe we could sell all that stuff he’s got there.”

"I am pretty sure we put our plans for coin on the back burner now, so we could help all these children and deal with the monsters that are bothering these people, ” Autumnus shrugged. “I don’t think we can monetize this and help them at the same time.”

As he finished his sentence, he saw a gleam in Lou’s eye.

The bard’s face slide into a smirk. “At the same time…hmmm. Maybe not…but what about afterwards…?” Lou continued, muttering on mostly to himself. “A heroic deed instead of gold, eh?" He looked skyward, calculating. "Let's see….first we kill things...save some innocents…we become heroes in town....and everyone else in the group moves on, leaving all of Svlandir and the surrounding area in my debt...."

Lou broke into a grin as he shouted to the sky, hands outstretched. "I love this plan! Let's do it!"