The next morning brought a nice Spring day that started out with a quick bath in the nearby river to wash off the barn smell that had clung to both Axeton and Sigyn. They had been up for a good chunk of the night; going over their plan to find out exactly what Baron Estes was doing.

“Remember,” Axeton reminded her. “You just met me yesterday, but I don’t ask questions and need the work.”

Sigyn scratched her arms, the straw must have irritated her skin during the night. “Wait…I did meet you yesterday, and you do need the work,” she pointed out.

“That’s true,” he replied. “But either way, I’m just some guy. I don’t know anything about the Baron, or what he’s doing.”

“Ah, ok. That makes much more sense,” Sigyn nodded.

After Sigyn took some time to hit the market for traveling supplies, the pair had made their way to the predetermined meeting point, per the “guys” Sigyn had met with the previous day. A few nondescript workers of average height and build, and surprisingly an orc had gathered in the road, just in front of the mayor’s home.

Non-human humanoids like the orc weren’t shocking for a human like Axeton to see, especially at a larger town that functioned as a trade hub for the area. The populations of orcs, firbolgs, elves, and others usually stayed within the borders of their own territories, to foster more close-knit communities that shared the same values and traditions. Some of them considered humans to be like the sand on the beach; countless and far-reaching, but nothing to write home about. A populated city would be a much easier place to find a being other than a human, not so much at a place like Avandale. But they were usually welcomed as a whole, unless they started causing problems.

Axeton stood, trying to seem both non-threatening, yet useful as the group milled around, waiting for further instruction. Suddenly, an older, gaunt-looking man stepped out from the opulent home and stood in front of the hired hands.

“Greetings, everyone,” the man spoke. “I am Mayor Louis. Forgive my appearance, I’ve been rather under the weather lately.”

He coughed, looking around before continuing. “Your job today is to escort the taxes recently collected, and to deposit them into the home of my good friend, Mister Estes. He is sadly away on business, but there’s no place more secure for our fine town’s contribution towards the royal Morwellan treasury.”

Axeton felt a chill. He could tell this man was lying, even without tapping into his powers. But he didn’t sense evil; just fear. He unclenched his teeth.

“The newly-appointed taxation officers will be escorting the wagons along with you, and will mete out payment once the funds have safely arrived,” the mayor finalized, turning around.

“Please welcome Corporals Mo and Mari, and give them the respect that you would give me.”

The two men that Glainne had shown Axeton in the forest stepped forward. Unlike the gaunt mayor, these men were well-fed, rested, and looked eager to start a fight. One was less than average height, stocky and pale, with a greasy complexion topped with black hair. The other, standing with a slightly more militarily appropriate bearing, darker skin with a hook nose and icy cold blue eyes. His brown hair was shaved close to his head, coming down in a trimmed goatee that framed his sneering mouth.

At least they weren’t stupid enough to wear their Grenfield blues, Axeton thought. The group might have been seen leaving Avandale, so they have to lay low.

“Listen up!” the taller one barked to the small crowd. “My name is Corporal Mo. You are to escort the payload to the rendezvous with our units stationed at the home of Mister Estes, where it will be guarded until picked up by the royal tax collector. You are NOT to stray from the wagons, except during approved breaks. If you try to steal even a single gold from these carts, we will put you down, no question. If you have set up an ambush along the way, I can assure you that Corporal Mari will identify and dispatch them without delay. Once the dropoff has been completed, you will receive your pay. Is that clear?”

The hands for hire mumbled, a few “Yes Sir”s emitting from the mob.

“Too early for this crap,” one of the taller men said to Axeton, leaning in and speaking in a hushed tone from the corner of his mouth. Axeton grunted approvingly.

A muscular man in scuffed leather thumbed in the direction away from the manor. “I uh…have some other business to take care of,” he sputtered, before slinking away.

A bandit, Axeton thought. Going to tell his friends to call off the ambush.

Sigyn nudged the paladin, looking down at him. “Are those the bad guys you were looking for?” she asked in a harsh whisper.

“Yeah…that’s them,” he replied, not moving his head and barely moving his lips. Mari looked in his direction for a moment, then at Sigyn, before caressing the string of the bow he had strapped to his back. “Do you remember the plan?”

Sigyn nodded.

“Good,” Axeton acknowledged.

“Are there any questions before we depart?” Mo asked strictly, hoping that no one would have any.

“I do!” Sigyn crowed, raising her giant blue hand in the air. “Sooo…are we just transporting gold, or is there silver and bronze in there too?”

Mo’s eyes set in an annoyed glare, his mouth tightening. “That’s none of your concern. The king gets what is owed, the denomination does not matter. Any other questions, preferably not stupid ones?”

Sigyn squinted angrily. “I don’t like him,” she hissed.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

“Don’t listen to him, he’s a murderer,” Axeton replied. “But his answer is another piece to the puzzle. It sounds like they’re transporting only gold, which doesn’t make sense if it was just for taxes. Good job asking it.”

She saluted briskly. “Just doing my part to get to the puppies.” she spurted.

Axeton rolled his shoulders, then took his position near one of the wagons as the group set off. They were told it would take several hours to get to Estes’ house. Sigyn was in good spirits, despite the long walk. Her big boots crunched on the dirt road as her eyes kept occasionally sweeping the treeline for danger.

“Doesn’t make sense that they’d be collecting money for the town all the way out here,” she mused. She made it sound like she was talking to herself, but Axeton heard easily.

“No idea,” Axeton replied, as if talking to a friend in a tavern. “Maybe they’re gonna kill us since we’re all the way out here. Then they won’t have to pay for our services. But what do I know?”

The comment, which thankfully wasn’t heard by Mari or Mo, seemed to resonate with the other guards as they marched along the wagons. They began to look at each other worriedly.

Hours passed, as a few of the hired hands began to complain about their feet hurting. Mo reached into his vest, pulling out a pocket watch, one much too opulent for a soldier to own.

“Alright, we’re stopping here for one hour ONLY,” he bellowed into the air. “Do your business, have lunch, take a leak. We leave in exactly one hour, with or without you.”

The group collectively sighed, then a cacophony of groans came from the company as a dozen men and women finally had time to stop and stretch. The taller man who had talked to Axeton before departure rubbed his lower back as if it were really hurting him; several others took grateful chugs from their waterskins.

Axeton and Sigyn walked to the treeline and rested for a moment under a tall, shady birch. Sigyn, who was much stronger than the paladin, had been carrying their lunches for the trip. She pulled out a large sandwich and broke it, giving Axeton about a third. He took it carefully, as to not spill any of the filling, before taking a bite.

The flavor of the lunch exploded in Axeton’s mind. His eyes opened wide, marveling at what he was holding. What he thought would be a standard “meat” sandwich was in actuality, roast chicken breast with fresh vegetables, bacon, and some kind of creamy garlic sauce. His memory relished the nostalgia of garlic; his mother cooked with it often, but in the remote village of Avandale, it was practically unheard of.

“Oh my…” Axeton began before taking another bite. “Where did you buy this?”

Sigyn grinned. “Like it, huh? I made it this morning.”

The paladin balked. “You went to the market for thirty minutes, how did you manage that?” he asked.

“My people use a lot of spices. It’s warm where we come from, so they grow easily. I bought the chicken and bread, and offered to watch the grilled beef stick vendor’s stall for a minute while we went to the bathroom. In exchange, he let me use his little kitchen thing. The vegetables…I may or may not have picked those from an unattended garden just outside of the barn.”

Axeton chortled. “And this garlic sauce?” he inquired.

“Oh, I always keep that stuff around,” Sigyn replied. “Family recipe. I make it once a week.”

She pulled out a leather skin that smelled heavenly. “You want some more?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” Axeton said, opening up what remained of his sandwich, as Sigyn poured on more of the sauce.

They ate in silence for a few minutes, watching the hired guards as they strolled around. Mo and Mari didn’t eat or take any breaks, instead using their free time to watch everyone else like a hawk. Mari had his bow drawn, keeping an eye on the road in front of them.

“You know these guys,” Sigyn said, leaning towards Axeton. “How dangerous are they?”

Axeton shifted uncomfortably. “They were there when their boss destroyed my town and killed everyone. If they’re here and not back at Grenfield, that means he wants them here. And if that’s the case…”

He huffed. “They’re very dangerous. I don’t remember seeing them during the attack, but I was…occupied. So I don’t know what Gifts they have. But their boss wouldn’t leave a Giftless in charge of a town like this.”

Sigyn furrowed her brow. “Their boss doesn’t like the Giftless, does he?” she asked.

“Not at all,” Axeton replied. “He uses them, and throws them away when he’s done. He wants to take over and kill anyone not strong enough or willing to help him.”

“Take over what?” Sigyn asked, nervously.

Axeton motioned with an arm in a vague circle. Sigyn’s face darkened. “I see,” she said quietly.

“So we have to talk to Estes,” Axeton continued. “I doubt Mo or Mari will give us information, but Estes is a coward, so we might be able to get him to talk.”

“But they said he was out of town on business,” Sigyn pointed out. “We’re going to his house, but he won’t be there.”

“The mayor was lying about something,” he said flatly. “But I couldn’t tell. Probably everything. Knowing their boss, he would want to keep allies close, so he’d know where to find them and keep an eye on them.”

“Their boss sounds smart, and dangerous,” Sigyn quipped, before taking another bite of her sandwich.

Axeton nodded, grimly. “He is. He’s also a very skilled fighter with an extremely powerful Gift. He’s like a greased snake.”

Sigyn shuddered. “I don’t like snakes. What’s his Gift?” she asked.

Axeton sighed. “A very rare one, given to him by the god of war and conquest. Deception. And his emotion is cruelty, a very bad combination.”

Sigyn finished her sandwich, wiping her hands on the thick grass they were sitting on. “I’ve never heard of that Gift before,” she said. “What can it do?”

Axeton stood up, feeling that the break hour was just about over, since Mari had begun to circle one of the wagons again. “Not sure, but it seems like anything you need it to do to trick someone, you can do it. It’s a terrifying power. I don’t even know how to fight something like that. It can create huge illusions, make him easier to believe when he’s lying, and he can disguise himself perfectly.”

Sigyn stood up as well, initially hitting her head on a low branch and rubbing it with her hand before stepping out from under the tree. “By the way, you never told me,” she started.

“Told you what?” Axeton asked.

“What your Gift was,” she answered. “I told you mine. If we’re gonna have to start fighting, I should know yours.”

Axeton looked back and forth, making sure no one was watching before answering. “I have the Gift of Empyrea,” he said quickly and quietly.

Sigyn looked at him with confusion. “I haven’t heard of that one either,” she complained.

“Mine is pretty much the opposite of his,” Axeton began. “I just got mine, and he’s had his for about ten years, so I don’t know what mine is really capable of. I was told it was the ‘power of the heavens’, and that I could tell if someone was evil, weaken evil enemies, and heal.”

Sigyn clapped her hands in front of her chest, looking at Axeton. “Wow, that one is so strong!” she exclaimed. “You can see into people’s souls, fight bad guys and heal people? I’d much rather have your power than his.”

Axeton thought for a moment. “I guess it is,” he finally said. “And my powers said you were good, that’s why I hoped you would help me.”

She chewed on her lower lip. “Awww,” she cooed. “No one’s called me ‘good’ before. Everyone calls me ‘clumsy’, or ‘big’ or ‘hey you stop poking the cows’”.

Axeton hissed a spurt of laughter as he began walking towards the road.