Ari awoke feeling sore and confused, mostly about the makeup of this random village. A man that spoke Krazhnori, his son from the capital, and the only apothecary for miles. The tavern felt far too well stocked and wealthy to be placed in such a small out of the way village, and Ari couldn’t help but consider the possibility that Ruenr sent him here because of some plan he was unaware of. He wasn’t sure what exactly being the champion of a god entailed, but Ari knew that Ruenr had received some prophetic knowledge or insights. How much of this journey will be filled with Ruenr orchestrating encounters that are supposed to instill some lesson or skill in the young man, was at the forefront of his mind as he sat up on the make-shift bed.

Second in line to occupy his thoughts, was the pain he felt. The bed was only slightly more comfortable than the camping arrangements he normally made, but that didn’t offset the aches and pains from being beaten by three men much larger than him. Before he got up from his seated position, Ari went through the quick fight one action and reaction at a time. Now that he was free from the mental haziness that sleep deprivation brought, he was better able to notice the mistakes he made and not just the ones during the fight. Summoning his scroll was a mistake, even if it did get him some strange mix of preferential treatment and suspicion from whatever the powers that be are in this out of the way village. He looked down and noticed that his clothes were gone, and a random set of linens with a wool frock were in its place. A very similar outfit to what he wore when out doing his shepherding duties, just heavier than his usual garb with a bit more fabric.

He donned the outfit without a word, and made his way upstairs. He decided to just dismiss the scroll that sat near his temporary bed since the villagers were aware it had some magical properties- or at least he did. Ari considered if that was worth leveraging but decided to show no more than what he already had, he even decided not to clean up and replace his loincloth to not arouse further suspicion. He opened the basement door to a large room with a bar in front of him and another door to his right. Sitting at the bar was an older portly gentleman, he assumed it was Jess/Josephine’s father. He stepped out from behind the bar and the heavyset man spoke to him in a deep and elegant voice that contradicted his less-than-kempt appearance.

“Young man, I am quite aware that you are probably suspicious of this place now. I would only ask you to keep it to yourself when you head back to whatever company or noble house you belong to and in repayment for that I will offer you all the supplies you need for free. I will also give you an updated map of the area, and give you a set of well maintained traveling clothes with minor enchantments on them from my youth.”

“Why the secrecy? What are people that clearly are out of place doing out here in the middle of nowhere?”

“You have an imagination like everyone else, I would implore you to use it but keep whatever discoveries or thoughts you have to yourself. If an answer to the question is more important than the enchanted clothes, I’ll take you upstairs and give you some answers but it will also cost the supplies I am offering you.”

“Well, I am really curious but I care more about keeping my nose clean. Why don’t you tell me about the raiders that are apparently taking women and enslaving them instead?”

“Fine. That's more palatable anyway.”

Ari raised his eyebrows at the statement, but joined the man at the bar and motioned for him to continue. While he spoke, he gazed into his empty stein but kept his neutral expression. He seemed unnaturally still compared to the average man now that Ari noticed it, but decided that he didn’t want to know so tried to ignore it.

“A few villages slightly North and South of her learned that the Southern Islanders have established a semi-permanent outpost along one of the older abandoned ports along the coast. Most of the cities still inhabited are lived in because of their easier path through the mountain range to reach trade networks, or to prevent a strategic location from being given up. To the empire, most land beyond the mountains is useless aside from those farther North and South that are mostly used to stage whatever meager navy the emperor thinks is worth keeping out of the Northern Sea. A smaller and less useful location was inhabited by the Southern Islanders, or the v’Fryezd as they call themselves, as a location to trade with the Empire. It turns out that our nation has captured a lot of beastfolk and desert tribesmen in the Northern pass, and many of the deep tribes of the Wilds have fled from the Southern Expanse. Excellent trading goods for the v’Fryezd raiders, who occasionally make contact with continents other than our own. They are some of the few people insane, or talented enough, to brave the deeper waters between landmasses.”

“Oh, so some villagers have decided to take up banditry and trade for valuables with them.”

Ari recalled how one of the slave women clearly recognized and resembled a head that Ruenr brought to camp.

“Or some are deciding to sell off the less productive or valued members of their villages for the same reason.”

That statement caused the man to turn and look directly in Ari’s eyes for the first time. His gaze was no longer neutral but instead seemed to sharpen as he considered the words Ari spoke.

“Why do you think some villages are selling their own?”

“I encountered some folks freeing slaves, they were being chased by their own family.”

“Are you sure those folks weren’t freeing slaves and were instead the slavers themselves?”

Ari hadn’t. He just assumed that because of the reactions of the ‘freed slaves’ and since Ruenr didn’t say otherwise when he brought the corpses of the men following them. His gut told him they weren’t slavers and he decided to listen to it.

“I’m not going to guarantee it, but based on the would-be slaves' reactions they seemed to be either recently freed or to believe they were being freed. Also some seemed relieved upon finding out that the family members in question were no longer able to reach them.”

“The coming winter must be cold if families are selling their own to get by.”

Ari wasn’t sure if the man was being hyperbolic or not, he personally didn’t think that these villagers were selling people to be slaves only because they lacked the means to survive. This region of the territory is closer to the wilds and along the less valuable mountains, but Ari would expect there was enough support here for people to survive. ‘Perhaps I’m being naive, but I don’t want to think they are selling each other for nuanced reasons. I would rather just judge anyone who kidnaps people to be sold as merchandise to be bad.’ The man made a slight nod to the stairs diagonal from the bar, as Jess was making her way down them.

“Well young Ari, heading to the wilds during winter has its own problems. Gregor- ah I’m sorry that is what we call Andree Sr. when his son is in town. Anyway, Gregor can give you a bit of an idea on what to expect if you don’t already know. Most of the reptilian and avian beasts and monsters will be in some form of hibernation. Many of the mammals, those with fur, will be as well but not all of them. Your biggest issue will be the environment and the wandering tribes of monstrous folk that live in the forests North of the wetlands. Somehow the wetlands manage to stay warm enough to prevent most of the beasts and beast-like monsters from hibernating, but I doubt you will be heading that far anyway. Well, I’m off to go inquire with Gregor. Josephine can help you.”

The heavier man hopped off the stool and quickly made his way out the tavern door, throwing on the coat that was resting underneath him on his stool as he exited. Jess looked exasperated, and took her father’s spot as Ari tried to interpret the reason for changing his discussion topic. ‘He had to have known that she was listening in before she descended the stairs so why the act? Or maybe it actually was for me to have a piece of advice in case I leave soon? This place is confusing.’

“So. Ari, was it?”

Ari nodded.

“Okay Ari. Why did you not run? Why were you so brutal in your violence against those men?”

Ari was caught off guard completely, and had to hold himself back from laughing. That seemed to anger Jess quite a bit, but aside from her face reddening and her hands clenching at her heavy dress she didn’t react further. Ari schooled his expression and tried to find the right words.

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“They were much larger than me. They also were drinking and might accidentally kill me or beat me very badly, even if they only meant to rough me up a bit. They were also being terrible to me partially due to my ancestry, which is a bit of a sore spot for me.”

Ari paused to gauge her reaction before continuing, her face was less red but she now had pursed lips and her hands made soothing motions against where she bunched up her dress.

“Is that not sufficient to do whatever is necessary to prevent myself from being harmed?”

“Addie said you were covered in strange scars, all over your body. Is that from situations like last night?”

“No, they are tattoos.”

“She said that they looked too grotesque and painful to be anything willingly received. She thinks you are playing up being noble but actually ran away from some noble family that was mistreating you.”

“She has quite the active imagination for someone who seemed so quiet and reserved.”

“Quiet people can be insightful thinkers.

“Yes, they can.”

The two sat in silence, and Ari was beginning to feel quite awkward before she broke the strange mounting tension with her answer to his first question.

“Those men were bullies, even more so for picking on someone not yet fully grown.”

“I’m twenty-one.”

Jess did a double take.

“What? You look barely sixteen!?”

“Yes I’m aware. My growth was stunted from malnutrition. That or my parents were an elf and a dwarf.”

The woman cracked a smile.

“You’re older than Adeline. She is going to be embarrassed that her dream of the cute kid she rescued after fleeing is going to be further shattered.”

“It wasn’t already shattered when she saw the state the other men were in?”

“No, well maybe the one who is basically a eunuch now, but she didn't like Harold and his friends much. You should go speak with Gregor. He’s probably talking with my dad now about what to do with you, his house is the last in the village. A bit on the smaller size but with a clay tile exterior.”

Ari stood without a word, nodding to the woman, before making his way out into the street. The village looked less impoverished in the sun, but it was still poorer than Ari would expect anything on this side of the Empire to be. Ari thought that perhaps he should have done more research into the regions and their wealth, that would make assessing if this place was actually strange easier. Now with the daylight, he saw the occasional kid or woman out and about but there were still less than would be expected in a place this size. He planned to ask Gregor or Andre or whatever the guardsman wanted to be called whenever he reached the man’s home. He noticed the occasional glare or curious glance as he idled his way to the clay tiled house, but reached it without incident.

Before he could even knock on the door it was pushed open, revealing Jess’s father and Gregor/Andre inside a small living room area with a little fire going in a central brazier with cookware near it. Ari opened his mouth to ask a question, but closed it when the men motioned him to enter quickly.

“Am I in trouble?”

The two men looked at one another, but the heavy man walked away towards a hallway and entered a room leaving Ari alone with the man with two names. The man gazed into Ari’s eyes for a whole minute before speaking.

“You are trouble. Did nobody warn you it would be dangerous for a Krazhnori boy to go around visiting rural areas like this? These villages were the type hit the hardest by the recruitment and conscriptions so they had the most losses in the war. I won’t be surprised to hear something like what happened last night occur to you in any village you visit and even many smaller towns.”

“That wasn’t explained to me, no.”

“Well this is a cruel way to learn, but I’m sure you won’t make the mistake again. Avoid any locations like this if people are in the cups, especially at night without friends from the area or a guard or two. We have your bag, most of what was in it hopefully, but the coins are gone. Too many folk are not willing to sell out their own for some outsider. Come take a seat on one of my cushions by the fire.”

Ari did as was asked, and sat near the brazier across the fire from where the man sat. The man was heating up a beverage in the fire, and poured the dark liquid into two cups offering one to Ari. He took it and smelled it, he was instantly hit with a sense of longing and nostalgia. This drink was somehow significant to his early childhood. He wasn’t sure if it was before or after he was found by Jarod and the irregulars but it would have to have been from around that time.

“What is this? It's very familiar, the smell is at least.”

“A type of tea that grows exclusively in the oases of the Great Desert. It was a wild variety so maybe it is still around there now, but I have heard you can’t find it anymore on the market. It is much stronger than normal tea so it was popular with soldiers and guardsmen in the wealthier cities before the war.”

Ari took a sip and almost spit it out. It was very strong and he concluded that he much preferred the smell to that taste.

“Yeah it is an acquired taste, I figured I’d offer some of what I have left anyway but if you didn't grow up drinking it or become used to it already it probably isn’t worth getting hooked on it now that the reserves everywhere are sold out.”

“Thank you, despite the taste I mean.”

The man nodded.

“Ari, no last name, sponsored by a very wealthy merchant company named after a historical Krazhnori figure and the library of Lainebari. The library frequented by the disgraced Laine daughter who was once married to a now extinct Krazhnori family. Are you the child of their union?”

Ari remained silent but was stunned that someone living months away from the barony was able to learn this much, but he recalled that the man’s son was studying and living in the capital city of the empire. The capital wasn’t too far from Laine lands for rumors to circulate even amongst the commoners of the colleges there.

“Your son is well informed.”

“He is. The question?”

“Why should I answer?”

“Because I need to know you aren’t here for revenge.”

“What? Why would I come to some random village for revenge?”

“Ahh. You don’t know how the woman’s husband was killed? I struggle to believe it was blind chance that brought you here.”

Ari went cold, and his voice became icy. The facade of emotion cracked revealing the apathetic mask that sat just below the surface.

“I would like it if you would explain, please.”

The man squinted his eyes as Ari’s mask came down.

“Look at this reaction. I struggle to see anything but the confirmation of my suspicions in that hollow voice and empty expression. Ahh nevermind, there is a bit of anger and rage in those eyes huh? Very well. I and my officer were punished with exile to this ungoverned region for being lax with patrols of the area. I was in charge of the governance of many of the roads along and leading up to the Western Pass. If you look at it correctly, your father died because I was lax in my responsibilities.”

Ari instantly calmed down. He sighed, a real sigh of relief, and donned his expression he normally wore.

“Why do you seem relieved? Needed to be sure you were in the right place?’

“No I thought you were actually responsible somehow, your situation is too clean for it to be the real cause or responsibility of Quincy’s death. Even if there isn’t some conspiracy like Lady Colette believes, I don’t think you deserve to die for not preventing a single ambush in an area the empire contests with two other kingdoms of which one is made up of dwarves.”

“First names? Am I wrong in my assumption you are their child?”

“Yeah, I just knew them. Or of them in the case of the late Quincy. If you did a bit more research you would see that the owner of Great Cyrus Company was a long-time friend of both Lady Colette Laine and Quincy de Azhrone.”

“If neither of them have come calling then I doubt you would have to worry.”

“Alright. I hear you want to know about the slaves and bandits?”

“Yes.”

“Planning on getting involved?”

“Probably not.”

“Why are you curious then?”

“If they are capturing people to sell then me being both small for my age and Krazhnori makes me a prime target.”

“They are primarily taking women and beastfolk from what I understand. We have had a few of the farmers nearby mention their women had vanished in the night daughters, wives, sisters and nieces, none too old to bear children. The beastfolk and your kin are only being sold if they were captured for crimes, but I see your point. I’m sure there are a few bandits or even common villagers who wouldn’t mind turning you into them to increase their purse’s weight.”

The man explained between sips of his tea, Ari attempted to drink it as well but after a few sips he decided it was not for him. He politely set it aside and continued to listen as the man spoke. Once he was finished, Ari questioned once more.

“Thank you for the information. I understood that if I got details about you and Jess’s father’s reasons for being here I would need to pay for supplies.”

“You know why we are in the region, not why we chose this village. You can have your supplies, but first I need to ask you something else.”

“Go ahead.”

“Can you leave before nightfall?”