26

“What?” Kenric shouted at the vardo’s door. He had been woken by a loud knocking. They had been in Boone for the past three days and would be setting out toward Wilkesboro today.

“Rise and shine!” Petra called out in a very happy sounding voice. “It’s time you learn to hitch Jack and Jill to your wagon.”

“The sun’s not even up!” Kenric yelled after looking out the window above the bed. It’s more than light enough to see though.

“It will be in a few minutes and we’re getting an early start today. No more slacking off for you!” Petra shouted back. “You need to be out here in 10 minutes, or I’ll get the key from Nathaniel, and you don’t want me to do that.”

“Alright! I’m getting up,” Kenric called. Though it might be fun to see what Petra would do to wake me. She looked nice out of her armor last night. Then again, she does have a temper and beat that guy that wouldn’t take no for an answer badly. With that in mind, Kenric got out of bed.

*

Kenric was feeding Jack and Jill when Petra returned. The jackstocks nudged him at the same time, sending him stumbling forward. Petra laughed.

“Eat your oats. I’ll give you each half an apple if you’re good,” Kenric told the big mules. He patted them both as they started to eat.

“They’ve taken to you well enough,” Petra said.

“It’s the apples,” Kenric replied. He smiled. “But I like them and think they return the sentiment.”

“Could be the apples like you said,” the guard said. She grinned. “You’re spoiling them.”

“Nah. If I was giving them sugar cubes, I would be spoiling them.”

“Uh huh.”

“Is my ‘spoiling’ them why you’ve making me learn to hitch them?” Kenric asked.

“No. I’m doing that because we’ve already got you tending to them in every other way, so you might as well take on the rest of the responsibilities just like the other wagon drivers do. Plus, it keeps the others from having to hitch your wagon too.”

“Fair enough. Has Winifred started cooking breakfast?”

“Yeah. She even has some bacon done and made some biscuits.”

“Great! I’m going to go get breakfast and that way Jack and Jill can eat and partially digest their oats and hay,” Kenric said. He grinned and stuck out an elbow. “Would you care to join me, my lady?”

“Why certainly sir!” Petra laughed after rolling her eyes. She looped her arm through his with another grin on her face. “You know we look ridiculous.”

“How so?” Kenric asked, trying to keep a straight face while acting innocent.

“I’m a dwarf, so there is the height difference between us. Plus, I’m wearing chainmail,” Petra replied.

“I think we look great,” Kenric said as they walked arm in arm towards where Winifred was set up. Some of the other people they passed laughed. Petra looked up at him and scowled.

“You’re having a go at me!” Petra accused.

“I promise I’m not,” Kenric replied. She held his gaze for a moment and nodded. He winked. “You’ll know it when I have a go at you.”

“How?” Petra asked. She grinned and gave him an exaggerated wink. “Are you proportional and do I get to find out?”

“I…” Kenric floundered. How should I answer that? Petra laughed, holding his arm tighter. She refused to let go when he tried to take his arm away and kept a slow pace as they walked toward breakfast.

*

“After you,” Petra said when they were ready to board the vardo. She had taught Kenric how to hitch the mules and then double checked his work.

“You just want to check out my backside,” Kenric said.

“Sure do,’ the guard agreed. Kenric glanced down at her. She grinned and smacked his butt. “Get a move on!”

“I shouldn’t have started messing with you earlier,” Kenric muttered as he climbed up onto the little porch. Petra has really turned what I had thought would be a bit of fun around on me. Maybe I should apologize. He fought down the laughter that wanted to come out. Father would have a fit if he knew I was thinking about apologizing to one of my “lessers”.

“Nice butt,” Petra said. Kenric glanced behind him and saw her smiling. He shook his head and unlocked the wagon’s door. “Not so fast. You get to drive from the start today.”

“I’m going to use the bathroom before we depart then,” Kenric replied. He offered a hand to help her up. Petra took it and allowed him to help her.

“You’re not as weak as other healers I’ve met.”

“Used to be a mercenary. The system let me keep a lot of my physical stats.”

“I heard that rumor and it shows,” Petra said as he disappeared into the wagon. He emerged from the bathroom and washed his hands. Kenric then took a waterskin from the icebox. “Is that frozen?”

“Nope. It’s nice and cold though,” Kenric answered after taking a sip. “Want some?”

“No thanks. I have an enchanted waterskin that keeps its contents cold,” Petra replied. Kenric shrugged and put the waterskin into his inventory. “Julian, one of the merchants, sells them if you want one.”

“This will do for now. I might talk to Julian after I get some more silver.”

“That makes sense,” Petra said as he sat on the driver’s bench and disengaged the brake. “Hopefully, you’ll start getting paid at our next stop.”

“Where is the next stop?” Kenric asked.

“A little village called Rutherwood. Then we make a stop at the village of Deep Gap,” Petra answered. “We’ll most likely spend the night in Deep Gap if the trading is good there and in Rutherwood. Though, if Nathaniel wants to push it, we’ll push on to Stony Fork and stay the night there.”

“Good to know,” Kenric said. The caravan started to move. He clicked his tongue and snapped the reins as he had been taught. Jack and Jill pulled the wagon forward.

27

Guess we might be sleeping outdoors tonight. The sun was starting to go down and they were still only about halfway to Stony Fork. The merchants had traded for longer at Deep Gap and Rutherwood than anticipated, but Nathaniel had insisted on pressing on to Stony Fork despite the lateness of the day.

“Birds have stopped singing,” Kenric murmured. He was sitting on the passenger seat on the other side of the vardo’s door.

“What’s that?” Petra asked from the driver’s seat. She had been talking to Revna and another guard who were riding horses beside the vardo.

“The birds have stopped singing,” Kenric replied.

“Shit!” Revna cursed. “He’s right.” She swung her head around looking around them. She pulled a horn from her inventory and blew it. The guards all around the caravan perked up just as an arrow flew and smashed into the horn, knocking it from her hands. “Bandits!”

The guard captain didn’t need to shout the warning though as screaming human and elven men and women wearing mismatched armor burst from the trees around the caravan. Petra hauled on the reins and set the brake as Revna and the other guard turned their horses to confront the nearest bandits.

Nathaniel had chosen the jackstocks as the beasts of burden for his caravan because the massive animals were known for their strength and endurance, not speed. Kenric noticed the other wagon drivers had done the same as Petra. There would be no running from this fight.

“Damn,” Petra cursed. “I want to help them, but I can’t leave you!”

“I can hide inside,” Kenric offered.

“Yeah, but that would mean I still abandoned my post and charge,” Petra pointed out. Kenric shrugged. It’s not my decision to make.

An arrow flew towards him and slammed into the vardo beside his head. He ducked after the fact. He noticed the arrow had bounced off the wall instead of sticking in it.

“Son of a…”

“Kenric, get inside!” Petra ordered. He nodded and slipped inside the wagon.

Before he could shut the door, a huge man grabbed Petra and pulled her from the porch. She kicked him as hard as she could, which wasn’t much considering she was hanging in the air. The bandit laughed and tossed the guard to the ground. The man kicked her axe away.

I should help her, Kenric thought, stepping back onto the porch. But my oath…

Petra kicked the bandit between his legs. He fell to his knees, dropping his axe.

“You little bitch!” the bandit screamed as Petra scrambled away from him and to her feet. Another bandit hit Petra in the back with a club, sending her sprawling into the dirt. “Hold her!”

“For what?” the other bandit asked. He still pinned the struggling guard to the ground.

“I’m going to make her pay,” the big bandit answered as he started pulling at his pants.

“Knock her out and rape her later,” the other bandit retorted. “There’s loot to be had!”

I can’t let them rape Petra. But I can’t fight either. Maybe I can put them to sleep.

“Hey!” Kenric shouted. The two bandits turned to face him. “Sleep!”

He tried to cast Healing Sleep on them both. The two bandits exchanged an amused look and laughed. Crap!

Come on! Please work! Kenric tried casting the spell again and felt something give.

“I’ll kill this dumbass,” the big bandit said. He reached for his axe. His eyes shut and he fell forward, fast asleep.

“What the blue hell?” the second bandit asked, before he joined his comrade in slumber.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

You have learned Somnus.

Somnus is an advanced form of Healing Sleep. It can be cast without touch. This spell will replace the weaker Healing Sleep on your skill list. Somnus cannot be leveled.

You have gained a level.

Later, Kenric thought as he dismissed the notices. He quickly cast Somnus on the bandits attacking the rear of the convoy. The guards rallied around Revna and surged toward the front of the convoy.

“How did you do that?” Petra asked, getting to her feet and retrieving her axe.

“I learned a new healing sleep spell,” Kenric answered, slumping to the porch floor.

“You’re healing them?” Petra asked in disbelief.

“Yeah.”

“Are you alright?” Petra asked, shaking her head.

“Just tired and hungry. The spell is powerful and casting it about half a dozen times has nearly exhausted my mana,” Kenric replied. “The more important question is if you’re alright.”

“I’m fine,” Petra said, waving off his concern. “This isn’t the first time I’ve been attacked.”

“I’ll need to check your head and neck anyway,” Kenric said.

“Nah. I’m hardheaded,” Petra joked. She tied the two bandits up as well as the other sleeping bandits near them. Kenric nodded and pulled an apple from his inventory. He started to eat it as she started to loot the bandits of any coin and weapons.

“Let them go!” They heard Revna shout.

“Guess that means the bandits are retreating,” Kenric said.

“Yeah,” Petra agreed. “Thanks for helping me.”

“You’re welcome,” Kenric replied. He pulled up his stats and added all five points to Spiritual. This brought his mana pool up to 375. He sighed as he felt the pool refill.

“Your pool just refilled, didn’t it?” Petra asked. “I heard you sigh.”

“Yes.”

“That’s good. You should go see if the others need your help. I’ll stay here and watch over these guys.”

“You can come with me. Somnus is a healing sleep which means they’ll sleep for a while even if the ground starts to shake,” Kenric explained. He cast Medical Diagnostic on her. “You have some bruising, but you’re fine otherwise.”

“Told you I have a hard head,” Petra replied. “Let’s go.”

28

“Kenric, are you well?” Revna asked.

“Yes. Is everyone else alright?” Kenric replied.

“No,” Nathaniel answered. “A couple of the other merchants and some guards sustained some injuries.”

“Kenric was able to put some of the bandits to sleep and I hogtied them,” Petra announced.

“Good going Petra,” Revan said. “Healers aren’t supposed to be able to fight.”

“I didn’t fight. I put the bandits into a healing sleep,” Kenric retorted.

“Will you do that to our injured?” Nathaniel asked.

“I can,” Kenric answered. “But are we pressing on to the village or camping here tonight?”

“Revna?” Nathaniel asked.

“I suggest we kill the bandits and camp about a mile down the road,” Revna replied. “That way we won’t have to worry about scavengers looking for an easy meal.”

“That works for me,” Nathaniel said. Kenric sighed. “They’re bandits and would have killed all of us.”

“I know,” Kenric replied. “It’s just that whole healer oath thing vs common sense.”

“You won’t be killing the ones you put to sleep,” Revna pointed out. “Me and my guards will be doing that.”

“Take me to the worst of the injured,” Kenric instructed. “I’ll heal them so we can get going. The others will have to wait until we make camp and I throw up a greater ward.”

“That works,” Nathaniel said. “Let’s get to it.”

*

A soft white light settled on the ground where the caravan had circled the wagons for the night. Kenric bent over and breathed hard as people sighed in relief all over the campsite.

“Are you alright?” Petra asked.

“Mostly. That spell took a lot out of me,” Kenric replied.

“Is that the first time you’ve cast the greater ward?” Revna asked.

“Third,” Kenric answered. “It’ll last 24 hours.”

“Too bad we can’t stick around and charge other travelers,” Nathaniel mused.

“How much will it heal people?” Petra asked, ignoring the caravan master’s comment.

“It should heal most minor wounds, injuries, and colds overnight,” Kenric answered.

“Good,” Nathaniel said. “Go rest Mender. You’ve earned your pay today.”

“Supper first,” Kenric said, standing upright. “Then rest.”

“Petra, make sure he makes it to his wagon,” Revna ordered.

“Right boss,” the guard replied. She grabbed Kenric’s arm. “I got you.”

“I’m not that out of it,” Kenric protested. Though the ward took more out of me than I remember. I’m glad I don’t have to cast it every night.

*

“What are you doing?” Petra asked Kenric.

“Making a campfire,” Kenric answered after finishing setting up a ring of small stones.

“You’re supposed to be resting,” she pointed out.

“This is resting… at least of a sort,” Kenric countered as he added wood. He backed up and pointed at the wood. “Ignis”

The wood caught fire and started to burn. Kenric sat on a log near the fire.

“That’s not a healing spell,” Petra pointed out.

“No. Ignis is a utility spell that is handy for cauterizing wounds and heating up needles and other instruments as well as starting fires,” Kenric said.

“Do you have any other utility spells like that?” Petra asked.

“A couple,” Kenric answered. “I’ll let you know what they are if I need them.”

“Fine. Keep your magic secrets.”

“I will,” Kenric replied, shooting her a grin. “Is supper about ready?”

“Yeah. It’s venison stew tonight,” Petra replied. “I’ll go get you a bowl, a hunk of bread, and a cup of tea.”

“Thank you,” Kenric said. “But I can go get it.”

“No. You’re going to sit here and rest. Besides, I owe you for earlier today,” Petra replied. “Fetching your supper is the least I can do.”

“But you’re a guard, not a servant.”

“So. I’m helping a friend,” Petra retorted with a shrug.

So, we’re friends now, Kenric thought. He shrugged and smiled. “Alright. I can agree with that. Thank you.”

*

“What is it?” Kenric asked the knocking at the door.

“Kenric, open up,” Petra said. He walked to the door and opened it a crack.

“Does someone need me?” he asked.

“Yeah. Me,” the guard said, pushing the door open. She reached up and pulled him down for a kiss.

“What are you doing?” Kenric asked after they broke the kiss.

“Repaying a friend and satisfying an urge,” Petra answered, kicking the door shut.

“I…”

“Shut up and help me out of my chainmail.”

It’s been a while since I’ve been ordered around like this. Kenric grinned and shrugged. “Yes ma’am.”

29

“We had our fun,” Petra told Kenric as they arrived at Wilkesboro.

“Yeah,” Kenric replied uncertainly. I wonder where she is going with this. He glanced at her questioningly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll still guard you,” Petra said. “I just don’t want things to get weird.”

So, she just wanted casual sex. Kenric nodded. “Fair enough.”

“You don’t want more?”

“Only what you’re willing to give,” Kenric answered. That’s about as diplomatic as I can be.

“That works for me,” Petra said. “Once we park the wagon, I’ll be around, but you won’t see me much the next few days while we’re here.”

“Because you guys aren’t needed as much or because you have someone here, you’ll be visiting?” Kenric asked, gesturing at the numerous town guards.

“A bit of both.”

“I didn’t help you cheat on someone, did I?”

“No. But would it matter if you did?”

“In the past, not a chance. Now? Yeah. I’m trying to do better,” Kenric answered. Plus, I don’t want to lose another hand. “Plus, there’s the whole oath thing to consider since cheating would be hurting someone.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. But I don’t know if the system would consider cheating hurting someone.”

“Huh. Most men don’t care, oath or no oath,” Petra said, shrugging her shoulders. “Anyway, as I said, you didn’t help me cheat. Bart and I are more friends with benefits than anything serious.”

“Do you have more than one friend with benefits?” Kenric asked. I’m going to end up like the cat.

“Maybe,” Petra answered. Kenric didn’t fail to notice the huge smile on her face.

Yeah, I won’t sleep with Petra again even though she was a lot of fun. I don’t want to have to heal myself from a case of the pox.

*

“I doubt you’ll get much of a chance to ply your skills while we’re here,” Nathaniel said. The caravan had setup in an open market area. A few other caravans occupied the space too.

“Wilkesboro has a few healers then?”

“Three clinics for the common folk, two for the wealthy, and the nobles have their own healers.”

“That’s quite a lot of healers,” Kenric pointed out.

“Wilkesboro is a trading hub,” Nathaniel replied, as if being a trading center explained everything. “Anyway, here’s 500 silvers.”

Kenric gazed at the coin pouch the merchant offered him. “What’s this for?”

“I know you spent the advance I had given you, so take this so you have some spending money,” Nathaniel answered. “My wife convinced me to pay you at each major stop instead of all at once at the end of the trip.”

“Thanks Nathaniel. Thank your wife for me too,” Kenric replied, taking the pouch. He grinned. “Do I need to count it?”

“Always,” Nathaniel laughed. “We’re here for three days and Winifred won’t be cooking, so just be back on the third day.”

“I’m going to stay in the vardo. It’s cheaper than an inn and has everything I need except for food, which I can now go buy.”

“You’re learning,” a smiling Nathaniel said.

“I’m slow, but I get there,” Kenric laughed. Maybe I am doing better. A few years ago, I never would have joked about myself like that.

*

500 silvers on the nose, Kenric thought after counting the coins. I should leave most of it here and go get some food. I’m not a great cook, but I can cook well enough for myself.

I need to check the cooking gear in the wagon too. I didn’t do a real look when I moved in. With that in mind, Kenric separated the coins. 300 went back into the pouch, which he left on the table. The rest went into his inventory.

“Let’s see what Nathaniel left me,” Kenric mused. He checked the cabinets and storage spaces. There were only a couple of old pots and pans in them as well as a few old pieces of cutlery. “So much for Nathaniel leaving me any cooking gear like he had said. He’s either using what was here himself or most likely sold it but I’ve been eating for free, so I can’t complain too much.”

Right. So, I need to buy some cooking gear, cutlery, and such in addition to food, Kenric thought. A small door in a lower cabinet caught his eye. He reached for it.

Unbound Blood Locked Safe. Use a drop of blood on the handle to bind this safe to you.

Interesting, Kenric thought, dismissing the notice. He used a knife from his inventory to cut his finger and rubbed blood on the handle. He dismissed the notice advising him that the safe was now bound to him as he healed his finger. Kenric put the coin pouch into the safe and shut it. Right. I’ll let Nathaniel or Revna know I’m going shopping and go see what I can find. Some of these merchants should have cooking gear.

30

“Nathaniel, I noticed you only left me a couple of worn-out pots and pans,” Kenric said.

“Yeah, sorry about that. Once I decided that it would be best for you to eat with the rest of the caravan, I took the other stuff and added it to my new vardo,” the merchant replied. “I'll sell you a set of cooking gear for 10% over cost.”

He doesn’t look sorry, not one bit.

“That’s fair,” Kenric said. “So, what is the price?”

“100 silvers,” Nathaniel answered. “It's dwarven made, so the quality is good for the price though there are higher quality items available...”

“Here is the money. I’m not a chef, so don’t need super high quality cooking gear,” Kenric replied. He handed the merchant the money. “I'm going to go buy some food and books.”

“I'll send a guard with you and have the gear delivered to your vardo once you get back,” Nathaniel said, putting the silver coins away in his inventory with a smile on his face.

Easy come, easy go, Kenric thought. “Is Wilkesboro so dangerous that I’ll need a guard?”

“Probably not. Besides, you’re still big enough to be a warrior and scare off most would be thieves. Besides, you could always put anyone that tried anything to sleep.”

“True,” Kenric agreed.

“Plus, your clothing looks decent for working sorts and isn’t expensive like mine,” Nathaniel said. “So, that’s another advantage for you.”

“Yeah,” Kenric replied, shrugging his shoulders. There’s nothing wrong with my clothing. And my, how my opinions on that have changed over the years.

“Oh! I almost forgot,” Nathaniel said. “You need plates, bowls, and such too, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

“That’ll be 50 more silvers,” the grinning merchant said.

“Now you’re robbing me,” Kenric muttered. Nathaniel laughed as the healer counted out the coins. I’ll go back to the wagon and get out some more coin before going shopping.

*

My clothing isn’t too different from what most people are wearing here. Just inexpensive, sturdy stuff. Though there are quite a few people wearing cheaper homespun clothing and a small group of folks wearing more expensive clothing.

Kenric kept walking toward the bookstore while paying attention to his surroundings. He had gotten directions from a merchant he had bought food from. Thankfully, the bookstore is just down the street from the open-air market where the caravan is parked. He noticed that people didn’t pay him much attention at all. Guess they’re caught up in their own lives or don’t care about strangers.

Kenric arrived at the bookseller and opened the door. The place had a bit of a dusty smell to it under the smell of books.

“Welcome to Mayo’s Books. I’m Martin Mayo,” the pudgy old man behind the counter said. “Is there anything in particular you’re looking for?”

“Perhaps. Do you have any books on herbology?”

“I do. I also have a few books on gardening as well.”

“I’m not sure if I’ll have time for gardening, but I’ll take a look at what you have,” Kenric said. That sort of thing might make a good gift. “Do you have any history books?”

“I have several history books detailing the kingdom’s history,” Martin answered.

“What about the neighboring kingdoms?”

“A few,” the bookseller answered with a nod after giving it some thought. “I also have some books on local lore and monsters.”

“I’d like to see those and any maps, if you have them,” Kenric replied.

“Maps of just the mountains and bordering the neighboring kingdoms or maps of the entire Carolina kingdom?” Martin asked. “I have new maps of both.”

“Do the kingdom maps show the coast and ocean?” Kenric asked. Martin confirmed they did. “Then both.”

“Why the interest in the coast? Are you a merchant?” Martin asked.

“I’m a healer traveling with a caravan and some friends suggested I should visit the ocean and see it with my own eyes,” Kenric answered.

“You’ll want a book about the sea serpents and other ocean monsters then,” Martin suggested. Kenric agreed.

*

I’m glad I went back and got the rest of the coin Nathaniel had paid me before I left the market. Six books and three maps ended up costing 300 silver. That means I only have 50 silvers left. Kenric sighed. Easy come, easy go indeed. Still, I can’t complain because the books will keep me occupied for weeks.

He started walking back toward the caravan.

“Kenric!” a voice called. He looked around and spotted Petra.

“Petra!” Kenric called back, waving his arm over his head. The guard rushed to him. She looked distraught. “What’s wrong?”

“Come quick! You’re needed at Nathaniel’s vardo. Something is wrong with Christopher, his son.”

“Let’s go,” Kenric encouraged. The pair took off running back to the caravan.