The sun had dipped just dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows in the grey almost night, and the sounds of the creatures of the night started ringing in the air. If you were a woodsman, you would have already had your campsite set up ahead of time and had dinner on the way. Fortunately for Evan he was just that, a woodsman, a particularly good woodsman in fact. He was currently sitting on a stump by the fire surrounded by his wicker walls he had built around his pseudo fort over the last two weeks staring into the fire contently with a belly full of fresh rabbit. Besides his lean to he had built there was little else around the site as he had already packed his bags for the morning. Tonight, was his last night in the woods before he would have to return home to the hustle and bustle of the village, and to the responsibilities that he had left behind.

Once a year Evan would spend the two weeks before his birthday in the woods in respect to his heritage as a northerner and to honor the memory of his father, the man who had been considered the finest woodsman and tracker in the Margarotte Barony. He had been considered the best woodsman until he died in a border skirmish with the neighboring barony of Grubbs 8 years prior, exactly on Evan’s 10th birthday, which also happened to be tomorrow. His father had taught him all he had known about the woods as soon as Evan could walk. Evan would accompany him in his day-to-day activities and by the time he was 8 he was more than proficient in woodcraft and tracking, enough so that had he been an adult he could have made a living at it. Evan had left that life behind though except for the two weeks a year he spent in solace in the woods. He was simply too young for the Baron to sell a hunting permit to use the woods and was too young for any of the locals or the Baron himself to hire as a tracker. So, he had turned his back on the woods in search of other ways to earn money for his family.

His mother was a seamstress who made just enough for him, his younger sister, and herself to scrape by without saving a dime. If his dad hadn’t built a house on the edge of town before he passed, then there was no way that they would be able to afford the rent in town and most likely they would be living on the streets or his mother would have to turn to other seedier jobs to get by. Evan, needing to help with money occasionally, had taken to assisting any of the guilds or masters in town in any way possible. He had been doing this since his Da had passed and was now considered a jack of all trades or the go to man in town. Anytime a large order came in or a man came in injured or went traveling, Evan would fill in. He had made a decent amount of coin and had managed to keep them out of threads and learned many skills along the way. The problem was that he never had enough money to buy an apprenticeship with any of the masters and now that his 18th birthday loomed overhead, he would be expected to get a job as the master’s and guild’s wouldn’t pay a man for a child’s work.

Evan’s plan had originally been to turn back to woodcraft but this two week journey had confirmed for him that although he was certainly an expert in the field, he could not bare to do this everyday with his Da in the back of his mind every step of the way. So, instead of continuing his Da’s legacy, Evan decided to join the town guard.

The town guard of Wheaton was always in need of more bodies and Evan had already spoken with the Captain to confirm his placement. The Captain had gladly accepted Evan part in due to his sparkling and well known reputation and in part due to his size. Standing at 6’4 and 225 pounds, Evan towered over most people and was extremely intimidating when he needed to be, the perfect traits for a guard. Although Evan thought he could spend his life as a guard in Wheaton, he, like most men, thought of using the guard as a stepping stone to something greater. In his case, providing until his sister could be married off and so that he could save for his sister’s dowry. Once that was done his mother would have no problem paying her way and although he would feel bad he wanted to join the army to see the world leaving the town and its memories behind.

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Crack

While Evan HAD been deep in thought, he had not let his guard down and had noticed someone approaching from his 3 o’clock.

“Ho stranger. As much as I would enjoy the company, I don’t take kindly to a man who won’t announce his presence before joining me at my fire.” Evan said, voice carrying to the man sneaking over.

“I though I had you this time Evan.” The man said, “I don’t know how you’re never surprised.”

“I should have known it was you Jon. Get your butt over here. I was expecting you and saved you a seat.”

Jon sat down on the stump that Evan rolled over from a shadow in the corner of his wicker fort. Jon had been Evan’s best friend for the last 8 years. Their mothers both worked as seamstresses at the same shop and their fathers had had a working relationship as Jon’s da was one of the local butchers and Evan’s da was a woodsman who provided a lot of the meat. When Evan’s da had passed, the two boys had gone from acquaintances to best friends with a little pushing from their moms. Usually, Jon would leave Evan be on his two-week journey but this year was different as both their birthdays were close by and they were almost considered men.

“Evan… I have some news that I wanted to share with you first, and something of a gift since its pretty much your birthday.” Jon said quietly.

Evan sat in silence, staring into the fire, waiting for him to continue.

Jon knowing Evan wasn’t one for long conversations stumbled on, “ I’m to be married the day after my birthday. I asked Alyssa’s parents last week and herself today and she said yes. I want you to be my best man and stand by my side at the altar. You know I’m about to leave for the Barony capital next month and I know you hate being at the front and center of attention but you’re my best friend and I want you there so yeah… please?”

Evan looked up from staring into the fire, a smile on his face, “Of course I’ll be there.”

Jon whooped loudly scaring off the critters of the night that had been scurrying in the underbrush nearby. He didn’t want to think that Evan wouldn’t be there but in the back of his mind he had always been uncertain that Evan would. Well, he meant not be there at the wedding, because he knew that Evan always had his back no matter what, from fist fights, to picking up his shift at his da’s shop so he could spend more time with Alyssa. Damn Evan really was a good friend.

“Thank you, Evan. I should have never been so nervous that you would say no. I know you’d be there for me, I don’t know what I was thinking. Anyway, now that that’s outta the way, I have the gift for you. Well less of a gift and more of a thank you for all you’ve done for me and mine but I’m sure you already knew that. Just know that I won’t take it back and you HAVE to keep it.”

Evan picked up the carefully wrapped package from the ground and grunted slightly with the heft. He could hear the slide of metal on metal, and he hated to admit it but it piqued his curiosity. He, for once, had no idea what it could be. It was rare for Jon to surprise him and that’s what Evan appreciated about him, his dependability. He flipped over the wrapped gift and swiftly cut through the tape with the drop point knife his dad had gifted him when he left for the war. It was never out of reach and frequently on his hip. Slipping from the package and onto the ground was a freshly oiled chain mail coat probably worth a small fortune now sparkling in the firelight.

“Jon you know there is no way I can accept this.” Evan exclaimed, “This is probably worth half a years salary!”

“There is no way you can’t accept it. I already bought it, it cannot be returned, and I already said that you can’t not accept it. Besides, I got a good deal on it as I bought it off a mercenary who decided to retire in town and it’ll help keep you protected when you’re one of the town guard. Maybe it’ll even save your life.”