Life Bonds

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “Understood,” Myna said as she pulled a blanket from the rucksack and was soon fast asleep.

  Chapter Nine

  The trip down the river was less than pleasant for them. Fiona and Myna stayed huddled under blankets as the weather continued to get colder. They all saw Canine Moonbound along the banks, watching them as they passed.

  Sean had a moment of embarrassment when he had to use the bathroom. Neither of the girls seemed to care about being seen, but Sean was a little more reserved—something else that set him apart as an Outsider.

  Almost two days of letting the current carry them eventually brought them to a spot where a stream split off to the west. “This should be what we’re looking for,” Myna said.

  Sean guided them toward the smaller waterway in the early morning light. “You sure?”

  “No, but I know that Pinebough is not on the main Ungult River. It’s along a smaller offshoot. We should only be a few hours away now,” Myna replied.

  “I’ll be glad when we get there. I could use a fire,” Fiona said from under her blanket and pile of furs.

  “I could, too,” Myna admitted. “Winter is coming fast this year.”

  Sean stayed quiet. He knew it was cold—a slight chill had settled over even him—but he still felt warm in just his clothing. Myna and Fiona offered the furs to him, but Sean declined. “I’m warm enough, but you two are shivering. You should keep them,” he said.

  “Myna, if you’ll take the rudder, I’ll finally put the oars to use and try to get us there quicker,” Sean suggested.

  “I’ll take it,” Fiona said, moving to the back of the boat. “She’s been on lookout for most of today.”

  “Thank you, Fiona,” Myna said as she huddled deeper into her pile of furs.

  Seeing them share the load equally made Sean smile as he took the seat in the middle of the boat and got the oars out. After the first two strokes, he could feel the boat moving faster, but on the third stroke Fiona shook her head.

  “Slower, Sean,” Fiona said quickly.

  “Okay.” Sean pulled the oars slower on the stroke, watching Fiona.

  “That’s good,” Fiona said. “You were making the water crest at the front.”

  “Less than half, then,” Sean mumbled, settling in to the comparatively lazy rhythm.

  Sean fell into a zen sort of state, pulling steadily on the oars while he watched Fiona. Fiona watched the river ahead of them, her hand on the rudder. It wasn’t until Fiona spoke up a little over an hour later that he snapped out of it.

  “Smoke ahead,” Fiona said. “I think we’re getting closer.”

  Myna stirred. “The stream should bend a few times just before the village. Sean, you might want to stop rowing now to make it easier for us to make the bends.”

  Sean stowed the oars and moved back to take the rudder from Fiona. “Go ahead and hunker down, I’ll get us there.”

  Fiona nodded, but instead of moving, she put her arms around him and pulled the blanket over both of them. “A little extra warmth will help.”

  Sean gave her a kiss. “Only a little, I need to be able to steer.”

  Fiona snuggled against him, glad he had sat where she could cuddle him. Sean put his arm around her as he guided the boat. He let the moment stretch, happy to have her beside him.

  The smoke got closer as he guided their boat around a couple of bends. The woods gave way to fields that came right down to the banks of the stream. A person in one of the fields stared at them in puzzlement as the boat floated past.

  Sean gave the man a friendly wave as they drifted by. It wasn’t long after that that the village came into sight around the next curve of the stream, having been hidden by an orchard. A set of bars blocked the stream where it flowed into the village, stopping the boat and getting the attention of the guard on the gate.

  “Hey, what are you doing?” the guard called out as he came toward them.

  Sean picked up the oars and rowed them to the bank. The last two strokes were hard, to drive the boat up onto the land. “Hopefully finding an inn,” Sean replied as he motioned the women off the boat. “Anyone in the area willing to buy a new boat?”

  The guard slowed, taken aback by the travelers’ attitude. “Who are you, and where did you come from?” the guard said, trying to put the conversation back on track.

  “Travelers, and up river,” Sean said, tossing their bags out of the boat. The big one made a loud thud as it landed. Finally climbing out himself, he dragged the boat out of the water. “So, about my question—know anyone who wants to buy a boat?”

  “Old man Johnson… wait, that isn’t the question here,” the guard said, clearly no longer in control of the conversation.

  “Where can we find him?” Fiona asked, seeing the guard lose his ability to control the situation.

  “On the other side of the village, but that isn’t the—” the guard again tried to get ahold of the situation.

  “Thank you,” Sean said as he strapped the large bag to his back. “It was very kind of you to help us out.” He bent down and hefted the boat up over his shoulders so it covered his back. It barely cleared the ground, even towering over him as it did.

  The guard blinked as he watched Sean lift the boat. “I’m… sorry, sir,” the guard stammered. “I didn’t know one of your standing would be here,” his eyes flicked to Myna and Fiona.

  Sean gave the guard a blank expression. “Should I have made reservations?”

  “No, of course not, sir,” the guard said quickly, backing away. “I can call for a wagon if you need.”

  “Thank you,” Myna said softly, “he would appreciate that.”

  “Right away,” the guard said and stumbled away.

  “So much for staying under the radar,” Sean sighed.

  “It’s too late for that here,” Fiona said. “You picked up a full-sized boat. That isn’t normal. He probably thinks you’re connected to a noble, or are a minor noble yourself. You’re also ignoring the chill, which would make him think you’re with Winter, who is now in power in this area.”

  “We should move on tomorrow, or the day after,” Myna suggested.

  Sean set the boat down so as to not draw even more attention. “A good idea, but we should grab everything we need here. So the day after tomorrow works, unless something else goes wrong.”

  “Sir,” the guard called out as three men came out of the village, trundling a cart after them, “these men will take you to the right place.”

  “Thank you,” Fiona said softly, still wrapped in her blanket. “We will make sure you are paid accordingly. If you would be so kind.” Fiona lightly nudged Sean, murmuring under her breath, “They’ll take the bag as well.”

  Sean dropped the rucksack and his bag and stepped aside, trying for aloof. Myna stepped forward, picking up the bag with both hands and holding it out to the men. “We’ll go once you have everything on the cart.”

  “Glad to be of service,” one of the men said as he stepped forward to take the bag, his eyes widening as he switched to a two handed grip since the bag was heavier than he’d anticipated. “Grab the boat,” he told the other two as he took the bag to the cart.

  The other two went to the boat and tried to lift it. They grunted, but only got it a few inches off the ground before dropping it. The men huffed as they looked to the cart, then back at the boat. “Alvin, the cart won’t hold it,” one of the two said.

  “He,” Alvin said, hooking a thumb at the guard, “said that it was picked up and carried by a single guy.”

  Fiona approached the cart. “May I check your cart? I can probably strengthen the frame.”

  Alvin eyed her. “Shaper?”

  “In my own small way,” Fiona said, downplaying her worth.

  “The handle up here has a crack in it,” Alvin said, motioning her toward the front of the cart.

  Fiona looked at the cracked handle and extended her hand. A moment later, the crack was gone and the handle looked like new. “Does this
assuage your fears?”

  Alvin nodded slowly. “Yes. I apologize for my doubt. Please, if you can make sure the cart can carry the boat, we will get it to the right place.”

  Fiona began to carefully Shape the cart into better condition, careful to keep her left side hidden by the blanket she still wore. Myna came over and helped, getting under the cart to reach the places underneath. It only took them a handful of minutes, and when they were finished, the cart looked like it was brand new.

  “I think that’s payment enough,” Sean said coldly.

  All three men turned to look at Sean, then back to the cart, before bowing to him. “Indeed, sir. More than enough. If there is other work you need during your stay, we will be happy to help you,” Alvin said on behalf of the men.

  “Can we get going? I wish to see the inside of an inn before nightfall,” Sean added, motioning the women to him.

  “Of course,” Alvin said as the three men went to pick up the boat.

  “You’re playing the part well,” Fiona whispered as she stood next to Sean.

  The three laborers moved the cart right next to the boat to make it easier for them to load the heavy vessel. It was still a strain for them to get it up and onto the cart, and all three were red-faced and puffing by the time they managed it.

  “Myna, go and find an inn for us. Arrange whatever they think is their best room,” Sean said, not really liking the whole imperious owner role he was playing.

  “Sir,” Alvin panted, “we’ll be going past the only inn in Pinebough on the way.”

  “Ah, that’s good. Myna, no need to run ahead,” Sean said. “We’ll follow the men.”

  Nodding, Alvin and his two friends got the cart moving slowly. The load was among the heaviest they had dealt with, but with the cart in new condition, they were able to manage it. All three men shared a glance, knowing that their cart, before it had been fixed, would never have handled the load.

  Sean did his best to ignore the stares they received as he, Myna, and Fiona walked behind the cart. Myna and Fiona appeared unconcerned and held their heads high, showing off their Life Bond markings.

  The cart slowed a little as they neared the largest building in the village. “The Restful Slumber, sir,” Alvin called back over his shoulder.

  “We need the bags from the cart,” Sean said.

  Bringing the cart to a halt, the three men shifted the boat enough for their bags to be hauled out. Alvin grunted as he lifted the rucksack out of the back and set it down. Myna went over to claim the bags, strapping the rucksack to her back and carrying the other bag in her arms.

  “I will have a room waiting for you,” Myna said, bowing her head to Sean before waddling into the inn.

  All three men watched her go, then Sean cleared his throat. “We have somewhere to be,” Sean said firmly.

  “Right,” Alvin said quickly as they got the cart moving again.

  Fiona whispered, “I didn’t know this side of you existed.”

  “I don’t care for it,” Sean replied back, just as softly. “I’m not the pompous sort. James could do this better than me.”

  “You’re doing fine,” Fiona said, her hand twitching toward him before falling back against her side. “Let me handle the haggling when we get there.”

  “I figured it would be better that way,” Sean gave her a slight smile.

  Crossing the village took longer than Sean would have expected. Pinebough was more spread out than Oakwood would have been, if it had survived. Every home had a large garden, and all of them looked well-tended. Sean wasn’t sure how many people lived in the town, but he figured there were at least a hundred.

  They went through another gate and came to a single home near a dock. Sean counted five fishing boats on the water, with at least two men in each boat. Alvin and his men got the cart stopped just outside the house.

  “Old man, you in?” Alvin shouted into the open doorway.

  A wiry, bald, very wrinkled man came hobbling out. “Of course I’m home, fool,” Johnson snapped. “Why are you lot down here? The fish won’t be ready for hours yet.”

  “This man would like to sell you his boat,” Alvin said quickly.

  Johnson eyed the boat on the cart, then looked at Sean. “This your boat?”

  “Made by my Bonded,” Sean said flatly, “so, yes.”

  Johnson looked at the boat, then at the cart it rested on. “Fixed the cart, too?”

  “Yes,” Sean’s monosyllabic answer was just as flat.

  “I’ll buy it, if it’s the same quality Shaping,” Johnson said, running a hand over the boat. “A little too flat bottomed, but it’ll have uses even so. I’ll give you ten bronze—”

  Fiona laughed, “You insult the level of Shaping involved.”

  Johnson looked from Sean to Fiona, then back. “No insult was intended. We’re a small village and don’t have a lot of coin to throw about. I can raise it to thirty bronze.”

  “That boat is worth at least a handful of silver, as we both know,” Fiona sniffed, “but this is a backwater village, so we’ll ask for two silver.”

  Johnson sucked at his teeth in thought, then shook his head. “I can’t. Even if one of the Queens crafted it, that is more than I can do. A single silver is the extent of the coin I can part with.”

  Fiona looked at Sean, who gave her a small nod. Turning back, Fiona gave Johnson a tight smile. “We will accept the silver, if you will provide a few salted fish when we leave.”

  Johnson held out his hand. “We have us a deal.”

  Fiona looked at the hand with a faint smile, but didn’t take it. “Indeed, we do.”

  Johnson pulled his hand back and looked hard at Fiona. “I see. I didn’t think he was among their ranks. The way things have gone, I might have come closer to pain than I had anticipated.” Turning to Sean, Johnson bowed his head. “I meant no insults, sir, I was just doing the best I could for the village.”

  “I accept the apology,” Sean replied simply, looking around bored. “I know that sometimes things are... rougher out on the edges.”

  A relieved breath escaped Johnson. “Indeed they are, sir. Let me go grab that coin for you.” He hurried back inside as Alvin and his men took the cart to the dock and got the boat into the water. Alvin fell in, and climbed out of the stream dripping wet, shivering and sneezing.

  Johnson muttered a curse under his breath when he came out and caught sight of Alvin. “Braindead fish.” Handing a bag of coins to Fiona, he turned his attention to Alvin. “Get inside before you catch your death, idiot. You two might as well go with him. I’ll make some tea for him, and we can have some wine.”

  With the coin in hand, Fiona gave Sean a smile. “Master, Myna will have the inn ready for you by now.”

  “I could use a drink,” Sean said, turning and walking back toward town. Fiona caught up to him within a few steps.

  “Bath, food, and bed?” Fiona asked softly.

  “That sounds delightful,” Sean told her. He kept his hand at his side, staying in his role, even though he wanted to put it around her waist.

  Chapter Ten

  There weren’t any patrons in the main room when Sean and Fiona went in. The bartender stood up straighter as they approached him. “Sir, are you with the Moonbound?” The bartender’s voice was respectful.

  “She is mine,” Sean said stiffly, “is that an issue?”

  “No! No, of course not, sir,” the bartender said. “The two best rooms we have have been set aside for you.” Slapping a bell on the counter, the bartender gave him a tight smile as a maid came scurrying out of the back. “Show them to their rooms.”

  “He requires food,” Fiona said.

  “It has all been arranged, as well as the bathing room being set aside for your personal use. I’ll have the water heated and waiting in an hour,” the bartender said quickly.

  “Good,” Sean said as he started for the stairs, forcing the maid to scuttle to get ahead of him.

  “Thank you,” Fiona told t
he bartender as she followed Sean.

  Sean stayed quiet as the maid led them up two sets of stairs to the top floor. The maid took them down a hall, pausing to open one door. “This is your room, sir,” the maid said. She knocked on the next door down, and when Myna called out permission to enter, the maid opened the second door. “This room is for your Bonded.”

  Nodding, Sean walked past her into his room and closed the door behind him. Fiona watched him go, then gave the maid a tight smile. “He has had a trying day. I suggest you stay away, unless you wish to be viewed as an outlet,” her voice was full of concern.