by Allan Joyal
Above me on the bluff I could hear a sling set into motion. The boat in the river rocked and there was a splash even before the sling stopped. “Ker!” someone shouted.
“They can see the boat!” a voice said from the water downstream of the boat. “We’re dead if we stay!”
“They can’t get us all!” the first voice called back.
There was a snapping sound from the bluff. A moment later the light around the boat wrapped as a loud crack echoed out.
“They hit the boat!” someone shouted needlessly from within the boat.
“See they missed!” the voice who had called out Ker said contemptuously.
A heard a sling start up again. The men in the boat were arguing about continuing to our side of the river. Finally the first voice shouted. “I’m in charge, and we keep going!”
The sound of the sling stopped. At first I thought someone had halted it, but a moment later there was a thud and then a shriek of pain. The man who had jumped in the water laughed bitterly. “You won’t survive if you keep going!”
“Ker, he’s dead!” someone shouted from the boat. I could hear another sling begin to build up speed above me. “And they are getting ready to attack again!”
“Get out of the boat!” Ker said from the water. “We’ll swim to the city!”
“But what about our orders? Wrektor told us to come back with the raft and any women we could capture,” One of the men said from the boat.
“What?” I heard Lenoir shout from the bluff. “Oleiana, aim for that voice. We need to take that man down.”
There were three more large splashes. The boat bobbed wildly as the men began a panicked swim back to the other shore.
“Cimbra,” I called out. “What are the ones on the other shore doing?”
“The ones still on the dock are trying to fish a body out of the river. Most of they have already left. They retrieved three items from the water and retreated,” Cimbra called out.
“Ron?” Lenoir called out. “What do we do about the boat in the water?”
I looked at the boat. It was adrift in the middle of the river. The current had captured it. As I watched it floated away from our camp vanishing into the darkness. Shaylin sighed once it was out of sight.
“I’ve released the spell,” she said. “By morning no one will know what happened.”
“If it doesn’t sink,” Lenoir said. “It took two hits from our slings so it might be leaking badly.”
“Either way, I think we need a council of war,” I murmured as I looked out over the still dark river. “I expect that when dawn comes we’ll be seeing some of those men again.”
“Most of us are already awake,” Lydia said from the bluff. “The shouting of our attackers was enough to wake everyone.”
“Let’s get the fire going and have a very early breakfast. We need to start loading the wagons. And tell the herders to keep the animals close. As soon as we have our goods at midday we leave this camp,” I commanded.
“You could tell us yourself,” Gertrilla called back. “After all the animals are right next to the camp.”
I stumbled my way back up the hill as the camp came to life. Someone stoked our central fire, and we had light and warmth in a large circle around the fire. As I approached the circle I could see everyone lined up to collect some food from a cauldron.
Heather came up to hand me a bowl and offer a quick hug. “Kariy set up a new stew last night before she went to sleep. She said it should be cooked just right. What should I concentrate on?”
“Food divided between the wagons and the best of our carts. Fodder for the animals mostly in the rickety cart. Bedrolls and clothing also in the rickety cart. Seeds in the wagons and both good carts; spread them out. Tools should be spread out. Leave space for the millstones. I’d expect to put them in one of the carts, they would be easier to load,” I said.
“Shouldn’t you tell Gerit all those instructions?” Heather asked.
“I might not have time. I promised Borlan that I’d take him to the city so he can try to rescue his friends. We also need to spend the last gold I have,” I noted.
“How bad will it be?” Al asked.
I sighed as Heather and I stepped up to the cauldron to collect our breakfast. “It will likely be very bad,” I admitted. “We have enough people with range weapons to keep the merchant and his men on that side of the river for now, but he can always bring his own archers. And it sounds like he wants our goods badly.”
“Why?” Al said. “I remember when he was here yesterday, and it seemed he had a lot of goods to offer.”
“It’s easy to offer anything if you plan on stealing it back,” Victoria said. “I’m just happy that Ron was able to tell him to go away.”
Heather and I had stepped away from the cauldron. We were eating our bowls of stew as the rest of the group either got stew or finished their own meals. Kariy looked at me. “The sausages are good, but we could use more food. I did manage to dry some of the antelope meat.”
“I hope the dogs got to chew on the rest,” I said. “They deserve a bit of fresh meat.”
“They have,” Gertrilla said. “And now that we have slings, Yveney and I have tested them on some squirrels. If we get one we feed it to the dogs.”
“You only ever got one,” Corwar pointed out.
Everyone laughed at this. “Oh, she got one guy right in the head,” Lenoir said in defense of Gertrilla. “It was a perfect shot.”
I looked over and watched as Gertrilla blushed. She had a happy smile on her face as the men of the group stared at her. “Don’t tease her,” I admonished Corwar. “It’s clear she can hurt you if she wants. Besides, the dogs listen to her.”
Gertrilla laughed at that. I noticed that the two female puppies were sleeping on her bedroll. They looked up at her and then returned to sleep.
Gerit raised a hand. When he had everyone’s attention he nodded. “I checked the wagons. It would be better if the glue had more time to cure, but the repairs look good. Can I get help to put the wagons back on their wheels?
“Right after we eat,” I said.
“Dawn soon,” Cimbra said absently. She pointed to the east. I looked over to see that there was a faint light on the horizon.
I finished my meal. Heather took the bowl from me and pointed toward the wagons. I walked over to find that all of the men were standing around the first wagon. Gerit was directing them in standing around the wagon.
“We need to lift it off the ground, right it and then set it down on the wheels. We don’t want to just tip it over because that stresses the axle,” Gerit said.
“You’re the one in charge for this,” I said.
“Ron, it should be you, Al, Jeff, and Verval on the high side. At first just steady it as the rest of us lift and then we’ll slowly right it. Everyone get in position,” Gerit said.
I moved so I was standing behind the front wheel. Jeff was to my left ahead of the front wheel, while Al was beside me standing awkwardly with his injured arm bandaged against his chest, and Verval was at the rear of the wagon. At Gerit’s signal everyone lifted the wagon. With so many of us around the vehicle it was easy to lift it into the air and then right it. We were setting it down when Amalya spoke. “That merchant is on the dock.”
I looked over to see Wrektor standing at the dock. He had an angry expression on his face as he looked across the river at us. As we watched he turned to a lackey and pushed the man off the dock.
“Let’s get the other wagon righted,” I said. “After that we can take the raft over there. I’d like Krysbain and Lydia to accompany the raft. Verval, Jeff you’ll pole it.”
Everyone acknowledged my instructions as we walked over to the second wagon. We surrounded it and again lofted it into the air and then set it down on the wheels. The axle creaked alarmingly, but Gerit just smiled. “No danger,” he said. “The rear axle is just adjusting to the weight.”
“Gerit, work with Heather on loading. I’m taking
Joel and Borlan into the city. We’ll be back before midday,” I said.
“You need a porter,” Heather said.
“Piemal, Corwar,” I commanded. “You get a quick walk in the city with me.” I said. “Get to the raft.”
I started walking back down the path we had worn into the bluff. I could sense others joining me in the pre-dawn light. We circled around to the sandy strip of riverbank just as the first beams of sunlight reached the walls of the city.
The light illuminated the merchant Wrektor standing on the docks. He was still arguing with his lackey as we boarded the raft. I had my spear and noticed that Krysbain was standing beside me with his hands on the hilt of his sword.
Krysbain displayed a casual confidence as Jeff and Verval launched the raft and began pushing it across the river. He carefully watched the merchant as we approached the dock. By the time we were halfway across we could understand the merchant’s shouts.
“Where are the men you hired? First you tell me that you were going to get someone into the camp. I don’t know who that was supposed to be, but from the way the camp has reacted, that man failed. You also told me that you were hiring a mercenary group to raid the camp this morning!” Wrektor screamed.
“He probably did all that,” I said quietly, breaking into Wrektor’s rant.
Wrektor whirled to look at the raft. His eyes widened as he noticed the grim looks on the faces of most of us. “What? I mean. You can’t do anything to me! You have no proof.”
“I think we have enough proof to satisfy us,” I said coldly. “And there is no one to stop us from punishing you for all that has happened.”
“You wouldn’t!” Wrektor whimpered. I noticed that his lackey was smirking as he carefully backed off the docks.
“You send someone into our camp to threaten my wife? You hire men to attack us at night? You could have dealt with us honestly, and I would have traded with you. Instead, we are greeted by attacks,” I said coldly.
“I need those goods!” Wrektor shouted. “I have business partners who expect me to supply them.”
“Not my problem,” I spat. “I’m the leader of this mission for Daytona Trade. My responsibility is to see that we complete our tasks. Those goods are required for us to complete the tasks. Now unless you want to fight us on the dock, you’ll head on to your warehouse and leave us alone.”
“I’ll get those goods!” Wrektor promised. “I’ll have them in my warehouse before tomorrow morning!”
The merchant turned and waddled away from us. Jeff and Verval said nothing as they concentrated on bringing the raft up against the dock.
“Lydia, Krys, make sure everyone works on getting the carts and wagons ready. I’d recommend bringing them down to the riverbank once the camp is packed up. It will make loading them from the raft easier. Jeff, Verval, don’t come over here until midday. We’ll try to make it one more trip. Joel, Borlan, be careful and be back by midday. The raft won’t wait,” I said.
“Understood,” Lydia and Jeff said as the others just looked at me.
I jumped onto the dock when the raft was still five feet away. Wrektor was already on land and waddling toward a wooden contraption resting on the road. I could see four men standing around it with bored expressions on their faces. Wrektor ignored them as he sat down on what looked like a chair of some kind.
Once Wrektor was sitting the men moved to stand in pairs. I noticed that each man was gripping something. A moment later Wrektor was lofted into the air between the men and they marched off, carrying him.
I started walking down the dock. It swayed slightly. I was approaching the shore when Corwar and Piemal dashed past me. They reached the shore and then turned around to look at me.
“We are headed to the market,” I said. “We need arrow heads and then we should look for food or small tools. Your job is to find the items and then to carry what I purchase. Stay close and avoid trouble,” I said.
Both boys nodded and then turned to look at the still waking city. I stepped from the dock with a feeling of trepidation. Wrektor’s threats were only too real. I knew we had to move quickly if we were to avoid another fight.
Chapter 15: Final Moments of “Civilization”
I sighed as I looked at the city. The morning chill was keeping the stench down, but what I could smell turned my stomach. I looked over and noticed that Corwar and Piemal had raised their arms over their noses.
“Welcome to civilization,” I mused as I walked up the path leading to the city.
I reached the main road that appeared to follow the city wall along the river. Once there, I turned left and started to walk around the city. The two boys dashed ahead of me shouting boisterously as they did.
We moved briskly until I noticed the opening that had hid the man who I had tripped the day before. Both boys had run past it without incident. I slowed before reaching it and positioned the spear with the point aimed at the opening. Carefully, I turned and sidestepped past the opening.
The dawning sun shone directly into the opening. I could see that someone had erected a primitive canopy in the alcove and there were a few battered boxes set up as chairs. No one was visible, and once I had passed the opening, I relaxed and put the spear against my shoulder as I strode after the boys.
We reached the passage that led to the market. Corwar and Piemal halted to watch merchants parade past. Many were pushing carts or leading pack mules as they entered the passage. Piemal looked back at me as I caught up.
“How many are there?” he asked.
“This is a large city,” I pointed out. “There will be many merchants. However, we only need to speak to a few. First we need to find someone who might have arrowheads to sell.”
The boys turned back to look at the line of merchants headed for the market. Both then jumped back as one merchant dragged his small cart out of the line and headed directly for us.
I watched the man. He was wearing heavy leather pants over a loose fitting vest. The man’s chest was impressively muscled and rippled as he dragged his cart forward. He smiled once he was out of the line and facing us.
“Did I hear you say you need arrowheads?” the man asked.
“I wasn’t speaking directly to you, but we are in the market for arrowheads,” I replied cautiously.
“Good, good,” the man said. “I can help you. I have hundreds of arrowheads available. Just tell me what you need and I can get it.”
“Hundreds?” I said cautiously. “We might want some, but there is no way I want that many, or could afford them if I did.”
“Oh, I’d never charge that much,” the man said cheerily as he carefully turned the cart around. When it was facing the entrance to the market, he set it down and walked around to join me. “I have hunting tips, war tips or practice tips. Twenty run one silver coin.”
“Can you use them in a crossbow?” I asked.
“You have to be careful when aligning them,” the merchant said. “Most people making bolts for a crossbow only use two feathers and a misaligned head means the arrow won’t fly straight.”
I pulled my coin pouch. The once full pouch was light as I reached inside. I was about to pull out the gold coin when a coin tumbled from the folds and came to a rest against my fingers. Grasping this coin I pulled my hand from the pouch and found I was holding a battered silver coin.
“How about twenty-five of your war tips for this coin,” I said as I held up the coin.
The merchant grumbled, but after looking at the line of merchants entering the market nodded. “I can do that,” he said.
He turned away from me to walk over by the cart. He removed the top from a small barrel and began pulling handfuls of something shiny from it. I could see him counting as he gathered up the items.
“Piemal, do you have a pouch?” I asked.
“I have a couple large pieces of leather I can use to wrap up the arrowheads,” he said. “I can take the coin and deal with the merchant if you want.”
I handed the
coin to Piemal. He ran over to the back of the cart. Corwar and I moved to stand to the side so we could watch the merchants entering the market.
“We want food don’t we?” Corwar asked.
“And tools and weapons,” I said. “No matter what we get it we’ll find things we are missing once we are a few days away from the town,” I said. “That seems to be how this works.”
“Anything else?” Corwar asked.
“We want to finish quickly,” I said. “We need to be as far away as possible before the sun goes down.”
“Why did the merchant try to steal everything? I mean, I knew the mayor back home tried to take things from merchants, but why try to take everything?” Corwar asked.
I was thinking over the answer as Piemal ran up. “I have the arrowheads,” he said holding up a bundle of leather. “Are we going to enter the market?”
“Let’s go,” I said.
There was a space between two merchants entering. I stepped into it and started following the cart that was entering the market. The boys scampered after me. Behind me a man cursed.
We ignored the merchant. The one ahead of us had a companion who stopped and allowed the cart to pass. He glared as us as he stood at the side of the road and watched us. We just kept walking, ignoring the opportunity that the cart represented.
Our path led through an archway that I did not remember from our previous visit to the market. The archway guarded a short passage. As we walked through it I noticed a couple of guards standing in alcoves. They watched Corwar and Piemal intently as we entered the marketplace.
The boys never looked at the guards, but it was clear they sensed that they were being watched. I found Corwar pressing his shoulder against my left hip while Piemal put an arm around my waist and cowered slightly. I pretended that nothing was wrong and continued walking until we emerged from the passage.
We emerged into the large courtyard that enclosed the market. I pulled the boys to the side of the path so that the following merchants could continue to enter. Most of the merchants were moving to carefully marked off locations and beginning to assemble canopies.