by Sever Bronny
The obese man reached for a cane. “Help me down please, Devon.”
The boy dropped the reins he was holding. “Yes, Father.”
A crowd gathered around the wagon, giving the pot-helmed soldiers a wide berth. Augum recognized Mr. Harvus; Panjita Singh and her daughter, Priya; Mr. Okeke; Huan, the innkeeper of the Miner’s Mule Inn; Chaska and his Henawa father, the storekeeper of the Good Medicine shop. Everyone wore an anxious expression.
As the obese man was helped to the ground, the soldiers scanned the crowd and the forest, forcing the trio to briefly duck.
“Who is in charge here please?” the obese man asked the crowd, breath coming in short gasps. Stepping down from the wagon had evidently tired him.
“I am still.” A dark-skinned old man with a pointy black beard and wearing a long robe stepped forward.
The obese man withdrew a cloth from his ill-fitting garments and dabbed at his chins. “Ah, Mr. Hanad Haroun. A pleasure to see you again.”
Mr. Haroun gave a short bow. “Constable Clouds. I bid you welcome to Milham.”
Augum remembered Mr. Haroun’s rousing speech at Endyear, and how he swore opposition should the Legion attempt taking Milham’s men. So far, Mr. Haroun appeared to be keeping his calm. Nonetheless, Augum was ready to plow through the brush should the call arise to take the soldiers down.
“Isn’t that the supposedly corrupt constable?” Leera whispered.
“Shh,” Bridget quickly said.
Augum did recall Jengo mentioning something on the subject, but then again, Jengo was quite prone to exaggeration.
Constable Clouds adjusted the grip on his cane with an arm that perpetually shook. “Mr. Haroun, I am sure you have already heard word from the Herald—”
“We have indeed. The news just reached us, in point of fact.”
“I understand. The roads have been treacherous of late. Bandits, you see. Regardless, as before, I am here on behalf of the Legion. However, this time it is to stay.”
The crowd stirred anxiously.
Clouds made a placating gesture with a meaty hand. “But I do not wish to cause any concern to you or to the villagers of Milham, Mr. Haroun. I am here to maintain order as per Legion decree number ninety-six. These are my trusted guards and enforcers of the law—Lieutenant Briggs and Sergeant Cobb. You will find them as just and fair as I.”
That did not seem to quell the mutterings.
“What is it we can do for you, Constable?” Mr. Haroun asked.
Clouds coughed into the cloth. Augum noticed he wore a wedding ring. “Again, I do not wish to bestow alarm or fear in Milham. Like you all, I pray for peace. Let us ride out the war together without harm. All we require is a domicile. If none can be provided, we shall build one.”
“But the war is over, is it not?” a woman called from the crowd. “Tiberra has fallen.”
The constable dabbed at his sweaty face. He sounded tired. “Ah, if only it were so. I am afraid that for the Legion, the war is never over.”
An odd thing to say, Augum thought to himself. Some in the Legion could even find that kind of talk treasonous.
“But I repeat, you yourselves need not fear,” Clouds went on. “Milham is an isolated mining village. There shan’t be armies marching through here.”
“And what of our men?” called the same woman. “Are you here to take our men?”
Clouds glanced back at the pot-helmed soldiers, who sat silently on their stallions, before turning back to the anxious crowd. “Here me thus and hear me clear—as long as my commander has no reason to come to Milham, we will not take any men or confiscate property—except when absolutely necessary. Again, I repeat—we are not here to cause a disturbance. We wish you to go on about your business as before, without fear or worry.” He took a moment to catch his breath before continuing. “We are family men who know the value of love and community. Please, do not be afraid to come to us with your concerns. I assure you, we will do our best to help everyone. I know you have heard stories of soldiers … taking advantage. We are not those kinds of soldiers. We are not spies. We are not your enemy.”
“Must be some kind of trick,” Bridget whispered as the crowd muttered amongst themselves, some in evident relief. “Isn’t it?”
Augum only shook his head in bewilderment, mirroring the same slack look of disbelief as the crowd.
“That said,” Clouds continued, “I am afraid I must confiscate some weapons. We should consider it a gesture of appeasement. Please place what you can spare into the wagon as soon as possible. Let us at least make a show of it. Further, I will be sending the wagon back to Eastspear on a regular basis with taxes and any necessary requests from command. Also, please refrain from speaking about the gods in public or gathering in groups of ten or more. I must stress that we must appear to be following the letter of all requests.”
Augum shook his head slowly. What was going on here? This man wasn’t like any Legion soldier he’d come across before …
Mr. Haroun raised his chin. “I hope you are truly sincere, good sir. Many here have endured enough grief for this lifetime.”
“I assure you I am. As a token of our trust in each other, allow us to present our families.” The constable tapped the wagon with his cane, and from the back emerged two women wearing peasant dress and country bonnets, holding hands with four children.
“These are the wives and children of my soldiers.” Clouds rested a heavy arm on the chubby boy beside him. “And this is my very own son, Devon. We are not here to cause trouble. We have heard Milham is a town after our own hearts. I cannot express how sincere we are. Please accept us as one of your own.”
For a long moment the crowd exchanged glances, until Mr. Haroun stepped forward. “Then on behalf of Milham, we wish you a pleasant stay. I insist you join my family for lunch. As for everyone else, please do as the constable says—bring any weapons you do not need and place them in the wagon. We must help our new neighbors follow regulations.”
Augum kept shaking his head. This was baffling. Surely a real Legionnaire would have instantly demanded every weapon, followed by a thorough search of the town and most probably a questioning in some iron room.
The crowd closed in on Clouds, his son, and the soldiers. There were many handshakes, smiles, and even tentative hugs.
“I just can’t believe it,” Bridget said, slumping to the ground and looking between Augum and Leera. “Could it be they’re actually on our side?”
Augum flipped his hand. “If so—and I’m not convinced they’re for real yet—maybe we can work with them somehow. Find weaknesses in the Legion or something, I don’t know.”
Leera glanced past them at the procession. “I’m not convinced. What if it’s a trick to disarm everyone before slaughtering them like lambs? Wouldn’t put it past them, you know.”
Augum watched as Devon shook hands with another boy, the pair smiling and nodding as they spoke. He noted how the children resembled the soldiers, who had taken off their pot helms and how everyone seemed at ease. They weren’t checking the trees or communicating in secret. Their body language told him they were being open and sincere. “I don’t think so. I think those are their real families. But we obviously shouldn’t reveal ourselves just yet. Let’s wait and see what happens.”
“Agreed,” the girls chorused.
Leera’s eyes narrowed. “Harvus is heading to the cabin. Time to go.”
Moral Grounds
The trio made it back to the Okeke cabin in short order, passing on the unbelievable news to Mr. Goss, Leland and Jengo, though failing to raise Mrs. Stone on the orb. Harvus entered soon after.
“I still think it’s a trap,” Jengo said as Mr. Goss left to see for himself, leaving Leland in Jengo’s care. His eyes wandered to the window. “There’s probably thousands of soldiers surrounding the village as we speak. It’s Clouds. He’s taken bribes before. I’m certain he’s corrupt.”
Augum couldn’t help but glance furtively out the window
, recalling the raid on Sparrow’s Perch. It did not escape his notice the girls did the same.
“Well, Mrs. Stone said she’d be here in a flash if any of her special enchantments are tripped,” Leera said.
“Unless something happened to her,” Mr. Harvus said without expression. “Let us hope that is not the case, of course.” He brought his white-gloved hands together. “In the meantime, I absolutely forbid you three to show your faces in town until I deem it absolutely safe. And you are not to take any foolish risks like spying on the Legion or any other ill-advised behavior.” He cupped his ear at them. “I am afraid I do not hear a ‘Yes, Mr. Harvus’.”
“Yes, Mr. Harvus,” they chorused, Augum, Jengo and Leera lamely; Bridget with a firm nod.
“Jengo, you are to join us at the other cabin as soon as your father returns.”
Leland moaned in protest.
“I am sorry, my dear child, but I am afraid today’s training will be too dangerous for you.” He adjusted his hairpiece, which immediately prompted Leera to elbow Augum.
Harvus’ eyes flicked to her and she stopped grinning. “Do you have the blue book in your possession?”
Augum raised his shoulder. “Right here, in the rucksack.”
“I say it again—please refer to me as Mr. Harvus, Augum.”
“Mr. Harvus.”
“And do not be clever with me. I am far smarter than you are. As it is, follow me, please.”
“See you soon, Jengo,” Leera muttered, following Harvus.
As they walked, Augum wondered what Harvus had meant by being “clever”. Was he on to him and Leera? No, he was being paranoid, they’ve been so careful!
“Please fetch Haylee for me, will you, Bridget?”
“Yes, Mr. Harvus.”
Augum glimpsed Leera silently mimicking Bridget.
When they reached the small cabin, a cool wind rustled the forest, pushing gray clouds overhead. The stream trickled on, joined by the perpetual drip of snowmelt.
“Let us wait for Bridget and Haylee to join us.”
Augum raised an eyebrow. “Are we just to stand here? Why don’t we practice some spells—” but he stopped himself from going on. Mr. Harvus had closed his eyes and pursed his lips, indicating he was in no mood to hear it. Augum sighed loudly in protest. He was getting sick of Harvus’ stifling ways. His stupid mannerisms, which at first seemed trite and funny, now were irritating to no end.
Harvus picked a piece of lint from his robe. “Mind yourself, young Augum Stone. You are not the hero you think yourself to be.”
Leera stayed Augum with a subtle pinch on his arm.
Bridget and a hobbling Haylee soon joined them. The latter had an impatient look on her face and rings around her eyes even darker than Bridget’s.
“Haylee, I expect you to work harder today. You have been a disappointment thus far.” He raised a hand when she opened her mouth to protest. “I do not want to hear it, young lady. You have had ample opportunity to study, yet your progress has been abysmal. In the academy, you would have had many more studies to worry about. Here, you have minimal responsibilities, yet you dawdle, throw tantrums, and cavort with that … savage.”
Haylee was shaking her head throughout his speech, trying to keep tears from falling on her cheeks. “I don’t need this,” she finally blurted, lower lip quivering. “And I don’t need you, you … pasty marmot. I’m done—” She began hobbling off.
Bridget took a step toward her. “Haylee, wait—”
“Nope, I’m done. Done!”
“But your training! You need to train with someone—”
She was still shaking her head while hobbling off. “Yes, I do, but I refuse to do it with him.”
“We are indeed done, young lady. Do not seek my services again.”
“Oh, don’t worry about that, I won’t.”
“Mr. Harvus, please—” Bridget said.
“Back in line, Bridget. The young lady has insulted me and chosen the coward’s path. So be it.”
Haylee stopped as if to respond, fists balled. Instead, she shook her head a final time and hobbled off.
“Anyone else wish to cease lessons with me? You are absolutely free to do so.” Harvus waited for a reply, but none came. Augum would have loved to tell him to shove his lessons, but too much rode on their studies, far too much. He felt terrible for Haylee though. What was she going to do now? He’d help train her on the side but there just wasn’t time. They worked morning until night daily with Harvus, and if it wasn’t with Harvus, it was for Mrs. Stone at the Trainer, or performing practice tasks either set forth for them.
“Good. Now then, I trust you to have diligently studied the chapter on today’s lesson, as I assigned a tenday ago,” Harvus began, gloved hands folded over his potbelly as he eyed Augum and Leera in particular.
Augum felt a pang of guilt, not because he was worried about letting Harvus down, but because by being behind in their studies, he and Leera, having spent nearly all their study time together, placed themselves and Bridget in danger.
“Bridget, what is today’s lesson?”
Augum and Leera exchanged quick glances. Harvus had an agonizing way of asking the obvious.
“Today’s lesson is on the 4th degree elemental spell Summon Minor Elemental, Mr. Harvus.”
“That’s a tongue twister if I ever heard one,” Leera muttered under her breath.
“Excuse me, Miss Jones?”
Leera cleared her throat as Harvus stared her down.
“Very good, Bridget. Now, I am sure you three have diligently practiced your pronunciation, but just to make sure we are all on the same page, please speak the arcane words aloud. Augum, you first, please.”
Great. Augum was really hoping for Bridget to go first—he could then have copied her pronunciation. “Uh, sorry, Mr. Harvus, with all this excitement in the air, it kind of slipped my mind.” He tried to ignore Bridget’s frown.
Mr. Harvus raised his eyes skyward in that begging-to-the-gods look he chronically gave when frustrated. “Augum Stone,” he began slowly, still watching the heavens, “are you telling me that you do not even remember the simple words required to trigger the spell?”
Augum shrugged. “Sort of … I guess.” Obviously, you fat nest-haired troll.
Harvus fixed him with a cold glare. “Your great-grandmother is paying me a small fortune to live here with this barbaric lot of fools. A small fortune, Augum.” He shrugged. “Or at least she owes me that—but do not let that concern you.”
So the money was running out, Augum thought with a sinking feeling.
“Anyhow,” Harvus continued, “that is not the distressing part. The distressing part—no, the absolutely absurd part—is that an entire kingdom might depend on your actions, and yet you …” Harvus waved carelessly with a gloved hand, “do not even bother taking the time to learn your craft.”
As the words hung in the air, Augum felt a prickle of shame. Harvus was right, as much as he hated to admit it.
Harvus placed his hands behind his back. “Pray tell me that you have not hit your ceiling, as I suspect Haylee has.”
“What! No, of course not—!” Oh no … was that what was happening with Haylee?
“ ‘Of course not’. I see. Then why, my dear daft boy, do you neglect your studies? Do you think your father lopes around neglecting his studies?” Before Augum could reply, Harvus took a single step forward. “Let me tell you what your father is doing in this very moment. Murdering people.” He accented the point with an exaggerated slow nod.
Augum had to stop himself from recoiling—Harvus’ breath stank as if a rat had crawled down his throat and died some time ago.
“Murdering people,” Harvus repeated with that annoying nod. “Or planning on murdering people. And you—you who may be one of only a handful of souls to possibly stop him one day—you traipse about like an idiot. An idiot.”
“You shouldn’t speak to us that way—” Leera began, but Harvus immediately turned
on her.
“And you, my dear,” he began in a deadly sweet voice, hands still behind his back, “do you happen to know the correct wordage and pronunciation to the 4th degree elemental spell?”
When Leera began mumbling something unintelligible, Harvus plowed right along. “How about its name then? All I require is the simple name of a simple spell, a name just mentioned a moment ago by your very peer. Oh for heaven’s sakes, child, tell me you at least know the name of the spell!” His voice was a near shout by then, the first time he had truly lost his temper with them.
Leera seemed stuck on a word, a dumbstruck expression on her face. “I … I …”
Harvus slowly shook his head. “You stupid, stupid girl.”
Augum’s blood instantly boiled. “Don’t you talk to—”
“Voidus lingua!” Harvus spat, flicking his wrist at Augum without taking his eyes off Leera.
Augum’s throat immediately dried up and he choked on his words.
For once, Bridget’s face registered shock. “Mr. Harvus, I don’t think that’s—”
Harvus raised a stern finger, still without looking away from Leera. “Do not test me, young lady. I am sick and tired of their deplorable conduct.” The gloved fingers of one of his hands pronged between Augum and Leera. “Yes, that is right, you two—do you think me stupid? I know exactly why you have neglected your important studies. I know what it is you two little sinners have been up to, carousing about like two despicable little devils.” He turned on Augum and jabbed him hard in the chest, speaking slowly as if to a dumb child. “You do not have the right to prance and cavort about wasting valuable time. Lives are at stake, do you understand me? Lives.”
“Mrs. Stone will never allow you to get away with this,” Leera finally blurted.
Harvus stepped back. “Is that so?” He raised a hand and beckoned at Augum’s rucksack, which slipped off his shoulder and floated away before he could stop it. “Let us see exactly what the archmage thinks of your disgusting behavior.”
Augum’s fists curled—as much as he wanted to do something, Harvus was a far more powerful warlock.