by Za1d3
Unloading their possessions from the wagon that had been their home ever since leaving Hilthu, Troyle grimaced as he hauled a basket filled with clothes and his two Amberite swords on it out of the wagon. His leg wound had healed well enough, but any pressure on it sent a throbbing pain like lightning up his legs. Favoring his right leg after that misstep, he slowly set the basket down along with the two mid-sized chests of clothing he had pulled out earlier. Adalina got off the wagon and carried over a box filled with stationary, writing utensils, and her cook wares. As he was about to turn back to the wagon, the caravan master called to him.
“Troyle, are you sure you don’t want to come with us to Gillstone? We can definitely use your sword arms.”
The Caravan master had asked him to remain as a guard a couple times before, but he had business here in Ferrent. His latest glimpse at his own mortality had cause him to realize that he wanted to stay with his family.
“I’m sorry Pate, our contract was only until Ferrent, and I want to make a life for my family here. I’m glad you are still considering me even with my injury, but it is here that I must stay. Tell the others to be well and don’t get careless for me will ya?”
Though he never really spoke to the caravan master, after that day where they had been besieged on the road, he had developed a new found admiration for the caravan master. Anyone with courage enough to try to barter with armed thugs – while tied up, beaten to a pulp, and yet insists on continuing his trade was someone worthy of his respect. They had gotten to know each other well enough to learn that the caravan master’s full name was Pate Donsillt, and a prominent member of the merchants guild. Pate traveled with his Wife Dillane throughout southern Darsus buying and selling wares.
“That’s a bummer, was hoping to rope you and your mage wife to stick with us to give everyone a better peace of mind” the merchant replied jokingly.
“Now you know that’s not true Pate. What happened that day, I don’t know how else to explain it but that the gods must have been watching us. Better yet, maybe one of them Phraes of the forest heard and saved them?” Troyle jokingly retorted, a wry smile on his face. No one had even suspect that it could have been his infant son.
“Well, no use trying to figure out what the god’s were playing at if they were really watching us.” pulling out a small pouch from inside his robe, the caravan master held it out to Troyle. “Here’s 550 erns. 14 erns a day for a total of 38 days for your services. I evened it out to 550″
“Thanks Pate. For everything.” Troyle took the pouch and tied it onto his waist and bowed in gratitude
550 erns would be enough to pay for room and board in the inn for a while until he finds a job and starts earning some money.
About to turn around resume unloading, the caravan master pulled out another pouch from the opposite side of his robe and handed it to him.
“Although you may deny it, I had considered my life forfeited after failing to bargain with those brigands and knocked senseless. My wife, I, and those of the others retain their lives only because of the miracle your wife brought forth. A debt must always be repaid, more so one of life. As caravan master, I have resolved to shoulder the responsibilities of those I have endangered, along with those who have perished. Suitable remunerations have already been allocated and will be seen to the families of those who have perished in my service along with any belongings. Although I cannot offer your wife my life nor would she want it, I want you to have this as a token of my gratitude and your bonus upon completion of service. Know that you and yours will always have a friend in the merchant’s guild.”
Troyle reluctantly took the second pouch, since it was not really his to take and tied it with the other one.
Pate waited until Troyle had finished before reaching out a hand.
Troyle watched as the caravan master strolled back to the front of the wagons after their handshake before resuming his duty.
————
The fatigue of the whole trip hit him like a dropped egg against a hard surface, yet Troyle was unable to sleep. He had been so busy negotiating for a room, moving and carrying luggage, then having dinner down at the eatery that he had forgotten the second satchel that Pate had given him.
He looked at the desk in the room where the two pouches sat.
‘He said my bonus and his token of gratitude. I wonder how much is in there’
Walking up to the desk, Troyle took the lighter pouch and jingled it. It sounded like money. He untied the string that sealed it then poured out the contents onto the desk.
21 small metal kuis or three erns, 16 metallic double bits equaling 32 erns, two green Fers equating to 50 erns each, and a single opulent Rae worth 500 erns. Troyle was shocked. Just about how much of it was supposed to be his bonus? His best guess was the 32 erns.
The room for his family had been negotiated to 22 erns per day with breakfast lunch, and dinner included. With the 550 erns from he received as his payment, they would be able to stay for at least 20 days while he looked for a job. But now suddenly, the total amount of money had doubled and he was staring at a total of about 1184 erns; enough to rent a small residence for two months with some left over.
His initial plans were to stay at the Inn until he got a job and had found a place for them. Sure the plan hasn’t changed, but the necessity for the job has been slackened a bit, and finding a place was going to have to take priority.
Hidden beneath the myriad of metallic erns and kuis, something else stuck out. It was a circular obsidian piece of metal with an engraving of a feathered hat. His face froze, his mouth agape.
Troyle knew exactly what the piece of metal meant: The League of the Feathered Hats. The caravan master was not just a prominent merchant, but a founding member of the League of the Feathered Hats. The Feathered Hats were a secret and maverick group within the Merchants guild, and they had only one obligation to the guild: excellence in their jobs. Every single ern that those of the Feathered Hats raked in doing business was theirs to keep. In return, their jobs were extremely difficult and dangerous. These jobs consisted of transporting rare and dangerous games, artifacts, relics, and highly priced valuables belonging to the guild.
Everything clicked in his mind.
The army of guards that the caravan had hired, the two attacks on the caravan, the extremely ridiculous token of gratitude, and lastly the token of a Feathered Hat – which can only be relinquished by those of the founders.
Troyle chuckled to himself.
What a strange turns of events. He had thought the deal with the caravan to be a godsend, only to find out that his family was actually the benefactors. Regardless of everything that’s occurred, the merchant’s guild was now in his debt – or more specifically Kaidus’s debt.
‘Just what was he delivering that an army of guards was required to secure it?’ another mystery, another question to the many others he had no answers to.
Putting everything back into the pouch, he secured the Rae and obsidian token within a hidden pocket inside his trouser before attempting sleep again.
Chapter 8 – Decisions
It was the morning after the caravan had pulled into Ferrent. Inside the Crystal Wayfarer Inn, waiters and waitresses rushed about from table to table with plates of food and drinks. The inn consisted of three floors; the ground floor was the Inn’s eatery, on the second floor were rooms for travelers and families, while the third floor contained lavish suites for the rich – whether they be merchants, nobles, or just some schmuck with too much money. The second floor was where the Paltos family had roomed.
The eatery was full of hungry customers who had just recently gotten out of bed, and a few of them had instigated a yawning epidemic around the room. In a corner of the restaurant sat a couple with a child on the young mother’s lap; the three were eating breakfast.
“TROYLE!?” someone exclaimed while passing by their table.
Looking up, a man around Troyle’s age was smiling at him.
&nb
sp; “Dalzak!! What are you doing here?!”Troyle got up, surprised.
Dalzak was someone he had known for a very long time. They had joined the mercenaries around the same time and quickly became rivals during their early years. When they started working more dangerous jobs, Troyle had found out how valuable it was to have someone he could depend on watching his back. They had quickly became friends after many jobs together saving and watching out for one another, and Dalzak became like a brother to him. It was Dalzak who had saved him when he got the injury that caused him to leave the mercenary life.
“Waiting for you. The captain got your letter, he sent us here to wait for you. When did you arrive in Ferrent?”
“Just last evening. Did the captain tell you why?”
“Not a clue. I’d just come back from a job when he told me that I was to come to Ferrent. Told me you’d be staying here at this Inn.”
“Who else is with you?”
“York’s also here. He’s probably not awake yet.” – Dalzak grinned then looked at the other person watching them at table.
“It’s been a while Adalina.” he smiled at her and gave her a bow.
“It has, hasn’t it? How’s everyone and the captain?” Adalina answered while also giving Dalzak a respectable nod.
“Been swell. Captain is still the same old crazed goat who jumps at every little thing when it comes to those in his charge. He got wounded a while back, but now you won’t even notice it – although, he has put on some weight. Geral and Lilian took after you two and got married last Rinol.”
“That’s great! Are they still working as mercenaries?”
“Yea, they’re currently on a job right now. Oh right, Galivia also got married to some lumberjack over in Kerkhill, apparently the fellow saved her life while she had been lost in the forest and starving. Or so she says. Lives there with him now.”
“Really? Sister Galivia, married? I’m so happy for her. She used to say how no one was going to marry her because of her quick temper and sharp tongue. I’m so glad she found someone. What about you Dalz? Anyone special?”
“That would be a secret.” he winked and gave her a wry smile. Then he spotted something on her lap opposite him.
“What the? Who’s that little man there?” – Dalzak asked after the child on Adalina’s lap.
“Dalzak, meet Kaidus Reilt Paltos, Our son.” Adalina picked up the child for Dalzak to see with a dazzling smile on her face.
“Reilt huh? A fitting title. He was so quiet I barely noticed he was there. How old is he?”
“Kaidus just turned one last Lokil.”
“Hmmm… wow… time sure has flown by. Can’t believe you guys have already been gone for two years.” leaning closer to the infant, “Hello there Kaidus, how are you?” …. two beady eyes stared back at him.
“C’mon Kaidus. Say hi to uncle Dalzak.” Adalina urged, standing Kaidus onto the unoccupied length of the wooden bench.
“U-u-u-UNCLE?! Aah… what is this emotion?!? My heart. It is crying in delight!” Dalzak cried out happily.
Troyle rolled his eye at the utterly shameless display of his friend while Adalina giggled to herself.
“That’s right Kaidus! Say Hi to me! Say HI to uncle please!” Dalzak prompted Kaidus with a grin on his face, his previously charming decorum all but gone.
Standing up on the bench, Kaidus angled his left arm behind his back, his right hand – palm open up against his chest, and made a bow.
“Good morning uncle Dalzak, it is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance.” a small soft voice traveled through the inn with crisp crystal clarity. The previous chatters and playful banters of the inn suddenly dropped a couple decibels.
Speechless at the display before him, Dalzak looked towards Adalina and then Troyle. Both just stared at him and smiled.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance too, Kaidus.” Dalzak also gave an appropriate bow to the child. Reverting back to his respectable persona. ‘Finally?’ he wondered at that word.
Kaidus returned to Adalina’s lap and continued to eat his breakfast as if nothing happened.
Looking around, to make sure it was not just him, Dalzak spied a couple of eyes looking around the room while others were focused on the table and him.
A small voice: almost inaudible but perfectly fluent and clear, as if it were a whisper in his ears. That was what he heard. Undoubtedly he was not the only one. His earlier display may have brought some attention to him and their table, but the room had all but gone silent after that little display.
“Uh… You guys teach him that?” he asked Troyle unsure of what to make of it.
“No, that was the first time I’ve seen him do that. I don’t even know where he learned it from. Adalina?” Troyle replied shaking his head while passing the question to Adalina.
“I don’t know either.” she replied her voice puzzled, but strangely proud.
“And… you are saying he just turned one…?” Dalzak asked them again.
“Yes, just last Lokil.” Adalina replied.
“Well, he certainly is something alright. To have made this Dalzak speechless, he will undoubted grow up to be a fine man, unlike his father. HAHAHAHAH -OW!” Troyle had elbowed him.
While catching up and recalling old memories at the table with the Paltos family,
“Dalz, what’re you doing?” a deep voice called out, having just descended the stairs from the second floor.
“Well look who’s awake! York, come here!” Dalzak gestured for his companion over.
“What do you want? I’m about to grab something to fill my -… Troyle?” seeing Troyle, he lightened up. “Whoa! It’s been so long! How have you been?! Does this mean you are returning to the mercs?”
Troyle looked at York and smiled. “Glad to see you are well York. You remember Adalina, my wife.” Troyle gestured to Adalina, “and that there is my son, Kaidus Reilt Paltos.” indicating the small child on Adalina’s lap.
“Of course I remember Adalina. And a son huh? That’s great. Good to see you again Adalina” taking a small bow towards her.
“You too York.” Adalina gives a nod of respect and acknowledgement back.
“What’re you doing here Troyle? Last I heard you were living in Hilthu?”
“Circumstances came up, and I thought leaving Hilthu would be for the best.”
“Does that means you are coming back to the Drox Mercs?” a hopeful grin on his face.
“I can’t York that life is behind me now. I want to take care of my family.”
“Don’t tell me that’s why we’re here?” Dalzak cut in.
“Yes, it is… I’m sorry. The Drox mercs will always be like a family to me, but I have my own family now. I must protect them.”
“Does that mean…-” York started.
“Yes. Will you two take it back to the captain for me? I know he had left it in my care in case I ever choose to return.”
“Of course. Although I’m sure the captain will be disappointed. I know he’ll understand.”
“Thank you both. But this is not the time to discuss this, how about you both go grab something for breakfast? We can talk about this later.” Troyle suggested to the both of them.
A couple minutes later, the table was filled with four adults chatting and reminiscing about days long past. Troyle had moved to sit by Adalina’s side while York and Dalzak took the other side of the table; Kaidus remained on Adalina’s lap.
Breakfast had ended, and Troyle was out with Dalzak and York to attend to some business while Adalina and Kaidus were back in their room. Kaidus sat on the bed with one of the few books Troyle and Adalina own opened in front of him, while Adalina was keeping busy sewing him a new set of clothes.
‘So those two are York and Dalzak. Always thought they’d be bigger and more rugged.’ was the impression Kaidus had of his parents mercenary friends. He had remembered their names from stories that Adalina had told him.
Dalzak had a slender body type and curly
dark brown hair down to his shoulder. He had given off an image of a flamboyant person with a cool personality at first, but then had gone off the deep end, and Kaidus saw a weird side of him.
York was stout and about a head shorter than Dalzak, with childish features. His voice though, was surprisingly deep in contrast to his features.
‘I must be careful and quickly control this, or it’ll cause problems later on.’ Reminding himself about the earlier accident when he had unconsciously infused mana into his voice. This has been one of the reasons why he had never spoken in public. Infusing mana into everything he does had become something of a norm in his previous life, not doing so was turning out to be quite difficult.
Ever since he was reborn, there has been little chance to really get used to his abilities with this new body. Attempt as he may, his control was lackluster and due to always being with Adalina, he had hardly been able to do any experiments. Like a newborn chick knowing it will one day fly, try hard as it might, it will never soar through the sky without feathers. That was his situation. His memories and mind was that of an adult, his immeasurable capacity was all too suffocating and roaring to be let out, every conceivable possibilities were in his grasp, yet his body had not grown enough to be the perfect conduit that would channel his will. ‘At least not yet’ he grudgingly acknowledged in his mind.
Attempting to read the book while lost in thoughts, Kaidus nodded off into dreamland.
He awoke to Adalina’s light touch and the removal of the book he had been drooling on, unsure how long he had been out.
“… Adalina?” he asked.
“How about using the pillow? I’ll put the book right here in case you want to read later.” – smiling, she took the book and set it onto the desk in the room.
Adalina had started teaching him how to read towards the last stretch of the journey – in order to supplement his ever growing curiosity about this new world. He had picked up the vocabularies more easily than he did with the language, and after a couple days of tutelage, had started venturing on his own without constantly having to ask her about words.