Noble Farmer

by A W Sheffield

  The next morning, with my pack full of water, provisions for one day, some stakes, colored cloth for marking the stakes, and a few tools. I headed out into my newly purchased wilderness. According to Hana, my land now ranged all the way to the Harwick River, south two miles and then cut straight across where it bordered on Trev’s lands. It was a lot of ground to cover for the perfect spot for a village. I didn’t have much of a system in mind, I just needed to scout it and mark where I thought would be a good place.

  I found the farther I traveled into the forests, the more the terrain turned from low rolling hills into sharp ridgelines. Not to mention the soil there was a lot more...aggressive. It was pissed, not because of me, but something it had no name for had caused it pain long ago. When I asked how long, it said before my kind came to the world and I blinked dumbly. “What is that supposed to mean?” But it didn’t answer so I headed off for another place, not that building a village among the ridges was a good idea anyway. I could see the flooding problems already.

  By the end of the first day I was no closer to finding an area than I had when I started out. Time seemed to move faster when I was connected with the soil and I was beginning to notice that the soil was not just one entity, but many different ones. Soil, clay, sand, all were a part of it and all were different. It made sense why different crops worked better in the different plots.

  The next morning, instead of heading back west, I went due south along the tree line of the farm, then entered the forest that way. The terrain was flatter, but the forest was thick as hell and it would take me a hundred years to clear it all away. The problem I learned from my time out in the woods, was there was no one to help me with this. Bretta had my back with the farm, Hana with the legal and nobleman crap. Now it was just me all over again, and the familiar sting of struggle was back. Though the earth helped, it couldn’t just point me to the right area...or could it? I was exhausted from trudging through the forests these last two days and I was willing to beg for help, pride be damned. I dropped down to my knees and dig my fingers into the ground.

  “Where is a place I can build a city. Flat with strong soil, not prone to flooding but near water?” I had reached deep within me, trying to find more strength to push out my question as far as possible. At first, nothing happened, then the answer I received was like part of my insides exploding outward. There was no pain, only a draining of myself so deeply I nearly fainted. Then it was like a sonar blip that came back to me, a million voices at once saying, “Go that way, Over here! Don’t go there.” It was too much all at once and stars filled my vision. “Goddess have mercy, I need help.” My voice sounded like it was miles away from my ears and the world tilted.

  ***Your Endurance Bar has hit Zero. You have blacked out from fatigue. May the gods have mercy on your soul should some wandering beast find you in such a state. ***

  Why am I getting so used to passing out all the time?

  Warmth flowed through me, over me, I was surrounded by it. Like I was swaddled in a heavy blanket. My muscles were more relaxed than they ever had been, I felt nothing but satisfying contentment, and my heart beats were a steady happy rhythm.

  “Am I dead?”

  “Goddess no.” The voice was gravelly, with a hint of femininity that was not lost on me. “You are in my home.”

  “Home.” I tried to open my eyes by my muscles were way too relaxed to move. “Why can’t I move?”

  “It is the hot water from deep within the earth. You have been here for days.”

  “Days?”

  “Yes, you performed a summoning, and it drained you. Our goddess sent me to fetch you. With heartfelt words of, don’t ever do that again.” Was it me or was there humor in her voice?

  “Our goddess, does she have a name?”

  “She does.”

  “Are you going to tell me?”

  Again, that strange gravelly sound was made. “Why, you already know it. She has many names, for she is the oldest of the old. The wisest of the wise, she was here long before the other usurper gods and she will be here long after they leave. She is the stone on which you lay, the iron in your blood, she is the ground in which you walk and her children are the soil in which you are connected.”

  “Earth, she's the earth.”

  “T’is a name, given by your kind. She has many, countless to be exact. All things have her in them, for all things are made of her.” She was giving me a headache.

  “And who are you?”

  “I am Kallan, young Lord Persik. I was old when your forebears first came to call this land theirs. I am what your kind would call a Stone Nymph, not to be confused with the harlots that live in trees.” Heavy hands, which felt rough, almost like stone, lifted me from the water and set me down so gently, I might as well be a new born baby. The stone beneath me felt ice cold to my skin and soon I was shivering. “Endure the temperature change, I know your weak flesh suffers.”

  “Are...you a golem?” My teeth were chattering so hard, I could barely get the words out of my mouth.

  “A name only, much like the goddess. My kind were once the protectors of the land, but then they came, the dragons, they hunted us like prey, and my kind became all but extinct. Now I fear I am the last, and once I am gone, so will the connection to the goddess.”

  “Can’t...she...make...more?”

  “One does not simply make a Stone Nymph, young lord. We breed as much as the next life forms. But I have not seen a male in a century of cycles.” If she was right, being the last of her kind. That must have made for a very lonely life, my heart went out to her. After a moment, I could have sworn she accepted it.

  “Surely, there is another out there, does our goddess not know?”

  “She does not, even my connection to her is tiny, much smaller than a grain of sand. She used a lot of power to wake me and bring me to you. I fear I will not hear her voice again. You must head her warning, do not summon me again, your soul may be shattered if you do.”

  “That doesn’t sound fun.”

  There was that gravelly sound again, was she laughing? My chattering teeth began to fade as my body began to regulate its temperature better. “I would think not. You are the first I know of to try it. And I know of only one other mortal who was ever blessed with the goddesses’ touch. She did not fare well, poor lass, went crazy long ago. Might I say, you are doing far better than she ever did. The soil really responds to you.”

  “Uh, thank you?”

  “Your Welcome.” Steps that made my body bounce off the ground, made it known she was moving away from me. “The soil said, you seek an area with strong soil, near water and not prone to flooding.” Her voice sounded extremely tired. “There is but one place I know, and it is not far from here. I would ask, if you build your village, you make my home off limits to all but you. We are her last disciples in all of Noressia. And my home is not to be trifled with, but come as you will, seek out the hot water when you are weary, but please, keep my secret.”

  “I will, on my honor Kallan. It is the least I can do for you.”

  “I now know why the goddess touched you, you are a gentle soul, much like myself. Be at peace, young Lord. Take from the quarry all you will, and ask of my servants the help you seek.”

  “Wait, servants? Quarry?” But there was no answer, just a long, audible exhale. “Kallan?” Silence answered me.

  Chapter Eleven

  It must have taken an hour for the feeling to return to my body and when it did, it was like my nerves were on fire. From freezing to burning, back to freezing. As much as I was happy to feel again, when I opened my eyes, I saw I was in a cave of crystals and granite. There was a churning pool of water that boiled and rolled with tufts of steaming. I looked at my hands in disbelief, I should have been cooked alive. Yet here I was, more than fine.

  There was only one way out, and I found my clothes and gear near the door. I dressed quickly and turned back, “thank you Kallan. For everything. If
you speak with the goddess again, tell her I will try and remember her words.”

  I left the cave and the path twisted upward. Each of the crystals seemed to glow with an inner light, it was beautiful, dazzling to my eyes and I wondered how many people got to see something like this. I wondered if my brother ever had.

  There was a fork in the cave system, looking back and forth, I picked the left and before I could take a step. Something grabbed my pant leg, I jumped from the sudden tugging and what I saw holding my leg was not something someone saw every day. It looked a lot like that ball robot from Star Wars, only made of stone and had arms. It pointed the other direction and I said, “don’t see something as cute as you every day, but thanks for the heads up.” It was cute, in a strangle, rock like way. Yet the thought of a rock being cute, was not the sort of sanity I was used to. There was just too much going on in this game for me to get a grip on.

  It traveled ahead of me, and I was baffled at how it made no sound whatsoever. Thinking that a creature made completely of rock would have had to make some sort of sound. A grinding, or just the normal rock rolling. But it didn’t and I was completely fascinated by the little creature. It led me to the surface and I had to shield my eyes from the setting sun. Letting out a long, slow breath, Bretta was going to be mad when I got back and I needed to get my head straight before she scolded me. Like some sort of worried older sister.

  When my eyes adjusted, I saw I was standing in front of an open fissure, and the little creature started to point at its hand. Then it placed it on the stone before it, then pointed at me. When my hand touched the stone, a deep rumbling voice like falling boulders entered my head. “Champion, I humbly offer my body to bear your keep, make from me what you will, I will keep you and your kin safe for an etrinity.”

  “Um, thanks, but what are you?” I had just reached the next level of going crazy. Now I was speaking to fucking rock outcroppings.

  “I am moonshadow granite. The strongest stone the goddess has ever made, no wind, ice or warmachine will ever break me down. I bear the heat of summer during winter, and will protect you from the summer heat with the winter chill. I am, the perfect stone in which you can build an empire.”

  “I like that, great optimism. But how can I move you, you look heavy?”

  The answer was not forthcoming, and I looked at the little rock guy beside me. “Do you know?” If it could talk, it didn’t reply. To the granite I said, “do I cut into you or what, nothing in this world could move you all at once.”

  “The Crators can move me in section blocks, the small being beside you. But you must find land appropriate to bear my weight.” One solution down, and yet another problem to deal with. FML

  I looked at the fissure and then at the Crator rock creature, “little dude, can you take me to where Kallan said would be a good place for me to set up my village?” It removed its hand from the granite and rolled down a small path way. I couldn’t help but notice the massive imprints in the soil. Nearly as long as I was tall and I judging from the stride, Kallan must have been twenty feet tall at the least.

  The location was not far at all, and there was a wide stream of clean of clear water, the forest was not heavily overgrown and it seemed like a good spot. I turned, “little dude, can this soil bear the weight of the moonstone granite?” It shook its little rock head no. But I was not prepared to give up, this was the best spot so far, and I doubted I would be able to build with that granite anyway. As much as I would like too, I just didn’t see a way...unless I built it on top of the fissure and the cave. I palmed my face. “Keep it simple stupid.”

  I planted a stake in the ground and covered it with a blue cloth. Next, I returned up the path and counted the steps this time. It was only a hundred and fifty yards at the most, and I knew what I needed to do. I would never be able to keep people out of Kallan’s home, not with me being so busy, and the fissure, if some kid were to walk into it...No it was build over the fissure or find another spot, not that I knew where I was.

  I returned to the granite and placed my hand on it. “How far do you extend to my left?”

  “Only fifty yards and then I widen several hundred yards down to two miles at my widest.”

  “Would it be possible, to build, using your granite, over this fissure?”

  “The scar in the land widens daily, while parts of me are exposed, I would not be able to support myself unless an engineer were able to figure out a way of making support columns.”

  “Great, one more thing.” I grumbled sarcastically. To the granite I asked, “how deep is the fissure and what is on the bottom?”

  “No one knows but the goddess how deep the fissure is, but it is known that the worlds lake is below it.”

  “Worlds lake, so, not a sewer system.”

  “If an empty cavern is what you seek, there are plenty around. The Crators can burrow to them for your waste and it will not affect the worlds lake.”

  I thanked the granite and looked at the little rock guy. “I have my work cut out for me. What do you think, build here or find somewhere else?” It pointed its tiny rock hands downward. “Thanks for your help, I will return when I can figure out how I am going to build here. Take it easy little dude.”

  It was well into the dark before I found the Silver Road. I marked the position on the side of the road and headed north. The farm was an hour walk and that meant I was at the limit of my land, if not on Trev’s. I cut across the open fields and stopped only to ask how the plots were faring. It was strange to learn how they were worried about me, when they felt me ask for help with the failed summoning or whatever I had done. It was nice just to know they cared. Others wanted to know what Kallan was like, and I told them she was wonderful.

  I learned something else about the soil. I could not keep my inner thoughts from it, our connection was too strong and they now spoke to me in entire sentences. Plot Ten was the diva of the ground and I knew she had the hots for me, but how that would ever work out was beyond me. So, I had to let her down easy saying, “maybe when I died, I could be buried within you?” She said she would hold me to it, and I really did not like the sultry way in which she answered.

  Putting the tools away, I found Bretta standing at the door way with her arms crossed. “You have been gone for days, Jaeger.”

  “Yeah, I ah, ran into a little trouble. Goddess stuff, you know.” I could see her cock an eyebrow at me, even in the dark. “I did something stupid, I was tired, frustrated and didn’t know what I was doing. Got in a little trouble, but a new friend helped me out.”

  “New friend?”

  “You have nothing to worry about, Bretta, she’s harder than you are, literally.” I left it at that and turned in for dinner and a bath.

  “You’re not getting away that easy, Jaeger.” She was glued to my hip and once I entered the dining room, the others scattered. “Do you know what has been going on here since you went off gallivanting into the woods?”

  “Umm, happiness and good cheer?”

  “No, Hana has been sending those High-born ladies down here to torment me.” She waited until the room was completely deserted before she added, “every day, sometimes twice.”

  I stopped her there, “wait, how long have I been gone, a day or two right? There's no way she set all that up this quickly.”

  “Six.” Bretta stated, her frustration over the last six days coming out in that one number.

  “Oh, Bretta, I’m sorry, I must have been worse off than I thought. My bad. Look, the fields are doing awesome, except three, he’s tired, I can hear it in his voice. Give me him a break and I will be staying here for a little bit. I need to learn engineering.”

  I couldn’t tell if it was the apology or that I was going to learn engineering, but I had completely disarmed her. In a small voice, she said, “he’s here Jaeger. He came back and I didn’t know what to do. You left me to deal with him alone.”

  “Him, who?”

  “Clet
us. He’s part of the reason I am so mad at you for disappearing. I don’t want him here, he doesn’t deserve to be here, I …” the massive woman broke down in a heap. Her cheeks became a flood of tears. Though no sobs left her mouth. She really was a hard woman, and for her to be this upset about her ex, meant the bastard had done something that I would not be overly proud of.

  “Hey now, come on.” I scooped her up, as much as I could and held her. Her body was wracked with inner sobs so heavy I thought I would fall over from the force. “Alright my lovely, get it out. I am here for you.” We had a strange relationship, we were partners, friends, more like brother and sister. She could chew my ass better than any Drill Sergeant could, but she was also the best bad teacher I had. Her bouts of kindness were just as strong as the emotions pouring from her now. Once there was nothing left, I pulled away from her just enough to look into those big brown eyes. “You don’t want him here, that is fine with me. This is half your place too, you know.”

  “That's the thing...he doesn’t have anywhere else to go.” It took a massive heart to show kindness to someone you hated.

  “I think I have an idea, where is the furthest delivery we need to make?”

  She made a half laugh, half sob, and gripped me so hard my joints started to pop. “You know?” She managed between sobs. “You are going to make a lucky woman a very good wife someday.: I snorted a laugh and she hugged me even tighter.

  “Come on, anytime now!” I yelled at the approaching Lift. This one was special, it contained all the volumes of Engineering, but first, it also was carrying a woman Hana specifically said I had to be nice too. Well, the soil would tell me if I had to be, not her. I didn’t like how Hana had started directing my life. How she kicked me out of the driver's seat and took the wheel. Bitch, its my car!

  As the carriage got closer, I put on my Nobleman mask, got into character. With prolonged deep breaths, I readied myself for the peacock of the day. The Lift landed and the driver jumped down from the seat, and I motioned for the two men I had tasked with taking off the cargo to get to work. The door opened and a woman of such stunning beauty emerged that I forgot how to speak for a moment. Then another, and yet another. What the fuck was Hana playing, these chicks were so far about my league, it wasn’t even funny.