“But they have to pay to use the road,” Astrid added.
“They pay to use the land, they pay to sell their goods, they pay to trade amongst themselves,” Vincenzo said. “The protectors effectively own everything and charge the people for the privilege of using it. I don’t see how this is sustainable.”
“Well,” Astrid declared. “I’m glad we’re leaving. The place seems run by short-sighted fools.”
“I don’t know,” the big guy replied. “These fools kept things going for a long time. The system just might need some adjustment.”
“Maybe we should turn back,” Astrid replied.”Now I feel like I’m heading in the wrong direction.”
Vincenzo stopped short. He looked around with wide eyes.
“What?” Astrid said, alarmed. She followed his darting looks all around.
Vincenzo squatted down and placed his hand on the road. “Something big is coming,” he said. “I can feel it through the earth.”
A few seconds later, Astrid felt it also. They saw a skinny boy first. He tore down the toll road around the bend, loose-fitting tunic whipping like a flag.
“Wow,” Astrid said. “Some runner. Must be a messenger.”
As those words left her mouth, they instantly made her feel foolish. Not far behind the boy, she could now see the largest brown bear she had ever seen charging after him, drool streaming from its jaws.
“Don’t run!” Vincenzo bellowed. “You will only excite him!” He sighed, taking a step forward, “This big male only wants to protect his territory. I’ll handle this.”
The boy had already blown past them, giving Astrid the distinct impression that he hadn’t noticed them at all.
“Ah,” Astrid said nervously. “Unless you can talk to animals and can tell this thing we’re not tasty, I’m considering a strategic retreat. The last time I fought a bear, it ended in a stalemate… ”
“You’re in luck!” Vincenzo boomed. “For I can communicate with animals—somewhat.”
“Uh, we’re going to need more than somewhat,” Astrid shot back. The bear was getting bigger by the second.
Vincenzo held out both his arms, palms toward the giant beast. “We mean you no harm!” he shouted.
The bear reared up on its hind legs and spread its arms wide as if mimicking Vincenzo. That’s when Astrid noticed it was female. Three small cubs appeared farther down the road, tripping over themselves to catch up with momma.
“Ah, Vinnie… ” Astrid said.
“It’s ok! He understa—”
The roar drowned everything else out and seemed to shake the very ground beneath them.
“Yarp!” Vinnie screeched as a massive claw nearly removed his face. “I was wrong!” he shouted. “I can’t speak with animals! Run like hell!”
Astrid turned and bolted while trying to control the laughter at his expense from bubbling up and stealing the very oxygen she needed for a solid run. And even with as fast as she was—and portly as he was—Vincenzo still somehow outpaced her. How a man that big could run that fast amazed her.
Or maybe it was the fact that she was still fighting the laughter that kept slowing her down.
“You’re a damn fool!” she shouted in spite of needing her breath to flee. Sometimes mortal peril cracked her up, but this was extra special given his absolute confidence and her knowing better. It came in so many forms, and this one was straight-up ridiculous.
“Being wrong doesn’t make one a fool. I was testing a theory—oh no!” Vincenzo said. They came across the collapsed boy in the road.
“I… can’t… run… anymore… ” he said between gasps for breath.
Vincenzo scooped him up like a sack of potatoes and threw him over his shoulder. Astrid shrugged, staring into the boy’s shocked eyes as she ran along close behind them. She flashed the kid a smile, but he was too shocked and scared to smile back.
The ground before the big man rumbled, bringing Astrid back to full attention as the path before him exploded. Chunks of dirt shot up in a circle, and Vinnie disappeared into a tunnel that appeared from nowhere.
Vinnie’s head popped back up from the hole. His eyes! They looked like glass globes with flowing lava behind them as they glowed bright orange. She’d never seen magic like this before. But the charging bear behind them didn’t give her much time to wonder. “Come on!” he shouted “I can’t displace the ground forever!”
Astrid jumped over a rim of turned soil and barreled down the tunnel. She almost tripped at the crumbling noise behind her. A quick glance over her shoulder revealed the tunnel was collapsing. She stayed as close behind Vincenzo as she could. She didn’t want to get buried, and Vinnie’s free hand was the only source of light.
Vinnie made a sharp turn to the left, then suddenly, Astrid saw the forest again. The tunnel took them back down the bank and onto the same trail Astrid had followed the night before. The earth at the side of the hill closed in on itself.
Vinnie carefully set the boy down at the trunk of a tree. He dropped to one knee and fought for breath as sweat streamed down his red face.
“You OK, there big guy?” Astrid asked.
“Uh-huh,” Vinnie grunted, shucking off his bag again. He drank the rest of his wine skin and drained half of another full skin while Astrid watched.
The boy recovered enough to push himself upright with his back against the tree.
“You’re… magic users,” he said, breathless now from amazement.
“What gave us away?” Astrid asked with another crooked grin. “Was it the human mole thing?”
The boy snorted. “I’m just a really good guesser… ”
Astrid was glad to see the boy had a sense of humor.
Vincenzo lifted his chin and sniffed the air. “Is that fruit in your bag?”
“Yes,” the boy said. “And some cheese.”
“So, not only did you step between a mother bear and her cubs, you did so with a bag full of aromatic food,” Vinnie boomed.
“Well, I… ” the boy stammered.
“Ease up there, Mr. ‘I can talk to animals,’” Astrid quipped.
It was Vinnie’s turn to be embarrassed, his cheeks turning a bright shade of pink.
“So, what’s your story, kid?” Astrid asked, squatting down beside him. She offered her water skin with the last of her tea.
The boy gulped it all down, then wiped his chin. “Then it’s true. There are no coincidences.”
“Just as I suspected,” Astrid said, standing up. “I came here for a reason. We draw from the Well, but sometimes, the Well draws from us. Do you need something?”
“Yes,” the boy said. “Our village is being taxed literally to death. Assessor Pleth came and took his quota, even though it meant we could not put enough away for the winter.”
“Pleth… ” Astrid trailed off. That’s what the guard called the man with the watermelon-gut giving commands. “I saw him on the Toll Road yesterday afternoon.”
“That must have been just after he left our Argan,” the boy said. “There are no coincidences. This more than proves it.”
Vincenzo sighed. “Firstly, what is your name?”
“Tomescu,” the boy said.
“Well, secondly, Tomescu,” Vinnie said, “coincidence exists. Not everything happens for some divine reason. It may be just our subconscious mind that guides us toward things. It may be some form of intuition.”
“What the hell is a subconscious mind?” Astrid inquired, shaking her head.
Vinnie opened his mouth to reply, but Tomescu rushed in with his request.
“We need you to protect our village from greed. We need to stand up to them and tell them they can’t keep taking from us and keeping us in poverty. The Protector doesn’t care about us anymore!” the boy blurted all this out as he stood up on shaky feet. His face was splotchy with redness as he stood there with clenched fists.
Astrid stood there, staring at the teenager for a long while. Finally, she looked up at the sky and said, “Res
pect all weakness and always defend the weak.”
“What?” Tomescu asked, shaking his head.
“It’s the Knight’s code,” Astrid replied. “My code. And you’re right. Everything happens for a reason. I should have seen it when Pleth and his merry band of dipshits tried to arrest me.”
“Pleth tried to arrest you?” the boy stammered.
Astrid just smiled and cracked her knuckles. “Obviously, it didn't go well for them.”
“So, you’ll help us?” the boy asked.
“I will,” Astrid replied. “Vincenzo,” she turned to the fat man. “Are you in?”
“Certainly,” he replied. “Why not?”
“Can’t argue with that line of reason,” Astrid said. She turned to the boy and stuck out her hand.
As they shook hands, Astrid discovered the boy gave her a firm grip with calloused fingers. “I’ll take you to my village,” Tomescu said.
CHAPTER FOUR
The Village of Argan, Lungu Protectorate
The three decided to stick to the winding, narrow path that lead along the creek. Every now and again, the path crossed the clear, running water by way of a fallen log or some shaky planks thrown across it. While it took longer than the Toll Road, Astrid enjoyed the view.
“The forest is healthy,” Astrid observed.
“Even before the world fell,” Tomescu said, “these mountains were wild.”
“This path looks well-traveled,” Vinnie observed.
“Yes,” Tomescu said, jumping over a thick snaggle of tree roots in the path. “It’s mostly used by bandits and people who want to avoid the Toll Road.”
“Bandits?” Vinnie asked, suddenly on alert. He looked around.
“They don’t grow on trees,” Astrid said with a snort.
“No,” Tomescu replied, “but they do hide in them to make ambush.”
“Seriously?” Astrid said, suddenly concerned herself.
“No joke,” Tomescu said. “They mostly rob the wagon trains and only sometimes hit us villagers. It depends on the harvest, usually. Living in the forest isn’t easy. They take far less than the Assessors.”
“It sounds like they rob to feed themselves,” Vinnie observed.
“Stealing is stealing,” Astrid growled. “Being hungry doesn’t make it right.”
Vinnie sighed and marched along. It took more than an hour to get to the village. They emerged from the forest by pushing aside some brush. They stepped out into a freshly harvested and half-turned field.
Astrid stopped at the edge of the field and breathed in deeply through her nose. “I love harvest season,” she exclaimed.
Vinnie eagerly stepped out a few paces into the field and planted his feet wide. His eyes turned black, then clear. This time, the lava behind them glowed a mild shade of red. Both Astrid and Tomescu gave a start when the earth trembled.
His eyes widened and turned green this time. Vinnie’s feet sank half-way into the soil. He crouched down and picked up two hands full of soil and squeezed. He opened his palms, then brought them together. He crumbled the soil by rubbing his hands back and forth.
“This is excellent soil,” Vinnie said. Then, to Astrid’s shock, he licked his right palm. “It is a bit stressed, though.” Vinnie stood to two sets of wide, blinking eyes staring at him. “What?” he said, brushing his hands on his baggy green pants.
“You can tell the condition of soil by taste?” Astrid asked in disbelief.
“My people practice an art called ‘Irth Magic,’” Vinnie explained.
“Is that why the earth shook when you put your feet on the soil?” Tomescu asked in wonder.
“Yes,” Vinnie said as the three began to cross the field. “I was tuning myself to the place.”
The village had already noticed them, or at least a scruffy farm dog had. It was the dog that called the rest of the village to attention.
“I thought you didn’t believe in magic,” Astrid huffed.
“I didn’t say that,” Vinnie replied. “I only said that what we call it does not describe what it truly is. It’s just a word.”
Astrid walked in silence with that statement as they left the field. Tomescu led them to the center of a circle defined by low mud-brick huts with straw roofs.
An old woman with a bloody bandage wrapped around her forehead stepped forward. She was short and slight, but she had a presence far larger than her appearance. Everyone seemed to angle toward her. What felt like the whole village had stopped working to approach the strangers.
Vinnie gasped and cursed mightily in his native tongue. “Did they strike the Elder of this village?” Vinnie stared at the woman’s bloody bandage, made a fist, and bit his knuckles hard.
Vinnie lurched forward and Astrid stepped toward him subtly. “I admire your concern friend,” Astrid said. “But let’s not intrude on her dignity.”
“I have a salve perfect for scalp wounds,” Vinnie said, but backed off.
“I’m sure you do,” Astrid said, then hurried forward a bit.
The crowd stopped about ten feet from Astrid, who stood in front of Tomescu and Vinnie. She lowered her eyes and bowed low at the waist with her right hand over her heart. When she rose, the faces that met hers were still, proud and strong.
“My name is Astrid Sala. Tomescu here tells me that you could use some help.” She swept her right hand toward Vinnie. “My friend and I will help you. It is my honor to serve.”
Vinnie stepped forward, but stayed a pace behind Astrid. She appreciated the deference, but made a slight twitch of her hand until Vinnie stood directly beside her.
Vinnie clapped his heels together and bowed low, one hand at the small of his back, the other at his waist. He rose and said, “Astrid speaks for me, also. I pledge right here and now to defy anyone who would strike an Elder.”
The village faces remained stern. The old woman stepped forward. She stood inches from Astrid, her head reaching the center of Astrid’s chest. The old woman looked Astrid over from head to toe, then clamped both of her thin, hard hands on Astrid’s shoulders. She had to reach up to do it.
Astrid flinched slightly as one of the old woman’s hands found the still-tender crossbow bolt wound. The old woman cocked her head and squinted her eyes. She had noticed the flinch, but said nothing.
“Thank you,” was all she said, then let the silence hang while she locked eyes with Astrid. The old woman’s ice-blue met Astrid’s hazel.
A smile opened her craggy face. “I am Elder Popova. Welcome to Argan Village!”
When she held up her arms, the faces around her brightened. The villagers moved forward in a gentle rush. By the time it was over, Astrid thought she had shaken nearly a hundred hands.
The crowd burbled and gracefully led Astrid and Vinnie to a well that occupied the central place in Argan.
“Fitting,” Astrid said, resting her hand on the stone cylinder of the wellhead.
At that, Popova cocked her head, then turned to the village. “I’m sure we all have work to do,” the Elder raised her voice above all heads. “There will be plenty of time to meet with our new friends.”
“New protectors!” someone shouted.
Astrid gave Vinnie a raised-eyebrow side eye. Vinnie shrugged. “In for a penny, in for a pound,” he said.
“What’s a penny?” Astrid asked.
“Coin of the new ancients,” Vinnie replied. “It means—”
“I get it,” Astrid said, placing a hand on his meaty shoulder. “The saying that is. Not the penny thing. For some reason, I like giving you a hard time.”
“And for some reason,” Vinnie replied, patting her hand, “I like that you do. I don’t afford many people that opportunity.”
“Noted,” Astrid said with a beaming grin.
The village dispersed, leaving the original three at the well, plus Popova and one more.
“This is our village scribe, Jordane,” Popova said with a sweep of her hand.
A tall, skinny man with gray skin a
nd a long face stepped forward. His words were kind, but his voice was flat, so that Astrid didn’t know what to make of him.
“It’s a pleasure,” he said, reaching out his hand to Astrid first. “Just looking at you two gives me hope.”
When he shook Vinnie’s hand, the big man pulled him into orbit a bit forcefully. “The village scribe, eh? Do you have a workshop?”
“Of course,” Jordane said, face brightening.
“Can I see this workshop?” Vinnie asked like a child asking for candy. He let the man’s hand go as if he had forgotten he was still shaking it.
“Of course,” Jordane said.
“Argan is now your home,” Popova said. “But before you settle in, we must discuss payment.”
Astrid raised both eyebrows and cast a quick glance at Vinnie, who mirrored her expression. They took note of the rough and rustic surroundings. It was obvious the village had very little extra to pay. After hearing Tomescu tell of the disappearing winter store, she had planned to hunt and forage herself rather than expect to be fed.
“Ma’am,” Astrid said, “I’ve been wiping my rear with pine needles for three years. I’d fight a whole army for three hot meals and a cot.”
Popova threw her head back and laughed. “I think we can come to some kind of agreement. We’re not rich, but we don’t use pine needles… ”
“May I suggest,” Jordane said, sheepishly. “I don’t mean to insult you, ah, Astrid… but you are in desperate need of new clothes.”
Astrid gave an awkward chuckle. “That’s the truth. Three years in the wilderness, and only my boots survived.”
She hitched up her self-made ram’s hide britches and displayed the leather boots that had served her for eight seasons, including three in the wilderness..
“If you call that survival,” Vinnie said, taking in the patched leather.
“No frostbite,” Astrid said defensively. “They still keep my feet dry.”
“We can scare up some leather and wool cloth,” Jordane said. “I will talk to our crafters. They would only be too happy.”
Knight's Creed: Age Of Magic - A Kurtherian Gambit Series (Tales of the Wellspring Knight Book 1) Page 4
