by Tom Liberman
“I’m not really sure there are any spider wizards actually,” went on Jon.
“And when they get married and have babies the women have dozens and dozens of little spider babies instead of a real person!” said Sorus his voice rising in excitement.
“If that was true …,” started Jon but was interrupted by the excited boy yet again.
“I even heard they eat their own young if they aren’t promising enough as wizards so only the really evil ones survive!”
“I guess that could be,” said Jon with a shrug of his shoulders. “How far away from that village of yours have you ever been?”
Sorus suddenly seemed to hear something Jon said and stopped his chatter to think for a moment, “I guess I’ve only really been in Black Dale mostly, although once I went with the brew master to Black Roost when I was a kid.”
“It’s a big world out there,” said Jon Gray now almost completely dressed. “Why don’t you let me give you hand filling up those kegs and we’ll head back to town. You can tell me who is important and who isn’t, does that sound fair?”
The boy nodded his head almost mechanically and then seemed to shake off his dazed expression. “I’m going to be late if I don’t hurry!”
Jon grabbed one of the small kegs from the barrow in each hand and walked them over to the river where he uncorked them and dunked them in the water.
Sorus did the same with the keg he was holding but used both hands and the weight of his body to push the thing under water so that it began to fill. The gurgling sound of the water as it flowed into the kegs filled the air for a few moments but then, when his was full, Sorus hauled it out of the water with some effort and stoppered it. He bent at the knees and put his arms around the barrel to get it up on his shoulder before he straightened his legs and slowly walked to the barrow. By the time he managed to roll it off his shoulder and carefully onto the wheelbarrow he found Jon Gray standing next to him one barrel under each arm and with a gay smile on his face. “What’s that bird there?” he asked apparently not even aware of the weight of the kegs, and pointed, with his chin to a small bird with a black band around its yellow feathered neck.
“That’s a Sandgrouse, I think, a yellow throated one they call it,” said Sorus as he looked at the bird for a moment. By the time he turned around Jon already had two more kegs at the river and pushed them under with an easy motion. Sorus grabbed the last keg and rushed over to join him. “You don’t have to do all the work,” he said and pushed his own barrel under.
“Who is in charge of that village, you called it Black Valley?” said Jon as the water gurgled into his kegs.
“Black Dale,” said Sorus his own keg filled quickly in the fast running river. “This twelve month it is Sir Thorius Brokenhand. He’s all right I guess but a bit of a blowhard,” continued the boy and suddenly looked around. When he saw they were alone. “Kind of a complete blowhard mostly but Thaddeus says most of the Brokenhands are that way.”
“Right, right,” said Jon Gray as the water filled up his kegs and he hauled them out of the river. “You guys have a whole naming thing. You’re Sorus Brewer because you’ll never be a knight just a commoner, right?”
“I could be a knight,” said Sorus and then after a pause a look of determination crossed his face as his jaw tightened and his lips came together. “I will be a knight. Anyone can be a knight if they do something heroic. I’m going to be a Coppercoin! Then maybe I’ll even do something so great I’ll get my own name!”
Jon looked at him with a half-smile and nodded his head. “I’m not sure what all that means, Sorus, but if you can be a knight by doing something heroic I’m sure you will be.”
Sorus suddenly felt himself blush like when he spoke to one of the prettier girls in town and he wanted to do something to impress this boy who was a year or so older. “Coppercoin is the name a commoner takes if he gets knighted.”
“Really,” said Jon with a smile. “So you get assigned a name when first knighted?”
“Well,” said Sorus as he loaded the last barrel into the wheelbarrow and then bent down to grab it by the handles.
“Here, we’ll each take one handle, are you right or left strong?” said Jon and leaned down with him.
“Are you really a lord’s son?” asked Sorus as they each grabbed a handle and began to wheel the laden barrow back to town.
“My father is the Gray Lord,” said Jon, “that just means he’s sort of in charge in Tanelorn but I’m not a lord or anything, just a gray knight, but that’s about the best thing you can be if you live in the gray city.”
Sorus looked at the huge warrior’s gray cloak and then at his gray eyes, “Is everything gray in Tanelorn?” he asked.
Jon Gray laughed out loud again and Sorus once more found himself laughing along although he wasn’t exactly sure what was so funny. “No, no. My father is a bit of a fanatic about neutrality. Gray is half way between black and white, good and evil, right and wrong, blah blah blah, blah blah. He’s always telling me to avoid the extremes and find middle ground but mostly he just gets mad at me and says I’m headstrong and young. My sister says I’m the stupid one of the family.”
“I have a sister like that,” said Sorus. “Is she older or younger?”
“That,” said Jon with a shake his head, “is the bane of my existence. You wouldn’t think twelve minutes would make that much difference but …,” and then he shrugged his shoulders.
“Mine’s older too,” said Sorus and reached up to clap Jon on the shoulder.
Jon reached over and put his arm around the lad and the two walked towards town together as they pushed the laden wheelbarrow along. With a look back the tall lad pursed his lips and whistled, a moment later the trotter appeared from a small copse of woods and followed them into town.
Chapter 2
“Here he comes,” said a small girl of about ten years and poked an older girl who had the same dark red hair and orcish jawbone common to half human half orc children. “Shia loves Sorus, Shia loves Sorus,” she chanted as the two jumped out from behind a tree. The older girl carried a bucket filled with water and began to walk down the narrow path as she pretended she did not see the boys with the wheelbarrow.
“Shut up, Rhia,” she whispered with a narrow eyed glance at her little sister.
“Who is the other one?” said Rhia and stopped to gaze at the man so much taller and broader than Sorus. “He’s tall and handsome!”
Shia stopped as well and pretended to notice the duo for the first time, “Oh, hello there, Sorus,” she said and lifted her head so that her nose was slightly elevated, “Off fetching water, brew boy?”
Sorus suddenly stopped and let go of the handle of the wheelbarrow which caused his half to fall to the ground.
“Watch it,” said Jon and then his eyes came to rest on Shia and Rhia. The taller of the girls was in the full blossom of womanhood with clear green eyes, long legs, well defined arms, and thrusting young breasts only half covered by an open necked collar. “Hello Dolly,” he said with a wink at the girl.
Sorus stood and stammered for a moment, “Ohh … I … hello Shia,” he finally blurted out his and face suddenly turned quite red.
Jon put down his handle of the barrow and walked over to the girls which left Sorus to stand and stammer alone. “What’s your name?” he said with a broad smile, looking down at the younger girl. Suddenly he took her around the waist, lifted her high, and tossed her upwards so that she actually spun completely around, and then caught her in his massive hands. “You two must be sisters, each one prettier than the next. What’s a boy to do?”
“I’m only ten,” said the younger girl who flushed bright red and laughed as she was held. “My name’s Rhia Quick and this is my sister Shia Speed.”
“Hello,” said Shia her eyes wide and she looked up at the impossibly tall and handsome boy. “Are you new to town?” She covered her mouth, “That’s a stupid question.”
“Fresh off the turnip wagon,�
� said Jon and put down Rhia and gave the older girl a chuck to the chin. “Sorus here was just showing me around but he didn’t mention how pretty the girls are in this place.” Jon turned to Sorus who still stood with his mouth open. “Sorus, shame on you!”
“I … I’m sorry?” stuttered the boy after a moment.
“You talk funny,” said Rhia with a laugh.
“Funny how,” said Jon and smiled broadly at the girl.
“I don’t know,” she said suddenly and turned her face down to look at the ground.
“Funny like, Blahad gaido daiafab papagafoop?”
Both girls laughed out loud and covered their mouths while Sorus stood there for a long moment until he felt he had to say something. “C’mon Jon, I have to get the water to the Smooth Stride or Thaddeus will have my head,” and he turned to grab the handle of the wheelbarrow and lift it up.
Jon winked at the older girl one more time, picked up the little one once again and twirled her in his arms, set her on his shoulders with a gentle thump, and then joined his friend at the wheelbarrow as he took a handle and started into town. His horse appeared at that moment and trotted along at an easy pace.
“Is that your horse?” said Rhia from his shoulders, crinkling her nose, and looking at the beast.
“It certainly is, and a fine one at that. He might not look like much but he’s Tarltonite bred and strong enough to carry a big tubbo like me a thousand miles.”
“You’re not fat,” said Shia, again giggling, and covering her mouth.
“Come on,” said Sorus as he stamped his foot, and his face red with anger instead of blush.
Jon clapped the young boy on the shoulder and smiled broadly, “Sorus is right as always,” he said and the young brewer found his anger evaporated by the good humor of the young giant. “We need to get that water back to the … Smooth Stride?”
“Right,” said Sorus. “Sir Thaddeus wants to start early to try a new recipe.”
A few minutes later the four arrived in front of a one story wooden structure painted yellow and green and decorated with golden barley spikes where a tall Hobgoblin with dark skin and a scowl on his face stood at the front door. “Sorus,” he said. “I told you to bring back seven kegs of water, not a great oaf and two pretty girls.”
The brewer boy smiled and shrugged his shoulders, “I found Jon at the creek and we met up with the girls on the way back.”
“Thaddeus Redhand,” said the Hobgoblin as he came forward to take the hand of Jon Gray. “Sorus, take that water in back and pour it into the number two and three vats.”
The boy immediately began to unload the wagon, one keg at a time, and hustle them into the building.
Jon stood about six inches taller than the Hobgoblin and grasped his hand firmly. “Jon Gray,” he said. “I’m here as an ambassador from Tanelorn.”
“Is it common for dignitaries to act as horses for the girls of town?” said Thaddeus with a wink to Rhia still on Jon’s shoulders. The girl giggled and nodded her head.
“It’s been known to happen,” said Jon as he bent down to a knee, lifted the girl off his shoulders, and planted her on the ground.
“Thank you for the ride,” she said with a little courtesy.
“A pleasure, milady,” said Jon and bowed deeply.
“If you’re here to make alliances you’ll want to see our mayor for the twelve month, Sir Thorius Brokenhand,” said Thaddeus.
“Sorus said something about a twelve month,” said Jon. “I’m not particularly familiar with your ways, what does that mean?”
“Each knight of Elekargul serves twelve months in the field and then twelve months in a town learning a trade,” said Thaddeus. “I’m learning the brewing business this twelve month, but you might be assigned as a carpenter, a mason, a tailor, an administrator, or any other job the first knight thinks might help you become a more rounded man.”
“Gotta be a bit dull,” said Jon as the two walked into the building where half a dozen wooden table were arranged in neat order, their chairs stacked on them perfectly. “After a combat tour how can you stand to brew beer and wait tables?”
“It’s more interesting than you might think,” said Thaddeus. “How old are you?”
“Seventeen,” said Jon.
“They grow them big in, where did you say you were from again?” said Thaddeus as the two sat down at one of the tables after they pulled down a pair of chairs.
“Tanelorn,” said Jon.
“I’ve heard of it, is it beyond Relm?” asked Thaddeus a puzzled expression on his face.
Jon nodded and smiled, “Yes, far beyond Relm, I would guess, although I’ve never heard of that place. Tanelorn is the gray city near the center of the continent east to west but near the frozen lands to the north.”
“Oh,” said Thaddeus his eyes wide. “That is a long way away. What could anyone from there want way down here in the Dorian Peninsula?”
Jon closed his lips and shook his head, “I’m sorry, Thaddeus, but that is something I am supposed to speak about only with the First Rider.”
“So you know about the First Rider then,” said the knight with a nod of his head.
“I have studied what we know of your people on my journey here,” said Jon, “But I’m afraid most of it is either old or of dubious reliability. I came on ship from Tarlton, and Sea’cra before that, and I’ve gathered as much information as I could while traveling. There is a Hobgoblin nation to the north of here, Hakor something or another?”
“Hakor’lum,” said Thaddeus. “It’s fairly far north though. I’m from a village of Hobgoblins in Hram’dros the orc nation to our east. You probably came through there if you traveled from Doria unless you braved the lands of the Formia?”
“The insect folk,” said Jon with a shrug his shoulders. “I was advised to avoid them so you’re right. I did come through Hram’dros. They consider the knights of Elekargul to be quite fearsome foes and cannot understand your nation’s aversion to slavery.”
Thaddeus laughed aloud. “They might not understand it but I’m grateful for it. As a Hobgoblin in Hram’dros I was a slave, although a willing warrior. I was wounded and captured while raiding Elekargul. It didn’t take me long to realize that a life of freedom is preferable to old loyalties and I was able to aid my new home in battle and gain my knighthood.”
“Yes, what did Sorus say your name was, Redhand?” said Jon. “And the girls, they are sisters but they have different last names? It seems confusing.”
Sorus took that moment to stick his head out from a back room. “I’ve got the water in the vats Thaddeus, do you want me to start mashing the barley?”
“Go ahead and get started,” said Thaddeus. “I’ll be back in a few minutes. Where were we Jon?”
“Names, it’s a bit confusing how it’s all set up,” said the powerful lad and sat back in his chair. “You don’t have any beer ready to go by any chance? I’ve been traveling for over a month since I left Doria.”
“Of course, how inhospitable of me, Lara!” he called out and a young girl not yet into her teens appeared a moment later from somewhere in the back. She looked at the young man who sat next to Thaddeus and her eyes opened wide and her jaw dropped before she came over. “Lara, get Jon here a Smooth Strider, will you?”
The girl curtsied quickly and nodded her head up and down, “Yes, Sir Thaddeus. Hello,” she said to Jon and smiled at him. While Jon was seated they were almost eye to eye.
“Scoot now, Lara,” said Thaddeus and the girl shut her mouth, turned around, and dashed off towards a long bar near the side of the big chamber.
“You’re going to have to fight them off,” said Thaddeus.
“I’m not much good at fighting, at least that kind,” said Jon with a smile.
“Hmm, I doubt that, but in any case, you wanted to know about how people are named, right?” said Thaddeus.
“Right,” said Jon with a nod, his eyes watching as the young girl pulled down on a tap and a gol
den amber liquid poured into a large mug. “The sisters with the different names?”
“All girls are named by their mother or aunt’s name as a given name and then Quick as the surname until they are of marrying age then they are called Speed. That way any knight knows if a girl is ready to be married or not.”
“What is the marrying age?” asked Jon as the young girl came over and carefully set the drink down in front of him.
“I hope you like it,” she said with a smile.
“Run along now, Lara Quick,” said Thaddeus and the girl frowned at him and wrinkled her nose.
“It’s up to the father to decided when a girl is eligible for marriage, or an uncle or brother if the father is not available to make that decision. Once the girl marries she takes on the given name of her husband as her own last name.”
“I think I see,” said Jon with a shrug. “And apprentice boys and what not take the name of their job, so Sorus’s surname is Brewer.”
“That’s right,” said Thaddeus. “Boys like that who are not chosen as squires by the time they are ten usually became lifetime craftsmen. Often they are actually the ones who run things and a knight doing his twelve month learns from them.”
“And the knights themselves?” asked Jon.
“Well, that’s a bit complex. When you are granted knighthood you can choose your own last name but it has to be from the list of acceptable names,” said Thaddeus. “You’re supposed to pick something that fits your temperament but people don’t always do that.”
“And you’re a Redhand?” said Jon.
“Correct again. It’s considered good form to take the name Redhand if in the battle in which you earned your knighthood you killed more than a single foe,” said Thaddeus with a shrug of his shoulders.
“And you achieved that?” said Jon.
“I was fortunate,” said Thaddeus, “but, to answer your question, yes.”
“And who makes the list of acceptable names?” said Jon as he took a long draught from his beer. “Ahh, quite delicious. Maybe the girl should bring me another as I might go through this one quickly.”
