Five Kingdoms: Books 01, 02 & 03

by Toby Neighbors

  “I’m ready,” she announced.

  Zollin handed her a bowl of the porridge and kicked dirt onto the little fire he had used to cook their breakfast. Then he poured water on the ashes and mounted his own horse. They set off, riding easy and eating their breakfast. They rode or walked their horses all day and by evening they were both very tired. They were still a few days’ ride from Felson, but they saw what looked like a large tent city just off the road ahead of them.

  “What do you think that is?” Brianna asked.

  “I don’t know, it looks like tents.”

  “Army maybe?” she suggested.

  “It could be, but the camp isn’t set up very neatly. The legion I saw at the Great Valley was very orderly and neat. The tents were all in rows, the horses corralled together, and the supply wagons all lined up. That looks more like a refugee camp,” Zollin said.

  “It’s kind of odd, isn’t it? I mean, where did all those tents come from?”

  “I don’t know, but I’d like to find out.”

  They rode into the community and saw people milling about. Most seemed content just to have a place to sit down. Many had small wagons and there were children running around the camp together, playing games as the sun set. Women were lighting cooking fires to prepare what meager meals they could for their families. Most of the people had a haggard look, as if there were no hope left in the world.

  “Excuse me,” Zollin said to a man carrying an armload of firewood. “What is this place?”

  “Refugee village,” the man said. “You’ll need to talk to Edmore if you want to stay here.”

  “Where is this Edmore?” Zollin asked.

  “Center of the village, big tent,” the man said before resuming his trudge toward his little tent.

  “Shall we?” Zollin asked Brianna.

  “Yes,” she said.

  They rode through the jumble of tents and campsites. The large tent was easy to find. It was dirty white, like the others, but easily four times as big. There were thick ropes staked to the ground all around it and in front was a large wooden chair. It was empty now, but the grass all around the chair was trampled into the dirt.

  “Looks like we’ve found the big tent,” Brianna said.

  “Yeah,” Zollin agreed. “And it looks like a busy place.”

  “What do you think is going on here?” Brianna asked.

  “I don’t know, but I get the feeling it isn’t good.”

  “Me either,” Brianna said. “It’s like there is a cold dread to this village. It feels evil.”

  Zollin looked at Brianna for a moment. She appeared to be totally sincere, but he had never heard her talk about sensing whether something was good or bad. He made a mental note to ask Kelvich about it.

  He swung down off of his saddle and handed the reins to Brianna. He was just about to approach the tent when a short man with thinning hair stepped out.

  “Who are you?” the man asked.

  “I’m Zollin and this is Brianna. Are you Edmore?”

  “No, I’m his assistant. You new?”

  “Yes, we just arrived.”

  “Well, you’ll need to see Edmore to get a tent and learn the rules. Stay where you are.”

  The man disappeared back inside the tent. They could hear voices murmuring inside the canvas structure, but they couldn’t make out the voices. After a few moments another man appeared. He was big, taller than most men, with a barrel chest, thick arms, and a neck that bulged with muscles and swollen veins. His hair was cut short and he wore a vest and leather pants. He came and sat in the big wooden chair before speaking. A small group of men and women had followed him out of the tent and now gathered around his chair.

  “I’m Edmore,” he said loudly. “Welcome to my village. If you are looking for rest and safety, you’ve found it. I can offer you shelter, wood for a fire, food, and protection. Are you refugees?”

  Zollin had a feeling that announcing they were on the King’s business wouldn’t get them a welcome reception.

  “We’re from Tranaugh Shire,” Zollin said.

  “Well, you’re the first from that far east, but it was only a matter of time. The dragon hit your village?”

  “No,” Brianna said.

  “Well, it’s only a matter of time. There’s lots of people here who were too smart to wait for the inevitable to happen. Will you join us?”

  “We’d like to stay the night,” Zollin said.

  “I understand,” said the big man. “A tent, some firewood, maybe some food?”

  “That would be nice,” Brianna said.

  “Think nothing of it,” he said.

  “What do we owe you?” Zollin asked.

  “Most of us don’t have coin, so we find other ways to pay for things. What’s your trade?”

  “I’m a carpenter,” Zollin lied.

  “Well, we aren’t building permanent homes here. No need to build something a dragon can burn or an army can occupy. But I imagine we can find a use for you, if you decide to stay, that is.”

  “How long have you been here?” Zollin asked.

  “In this location, about a week, but we like to move around periodically. Why don’t the two of you join me for dinner this evening? Rauls will see to your horses and gear. Come inside,” he said, standing and waving a massive arm toward the large tent. “We’ve got plenty of room.”

  Zollin looked at Brianna, who had a shadow of doubt in her eyes, but she gave Zollin a short nod and he agreed. They left their horses and went inside the tent. The floor was covered with a thick rug that stretched from wall to wall. There were large pillows arranged around a low table. Lanterns hung from two support poles that held up the tent’s roof. The table was just being set with fruits and vegetables, fresh bread and crocks of butter, and large bottles of wine.

  Zollin and Brianna took a spot at the table across from Edmore and then servants carried in a large pig which had been roasted. It was set on a low table while the servants began carving. Other servants began pouring wine for all of Edmore’s guests. Everyone seemed comfortable cutting their own bread and filling their plates with food. Edmore, though, was waited on hand and foot. Zollin was a little surprised when the big man raised his own goblet to his lips instead of waiting for a servant to do it for him.

  The food smelled wonderful and made Zollin’s mouth water, but he didn’t eat. Instead he studied the people around him. The other guests behaved as if they were royalty. Their treatment was far different than that of the other refugees, who seemed poor and even frightened. Zollin’s curiosity overcame his hunger.

  “Tell me how you got started here?” Zollin asked.

  “We didn’t start here,” Edmore said. “I was a trader and a tent maker. I like to travel and was passing through one of the villages to the north when we heard about the dragon. The next day I set out, headed south, but soon I came upon a group of people who had nowhere to go. I had a wagon full of tents and supplies, so I offered my goods and my leadership. A few weeks later, here we are.”

  He smiled as if his explanation was the most natural thing in the world. But it didn’t make sense to Zollin. He nibbled some bread and fruit, listening to the conversations around him. It wasn’t until the meal was almost complete that he noticed Edmore staring at Brianna. His look was cold and predatory; it reminded Zollin of wolves he’d once seen when he was playing in the woods as a child.

  When the meal was complete, servants removed everything, including the low table. Edmore moved closer to Zollin and Brianna as a singer began singing softly in one corner of the tent.

  “Tell me, Zollin,” said Edmore. “Have you and Brianna been married long?”

  Zollin started to correct his host, but then thought better of it.

  “No,” he said simply.

  “Young love is a strong bond,” the big man said. “Still, if you enjoyed yourself tonight, I’m sure arrangements could be made for you to join us. You seem like a capable man, and we’re always on the lookout
for people who can pull their weight.”

  “You’re saying we can join your village,” Zollin said.

  “Not just the village, but us. We don’t put on airs here, my boy. No, that doesn’t suit us. We simply do what needs to be done and make the most of the opportunities before us.”

  “Like the way you’ve taken everything from the people here?” Brianna said. “You have taken their livestock, their personal possessions, right?”

  “We all share alike here,” Edmore said smoothly. “We pool our resources, so to speak. If you have valuables, that’s great, but even our skills are an asset. For instance, you can make things from wood,” he said, addressing Zollin. “We need people who can fix things and build things for us.”

  “And what about me?” Brianna said. “How could I pull my weight? Perhaps serve your meals?”

  Zollin heard the note of hard cynicism in Brianna’s voice, but Edmore apparently did not. He leaned a little closer to her and said:

  “Oh, I think we can find other things you’d be good at.”

  “Zollin, it’s time to go,” Brianna said.

  “Yes, I think you’re right,” Zollin agreed

  “Wait, it’s dark, you don’t really want to leave now, do you?” Edmore asked, frowning.

  “Yes,” Brianna said sharply as she stood up. “That’s exactly what I want to do.”

  Zollin didn’t wait to see what would happen. He’d learned his lesson when he fought the centurion named Yorik in Felson. He had been overconfident then, and the man had been a much more capable fighter than Zollin had anticipated. This time he had let his magic senses flow into the room as soon as Edmore had moved to join them.

  “That’s too bad,” Edmore said. “I’m afraid I’ll need you to contribute to the community. It’s only fair, after all, we fed you tonight. Isn’t that right?” he said the last phrase loudly and the other people in the tent agreed. “Bring in their baggage.”

  The man named Rauls came into the tent and dropped Zollin’s money pouch on the rug. Gold crowns and silver marks spilled onto the carpet. They didn’t have much else in the way of valuables, but the man tossed Brianna’s helmet on the floor as well.

  “Everything else was basic supplies,” Rauls said.

  “Well now, that’s quite a bit of coin, Zollin. It looks like you were holding out on me. I never knew a carpenter who had more than a few coppers to rub together. How did you come by such riches? Thievery? Tsk, tsk, that’s a nasty business.”

  “You should know,” Brianna said, spitting the words at the big man.

  “I’m no thief,” Edmore said in mock indignation. “I provide for the needs of all these people.”

  “You take all they have and force them to do your dirty work,” Brianna said.

  “Enough!” Edmore roared. “You’re a surly wench, but we’ll soon tame you.”

  Zollin had heard enough. He had been prepared to fight, but when Edmore called Brianna a wench his anger flared to life. He had left his staff outside with his horse, but blue energy crackled and popped all around him. He hit Edmore with a blast of magic that knocked the big man over backward. The other men in the tent were suddenly hesitant. They had produced weapons and were ready to subdue Zollin, but they had never seen their leader knocked back so easily.

  “Get up!” Zollin shouted. His voice was amplified by the magic that was coursing through him. It made his voice sound powerful and surprised everyone in the room.

  “What are you waiting for?” Edmore wheezed. He was having trouble catching his breath. “Get him.”

  Only one man moved. He was older and thicker around his waist than through the chest. He had streaks of gray in his hair and he carried a cudgel that he had worn smooth from constant use. He had a cruel look in his eyes and he smiled as he approached Zollin, revealing blackened and rotting teeth.

  Zollin didn’t move, he simply put up an invisible shield around him and let the rest of his power flow into the man’s weapon. When the cruel-looking man swung the wooden club, it appeared to strike Zollin and shatter. The other men in the room looked dumbstruck. Zollin looked at his assailant for the first time. The man was surprised, but he quickly drew a small dagger and attempted to cut Zollin with it.

  Zollin jerked the blade from the man’s hand using his magic. Then he spun the weapon around the room before sending it flying toward his attacker. Only at the last second did the man try to dodge out of the dagger’s path, but it was too late. Zollin had intended it to strike the man in the chest, but it sank deep into his attacker’s shoulder instead. The man screamed and fell back. The others fled from the tent just as Edmore was getting up. The blow that had knocked him over had left him reeling and he had seen none of Zollin’s tricks.

  “I’ll tear you apart, boy!” spat Edmore. His muscles were flexing and there were veins standing out in his neck.

  He charged forward, but Zollin raised his hand and lifted the big man effortlessly from the floor. At first Edmore kept trying to move forward, unaware that he was rising in the air and not making any forward progress. Then, suddenly, his whole body went rigid.

  “Sorcery!” he screamed, but his voice was squeaky and weak.

  “Zollin is a wizard,” Brianna said. “He is the Wizard of Yelsia, and you have been found guilty of crimes against the King and the people.”

  “Put me down,” he whined. “Please, I’ll give you whatever you want.”

  “We are not here to steal from you, Edmore,” Zollin said softly. “But you must make reparations for the wrongs you have caused the people here.”

  “You must return everything you have stolen,” Brianna said.

  “And you must help each family who comes here.”

  “I’ll do it,” he cried as tears streaked down his face. “I swear I will.”

  Zollin gently lowered Edmore to the ground. The big man, despite all his muscles, could not hold himself up. There was a damp spot growing down his pant leg, and he collapsed onto the rug as soon as Zollin let him go. He lay there, crying and muttering.

  “I doubt he’ll keep his word,” Brianna said to Zollin.

  “And the others have probably fled with all they could carry by now,” he added.

  “So what do we do?”

  “Let’s see what’s left and then we’ll divide things between all the families that are here and willing to work. Let them govern themselves or move on. We can’t stay here much longer.”

  “I agree,” Brianna said. “I’ll keep an eye on our host here.”

  Zollin went outside and found large cattle pens. As he suspected, the other men and women who had been feasting with Edmore were nowhere in sight, but a few of the villagers had come to investigate what was happening. Zollin asked two of them to stay with the animals and sent the rest to bring at least one member from each family to the big tent.

  When he went back inside, Edmore had finally managed to get control of himself. He sat in his soiled pants, staring at the carpet. Brianna stood rigidly, her arms folded across her chest and her face set in a look of withering disdain.

  “He hasn’t said a word since you left,” she said.

  “Edmore,” Zollin said. “Go clean yourself up.”

  “And don’t try to leave,” Brianna warned him. “Zollin will know if you do.”

  Zollin waited until the big man had gone back into the small space where he kept his personal things before whispering to Brianna.

  “How will I know if he tried to escape?”

  “I don’t know, but neither does he.”

  Zollin stifled his laughter with his hand and Brianna smiled. It was the first time she had smiled since their archery practice. Zollin realized then how much he had missed it. He wanted more than anything to keep that smile on her face forever, but even with all his magical powers, he was helpless.

  “I called a meeting,” he told her.

  “Good, perhaps the people here aren’t too beaten down to make something of this place. It could be a good thing.
”

  “I agree. If they work together, this could be a haven for many of the refugees who have lost their homes. At least until we can get rid of the dragon. Let’s see if any of them will step up and take charge.”

  Once the people of the refugee village had gathered, Zollin spoke with them. He told them that they didn’t need to fear Edmore or his cronies any longer. The relief on the faces of many of the people was all the confirmation Zollin needed to know he had done the right thing. He turned the unscrupulous merchant over to the people of the village and then he and Brianna went looking for their horses. They found them in a small stockade, along with a few others. It was obvious that their belongings had been pilfered through, but most of it was still there.