The Red Lands 1

by ForestRage

  This merchant company had balls and was cheap to boot.

  Griz hustled to the gate to meet the convoy. Chu and Ming tagged along like two school children on their first outing. An old man heavily cloaked stepped gingerly down from the first sleigh. When he removed his scarf and hood, Griz immediately stepped forward and greeted him.

  "Overseer Pi, I did not expect someone of your standing to accompany the convoy?"

  The old man shook his frozen beard and laughed

  "Haha. When we received your letter the Master and I were nearly convinced you had gone mad. It was your other letter that piqued our interest in this venture. When three reputable merchants decide to pool nearly a third of their wealth together, it caused us to take notice.”

  Overseer Pi flourished his sleeves and continued.

  “We came to the conclusion that the first letter was based on something you had to be sure about. If the Master didn't have to remain in Karst he would have made the trip himself. I had some doubts but as we got closer to the village it was dispelled. On your behalf the Master has increased the amount of goods you requested. I think you will be seen in a very favorable light once winter is over."

  Griz bowed and was ecstatic on the news.

  Chu wryly smiled as he looked at the schizophrenic man laughing like a maniac while running around the convoy. Griz seemed to have cajoled the two merchants into taking the plunge with him. No wonder that man was mad with worry for the past few days.

  Like the old man said, if it wasn't for three merchants requesting goods on their own along with the Trading post, the deal probably have not been done. It also spoke volumes as to the capabilities of these Managers. They were able to gain insight and deduce the correct reasoning behind Griz's two letters.

  It was a very formidable existence which could gather this amount of supplies and ship it on a whim so fast. Chu was beginning to think that he had to make a trek into town to experience the Empire. It was like back on earth, life in the city was a gauge on how advanced the country was.

  This roughneck living in the boonies was not an educational friendly environment suited for growing up kids. He seemed to have forgotten that he was possibly the only twelve-year-old caretaker existing in the Empire.

  "Alright let's get out of this cold. Master Griz, I look forward to working with you."

  Overseer Pi gave a slight bow and spoke to Griz. The latter nodded and under covetous eyes the gates were opened for the convoy to enter the village. It didn't take long before the Trading post lodge and stockroom bustled with activity.

  Chu on the other hand remained in his room away from the hustle. He didn't want anyone tripping over him in this busy place. Keeping a low profile was what he planned to do in the first place.

  As for talking with Griz, the man would find him eventually for discussion. Right now he didn't want to affect his time in the limelight.

  Two days after, Chu was sitting on a chair in a small room. Griz was on the opposite side sipping tea. Ming and Simon were standing close to the brazier, trading elaborate war stories.

  "Well we are finally done with the tally of the goods. If things go well, this will be a slightly profitable venture. Hopefully we won't have to stand a loss."

  Griz sighed and placed down his cup continuing

  "It won't raise my pay since I work for the Trading Post company. That little information was good to know. Since we agreed on you staying here for the winter, I think I will keep my word as an honest merchant. Consider it my payment for this little help. How about I throw in a few silvers in the mix."

  Griz expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the boy. He sipped his tea before it became warm.

  "Please Griz, you have done so much for us already. I could not possibly bear the thought of asking for more. Any little crumb that you are willing to spare us will be highly appreciated."

  Chu waved his hands as he displayed the best of smiles.

  The sarcasm was so thick it could be cut with a knife.

  "Brat what do you really want?"

  Chu sneered

  "You really think I am some idiot for the slums huh? Trying to fool me with some silvers. Don't think I didn't hear the talk about how you and two other merchants pooled money for goods. A third of your trade is going to net some mighty fine profits in the coming days. I wonder if you will abandon us little children when you move on to bigger pastures."

  Griz choked on his tea. This boy's ears were too sharp and his brain too quick.

  Truth of the matter was that if successful in the oncoming trade, they were looking at near triple their investments. With the Trading Post company as a backing they were most likely guaranteed to be the only Merchants within the village. A third of a merchant family investment capital, was nothing to scoff about.

  "What do you want then. If the trade becomes as profitable as I expect, then most likely I am going to leave this place at the end of winter. You want me hire you as a servant?"

  "Heck no, I am not aiming for such a high position. How am I going to be able to strike fresh deals in that position."

  Griz glared at the boy sipping his tea. If things went as planned he would secure the Head post by this spring. All he had to do was leave all this behind for a more lucrative post.

  Griz was trained to be a man of business. In his mind the boy had outlived his usefulness to him. It was time to move on to a bigger feeding ground. Leaving him with a couple silvers was more than enough to satisfy his conscience. There was nothing wrong in that thinking.

  He was a Merchant, a businessman. Stepping over someone and discarding others was a way of live. In fact right now he didn't mind booting this kid out from the Trading post. He had already served his usefulness.

  Before he could turn his thoughts into actions...

  The boy drummed his fingers on the table. Griz had grown accustomed to this characteristic trait. His heart had already started speeding up unconsciously.

  "Hey Griz, I have a deal for you."

  Chapter 40

  The arrival of the Military

  Three days later Ming barged into the room like a gust of wind. Chu sat besides the small desk peering over a map similar to the one Griz displayed in the General Store. He looked up and pulled the blanket tighter while waiting for Ming to catch his breath.

  "The...the Military have come."

  Chu bolted to his feet on hearing the news, knocking the chair over in haste.

  "They just came, I was chatting in the slums when the news spread like wildfire."

  "Let's take a look. Remember to keep a low profile."

  The boys walked out of the compound and joined the line of curious villagers making their way to the north gate. They hustled for a prime position on a small knoll near the road. Other curious onlookers formed clumps near the entrance.

  “I sent the message as soon as we received the sighting. If that wasn't enough, the demon wiped out an entire patrol. These weeks have taken its toll on all of us.”

  The garrison commander shared his woes while waving his hands animatedly to stress his past torment. He had lived in fear of his life this entire time.

  “Steady your nerves man, this is not the first nor the last time a demon beast slipped through the Pass. Double the patrol in the village and have your men gather some lumber. We need fire to help light the night.”

  An old man replied while surveying the surroundings. Dressed in a suit of plate mail, riddled with dents and scratches, his aura leaked with an indomitable ambiance. A tattered and travel weary cloak cloak draped around his shoulders.

  A few paces away stood nine men who had arranged themselves in three rows and had backs as straight as their lines. Similar to their leader, they had suits of plate armor that had been tested and proven. A murderous aura leaked out from them.

  “Those horses look like they're about to drop. I have never seen horses froth or pant like that before.”

  Ming muttered.

  “I’m sure they rode straight
to the village without taking an excessive amount of rest.”

  Chu replied while watching the garrison commander prattle about like a puppet on a string. He noticed that the plate mail of these Military officers consisted of two solid beaten iron plates that sandwiched the men by the use of leather straps.

  Iron gauntlets and greaves protected the extremities, padded with leather armor. Without a horse, these men would become useless if they had to travel long distances on foot. Apparently chainmail and true plate armor required more research time.

  Not long after thunderous sounds of hooves echoed out. A team of riders wearing similar outfits scattered the crowd and dismounted in unison. Without shedding a glance as to check for any casualties, they walked over to the old man.

  A young man hastened to the old man while ignoring the puppet dancing on the stage.

  "Commander Fredijak, Team One and Two are following the forest from the north and ready to enter. The scouts have began trailing at the site of the attack. My team is awaiting orders and stationed near a farm in the north.”

  The old man slowly nodded in agreement. After a brief moment of thought he replied.

  "Get Captain Hull to patrol around the next village to the south of here. According to the Tower this particular demon will simply see our acts as a challenge. It is not the type to retreat into the forest, instead its craving for humans and confrontation will force it to attack at our core. We will use this village as bait to spring the trap."

  Said Commander Fredijak.

  "Yes Commander, the strategy is sound. Within two days, the rest of our forces will arrive, along with Mercenaries and Adventurers. This village will turn into chaos.”

  The old man sighed on the statement by the young Captain.

  "Yes, yes. In war there are always casualties and risk-takers. Let the support party deal with unruly idiots. Don't be too heavy handed, since we need this village to appear as an enticing and succulent bait.”

  "Yes Commander it shall be done."

  Amidst the cheers of some of the crowd, the young man leaped onto his horse and rode away swiftly with his party. The conversation between the two were loud enough for the nearby spectators to eavesdrop. The silence after the riders had thundered through had remained, making it easy to even hear a rivet drop.

  Chu screwed up his face into a frown. Since he first arrived until now, he had harbored doubts that the treatment of the poor was confined to these places far from the center of the Empire.

  This conversation between the two dispelled all his doubts. Being fodder for a demon wolf simply because he was born in the wrong place to poor folks was not sound reasoning. Chu had fully understood the veiled words behind the Commander's strategy.

  Entice the demon by providing a challenge and use the villagers as its prize. He remembered the vision of the figure laying on the roof of the barn patiently stalking them. If it attacked the teams that were circling around acting as a net it would all be good.

  But that animal loved keeping a low profile. As far as it was concerned it was still living in the shadows. Dominating those weaker than it was etched in its twisted mind. He was relieved it was dead, otherwise who knows what plans would be hatched by these commanders.

  Not to mention, their ability to name their forces and squad sucked like hell. Team one, two,three, was it so had to use names like alpha, wolf, or even rabbit?

  The chaos descended from that very evening.

  “Have all garrison troops exit the barracks, Commander Fredijak has ordered these room to be requisitioned for the Military.”

  “What the heck? So where will we rest? Half of us are from the garrison from Karst you know.”

  “Find your own quarters. You have by tonight to move.”

  “Dammit, what the heck. Hey Dave, come with me, let’s seize the house near the barracks. Tell the owner its for Military use.”

  Luckily for Chu, his parents home lay near the south gate and had been spared from the madness.

  The next couple days the situation in the village deteriorated.

  “Hand me a bundle of firewood and a small sack of flour.”

  “That’s six coppers for the firewood and twenty for the flour.”

  “What the heck? Last winter I paid two coppers for the wood and ten for the flour. Are you trying to rob me?”

  “We have a shortage at the moment, so the prices have increased. I suggest you buy now, since it's only going to double as the weeks drag on.”

  As if the supply problem was not enough, another one soon cropped up. The farmers and tradesmen who stayed at the inn during winter to return in spring, suddenly found themselves homeless. Prices on rooms had skyrocketed.

  New faces soon began making their way into the slums.

  “Hey Chu, come see this, there was another brawl near the Tavern and some guys burned down Ken’s house.”

  “U-huh.”

  “Yep, old man Ken is now homeless. The guards say those rogues wanted to seize his home and when he refused, they set it on fire. The guards are vexed since their patrols have now doubled because of this.”

  Ming's ability to socialize led to an endless flow of gossip. Greater than a seasoned old woman in the market, he returned with the latest news from the village.

  From this gossip-monger Chu learned that the Military didn't simply mobilize all these forces on a simple word from a trapper. When the messenger left the village and went to the town of Karst, a Military scout had been dispatched to view the scene.

  The findings of this person had been rushed to the Military Post stations south of Frost City. This contingent had the task of tracking and terminating any Demon beast that made their way past the northern forts.

  The adventurers and mercenaries currently swelling the village population arrived here for the large gold rewards the influential families doled out. Not only the Military aimed for the lifestone.

  “I hear the reason most adventurers flock to Frost City is because of the lure of quick gold. Noble families are said to pay top coin for lifestones and the blood to give their resident families a chance. A Sersen is a big deal Chu. You have to carry me there.”

  Ming bickered one night.

  “You do know that those nobles will kill us if we steal their chances to become Sersens right?”

  Thus the numerous little games that were played out between these supporters in the shadows began to manifest itself in the village.

  Who said 'a little competition never hurt nobody' didn't witness something like this.

  Amidst these rough waves, Chu and his party floated on the back of the Trading Post. As one of the most powerful companies in the Empire, only an idiot would dare offend this entity.

  Even the now feared Commander Fredijak himself had to pay a visit here when he need to request supplies for his troops. On realizing the status of Overseer Pi and Griz, he became even more cooperative. As for those adventurers, they bickered and haggled but not a man dared to make trouble in the store.

  Everyday a guard sporting the outfit from the Trading post would make his rounds to the home of Chu's parents. He would loiter around for a minute drinking some porridge provided and then make his way back to the store. On the doors of Chu's home hung the crest of the Trading post.

  Chu had to pay for this service, but the deterrent factor far outweighed the cost. Besides, the guards were willing to do it for a hot meal and a few coppers. One night the garrison patrol found a villager dead and his wife tormented to death. That news had Chu on edge for the day.

  He was thinking of bringing his entire family into the lodge to share the room. The village was getting more and more rowdy as the days passed.

  Then two incidents occurred that provided some relief.

  The first one was marked as the most horrible and catastrophic incident to ever befall the village.

  The lone tavern in the village was burnt to the ground.

  When this happened all hell broke loose. The adventurers were banned from
the village at night and a curfew enacted by the Military and the garrison. With support from the Military the village regained some form of peace.

  The second incident was hailed as the most brilliant plan and innovative thinking known to man.

  A pre-ordered convoy of wine brought by the Trading post.

  It was at this height of influx that the Trading post second delivery arrived. A convoy of only wine and rum from the nearest city. The collection depot outside the south gate was converted into a makeshift tavern.

  During the day adventurers brought in wolves, elks, foxes and other animals captured on their scouting missions for silver. At night they returned those silvers for high-priced wine. Soon outside the south gate was the most lively area in the village.

  With so many scouts and Military personnel venturing around the forest during the day, villagers took this time to stock up on firewood. A large campfire was made at the south gate that provided much-needed warmth.

  With money and wine flowing freely, the dark side of the society reared its ugly head. Girls and women were sold for a night of pleasure. Daughters were handed out to the highest bidder, wives were rented out for silver.

  In two weeks the village was turned into a place resembling the Caribbean's Port Royal during the era of buccaneers. Chu realized that it was only a matter of time when his group might be caught in the cross-hairs of this vile bunch.

  Finally the moment Chu was waiting on came. So far the main way of finding the wolf demon was by using the scouting and tracking skills of the Military and adventurers. In winter where the snow fell nearly every other day, that was close to near impossible. Most of the activities were centered in the forest and the northern grasslands.

  The main contingent from the Military had arrived bring with them the Hounds. These dog like animals were larger than the wolf and trained to be vicious. Commander Fredijak planned to see if the animals could raise the scent of the wolf demon for quicker capture.

  Just when Chu was beginning to think how he could use this to his advantage, the village was shaken into turmoil again on the appearance of the young masters.