The Red Lands 2

by ForestRage

  "This is all well and good. Those points will be certainly taken into consideration. Do you have any questions?"

  The sweat was now tricking down Thomas' neck.

  "You mentioned a place to stay? Could I hear more about it."

  Chu nodded.

  "On acceptance by us, you will join the others in repairing the barn in the property. It shall serve as the temporary home until we build a suitable one on the land. Before the episode with the wolf demon, it served as our home. I can assure you, it will be far better than anything in the village."

  "What about my family. If I get this job will they be able to stay?"

  "That is not an issue. In fact, they can arrive in this village and secure a place to stay immediately. With about three days of work, the barn will be livable and it will be our permanent home."

  Thomas nodded. He was ecstatic since it meant he could pay off the debt and move his family from the Inn straight to the village. This was turning out to be a win-win situation.

  "This offer is very good. I have one question though. If anything happens to me during my tenure on the farm what becomes of my family. I have a wife and a young daughter. I hope you understand what such a situation will mean."

  'Gold, we struck gold!'

  Chu maintained his poker face and started speaking.

  "I can assure you what you think will not happen. The members of this party contain young girls also. After you prove your abilities within a few months, a contract will be made out for you.

  In the event something unforeseeable happens, your family will be continued to be taken care off. For everyone in our group, we plan to have mandatory defense training as well as education. Books will be provided on all topics and can be requested if needed.

  Once our farm becomes operational, there should be no problem in any living conditions for anyone."

  Mr. Thomas nodded in satisfaction. In his life, his main concern and worry focused on his wife and daughter. The incident with his family in Frost City cost him an arm and a lame leg.

  After bearing the brunt of such treatment he fled with his family. All he now wanted was not fame or fortune but a quiet place to live in comfort.

  This exactly what Chu was happy and jumping in joy. A person who asked not what monetary gains he could achieve but concern about the welfare of his family signified what he needed most.

  He needed someone to provide training, a grownup to shake off inquisitive eyes and a person who had knowledge of those Awakened by talisman use.

  Such an individual could only be an older person. In his circle right now he was against including an older person. Given time they might look to question his actions and even seek to usurp his rule.

  After conversing with this person he considered satisfied with his conduct. The man did not act in an overbearing manner since he listened to Ming's advice on the outside, retained his leadership aura and displayed genuine care for his family.

  "Any more concerns Mr. Thomas?"

  Thomas shook his head and replied.

  "No that's the only ones I could think of at present. How soon can I receive a reply, my family is staying at an Inn at Karst. I would like to return as soon as possible for them. I might have enough funds to stay there for a week at most. How long will it take to discuss this with the other members?"

  Chu waved his hands.

  "No, no. No need Mr. Thomas. I don't have to discuss anything with the others."

  The sweat was pouring down Mr. Thomas' neck.

  'Did I fail the job requirements? No, I have to give my all for this thing. My family is depending on me!'

  The groveling of a desperate man leaked out.

  "I can assure you, even though I am lacking an arm I can sword fight with the best of them. Yes, my leg is a disadvantage but I ...."

  Chu waved his hands and stopped him halfway in a sentence.

  "I think you misunderstood me, Mr. Thomas. You're Hired."

  "Huh?"

  "You are hired. How soon can you start?"

  Chapter 3

  Rebuilding

  After meeting with Chu, Mr. Thomas decided to rush to Karst and prepare for the move. Since he had to return to his farm, he could only estimate about just less than a month before he came back. If he could beat the weather, he may return even faster before the roads become near impassable.

  Chu introduced him to the new Trading Post Master, the young man called John. This time, to Mr. Thomas's shock the man did not have his head in the clouds. The Master listened attentively to whatsoever the boy said.

  Thomas was surprised when the boy negotiated with the Master for a room at the Lodge. This was in preparation for his wife and daughter who would stay there until the work at the farm was completed.

  The ex-Military man left the small village in a daze. He was beginning to understand what his friend Simon talked about. The kid acted not as simple as he appeared.

  Chu had one last thing to sort out before Thomas's return. At the end of the next week, his family stood ready to depart.

  The move was kept a secret by the family. Chu spread the gossip that they were heading out as workers on an outlying farm. Such occurrences were not uncommon for villagers, some actually surviving this way.

  Most of these people were those who could not earn money hunting or willing to risk gathering firewood. Pay from the farms was meager at best, they provided two daily meals and a few coppers at the end of harvesting.

  After harvesting it was back to the village to hunker down for winter.

  With the true reason concealed Chu could now use the house in the village without having to worry about neighbors taking dibs on seizing the property. He did not want to have his house sold because it was now empty.

  With the little help from the Trading Post during Winter, no villager would be brave or stupid enough to try to accost the girls who would still be living there. The boys would rotate after work started in the barn. This would serve as a deterrent to any drunkards who gained courage.

  The other reason he kept their move a secret was to prevent excess 'baggage' from tagging along. If the village found out about this lucky break by the Song family, no shortage of friends, helpers, and companions would suddenly surface.

  Chu's impression was that nothing was impossible for these villagers.

  A man was willing to sell his wife for a few coppers, a mother willing to abandon her family and girl children were treated terribly. All this to ensure survival in this rural village. Desperate people would do desperate things.

  Once they left, Chu and Ming would move in back to the house. Their room at the Lodge would be available to the Thomases' when they arrived.

  On the day of departure, the farewell was held amidst weeping and wailing. Even Chu had some tears streaming down his face.

  'Thank god and good riddance. Now I have another house to call my own!'

  He tried to comfort himself with such thoughts but failed. He could not monitor them as he would have liked, but his intentions of getting them to a better place came from the heart.

  "Yin when you learn to write don't forget to send some letters ok."

  "One day I will be able to write just as well as Sakura."

  "Yin remember the beads, only the polished ones will do."

  "Mr. Song I will take good care of your ax. I will have it polished and oiled regularly."

  "Mrs. Li don't forget to look for the threads, please send them for us."

  "Yin, Yin. Don't forget the beads."

  They said their final goodbyes when the convoy was ready to depart. Chu received hugs from all his family members. His family was seated in the last wagon beside the driver. They continued to wave to each other until the wagon disappeared from sight.

  Chu looked at his companions who had all gathered at the entrance.

  "Let's go home."

  ◆◆◆

  Mr. Thomas stayed true to his word. In just over three weeks he returned with a carriage full of his bel
ongings. His wife and daughter pressed beside him under a layer of warm clothes. Spring arrived, but the temperature continued taking its sweet time to rise.

  A guard from the Trading Post brought Chu the message of his return. He pocketed four coppers in return for this deed.

  Chu met Thomas at the Trading Post. He made sure his family was settled until they started to discuss their plans.

  "The ground is still hard, the grasslands have not begun to thaw out completely. Tomorrow at daybreak we will take the carriage out to the barn and unload it. Clod will drive the other wagon with our supplies. In one day we should get the barn doors replaced."

  Thomas looked around confused.

  "Clod?"

  Chu nodded.

  "Yes, he is our farm-hand. He will be the one doing most of the work around the farm. You will meet him tomorrow. Please have a good rest, our work depends on us beating the weather."

  The last few weeks did not pass Chu idling. He purchased lumber that was stored at the Trading Post and stocked up on tools and supplies. He used this time to milk as much out of John.

  The next day the two wagons set out across the grasslands to the barn.

  Chu jumped down from the wagon when they arrived.

  "Well, this is it. Our new home."

  Thomas was speechless. He knew it was a new piece of land but the barn surprised him. The house at the side was in ruins and would probably take the best part of autumn to repair.

  'Were they going to live in the barn?'

  The boy seemed to have read his mind.

  "Hehe...I take it you are not convinced. Follow me and I will show you our plans. When we are finished you are going to be very, very happy with our accommodations."

  Chu showed him the well and the surrounding grasslands and the not too distant forest.

  He then took him into the barn and pointed out their modifications and secrets.

  Clod was ready to get the doors up and bolted. Chu and the others wasted no time in helping him with this task. It was in the evening when they had finally secured the barn. The main work to be done remained the reinstallation of the fence under the platform.

  They had emptied out Mr. Thomas's wagon and placed his items safely in a corner under the platform. Satisfied with the progress, the workers gathered for a light meal.

  "When Simon came and talked about coming here I was skeptical at first. That day when I met you I nearly exploded in rage thinking I had been tricked. Only because I was at the end of the rope did I decide to listen."

  Chu swallowed a piece of bread before talking.

  "I know it was hard for a grown man to talk much less take instructions from a little child. We are a group of children who were cast aside by the Empire. I think all of us have found ourselves in the same predicament. Instead of trying to face this hardship on our own, it's better to face it with a group."

  "Ha, ha, ha...well said. You really do not know how much this means to me. This new start has to work out. I am at the end of my line so to speak. I do not know how much you might understand what I am saying, but Simon did say you were mature for your age."

  Thomas stared up at the blue sky outside.

  Chu sighed.

  "As I said, we are in the same boat. Slowly we will build up together. This farm will be our starting point and we will slowly expand from here. All we lack is the face of a man to represent us. Nobody in their right mind will listen to a bunch of kids after all."

  During the ride and their little interactions for the day, he had a good impression of the man. Mr. Thomas was a little younger than Simon but his days of adventuring had departed.

  The man seemed to have made up his mind, an imaginary weight lifting off his shoulders. His bent back slowly started to straighten out. When he came he was skeptical.

  "I have decided to throw in my lot with you young kids. Let's see how far we can go together. I am not that senile yet. From what I can tell you are smarter than most. I know that what you want the most from me is my experience. Why else would some young boys try to rope in an old man."

  Chu furnished him a wry grin.

  "If you were not sharp to figure that out after this time, I might have overestimated you. As I said, we are all together in this venture. I think we will do fine together, I am sure that within five years we will make this place one to be proud of."

  Chu believed he made a good choice. After five years or so, they should be strong enough to travel on their own. If he could turn this place into a successful business of some sort, they would have unlimited funds and a steady source of income.

  The next few words busted that wonderful bubble.

  "Oh, so you plan to stay here that long? I guess someone like you would have already made plans to deal with those Goblin raiders then. I was a little worried when I first saw the village location but I guess it should be fine."

  "Yep, we plan to stay here...Eh? What did you say there, man? A goblin who?"

  What the heck is this?!

  Chapter 4

  Great! Just Great!

  Mr. Thomas presented him with a queer look.

  "Every forty to fifty years the Great Forest explodes with activity. Most of the tribes and intelligent creatures tend to take up arms and fight for territory. It is not a large-scale war but rather like skirmishes between different tribes. The Goblin tribe are the closest to us but they live relatively far inside the forest. During that time they usually tend to conduct raids on the farms and villages near the borders."

  "Eh? What border, you mean THIS BORDER?"

  It suddenly dawned on Mr. Thomas what was wrong with this conversation.

  "Ah, didn't you know the reason why these villages have a larger than normal patrol and garrison defense?

  Why adventurers and mercenary parties keep passing through?

  Border villages are warning indicators for the Empire. When a village gets attacked the army will know where to mobilize its defense soldiers."

  Chu stared at Thomas who was staring back at him also.

  "Are you saying that these villages are in essence expendable?"

  "Well, I think that is how you can look at it. The main base of resistance to these raids and skirmishes are usually the towns. The lands in front usually serve as the battlefield zone."

  Chu's jaw dropped and refused to close.

  It was now Mr. Thomas's time to make a wry grin.

  "Somehow I perceive the feeling that you did not know about this event."

  "Damn! You think?!"

  Chu jumped up and started to pace around the floor.

  He could just imagine himself four or five years sipping tea and relaxing only to suddenly find himself in a war zone. Worse yet it transpired with some alien species he knew nothing about.

  ‘Crap!'

  He calmed himself down. Well, this was why he was so thirsty for information in the first place. It was to avoid being caught up in the unexpected. Who knows if this world had some stampeding beast run or other crazy wonders.

  There was no Internet, no satellite to provide real-time news on events. In a world which information flowed slower than snail mail, he as a person born in the information age was screwed.

  He finally understood the meaning when they say if you take things for granted beware that someday it might turn around and bite you in the ass.

  'Great! Just Great!'

  Chu cleared his head and softly asked a question.

  "Do you know anything about the last time these raids happened?'

  Mr. Thomas moved his hands to his chin in a thoughtful manner.

  "I think most of the activity centered around the villages to the north, mostly far up to those around the west of Frost City. Back then my friends and I had not reached the city yet."

  Chu understood why such major activity did not mean much to these uneducated villagers. News of events happening outside the village was mostly for the benefit of merchants and travelers making their way across the Empire.

 
For people who were struggling to live day by day and make ends meet, this was just rumors that did not concern them. His time interacting with Griz was too short to discuss something that may or may not happen.

  No matter, apparently those raids and skirmishes tend to happen to the northern villages near the forest. Unless some major or catastrophic incident occurred to cause those tribes to migrate and move south within the forest, he was safe for another fifty years.