Patir and I were lying in the grass on an off day, sharing some of the brew by the recruited brewmaster. I can’t really get drunk, but the sweet fruits he made it out of makes for a nice taste, compared to drinking water.

“Say, Yian?”

“M-hmm” I lazily grunt.

“We’ve known each other for some time now, right?”

“What of it?”

“Well… It’s just that you still look like a teenager. Got any secrets regarding that?” I had anticipated this question sooner or later and prepared myself to answer it promptly.

“I don’t know, Patir. I am pretty tired of looking this way myself. Wanted to ask how one can age to look older? Got any secrets?” I ask.

He chuckles. “Right, not something we are lords over. Keep thinking one of these days, boom, you will look like a middle-aged man!” We laugh a little. I think about how my time here may be limited.

“Yian! Patir! A whole parade is coming here!” One of the villagers, Guran, shouts. Strange. Literally no-one has ever come here that we didn’t send for before.

“Ah, it’s about time. Guran! Tell Borar and Meran to fetch the coin I set aside.” Patir gets up and I follow. It seems he knows what’s up.

“What’s happening?” I ask him.

“Right, going to be your first time. You know how we all arrived here in shipments as convicts for light crimes?” he asks. I nod, it’s a story I have heard quite a few times.

“Well, this is another delivery of fresh people.”

“And what’s the gold for?” I ask as we walk towards the village entrance.

“Well, I know I told you we don’t pay tax, but that was only because we couldn’t. When the official sees the current state of the village, he will no doubt inform the duke and an inspector will be sent to determine our tax.” How does Patir know things like these? Did he once work for the duke?

“But if we act first, two other things are much more likely to happen. Can you guess?” I think a little about it.

“They accept the money as the tax without looking further into it?” I ask. He laughs.

“No, boy. If people think there are riches to be had, they will make sure those riches end in their own pockets. No, the key to this is the official. Best case scenario, he will think it is a bribe to keep shut and give us a wink without us incriminating ourselves. Second best case, he sees the coin and pockets it himself, making sure to tell no one, so that the coin ends in his own pocket with no one being none the wiser.”

“Why is that the order? To me, the second scenario sounds the best.” That way we are in no way accessories or cause for trouble.

“Because it will give me peace of mind. In the second case, we won’t know whether the official is a dutiful or corrupt one, and that can cause… Anxiety…”

We see the parade slowly approaching. Twenty men or so are marching here. In front and in the back appears to be soldiers, with people tied together with robe in the middle. All the way in the back are carts being drawn. In addition to supplies these seem to contain women and children.

At the front is a sight I can’t remember when I have last seen. Somebody riding a monster. I remember hearing about the monster tamer gift being a very rare thing and only nobles having access to it. It might not be your standard official.

I look at Patir and he doesn’t look too good. “If it isn’t Patir? How has life been treating the old man out here?” the man talks in a very familiar way with Patir. They definitely know each other. Also, it has been a long way since I heard that noble way of speaking.

“A-ah, young lord, I didn’t expect you to be here.” Patir seems to be sweating a lot. Is he afraid? “It was quite tough at first, but recently we have had it well.”

“This one sees that.” He says as he pans over the houses. Patir shakes his head eagerly at some villagers in the back, and they walk up with a small chest, maybe two feet wide, one foot tall and one foot deep.

“Here you go.” Patir says as he hands over the chest. The young noble arranges for some of the guards to open it for him and he slowly nods.

“What’s this?” He asks and Patir seems afraid once again.

“A-ah, we simply thought we should start gathering tax as soon as we could, so that we may pay the duke the proper respects.” He says. I honestly don’t know what happened to Patir and his usual confidence, but this is a strange sight. The noble man merely nods.

“If things are going so well, this one assumes you will easily be able to accommodate us for the night.” The noble, young man says.

“Why- of course, young lord!” I see many of the soldiers look relieved as they are invited into the village. Patir signals that he has got this, as well as another signal to the rest, to hide Kassa. We only used this one, when new people first came. He doesn’t look too good, though. I hope he can handle it. Then, only two soldiers remain, cutting loose the rope tying the men together, while women and children flock to their presumed husbands. There are around twelve men in total, seemingly only four having families, or least ones that joined them out here.

“Right, pleasure to meet you. They call me Yian and I am somewhat the leader here.” I say, as I greet them. “I think I will show you around and where you will be temporarily staying, till we get something more permanent set up.” One or two of the shoddy houses remain. There were three free ones when I got here. The brewer took up one, the priest got a chapel with lodging built, but I can’t remember if the brother took one or simply built a new one.