Chapter 6 — A Baronet’s Concerns

Xyn looked on at a human building for the first time in his short life. Ahead the road passed through a fort comprised of stone towers connected by a wood palisade. Even from the distance, Xyn could make out archers and crossbowmen stationed atop the towers and patrolling the palisade. Whether a person could sneak around the fort probably depended on the orders given to the archers and the mounted patrols, one of which was returning from the south, riding across the gently rolling field as Xyn watched.

“Let me handle the talking and follow my lead,” Yillian instructed.

Not bothered, Xyn motioned his companion to lead on. He had no idea what to expect from the humans or what they expected of him and was content to learn from the more experienced half-elf.

Between his Petal-step and Yillian’s Long Strider magic, the pair had made better progress than expected, and Xyn’s respect for the half-elf had grown over the past several days. Yillian was quite adept at spotting useful plants and preparing meals from the animals that Xyn would hunt. The apprentice mage also had an enviable knowledge of useful spells that made camping a much more bearable experience, from fire-starting to insect and animal repelling to warding against rain.

The swamp transitioning to forest had been a disappointment for Xyn since it meant he would no longer be able to cultivate with the Mist energies that he had found so helpful. Instead, he had spent the times when they were resting studying the forbidden technique and practicing his martial arts. He was still adjusting to his new body and how that changed forms and techniques that he had long practiced until they had become instinctive. Undoing that instinct would take time.

Xyn had also taken advantage of his time spent hunting to test his new blood-flow-reversal technique that he was tentatively calling Rippling Strikes. An encounter with a large bear the evening before they left the forest had proved that the technique wasn’t as effective on animals. Normally, Xyn wouldn’t pick a fight with such a dangerous beast, but he needed something larger to practice on, and the bear was the best target he had found up to that point. Letting the bear draw close to swipe or hug him with both front limbs had been near suicidal, but thankfully, the Rippling Strike had been effective enough to stun the bear, allowing for Xyn to finish it off with his sword.

When reviewing the results of his strike, Xyn considered that the particular bear might have been an anomaly in that its aura had actively resisted the flow reversal effect. Likely meaning that stronger warriors would be better able to resist the technique. For the technique to only be effective on non-sentients and the weak was disappointing. He wasn’t ready to give up on the idea yet though. Even a stunning attack would be useful to the point of deciding a fight. Or rather, if he developed the technique to the point that he could stun even strong opponents…

“Halt. Remove your hoods. State your names, where you’re from, and your business in the Kingdom of Ester.”

The command barked out from a lightly armored soldier sitting at a hefty table to the side just past the open gate drew Xyn out of his wandering thoughts, and he followed Yillian’s example in lowering his hood.

“Yillian. I’m from Torce. He’s Xyn from the Beastlands,” Yillian answered motioning Xyn’s way then placing a small, enameled plaque marked with a stylized compass symbol on the table. “We’re with the Cartographer’s Society and returning from an expedition.”

While the soldier was writing down their details, Xyn’s gaze wandered from the bored humans guarding the entrance with halberds to the horse stables and training grounds inside the fort. Several soldiers wearing padded training armor and helmets were practicing basic spear exercises. The mingled smell of unwashed humans and animal dung was unpleasant.

“Entry tax for non-humans is one silver mark each.”

Xyn’s gaze returned to Yillian to see the half-elf’s reaction. The tax seemed expensive, and Xyn wondered if the solder was scamming them, but Yillian simply paid the amount for both of them from the sack that Master Arienos had provided.

The soldier slotted the oval-shaped coins through the lid of a metal box. “Any concerns along the road that we should know about?”

“There were a fair number of dangerous aggressive plants called ‘tangleweeds’ ambushing travelers east of Shir`lyn,” Yillian reported.

“Hmm, that’s not good. We’ll make sure to advise anyone headed that way.” The soldier jotted down the information then volunteered, “If you’d like to sell that bear pelt, the quartermaster will probably give you a fair price.”

Yillian nodded to the soldier and retrieved his plaque. “Thanks, we’ll do that.”

Xyn nodded his agreement when Yillian sent a querying look his way. The pelt was bulky even when rolled and tied to his pack and was another thing that smelled bad. The bear had been an impressive beast, and Xyn hadn’t wanted to leave the pelt to rot but was plenty happy to part with it whatever price was offered. He just hoped they wouldn’t be staying in the fort too much longer. Xyn adjusted his step to avoid his sandal landing in a pile of steaming horse crap, and his brow furrowed with a bit of worry whether all human habitations smelled as bad.

Fortunately, Yillian was able to quickly find the quartermaster directing men in simple sweat-soaked clothing as they moved heavy sacks from a wagon to storage, and the soldier at the gate had been right; the quartermaster eagerly offered an amount exceeding the entry tax. The man was also eager to buy many of Yillian’s foragings.

Xyn voiced his concerns to Yillian once they had resumed their journey and were out of earshot from the fort.

“Some places are better than others, but the cities are always worse,” Yillian replied and scrunched his nose at the memory before causing a spell mandala to appear above his head and descend to his boots, removing the acquired smells and road filth.

Wrapping his aura around himself, Xyn did the same, washing away the morning’s grime and blowing his clothes and hair dry. Free of the lingering scents, he took a deeper breath and slowly let it out. “So, when do I get one of those plaque things?”

“You mean a Cartographer’s Society membership badge?” Yillian fished the palm-sized plaque out again and continued at Xyn’s nod, “Nearest guild office is in the town of Clear River Crossing. It’s not too far from Lorel’s Watch. Depending on how Lorel’s Watch goes, Master Arienos may send us there next.”

Xyn nodded, feeling a thrill of excitement at the possibility that he might be soon joining the spy organization officially. Hopefully, being a member of the Society would go better for him than being a member of Clan Cloudstrike had… that thought also reminded Xyn of another question that had been bouncing around in his head since passing through the border fort.

“Say Yillian, would the strength of the soldiers back at the fort be the norm for this kingdom?”

“Um… I guess so.” Yillian glanced over with a raised eyebrow. “Why do you ask?”

“Aren’t they too weak?” Xyn pressed.

“What are you expecting? That common soldiers run through the air and shoot lightning from their hands?” Yillian snorted and rolled his eyes then his face slackened and his eyes widened. “Wait… you’re serious?”

“Well, yeah. Isn’t that much to be expected?”

“No, no, no. There’s no way that’s the case!” Yillian objected. “Maybe the captains or the elites, but you can’t expect that of normal soldiers!”

Xyn was shocked and disappointed. Admittedly, the Kyrren were the strongest of the Beastlands tribes but how could the humans have fought the northern tribes to a standstill if they were this weak? Rather, if they were this weak how could their martial arts be worth stealing in the first place?

Xyn’s gaze took in the people and buildings of Lorel’s Watch as he and Yillian made their way toward the stone tower and attached manor sitting atop a hill that overlooked the surrounding farming village. Horses could be seen grazing fields that abutted a large pond that was probably used to irrigate their fields.

The smell wasn’t as bad as the fort, but as the plaster and wood buildings clustered closer together along the road leading to the manor which was likely the lord’s estate, the smell he could only describe as 'night-soil baking in the afternoon sun' grew stronger. Didn’t they have waste-disposal slimes?

The local people kept their distance, but from what Xyn saw of them, their hands and faces were darkened with the soil they worked for a living. Whether any of the females were attractive… he was finding it hard to work up any interest.

A low cobblestone wall marked the bounds of the lord’s estate, extending out from either side of a fancy wrought-iron gate. Beyond the gate, an orchard of blossoming trees decorated the slopes of the hill.

Yillian exchanged a glance with Xyn at the gate being open and unguarded, and with a shrug led on.

Atop the hill, the dirt road circled a stone fountain in front of the manor and extended off to a building in front of which servants were cleaning a carriage. When the servants didn’t pay Xyn and Yillian any mind, Yillian continued up to the manor’s front door and used a brass device affixed to the door, striking it down three times.

They didn’t have to wait long before the door opened, revealing a remarkably clean and well-attired man. The man’s eyes narrowed at the traveling pair's cloaked and hooded appearance.

Yillian quickly spoke up. “Arienos, Talveni Master of Elements, has sent us to meet with Sir Stephen of House Lorel.”

The man considered for a moment then opened the door wider. “You may wait inside while I inform the baronet.”

After closing the door behind the pair, the man showed them to a side room furnished with upholstered couches and chairs then left.

The interior of the manor was worlds apart from Xyn’s expectations after observing the squalor of human buildings thus far and reminded him of his grandmother’s house. Expensive fabrics were hung at each of the large glass windows, and all of the fancy furniture and decorations were clearly made by skilled craftsmen. Even the smells of the village below were warded off by the scent of the blooming trees and the garden outside. Were human houses deceptively nicer on the inside?

Yillian motioned for Xyn to sit on the couch and whispered to him in Elvish, “Noble houses in this kingdom aren’t so bad, usually. But the commoners certainly aren’t as well off.”

Xyn nodded. Of course it was like that, he chided himself. Even in Severing Downs, the elders’ houses were nicer than a hunter’s.

The man who had greeted them at the door had also caught Xyn’s attention. The man’s movements were surprisingly graceful and refined even with a weak aura and little signs of martial training.

Xyn’s musings were interrupted by a dress-wearing female serving them refreshments. He thanked the servant and partook of the heated herb-water as his grandmother had taught him, earning an odd look from Yillian. He offered the half-elf a raised eyebrow in reply. Ignoring offered refreshments would be rude. Yillian turned his attention to his own drink while shaking his head slightly and muttering something about young masters.

The female—a maid, if Xyn recalled his human language lessons correctly—had left quickly after serving them. This female seemed much more interesting than the ones outside. She was clean and smelled of baked sweets and flowers. Still no match for the elf girl back at the inn in Shir`lyn, though.

Looking at the petal floating in the fine cup reminded him of the etiquette lessons his grandmother would force on him, saying that grace and refinement were the first steps on the Path of Dancing Petals. Maybe she intended him to seek his mate from among these so-called nobles. The corner of his mouth quirked up wryly, and he used a bit of aura to flutter the petal around his fingers in spirals, just like he had practiced when his grandmother was teaching him how to more delicately control his aura. The more he thought about his training, it was obvious now that she had been preparing him to infiltrate the humans all along—having him learn their language, introducing him to human travelers and guests, the strange foods and ways of eating…

“Sir Stephen, Baronet of Lorel’s Watch,” the man from before announced, and Xyn looked over to see a second man dressed in colorful clothing, frozen in place, eyes fixed on-

Ah! Using his aura in the human’s house was probably rude! Sheepishly, Xyn guided the petal back to the cup.

The baronet seemed to come to some kind of decision and made his way to sit on the couch opposite, facing them and leaning forward to speak. “I hear you have come seeking an audience with me.”

“Ah, yes, Sir Stephen,” Yillian spoke up. “We are investigating rumors of cult activity, and Master Arienos assigned us to meet with you concerning that.”

Sir Stephen let out a long breath and the tension in his face relaxed. “I’m glad my request was favorably received. Indeed, there was suspected cult activity at the site of an abandoned watchtower some miles south of here. There were reports of chanting and strange lights in the distance about two weeks ago and an unmarried daughter of one of the farms I manage has gone missing. I started to investigate the incident myself, but due to what one of my maids witnessed, this is a matter beyond my ability to pursue.”

The baronet motioned, and his man opened a large book, placing it on the low table between the couches. The page showed colorfully illustrated designs showing mostly a blue background divided into fourths by a gold cross and having a golden flower in the upper-left and lower-right squares.

“These are the colors and symbols of House Arden—the head of which is currently the count of this province—and servants wearing such under their cloaks were seen attending a wealthy traveler that stayed at the village’s inn the night before the incident. That a member of House Arden was present in the village in such a manner at such timing… whether a wayward family member engaging in troublesome things or a plot to ruin my family politically, you can see how such would be troublesome for me to resolve through normal channels, and that this person would involve a commoner under my direct protection particularly doesn’t sit well with me.”