I was elated when news came that our escort was being robbed. As it turned out, bandits were rather common in these times. Our caravan consisted of a dozen wagons and thirteen guards. The real combatants were Silvana the witch and Galahad the squire. More so Silvana, I suspected.

I can almost guess what you are thinking. A dozen wagons? Yes, actually. Despite the manor's immense size crop production was not anything close to modern. The total tax provided was less than five thousand bushels of total crops, all of which fit with extra room to spare within a dozen crop wagons. It really made we question the number of guards. Only twenty and a squire? One would expect more to guard enough food to feed a large town for a month. A single half trained guard for each wagon seemed like lazy administration if anything.

Our attackers did not seem very numerous. Around two dozen or so. The issue was that they outnumbered the poor guards two to one and worse, a quarter of them had bows. Not well made, I suspect, but they would cut through the light leather tunics of the guards in no time at all.

I was rather surprised when a bandit walked into camp. Silvana was at my side while a single bandit went to Galahad to discuss "protection fees" as they called it.

I did not want to speak to her, but my curiosity got the better of me. "No fights?" I asked.

Silvana chuckled. "Oh, heavens no. A skirmish would draw the attention of higher nobility, nothing these wolfhead bands can afford. Much of the tax is lost as a fee for wolfhead packs along the way. An unspoken agreement."

"That's why taxes are so high." I realized. "How much food is lost in the transition?"

"Half. Sometimes a little more, other times a little less. There are several more along the way."

I fell silent. "We are heading to a nearby town to deliver the food." Silvana continued. "There are thousands of people there in need of the crops. From there, they would deliver a portion of their food to the cities. The full harvest is worth about five dozen gold falcons, what reaches the towns will be less than three dozen. The grain must then be sold, and more coin must be returned to those who paid the fees to the wolfheads. Townsfolk eat, but rarely well. Do you understand now?"

"There have to be thousands of villages in this kingdom." I argued.

"Yes." Silvana agreed. "But there are dozens of towns, and each must in turn pay their food and coin reserves to the cities. So much is lost. Pests, wolfheads, wars, and the many shortages across the kingdom. Do you really think I would starve my people if there was a better way?"

"The bandits. They were the real issue." I mumbled. It hurt to admit, but it was true. I did not think Silvana was lying either.

"They are. Until you came. You fed my peasants by introducing fish as a source of food. I have yet to thank you."

"The ropes, beatings, and ungratefulness is more than enough." I said.

Silvana sighed. She rested an arm on my shoulder. "I have read many books and heard many tales from my father. I could tell you of kings, conquerors, saints and heroes. But you are a good man, and in all of history I cannot find one better than yourself."

"Flattering." I said, trying to shake off her arm. Her grip was vise like.

"Celestials hold greater power than kings can dream. All within their minds. Such power is feared by all rulers of the Seven Skies. It was they who were the original masters of the land. In the wrong hands such power can do evils the nine hells have never seen. But also much good, and save more lives than any can count."

"Tell me something I don't know."

Silvana's eyes flashed with a silvery flame. "There are too many at court who would use you for their own ends. Men who would seek to enrich themselves with no care for the harm they do to the world. Chained celestials are given a master or mistress to ensure they gather no power of their own. Choose me. Others would use you to do evil."

I laughed so hard I choked. "And you would not? Do not think for a second that I will help you. After all you have done? I will help you the day hell freezes over!"

"You have not seen the crimes of those at court. You would name me a reprobate. Perhaps you are right. I am no philosopher. I do not understand why you love every woman you meet as if she were your wife, or how you care for every child as if they were your own. You see peasants that you never knew as if they were lifelong friends. I will not waste my time on futile attempts to understand you, celestial."

"I expected nothing more or less."

Silvana continued. "Yet, I cannot allow you to become a demon in a monster's hands. Most at court have not seen the faces of the peasants at their manor, and their stewarts commit worse crimes than any wolfhead. They would abuse women and torture them to death. They would slaughter children to inspire fear. They would ruin the lives of men for their own twisted pleasure."

"You sure know them quite well despite not seeing them."

She sighed. "If I told you whoever it is that would take your leash will be worse than I, would you believe me?"

I thought about it. "Yes." I admitted. It hurt to acknowledge, but I found that I believed it. There was a certainty to her voice that I could hear, a certainty no liar should be able to muster.

"I would like to see those in the kingdom live better lives. Food for every peasant, an end to the murders and rapes. An end to the wolfheads. I will follow those who take you to the city. Will you help me?"

I turned away. "Never." I looked on as the bandit finished haggling, and one of the wagons was taken away along with a pouch of coins.

Silvana hesitated. Her voice went quiet. "What if I offered myself?"