„Wait I need a break" said Fred „this Wolf is heavier than I expected."
"alright, but just a quick one." Replied Tristan as they both lowered the wolf on the ground.
Fred then reached for his bread bag, pulling a silver case filled with white cigarettes out. He then held one of the cigarettes with his lips while using a bronze lighter to kindle all the while Tristan was eyeing him with curiosity.
Fred realized this and pulled another stick out of the case "oh, where are my manners, you want one too?"
"I am not exactly sure what you're offering me" answered Tristan as he accepted.
"what, you never seen someone smoke" baffled Fred,
the mercenary only shook his head and then replied, "you mean like incense."
"a weird comparison but yeah it somewhat like it" elaborated Fred while holding the lighter towards Tristan "you should try it."
Tristan imitated the motion from before even holding the cigarette with his lips before igniting it. "what now" he asked feeling somewhat silly with this burning stick in his mouth.
"you inhale the air then blow it out" explained Fred.
Tristan did so and instantly cough out the cigarette "this stuff tastes terrible, how can you like this."
"I think its calming" Fred looked at the glimmering cigarette in the snow "what a waste."
"don't worry I´ll repay you." Assured Tristan before adding "you are a strange man."
"I could say the same thing about you" retorted Fred.
"then we are both strange people" concluded Tristan "we should move on; the village is just up ahead."
Soon enough the village was in sight as the duo reached the top of a hill and Fred sighed soon, he could return to the usual. He was about to continue when Tristan spoke.
"I didn't want to be rude before, but you really need to take a shower. You smell like you just crawled out of a grave."
Fred brought his nose towards his arm and sniffed to confirm the statement. Unsurprisingly enough he could smell a disgusting stench coming off him. The last time he took a proper shower was quite some time ago, it also did not help that trenches smelled horrible.
The village was rather unremarkable there was no factory or any modern elements. In fact, the lack thereof was somewhat remarkable to Fred.
Unsure of the destination, as they were walking through the town Fred asked, "so where exactly can I contact the Army."
"That's not important right now" dismissed Tristan "the first thing you should do is take a shower; I know a good place for that."
Fred was about to object, until he spotted a few of the town guards wearing medieval armor and being armed in a similar fashion. He starred at the guards for a moment until answering "yeah, I think that's what I need."
The pair the continued to walk through the town until Tristan pointed at a house "There it is the woman still owes me a favor."
As they entered the building a blonde middle-aged woman came to greet them. "How may I serve you fin…" she stopped once Tristan was in her sight "oh, its you."
"I hope I am not unwanted here" Tristan gestures towards Fred "My friend here needs a Bath, while you're at it wash his clothes too."
"just because it's you and it will still cost you" the woman accepted, but just as she was about to walk off Fred asked.
"Wait, how much is this going to cost?"
The women looked surprised, not expecting this from what appears to be Mage. "I guess around 20 denars for a bath and washing clothes."
The German brushed over his beard and asked, "Do you accept Paper-mark as well?" he then pulls a strip of paper out of his bread bag.
Both Tristan and the woman gazed upon the paper. She then picked it up and said, "I don't know what these Paper-marks are for, but I don't need any paper."
"Here take these" stepped Tristan in as he offered 20 coins. Of what appears to be silver and gold to Fred, who stammered.
"I can't repay you; this is too much money. I…"
"We discuss it later; you should take a shower now and I am going to deliver the carcass to a butcher" Said Tristan, grinning from the prior reaction.
To Fred's surprise this village did not eve have any form of running water, the woman had to carry buckets herself to the wooden bathtub.
While strange, isolated villages with lacking technology were not unheard of so this must have been one of them.
The shower came as quite a relive, Fred tended to neglected hygiene, something that had cost him a toe. When already at the topic Fred remembered that he had to shave, his facial hair like many other things has been neglected.
He started to look for a mirror, but what he found was a sad excuse for one. It a copper pan hanging on the wall, with a barely visible reflection. Another oddity, it was not that hard to get a proper mirror these days.
Fred picked up his knife and brought it towards his face. He traced the blade over his skin. suddenly he felt a sharp sting on his cheek. He took a closer look at the knife, blood was dripping from it.
Screams were heard all around him, a man slammed the rifle butt into the jaw of another. Breath, he couldn't breathe someone was squeezing his throat, everything was fading and his hand frantically jerked around in search of anything that could end his struggle. The eyes, he was keeping direct eye contact with the attacker and Fred's hand were still trying to grip anything until he finally caught onto something. The attackers' eyes widened in shook, as a knife was jammed into his throat. The roles were now reversed Fred was on top, he screamed all air out of his lungs and repeatedly stabbed the man.
"What's going on in here." Asked the blonde woman from earlier. Fred realized that he was front of the mirror, the knife laid on the ground. He did not answer.
"I heard screams, is everything ok." Asked the woman.
"yeah…, I just accidentally cut myself." He responded, focusing on his now empty hands.
"alright…" said the woman in an uncertain tone "the clothes are clean now, pick them up when you are done" before leaving.
Fred was alone once again; he picked the knife up and splashed some water the face.
"Reiß dich zusammen" he whispered to himself, while looking into the weak reflection. The dark rings under his eyes were just another sign, of the stress he was exposed to.
He swallowed the lump in his throat one last time and finally started shaving.
He took a deep breath and stepped into the outside. He felt much better now but there was still the issue of repaying Tristan.
"ah you are finally done, I was about to check what was taking so long." Exclaimed Tristan, his arms wide open in the air as he approached.
"and what do I smell" He circled his hand in an exaggerated fashion while, making an audible sniff, "nothing and it is wonderful."
"thank you..." Fred was about to mention the money when Tristan interrupted "and I like that new mustache you got going, if I do say so myself."
"thank you," Fred repeated "but what about the money."
"I sold the wolf to a butcher, he promised to give us a cut from everything he sells, and I have another way you can repay me."
"sure, what do I have to do."
"you only have to tell people about my great deeds." Smirked Tristan
"so, what exactly are we here for" asked Fred. While sitting on the borders of a fountain. Tristan had spent the last 30 minutes stretching and doing other routine exercises after he led the German to the plaza. "I fail to see how this is supposed to solve the money problem."
Tristan paused the exercise, cleared his throat, and sang "LALALA…" before clearing it again and answering, "ok I think I am ready; you just join the crowd that will soon gather and give affirmation when I call you out."
Fred just sighed and did as he was told.
"People, gather and listen for I bring tales from the border…" Tristan announced, already garnering the attention of nearby pedestrians. "the world is a dangerous place and death could happen around every corner. In fact, just a few hours ago I was attacked by a pack of vicious wolves, my travel companion can attest."
A significantly larger crowd has gathered around Tristan, the attention however shifted to Fred after the last sentence and him pointing at Fred. Who, surprised from all these eyes watching him stammered, "I… it is true, I was tackled multiple time by wolves"?
Tristan then continued "but this merely a common occurrence compared to my other adventures, you see I serve as a mercenary at the standing battalion." The crowd gasped in surprise from hearing this.
"I defend the border against all manner of horrors and monstrosity, things you can't even imagine. There is nothing I fear now. In fact, I wager I can defeat any challenger here with nothing but my dagger."
Now the crowd was in full rumor, Fred included, finally understanding the plan. Yet the crowd seemed hesitant to challenge after everything that was said.
He stepped of the fountain, with a smirk seemingly expecting this reaction from the crowd. He pointed at the next best individual and challenged "What about you?".
The man rolled his sleeves up in preparation but was quickly pulled away from the crowd by the blonde woman from before.
Tristan tapped his forehead in a visual gestured of thought, rambling "maybe…" and Fred could not help but suspect that this hero of the norther border wasn't quite as clueless as initially assumed.
"…you" Tristan the pointed at another hooded stranger in the crowd, but the challenge was interrupted as giant of a man stepped into the ring.
The giant chuckled, pulled out a ridiculously large swords and taunted "this isn't even my biggest sword."
Tristan eyes were wide, someone challenged him, and the crowd now grew a lot more confident as people wagered their money towards the giant. Tristan façade grew sharp.
The giant smashed his sword at the ground; Tristan dodged the blade while simultaneously unsheathing his dagger. He rushed the giant, who swung the blade at a wide angle, but Tristan once again avoided it this time cutting it into pieces. The giant tried the same thing again only to be met with similar results and as quick as the challenger appeared the fight was over.
"well, I certainly hope that wasn't your biggest sword" taunted Tristan as he pushed the broken blade away.
The crowd burst into laughter, while the giant ran away weeping in shame. The people who wagered their money now lined up in front of Tristan reluctantly giving their money away.
Fred approached Tristan, "that was quite the performance" he complimented "you sure now how to handle yourself around people."
Tristan tossed one of the pouches towards Fred. "here, this is for you."
"What no I can't…" but Tristan quickly interrupted.
"see it as payment for your help in my performance."
Fred nodded, pocketed the pouch, and asked: "So now that the money problem is done could you, tell me where I can find a telegraph."
Tristan eyebrows perched up when hearing this, "I don't know what that's supposed to be, I know a tavern keeper in this village. He usually knows about more exotic stuff."
AN: Thank you once again for reading my fic, i hope you like it and appreciate any criticism.
Guest review: Thank you, i am glad to hear you like it so far and thank you as-well for mentioning the problem with ammo. I am well aware of the fact and will keep that in mind throughout the fic.