Chapter 11: Do we attack or Stare Awkwardly?

About two week's trek to the east from the hills in between Til and Riserstead was the trekking of the group headed by Tico a sword cavalier who broke for the town of Karn after a chance meeting with three teens who helped him slay a retreating unit of recruits from a failed battle at Riserstead. The band was small and relatively low on combat experience but seemed to have luck on their side and that was enough of a boon for Tico to move forward with each step with his steed.

"Why did we go this way again Tico?" the elder of the three teens questioned the rider.

"Because we were concerned that the enemy might a large army waiting at Riserstead if we went back that direction. So we're passing through Karn on our way to the refuge of Winter's Edge and then move beyond the mountains to the eastern coast, and then catch a fishing boat or merchant ship all the way down to Coastal Warf and then march back to Jule and then onto my Lord's point Northward from there at Riserstead if he still is there." All of the teens seemed really confused by this plan. In part, because of the naming of all these locations, but mainly because aside from the knowledge of Til, their original town they fled from, and the hills they created a home on for a period of time, the trio had really no knowledge of the world, its map or places all about. Each step was learned ground for them, and while it was for Tico as well, being he was trained in Jule's military to be a scout he was well versed in the full scope of the known continent and also was becoming quite the cartographer with each passing day.

"We trust you Tico, even if it doesn't make sense to us." The youngest of the group, Kyler said while smiling and scratching his head. While the three were naïve to the topographical and political landscape of Wiera, they were familiar with people, and had faith they could trust the rider and by extension the lord he served. It especially helped that the rider heaped a great deal of praise and good words upon the house of Savoy and their nature as people of honor level headed conscious. The tiny retinue led by the rider had no clue of the struggles and tussles the lord Savoy found himself under and dealing upon with the fall of Jule. So the party continued to make their move over to the Karn as if the offensive upon the occupied fiefs of Valtrex. And while Tico planned their elaborate safe retreat back to Jule, it was not being done with the haste and fear that perhaps would be had the News of Jule's fall been upon his ear.

"There, we have reached the town of Karn." Tico called as the small clustered township came into view on the horizon. The town was in no way a military complex town, and while Valtrex had now had three skirmishes with house Savoy, the news was still not spread throughout the full lands under Valtrex' banner. Thus Malt, the commander in charge of the 30 troops garrisoned in the city had no reason to feel that Marshall Law was needed to fully in place. The town thus, was lax in their occupation. Nobody even paid any notice to the 4 man motely band that was armed as they entered the edge of the town toward the nearest inn to find a place to sleep.

"I have a little bit of money that should buy us a room for the night." Said Tico as the band marched toward the front of the inn. The cavalier tied up his horse at the front of the building. The teens were confused as to why they were stopping in the town in the first place. Tico had several savoy sigils on his equipment. Though prior to entering the town he removed or covered them. Yet why take the risk in hostile territory?

"Tico what are we…"

"Hush!" the cavalier cut off the question. "Wait until we are not in public. I'll try and explain my thoughts." The young ones were full of questions at what was transpiring but resolved to trust their companion. Tico spoke with the innkeeper and attained a room key for the night. The band then made their way into the room and quickly shut the door behind them once all were present in the small room.

"Now can we talk Tico?" Claire asked as the youngest of the group, Kyler, simply found the nearest bed and fell face first into it without a second thought about anything. It had been aged since the three had seen anything like a bed.

"Sure I'll explain." Tico replied. "Did you notice that there wasn't a high alert?" The sibling triad pondered for a second and nodded that there simply wasn't a presence of military might on display or even a guardsmen watching the entrance to the town where they entered. "This means that Karn doesn't know about the fighting with my lord Shenis. It has only been about a week since our skirmish so they may have not gotten word from their main Liege lord." Horseback news only travels so fast. And while travelers might have crossed the unit under Lester Valtrex on their march down to Riserstead, almost all of those people would have been on their way to the city of Valor and not some 50 miles eastward to a smaller agriculture town barely double the size of Riserstead, a place most travelers would not know existed.

"But why stop here for the night and pay for a room?" What if they saw your sigil?" Claire and Ion asked in quick fire.

"Look, if we just roll through and move onward without a stop it would catch notice. It's a smaller town, everyone in the town probably noticed or was told of us by now. If we went around it would undoubtingly cause a search party. If we marched through without stopping we'd draw the same attention. However, rolling through like we are. The four of us and me on a horse. To these people I look might pass as a country young lord from a lower house with my traveling companions. Whom are in need of a place to rest for the evening from our travels. This draws the least attention."

It was a head scratcher to Claire and Ion for sure as while Tico might be able to pass for a rural lord based on how he sorted his clothing and that he didn't have a lance, the teens knew they looked nothing like an escort or retinue of a lord. However there was no point in arguing, they were in for the night, and Claire was eager for a good rest. Before too much time had passed of conversation she sauntered over to a bed and laid down and instantly feel asleep. Tico blushed slightly at the sight. Ion caught this and while he had a similar feeling toward his non-biological sibling, he knew his role toward her was that of a brother and perhaps nothing more going forward. He liked Tico, but wasn't eager to see Claire being seen by another, even their companion. "Eyes to yourself rider." Ion caught the attention of Tico. The rider scratched his head and blushed further asking for forgiveness and promising no ill thoughts were present in his head.

"Let's go get a drink downstairs Ion."

"No we need to stay put, if we go flaunting about someone could come harass these too. Plus….I'm tired." The swordsman may have kept his reserve on the road the past week but his feet were sore and his eyes saw a sweet relief ahead. Tico knew this was for the best and agreed. Knowing that tomorrow would bring more of the same travels and perhaps for several weeks after until they caught up with Shenis.

…..

Dawn emerged. However the foursome were much asleep enjoying the bed to their fullest ability. Their bodies declared that rest was upon them and they made zero effort to arise with the sun. No one had any night fears or bad dreams. Each was fully in a dreamless restful slumber. So much so that as the sun reached it apex for the day and began its decent in the afternoon the Innkeeper saw to it to wake them all up.

"ARISE!" he exclaimed as he opened all blinds In the room and began shaking the beds. "I know sleep is wonderful, but unless you want to pay for another night I suggest you leave now." Each slowly arose in their own fashion, Kyler was slow but eager once awake. Tico leaped out of bed and nearly caught himself on the mantle. Ion rose much like a vampire and seemed impossible to get his fire started despite being vertical and getting his boots on. Claire however woke with a elegant yawn and despite a long sleep her hair somehow stayed un mangled and matted down from the pillow. The others despite being near Claire were still too far asleep to pay this any mind.

Apologies to the innkeeper were made as the four exited the room and headed for the exit to collect Tico's horse. Ion still was moving much like a zombie while the other three seemed much quicker to perk up even though just a few minutes prior they were unconscious and lost in dream world.

"Ahhh lazy and slow!" a voice hollered as Tico untied the reigns to his nag that had been parked overnight out front. Ion with partly closed eyes searched his gaze to try and seek the owner of the comment. "Outsiders!" The voice called again. "I'm talking to you!"

Tico quickly mounted the horse and then gave a gracious wave as trying to calm the voice before a scene was made. "Hello there, yes we foolishly wore ourselves so far down that we needed every bit of sleep we could be granted." A loud yawn was let out by Ion. "And perhaps we still needed more." Tico tried to force a laugh with the comment once more hoping the man heckling them would leave them be and was not out for picking a fight with the band.

The heckler was a middle aged local man. He had a couple friends alongside him but ultimately he was just a local man. The concern for Tico was the attention that was coming about. Over his shoulder down the end of the strip were several military men, and while they weren't at the ready for combat, the last thing the young band of travelers wanted was extra attention. Tico prayed in his head that the man would leave them be and allow the moment to pass onward. However this man was ready to his purpose, to harass these out of towners. He pulled a bag from his belt, and opened it up. It was chewing tobacco whole. The man bit down on the plant and began chewing the cud. However there was an old pinch present in his mouth prior to the new bit getting mixed in. He used his free fingers to pull the mixed wad from the wreckage of his mouth.

"You lazy bastards have no business in our town!"

"Look man, what is your problem?" Ion retorted back as he took a step toward the man. Claire and Kyler were caught off guard by their elder's behavior but the man was being rather uncouth toward the band.

"Ion lets it go." Tico grabbed hold of the young swordsman, leaning forward from his mounted position. Ion had his blade sheathed as well as the rest of the group and yet the man was still persisting in causing a scene. "We can't get into a skirmish with a local in the middle of enemy territory." Claire grabbed hold of Ion's other shoulder hoping to further instill patience into her sibling. Ion let out a deep exhale after a few moments. Granted he was never highly aggressive towards the man so it was easier to be able to calm than perhaps for some more prone to violent outbursts. Yet the action still required both courage, focus and cooler heads to prevail.

"Thanks guys." He grabbed Claire's hand still upon his shoulder and kissed her forehead. He patted her hand and looked back toward Tico and gave him a nod signaling he regained sense. The group was relieved and while the man was still heckling for attention and the eyes of several others were now upon the group and then man, they knew they could calmly leave the town. All turned away from the man. The cavalier tugged on the reigns lightly and the group made their initial steps toward the east bound for Winter's Edge as previously planned.

"SPLAT." A soggy wet ball of brown muck landed abruptly upon the side of Claire's face.

"WHOOPS!" A familiar ugly voice called out. "WRONG FACE MEANT TO HIT YOUR HUSBAND!" the man keeled over laughing with the two others beside him. Claire was frozen from disgust after the initial pause of what had transpired. Tico immediately dismounted and wiped the muck from her face. In doing so the two caught each other's eyes for the first time. Ion was huffing a few steps away grasping at the handle of his sword. The man seemed to have no remorse for his foolish and rude action.

"Thank you Tico." A tear rolled down her cheek as the rider quickly but softly removed the spit wad from her face.

"I am not taking this lying down! That man is asking for a busting!" Ion snarled as he spoke. His sword was still sheathed but the action was already playing inside the theater of his mind.

"Do we attack or just stare awkwardly?" young Kyler trying to make sense of everything in the moment looked to Tico who still had his eyes upon Claire and her cheek still warm with the spittle. He fiddle with his spear slung upon his shoulder, unsure how to respond and knowing he had the least fighting experience and skill knew his place was to follow not lead.

While the tension hung in the air, time seemed still. Ion saw only red. Tico and Claire battled the notice of each other with the rage in their heart's at the action upon their person.

….. "TO HELL WITH THIS!" Ion seeing red in the moment was the first to seek to break from reserve.

"BOP!" The man fell over. Much to the astonishment of the band and Ion who had begun to take his first few steps toward the man with intent to cause harm.

"STUPID FOOL!" a fellow emerged from behind the man as he fell over. "I have told you so many times to not harass travelers to our town. The voice belonged to a ruddy man around a similar age as the toppled chewer. He was visibly frustrated with the man he knocked over. "Book him and take him to the barrack jail." Several of the military men were with the ruddy fellow and quickly grabbed the knocked out man by the arms and quickly drug him toward the barracks. The scene caught the four off guard. Ion who had his sword three-quarters removed from the sheathe found himself blinking and then quickly removing his hand from his weapon.

The man gone and the townsfolk seeing the scene was drawing to a close, went back to whatever tasks they were doing. The ruddy fellow knowing the others with the chewer were not so bold and brazen turned his focus to the small band. "Pardon that farmer. He gets a tad stupid these days in between harvests." The man extended a hand of fellowship toward Ion. The young lad was surprised by the gesture but upon realizing that the threat was passed, found himself almost on instinct shaking the hand of the man.

"He do that often?" Tico moved to also shake his hand next. The man nodded in reply.

"Yeah he is mostly harmless…mostly. He likes to pick fights with travelers as I think he is jealous of you being able to see the world while he has to mind the crops."

"Well he has food to eat." Ion retorted, the man noticed that Ion's clothes were very baggy on him.

"Regardless. We don't treat guests this way."

"Thank you sir!" Claire spoke, with reverence and respect in her voice. The group were remembering that they were in Valtrex lands and this man had just sent someone to a barracks jail, and yet despite this man being affiliated with the military that they were against, something seemed genuine about him.

"Oh I'm no sir, dear."

"But you gave orders to those men to imprison in the barrack prison, did you not?" Tico enquired further.

"HHAHAH!" the man belted a good laugh. "Pardon me, I'm Magee! I am a native of Karn and ran the volunteer force prior to Valtrex's annex of our town."

"Annex?" Ion didn't quite understand. "You mean when they enslaved your peop…." Tico elbowed the young man hard in the ribcage to remind him to choose his words better.

"I think my friend means, how did that story come about?"

Magee didn't seem to notice Ion's comment. "Karn isn't a big city. We were so small we never had a ruling lord or house. Our village was under its own power to defend itself from any mischief or trouble that came our way. Most of us are farmers here. So I headed the volunteer men who sought to keep us safe prior to the Valtrex men arriving."

"Was it a bloody battle?" Claire asked.

"No. we submitted with open arms!" the statement confused the group. Tico being from Jule had only heard of oppression, and had only the reference of how Riserstead reacted to the Savoy force's victory. The siblings however had seen what transpired in Til with their own eyes. The rape of several good people. The torture of the previous house in house of the town. The sound of Karn's experience just seemed so vastly different than the other towns known to the band.

"Pardon. We heard different stories in Til." Claire softly spoke in a way to show their knowledge without revealing they originated from there.

"Well the winter was tough. And Malt came and offered to build a barracks and military presence and asked such. And with them they brought a few masons and we can see they wish to help our town grow into a right city." Magee smiled as he spoke with pride. "And best of all my wife doesn't fear me falling to a brigand's blade over some piece of ham." Magee explained that the town yielded to Malt without violence and thus violence was not had. He further explained that while Malt commanded the soldiers in the base, that he and the other volunteers were allowed to act more as a sheriff during the normal run of the day as they had the respect of the locals. As they were able to avoid unnecessary bloodshed and help them get through a rough winter period. Which the town valued above all else.

The story baffled the group as they settled up the conversation, made their introductions to Magee and headed out down the road. As they trotted down the road each couldn't help but feel puzzled by the demeanor of Magee, and how different thing seemed in Karn versus elsewhere.

"Are there really good Valtrex soldiers?" Clair thought.

"Why would he help out a bunch of strangers over someone he's known his whole life?" Ion was questioning.

"I really hope we never have to bring war to people like Magee." Tico was conflicted most as he wasn't some teen on a run he was a member of a rival military faction seeking to fight and shed blood over control of land. "Are we truly in the right?" The rider tried to shake the thought off and remind himself that he was a vassal to the lord of Jule and it was not his place to question but merely to return to Calle's side.

The four above all while stuck in their different thought patterns as they walked were simply thankful that a true fight didn't break out and cause them to be put in jail themselves, or killed. "That was a close one, Ion nearly got us all killed." Kyler spoke for the first time in quite a while now that the tension had died down. After a brief pause all four chuckled as they continued their path, even Ion who was still a tad red from the incident.

…..

Author's note

I know we jump around from party to party a lot, but for me it keeps things fresh and allows constant world building without having to hardcore invest too much into 1 cluster of heroes to the point that they become untouchable in all our eyes. As that isn't a story but is merely….godmoding I guess? Are you glad the foursome of teens avoided a fight? Also who or whom is your favorite character in the whole story so far?