"Believe me when I say, those ruins are the first place new parties go to. Alot of the bronze and older copper ranked adventurers like to stake these parties, hide, and then steal whatever they find." Lannus said as he pulled up chair to the table.
The lanky adventurer reluctantly agreed to the proposal, and with Cendrics prodding, had this written in paper as a contract. They had parted ways, agreeing to meet next morning in the taproom at Lakeside.
"Cendric, I have to agree with Lannus too. Would it not be easier to travel quickly during the day, and try to lose them?" Leondre asked, slightly confident in his new attire.
Earlier today, Cendric had directed him to a smithy in town run by a dwarf. Leondre had swapped out his cotton breeches with wool-spun banded pants. Sold his finely made shoes for a pair of rugged boots. Replaced the uniform waistcoat with a black linen arming doublet (essentially a snug-fitting, diamond patterned jacket fastened by straps). And bought a new iron shortsword; Roi Soleil was now slung over his shoulder.
Cendric downed his cup in one swig, wiping his mouth as he spoke. "If that's the case, from the moment we leave town and enter the ruins, they'll have someone watching. We stand," He yawned, "a better chance under darkness. You know, less people, and harder to see at night."
He got up from the table, ignoring the dubious glances casted by the rest of his party. The day was cloudy, making the summer heat a little more bearable. Leondre and Lannus were lagging behind, but would catch up eventually.
A parade of people were heading out of town carrying baskets, burlap sacks, or pushing carts. While a good number were farmers, it seemed all the other townsfolk had come too. One word was on everyone's mind.
Harvest.
If there was one thing that brought everyone together, besides the All-Mother, it was food. An idea popped into Cendrics head: he had yet to see a single person starving. Meals were cheap, that meant there was an excess amount of produce.
[Excess produce, free meals. Free meals, rations. I don't have to spend a single copper!]
Such a thought filled him to the brimm with joy. He turned around cheerfully smiling at his two companions that had finally caught up. Lannus looked at Cendric confusedly, while Leondre suddenly had a sense of foreboding.
"Wait here you two, and Leondre, quit being so nervous." Cendric returned his attention to the group of people heading down the gate. He ran over to a wiry old man in dirt stained farmer overalls. Despite his sinewy strength, the aging man struggled to push the axle wood cart by himself.
"Pardon sir, I noticed the carts giving you a little bit of trouble."
"Aye, ain't me younger self no more, gets 'arder to push every season." He nodded wearily.
"Please, may I lend you my squires to assist for however long you need? They're good lads, strong too, but have never done a days work of labor in their lives."
"Cut the shite, yerr knightly lot ain't the charitable type. Whatcha want?" He snorted, the old man was sharper than Cendric had thought.
"However much produce they add to the cart, my boys get a fair share each." Cendric replied, dropping all pretenses.
"Aye tha' fair, I'll give 'em a bag each to put their share." The farmer dropped the cart stretching his back, while Cendric brought over his companions. Neither had a chance to protest their involuntary assignment. The old man had immediately put them to work before they could say anything.
------
While Leondre and Lannus were harvesting fields, Cendric had set about buying the supplies they would need from the Guild.
[We need jar of oil, couple rags, and a bundle of sticks. I'll have to teach them how to make a smokeless fire, torches too.]
Traveling under the guise of night was nothing new to him. Scouting the overlying land and settlements, marching in pitch black darkness, then conducting raids or sabotage. This he was familiar with, not babysitting teenagers or setting off to explore god's forsaken ruins.
After working with professionals for so long, Cendric realized he couldn't expect the same from Leondre or Lannus. They weren't used to following orders, or accepting his decisions without question. He was a trained mutt leading puppies. Puppies.
Cendric pushed his thoughts back to the present. He was currently at the Adventurers Guild speaking with the same bearded clerk as before. Turned out he was also in charge of the Guilds stores, and had a name.
"I need two waxed canvases, a fire striker, a coil of rope, some bandages," Cendric getured at the knapsack on the wall, "and that bag."
"We also sell rations, they taste terrible but are nutritous. They're compacted into bars and wrapped in parchment." The clerk, now Karson, said as he carried the supplies over in a crate to Cendric.
"How much a bar?"
"About six–ten coppers a piece, I'll throw in a dozen for twenty" Karson offered as he pulled a linen burlap sack full of bars out.
"Give me the sack and you got a deal." Cendric held the crate up to his chest, already having paid.
"Deal." Karson called the next customer in line over as Cendric left.
The sun was beginning to set and people were pouring into the gates. None had come back empty handed from the harvest, everyone seemed to be carrying some sort of crop. Cendrics shoulder was still a little pale, but completely healed. So holding the box from the Adventurers Guild to Lakeside Inn wasn't a problem. He strolled past the Shrine of Mithra, ignoring the two burly figures waving at him. Navigating his way through the maze of roads and alley ways. Until turning a corner, where to his right, was Lakeside Inn.
Cendric kicked open the door to the inn, closing it again after he had gone through. A soft glow coming from the fireplace bathed the interior in warm lighting. Even at night, it had a cozy atmosphere. Sera was in her usual place at the receptionists desk, flipping through ledgers. She lifted her head upon hearing his arrival, searching for a particular individual with black hair and green eyes.
"Miss me?" Cendric said sarcastically as he walked past her.
"No. Where's Leondre?" She called after him.
"Should be coming back from the harvest, but don't worry about him. Talk to whats his name–Lannus, sort whatever is between you."
"There's nothing going on between us." Sera snapped after him.
"Right. Listen, keep dragging Leondre into this drama it is that you have, and I'll" —[kill you and your boyfriends myself]—"Forget it." It wouldn't do to threaten her while he still was staying at the inn. Cendric exhaled wearily as he trudged up the stairs with the crate in tow.
About half an hour later Leondre and Lannus, dirt-stained and drenched in sweat, had returned from the harvest. Each carried a bundle of fruits and vegetables over their backs. The old farmer had worked them hard to the bone, Leondre felt like he had just finished one of his instructors drills. Lannus fared a little better, having participated in harvests before.
"If it is, uh, fine for me to ask Lannus. What is the story between you and Sera?"
"None of your business. Just stay away from her." Lannus replied, staring daggers at his companion.
"Sorry." Leondre said quietly as he cast his head down. They continued walking like this in uneasy silence until Lannus finally spoke again feeling a little guilty.
"Mithra. Look I did attack you, so some explanation is owed." Lannus readjusted the bundle over his back before turning to Leondre.
"Sera and I are close, well were close. We grew up together as children. She...well she's not only the prettiest, but smartest girl in the entire town. I know you nobles are obsessed with beauty, and so are a bunch of other people. But Sera isn't some trophy, she's a person. There's a wonderful personality beneath those looks."
Lannus took a breath before continuing.
"I–if you have not noticed, have trouble controlling my anger. Short story, I got drunk and lost it one time on a date with Sera, and," Lannus closed his eyes, "took it out on her." He said nothing after that, half expecting Leondre to call him a scumbag. Because that's what he was, scum.
Leondre looked up to the horizon. "Do you regret it?"
"Everyday."
"When you attacked me was it because you were jealous, or really, mad at yourself?" Leondres gaze returned to his companion, but Lannus was already looking away.
"I've never had girlfriend myself, but my father tells me we should count ourselves lucky when one chooses to be with us." They reached Lakeside Inn by the time the conversation had ended.
"What took you both so long?" Cendric scowled as the two teenagers shambled into his room. They looked for better or worse, like the undead. Leondre and Lannus simply ignored him, shuffling over to the bed with bundles in hand.
"Sure, lay on the bed why don't you? Still covered in dirt and grime and all." Cendric obviously wasn't at all pleased with the lack of respect for his room. But today was their last day at the inn, and the plan had also changed. Outside the silver moon was high in the sky giving off the only light, apart from the lampposts.