He had fought in 4 wars and 37 battles over the course of 7 years. Every time the feeling was the same, the fear of death, the fear of losing your precious comrades, and every time he prayed that battle wasn't his company's last. This time, the 38th, the gods refused to answer his prayers.
It was the first time they lost so terribly. The first time his puppets didn't heed his call, first time Leria's shield spells couldn't stop anything, first time Heron's blade couldn't accumulate light, first time Mort's bloodlust didn't linger. In short, it was the first time they were perfectly countered by the enemy, the first time they were betrayed. But what could he do about it? That general was the first one to do such a thing, the first general to betray his countrymen and send them to the slaughterhouse. It was a gruesome sight, watching even the 4th prince, and hero of the Runetan army easily countered, unable to move, sitting there like a pig about to be slaughtered to fatten the lord, squealing.
He reminisced about the events which happened 2 days ago, it hurt. He knew the end would come one day, but it still hurt when it did. He hoped some escaped with their lives, he knew for a fact Heron and Mort did, those two were stronger than him. As for the rest, only Fortuna would know for sure at this point. The him at this moment could barely walk, he had no resources to allocate towards the wellbeing of others.
As he walked, he thought about his destination. The site of the battle were the Shasein Fields, the nearest town would have been Berkanan, but that was to the southeast, he was heading southwest. If he remembered correctly the geography of this godforsaken kingdom, Opila-Opala was the first city the road would meet. That wasn't an option, it was now a fort city, garrisoned with the Runetan army, the entrance fee would be high, and he would either be killed by traitors or interrogated by the loyalists. He had enough of this dumb war.
That left Raido, the town of journeys and travelers. Not as big and populated as Opila-Opala, fewer soldiers and on the same road. The biggest positive of going there was the amount of adventurer guilds, and merchant companies situated there. He could use them to leave this kingdom as soon as possible. Runeta was surely losing the war after that battle, and he wouldn't be here to give the Vargians another soul to kill. The downside was, that he would have to walk and hunger another 4 days.
Unable to do anything about it, he moved on. Five days later, he arrived at Raido. The walls were small, and thin, the gate wasn't impressive in terms of size and sturdiness, but it was well decorated and shining with gold and silver. It was plain to see this town had money, but wasn't keen on defense. One guardsman was watching the northern gate.
There were 3 more people ahead of Thallus, he placed himself in line, behind them. The person in front of him was tall with a large build. He was carrying a wide longsword, on his back. He couldn't tell how wide it was but he was astonished at its height for he could tell it was longer than him. And he was 30 and a half stones (for the reader, 1 stone in this world is equal to 6cm in our world). Thallus wouldn't know for sure unless he asked, and he wasn't in the mood to, but he had the thought that this person might be an adventurer.
In front of the adventurer was a farmer, with hay on his back, definitely there to sell his crop. And in front of the farmer, a child. From what he could distinguish, maybe 8 or 9, and he didn't seem to be together with the farmer.
"PLEASE!!! I beg you just let me through!!!" the child shouted loud and clear. Everyone walked closer so they could listen in, including Thallus.
"Scram kid, I already told you ten times, no money, no entrance! Blame your bad luck and your parents!", the guard replied, slightly pissed off.
"I have money! Just not with me! My aunt lives in this town and runs an inn with my uncle, please she will pay the fee once I tell her too."
"Sure, and I have a flying pig, ready to cook itself when I'm hungry!", said the guard on a sarcastic tone.
"Amezing, Sir! Can I see the pig after I meet my aunt?" the kid was mesmerized.
"You're pisspoor and a dumbass! Hahaha! Kid can't you tell sarcasm from the truth? Do you know how many children come here every week telling the same lie? So what if you are starving? So what if you are an orphan of war? It's got nothing to do with me! I tried helping some of you and all I got was beatings and salary cuts. Now SCRAM, before I cut you down." The guard was now angry and annoyed.
The child was taken aback, then, suddenly fell on his knees, grabbed the guard by one of his legs, and started screeching and crying. Not even the guards kick could shake the child off him. The screaming was so loud the farmer had to cover his ears. The adventurer grunted, he took his sword off his back. Thallus, had an inkling of what the adventurer had in mind, to be honest he did too, but he had seen too much bloodshed recently, and a good deed would surely please the gods.
After witnessing the reaction of the young boy, and looking at the other traveler's annoyed reactions. The guard was now enraged. He drew his sword and started swinging towards the neck of the child.
"Fine then! I've had enough of you brat, you're holding up the line, I'll get you out of my sight myself!" the guard shouted with confidence.
As the sword swung down, about to separate the boy's head from its body, something blocked the swing. The guard looked and saw the head of a craftsman's hammer blocking his sword. He followed the handle of the hammer to the hand which was holding it, then to its owner.
He was a worn out, rugged, 30 stone and a half tall youngster, with a slim yet muscular built. His arms were slim, long and firm, surprisingly they were filled with scars as well. His hands seemed to be soft, but one could tell they had experienced countless calluses. His face and hair were his most distinguishing features. His face couldn't be considered anything special, he had a defined jawline, but no other feature which could be considered handsome, other than two scars. One running down his left eye, the other across his forehead. The hair of this youngster was unique, one second, his color was a bright red, the next it was orange, then yellow, then red once more. It seemed to constantly change colors akin to fire. Even in his ragged clothes, there was an allure to this young man, like a charm spell. If the guard was a woman he'd fall for this man in an instant.
The guard was mesmerized for a little bit, but then he realized the meaning of this man's actions, and anger overtook him.
"WHO ARE YOU!!! You dare interrupt the judgement of a Raido guard? Explain yourself or throw away your life!""
The young man smiled slyly: "Thallus Cabeiri, former high condottieri of "Golden Langhan's Puppeteers", at your service brother guard." Thallus withdrew his hammer and made a slight bow, then continued: "There's little reason for you to waste your judgement and sully your hands with the blood of this child. I contemplated it, and have decided, from my nigh nonexistent magnanimity, to throw what little coins I have left, towards the entrance fee of this kid."
"Huh!?" the guard was a bit bewildered, generosity in this kingdom was a rare sight these days. But he recollected himself. "Fine!" and gestured Thallus to pay the fee, with a frown.
"Uh!? Sorry, first time around these parts, what's the fee?", Thallus now felt like a show off.
"Hahaha! You pledge your money for others without even knowing the price! What a fun man! Very well, either half a spirit jade, or 1 gold coin, or 7 silvers or 19 coppers, keep in mind I gave you a tiny discount."
Thallus' heart ached. He only had one spirit jade left, 11 coppers and 6 silvers. 'Utter robbery' he thought. He used his chisel to split the spirit jade in half.
"Half a spirit jade for the child. As for me… I only have 6 silvers left." he turned to the other people in line. Three more had joined in the meanwhile. "Anyone have 1 spare silver? I'll exchange for 5 coppers".
Everyone's gaze seemed to turn away in an instant. Times where harsh, silver coins had more uses, than copper, even if he offered 2 more than the usual exchange rate. Plus this cocky youngster still had half a jade, hehe, let him throw that beauty away.
"Fine, this kingdom is filled with spineless people anyway! Looke here, brother guard, 6 silvers and 11 coppers, plus the "Golden Langhan's Puppeteers" membership card, tis made of indigot, worth at least 2 silvers, just let me through and it's yours." Thallus was slightly pissed. "Growl!" and 7 days of no eating were catching up to him.
The guard was intrigued, indigot was indeed an ore worth something, and he could stash it away all for himself, along with the extra coppers after the exchange. But he had his eyes set on something better, the other spirit jade half!
"Sorry sir! Rules are rules, and who am I to break the rules! One must pay the fee with exact currency, NO in-between. But not to worry, you still got half of a spirit jade with you!"
This time Thallus was enraged: "Blatant robbery! This kingdom is filled with spineless traitors and blatant robbers! You want me to throw away my life? Is this how you treat warriors that fight for your country? Fine then! Wanna have your life on the line? Have at it!" near the end there was a sinister tone to Thallus voice. He picked up his hammer and chisel in an aggressive stance. His eyes had a red glimmer that spelled bloodlust.
"Hahaha!!!" most of the spectators including the guard burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Lad, you want to face my sword with a hammer and chisel!?! Hahahaha, in my 22 years of being a gate guard I've never met a funnier fool than you!! Hahaha, good one. Lets stop this fooling around lad, just quietly give the rest of your spirit jade and you can walk. I'm sure if fair Fortuna favors you, you'll quickly find more in the future. Hahaha! Chisel and hammer, against a sword, funniest shit I've ever seen!"
"Hahahahahaha!" at the guards' remark the others couldn't hold themselves from laughing. Minus the adventurer, he was the only one to keep his serious demeanor. He took out his massive sword, and took a defensive stance. Something about the posture and bloodlust of Thallus reminded him of the beast he'd fight on missions form the Adventurer's Guild.
"I've lived for 15 years and Fortuna only favored me once, there rest was MY hard work. ENOUGH SAID, DIE!!!" 2 things Thallus hated the most, were goddess Fortuna and being underestimated. But as he was about to lunge onto the guard, something grabbed his leg. He turned around to see the kid, tugging at his clothes, still crying like a newborn.
"What is it kid!" Thallus had little patience now.
The kid was awestruck once again, but quickly wiped his snot with his hand and said:
"Jaane thanks sir for his generosity! Please no need to fight! I still have one silve, with your 6 silvers, that should be 7, enough for the entrance fee right?"
"EH!?" both Thallus and the guard were surprised. They both quickly realized, the child never said he didn't have any money, just not enough for the entrance fee.
"Hahahaha!" Thallus laughed. "Seems Fortuna favors you guard! Now wonder you called her 'fair'! Hahaha! Very well, thank you Jaane, this is 7 silvers, the exact amount, any comments this time?"
"HMMM!" the guard grumbled, he had no way out of this, if he extorted this Thallus fella any longer, the audience wouldn't sit around, he glanced at the adventurer with his gigantic sword. 'It's a shame for that spirit jade, but there's nothing I can do! Dammit and I lost my chance at a couple extra silvers!'.
"Oy, Jarvie! Open the gates!" that was all the guard could muster up to say. The audience was still dumbstruck at what happened, and they commented on how the youngster was ungrateful to Fortuna. 'No, we should all be grateful' the adventurer thought to himself.
"Thank you! Alright kid, let's head off to Roide! growl growl I'm literally starving!" his demeanor changed back immediately to the initial playful youngster.
As they walked through the gates, they passed a man dressed just like the guard outside, walking towards the exit. It was already time for the change of shifts.
…
"Oy Bobby! How you holding up bro? Huh? Why are there so many people gathered up in the queue? 7 people? What's going on, some sort of trouble at the gates?" this guard had a cheerful attitude and was a bit taller than 'Bobby'.
"Nah, just some pisspoor, orphan causing a ruckus! And stop calling me Bobby, Alaric!"
…
'Finally, after 6 days of walking!' Thallus thought as he gazed at the myriad of people buzzing around this commercial town, he could even distinguish some elves. With so many people there were so many opportunities! Growl, growl but his first priority was food!
"Oy Kid! Know any places to dine around here! Preferably nothing that'll rip me off!" he said while turning his gaze towards where the child he rescued should be. But what met his gaze was empty space.
"LITTLE BRAT!!!"