"Thank you for coming adventurers," Ryder looked at Riley and then Osmond. He frowned and asked, "Why did they send a child over here?"
"You don't have to worry, I am with him," Riley replied.
Ryder nodded, "I hope that It will not lead to a disaster. Well, I am too tired to help you. Too old for that. My niece will come for your aid."
"Rook," Ryder called inside.
Shortly after, a man came to the door, annoyed. His hair was short and jet black. His hair told him that he was lying in a bed. He wore a grey shirt and black breeches, their buttons loosened. "What?" He asked scrunching his hair.
"Rook, take these good men to the fields and introduce them to our people," Ryder tapped Rook with his stick.
Rook walked down the stairs, annoyed. Ryder bowed to Riley and closed the door behind them. "Well, that was not nice," Riley said frowning.
"The man has become senile after getting old. Follow me," Rook said looking back.
They walked back the way they entered the village. Rook took them to the farmers that worked in the fields. They raised their heads and looked at Osmond and Riley, suspiciously.
"Don't worry, these guys are here to take care of the boars," Rook calmed them.
A man with a lean and muscular body stood straight. He got out of the field and came to Riley. His legs were covered in mud and his clothes were covered in sweat and dirt. "Thank you for coming," he said extending his arm.
"A Samrann has come to save us. Praise the gods," the farmers prayed.
Osmond looked at Riley and frowned. "What, I am important," Riley said and smacked Osmond lightly.
The man looked at Osmond worried. "Will it be ok for a child to go there?" He asked.
"That's what I am here for," Riley said and thumped his chest.
"Now, from where do these boars come from?" Riley asked looking around.
"They come down from the Carashall hills," the man said and pointed to the hills.
"Have you tried anything for stopping them?"
"Well, we have tried traps; dug holes, nets and the like. We have tried keeping watch at night. Sometimes, we catch one or two but they just keep coming," the man said counting on his fingers.
"Well, I guess we need to go to the hill then," Riley said.
Osmond and Riley moved back a little. "Kid, we will go back to the room and gear up. We will hunt them in the noon when the sun is high."
Riley waved to the farmers and Rook. They waved him back and the two went back to their rooms.
They walked back slowly to the room and Riley suddenly stopped. "Speaking of gear, we need to get a sheath for that dagger of yours."
They walked around the village, looking for a blacksmith. When they found one, he didn't have any sheaths; only ploughs and scythes and the like. They gave up hope and walked to their room.
"Unusual things, beautiful things, things that you have never seen," Osmond heard a man calling out.
"Can we check over there?" Osmond asked.
Since there was no harm in looking, Riley complied and went to the travelling merchant. He was a man with neatly combed auburn hair and a top hat. He rolled his moustache and looked at Osmond. "Come on, take a look. No need to pay."
Osmond looked through his collections. There were vials and potions in glass bottles, herbs and flowers he did not know, clothes; silk, wool and cotton. Then Osmond saw something.
A sheath that was the colour of his blade, as if it was made for it. His hands went for it and took it. It was the colour of obsidian. A silver went round and round around it.
"How much for this," Osmond asked staring at the sheath.
"It will cost two pemphredos. But for such a special customer like you, I can give it for one," the merchant said rubbing his palms.
Osmond looked at Riley and pleaded.
Riley looked at the smiling merchant. "Eight pemphros and we will consider it."
The merchant's eyes changed. "I cannot go below nine."
Riley sighed and went to his pocket. "You better pay me back kid," he said.
Osmond made a smile that ran from his ear to the next. He hugged the sheath and went running as soon as Riley gave the money. Riley followed back and they reached the inn. Riley unlocked the room and Osmond went to his bag. He took the blade out and tried out the sheath in his hands.
The blade went inside and fitted perfectly as if they were always one. Riley saw it and his eyes widened.
'It seems that fate is favouring the boy,' he thought.
"I have a name for it," Osmond said smiling.
"Oh, what is it?" Riley asked feigning curiosity.
"I am going to call it Nightblade," he said standing up.
Riley didn't care for that. He went to his bag and took out his armour. It was a boiled leather armour dyed in dark green. He took out chainmail from another bag and put it over his shirt. He put the leather armour through his head and tightened the straps. He took leather gloves and wore them. He strapped the sheath to his back and tightened it from the front. He sheathed his sword with the green will of gem and it went down with a cling.
"Well, then put on your armour, kid. We are going to the hills," Riley said.
Osmond followed and put on his armour. He strapped Nightblade to the right of his belt and the dagger that he got from Jerome on his left. They went outside and closed the door. Riley went to Dante and Osmond went to Blaze to saddle. They whipped the reins and the horses started moving. They crossed the farmers and the hoofbeats caught their attention. The farmers shouted and waved at them.
And then they reached the foot of Carashall hills.