Born a Monster

Chapter 58

Rescued

It just made no sense. They hit one side of the trenches, and piled in. They spread to the left and right.

They set fire to the siege engines and the wood lot. Possibly to the wood as well, though I think it more likely the flames spread on their own.

I brought my bucket of well water, and headed out for my normal meal.

“What’s your read, private?” sergeant Gilean asked me.

.....

“I don’t understand. The attackers are also flying Black Fist heraldry, and some of the flags are the same.”

“Ah, only child? Siblings will fight over the darnedest of things.”

I shook my head. “I’ll be back around the usual time.”

The beggar from earlier was there, in the same alley, and he brought two of his friends. “This time, we’ll have all your coins.” He spat at me.

I could defeat children and the untrained adults. “No, really. I might kill one of you this time. Just back off.”

The fight lasted until I scored a lucky hit lengthwise down the arm of the skinny one. It showered me with blood, and he passed out from the pain.

“Lord Apollo, grant speed to my feet!” screamed the other companion, as he fled into the night.

I stood there, waiting for his next attack. “Next time, we’ll gut you.”

“Next time,” I said, “I’m killing one of you.”

“Guards!” he called. “Over here! Guards! This monster just threatened my life!”

Of course, after the battle, a group of four guards were right there.

Lacking any way to tell which of us was lying, they arrested all three of us. Somehow, thin man didn’t bleed out.

Once we got to the jail, I flipped a tin coin to one of the urchins in the processing room. “Go tell sergeant Gilean of the second tower west of the southeast gate that you saw me.”

“Price is two tin coins for a meal.” He replied. I flipped him the extra coin.

I made no fuss when asked to remove my armor; what good would it have done? There were no empty cells, they put me in with three others.

“Give us each a copper, and you live to see morning.”

Well, I was hungry and angry and just looking for someone to lash out upon. Small cells mean close quarters.

By the time the guards arrived to break the fight up, I’d earned both Combat and Rampage XP. I bled from under my left armpit, where I’d learned what a shiv was.

One man was down. They had to pull me off the second. I think they got to me before I could break his arm, but I don’t remember clearly. I do remember a good deal of getting hit with clubs before they dragged me back to the cell, this time with only two companions.

I flexed my arms, my claws, assessed my bruising.

“So.” I said, “WHAT has to happen for me to live until morning?”

I don’t know how I lived to see morning; one eye was already bruising closed, and I had to be wobbling on my feet.

#

Corporal Bluchet was actually from the next tower over, but he recognized me when he came by to pick up two of his own soldiers in the morning. He broke out laughing.

“What. What has that one possibly done?”

“Attempted murder.”

“Only attempted?”

“Twice. Once on the street, and once when we threw him in the cell.”

“Who did you throw him in the cell with?”

“Other attempted murderers.”

“I’m surprised you have any other attempted murderers left.”

“Fine is a silver, if you vouch for his future behavior.”

“Lad, do you have a silver for these fine gentlemen?”

“Here, corporal.”

“I vouch that you need this lad on the watch, not in a cell. And you can’t have him, we’re at war.”

There was no light, no halo, and certainly no singing of angels. But I didn’t care.

“Corporal, may I treat you and your men to breakfast?”

He snorted. “See, men? THIS is how you say thank you.”

“It’s too early in the morning.” Complained one of his soldiers.

Well, they didn’t complain about the meal, or the fact that they could order ale instead of tea. It cost me a copper and four tin, and I just didn’t care. I filled my stomach with scrambled eggs and potato wedges and even some unidentifiable leafy greens. Okay, mostly on greens, but I was still hungry from the day before.

“My daughter ate like that before her first child.” Bluchet said. “Are you going to bear a child, private?”

“It doesn’t seem likely.” I admitted. “And thank you, in case I hadn’t said it.”

“Hm, sounds like the both of them were asking for it. Now hurry along, I suspect your sergeant has something to say to you.”

Indeed sergeant Gilean had some very choice words for me, and spoke loudly enough that at least the nearest households must certainly have heard them.

“They’re mopping up outside. You,” he handed me a mop, “you’re going to be mopping up INSIDE. From that tower to that one. And be sure to dust each arrow slit.”

“Yes, sergeant.”

“NOW.”

Cleaning a stone floor is supposed to be easy. But that one wasn’t level, and there had been multiple muddy boots trekking through it. Actually, most of my time was just lugging that bucket back and forth to change out the water.

There was no way I was going to complete the task before the end of my shift. By the time I finished the first section, the end closest to the gate had already been redecorated with muddy footprints.

“What, still working on that section? Let’s see how well you’ve done.” He looked, walked the hallway, rubbed his hands inside a few arrow slits, and pronounced the work acceptable.

“Well, they’re talking terms of peace. Back to your guild with you.”

“My contract is paid for at least the next five days.” I said.

“Off to your guild with you, I’m sure the city will ask for a return of excess funds.”

#

Well the town wasn’t going to do any such thing. We were gathered in the training yard, where Reynald told us the bad news.

“According to the town,” he said, “it has been their honor to have us among their ranks, and they thank you all for your service. I’m supposed to give you all scrolls or something to that effect, but the coin provided doesn’t cover that expense.”

Okaay, why was he telling us? Was he trying to tell us something else?

“Does the coin provided cover our normal wages?” asked Skelios.

“It does not; there is no coin from the council. They claim they’ll have it next spring, at which time...”

There were choice words, and oaths, and curses, and lots of spitting.

“At which time...”

I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Cosimo.

“First, get a valet or two to clean your armor. Secondly, get a bath. And third, has nobody told you there are PEACE NEGOTIATIONS going on? Get outside the southeast gate in your diplomatic garb. Big green tent, can’t miss it.”

“Does this job actually pay?” I asked.

“I can see that you are bitter, and you’ve a right to be. The priestess is not the city, and keeps her coin in other pockets.”

Who was teaching Cosimo to speak like that? A simple yes would have sufficed.

“Lord Cosimo.” I bowed.

He bowed back, but had clearly forgotten my name.

The sun was a hair above the trees by the time I got to the tent. I found it densely packed with people, both of human and orcish variety. Every opening it had was open, and yet it was a stuffy sweaty stinkhole.

I made my way to the priestess. “Shall I refill your cup, lady?”

“Water only. I need a stable head to deal with our – guests.”

The water was still tepid from being boiled. I needed to learn spells to chill water. And to heat it. And maybe a spell to purify water.

.....

Dang it, I was born a sea creature, why was water causing such problems for me?

The pace of work was considerably light, if one ignored the fact that my face and my blackened eye seemed to be exactly at elbow height.

I had ordered two bales of hay, and both had been repurposed outside as chairs, where Uruk animatedly discussed the recent battle with each other.

#

“Melachea. What is the meaning of this phrase, under the open sky?”

“Lady, that is what the words translate to.”

“It means passage without payment.” I said. “You’re not granting them hunting or foraging rights, but unless they take from the lands, they want to pay no passage fees.”

The Hellene cleared her throat, and spoke in Achean accented goblin. “Great chief, is it your intention to grant all the inhabitants of Narrow Valley the right to enter and leave your lands?”

“For nine moons only.” He said. “And only after the tyrant Rakkal is dethroned from the city of the Crimson Hand.”

“That is ... most generous, great chief. And while not unwelcome, it is unexpected. You can speak for all the tribes of Black Fist clan?”

“Once Rakkal is removed from power, his influence over my people will fade. Those who supported him will lose in status and honor. My word will be my people’s bond.”

“Hm. Will be. What is the status of your word now? On the map, if you please.”

And the map, for the first time, got plotted with approximate places and names of the Black Fist encampments.

“And how many soldiers do you expect Narrow Valley to provide?”

The chieftain looked agog. “No, we do not trust this to soldiers. We want your heroic fighters to attempt this. The ones who work for coin.”

“You expect us to pay for adventurers to overthrow the tyrant of your people?”

“Of course not. That would lack honor. We, likewise cannot pay coin to those who may need to kill Rakkal.”

“Quite the dilemma.”

“One we have resolved. HE will bear our coin and our will to the adventurers to be hired.” I looked over my shoulder, stepped aside to allow him access. When I looked back at the chieftain, his finger was still pointed squarely at me. “Speaker of Truth, will you swear that the coins we give to you will be spent to encourage human adventurers to take up the task of dethroning Rakkal, tyrant of the Red Tide?”

“I am sworn to the service of the Guild of Guardsmen, Porters, Drovers, and Linkboys.” I said. “I cannot swear myself to such a quest until I repay that service.”

The Hellene looked at me, closed her mouth, and then spoke. “Rhishisikk, are you currently in my service, for a daily pay agreed upon?”

“I am, Lady Hellene.”

“And is that service finite, or until I say it is completed?”

“Oh. I see where this is going. You realize this may take months?”

She nodded.

“Great chieftain, I swear on both my word and my blood, if chosen, I will see this task accomplished to the best of my ability.”

[Quest: You have agreed to hire a team of adventurers and accompany them to depose Rakkal, tyrant of Montu’s Glory.]

Wait, WHAT? Accompany? Oh, no. I will see this task accomplished. Literally.

“Excellent. Bring in the coin.” Uruk Warriors began lugging in oxen skins filled with various coins. “You will need to exchange these with your jewel traders, but even with their fees, this is roughly two hundred golden coins.”

“I ... I doubt it will require this much. I will gladly bring the remaining coinage to you.”

The chieftain waved his hand. “The coins are of no matter to us. The months are not of matter to us. See this done. Save my people.”

“I have already given my word, I will see it done.”

#