Steelforged Legacy 2 - Chapter 6

Chapter 6

“Look, I know you don’t enjoy it, but this is how we are going to make it work. I need to get actual tack and a saddle for you, otherwise you are gonna stand out more. I’m sorry that it’s itchy.”

Casey’s reassurances fell on deaf ears as the elk just glared at him, its brown eyes narrowed in irritation while it refused to leave the tree line.

He’s right, dear Magnus. As much as I hate to see your beautiful coat sullied with the dust, we will stand out enough as it is.

The elk huffed in irritation and gave himself a full body shake that dislodged a cloud of the red-brown soil in his fur, but still left plenty behind to cover up the green that normally shot through his coat.

They’d used the dust to disguise him, and Casey had carefully tucked all the hanging rootlets from his mane up into the hair, explaining to the elk that he needed to keep them hidden to maintain his cover.

“I still can’t believe you gave him that name, or that he took it over the ones I suggested,” Casey grumbled, turning to exit the trees and lead the way onto the road.

You’ve spent the last two days trying to name him something like ‘Gregory’ or ‘Stuart,’ Maude teased, the smile in her tone clear. I just tapped into his noble roots is all. Magnus is a wonderful name and has rich roots. It’s the name of one of the former kings of this land as well. It’s appropriate.

Magnus the elk snorted his agreement, trotting out to one side so he could walk beside Casey as they headed up the road.

“You’re just way too proud. You know that?” Casey grumbled at the elk, whose smirking brown eyes twinkled as if to say ‘you are just jealous.’ “Two people compliment you as being magnificent, and then you go and claim a high and mighty name like Magnus.”

It’s appropriate! Besides, what was your next idea of naming him? Sven? You know he’s not a caribou, right?

“How do you know about that reference?” Casey grumbled aloud, though his heart wasn’t in it.

Secretly, he could admit that Magnus was a good name for the noble elk. He just didn’t want the animal to get too big of a head about it. At the moment, all Casey knew about Magnus was that the elk was clever, resourceful, gluttonous, and had horrific gas if he ate certain kinds of grass.

None of your business, Maude replied primly. Are you ready with the cover story? I know we’ve talked it over at least twice a day since we parted ways with Erik, but four times isn’t enough to memorize for most people.

“Wandering hunter who took in an elk calf. Fomori raiding drove me off my hunting range, but this big fellow followed me. Need proper tack for him as he’s getting ‘big enough to earn his keep.’ Also need to pick up that bow in town, and fully stock my supplies,” Casey rattled off the quick backstory they had discussed over the last two days while making their way through the forest.

And the story about the truffles?

“Found them after the most recent rain, was only a small patch though and if pressed, I found them on the wrong side of the road from where we actually did spot them. Do you think it’s honestly a good choice to sell the last of the fresh ones?”

Based on the ratio that you got the salt from Erik trading them? Yes. But that is dependent on if you find someone who can pay you a fair price for them too. Don’t offer them for trade or sale unless there is a trader who handles qi invested goods specifically.

Also, we are going to need to get Magnus settled into a stall at the stables. Parading him through town is going to draw attention already, so we don’t want to do it more than necessary.

“You are the boss, Maude.” Casey’s response resulted in another mental raspberry as they emerged from the treeline to see the large town ahead of them.

The settlement sat snuggled between the road on one side and the river on the other. Trees were clear cut for several hundred yards in all directions to provide a clear line of sight from the high stone walls of the little town, walls high enough that only the barest of roof peaks poked out over the top of them, garnished with the winding trails of woodsmoke rising from inside the walls.

A pair of large, iron-bound doors were set into the side of the wall facing the road around the town, with a short road winding from the main pathway up to the gates. Casey could see a series of narrow wooden docks extending into the water behind the town and a myriad of boats tied up to them, everything from small fishing boats to the larger, familiar shapes of longships.

“I’m betting they are going to have a trader like you are hoping for, Maude,” Casey muttered as he and Magnus headed up the road. Already, he could see the stirring of movement along the top of the curtain wall that surrounded the town.

Yes, this is far larger than I had expected. Your drunk friend from the last town really needs to check his facts, either that or he was too far into his mug to really remember which town was where. Do you remember the name of this place?

“Oakwatch. I’d thought it was that for the oak forests, but after the talk with Erik a few days ago, I’m guessing it’s more likely in reference to the neighboring clan,” Casey answered.

He’d fashioned a simple lead-rope for Magnus that morning, patiently explaining to the overly-intelligent elk that they needed to pretend he was just an animal while in town, so he needed to play along. The elk had initially been reticent, but Casey had promised him one of the handful of fae-honey squares that he’d been saving. That bribe had satisfied the animal, and Magnus followed his direction now with a bland expression on his long face.

The enormous gates to the city were sitting open as they approached, though Casey saw several people in uniform marching back and forth across the curtain wall overhead. Once they were within about thirty feet of the gate, a trio of men with spears marched into view around the interior edge of the wall and approached him.

All three wore simple but well cared for chainmail armor over top of padded jackets. A neat tabard with the clan insignia of the Bronze Fist on their chests topped the chain shirts. Simple rounded helmets with a flared nose-guard sat on their heads, though the one in the lead of the group had a polished brass band and crest on his helmet. Casey pegged him as the commander. They each had simple swords at their belts to go with the long spears they carried.

“Halt, traveler. Wild animals aren’t allowed inside Oakwatch,” the commander called out in a gruff tone.

“What? Oh, you mean Maggie? He’s harmless,” Casey replied with a broad smile. “Found him injured as a calf when a wolf got his mum. Been raising him for the last few years and he’s as docile as a lamb.”

Maude’s stifled laughter in his mind at calling the elk ‘Maggie’ made the glare he felt boring into his back from the animal worth it.

“Still. You shouldn’t bring game animals into the city like this… It’s far too easy to have mistakes occur.” The commander remained adamant. He and his two fellow guards did not move from where they blocked the end of the doorway.

“I need to get him fitted with tack and a saddle. That’s not something I can do while traveling. If this big lug is going to be coming with me, he needs to earn his keep. I’m not planning to wander your fair town with him in tow. I just want to put him in a stable that can modify some gear for him.”

Seeing the guard continue to hesitate, Casey decided to roll out their back-up plan.

Dipping his hand into his belt pouch, he fished out a trio of silver fangs that he’d gotten from the trade with Erik and began flipping one over his knuckles. The silver reflected the midday light with a flicker and caught the attention of the commander, who squinted slightly before nodding and stepping forward to offer his hand in greeting.

“Fine, keep the animal under control. If he injures anyone or causes trouble, I’ll send him to the butcher.” Rather than gripping forearms like a warrior would, the commander slapped his hand into Casey’s and palmed the offered coins.

“If he causes any trouble, I’ll see that done myself before you get a chance. The medicine and raising him cost money after all, money I need to recoup so I can set myself up again. He’ll earn his keep one way or another.” Casey didn’t like having to put up the callous front, but knew that it was necessary in order to convince the guard commander that there wasn’t anything overly special here.

“If you want saddlery done, head for Mountain Heather. It’s one of the better taverns with a good stable. In fact…” the guard commander turned his fancy helmet to one side and shouted. “Woman! Get out here. I need you to run an errand.”

A moment later, an older woman with graying hair and a nondescript, shapeless dress hurried from around the corner of the wall. From the way she ducked her head in obsequiousness, refusing to look up to meet the guard captain’s eyes, Casey felt his anger begin to rise in his throat.

“Yes, Lord Captain? What can I do for you?” Her voice was fragile with age, but still easily understood as she dipped a quick bow towards them.

“Lead this man to Mountain Heather and then return to finish preparing the meal. Do not tarry. If my meal burns while you are gone, there will be punishment,” the captain barked before turning back to Casey. “She will show you the way so that your animal will be secured. Be on your way, traveler.”

Nodding to the man as well, Casey gave the lead rope a tug and walked after the older woman, who was already scampering up the road from the gate.

Bastard. There is no reason to treat an elder so rudely. She’s not even a thrall, yet he treats her as such.

A glance from Casey confirmed that the old woman was not wearing the leather collar that would mark her as a thrall, something that confirmed his own growing irritation at the man.

Behind him, a quiet huff of irritation came from Magnus, and he glanced back to meet the elk’s liquid brown eyes. The animal’s eyes narrowed in irritation for a moment before it snorted through its nose once more and shook its horns. With that done, the animal settled down once more and adopted the dopey expression it’d been using.

See, Magnus agrees.

“I also agree,” Casey muttered quietly. “But she’s not being beaten. I don’t see a limp, or any bruises at least.” He hated justifying it, but if all that the old woman had to deal with was harsh words, then things could be far worse out here.

Unbidden, memories of the merchants that the Fomori had captured floated to the surface of his memories and Casey mentally shoved them away with a grimace.

Casey, if they are abusing the citizens, then that needs to stop. No self-respecting drengr would do such things.

Shifting so that he could rest his left palm on the pommel of Maude’s seax form as the old woman led them down the cobblestone path, Casey answered his lover and partner.

There is no guarantee those men were drengr. People in power have a habit of abusing things. And the fact that they accepted a bribe to let me through, or were caging for one to begin with with Magnus being different, shows me they aren’t good people in general. If I see something truly objectionable, I don’t plan to let it pass.

Good. I would hate to lose respect for my partner because he took the easy road. Maude’s tone was grouchy, but again, he could see her in his mind’s eye. Her arms crossed over her full bust, a scowl on her face as her plump bottom lip protruded out in a pout while the swirling light of her qi pool underlit her glorious waterfall of black hair.

A huff of agreement came from Magnus, but Casey didn’t need to look back to confirm the elk’s attitude. He could also imagine the animal’s expressive eyes conveying annoyance and his own sentiments aligning with Maude’s.

“Good traveler, the tavern you are seeking is ahead on the left. Look for a sign with a green plant topped with bell-shaped purple flowers. If you ask at the stable gate for Thom, my son will see to it that your animal is well looked after.”

“Your son?” The question slipped out before Casey could stop himself, but the older woman just gave him a small smile that pulled the wrinkles on her face into a new pattern of tiredness.

“Yes, my boy runs the stables for Mountain Heather. I think he’ll like to meet your polite fellow back there. Thom might be a bit slow in the head, but he’s a good lad. Quick with his hands and deft with his awl. I heard you tell the Lord Captain you needed tack, and if you ask my Thom, he’ll do the work for a fair price.”

The hope that Casey heard in the woman’s voice at work for her son, as well as the pride when she talked of his skills, was all that Casey needed to hear.

“I’ll do just that, ma’am. I think we can find it from here. Hope your day is pleasant.” Again, his hand dipped into his pouch, and Casey passed a small stack of coins to the woman. Her smile widened from a small, pleasant one into a broad grin.

“Frigga bless you, traveler. My family will…” Her words trailed off as she glanced down to find the glimmer of gold between her fingers rather than the copper she had obviously expected. The woman’s wrinkled hand snapped shut, and she looked at him, her eyes wide in surprise and not a little fear. From his lessons with Maude, Casey knew what to say to calm the woman once more.

“May Freyja bless your home with warmth and your table with a bounty, good lady.” With that said, Casey stepped around her and down the road. The old woman watched them go, starting when she felt something soft brush her cheek. A glance to one side saw the smirking elk give her a lazy wink before trotting after Casey before the lead-rope could force him along.

That was a kind thing to do for her. You realize that she is going to have a bit of trouble breaking that coin down, right? Maude prodded Casey. He didn’t respond at first, focusing on the cobbled road and dodging around a parked wagon in front of a building, but once he spotted the sign the woman had described, he relaxed enough to answer.

“As long as she is smart about it, she should be fine. I’m hoping the coin might be enough to better her situation. Maybe give her a chance to find a job where people will appreciate her age and experience.”

Maude hummed quietly in his mind, and he could feel her pride in him like the radiant heat of a fire as they arrived at the inn.

Like many of the buildings inside the town, the inn was constructed with a base of stone fitted together tightly and upper floors constructed of wood. The building had the solid feel of age and time having settled it into place and despite the graying timbers that made up its walls; it was clearly well cared for.

Finding the low gate that opened into a stable yard, Casey spotted a bell hanging on one side of the rough wooden door and rang it. A moment later, a solid-looking man who had maybe a decade on him hurried out of one of the low-roofed buildings. Mud clung to his linen pants and boots, but his shirt was clean with the sleeves rolled up. A patchy beard of dull red hair clung to his face, looking oddly like a sheep or horse had been nibbling on it.

“Guest?” the man asked in a thick voice. “Guest need stable?”

“Yes, are you Thom?” Casey asked as the man came to a stop on the far side of the fence and peered with slightly offset eyes past him at Magnus.

“Big boy!” the man said with a laugh, a wide grin stretching his face before he turned towards Casey. The man blinked several times, seeming to struggle to focus on him up close before nodding. “Yes. Am Thom. Your boy need stable?”

How the man talked reminded Casey of a few of the kids he’d used to look out for at the orphanage. Anyone with any kind of mental deficiency always had it the hardest, being the primary target for the gangs, and struggled to get adopted as well. But despite Thom’s stilted tone and struggle to focus, it was clear the man was doing his best.

“Yes, he needs the stable, Thom. Your mum told me to ask for you, because you do good work with leather.” Casey’s words got another broad grin from the other man and Thom pounded one thick fist on his chest proudly.

“Mum’s right! Thom does good work. What big boy need?”

“His name is Magnus, Thom. And he needs a saddle and tack. Something I can adjust as he’s still growing. Think you can do that?” Casey spoke slowly and clearly, as he’d learned with the kids he’d helped in the past. He made sure to not talk down to Thom, just clearly enunciate the words so the other man could keep up.

They are slow, not stupid. It just takes them a bit more time, is all. Casey remembered one of the kinder orphanage workers explaining while she worked with the kids. They need an extra hand is all, just a bit more time.

“Come, let Thom look at Magnoose!” Thom unlatched the gate and beckoned them in. Magnus trotted obediently into the open space, tugging Casey along with the lead-rope as he went.

“Magnus,” Casey corrected gently, getting a bob of the head from Thom before the man swung the gate shut and immediately hurried around to stand in front of Magnus.

Casey waited and watched as the stableman examined Magnus, first offering his hand for the elk to sniff before patting him gently on the muzzle and then extracting a knotted string and beginning to measure Magnus.

“Dusty big boy. You need wash,” Thom muttered, patting at Magnus’s flank with a frown before peering close at the elk’s fur. “Funny color.”

Casey’s gut clenched, and he hurried to come up with something to explain it, but Thom just shrugged and went back to measuring, muttering a series of numbers to himself.

“You stay at inn?” Thom asked while squatting down to bring his string around the elk’s chest.

“Yes, I was planning to stay here while you worked. How long do you think it will take?” Casey was glad that the man had dropped the subject of Magnus’s coloration starting to show through the dust coating when the man had patted him.

“Day, maybe two? Have supplies, will work. Just need tack and saddle? No bags?” Thom muttered, brushing at another spot on Magnus’s side and squinting.

“Just the saddle and tack. Thom, can you keep his funny color a secret?” Casey asked, lowering his voice as his worries returned.

“Sure,” Thom said with a shrug. “He handsome, no need hide colors. But understand.” Thom’s grin grew wider when Magnus tossed his antlered head and huffed happily at the compliment.

“He’s also a proud fellow. What? You are!” Casey added, laughing when Magnus shot him an annoyed look.

“Thom do work. Cost…” the slow-featured man chewed on his upper lip in thought, giving him a rather odd appearance while he did so. “Tack and saddle, one horn and two fangs. Changes cost… two claws. Stable for night is one claw.”

Casey debated bargaining to try to bring the price down, but the earnest expression on Thom’s face, and the occasional longing glances the man cast towards Magnus, told him that the man was already giving him a good price.

“Make it one horn and four fangs, and you get that work done as soon as you can, okay?” Casey’s offer was greeted with another broad smile from Thom. The stableman nodded rapidly and began unstrapping the saddlebags from their makeshift ties on the big animal while Casey counted the coins out of his pouch.

“Will make good. Magnus is big boy, will get even bigger!” Thom said with another grin, setting the saddlebags down. “Look at legs. He just little boy now. Thom make saddle that will still fit when he bigger. Come with Thom!” 

After handing over the coins, Casey let Thom lead Magnus off. The elk clearly enjoyed the affectionate pats and rubs from the stableman, though the animal did shoot Casey a wink before ducking down to get his antlers into the stable.

That elk is going to be so spoiled when you get him back tomorrow, Maude drawled while Casey scooped up his saddlebags and headed into the tavern through the door from the stable-yard.

“Not a bad thing. Magnus has been a good fellow, and helpful. You think he’ll be able to support my weight soon?” Casey muttered while taking in the taproom of the tavern.

A few months more and he should be able to. Though Thom’s words about his size make me wonder just how big Magnus will get. Gladewalker Elk can rival moose in size, or at least that is what my uncle told me. I haven’t heard of any bonding with a drengr though. That may give him even more size, or stranger powers.

Joy, Casey thought wryly. More things to make me stand out.

The tavern’s first floor was much like the others he’d encountered. Tables sat on a wooden floor scattered with dried rushes and hay. An enormous fireplace full of glowing coals sat against the far wall. The room was lit with a mixture of the cloudy baldrsteinn, the glowing rocks providing dim light in various shades of amber and pale white. A bar ran along the back wall where an older woman stood with a book open on the counter in front of her and a stylus in one hand. Scattered around the room were half a dozen people, either eating or drinking at the moment. Four of the six were men that looked like either off-duty guards or aspirant drengr from what Casey had seen, and they all sat together near the fire talking.

Looking up from her book, the older woman smiled faintly and gestured for him to approach while she called out.

“Since you came in from the stable-yard, I assume Thom has some beasts under his care already? Did you plan to stay the night or just for the day?” Her voice was clear and strong despite the faint streaks of gray in her blonde hair, and she gestured to a stool at the bar in front of her.

“He does, and I asked him for some leatherwork, so I’ll be here at least a day. A room for the night would be grand, but hot food would be even better right now.” Casey leaned on the counter, not taking a seat yet. A glance told him that the book in front of the woman was a ledger. She appeared to be balancing her accounts.

“Sure. I have open rooms. Three claws a night, but if you make it five, then that’ll cover lunch, dinner, and the baths. Lunch is a mutton stew with bread and cheese right now. Dinner will be boar roast.” Casey looked up away from the ledger with a smile, not wanting her to think he was spying on her numbers.

“I’ll take that happily. I could use a hot bath after the road. Taking one in a basin is just not the same.” As he spoke, Casey slipped the five copper coins up onto the counter. She quickly scooped up the coins and tossed them into a jar on the shelf behind her.

“Go ahead and take a seat wherever. I’ll bring that out to you. Meal comes with a drink. Did you want light or dark beer?” The barwoman was already moving, gathering up a mug and walking the handful of steps to the large barrels behind the bar.

“Whatever you recommend to go with the meal, you know your supplies better than I do.” Casey’s reply got another smile from the woman and she set to work.

Charmer, Maude teased as he glanced around the room. Go sit by the fire. See if you can overhear what those four are muttering about. Just try not to make it obvious. Something about them makes me suspicious.

Making a show of hitching the saddlebags he had over his shoulder a bit higher, Casey wound through the empty chairs and tables to take one near the quartet of men.

Dropping his pack and the saddlebags on one of the chairs, Casey slumped down into the rough wooden seat with his back to the fire and sighed, making a show of rubbing at his eyes tiredly before fishing out his own tableware. He made it a point to ignore the four men after glancing their way once and nodding in greeting to the one who met his eyes.

“Look, I’m just saying that we need to be ready. They just went out on a raid, so there will be opportunities coming. They always bring some aspirants along for those, and if any drengr fall in the raid, then that will give us openings to aim for,” one man said, a brown-haired fellow with a knife scar on his left cheek.

“That’s if the rumors are true. I’d rather wait for something that is a sure thing,” grumbled another of them, this one a blonde man with a square chin.

“What’s more sure than a raid on the Oak Horde? You know those bastards have been creeping on our border for years now. The raids are the only thing that keeps them honest!” growled the scar-faced man.

“I don’t fancy my chances as a normal man fighting against their drengr is all,” grumped the blonde man. “I’d still rather wait for the next Fomori hunt and try my luck at that.”

“Fomori, are you daft? They’d never take a freeman with them against those corrupt beasts. You’d sicken and die, even if you won a fight. Any injuries you take are guaranteed to go foul, and they won’t waste medicine on your arse.” This time it was a new speaker, a man with black hair and a pinched, ratlike face.

The blonde man snarled at his tablemate, one ham-sized fist bunching up as if he was debating punching the other man, but decided the better of it.

“Better than your plan to wait for a tournament. They don’t hold those out here on the border, idiot. We’d have to get together the coin to travel to the capital, rather than wait here with our thumbs stuffed in our—”

“Your food, freeman.”

The bartender’s words blotted out what the others were saying as she set down a thick wooden plate on which was a split loaf of round bread that was filled with a thick mutton stew. The scent of the roast meat and vegetables hit Casey like a blow and his stomach growled happily. “Your drink and your key as well.” His mug landed next to the plate, and beside it was a thick bronze key with a rune carved into the handle. “Rooms are on the second floor. You need anything, you give me a wave. Okay?”

“Will do, thank you,” Casey replied, getting another welcoming smile from the barwoman. She glanced towards the four and her smile slipped slightly before turning away and hurrying back to the bar.

As Casey dug into his food, he listened to the four continue to argue over the best way to earn the interest and respect of the Bronze Fist clan. Their conversation kept returning to the raid that had departed a few days previously, what the outcome might be, and what sort of loot might come back to the town.

It was obvious that there was open animosity between the Oak Horde and the Bronze Fist right now, but the vicious way the men talked of potential thralls made Casey’s stomach turn despite the good food.