The Red Lands

Returning home

Five days after leaving the farm, Ming handed over ten coppers and drove the wagon past the dozen or so watchful guards. Under the alert security, the wagon tumbled behind the safety of the town walls, as the closing gate creaked behind them.

Guiding his horse while leading his companions, they made for the designated field for traveling merchants.

"Are you sure this is the place? There are not even a dozen wagons parked here."

Finn questioned while aiming the wagon at a suitable location.

"This is the rest stop for merchants. Keep an eye on your money pouches."

Ming said while swiveling his legs for a smart dismount. Rose watched from the saddle of the other horse as their leader became surrounded in a sea of chattering young men and children. Helping Finn secure their campsite, she looked on while muttering.

"I guess this travelers' field is empty because of the demon beasts' raids. By now, those stableboys and helpers would have been busy. The mood of the town feels far different from when we last visited."

"A ripple effect. I overheard Chu saying the same when he returned during winter. It's like when the villagers chose our farm as a refuge, we had to switch our meals to gruel. This seems much worse since people here are still afraid to travel. The villagers don't want to leave, and the merchants with goods have yet to arrive."

Shauna said while tossing her braided hair behind her shoulder. Her face flushed red when she spotted the stubble-bearded leader approaching. Behind him, the sea of hopefuls scattered to earn their keep.

"It's settled. For ten coppers a day, they will feed and water the horses. I had no choice but to pay two copper extra since hay is scarce. Luckily, merchants and peddlers haven't arrived yet, so the price has not skyrocketed."

"Crikes! Can you imagine what would happen if the demon beasts had raided during the summer or harvesting months? No wonder the Boss didn't object when Clod proposed his backbreaking field expansion."

Knut huffed as he tethered a temporary tent. The Bitzer raid had made them painfully aware of the importance of storing food.

"Ten coppers to enter Karst, ten each day to feed the horses. Who knows how much more, if we decided to sleep at the inn? I never thought I would see the day when I could ride into a town and spend this much money."

Finn remarked. The only way villagers probably entered the town for free was during the height of the Bitzer raids.

Ming waited until Knut completed hammering down a picket before calling them all together.

"Knut, you and I will head out to find the slave traders. Finn and Shauna, scout the main streets and see if you can scour information about the destroyed village to the north. Rose, guard the camp. Let's have a quick bite after preparation is complete and head out. Tonight, Knut and I will visit the taverns for more information."

A short time later...

"Have you ever seen the wheels made with the planks held together by iron rivets? That's my invention. I only landed up here because I refused to work for a noble."

"Old man, are you playing with me?"

"Young man, do I look like the type to lie?"

The old man inquired with a snort from behind the bars. Ming scratched his face while locking gazes with the adamant blue eyes.

The wrinkled man continued.

"Listen, son, I told you, I was once a grandmaster blacksmith. Look at my belly, see how it's all shrunk from starving? A true blacksmith draws his power from his belly. That burly companion of yours could never attain the heights of a real grandmaster."

"It's true, Bon really has a wide belly."

Knut informed. His master's wife had demanded that Bon toil double shifts in the forge to 'melt his middle' as she termed it.

"See, what did I tell you, little boy? Wait, Bon? Do you know my apprentice, Bon?"

The bearded man asked while clutching the wooden bars with his thin and long fingers. Ming looked at the face brimming with anticipation before replying.

"Do you know Grandmaster Bon?"

His question raised a sigh from the man. Gazing into the evening sky, the man reminisced.

"Ah, my apprentice has finally attained the position of Grandmaster. Tell me, has he grown taller or is he still short?"

"I would say he is about my height."

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Ming answered.

"Ah, so he has remained the same. What about his hair? Has it begun to fall out, or is it as lush as a summer grassland?"

"Bald, in fact, he has the most polished head for miles."

Knut replied while scrutinizing the master of his master.

"Poor Bon. At least he has made this master of his proud. A master and his apprentice reunited, what an impossible wish."

"Don't worry, Uncle, soon you will be reunited with your apprentice. I'll be back with the payment."

Ming reassured the sky gazer. The Slave Trader waved him to another cage, cutting their conversation short. The large strapping merchant knocked on the wooden bars of the adjacent cage while speaking in his natural gruff voice.

"This one here might suit your tastes. The man was a farmer living near the destroyed village to the north. Luckily for him, he and his family visited Karst during the horrible demon raid. Unfortunately for him, winter claimed his farm and freedom."

Ming blinked while focusing his gaze between the bars. In a corner, a stout, but visibly malnourished man stood before a huddled bale of rags. Within the warmth, three females peered out, barely recognizable under the stale clothes.

On either side of them, two famished men looked on. One of them bore a striking resemblance to the older farmer, while the other possessed a shriveled body that might compare to Knut.

Ming stroked his stubble. Speaking to the slave trader without retreating his gaze, he questioned.

"The men are not fit for immediate work in the fields. Don't even think about mentioning the women since you won't be able to sell me that deal."

The trader raised an eyebrow.

"I don't recall you as a tightwad. Last time you came here, you itched to spend money. I remember you running around the one-handed man trying to buy all my goods."

Ming huffed on hearing the words.

"When a youth gains experience in the world, he matures into a man. Cut two gold coins from your price, and I will buy this family. Just give me a minute to have a chat."

"Deal! If it wasn't for the demon beasts, I would have kicked you out for offering that sum. Lucky for you, things have gone downhill."

Ming continued chatting with a few slaves before engaging in a heated half-hour of bartering. Waving to Knut, they both left the slave trader's field. The three conversationalists all wore strange smiles on their faces. The brief visit netted them a wonderful stroke of luck.

Ming headed on the street leading to the merchant field.

"Are you really going to release him?"

Knut asked Ming.

Ming scowled,

"Who? The old geezer? Yea right? Power from belly my ass. If that is all it takes to be a grandmaster blacksmith, we would be swimming in them. Did you notice his slender fingers?"

"Yes, I did. No way under the sun could a grandmaster blacksmith have hands like those."

The apprentice snorted in reply. If he had never trained in the profession, he would have sworn this man was a genius of his trade.

"Exactly, I've spent enough time dabbling in the forge to recognize a blacksmith when I see one."

Ming raised his head while reminiscing.

Knut rolled his eyes on seeing the prideful pose.

"Yes, you're sure right. I dare say you have been chased away more times from a forge than any man in the empire."

"Don't tell me you guys still hold a grudge against me?"

"No blacksmith alive will forget someone who sneaks into their forge and wastes an absurd amount of coals to create an obnoxious ring."

"I'm sensing a hint of jealousy from your grudge...I wanted to bury that ring in the empty grave Chu dug for John."

Ming sighed as he continued.

"But Chu smacked me while asking me if I planned to honor John or wanted his ghost to curse me for the rest of my life. I sure had some good times with him..."

***

Shauna pulled her cloak tightly while picking her way across the main street. Even though the sun had yet to set, barred doors greeted them at the entrances to most of the shops. The unusual clanging and beating of iron, drifting from the Swordsmiths' and Blacksmith forges, reached her ears.

"I remember the blacksmith in the village opened his doors when half of the spring months had passed by. The winter upheaval really lit their resting forges."

"I forgot you didn't come from the town or other villages. Town life is a little different from the villages. In Karst, I recall the shops remain open during the winter until their stocks run out. Then again, some caravans usually bustle about from Limerock or Haven in winter."

Finn explained as they walked. Not long ago, he belonged to the group of tradesmen who conducted business in Karst. After becoming bankrupt, he had no choice but to step on a lower rung and move to the village in the north.

His spiral into debt, along with his wife Sherry and unborn child, paused when Toll recruited him. The decision at that time had been nothing short of a rebirth.

"I guess pretty soon our farm will be much busier than these streets? Now that I think about it, I wonder if our village will have new shops springing up? With an increasing number of people coming to live, the village will need more tradesmen to provide furniture, food, and clothes."

Shauna voiced while looking at the dismal but busy figures trotting along the streets and alleys.

"I am sure the Boss already made plans with the village chief concerning such a path. No way would he allow money to flow past his syrupy fingers."

"Sticky fingers or not, I am glad he owns them. If not for him, Ms. May would not have taken me in from the winter cold and saved my life. By luck, Heaven decreed that I stumble and fall in front of the Boss's village home for her to see me."

The girl reminisced. Since then, her status and life have propelled faster than a galloping horse. She looked at Finn while shuddering.

"Too bad we didn't find much information. Everyone says that nobody survived the Bitzer raid in the northern village. The few inhabitants who lived were the ones who came into the town on some errand or business at the time. Thank the heavens we have the Boss, or else I can't imagine our fate."

"Praise really needs to be heaped onto heaven and luck. If the village hadn't become cautious after the Wolf Demon episode, and if the Boss hadn't returned, our fate might have been the same. Maybe Ming will have better luck tonight at the tavern."

Finn answered.

***

Amanda brushed away a few golden curls while packing the wooden chest.

"Sahara said we should meet her at the Academy entrance. Our carriages will then join the Military and Mage division heading to Frost City."

"With over five hundred mages and their escorts, along with over a thousand soldiers, we can't be safer. No wonder the peddlers and merchants have been bustling and moving their wagons. After the Bitzer shock, it would be a waste not to take advantage of traveling soldiers."

Sue replied while rolling a large quilt. Squeezing and securing with a pair of leather straps, she stacked the roll into a corner.

"Amanda, did you order the rock bread and flour?"

"Yes, mother. Sakura says she will collect the supplies when she returns from the mansion. If not for Sahara, I think the governor would have seized her as an advisor."

Mrs. Thomas nodded while checking through a scroll.

"Good. I want us to pack the carriage tonight, so tomorrow we won't have to hustle in the morning. Don't expect your dad to help us."

Tomorrow, they would begin their journey northward.

After years of hiding, she was heading to the one place she never dreamed of ever returning.

Frost City...