Chapter 2

Two days later I was back in the small booth. I was two hours late because my mother had ordered something from the bakery in Pisces and as she didn’t have the time to fetch it because she had to go to the stall. I had asked why she couldn’t have ordered it from the three local bakeries in Albino. She then had answered: “It’s a bit fancier to order something from another town; it makes people talk and specially Rekkur. She’s been trying to ruin my business forever. Well now, this will make her talk. You know what? You should tell Mica to tell his mother’s friend… oh, what’s her name?! Lagsi! Tell Mica to tell his mother to tell Lagsi that I ordered something very suspicious from Pisces!” I then asked why she let Rekkur bother her. She then answered:” A woman has few pleasures. This is one that I am terribly good at. So do as you’re told and ride away now,” she waved her hand towards the stables.

I had groomed my black horse and put on bridle and saddle and when I came out I saw that the road was still muddy from the rain though yesterday had been sunny. I sat up and tried to ride on the side of the road where the grass was still growing and the ground was hard. Samur, which was my horse, seamed everything but satisfied with the mud splashing up on his long, steady legs.

When I got to Pisces I had to pay 30 black stone plates. The young lady who stood in the booth was tall and nervous and I guessed she was nervous because I probably looked like a sprinkle warn.

Pisces is a small town, too big to be called a village and too small to have their own protective wall around. Seriously it was a few houses gathered around a market place called The Centre Pescado. I rode Samur all the way to the bakery called the Pastry Heights. The smell of bread and cupcakes flew out from the little shop. In one of the windows you could see the big cakes and bums they made. After I had tied Samur to a pole in front of the store I went in and was overwhelmed by the smells surrounding me. I walked to the desk where a lady in my mother’s age stood. I was welcomed and asked for what service she could possibly give to a sprinkle warn. When she said sprinkle warn, she said it a bit louder so that the cookers could hear her. Sprinkle warns is not wanted anywhere because some say that they just thieve their way through the city and then leave with a bigger amount of stone plates than anyone could possibly get in a lifetime of work. Of course this rumour is based on fact and some sprinkle warns do, but at least 90 percent doesn’t and they are the one to be taking the blame.

I almost giggled to her words but kept my face and told her that I was here for an order from Ástael of Albino. The lady looked suspicious at me and asked me if I was Ástael of Albino. I said I wasn’t and that I was Rufin, daughter of Ástael of Albino and that she had sent me to pick up whatever she ordered.

The lady looked at a list on a desk and picked out some chocolate cakes, one brown, coffee smelling bread and one light, pumpkin smelling bread. She put it all in a sack and gave to me.

“How much is it?” I asked since she would just stand there and stare at me.

“I don’t want your money, snake,” she hissed. I felt amused as she still thought I was a sprinkle warn, although I had to ask why she wouldn’t take the money.

“Because you probably stole it from some poor old woman down in Vaccas, you liar,” I cleared my throat to cover my laugh and I looked at her.

“Beautiful, I have never been to Vaccas and I wouldn’t bear to steal from an old woman, I’m a woman myself, with actual feelings. My conscious wouldn’t survive such a crime,” I answered and pretended that I was so sensitive.

“Don’t come here with your honeyed words, they are to no use here.” She said and reached for something underneath the desk. I grabbed her hand and pretended to be much stressed suddenly.

“Please miss, I am hunted by some bandits that want to get me because I accidently killed their dog in belief it was a wolf. They threaten to kill me if I don’t give them the exact coin of 50 000 white stone plates to replace the dog. I haven’t been eating anything for days and this is my only chance to get anything to eat and believe me, I have planned this since that lady Ástael came here five days ago. So please let me pay you. I don’t want to have one more body on my neck.” This story I had heard from another sprinkle warn at the tollgate. He had, with big eyes told me the story and I had gone with my gaze from him to Mica. Mica grinned and I had to bite my lip not to laugh. He had asked me to please let him pass, because otherwise I would be the cause of his death. So I had smiled at him and pretended to be stupid and just asked for his name and to be very nice and walk into the city and please visit the Fair Maiden Inn.

“Huh! I have heard much better than that! Killed a dog? And pay 50 000 white stone plates? Yeah, right. Leave now, otherwise I will call for the guards, you sneaky burglar.”

“What I’m saying is truth! You have to believe me!” I yelled in faked panic. Then the cookers came out from the kitchen and looked at us.

“What the hell is going on?” one asked.

“She refuses to leave!” the lady screamed and pointed at me.

“But she refuses to take my money!” I screamed in return and pointed at her.

“For heaven’s sake, accept her money!” the second yelled and went back to the kitchen laughing. I laughed on the inside but looked at her seriously.

“How much is it?” I asked again and stared at her. She shaked a little on her voice but still could press out some ugly words.

“27 grey stone plates, peasant,” she said and left the desk. I hid my smile by bowing my head and picked out 27 grey stone plates from my coin purse and put it in a pile on the desk (I knew my actions probably put mother in bad lightning if the word came around, but it was my payback for forcing me to go all the way to Pisces).

One hour later I had arrived at the tollgate with Samur. He greedily dove his head down in the green grass and looked extremely happy. Mica on the other hand, did not. A line had been starting to grow and horses and people were starting to get anxious about the long wait.

“Where the hell have you been?!” he yelled at me as I crawled into the booth. He took pay from another carriage and let him pass.

“I’m sorry, I was in Pisces,” I answered him and took pay from a lonely traveller.

“Why were you in Pisces?!” he yelled back because he was really upset and that unfortunately amused me. I told him the story and he laughed afterwards.

For a Friday there was a huge amount of people coming in. Many of them sounded like they were coming from Altilia, the last city before Fertilem. I heard them talk about war and death which really didn’t bother me. In this second age we had never had any war and the only thing close to war was when the cannibals came running but not even then did we talk of death and such depressing things as war. Anyway, every time a new soul passed the gate I told them to pass by at Fair Maiden Inn but realized that most of them therefor would go there for a sleep so I started to mention other inns.

When my shift was over and it was time for the other shift to start I could barely find the time to jump out of the booth. But when I did I looked at Mica and shrugged and made a face that said that he had no idea why there were so many people here either. But however it was I rode back home and went to bed with the feeling that everything would be better tomorrow.

I was wrong. I woke up two hours earlier and rode to the Fair Maiden Inn to see how many people there was and if I could help since I was the one who had sent them there. When I got there, there was a line outside and people screamed and babies cried. I pressed my way through the crowd with the words that I was an employee. When I got inside I could barely breathe. I was pushed from pillar to post and eventually could press myself to the wall. I followed the wall to find Loretta May standing at the desk and ordering a man that was ten times bigger than her to leave because she had no more room. In fact they could all leave because she couldn’t kick out customers that were having sweet dreams in her excellent awarded beds. I grabbed the man by his arm and looked at him.

“Leave, there is nothing you can do here, leave now and no one gets hurt,” I told him intimidating and he actually looked scared so he backed away and left the inn.

“Do you know why there are so many people here?!” I yelled to be overheard by them. When I looked over them I could almost only see arms that waved and fists flying like they thought that would help to get inside.

“I don’t know!” she yelled back. “There is talk of war but that sounds weird, doesn’t it?” I nodded and I pressed my way out of there again. I had to dodge fists and elbows but I got out without any harm. Ten minutes later I was at Micas house, I knocked the door and his sister, Erbez, opened up. I asked if Mica was home, he wasn’t and she said that he was at the Circle Ring Inn where he had a second part time job. In no time I had arrived there and I walked in. The Circle Ring Inn was quite popular and most sprinkle warns came here because it was a bit outside the rest of the city. Mica stood at the desk and was sorting some papers. He looked up and smiled when he saw me.

“Hey!” he said and put down the papers.

“Have you heard about the war the people from Altilia are talking about?” I asked him. He shrugged and shook his head.

“Nothing, but it’s nothing to worry about. You know how depressing that city is. There was probably some old lady that started to spread a rumour to get the town a little bit more alive.” I was not fully convinced but I faintly smiled at Mica and left him.

I have noticed that I haven’t really described myself, which now will be needed. You know I live outside Albino as a farmer. I have never liked to be in town, there are no trees, no animals, and no freedom. Also the people annoy me. They make me feel vulnerable because they seem to be so much cleverer than me and also they have the guards to protect them, because if there was going to be any trouble around me then they would drag me away and not the friendly citizen who only had passed by, though you could clearly see that he had pretty necklaces stuffed in his pockets.

However now that I left Mica I felt stone cold and I somehow knew something big was coming and it was going to ruin this town that I had grown up in, or outside of.

I quickly rode home and put Samur in one of the paddocks and then helped dad to milk the cows. Mother was at the stall and Barmi was with her. Today was cloudy and quite chilly; father was worried for Barmi that he would catch a cold. All day I planned to ask father if he knew anything about that war but somehow it didn’t feel right to ask. Father looked incredibly mad and I assumed mother had complained about something that he had done wrong.

The dark was crawling in on me and father when we decided it was time to give in to the night and drag our tired legs inside. Father always used to say on these occasions, when he had worked the hardest he could one day and he felt that he could do no more, “After such a good day’s work I am worth the peace the fireplace can give me, the singing my daughter can sing me and the supper my wife can bring me. I am worth the pipe weed of Viriditas and the slumber of the mattress of Somnus. So let that which is worth of me to be brought.” He had put up his feet on a stool and put his pipe in his mouth and the smoke cloud above him would grow into a rain cloud and we waited for it to drop its drops.

When I and father had eaten our supper I put down my glass, which once was filled with warm milk, and I looked at father.

“Have you heard the rumour?” I asked him and he took one blow from his pipe. He nodded quietly.

“Yes, terrible rumour. Glad it’s but a rumour,” he answered me with a deep quiet voice. I nodded and was very careful not to upset him. He took another blow and the cloud became a bit bigger.

“But how do you know it’s but a rumour?” I asked in return and bowed my head a little but looked up at him so that I could see his reaction.

“There has been no war in this age and therefor I don’t believe it is time for it now. Though if there would be a war, it should not be worthy the kind name, it ought to be called massacre, for the people of the second age have not - as said – seen a war.” I nodded again and though his words sounded true and clever I could not be convinced.

“Father, think about it for a moment, there has never been such a throng of people that has crowded Albino like this. I mean why would they be here, why would they leave the comfort of their homes for such a prank? You have to admit it is odd.” He nodded also again and he took out his pipe from his mouth. He stared into the fireplace.

“I cannot say I don’t share your fears but it’s most unlikely that such a thing would happen. But I would say that you could ride to The Death Granters and ask them if there has been anyone that has wished to be turned because of a war. Then if they say no, you thank them and give them a piece of flesh from some animal and leave. Although if their answer would be yes than you leave as quickly as possible and tell me, then we’ll have to prepare for battle.” Father seriously looked at me and I looked at his worried wrinkle between his eyebrows. “You could bring Mica with you,” he shortly continued and I was sold on the idea. It would be great to go on an adventure just him and me and the wild. Like two sprinkles warns.

“Do you trust The Death Granters more than the folk of Altilia?” I asked him and raised my eyebrows slightly.

“They hear a lot more than the people of Altilia do and they will do anything for a piece of meat. Besides you need to do something fun for a change, you have helped me and mother for far too long without a break. We will do without you for a month or two. And you’ve become rather paranoid and a loner lately so it’ll be good for you to get out a little bit, meet new people and so on,” he wavered with his hand, gesturing at the “so on”. I grinned slightly offended but agreed shortly afterwards that it would be good for me and most amusing for my father. We paused for a bit and my thoughts went back to the possible war. If it had come to Fertilem, how could I be sure that it wouldn’t reach Albino before I got back to warn everyone?

“What if the war comes here before me?” I asked and looked worried at him.

“Now, we don’t even know if there is a war to be worried of, but if the war would against all odds come and before you then it comes. And we will have nothing to say of the matter.” Father answered after a while when he had thought of his answer. I nodded and I smiled to my dear father and told him to sleep well. Then I walked out of my home and saddled Samur again. He neighed unhappily and I laughed and tapped his coal black head. I rode to Mica and tied my horse outside. A strong wind had started to play with Albino and I tightened my skin jacket around my body and knocked the door to his house which windows were lit up and the light shone upon the muddy ground. Their house was a pretty big log house and though it wasn’t long it was high and had an airy atmosphere in it. Around it alike houses lay and rested and they were all so unlike to my house. My house was built together with the stables and it was in stone and cement. The roof was in reed and upon it was a chimney that smoke always rose from. The barn was in the same material but a bit further away where it was not seen from the road as our house was built upon a hill. Down from the barn was the lands we grew crops on.

Once again Erbez opened and smiled at me.

“Good evening Rufin, Mica’s in the kitchen,” she said and waved me inside. I thanked her and walked in and straight to the kitchen. Mica smiled at me when I came in.

“Well good evening good ma’am, how can I serve you this fair night?” he asked me and bowed at my feet.

“I need you to come with me,” I said and seriously stared at him. He looked a bit surprised.

“Come with you where?” he asked and I told him father’s plan. I put in words like “an incredible adventure” and “memory for life”. Although I skipped what we were going to ask The Death Granters, actually I skipped the whole part about The Death Granters. Instead I said that we were going to Altilia and see for ourselves the expecting war.

When I finished my story, Mica looked somewhat excited. Though he was worried how his sisters and mother would make it without him.

“How long do you expect us to be gone?” he asked me and I considered a fair number.

“Two months.” I answered him. He sighed and shook his head.

“I cannot be away that long, they would starve without me,” he told me and looked depressed. Then suddenly Erbez and Molly jumped forth from the doorstep and wildly protested.

“We can take care of mother and ourselves! Mother would cook and we would sell at the stall every day. And for the money we get we will buy exactly what mother tells us and we promise to be very nice to mother Mica!” they yelled to him and jumped around. Mica laughed and patted their heads.

“Calm now, I must see the head of our order, if she does not approve then I may not leave you two lunatics.” He walked towards the living room where his mother sat and listened to the fire in the fireplace. She smiled when she heard his footsteps.

“My boy, you have company. Is it Rufin’s white hair I hear blowing?” she asked and held out a hand.

“Yes mother, she wants me to come with her to Altilia,” he continued to explain the whole thing and she smiled and laughed sometimes at it.

“I believe my beauties can take care of me for two months,” she said and smiled. “You go, son, I have no use of a sad soul under my roof.” I looked at Mica and smiled inviting. He sighed and looked down at his hands.

“You leave me no other choice, then,” he said and sighed and smiled.

“Awesome! Be ready tomorrow night, we’ll ride to Pisces at six.” Mica nodded and he showed me out so that he could get a good night sleep before the journey’s start. I rode home and at two after midnight I came home and was laid to bed by a magic force for I could not remember in the morning how I got in bed.

The morning before the start of our journey was chaotic, father had explained to mother the idea of our little adventure and she hated the idea. I woke up when she screamed and called father an ignorant child. I quickly dressed and walked into the kitchen where dad sat on a stool and putting spoons of pinecone porridge in his mouth and mother looked down on him with a red face.

“Don’t you have any sense in your body? How dare you send your own flesh and blood to The Death Granters? It’s like you want her dead!” she yelled and slammed a cup of coffee on the table. Father wiped of the hot coffee from his face and looked up on mother.

“Rufin is strong, intelligent and talented when it comes to survive. It’s The Death Granters you should be worried for, if they as much as walk a wrong step, they’re dead. Rufin will do just fine,” father said and I smiled.

“Precisely mother, listen to him, he if someone should know,” I said in a confident tone. Mother sighed and rubbed her forehead with her hand.

“I don’t understand why I married him in the first place. I’ve never met anyone with such ignorance. War? In Altilia? I’ve never heard such nonsense. I should have listened to my mother when she told me that you were nothing to keep.” She sat down and buried her head in her hands.

“You married me because you love me, Ástael, and because I love you,” he said and stroke her back. She looked up at him and smiled.

“Unfortunately I do,” she told him and they smiled, father gave mother a peck on the forehead, I looked away because it disgusted me both because it was my parents and for the fact that they loved each other.

“I’m going to prepare now, if you don’t mind,” I said and walked to the hall and pulled out a knapsack and other sacks where I put apples, bread, bacon, sausages, bottles of wine and mead, cabbages and tomatoes. I also put a grilled beef in a sack for I thought that we maybe would have a “fest dinner” after we had been at The Death Granters. I put a jacket and a green shirt in my knapsack, rope and a few meters of string. I opened the lock we had our weapons in. I liked the “old way” weapons like bow and sword so I put my bow and a quiver on my back; I tied a one – handed sword around my waist and two throwing axes. I also put a knife on the belt and a knife around my ankle. When I was done I started to tie it on the little pony we had that was too small to be ridden upon but a good packing horse. His name is Agnarögn and his fur is red brown as his hair.

Samur looked at me like he thought I was joking with him. I smiled and stroke his black neck. I heard mother come out to the stables and she watched me while I saddled Samur.

“I don’t like you leaving,” she said and leaned against the door frame to the stables.

“You’ll just have to live with it,” I said.

Mother sighed and walked up to Samur and stroke his black head and braided her fingers in his hair.

“Take care love,” she said and lay one hand on my shoulder and hugged it. Then she walked back in.

Next Chapter: New Chapter