The Land: Founding (Chaos Seeds Book 1)

CHAPTER 18

It took over two weeks to reach the edge of the forest. No other major events occurred after they found the Seed Core, and they were able to enjoy the peace of the forest. Many of the items they had found in the skeeling’s lair were rubbish; old moldy clothes and rusty tools. There were several pouches adding up to a few gold coins. One item did stand out though.

You have received: High steel long sword. Damage 18-24. Durability 37/50. Item class: Uncommon. Quality: Superb. Weight 2.8 kg

Well, it wasn’t a magical sword of griffin reaping or anything spectacular, but it was a definite step up from his short sword, which was looking rather battered anyway.

Leaving the trees was a bit of a shock to the senses. After weeks of shade, and the myriad sounds of the small creatures around them, they were confronted with cultivated land. It was strange to see the wide open sky after so much time in the forest. Before them was an ocean of green grass on gently sloping hills. The sky was cloudless, and was a smooth azure like cornflowers in spring. A broad dirt road was several hundred yards from the edge of the forest. The travelers upon it raised a cloud of dust ten feet in the air. There was some traffic in both directions on it, but the majority was moving south towards a town seen in the distance. Sion and Richter approached the road, and a quick round of questioning informed them that the road to Law passed through the town. They joined the flow of traffic towards the settlement.

After only a few minutes, the dirt in the air found its way into their mouths. Can’t even get away from pollution in medieval times, Richter thought with irritation. The time spent traveling on the road was unpleasant to say the least. Before too long though, the town loomed in front of them. A stone wall surrounded it, fifteen feet high, with towers at each corner. The town gates were wide open though, and two bored looking guards merely waved traffic through. Until Richter and Sion that is.

“Papers,” the older guard said without changing his demeanor, his hand outstretched.

Richter stared at him without speaking.

Letting out a long suffering sigh, the guard repeated himself, “Pay-perrs.”

Richter put on a fake smile, “I’m sorry, but I didn’t know we needed papers. I didn’t see anyone in front of us hand you anything.”

“YOU don’t need anything, but the Spit there does,” the younger guard said in an aggressive tone. Sion breathed heavily in irritation.

“Stay easy Jonsey, no need to get agitated,” the other guard said. “Now where did you folks come from?”

“We just finished traveling through the forest.”

“Came from Rione did you?”

Richter thought quickly, and remembered that Rione was a neighboring kingdom on the other side of the Serrated Mountains. If his recall was correct from the game, the Kingdom of Rione was less developed, and had large populations of nonhumans.

“Err yeah, we crossed though a pass in the mountains and then traveled down through the forest. Your town is the first that we have seen.”

“Failure to declare at the borders is an offence and requires you to be detained!” Jonsey’s voice was full of righteous indignation, but it was clear that the main source of his ire was Sion. His glare never left the small humanoid.

“Whoa, whoa, Jonsey! I told you to be calm!” A note of iron had worked its way into the older guard’s voice. Turning to Richter he said, “Now you seem like a good sort. I’m sure you didn’t mean to flout the King’s laws now did you?”

The answer obvious, so as sincerely as possible Richter answered, “No, of course not!”

“Now I have a cousin that works at the border, and if you wanted to leave the passage fee with me I’m sure I could get it to him. No harm, no foul.” As the guard said it, he looked Richter meaningfully in the eye.

“That sounds like a wonderful idea,” Richter replied. “Of course, I would feel better if I could offer a bit of coin to pay for the cost of the journey.”

The guard smiled brightly, “Well if it makes you feel better, who am I to object.”

Not knowing what amount was appropriate he took three silver from his purse and paused a moment. The expectant look on the guards face made him dig a bit deeper, and he pulled out five more. At a pleased nod from the guard, Richter closed his purse and handed over the coins. For an older man, the guard made the coins disappear fast enough, and waved the two companions through. As they passed he handed them a piece of paper he had scribbled on. “Take this to the ministry office and get a bond for your friend there,” nodding at Sion. “You will continue to run into trouble without the right papers. Just keep straight on the main street until you see a large white building with a green slate roof on the right.”

Nodding thanks to the man, Richter took the paper and began to turn away, but on impulse moved back to the gate. At the guard’s curious glance, he took another five silver out of his purse and said, “It is clear that we are new here, and I would appreciate any help navigating your town and country. I would be very appreciative,” shaking the money in his partially closed fist, the coins making a slight tinkling sound.

“Well I have always fancied myself an ambassador,” the guard chuckled taking the coins and making them disappear just as quickly as the first eight. “When you get to the ministry ask for Edwin. Tell him Caulder sent you. It might also be a good idea to tell them you lost the papers, rather than that you didn’t declare your friend upon entering our fair land. Just a piece of friendly advice, ey? And if you need a place to stay I would recommend the Whistling Hen. They may not be the cheapest, but for a copper the stable boy will pay close attention to your horses. Make sure they don’t wander off in the night if you catch my meaning,” he said with a wink. “They also don’t mind if you have friends from various places,” nodding at Sion again.

“Thank you for your help. My name is Richter,” he said extending his hand.

Caulder extended his own and they clasped wrists. The guard’s hand was rough with calluses. “You might want to find some clothes as well,” indicating the green armor they both wore, “You kind of stand out. Maybe I’ll see you in the common room later, and we can share an ale. The Whistling Hen has great service,” he said with a laugh, “and either way, welcome to the Leaf’s Crossing!”

Somewhat confused, but happy for the advice, Richter simply nodded and smiled. Even though it costs some money it seemed his increased Charisma was already coming in handy. With a slight pull on the bridle, his pony started walking again, Sion and his own pony moving along beside him. Throughout the exchange, the younger guard stared coldly at the sprite.

After they had moved up the road for a few minutes, Richter asked, “Why did he call you that?”

Sion took a moment before answering, “I had always heard stories that some humans fostered a hate for us and other races, but I had hoped it wasn’t true. What he called me was an insult. I have never heard about needing to register before though. From the stories I heard, the city of Law has many races within it.”

Richter felt somewhat disheartened. He had hoped that blind hatred wouldn’t follow him to this world. It seemed some things were universal, however. They walked for a while until they came upon a white building with a green roof, just as Caulder had said. A coat of arms, blue swords pointing downward on a field of green, was hung at the top of the building, the same image Richter had seen on the guards’ shirts.

A copper coin each to the valet ensured that their mounts would be watched while they were inside. The entrance led into a large room with multiple hallways leading off of it. People moved quickly in all directions. Lines of various colors were on the floor, some tracing into open doorways and others leading off into the distance. Seeing that all of the lines converged at the desk at the far end of the room, he joined the queue of people waiting. First racial prejudice and now the DMV! So far Richter wasn’t a fan of the Kingdom!

After an hour of standing in line, they reached the front. A severe older woman looked down at them from an elevated platform. A large wooden desk was between them. Her hair was in a gray bun, and her mouth seemed set into a perpetual frown. She sneered slightly when she spoke to them.

“Yes,” she said in a scratchy voice that would put a pack a day smoker to shame.

Richter plastered a smile onto his face, “Hello, ma’am, I was told by the city guard that I needed to get papers for my companion,” nodding to Sion.

Apparently his increased Charisma was powerless in the face of entrenched bureaucracy. Pinning Richter to the floor with her gaze, the woman said “Failure to declare a nonhuman upon entering Yves is a serious offence!”

“No, no,” Richter said quickly. “We simply lost our papers. I have this note.” He handed her the paper that Caulder had given him.

With disdain, the woman took the paper and scanned it. Flicking her gaze back and forth between Richter and Sion, she grunted. With one last long look, as if to question why the world had to have such imbeciles in it, she took out a piece of paper from a stack on her left and jotted down a quick set of notes. “Take this to requisition processing and get a note of dividend. Then take the note to accounting, and pay the requisite fee. They will give you an AIY-6 form. Have that signed by middle registry, and return the form back to this desk after obtaining the signatures of three people in good standing within the town. At that point…”

As she rattled off these directions with the sure tone of a general giving commands on the battlefield, Richter began to wail internally! His panic ratcheted up with each new mini quest he was being given. Even Sion who had faced a horde of goblins and an undead sorcerer, seemed to have paled under her onslaught. With the feeling of a man without air, Richter made one last effort to keep the two of them from being drowned in a week of bureaucracy, “I need to talk to Edwin,” Richter blurted.

“Ohhh,” she said slowly, dragging the single syllable out and staring at him. Richter was fairly certain she was doing her best to make him catch fire with her mind! After a seeming eternity she said, “Follow the blue and white dashed line to the second floor.” The woman’s voice was like two rocks scrapping together… coarse rocks.

Saying thank you, Richter and Sion walked, walked rather quickly, away from the fearsome creature. After only a moment of searching, they found the appropriate line and followed it to the second floor. It led to a door with “Nonhuman Affairs” carved above it. It might have taken days to get here if he had followed the proper channels! Richter realized that the money he had given to Caulder was probably the best money he had ever spent in either world. Whether the interaction was due to his Charisma or Luck he’d never know, but he was thankful! Knocking on the door, they swiftly heard something crash against the other side of it and a voice shouted, “Go Away!” Richter hoped he hadn’t spoken too soon.

With the only other option being to go back down stairs and face Edna the Terrible, Richter steeled himself and went inside the room. A portly man sat behind a desk piled with papers. His robe hung open revealing a simple white shirt and brown pants. The shirt had several stains upon it, and by the fade pattern, they had been accumulated over some time. He looked up from whatever he was working on and snarled, “I said I was busy! Who are you anyway? Do I need to call the guards?” The man opened his mouth, and drew in a sharp breath.

Before he could call for help, and Sion and he ended up in jail, Richter said, “Caulder sent us. He said you could help.”

“Caulder? That no good sunuvabitch! He still owes me from that game of Kings last week! And you thought you would engender sympathy by using his name? Ha! Guar--”

“He sent us to give you the money he owes you,” Sion interrupted loudly.

“He did,” Edwin asked sounding confused.

“He did,” Richter echoed, sounding confused himself.

Sion widened his eyes, set his mouth and indicated Edwin with a not so subtle head movement.

Richter looked back at Edwin, whose mouth was still open as if undecided whether to finish his outcry. Taking what seemed like his three hundred and fifty thousandth sigh since coming to The Land, Richter squared his shoulders, and more definitively said, “He did.”

A large grin landed upon the face of the government official, “Well now! That changes everything, my friends! So you have my gold piece with you then?”

Never trusting a smile, Richter narrowed his eyes. Plastering a large smile of his own on, he said, “Of course! It would be great if we could finish here quickly because we need to drop off our bounties.”

“Bounties,” Edwin asked his smile slipping a bit.

“Yes,” Richter said, his own smile widening. “They are really beginning to stink! Taking only dead on delivery contracts can surely make things easier, but it’s hard on the nose when they start to pile up! You have to bring the whole body back now too! So much easier when they only needed the head. Isn’t that right, Sion?” The sprite stood at back of the room caressing the hilt of his sword. Upon hearing his name he just gave an evil smile that did not reach his eyes. Shaking his head as if to mourn the loss of a simpler time, Richter reached for his purse to pull out the money and said innocently, “You did say three gold pieces?”

During his soliloquy, Edwin’s eyes had widened until it seemed the man’s bushy eyebrows would fly off the top of his head, “Well, well, that is to say, I think I confused Caulder with another fellow… Kwalder. Yes I remember now, Caulder only owed me 7 silver and 5 copper.”

“Hmm, well that would be an easy mistake to make,” Richter said with a smile. Counting out the required funds he placed them in Edwin’s sweaty palm. “Now we are all friends! We have done you a favor by helping you collect on a debt. What are friends for if not favors though, right? Perhaps you could help us as well. We apparently need papers so that my Companion can travel through the kingdom.”

Nodding quickly Edwin moved to get out various papers and stamps. As he started to get their paperwork in order, Richter said “While we are here, maybe you can tell me why we need to have papers at all. It also might be nice to have a reference for someone in government over in Law. We like making friends. I’m a people person, right Sion?” A grim chuckle was his only answer.

With another look at the seemingly blood thirsty sprite with his ever so sharp sword, Edwin started to nod even faster as continued his task.

A short while later, the two friends were walking down the street and laughing. They found directions to the Whistling Hen easily enough. For some reason the man who gave him directions winked like Caulder had. Still not getting the joke, he and Sion just thanked him and strolled to the inn. A red hen was on the sign with its beaked pursed and musical notes coming out.

As they walked inside they were greeted with a wave of sound. Time had been moving on, and the interior of the inn was swollen with customers for dinner. A musician played some kind of stringed instrument, and several patrons clapped along. A large black pot hung over a fire and a hearty aroma of vegetables and simmering meat permeated the air. There was definitely a stale beer smell in the air as well, but it was a lot better than some bars Richter had been in. It seemed like everyone was having a good time.

More interesting, there was a mix of races in the inn. Though it was mostly humans by far, there was a table of dwarves near the center of the room. He couldn’t be sure of course having never seen one before, but the short frame, large muscles and beards seemed like a clear giveaway. At another table there was a taller woman with slightly pointed ears laughing at the joke of one of her human table companions. This was the world he had dreamed of. A world of fantasy melded with a world of hope and joy. And that feeling of contentment lasted right up to the moment that Sion drew an arrow with a snarl and pointed it across the room.

The mood changed as first one, then another, and then all of the people in the room stood and drew whatever weapons they had available. A few only managed to fall on their face, clearly deep in their cups. Richter had his hand on his sword confused as he did not see any danger. He traced the line of the Sion’s arrow and finally saw the target of his friend’s anger. A brown tunic covered a goblin the size of a scout. It (‘He’ Richter mentally corrected remembering Hisako’s advice) was squealing in terror as it pressed its back against the bar, seeking escape.

“Lower that bow!” a voice shouted. A large woman came from behind the bar holding a rolling pin. “If that arrow leaves your bow, we will rip you apart!” She put herself in the path of Sion’s shot.

“Sion, put down your bow,” Richter said. “We are guests here! Do not let your hate guide you! Is this what the Hearth Mother would want?”

Sion glanced at him sharply, then relieved tension on his bow string. He shoved his arrow back into his quiver in a smooth motion.

“Now get out,” the woman spat.

Richter raised his hands in appeasement. “I am so sorry that we have disrupted the love and peace of this place. What you have here is amazing. My Companion and I have had a hard time. We have fought through many dangers, and barely survived against a band of goblins that were trying to corrupt his home.”

“That is no excuse!”

“No it is not miss. I won’t give you an excuse. My dad used to say, excuses are monuments of nothing that build bridges to nowhere. I’m just a man who wants to offer an apology.” Richter reached under his armor for a hidden pouch. Opening it, he fished inside and then withdrew an opal. Moving slowly, he made his way through the sea of hostile faces, and past the woman who protected the small creature. He knelt, as the goblin shivered in front of him. Waiting until it looked him in the eye, he simply said, “I’m sorry,” and handed the jewel to the goblin. Its shivers came under control, and it looked from the gem to him, first in fear, then in confusion and wonder.

Standing, Richter looked at the woman again and met her eyes. He nodded once, and then shouldered his pack and turned to leave. Sion fell in step behind him.

“Wait,” the woman called. “Why are you here?”

Richter turned back, “I met a man named Caulder who said that this was a place we could come and be welcome. I know how ironic that sounds now.”

The woman held his gaze, “Do you promise to not commit any violence while you are under this roof?”

Richter opened his mouth to speak, but she said sharply, “I do not need to hear it from you!”

Sion stepped forward and said, “I reacted, I did not think. I brought dishonor to my Hearth, not honor. My name is Sion of the Wood Sprites of the Forest of Nadria. I swear I will commit no violence if none is committed against me. Kva ti relada voe.”

Preparing to translate, Richter was surprised when the woman responded, “Ti voe reladii.”

Sion had said, ‘my life for my word’ and she had accepted his pledge, ‘your word for your life.’

The woman looked around and addressed all the patrons. They were still on their feet unsure about the turn of events. “Well ladies and gentlemen, I hope you have enjoyed your mid dinner entertainment!” A series of chuckles came from all around. “Let’s start the music back! Next round is on the house!”

“And the round after that is on me,” Richter said. More cheers followed his pronouncement.

A grudging smile formed on the woman’s face. “Well you sure make an entrance. Call me Rosy, everybody does.” She extended her hand, but when Richter went to shake it, she moved forward a half step and clasped his wrist. Her grip was surprisingly strong. With a firm shake she released. “Now what can I do for you?”

“We need a place to stay, and I need to sell the goods that we have.”

“So you’re merchants? Never really seen merchants wearing woodland armor before.”

“Not exactly,” Richter said with a small laugh. “What we really need are supplies for my village, and people brave enough to be pioneers.”

“What type of people are you looking for?”

“I need the kind of people that can make a community. Carpenters, farmers, masons, guards, blacksmiths, etc. I have a village rich with resources, but need people to help me realize its potential.”

“Hmmm, well you can sell your items here, though if any are magical you’ll get a much better price in the capital. As far as the people that you are looking for, I’m sure you’ve seen that nonhumans are treated as inferiors in Yves.”

“Yeah, we just spent time in the ministry getting papers for Sion. That’s actually how we met Caulder. He guided us to the appropriate person.”

“Well I don’t know if they explained it, but these rules are new. In the past, the Kingdom had always welcomed the different races. Each worked together for the betterment of all. When the king died though, his son listened to conservative advisors. He started to enact laws that slowly funneled power and wealth away from Yves’s nonhuman citizens. The rumor is that it found its way into the pockets of the king and his friends. Ten years later, all nonhumans are either bound to one place or bonded to a human. That’s the significance of those papers you received at the ministry today. Now, you are basically the sprite’s guardian. Anything he does you are responsible for. He is ‘bonded’ to you.”

“What is the bound option?”

“Basically like a work permit. Nonhumans get hired under a human to work, but end up getting paid coppers on the gold. They also cannot move far from their job or they get thrown in jail. Hence, ‘bound.’ You wouldn’t believe it, but thirty years ago all races roamed the kingdom openly, sharing their ideas and culture.”

Richter looked around the room, “It seems like you guys are doing pretty good.”

“But this is one of the only places in town where the different races mix openly. With the new laws, old hates have risen up. More and more humans are coming to despise anyone different from themselves.” Thinking of the younger gate guard, Richter knew he had already experienced this change in opinion.

“Well, you have told me what started your travels, but what can I do for you now,” she asked.

“We could use a place to stay for the night, and maybe an introduction or two if you can manage it.”

“Done,” she said with another smile. “Each room costs three coppers, but it has two beds and comes with dinner. Looks like Rat has made a good stew tonight. I trust you won’t try and kill our cook again?”

“The goblin is your cook,” Sion asked in disbelief.

“Yes, and he’s a good one. He makes the best stew in town. I think it’s on account of the goblin’s sense of smell. I’m sure we won’t have any more trouble with you?”

“I have agreed to heed the peace and I will. If you say the food is good, then I will trust you. But is his name truly Rat?”

“Yes,” she said with a smile.

“How did he get that name,” the sprite asked.

“You don’t want to know,” she said with the same smile. “Do you have any animals that need caring for?” At Richter’s nod she continued, “Well it’s another copper per animal. So are you interested?”

“I am.” Richter liked her straight forward manner, despite their rocky start.

“Well then,” she said slapping her thighs. “Let me get you the key to your room. The stable boy will see to your mounts. The soup is almost done. Why don’t you put your things down, and then go buy some clothes. I don’t know if anyone has told you, but you look kinda odd walking around in green armor.”

Taking the hint, he and Sion followed directions. After dropping their things in their rooms, they headed outside. Rosy gave them directions to a nearby clothes shop that catered to multiple races. They were soon both outfitted with serviceable traveling clothes. Richter wore black pants and a beige shirt, both of which fit over his armor. Sion decided to maintain his color scheme, and wore a green tunic that fell over darker green pants. Now properly attired, they made their way back to the inn.

“Hello my friends,” a shout greeted them when they reentered the common room. Caulder sat near the stage where the musicians were performing. He waved them over to the table. When they sat, he raised his mug and drained it in one go. Not missing a beat, he half stood and raised his other hand over his head with three fingers extended, “Rosy my love! Three ales for three hard working men!” Rosy favored him with a faint smile, and a roll of her eyes.

Sitting back down, Caulder looked at them with a smile, “So was Edwin able to help?”

“Yes, we have the papers for Sion, and we were able to help Edwin with that debt you owed him,” Richter said wryly.

“Yes well, sounds like everybody got what they wanted. You got your papers, Edwin got his coins, and I got the warm feeling of helping someone in need! Ha-ha!”

Laughing at the guard’s roguish wit, Richter couldn’t summon any irritation. The ales were delivered. The three men listened to the music, and drank the slightly bitter brew. After a time, three soups were brought to the table, and even Sion admitted it was a savory fare. They sat in quiet comradery as the hours whiled away. Patrons slowly trickled out until only guests and die hard drinkers were left. Rosy came to join them as the hustle and bustle of the inn calmed down. “So what’s your next step from here?”

As Richter had listened to the conversations at nearby tables, many of them centered on the nonhumans’ discontent with the current course of the kingdom, and dissatisfaction with their treatment as second class citizens. “I feel like there may be many nonhumans who have the skills I need, and aren’t quite happy with the life they’re leading here. I know there are not enough people here in this town who can help me, but there just might be in the capital city. Do you know anyone that you could introduce me to?”

Rosy’s smile spoke for itself. As the conversation went on Caulder got up and whispered in the ear of one of the prettier barmaids. After placing a few coppers in her hand, she smiled and they slipped up the stairs to the sound of giggling. Richter furrowed his brow and looked at Rosy. She gave a hearty laugh, “This is the Whistling Hen. For the right price, my girls will put their lips together and whistle you a tune. And you get to pick exactly where they’re whistling!”

Well, Richter thought smile, this world certainly does has a lot to offer!