Chương 55: Chapter 54 - A Community in the Trees

Elias and Tiamat joined Mira and Astra as the patrol crossed through the treeline into a massive clearing easily a mile wide. Eli could make out the treeline in the far distance so he knew they had not yet left the outskirts of the Verdant Reach, but a large swath had been cleared to make room for a small settlement that Eli examined with [Eagle's Eye].

A large hill rose in the middle of the clearing, a massive oak tree with broad spreading branches crowning the peak, sheltering a cluster of low buildings surrounded by a circular wooden palisade wall. Most of the buildings were a single story mix of either gray brick or river stone paired with a chimney and thatched roofs, although there were a couple buildings with slate tile roofs instead, one of which was the double story structure at the peak sheltering under the large tree.

Eli could spot a small stream meandering down the hill to the east joining the Arinel river, and it didn't take much imagination to deduce where Springdale got its name. Outside the wall, the clearing was carpeted in a patchwork of fields containing a variety of crops with most of the area filled with the exception of a one hundred foot gap between the farmland and the treeline. Small fences surrounded the fields, but the area must be fairly peaceful as the first major defense was the palisade.

The predominant crop was a tall grass that Eli suspected was a wheat or barley analog, with large vegetable patches filling the plots closer to the wall.

The wagon path the patrol was following led to the large open gate on the western face of the wall flanked by a pair wooden watchtowers on inside, and joined a far better developed flat dirt road that stretched to the far side of the clearing, a set of shallow ruts cut into the road showed that it was far more heavily traveled than the overgrown path the patrol had used.

More than a few farmers were out in the fields working as the patrol entered the clearing, and most looked up warily, but easing as they caught the well cut uniforms and the barding on the battlewagons. A middle aged farmer and a young man working one of the outer fields near the path shared a glance, before the youth took off towards the gate at a wave from the older man who stepped forward to greet the patrol.

The man was wearing a broadbrimmed straw hat, a sweat stained linen tunic, soft leather trousers tucked into a pair of worn but well cared for knee high leather boots, and was carrying a hoe with a metal blade and wooden haft over his shoulder from where he had been tilling an empty section of field. He looked up at Astra and Mira on their mounts for a moment before tipping the brim of his hat and sketching a small wary bow, " Good day my Lady's, I take it you'll want the headman?"

Astra smiled down at the man speaking with the same warm tone she used with the refugees, " Well met citizen. I take it you sent your boy to fetch him?" Most of the tension left the man's shoulders at her tone, although he still warily eyed the large contingent of armed soldiers, before his eyes widened as he spotted the collection of refugees in patchwork and ill-fitting clothing. He turned back to Astra, " Aye, my Lady."

He paused for a moment before grunting, " If it isn't too much to ask, did you find trouble in the Reach?" Astra a grimace flickered across her face for a moment before her smile returned." No Goodman, it was a nasty business. My men and I handled the issue, so your people should remain unbothered, but we will address it with Headman Adler."

While most of the signs of battle had been scrubbed from the battlewagons, the fresh scratches lingered in bright lines across the metal of the armor plating and the notches in the hardwood. The man worked his jaw as his eyes drifted across the scars before scanning the weary faces of the refugees one more time before returning to gaze at Astra with a look of firm resolve tempered with worry as he gripped the shaft of his implement." If it won't trouble the Lady's can I accompany you back to town?

Survival in the frontier requires every hand we can spare, and if'n your tale isn't for private counsel only I would hear it sooner than later." Astra flicked a glance at Mira who gave a small shrug, before she waved at Mason to let the man into the patrol's cordon." No trouble at all Goodman, any citizen wanting to take up arms in defense of his brethren is an allie of the Emberholdt's. Please join us Mr.?" The man grunted, " Jonas, my Lady."

As the patrol pressed onwards to the wooden gate, Eli smiled inwardly as he suspected the man only spoke in grunts, he arched a brow as Tia leaned in to give him a sniff, Ooooh brother-eli, the man smells like the yummy purple fruits, ask him if he has some. Eli smirked as the man jumped at hearing Tia's chirping trill only apparently just now catching sight of the little wyvern, before taking a wary step further away. Eli scratched Tia's chin before smiling at the man and asking him her question."

Sorry to scare you there Jonas, little Tia here just loves inkfruit and apparently she could smell some on you." The man eased a little before nodding, " Aye, no surprise there, I have a small orchard on the north side of town, I always carry a couple around." He pulled one out of his pocket and laughed as Tia gave a happy trill and did a little dance on Eli's shoulder.

He stripped skin off one and passed it over to her, a wide smile crinkling the corner of his eyes as she sat up and used her front legs to toss wedges into the air and snap them up with her sinuous neck while alternating between a satisfied purring hiss and noisy wet gobbling noises. Yesssssss, these are even better than fruitbringer-Sashas!" Probably because they are fresher. You know Tia, this man grows the inkfruit, if you behave well and listen to Mira we can pick up a bunch before leaving."

This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. Eli laughed at her as she gave him wide puppy eyes as the purple juice dripped down her chin. Not a foodmaker, but a FRUITmaker? She licked her muzzle clean with her long forked tongue before looking at the man with a serious expression, Brother-eli what is this man's name, I have many questions.

Eli smiled and introduced Jonas, and while it took a minute for him to wrap his head around the fact that the questions were actually from the small wyvern and not Eli, he took it in stride as he spoke with pride about the ins and outs of growing inkfruits. Eli watched fondly as the wyvern chittered away happily, amused at how quickly she always seemed to make friends.

The discussion of all things inkfruit had to come to a close as the patrol approached the gate, much to Tia's dismay. A pair of guards in well made leather armors carrying spears with bows strung across their back flanked the gate as a pair of men wearing grim expressions stood in the center of the open path.

Both men were tall, well built, and on the older side, but the man on the left was more trim but still muscular with long dark brown hair shot through with streaks of gray tied back in a ponytail, and the other with short dark blonde hair was built like a brick house, his arms and shoulders heavy corded with muscle. The men's gaze flickered over the wagons and the refugees just like the Farmer's did, and they glanced at each other with an unhappy expression before the man with the ponytail stepped forward."

Good day Lady Emberholdt, and welcome back to our humble village, although it looks like your journey has been anything but pleasant." Mira returned the man's gaze with a cool but not unkind nod, and Astra gave a weary nod." Well met Headman Adler, Mr Smith. You are correct, we found trouble in the woods as you expected, and while the problem has been handled there are some lingering questions that need answering, if you would be so kind." Adler's gaze darkened, " Bandits?"

Astra nodded, and his gaze flicked back to the refugees on the wagons as he grit his teeth, " Slavers?" Astra nodded again, the Headman gritted his teeth before looking at the heavily muscled man with a furious expression, " You were right Tom, I shouldna doubted ye." He swore under his breath for a moment before taking a deep breath nodding at one of the guards turning back to Astra." You and yours are welcome in our village as always my Lady.

Alvin here will see your men to the stables and help get the wagons and mounts settled, and I'll have the Missus draw up baths for the lot and start a collection to get them some proper clothing and out of those rags." He took a deep breath, " It pains me to say but I think I might know where you can find yer rats, but I didna have the men to catch them myself and make sure none get away. Can you spare a few?" Astra's smile grew, " It would be my pleasure, Headman. 3rd and 5th Squad, report!"

As the men and women gathered around Astra she nodded at Adler, " You are tasked with helping Mr Adler catch a few vermin, don't lose any, but make sure they are in condition to talk." The Headman gestured to the big man next to him, " Follow Mr Smith, they should be in one of the guest houses." Mr. Smith turned pulling a large hammer from his belt as the troops followed him up the street, and Mr. Adler gestured for them to follow as he stalked up the street with a glower." Harold Craston.

He's a merchant who frequents our village, and while he and his men have always been a little odd, there aren't many peddlers willing to travel all the way out here, and it takes a certain character to brave the frontier roads. We aren't exactly flooded with opportunities for trade out here and any one willing to make the trip saves our own people from having to brave the road ourselves."

Mira and Astra had followed the man on their mounts, accompanied by Eli and 1st squad accompanying on foot while the rest of the patrol was led off a large patch of grass under the broad canopy of the tree crowning the hill. The Headman waved down a few men from a smithy they passed, and pointed at them to follow Mr. Smith. With grim faces they grabbed hammers of their own and coils of rope before jogging ahead in the big man's wake.

Headman Adler sighed with a grimace before continuing, " Me and Tom already had our suspicions, lots of reports of banditry and worse on the road, but Craston seemed to travel just fine with only a handful of guards and no trouble at all. No one wants to think the worst of the man, but the village thatcher spotted Harold and a couple of his men slipping into the trees headed south on Trailback around daybreak a day after you left and they didn't return for a couple days.""

Normally they wouldn't stay in the village for more than a couple days at most, but it was clear they were waiting on something." He huffed in amusement, " Probably word on whatever raid they launched against your men, the dim wit." Astra arched a brow, " Oh? While I am glad to see you have faith in our soldiers, you seem awfully sure that they would pose us no trouble." Adler snorted in derision, he smiled at Astra before nodding towards Mira, " Anyone who crosses the Frostwarden is a dead man.""

I doubt many would recognize Lady Blackhall on sight, but I served as a house guard up north in Stonevein lands for much of my life before moving my family down to the Reach after we had my boy." He gave a quick bow towards Mira, " I saw your handiwork against a tide of frost trolls that was assaulting the keep, I'll never forget what I saw that day. True power like I've never seen before or since." Mira waved it off, " I am flattered that you remember Headman Adler, Fort Amberidge?"

He nodded and she turned to Astra, " That would have been around 20 years ago my Lady, a few years before your grandfather contacted me. A fierce battle, my only regret was that I could not arrive sooner. I might have saved more lives." Adler shook his head, " You saved plenty that day Lady Blackhall including me and my Mirriam's. Why, she had my first born only a few months later, and we decided it was time to make for the south.

Anyhow, that building right there is where they are staying, likely sleeping off a hangover from last night." He pointed to a small guesthouse next to the two story structure of the village inn at the top of the village green. The small bunk house had a small yard and stable, with four covered wagons in the yard and a group of four drake creatures in the covered stable, smaller and slimmer than the enormous bluffbacks that the patrol used.

The men accompanying Tom Smith spread out surrounding the building in question, positioning a soldier at every shuttered window and door, and the remaining three lined up next to the front door as the large bear of a man approached from the front. Astra and Mira dismounted, handing their Ridgebacks to a pair of soldiers to lead them over to the green with the rest of the patrol.