Chapter 3 Part 3

The morning sun was bright as he waited his turn to enter the city. Finally a guard approached.
“Do you have a pass to enter?”
Zachary pulled out his pass and said, “Sure ‘nough. I got it right here,” and handed the papers to him.
The guard took a moment to read it then waived him through.
As he passed through the flame clad guards were doing their best to stand around and look intimidating. Right away he felt the telltale tingle of magic. He’d probably been marked again.
He wanted to avoid looking suspicious, so he drove purposely to Drew’s brewery. It was a large building with a set of double doors in the front. Another wagon was unloading bags of grain and Drew was outside watching for him.
“Good morning,” Drew said with a smile as he sauntered up to Zachary’s cart.
Morning,” said Zachary eyeing the large wagon in his way. “Where do you want me to park?”
“Oh, I’ll have one of my boys take it ‘round to the back and load it up. Come on in and have a bite while you wait.”
Zachary grinned, “Who’s cookin’?”
Drew barked out a laugh. “Not to worry, I get pastries from the bakery down the street.”
Zachary gave his reigns over to the indicated boy and followed Drew into the brewery. It was a fair sized building, although mostly given over to numerous vats and stacks of casks. He followed to an office and took a comfortable seat. He took a pastry and a mug of tea from a young girl.
“This is my daughter Emma,” Drew said with a smile to the girl.
“Pleased ta meet you Emma,” Zachary said to her. She smiled shyly and offered a pastry to her father.
“Your cart should be ready soon. Do you have any pressing need to be back on the road right away?”
“Not really, I’m just going on to the next town and trading. I’m makin’ my way south, I’ve always wanted to see the southern ocean.”
“Sounds like a fine way to go. It’d be something I’d like to see myself. But, as long as you’re here you oughtta see the town.”
“I’d like to, but it’s a bit pricey to come in and out O’ the gate ever day.”
“Your pass is good for five days in town,” Drew said expansively. “And I know a good inn nearby, that has good prices and good ale.”
Zachary grinned. “One of your customers ‘eh?”
Drew gave a look of mock pain. “Oh, I’ve been caught.” He smiled broadly. “Seriously though, it’s a nice place and the lady who runs it is a friend.”
Things couldn’t have worked out better. He was a bit suspicious of Drew’s motives, but it was the opportunity he’d been looking for. “You know that sounds like a good idea. Maybe I can even pick up a little bauble or two here and there to impress the ladies along the road.”
Drew laughed. “I suppose you might at that. You can always drop by here or by the Red Feather if you need directions or a drink.”
They sat and chatted for about an hour as the cart was loaded. Zachary tried to steer the conversation towards the Baron and the Captain, but Drew kept veering away to talk about sights and brewing, so he didn’t press it.
Finally the boy who’d taken the cart came in and nodded to Drew. “Well it looks like they have your cart loaded. You wanna inspect it?”
“Sure,” said Zachary as he stood and followed. The cart was loaded neatly and intelligently. It looked as though care had been taken to make it a perfect load. In fact it was a little too perfect.
“Your boys did a good job,” Zachary said.
“We aim to please,” Drew returned. “It’s the little things that make return customers.”
“True enough.” He took the reigns from the hitch on the wall. “So where is this inn you mentioned?”
“It’s back up the street and the second building to the left as you turn back onto main.” Drew picked up a small knapsack from near the wall. “I have to go to the Red Feather and the Bundled Sheaf Inn is on the way, so I’ll show you.”
Hmmn, oddly convenient, Zachary thought, then said, “Sounds good. Lead on.”
Drew led the way back towards main, pointing out the various businesses along the way. At the intersection a large knot of flame-clad guards were crowded around two men. Both were obviously in custody as they were bound. They were also not dressed as locals.
Drew suddenly became quiet and hurried them along to a large building about fifty feet further on. The sign outside proclaimed it to be the inn they were looking for. Zachary felt very uncomfortable since several of the guards were pointing at him. The only townsfolk on the streets were very quick to move along and take their business elsewhere. A few faces could be seen peering cautiously from nearby windows and two young men were industriously sweeping the front steps of the inn.
Zachary became really nervous when a couple of guards started to slowly make their way towards him and Drew nearly bolted into the inn.
The guards were no more than a dozen steps away when a matronly woman of way above average endowments ran down the steps with joy on her face and slammed into him with a bone-crushing hug.
Loudly the woman proclaimed, “Zachary, you’ve come back to me!” She buried her face in his neck and whispered intensely, “Play along or they’ll take you away. My name is Sara.”
Zachary hesitated only a moment then returned her hug with gusto and said loudly, “Ah darlin’ I told you I’d be back.”
Before he could say any more she planted a big kiss on him and said in a loud breathless rush, “I always knew you would. Oh but wait! You haven’t met your son yet.” She yelled over her shoulder to one of the lads on the porch, “Thomas! Come and meet your father.”
As the young man came down the steps the guards seemed to falter, so Zachary greeted him with enthusiasm as Sara made introductions. “Thomas this is Zachary. He had to travel just before you were born, but he’s finally back!” She continued to gush loudly as the guards faded back into the small crowd of people who appeared to see the excitement. She turned expansively to the crowd and exclaimed, “My Zachary’s back! Lunch and ales are on the house!” Then she led him inside amid a crowd of suddenly friendly people.
Once inside she boisterously hollered to one of the other boys inside, “Billy, take our Zachary’s cart to the stables.” Billy headed for the door with a reply of, “Yes, ma.”
Thoroughly bemused, Zachary planted a big smile on his face and followed Sara through the room amidst the catcalls and cheers of the various well-wishers in the room.
The next room was a quiet sitting room. Sara held up a finger to her lips and led him further into the building to what must be her own room where Drew waited for them. Then she said, “Whew, that was close.”
Zachary drew himself up. “Thanks, I think. Now suppose ya tell me what that was all about.”
Drew frowned. “We just saved you from the guards.”
“So I gathered. Why?”
“What do you mean 'why'?” Drew’s frown deepened. “You’d think a person would be grateful.”
“Grateful yes, and suspicious.” He turned to Sara. “You did a lot more than just take a step out of your way. From now on we have to maintain this charade as long as I’m here and you don’t even know me.”
Sara flopped onto her bed and replied with angry relief, “Well it was the first damned thing I could think of. Besides, the guards wouldn’t buy just anything.”
“That still doesn’t tell me why you’d put yourself in danger for a total stranger.” A thought struck him and whirled to face Drew. “What did you do to my cart?”
Drew stepped back with a startled look. “What? I, I didn’t do anything to your cart,” he stammered.
“Then how’s about I go and look it over real good. You know, unload it and inspect it.”
Sara stood and looked at Drew sternly. “Give it up. He’s no fool.” She looked at Zachary. “There’s an extra cask on your cart marked as summer ale. You were going to be met by some friends of ours outside of town, and they were going to collect that cask and send you on your way. If you were friendly, they’d give you a little coin, if not, they’d take it anyway.”
“And what’s in that cask?” Zachary asked sharply.
“Money for supplies.” Sara’s features softened and she gestured towards a chair. “Why don’t you have a seat and I’ll tell you what I can.” She sat on the bed.
Zachary stood for a moment then begrudgingly sat. “Ok. What kind of supplies?”
Drew looked at Sara sharply. “Take care. For all you know, he works for the Serpent.”
She snorted. “Fat lotta good that’ll do us now. If he does, we’re already dead.”
The brewer pulled out a long knife. “We could stop it right here.”
Zachary leaned back in his chair. “You might. Oh but then what happens when all the folks who saw today’s little homecoming start to wonder where I went so suddenly? Oh, and what about the secret guard who are now sure to be watching for me?”
Sara waved at the knife. “Put it away. He’s right. We just stepped in a big dung pile.”
Drew slowly put the knife away. “Damn. We came so close.”
Zachary looked the two of them over for a moment. “Ok. Let me take a few guesses here. You're both part of some kind of rebellion.”
Sara’s eyes narrowed and Drew gripped the knife again. “What makes you think so?” She asked in a dangerous voice.
“Well, you have a town under the grip of a secret guard. The rest of the world is only allowed to see a careful view of the city. Folks are all in a big hurry and mind there own business as if it were the only way to keep breathin’. And you’ve got one of the largest epidemics of pregnancy in the world.” He sat up straight. “Now that you’ve managed to sink me into your cesspit with you, I think you can tell me what’s goin’ on.”
Drew’s grip on the knife became white knuckle tight, his face a mask of anguished uncertainty, but Sara merely slumped and looked at the floor. “You’re a smart one, I’ll grant you that.” She looked at Drew and waved again. “It’s all right. We’re either dead or we’re not.”
Drew relaxed and slumped down the wall to sit on the floor.
“It’s worse than you know,” she said. “Your worth is based on how much you work. If you don’t or can’t work, you’ll disappear. Or worse you’ll be hauled away by the Dragon’s Breath.”
Zachary was alert. “Dragon’s Breath?”
“Yeah, the guards with the flame on their chests; they work for The Dragon.”
“And that would be Baron Roth?”
“Yes. He commands the Dragon’s Breath.”
Drew spoke into the floor. “I still say they are at least visible. It’s the damned Claws of the Serpent that are the biggest threat.”
Zachary frowned, “The secret guard?”
“Yes,” said Sara. “They’re the reason folks disappear.”
“What happens to them?”
“Well, we think some are sold off as slaves, maybe even working as forced labor in the outlying farms and mines, but then again it’s rumored that some are being forced into mercenary camps to work for the orcs and ogres.”
“Where does the pregnancy fit in?”
Sara snarled. “The common law is that a pregnant woman is exempt from labor and taxes.”
Zachary softened his voice. “I see. And when she’s no longer of child bearing age?”
“Then she’d damned well better have a trade,” Sara snapped. “I’ve got eight kids: two under the age of eight, the rest working as adults and trying to stay alive.” Her face was livid. “I had nine until one of them turned up sick. A group of guards showed up one day and took him to be ‘looked after’. I’ve not seen him since.”
“How long ago?” Zachary asked quietly.
She sighed. “Two years. He was nine and didn’t show up for work ‘cause he was sick. After three days they took him away.” She looked at him pleadingly. “I’ve only lost one. Others here have lost many more. We don’t get to keep our dignity. If you don’t live like a whore, you disappear.”
“What about marriages?”
She snorted. “If your husband can work like a pair of mules and still keep you pregnant, you might get by. Most women try to keep to a few men, but some can’t. Hell, you can even make a living at it if you want. After all, whorin’ keeps you pregnant and brings in a little bit ‘O coin.”
“What about barren women?”
“They either work like a man or disappear.”
Zachary was developing a deep suspicion. “How do folks disappear?”
Drew looked up, his face devoid of emotion. “They are either dragged away by the Dragon’s Breath, or they simply vanish in the night.” He looked at Sara. “You didn’t tell him about the half-breeds.”
Zachary looked at Sara and raised one eyebrow questioningly.
“I wasn’t going to bring it up, but. There are orcs and ogres living hidden in the city. If they take a woman, no one gets to complain. All they have to do is keep out of sight and their issue are used as labor or mercenaries. Of course that assumes the woman survives the taking.”
“Mercenaries for what?” Zachary asked. “I haven’t seen any signs of an army.”
“We have reason to believe they keep to the forests north of here,” Drew said. “There aren’t any farms or roads up that way, and we’ve never managed to meet up with any woodsman from that way.”
“So that still brings me to the question, what do you want with me?”
Sara and Drew exchanged uncomfortable looks then she said, “We’re tryin’ to put together a revolution against The Dragon and his cohorts. The money in your cart would buy us weapons and magic. ”
“By the Dragon, you mean Baron Roth?”
Drew frowned. “Of course, who else?”
“What about The Serpent?”
“They’re connected.”
Zachary thought a moment. “What about all these mercenaries and non-humans? And what about this mysterious lord that Roth and Krell both work for?”
Sara gave a low whistle. “You notice a lot.” She leaned back and stared at him for a moment. “Ok, you’re either smarter than you look or you’re a spy.” She threw up her hands. “If you’re a spy we’re already dead, so what the hell…. We believe that Roth controls the mercenaries and that he and Krell are both answering to Kiron the Mage.”
Zachary raised his eyebrows. “There’s a mage involved too?”
Drew grinned a psychotic grin. “Oh didn’t we mention that? He comes to town every now and then to make proclamations and choose a woman. Oh, and she usually leaves with him, never to be seen again.” His face again went blank. “My sister went with him.”
They sat and watched him impassively. Zachary looked back and forth between them. “I’ll help you,” he said finally.
“How?” Drew asked flatly.
“For one thing I can take that cask out for you. Other than that, I don’t know.” Zachary leaned back in his chair. “But I do think I should take a look to the north.”
Sara looked at him appraisingly. “And just how do you propose to do that?”
“Well you and I play out our roles for a day or two, and then I’ll run off and leave you again with vague promises of returning soon. Once I’m out of the city I’ll meet your friends and drive on towards the next town. Once I’m out of sight, I’ll sneak in to the camp and take a look.”
Drew jumped in. “Too risky. If you get caught they’ll come looking for us.” He leaned close. “Think on it. You’re a trader, how are you going to sneak up on a camp of armed mercenaries?”
Zachary frowned. He didn’t want to give away his secrets, so he said, “Ok. Maybe you’re right. But at least I can deliver your money, go to the next town and come back. I can trade back and forth moving more supplies each trip.”
Sara looked at him incredulously. “How often do you think we can put together that kind of money?”
Zachary was taken aback. “What do you mean?”
Sara’s face was like stone. “That money represents the sacrifice, work and blood of all the people who want to be free of this kind of inhuman life. The taxes here are crushing. If you have anything left over, you spend it. If you are caught saving anything you are branded a hoarder and taken away. You are ‘encouraged to keep our economy flowing’.” Her voice started to rise in outrage.
“However, if you drink too much, eat too much, or do too much of just about anything but work and breed you are gone. That money out in your cart is it. We are free or dead with it.”
Zachary looked her square in the eye. “And just how do you intend to fight against a trained army, mages, ogres, and spies with only a few dozen people who have little to no training and only what weapons and magic you can buy with one piddling cask of money?”
She flinched almost as if struck and said defensively, “And what would you know about it?”
Zachary stopped a moment then asked, “Have either of you ever been outside of the city?”
Drew said lamely, “I’ve been to the farms in the south.” Sara didn’t answer.
Slightly alarmed he asked, “Has anyone of your group ever been outside?”
Guardedly Drew answered, “We have some folks who’ve emigrated from other places.”
“And no one is allowed to leave the city?”
“Only the people who live outside.”
Zachary sat quietly for a bit. He made a decision. “I can help you. I have some friends with the power to make a difference, but I need to get outside.”
Sara looked at him suspiciously. “And what will your help cost?”
Her emphasis on the word “your” made him look up. He looked at her directly and said, “Nothing. In fact I would urge you to keep your money. What you could buy with it is not going to be enough to help.”
Drew blurted out, “We’re buying magic!”
Zachary looked at him sharply. “What sort of magic will defeat and army?”
Drew swallowed hard, embarrassed at his slip. “It’s a wand. It’ll destroy the mages magic.”
“Then what?”
Sara shushed Drew then she turned to Zachary and said, “Then we turn the tables. You will have to trust us in that we have more than you think.”
He nodded slowly. “Ok. I’ll take your word on it, but please, reconsider the magic. Such a wand would cost far more than a cask full of money.”
With another suspicious look she asked, “How would you know?”
“I’ve been to the Mages School in Allentown. I’ve seen the prices o’ magic and believe you me, unless that cask o’ yers is full of fine jewels, you can’t afford a wand of such power.” He leaned forward intently. “Think on it, what mage would let go of a wand that had the power ta nullify him?”
They both appeared troubled by that. Finally Drew said to her, “Maybe we should wait on the wand.”
She nodded. “What kind of help can you provide?” She asked.
“As I said, I’ve got some friends. Mage friends.”
It was Drew’s turn to give a suspicious look. “So why would you and these friends of yours be willing to help us?”
Zachary met his gaze firmly. “Because evil such as this cannot be let to stand.” Suddenly he grinned. “Or so my friends would think.”
Sara gave him an odd look. “What about you?”
“I couldn’t disappoint friends like these could I?”
Neither of them knew quite what to make of that.

For two days Zachary and Sara played the part of long lost love. Several times he noticed men loitering around the inn. “Spies,” he thought. The Dragon’s Breath showed its interest too. He found it very unsettling.
On the third morning, he collected his cart, minus the cask of money, and headed for the gate with Drew riding along. At the gate Baron Roth was waiting.
“Master Zachary,” called out the Baron. “I thought the long lost love of one of our cities most upstanding proprietresses would be intent on becoming a citizen, but here you are all outfitted for travel.”
Thinking fast Zachary replied, “Uh, no, milord. I was plannin’ ta sell my cart and goods to Master Goodson here, since I won’t be needin’ it no more.”
“Master Goodson eh? An upstanding man like our dear master brewer here should already know that merchants within the city needn’t trouble our busy brokers for internal trade.”
Drew was white but he replied. “Surely Lord Baron, but I was of the belief that such trade was only allowed between citizens. I didn’t want to break any rules.”
The baron smiled expansively. “Why I do believe you may be right.” He turned to the crowd of guards and the few townsfolk unlucky enough to not have a reason to leave. “On my honor, I declare that Master Zachary is a fine man worthy of citizenship in our fair city. Is there any who would gainsay?”
Roth surveyed the crowd as if actually awaiting an answer, then turned and proclaimed, “Wonderful! Master Zachary, I now proclaim you a full citizen. You may now conclude your business without need of a broker!”
Stunned Zachary stammered, “Thank you milord, I am most grateful.” He sat a moment in the crowds harsh attention then said to a sweating Drew, “Uh, I guess we can go back and finish our business.”
“Uh, sure,” Drew stammered.
The baron raised a finger. “One more thing Citizen: I notice that your cargo consists of ale casks, and since Master Goodson is a brewer and therefore in little need of more ale, I would suggest that you offer the ale to my hard working troops in lieu of any taxes on the gains of your sale.”
Zachary blinked. It was hard to remember that he was a simple tradesman and not a mage capable of reducing the impudent lout to pudding with but a word. “Certainly, milord, that sounds more than fair.”
With a mirthless smile Roth said, “Consider it my wedding gift to a fine new citizen.”
“Wed… Wedding gift?”
“Surely two such loving souls as yours will be wed?” the baron asked with mock innocence.
“We uh, haven’t yet set a date milord,” he replied lamely.
“Well, I’ll certainly await an invitation with great eagerness.”
Feeling more trapped than he’d felt in a very long time, Zachary replied, “You’ll be the very first to know milord. May we go and conclude our business?”
“Certainly,” said the Baron. “You may leave the casks by that wall.”
It was perhaps a world’s record time in unloading a cart.