Chapter 8 Part 2

Three days passed as they worked their way northward deeper into the countryside. Coran amused Dylan with tales of brigands and skirmishes with outlaw bands in the northeastern parts. It helped the time and leagues seem not so boring.

“With the fall of the old Aspberg,” Coran added, “only Freon and far away Gramm give haven to the openly evil in this world.”

“Isn’t there a southern city that also accepts immoral citizenry?” Kraal asked from the team where he was pouring water into a bucket.

“I have heard that Barcshall Bog is open to pirates and slavers,” Coran admitted, “but I have never heard it from someone who has actually been there.”

“Barcshall Bog is just off the southern coast,” Gage pointed out. “Only seafarers routinely visit that place. You would probably have to go to Keron or Pandara to meet someone from there.”

The conversation went on as they sat around a thick set of trees one midafternoon. Kraal was watering the animals, while the others were resting in the shade. It was at that point that Kraal stopped what he was doing and sniffed the air nervously.

Coran noticed and immediately became alert, knowing that the Janusian had sharper senses in certain areas. “What is it Kraal?”

The centaur sniffed again as did Coran’s horse. The animal snorted anxiously. “Smoke,” Kraal answered.

“Someone may be setting up a camp,” Dylan suggested.

“Perhaps,” Kraal agreed. “On the other hand, what I smell is burning grass and leaves as well as wood.”

“That is not a good thing,” Gage proclaimed as he began to pack his belongings with haste.

“Let’s get back on the road,” Coran agreed as he went to his horse. “If there’s a fire in the woods, I’d like to get north of it before it cuts us off. This trail isn’t a very good fire break.”
By the time Dylan and Gage were in the wagon, the road ahead of them had become hazy and even Dylan could smell the smoke on the gentle breeze.

“This wind’s going to make things worse,” Kraal informed them. “It’ll spread the fire.”

“Can you keep the animals from getting spooked?” Gage asked.

“I think so, but if they see flames, I won’t be able to keep them from bolting.” Kraal took the team by the lead in one hand and murmured soothing words to the animals.

Within a few moments the road became thick with smoke, and the team leading the wagon was becoming very difficult for the Janusian to control. Even Coran’s mount, a trained animal, was agitated.

The crackling sound of a roaring fire could be heard to the west of the road, and the gentle breeze was blowing the smoke across their path. The visibility was getting worse and the fire was horribly close. Small animals, normally afraid of people, were crossing the road in reckless terror.

Kraal led the team as rapidly as he could until they came to a wide stream and bridge. The bridge was out due to a fallen tree and the stream bed was obviously too rocky and treacherous for the wagon.

“If memory serves,” Kraal suggested, “there’s a small village downstream a bit. They should have a ford there.”

“What of the fire?” Dylan asked.

Coran nodded to the bridge. “Once we get across the river, we should be safe enough.”

“Okay Kraal,” Gage decided. “Lead on.”

Dylan rode nervously. He glanced over his shoulder often looking for the tell tale signs of the pursuing fire, but as they moved on the cause of concern fell farther behind them until only a wisp of the odor was carried on the wind.

When they reached the ford of the river, they saw the village nestled against the opposite shore. “Well, at least the village should be safe from the fire,” Gage stated.

“Unless the flames jump the river.” Coran sounded cynical.

“That shouldn’t happen,” Kraal offered.

“The fire shouldn’t have started to begin with,” Coran explained. “The vegetation here isn’t dry. That fire must have started with help.”

“Well let us not wait on it to get here,” Gage decided. “We must first cross the river and then we can talk about the fire.”

Kraal urged the animals across the shallow waters with very little difficulty. But once on the opposite shore, the team began to stamp wildly as did Coran’s horse.

“What is wrong,” Gage asked as the wagon rocked beneath him.

“They’re scared,” Kraal stated as he glanced around curiously. “I don’t understand it.”
Dylan along with the others surveyed the village. The first impression was that it was a pleasant, quiet village. Then it became apparent why it was so quiet. There were no people.

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” Coran muttered as he fingered the hilt of his sword.

“They may all be out trying to fight the fire,” Kraal suggested.

“I think we would have passed some of them on that trail we came down if that were the case,” Gage disagreed. “Go further into the town and see if they are all in some kind of town meeting.”

They rode cautiously down the main street. There were no lights and many windows and doors were boarded up. Some of the cottages had been boarded up and then broken into. Signs of struggles appeared here and there, but no sign of a general war or disaster.

“Plague?” Kraal asked.

“I don’t think so,” Coran said. “No graves or burned refuse. When plague strikes, the inhabitants burn the contaminated stuff.”

“Bandits?” Gage suggested.

“Possibly,” Coran agreed in part. “But most likely slavers. In spite of the fall of Aspberg, slavery’s still big in some cities. That’d also explain the lack of graves or bodies.”

“I’ve never heard of slavers hitting a whole village,” Kraal declared doubtfully.

“This place is fairly small,” Coran noted. “Probably less than ten experienced fighters in the whole town. It wouldn’t take much more to capture the entire village.”

“Well from the looks of some of these buildings, it has been weeks since they were inhabited. So if it was slavers, they are long gone. We can probably settle in for the night. There should be a tavern with good beds. We can heat up some water and have a nice hot meal and bathe if you want,” Gage decided.

“That sounds like a plan,” Coran agreed. He flashed a perfect smile at Dylan and the youth found himself thankful to have the tall human warrior nearby. Something about the town was unsettling.

They passed several shops before they discovered the tavern. Coran ducked into one small building, a general store it appeared. He later returned with some very strange news. “Even slavers or bandits will steal money,” he observed. “But there’s still gold and silver in there.”

“That is really strange,” Gage agreed.

“Did you get the money?” Kraal asked.

“Why would I take someone else’s money?” Coran questioned.

“Well,” Kraal argued, “if it belonged to anyone, they certainly wouldn’t have left it laying around, so it must not be anyone’s.”

“Nonsense,” Gage laughed. “Just because it is unguarded does not mean that it is for the taking.”

“That’s not how my people feel,” Kraal objected.

“We’re not in the Janus Valley,” Coran pointed out. “This is the Great Deep and the people here believe in private property.”

Gage chuckled and leaned over to whisper to Dylan. “Janusians are communistic by nature. They do not believe in private property. They take what they need and give away what they do not need.”

“It sounds like a workable system,” Dylan commented.

“It is as long as you are satisfied with what you have and do not want anything more,” Gage agreed. “For Janusians, that is an attitude that has been ingrained in their culture for many generations. But common men and women always seem to want more than they have. It is human nature to want to grow and improve.”

At the tavern, they entered the building and used some abandoned woodpile to build a large fire in the main hall’s fireplace. Coran located a large pot and Kraal fetched some clean water from a well.

By sunset, they had a pot of stew cooking on the fire. While Kraal tended the cooking, Dylan studied by the light of the fire while Coran and Gage sat at a nearby table talking.
Since they were the only inhabitants of the town as far as they knew, it was no surprise that there was no music or fancy dining that night. Coran made a comment a few hours after dark that it had been a long time since he had stayed at a tavern without any entertainment or drink.

Gage reminded him that it had also been a long time since he had stayed at a tavern for free as well, so he really could not complain about the lack of service. And with nothing to keep them awake, Dylan soon announced that he was sleepy.

Kraal suggested a bed, since none of the rooms were occupied, but Coran objected strongly. He reasoned that since they really did not know what had happened there to all the people that they needed to stay together and sleep there by the fireplace. “We have a roof over our heads, a dry floor, and a warm fire. What else could you ask for?”

So they bedded down on the floor of the abandoned commons room next to the great fireplace. The room was littered somewhat with unkept tables and a few chairs. A broken window on the far side allowed a night breeze to drift into the room.

Dylan drifted off to sleep to the lulling crackle of the fire and the low murmuring of Coran and Gage. Kraal was also kneeling on all four of his legs and dozing near the fire.