The Imperial trade route; Midland
Seshwan loaded his equipment into the wagon after another small skirmish with bandits along the road.
They had been travelling a few days now and were approaching a city. They were being attacked more and more frequently though.
"Xerxes, what all did we collect from these bandits?"
Xerxes walked around to each of the corpses of the slain bandits, picking up scraps from each. "Nothing from these guys either? Seriously not a single Denarii to speak of." He let out a loud sigh as he collected an article from each body.
"What are you taking from them?" Vanessa noticed Xerxes was up to something after the last battle as well.
"I''m collecting index fingers," Xerxes said without looking up from his work.
Vanessa went pale as if she''d be sick. "That''s disgusting! Why would you do that!"
Xerxes glanced up toward Vanessa and Seshwan. "If any of these bastards have a bounty, I plan to cash in on them. I don''t know about you two, but I''m broke and when we get to the city I''d like to have a Smith look at my weapons! Maybe buy food?"
Vanessa and Seshwan exchanged glances. As sick as it sounded, he had a point. They had spent what money they had to gather food and buy the horses for this trip.
Seshwan was still arranging equipment as Xerxes finished his task.
"Hey Seshwan, what''s the supplies situation!?" Xerxes shouted.
"I''d say we have enough for today. However, after today, we will be out of food. Not to mention, we’re almost out of fresh water." Seshwan rummaged through canteens and casks trying to find one with liquid content before sighing heavily. "Never mind we''re out of water."
Vanessa let out a sigh as well. Since they entered Midland the air has become noticeably more humid, as the land was primarily forest and marshland. "We can resupply in the city. Let’s get a move on."
A few short hours later, near the end of the afternoon, the party arrived at the first city across the imperial borders: Night Raven. The city was a waystation for all trade caravans traveling to and from the Imperial territory to the trade hub of Midland, Gaeta. From Gaeta, all trade would go to its respective territory. Every country and territory traded through major trade hubs like Gaeta, though it was the only completely neutral trade hub because the city was owned by the Continental Merchants Alliance (CMA). All trade guilds are registered and protected by the CMA across the continent. Small cities like Night Raven serve as safe rest spots and a place to resupply along the nearly week-long road between cities.
The city’s streets were buzzing with lively activity as carriages pulled by horses, Libero-wolves and massive Takin rolled along the streets heading to and from the city. Many with armed guard companies riding alongside them as protection no doubt.
"Wow, this city sure is lively for the evening!" Vanessa exclaimed as she moved from the rear of the wagon to the front with Seshwan. "We will need to stable the horses and find an inn to stay in for the evening."
Xerxes poked his head up front from behind. "I know a good inn that’s cheap. But first, let’s see if I can cash in on those bandits. It will make it easier to get a room if I''m not carrying these around." Xerxes said laughingly as he held up a sack dripping with blood.
"By the gods you''re disgusting!" Vanessa shouted as she slapped Xerxes hand, causing him to almost fumble the sack.
"Hey now! I take offence to that!" Xerxes said with a smile.
"If the both of you can’t get along, I’ll sell you both to a slaver." Seshwan cut in before they could continue their argument.
"Sell me if you can, but I’ll take your head first" Xerxes smirked. Though Seshwan had been joking, Xerxes had taken the comment as completely hostile, allowing it to show on his face.
"Man, you’re dramatic. Just go to the guard post and check the bounty wall. We will stabilize the cart and horses." Seshwan pointed toward a stone construction down the road with guards posted out front.
"Awe, I was just starting to have fun!" Xerxes laughed.
"Go now! You cut on defeated and fallen enemies. So get this over with!" Seshwan said firmly as he began to lose his patience with this childish demon.
Xerxes leaned toward the edge of the cart with a distressed look. As he sighed heavily he began to step off. "Yes, Moooom."
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Xerxes dropped to the street and headed up the road to investigate the guard post.
Within a few hours, the horses were stabled, the cart was stored, and Xerxes had returned to meet Vanessa and Seshwan at the tavern, Raven’s Hollow.
The Raven''s Hollow was located across from the stables, no more than one hundred meters from the front gates of the city. The tavern was small and made primarily of solid wooden beams set into a stone foundation. Sandwiched on both sides by towering buildings, the meek tavern was no more the two stories tall, appearing rather plain among the city’s newer structures.
Xerxes entered and was immediately met with hostility; "Boy you dare to show your face around here!" a thunderous voice boomed from the second-level balcony.
A tall man leaning on the railing glared at the young man who stood in the doorway in a cold sweat.
"Ha-ha Edwin! Nice to see you..." Xerxes eventually recollected his calm demeanour enough to laugh.
"Nice to see me?!? Last time we met you robbed me blind. But now devil, I’ll make you pay!" Edwin walked slowly down the wooden staircase and across the tavern to Xerxes.
Within the tavern, all the patrons were puzzled as to what was transpiring before them. Vanessa and Seshwan just ignored the situation, staying seated at a corner table.
"What do you think he did to piss a guy like that off?" Seshwan asked.
"No doubt something he believed he would never need to answer for." Vanessa sighed as she rolled her eyes. ''Hopefully, he can just pay the guy off without an issue.''
By now Edwin had Xerxes by the neck and lifted him from the floor.
"Edwin listen to me; I can pay you back! I''ve got a few hundred denarii right here!" Xerxes said with a smile. "No need to get handsy," he continued.
"Like I''d trust your word again demon. I’ll take your head as payment." Edwin said as he tightened his grip.
Seshwan let out a loud sigh as he stood and slammed his hands to the surface of the table. "Ugh come on! Seriously Xerxes? Stop messing with this guy. I’d like to get a room before the night''s over!" Seshwan had lost patience for games. Though Edwin was a stronger and larger man, he was hardly a match for Xerxes. Seshwan could sense Edwin was about the level 4 apprentice stage.
"Fine!" Xerxes sighed.
Xerxes grabbed hold of Edwin''s arms firmly and delivered a hard knee straight into his abdomen. Edwin dropped to the floor writhing in pain so much so that he couldn’t muster the strength to get a word out between heaving breaths.
Seshwan walked over and bent down to face Edwin. "Sorry for my companion’s rude behaviour, but you will take what he owes you and not interfere in our matters again. If you do, I guarantee you, I will be the one to put you in a state far worse than this."
Xerxes produced a sack of gold coins stamped with imperial insignia. He counted out three hundred denarii and dropped them to the floor next to Edwin.
Seshwan stood and motioned for the door. "Now let’s get out of here. We''ve overstayed our welcome."
The three departed the tavern. As they did two guards stood from the bar and approached Edwin. "Sir, it''s best to not assault other individuals in public places. For that, we will be seizing those coins as evidence and you’re going to spend a few nights in a cell to cool your head."
The guards scooped up the wheezing man and escorted him out of the tavern
Within an hour of leaving Raven’s Hollow tavern, the trio arrived at the doorstep of a small run-down shop on a back street. A sign hung above the door that read "Ramshackle Grove". The little shack was a sad single story wooden hut, its roof sagging at its peak. The windows were dark and the structure looked abandoned.
"This is the inn?" Vanessa sneered as she examined the exterior.
"Yep, let’s go inside!" Xerxes seemed to be overjoyed since they arrived for no apparent reason.
"Don’t worry, Vanessa. Walter’s shack was a dump on the outside but not so bad within. Maybe this will be the same." Seshwan added as they opened the door.
Within the shack, it was no more promising than the first impression. The ceilings were rotted and water dripped from some hidden space above. The floors were extremely worn. As Seshwan stepped through the threshold, his armour''s weight bowed the floor to the point of minor stress fracturing. No lamps were lit within, only the dim light of the now-rising moon lit the space through the door and windows.
"Hey! Clyve! It''s Xerx, get your ass out here and greet your guests!" Xerxes shouted into the dark.
A moment later, a small child carrying a lantern climbed a set of steps from the cellar.
"Big Brother Xerxes! You’ve returned!" The boy shouted as he ran over and hugged Xerxes around his waist.
"Hey you little shit, you''re not going to get anyone to come in here without the lights on," Xerxes said as he ignited a small ball of light on his fingertip, using it to light other lamps within reach.
Xerxes turned toward the others "Oh! Sesh, Vanessa, I’d like you to meet Clyve, my younger brother. Clyve, these are my companions: Seshwan and Vanessa."
"WHAT!? No way, not true, can’t be." Vanessa shouted in shock, horrified that this little child could be related to this man.
Xerxes broke his smiling expression into a scowl, "What do you mean? Of course, it’s true! My mother was originally from Night Raven. This was her inn. And Clyve here is my half-brother; he''s pure-blood human."
Seshwan scratched the back of his head as he thought about the likelihood of Xerxes just taking advantage of a street kid. ''He could be using this kid for his gain. But if that was the case, he probably wouldn’t be so friendly with him. This seems to genuine.''
As more lamps were lit and the fire place ignited, Seshwan could clearly see the features of this child. Dark brown eyes, pale white skin and dark black hair. The two truly did look like siblings. Though this boy was no more than six years old, making Xerxes nearly twelve or more years older.
Once the inn was lit up, it had a cryptic and rundown yet homely feel to it. The group sat down at a large wooden table next to the fireplace.
"Xerxes I meant to ask you if you got anything for the bandits we killed on the road?" Seshwan asked as he retrieved a book from his bag and opened it.
"Oh yeah, get this! Grackus and his guys have a rep around here. There''s a bounty of nearly one thousand Denarii! And ten denarii for each of his men we defeat."
"Mom would be mad if she knew you were bounty hunting again!" Clyve shouted.
Xerxes scoffed. "Kid I need money and so do you so shut up. I know mom would be upset but what else can I do?"
Vanessa, reluctant to take Xerxes’ side, agreed "Xerxes is right. We don’t have a lot of money at the moment and it’s the easiest way to get more for us well we travel."
Seshwan raised a finger while reading. "Now now, that just isn''t true. We could escort a caravan for money and kill bandits that way. Not bounty hunting; just doing our jobs at that point. That’s how I''d justify it to my mother."
"Ugh, but guarding a caravan is boring." Xerxes pouted as he leaned over, dropping his chin into his hands. "But you''re right. Mom wouldn’t want me killing just ‘cause it’s fun." Xerxes continued as he used his free hand to mess up Clyve’s hair.
"Eh, stop that!" Clyve smacked Xerxes'' arm away. "Don’t treat me like a little kid."
"Hate to break it to you squirt, but you are a kid. And till mom gets back I’ll do as I please to annoy you.” Xeroxes'' pushed Clyve over off of his chair. Causing them both to laugh.
Vanessa watched the two boys messing around and leaned over to Seshwan, "I still don’t believe this is Xerxes. He''s smiling and not completely unbearable!"
"I know right? But I''m wondering more where their mom''s gone too." Seshwan replied without looking up from his book.
Clyve stopped playing with Xerxes and looked at Seshwan, "Mister? Do you know where your mother is at present?"
Seshwan stopped reading and froze. "I''m not sure where she is at present. Though I assume it’s more pleasant than when she was with me."
"Mister, do you worry about her even though you don’t know where she is?" Clyve stared directly into Seshwan''s eyes.
Seshwan felt tears well up in his right eye; "I can’t say I worry all that much. I trust she''s well and going to be taken care of."
"That’s how I feel too. I don’t know where she goes but I''m sure she''s okay and is being provided for." Clyve smiled.
Seshwan wiped his eye before the tear could fall; "You''re probably right." Seshwan quickly changed subjects to avoid questions. "Now guys. We need to decide about tomorrow. We will be leaving for Lynwood next. And we need money. I brought up the idea of guarding a caravan cause we could easily turn a profit. We won''t need to supply ourselves and we will no doubt run into more bandits. So I see this as the best possible option."
"Yeah, that''ll work for us." Xerxes and Vanessa nodded.
"Then let’s get some rest and prepare for tomorrow." Seshwan stood up from the table and headed into one of the side rooms closing the door behind him.
Vanessa sat up awhile longer with Xerxes and Clyve as they caught up. She listened as they talked about all the adventures Xerxes had since he had stopped by last.