Interlude: Stuck in a Rut


    And thats how you milk a goat, Tannin announced as he stepped back away from the animal. There was a satisfied look on the old mans face.


    Fascinating, I feel enlightened by your sinct yet thorough exnation of this wonderful natural process, Gerahld replied from a few feet away. He was smiling in a way that looked very forced and unnatural, almost as if he was being sarcastic.


    Both of the men were standing in arge dirty shed. Piles of hay littered the floor and there were several goats wandering around. The grey beasts were mostly ignoring the humans. They all seemed focused on chewing things, although Geralhd had no idea what. He hadnt seen any of them eat anything.


    I may not be a schr of any sort but I know what sarcasm is, Tannin answered dryly.


    Gerahld coughed and made an effort to reply in a more polite and respectful tone. It would be unfair to hold your circumstances of birth against you. You seem like a very wise man to me.


    I wasnt born in this vige, young man. Youre just digging yourself deeper. Like you, I stumbled upon it and then eventually decided to take up residence, Tannin exined as he walked out of the shed.


    He immediately looked up at the sky. It was a cloudy morning outside but it didnt look like it was going to rain. The white clouds were slowly but steadily being dragged across the sky by a lofty wind that was barely touching thend below.


    No one in my group is settling down quite yet. Weve merely been forced into taking a temporary reprieve from the road, Geralhd replied as he followed the older man out.


    Your speech sure has grown fancier since you got here. I dont like it.


    I had different priorities during the adventure that led me to your door. Sleeping indoors and proper meals also agree with me, but I will be leaving when the time is right.


    Thats what I thought as well, when I first arrived. It didntst. Tannin said as he headed down the main road towards the center of the vige. Your bunch has the look of people with nowhere else to go. I can tell youve got demons on your tail that you cant outrun. Finding somewhere toy low is probably your best bet and theres nowhere better for that than here.


    You sound like youre speaking from experience. Why did you settle down here?


    The people were halfway decent when I got to know them, and no one here ever tried to tax me or dere themselves my better by virtue of their blue blood.


    I can appreciate that sentiment, but what were you running from exactly?


    Trying to pry into my past, eh? Thats alright; its ancient history. I was used of being a thief by a noble and had to disappear. My father was a carpenter and the noble didnt want to pay him what his work was worth. Or at least that was what I told my wife. The truth may be moreplicated, Tannin exined as he gave Geralhd a conspiratorial wink.


    The young man smiled awkwardly in return and then looked away. Ah, thats quite simr to another tale Ive heard. A woman I once knew was in a simr situation.


    Tannin ignored the sad look that appeared on Geralhds face and kept talking. That doesnt surprise me, but lets speak about something more relevant to the here and now. Did your education happen to include anything useful? The other members of your group have been helping out with farm work or heavybor, but you havent been contributing much, and you didnt seem to be paying much attention when I was showing you how to milk that goat. Maybe you know medicine or some sort of trade perhaps?


    I learned nothing even remotely that pedestrian. My tutors taught me the higher fields of study such as philosophy and math.


    Well, if I need someone to count the local chickens I wille find you, Tannin huffed.


    Not that I dont appreciate your generosity, but youre being awfully weing to me and my friends.


    Bah, youre a young and healthy bunch. Thats the kind of blood that we need around here. There a few young widows that have been giving you a few sideways nces.


    Huh, Im sure there are, but Im personally not in the least interested in settling down. This ce doesnt quite offer the lifestyle I crave, or any other sort of style, really.


    Give it time. Itll wear you down.


    I wouldnt put money on that. Im not the vige living type. One way or another Im going to be headed back to society, Geralhd said. He spoke in a stubborn tone that was as much for his own benefit as anyone elses. He much preferred the finer things in life over the simpler parts. They tended to smell better for one thing.


    The pair was passing by another shed when something caught Tannins eye. He turned and scowled at the base of the building. Geralhd followed his nce. Something had dug up under the wall and into the shed. The bottom of the wooden siding had been torn up as well and straw from inside had been dragged out.


    Gods damn it, Tannin cursed.


    Its just a little hole, Geralhd replied calmly.


    Thats the third mess Ive seen this morning alone. People keep reporting small thefts and pests getting into their supplies. We dont have the resources for this type of nonsense. We need everything we have for when winteres.


    Is something causing this? What do you think it is?


    Goblins. You can see the prints in the dirt there, Tannin answered angrily as he pointed towards the hole in the wall. The green pests get into everything, but its not usually this bad. A pack of the damned thieves must have denned-up somewhere nearby.


    A surprised cough escaped from Geralhds mouth and he turned away to hide his guilty expression. He had a fairly good idea what, or who, was causing Tannins problems. It was probably the goblins that hade with cknail. Geralhd wasnt surprised that they were making trouble, although he had been hoping cknail would keep them under control. At least they were only stealing small things and food, and not something that would really anger the vigers, like children.


    Huh, weird. I have absolutely no idea what could be causing that sort of phenomenon, none what so ever. It must be just one of those weird little things in life that cant be exined, he said aloud.


    Something in Geralhds voice drew Tannins attention, because he threw the man a suspicious look. After a second, he just grunted and looked back at the shed, though.


    Well, Ill let you go. Ive got to deal with this mess, among other things, and I know youve got your own things to do, he said.


    Very true. Ill see youter, Geralhd replied as he started to hurry away. There was no point sticking around and Tannin was a little too perceptive.


    Without looking back, Geralhd headed down the dusty dirt road that ran through the vige and towards the homes that had been lent to the bandits. He soon reached his destination and stepped inside. It was a small house that looked worn down. Immediately, he was confronted with the sight of several people seated around a wooden table. They were all former members of Herads band, and they looked his way as he walked over to them.


    There you are. We were waiting for you. What took you so long? one of the bandits asked. He was a blonde man with a sly smile.


    I was speaking to Master Tannin. He wanted to talk to me after he finished trying to get me interested in animal husbandry, Geralhd answered with a shrug.


    About what? a woman asked suspiciously.


    I think he was fishing to see what our ns were and whether we are going to stick around.


    Then he knows about as much as we do, nothing. Thats what were here to discuss. So lets get to it, the blonde man said. I for one have had enough of this ce. They have me helping with the nting. I dont n on settling down to be a dirt farmer. I became a bandit for a reason.


    Theyre talking about getting work parties to cut the bush back at the edge of the clearing. Thatll be hard work and dangerous, a tall bearded bandit agreed. On top of the falling trees you have to worry about pissing off a mimic or just ending up in a hungry beasts gullet. Its no wonder they have lost some of their people and are looking to rece them.


    Its not really any more dangerous than serving under Herad. That wasnt exactly safe. In fact, it was probably much less survivable, especially at the end there, the woman countered.


    Maybe, but it paid a lot bloody more, as in more than nothing.


    Its far from perfect here, but its much better than anywhere else Ive seen since leaving my family farm with a press gang right behind me, a shorter bandit interjected. I wouldnt mind settling down here. There is a young widow that fancies me.


    You should marry her. That sounds like a great way to waste away to nothing out here in the middle of nowhere, Geralhd replied sarcastically. Im getting out of this pit the first chance I get.


    Which brings us to the main point. Can wee up with a realistic n to leave? the bearded bandit told everyone. Were stuck here with no money, shabby equipment, and a horde of enemiesying in wait for us out there. Im also worried about our guide going native if we leave him out there too long. Hes a hobgoblin so who knows whats going through his head. Without human contact he might go feral and disappear on us. Then we will really be stuck.


    Should we just leave right away and risk it all on the road? If we wait it doesnt seem like that will improve our odds any, the blonde bandit asked.


    I hate it here, but that trek through the woods sounds like suicide to me. Count me out, the bearded bandit interjected stubbornly.


    I think youre over exaggerating the risk. Werrick has no reason to spend so much effort chasing a few survivors like us, and once we get back to civilization we can earn some coin easily enough, Beardy, another banditughed.


    My name is Ralph Livistanius, and I take great pride in my family lineage. If you use that bloody nickname again Ill knock your teeth out of your skull. The hobgoblin may get away with calling me what he wants, but youre not him, the bearded man replied angrily. His face was red as he rose up from his chair.


    Alright, settle down. Lets stay on topic. No one else here wants to listen to you argue about nicknames, Geralhd told them. Now, it doesnt seem like a good idea to leave right away. I want out of here more than anyone. The thought of never again enjoying a good vintage of wine crushes my soul into nothingness, but we need to wait until we can gather some equipment and supplies at least.


    What about the hobgoblin? What if he disappears?


    cknails got Khita with him, and I have a hard time seeing him going feral, Geralhd exined. Hes too intelligent for that and he enjoys his littleforts as much as any of us, if not more. He certainly whines a lot if he runs out of cheese. No, Im more worried about him getting bored and causing a ruckus here. cknail will be fine in the forest, where he is safely out of the way. How much trouble can he get into out in the bush?