Earthkin, Coaldon and Topple walked into Grandy from the south. The streets were deeply rutted pools of mud after a recent rainstorm. Boards had been laid over the mud to provide walkways. Normal business came to a halt when the villagers saw three visitors. No villagers had ever seen a dwarf. In their minds dwarves were only a legend. Amazement and distress clouded the villagers’ faces as they gathered in the street. The appearance of a warrior monk caused gasps of fear and gestures of respect.
The world of the community had been turned upside down over the past months. The howl of strange wolves in the night, the rumors of war and the disappearance of a villager created a state of near panic. Now three strangers appeared.
The villagers watched with great suspicion as the three visitors approached the center of the hamlet. Topple greeted the crowd with a large smile and a vigorous wave of his arms. Coaldon gave the people a look of indifference from underneath his green hood. The symbol of the dragon provided an image of power, mystery and courage. Earthkin was the first to speak, “Good afternoon, people of Grandy. We come in peace. We seek food, rest and news of the world. We plan to stay only a short time. I am Earthkin of the Family Cavemore. This wise man is Ridgeway the Sage (Topple), who is traveling in search of new knowledge. It is my honor to present Rodney a Warrior Monk of the Monastery of Toms. He travels on a mission for the Abbot of Toms. We are very tired after many days of travel.”
Topple walked into the crowd shaking hands. A small group began showing signs of hostility. Someone yelled, “Go away and leave us alone! We do not want you here!”
At this sign of disrespect Coaldon raised his eyes from the ground, he stepped forward and shot them a look of cold contempt. The small group of dissenters dispersed, melting into their daily routines.
Many villagers talked freely with Topple. The wizard danced around like an excited child. Mr. Baggy, owner of Log Inn, rushed out the door of the Inn to greet the newcomers. He invited them to spend the night, eat good food and share information about the Empire. The thoughts of a bed and home cooked meal convinced the travelers to stay. At first Coaldon felt uneasy about spending the night at the Inn, but the desire for a good night’s sleep overcame the memory of the black mist.
As Earthkin paid in advance with the hint of a good tip, he noticed two men in dirty, ragged clothes. Their darting eyes, sluggish manners and constant smirks were out of character for the village.
Earthkin asked Mr. Baggy, “Who are those two men sitting in front of the Inn?” Mr. Baggy responded, “They arrived in Grandy several days ago. They call themselves the Royal Vigilantes. They have joined the soldiers in protecting the Empire from rebellion.”
Meanwhile Topple was at the height of his glory. He moved through the community with a steady stream of words, laughs and excited gestures. His happiness attracted a group of adults and children. Topple performed a series of tricks that kept the audience spellbound. Even the villagers who protested their arrival enjoyed Topple’s robust sense of humor and personality.
Coaldon stood like a statue by the door of the Inn observing Topple and people of the village. For once even Earthkin enjoyed watching Topple’s antics. The dwarf decided to go to the dry goods store to purchase supplies. The soldiers watched him with interest as he entered. The owner was happy to accept cash in payment. Hard cash was welcome over the credit given to local patrons.
Upon leaving the store with his heavy bundle, Earthkin greeted the soldiers with a casual salute of respect. The soldiers responded with a look of relief. These troops were not interested in having a conflict with anybody, especially a seasoned warrior. On impulse, Earthkin stopped to visit. The lonely soldiers told the dwarf about their homes, families and their duties in Grandy. They had arrived a week ago under orders to protect the village and to arrest any half elves. A half elf was suspected of leading a rebellion against the Empire.
Leaving the soldiers, Earthkin deposited the supplies at the Inn. He then went back to the street to round up Topple. It was time for dinner.
The dinner at the Inn was roast goose, hot spice cereal, applesauce, and savory greens. The travelers ate at a slow, steady pace. Only necessary conversation accompanied the meal. Groans of satisfaction occasionally drifted from their table. They sat back in their chairs with the dazed look of gluttons.
The local people normally spend their evenings discussing current events and sharing stories in front of the large fireplace in the Log Inn. Tonight’s crowd was especially large because of the three unusual visitors. Coaldon was surprised when Topple pulled a small flute from the folds of his robe. The flute was a deep silver color with elf runes inscribed on the barrel. The tone of the flute had a rich resonance and pitch.
Topple stood up with a grandiose flair, bowed and played his flute. The songs had ancient rhythms that brought claps and cheers from the crowd. He played nonstop for an hour, evoking sentiments of pleasure and happiness. With a loud trill of ascending notes the wizard ended his performance. He again bowed as he took his seat next to Earthkin.
Coaldon stood erect and motionless next to the exterior door. Mr. Baggy gave Topple a rousing cheer of appreciation. Musicians rarely visited the village. The local people expressed sincere appreciation before resuming a discussion of village problems.
Several travelers talked freely about the turmoil in Neverly and the unsafe conditions on the roads. The plague of criminal activities was creating instability in the Empire. Travelers were hiring guards to protect their caravans. Coaldon was particularly interested in the recent attack on Crossmore the Wizard. It was said the kind and gentle wizard had been attacked by an evil power, destroying his right hand. Topple quietly laughed at the story.
The major topics of discussion were the large wolf-like animals in the forest and the rumors of tall ugly beasts in the wilderness. A story was told about a family being killed by spirit wolves on Rock Creek.
A man stated he had seen the beasts. He explained, “These spirit wolves were not natural. They look like wolves, but are much larger. These creatures have no fear of people and talk to each other in a growling language. I had the impression they were evil spirits dressed in wolves’ clothing.”
The crowd gasped in distress at this revelation.
A traveling salesman told about a robbery on the road to Neverly. A buzz of comments burst from the crowd concerning each bit of news. One man questioned, “I wonder if this has anything to do with the strange old man living in Lost Valley? Could he have started the plague of evil?”
A chorus of voices arose, some in agreement and others in opposition.
A Royal Vigilante jumped to his feet, yelling, “Foreigners are causing these problems! Three foreigners arrived today. They are polluting our fine community! They should not be allowed to stay!”
Jabbing his finger into Earthkin’s chest, he demanded, “Go away and stop corrupting these good people!”
With that said, he drew a knife from his pant leg. Yet, before he could even raise his weapon, Earthkin’s knife was pointing directly at the vigilante’s throat.
The man yelled, “See what I mean. They are killers and thugs!”
Replacing his knife in its sheath, he raged out of the Inn. The crowd sat in disbelief and confusion. Sadly, some of them agreed with the vigilante. An argument between two men ended in a fistfight. The mood had gone from the beauty of Topple’s flute to the evil created by the Royal Vigilante.
Earthkin stepped in between the two fighters, breaking up the fight. He proclaimed, “This is no way to solve problems. Do not allow violence to corrupt your fine community.”
Pausing he continued, “We are tired after our long journey. Please excuse us. It is time for us retire to our rooms.”
An hour before sunrise Earthkin awoke Coaldon from a sound sleep. The dwarf had everything packed by the time Coaldon and Topple were ready to depart. They ate an early morning breakfast in the warm kitchen. The kitchen was a stir of activities in preparation for the morning meals. Earthkin gave Mr. Baggy a generou
s tip for his excellent accommodations. While Topple and Earthkin talked to Mr. Baggy, Coaldon went to the boathouse to retrieve Rose Petal and Sid. The animals greeted him with excitement.
The three travelers were the first to arrive at the ferry. The ferry master accepted an extra fee to take them across the river before regular service hours. The early morning sun painted the scattered clouds in a beautiful blend of reds, oranges and pinks. This splendid backdrop of colors set the stage for Coaldon’s new life. He was leaving the village of his youth and facing the hopes and dreams of his adult life.
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Onward