The morning sky was dark with storm clouds as the three vagrants approached the ferry from different directions. Pacer faced the ferry attendant with a lowered head and hat in hand.
He said, “Good sir, I need to cross the river. I desire to travel to Neverly in search of work. What is your fee?”
As Coaldon and Patrick arrived, they voiced the same request. The attendant was torn between letting them cross and refusing their request. He finally demanded a fee double the normal price.
Coaldon responded, “We are just poor beggars. We cannot afford such a high fee.”
The attendant’s face grew red with anger as he yelled, “What can you pay?” With trembling hands, each of the three vagrants reached into their money pouches withdrawing several stonas. The attendant laughed with contempt when the beggars could only produce 6 stonas to pay for the crossing.
Finally he yelled, “Get on the ferry before I call the soldiers to have you arrested! It is cheaper to get rid of you than to pay for your food in prison.”
Meekly the vagrants climbed onto the ferryboat. The trip across the river was slow and rough because of the high water.
As the three travelers left the ferry, the attendant muttered, “Get out of my sight and do not return!”
The three travelers were happy to escape from the oppressive atmosphere of the village. As they approached the secluded campsite, they heard laughter. Topple and Earthkin were casually talking and giggling about some humorous story.
Pacer joked, “We will not tell anybody you were seen laughing and joking together. We do not want to give either of you a bad reputation.”
With a grin on his face, Earthkin answered, “We just had a weak moment. It will not happen again.”
It took about an hour for the three warriors to share with Topple and Earthkin what they had learned. After a meal the group was ready to begin their trek to Neverly. Topple and Earthkin would go first, followed by Pacer, and last would be Coaldon and Brother Patrick.
The trip to Neverly took eight days of hard walking. The first five days of the trip were uneventful other than the usual bantering among themselves and the occasional insults they heard from passing travelers. Many people showed contempt for the homeless. The guards at the checkpoints showed open hostility at having to talk with them.
Topple was exquisite in playing the role of a pompous slave owner. Earthkin rather enjoyed cowering in such a subservient and pathetic manner. Rain fell on the second day, but the roads remained in good condition. Mud was not a problem, but a brisk cold wind blowing out of the north stung their faces.
Each evening the five travelers gathered in an isolated campsite. It was enjoyable to talk about the events of the day and the exploits of Topple and Earthkin. Topple had the ability to gather a crowd with his bombastic behavior even on the empty road. On the morning of the sixth day, warm sunshine was reason to celebrate.
Topple and Earthkin began their daily journey with brisk steps and a loud introduction of their presence. After walking several hours, the two men were confronted by ten heavily armed men wearing ragged clothes. A short man with a black beard approached them with a sword in his hand.
He bowed deeply and said, “I am Robbet. These are my friends. Give me all your money!”
Topple also bowed and laughed as he threw Robbet his money pouch.
He said, “As you can see, I am a poor man. Maybe I can pay by offering you something special.”
The wizard did not give Robbet time to respond before performing his first magic trick. A flash of light shot from the tip of his nose as he dramatically waved a silk cloth over his head. After several such tricks the bandits relaxed and enjoyed the show. Topple continued his act with tricks and songs until Pacer, Coaldon and Patrick joined the small group.
Robbet suddenly realized three more travelers had arrived without being noticed. He ordered his men to surround the five travelers with swords drawn.
Robbet again bowed and said, “That was a great act my good friend, but it does not put food in our stomachs. We are taking up a collection. Please, put all your coins into my hat.”
Coaldon stepped forward, drawing his sword. With a quick flick of his wrist the tip of his bright sword rested on Robbet’s throat.
The young half elf said in a calm voice, “We do not want to harm you. We are just beggars on our way to Neverly to find work. Please let us pass in peace.”
He ended this statement by giving his sword a small twist. A tiny trickle of blood ran down Robbet’s neck.
Robbet said in a loud voice, “Truce! We wish to have no problems with you” Coaldon lowered his blade and wearily took several steps backwards.
Robbet then yelled, “Attack! We need their money!”
Before Robbet could even move, the flat of Coaldon’s sword hit him across the head. He collapsed to the ground unconscious. Pacer and Earthkin only had to threaten an attack before the other bandits threw their weapons on the ground. Nobody was hurt except for a large knot on the side of Robbet’s head.
The warriors realized these bandits were hungry men looking for their next meal. It was obvious the thieves were not warriors, but farmers, merchants and laborers. The high taxes demanded by the Emperor forced them to use whatever means available to survive.
Coaldon said, “Again, we do not want to harm you. You face death if you continue your attack on us. Stand down, declare a truce and we shall be friends. We only desire to continue on our journey to Neverly.”
The thieves nodded dumbly.
Staggering to his feet, Robbet stammered, “I apologize for our rudeness. We are hungry men with hungry families. We are desperate. We have been cast into poverty for the sake of Wastelow’s greed for power and wealth. I was a teacher in the Academy before being forced to resign. Many of my men were merchants and leaders in Neverly. We would not cower to the Emperor’s quest for dominance. We were forced to escape or be killed.
Coaldon responded, “This is a grim story you share with us.”
Robbet continued, “May I be so forward to ask your names. I know you are not ordinary travelers. You handle your swords with the grace of expert swordsmen. Your gentle character speaks of nobility. ”
The other thieves shifted their eyes from Robbet to Coaldon in anticipation of his response. These men had the look of people searching for a glimmer of hope. Their miserable lives were a series of tragedies. The selfish, inhumane policies of Wastelow created a living nightmare for these men and their families.
Coaldon smiled as he said, “Names are only a handle to a limited reality. Names are symbols; whereas, character shares true identity. We offer the shadow of a greater truth. A truth that will blossom when the proper season arrives. I believe it is possible to find hope in our presence.”
Everybody including the warriors regarded Coaldon with curiosity. All eyes remained on him waiting for something to happen.
Robbet was the first to breech the silence, “I am spellbound by this encounter. The character of your rag-tag group radiates power and dignity. You offer a silhouette of hope into the world of our impoverished existence. You extend a ray of sunlight into our darkness. I do not know your mission, but pray it will provide a small step toward justice.”
In unison, the band of thieves nodded in agreement with Robbet’s statement.
Robbet continued, “We will make no reference to this chance meeting to anybody. We will keep our lips sealed to everybody, but each other. There are many spies looking for information to give to Wastelow. The reward of food is a powerful motivator to desperate people. We do not want to endanger you in anyway. We offer our bond of trust.”
Individually, each thief swore an oath of secrecy and fidelity.
Coaldon said, “Thank you for your assurance. I am pleased to find men of honor in this wilderness. I wish we could talk longer, but must be about our business. If we wished to contact you in the future, how can we communicate with you?”
Robbet said, “We will contact you once you arrive in Neverly.
I extend my blessings to you and your friends.”
Coaldon reached into his pocket and withdrew a coin. He stated, “I give you this gold coin as a bond of our fidelity. This should feed your families for many days. We place our lives into your hands. Your trust will reap rewards. May the One Presence bless you.”
When the travelers had resumed their journey to Neverly, they talked openly about the grim situation of the thieves.
Pacer commented, “I hope you did not reveal too much to the thieves. We must be careful not to give away our mission. I believe Robbet will have someone follow us. We must not alienate these people. Somehow, they may help us achieve our goal.”
On the eighth day the team approached the last checkpoint on their journey. Over the past several days the landscape changed from forested bush lands to open expanses of farmland. At first these farms were few and far between. As the group came closer to Neverly, the number of farms increased. It was obvious to the travelers that poverty was rampant. Many farms were over run with weeds and infected with decay. It saddened the warriors to see empty farmhouses standing as a tribute to the destructive policies of Wastelow. At the checkpoint a large number of travelers waited before being allowed to proceed. The five friends sat close to each other in anticipation of their turn at the checkpoint.
As the sun set in the west a soldier signaled them to step forward. The tired soldier sat behind a wooden table with a large book lying in front of him. He said in an impatient tone, “I have sat in this chair all day long. I do not like you. I do not want to talk to you. So answer the following questions quickly.”
The members of the team did not hesitate to provide the information in a courteous manner. The soldier seemed reluctant to let the five vagrants past the checkpoint.
The guard then stated, “So you come looking for work and food. We have neither. People are starving to death on the streets of the city. Move ahead, but remember we will not allow dissension against the Emperor. Death is the price for the crime of sedition.”
~ ~
Neverly