Chapter 41: 41. Xaarn

Erin mediated between Trayox and his men, and the Imperials they helped build cabins for. She had been nominated for the role thanks to her relationship with the big man, and was starting to earn a name for herself as a link between the barbarian people and the Imperials.

They had started putting up the cabins once the trench was dug out. It slowed down wall improvements and outposts, but Henric had ordered it done. She wasn’t sure if Atlas would approve of his priorities, but they had promised the cabins to the craftsmen, and with new hires potentially coming in from Frostwind they needed the room.

“Soo, how’s it going out here?” Dober’s voice came from behind, and Erin turned to him.

“Hey, Dober. How’s it been? Feels like we barely get any chance to talk these days.”

“You’re always zonked out asleep by the time I finish at the warehouse,” Dober sighed.

“Yeah, the work never seems to stop. Not to mention, we have to be up early.”

“Yeah, I get it. Just saying."

”How’s the warehouse anyway?” Erin crooked a brow. “How are you dealing with Elowen? I’ve heard she can be quite something to work with."

“I’m getting on,” Dober shrugged. “You know, it’s she's not all bad. People get the wrong impression. She’s even been teaching me to read. I hated it at first, but then she lent me a book she brought with her from the Imperium. It’s actually pretty cool. About a group of friends who travel across the world to defeat the great evil.”

“Wow, impressive. The farmer boy is reading a book,” Erin grinned. "Never thought I'd see the day."

“Hey! I know I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed or anything, but–”

“I’m just joking.”

“I know,” Dober glanced at his feet. “It’s just that it reminded me of us. You know, the four of us before everything went to shit.”

“The four of us? Saving the world?” Erin smirked. “Are you sure about that? I can’t say I can imagine Clay marching across the world to save anybody. Including himself.”

“Actually, one of the friends in the book is pretty cowardly. It’s kinda like a main part of it. He is forced to face his fears to save the others.”

“Yeah, yeah. I need to remind you that’s just a story. Don’t go thinking our skittish little friend is going to come through with the heroics anytime soon.”

“You don’t know that,” Dober stubbornly retorted. “Maybe Clay will surprise you.”

“If he does, he does,” Erin shrugged. “But I’m certainly not holding my breath for it.”

“All done, annoying girl,” Trayox interrupted as he waved his guys over. They had put the last logs in place. Acolytes would finish the job now that the heavy lifting was done. “Should we start on the next job?”

“If you wouldn’t mind,” Erin flashed the big man a smile. “You’ve done great today. We’re even ahead of schedule. I’ll see if I can’t drag a reward out of Treff for you.”

“We’d happily take the grog if we can,” one of the feral workers said behind Trayox, grinning from chin to chin.

“Ahh–I’ll see what I can do,” Erin scratched at the back of her head.

“Queen of the ferals, huh?” Dober said as Trayox and his team moved onto the next cabin.

“They’re called commoners now.”

“You’re sounding more and more like the Imperator every day.”

“You almost make that sound like a bad thing.”

“Oh, I dunno, Erin. I’m just trying to survive. It’s all a bit much.”

“Well, keep that pea brain focused on what dear Elowen shoves its way, and leave worrying our commoners to me.”

“Why do you need to say it like that? Dear Elowen?” Dober bent his brow.

“I’ve seen the way you look at her. I mean, she is pretty.”

“Hey! It’s not like that, and you know it. They forced me to work with her on account of my bung leg.”

“If you say so, lover boy.”

**Clay**

The author's content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

“Yous cheating scumbag,” hissed the drunken man as he placed a hand on the coin pile.

“Easy there. No one has cheated on this table, and I did warn you,” Leonard said, his right hand sliding down to his belt.

“I’m takin’ me coin.”

“I wouldn’t if I were you,” Leonard shook his head. “There’s going to be a lot of angry men if you try.”

“I don’t give a fuck!” The man lunged forward and barked in Leonard’s face. “You can fu–”

A dagger pierced up through the man’s head from behind his chin. Blood watered from his eyes as they rolled back into his head.

“Warned you,” Leonard said, pulling the dagger free and sending the man’s lifeless body falling to the ground. “Pick up the coins, kid,” he added, winking at Clay.

“Y-yes, sir,” Clay stammered, scooping the coins into his robe.

“Now don’t go doing anything reckless, you lot,” Leonard said toward the other tavern patrons, drawing his sword with a long, metallic clang.

“He killed Edrick. Son of a bitch,” one man growled, rising from his chair.

“Edrick tried to steal my fairly won coin. Killing him was my right.”

“I don’t give a fuck about your rights,” another man said. “I liked Edrick, but I don’t even know you.”

“To the door, boy,” Leonard snapped his fingers without lowering his sword. “Be smart now. I’ve run through meaner men than any of you fools,” he added, turning back to the several men as they slowly rose from their chairs.

“You went and got them all riled up,” the sellsword who had been dealing cards said as he stood at Leonard’s side and drew his blade. “Always fun workin’ with you, Leonard.”

“Glad I could keep you entertained.”

“Bastards, don’t mess around with us,” one of the men shouted and charged forward but halted a yard into his charge with a muffled grunt and fell to his knees.

“I warned you,” Leonard said, having just fired his wrist-mounted crossbow. “I’m not messing around.”

“Fuck him. Get ‘em, boys!” Another shouted, and several men rushed forward.

Jumping back, Leonard parried the first of them, who sent a blade stabbing forward and riposted, slicing across the side of the man’s neck.

The caravan master and sellswords cut down two more patrons in retreat, and Leonard threw a chair at the remainder to halt their advance and swung around for the door.

“Okay, now we run,” Leonard flashed a smile and pointed to the wagon.

“What about the new hires?” Clay said.

“Well, if you want to stick around,” Leonard turned to shrug as he ran. “Be my guest.”

Damn it, I can’t just keep failing to come through. This was my mission. Master Henric himself charged me with it.

Clay swallowed and shook his head, turning for the cabins behind the tavern where the sellswords were staying.

“Where are you going, kid? Just forget about them. We haven't even paid them yet.”

“Just get the wagon to safety. We’ll meet up on the road,” Clay yelled back.

“Crazy kid,” Leonard shook as he gathered his men beside the wagon. "Keep your head down, and don't get yourself killed," Leonard shouted at Clay's back as he disappeared into the shadows.

**Imperator**

“Stick close to me,” Mark said with a raised hand.

The trio made their way along a rolling path through the green, which shortly met a cobbled road that squeezed through narrow alleys of cramped, sandstone townhouses with terracotta tiles and little jutting balconies.

Not a bad place for a vacation after a few months in the Frontier. A part of Mark briefly entertained the thought of just staying here and living the good life. But he had promised to do something about the coming storm the moment he had seen his vision of the wargs descending upon the Frontier and wasn’t about to abandon the people who relied on him.

The shuffling crowds of people that lined the streets as they delved deeper into the town turned their curious gazes on Mark and the two oddly dressed acolytes. None said anything or tried to do anything, but they were clearly noticed, and whatever powers held sway here would no doubt learn of their presence soon enough—if they hadn’t already.

“If there’s a market around here, I’m guessing it’s that way,” Mark said, pointing toward the crowded streets at the lower end of the sloped city, dipping into the harbor.

There were no uniformed soldiers or any formal guard or military presence from what Mark could see, but as they got closer to the harbor most men had a cutlass hanging from sheaths at their sides.

“Alright,” Mark turned to the boys. “See if you can find a cartographer and meet back here. Don’t take long. I don’t want anyone getting lost. If you can’t see anything with a swoop of the market, just return and wait for further orders.”

“Yes, sir!”

Mark watched the boys leave and trailed a path along the market’s right side. He had no interest in sticking around here longer than he needed to. If they could quickly find a cartographer then they could be off.

“What a sight,” came a curly, floral voice from behind. “An Imperator in my city. I’d never have believed it if I didn’t see it with my own eyes.”

Mark turned to see a narrow, sunkissed man with a long mustache dressed in fine satins. Jewels dotted all digits, and several bracelets hung loosely from his wrists. By his side stood two men dressed in loose clothing with a cutlass at their sides.

“Your city?” Mark probed.

“You do know where you landed, don’t you, Imperator?”

“Xaarn, I hope.”

The man chuckled. “You don’t seem as stiff as the Imperators I met in my younger days.”

“You’re familiar with my people then?”

“I used to captain ships into your great Imperium, yes. But that was a long time ago, and I want to know why you’re here today.”

“Nothing important,” Mark shrugged. “I’m just looking for a cartographer. If you could point me in the right direction, I’ll happily leave your city.”

“A cartographer, you say? And why exactly would you need to come to my city for something like that? Does the Imperium not have the greatest cartographers in the world? Or at least I believe they boast as much.”

“It doesn’t really matter, does it? I’ve got crowns, and I’ll be out of your hair soon enough.” Mark eyed the man carefully. He didn’t particularly want to tell him why he was there. But he got the impression that the man wasn’t about to just let this go. Imperators were not known for sightseeing, after all.

“Come on, mighty Imperator,” the man said. “You enter my city without warning or request. I think I deserve an explanation at the very least.”

“I’m going south, and unfortunately, I don’t have a map of the region. What more is there to know?”

“South?” The man’s manicured brows perked. “And what would a mighty Imperator be doing in the lands of his enemies? Using my land for transit on the way to some kind of sabotage would reflect poorly on myself. I’m sure you can understand. My people maintain their freedom by finding a fragile balance between the great powers. If you expect me to let you pass through, you’re going to have to set my mind at ease.”

I knew it, Mark sighed. There was no way this was going to be as easy as he hoped it would be.