Chapter 16: Chapter 15: His Starting Point III

Chapter 15: His Starting Point III

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[CORBIN VILLAGE - Inside the Wagon]

“I’ll do it,” said Cain. “Please, let me join your order.”

It was the day after Grandmaster Baal had made the offer, and they were in the wagon once more. Ronove served them coffee, and Webby was again in the sugar cubes having the time of his life.

Muse looked over at Cain. She hoped that her information had been helpful in making his decision.

He had come to her with his concerns after the Baal had extended his offer, and she had answered his questions as best she could - pay, the expectations of a knight, and even a little bit about Greather Goethia as a whole. Unfortunately, although she was able to explain to him a lot of common knowledge regarding the land, the specifics of the Black Lamps eluded her just as they eluded him.

But to be honest, Muse suspected that he had already made up his mind by the time he had asked. There was a determination in him where a certain aimless quality had been before.

“Excellent,” said Baal, closing his eyes briefly before turning to Muse. “And you, Squire Aberra?”

The terms they had offered her made it impossible for her to refuse, not that she wanted to in the first place. But there was something she had to confirm first before she said yes.

“I want to, but,” said Muse. “I need to talk to Aerachnid first, and also my father.”

Baal nodded. Not unusual for a child to consult with their parents before making a large life decision, whether the parents were divine or mundane.

“Understood,” said Baal. “Let us waste no time then. Unless you have prior obligations to take care of, I suggest we leave for the Silver Seat tomorrow. There is a lot to do, and the faster we get on it the better.”

Cain nodded.

He looked outside the carriage, at the village center where it had been parked. He would miss this place.

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[CORBIN VILLAGE - Main Gate]

Master Saya was truly one who took her responsibilities seriously, Cain reflected.

The village was now under the protection of the Iron Bars. A posse of knights, the ones that had arrived with her, had been dispatched to shore up the village defenses. They patrolled the perimeters of the village around the clock.

The villagers gave them respectful bows whenever they encountered ecah other. Now that they were visibly taken care of, some of the tension could ease. They were safe again.

For the next few years, at least until Corbin Village could take care of itself again, there would always be a cadre of Barknights here. They were also to help in the reconstruction. Soon enough, Corbin Village’s wounds would scar over, and the destruction that had taken place would slowly fade into memory.

Reymond and Jaime were here to see him off. Cain smiled at the pair. Reymond grinned, and Jaime smiled back. The two of them sported large red welts, but they couldn’t have looked happier.

Cain had heard rumours of an altercation between the two. A few of the other villagers had seen the spearman on the ground, after having taken a fierce punch from the archer.

Reymond had screamed at Jaime. Nobody repeated what words he used, either because they couldn’t hear clearly or thought it wasn’t their place to say.

There had been some concern, but all worries ceased after Rey had picked the other man up and dusted him off, before pointing at his own face. Jaime looked at his clenched fist, and at the place where Rey’s arm had been, and nodded.

A knockdown, dragout fight started soon after. No weapons, just a brawl. One would’ve thought perhaps Rey would’ve been on the back foot for this one, but he gave as good as he got despite his injury. Reportedly, he made liberal use of his knees. Cain imagined it must’ve been quite painful.

Soon enough the pair were on the floor heaving.

After the heaving, came boisterous laughter as they rolled over and stared at the sky.

It was not the first time the pair had fought, and it wouldn’t be the last.

Good, smiled Cain. He tossed a small pouch over to the spearman, another one of his friends that he had made on the hunting expedition.

“Don’t open it until after I leave!” he yelled. He had stuffed the pouch with some dampening material on top of the coins, so that one couldn’t hear any of the clinking inside. There wasn’t as much in it as Rey’s pouch, but it would be enough. He was going to need some new equipment - being one of the few active fighters left in the village.

Jaime accepted the pouch, perplexed. Reymond smiled, and shook his head. He was sure that if Jaime knew what he had received, there was nothing that Cain could do to make sure he took it.

“Are you done saying goodbyes?” asked Muse from the back of the caravan. Webby waved over at the villagers, many of whom either waved back or bowed deeply. Not often did they see children of the Divinities in these neck of the woods.

There had been a large crowd that had gathered at the gates, after people had learned that the Hero of Corbin Village was leaving for the capital. Some were loath to see him go, but all accepted that his talents would be better served elsewhere.

The village elder was there as well, making some small talk with Grandmaster Baal. Master Saya and the rest of the Iron Bars were staying here, so it would just be the four of them: Cain, Muse, Ronove, and the Grandmaster on the way back.

Webby chirped.

Oh right, Webby too.

“Yep, I think that’s it,” said Cain.

He was pretty sure that was everyone he had met since coming to Corbin Village. But... There was one regret.

“CAIN!”

Speak of the devil!

Cain spun around as a large bear plowed through the crowd, followed by a figure half his size. Bron bent over, catching his breath as Miss Corbin came up beside him to support him gently. It looked as if he had simply thrown a coat over his sleeping attire and rushed here as fast as he could.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” grinned Cain. He was glad his friend seemed fine. There had been worries that it would take him far longer, if ever, to wake up.

Bron looked up at him. There were a lot of things on his mind, and not a lot of time.

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“I... I can’t accept this.”

He held in his hands a brown pouch. The lion’s share of the reward. Cain had kept a chunk for himself, but the vast majority of it was contained within that little bag.

Cain remembered the prayer that Bron had recited when he first broached the topic of the wanderer going to the capital.

He brought his hands together the same way that Bron had done.

“I praise Deus, Prime Divinity. First of 27. Deus Lightbringer raises the sun, Deus Scalekeeper ensures justice is done, and Deus Hearthlighter warms and welcomes.”

Bron looked upward at him quizzically.

“We’ve shared a table and broken bread. That makes you my guest and brother. For as long as you stay here, what’s yours is mine and what’s mine is yours.”

Cain pulled his hands apart, giving Bron a half-lidded smile.

“Hear that? The last part’s important.”

Laughter from the crowd. Bron’s ears turned red.

Cain had not been the only recipient of that recital in the village. Few were that had not accepted some kind of generosity or hospitality from the big bear. They were all aware of what kind of man he was, and how he easily brushed off repayment.

“You cheeky...”

Cain grinned. There was no way that a devout like Bron would be capable of rebuking his own words of worship.

Finally, he had gotten one over on the man.

“Finish your goodbyes, we’re leaving!” cried Ronove from the driver position.

Cain nodded, and jumped onto the back of the carriage as it started to move. He waved enthusiastically at the villagers once more, the vehicle already halfway through the open gates.

“All hail the Corbin Village’s Master Hunter! ALL HAIL!”

That was Reymond. It was the same thing he had chanted when they had first met on the hunt.

“Don’t worry about us! I promise, I’ll pick up the slack until Rey and Bron get better! I’ll make up for not being here!”

That was Jaime. It was a shame he hadn’t had a chance to get to know the man better.

“Thank you, mister! Please come back and visit!”

That was the little girl the bandit had been dragging that night. The smell and screams seemed so long ago but also somehow still fresh.

“My brother and his wife can rest in peace now! My nephews will hear stories about how you avenged their parents!”

Brother of the Rutherfords. In his arms were two little ones, still too young to understand what was going on.

“Thank you, mistress of the divine beast! Because of you, I’m still alive!”

Bandaged men and women. Innocent victims.

“Goodbye!”

“Farewell!”

“I’m going to be just like you!”

“Bye-bye, pretty green lady!”

“Thank you for coming here! Thank you for being here!”

“Corbin Village will never forget this! Corbin Village will never forget you!”

Bron’s voice carried through the air.

“Thank you, Cain! You saved our lives!”

Cheers and thank-yous resounded from the crowd that had gathered as they slowly left their sight. The village elder and Miss Corbin both bowed deeply in their direction.

Cain and Muse continued to wave from the back of the wagon.

Memories of his first night in this world came to mind. A small village in the dark. Being accosted at swordpoint by a person he would come to hate in a week. A large figure, the first one to provide safety and shelter in an unfamiliar land.

What if the first ones he’d met had been the bandits? What if he had taken the wrong turn and ended up in a blue lizard’s stomach? So many possibilities he was aware of only now that they couldn’t come true anymore.

A little village of light in the dark.

“What a wonderful little place,” muttered Cain to himself.

He would always remember. This was his starting point.

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