As the wood gate swung open, it revealed three men, two in simple brown, cracked leathers under heavy brown cloaks, wrapped tightly around themselves to block the wind. The third, whom I believed to be the headman, sported a thick, black cloak, though it covered most of his form, I could recognize the thin frame beneath. His face was unremarkable: brown hair, brown beard, brown eyes, perhaps thirty summers.
He walked with a firm gait even when buffeted by the frosty wind. To his right was the old man who looked as large as a bear with a thick white beard and a bald head. At his left was the young man, a bit thin with golden hair and green eyes.
‘Let’s see how they react.’
Pulling down my hood, I put on my best meek widow performance. I could tell the headman was eyeing my appearance with a small amount of suspicion, but nothing resembling recognition.
‘Good, start. Let's keep going.’
He held up a hand, and the two men following him stopped while he continued towards me.
‘Don't bow too refined, Myr. Just add a little class to it. Something to suggest you’re of decent breeding but not wealthy or noble.’
Following the thought, I bowed to the man.
“Milord, thank you for seein’ me,” I said with some hope in my voice.
The headman's stern face looked me up and down, searching for something. “You desire succor within my town; What can you offer? Food is scarce, and the winter is cold.”
‘Interesting, he’s a serious man, it seems. ’
“Coin Milord,” I answered. Then pulled out five silver eagles. The two men behind him eyed them eagerly, but they didn't faze the Headman.
“Should I offer my people silver instead of bread to ease the rumble in their stomachs?” The headman asked.
“Perhaps you can’t eat ‘em now, but winter will break, and it's going to be some time before you recover. You'll need all the coin you can get.”
There was the slightest flicker in his face; I had struck true with that statement. Food prices will be high for some time until the harvest begins.
The men behind him, however, weren't as stoic.
“How long is the current guess before the winter breaks?” I asked.
“A week, maybe two at worst.” He replied.
I nodded along; that matched my own guess. “I’m just trying to survive, Ser. I don't need much. I'll pay silver to anyone willing to sell. You don’t want my coin, but what about them?” I nodded to the town. “Will you tell ‘em not to sell to me?”
He hummed under his voice, “Bold for a woman are ye.” He said.
“If I weren't bold, I’d be dead in my village.”
“And the coin? Where did you come across that?”
“My father’s savings. Not much use to him now that he’s with Anier. Half o’ this was muh bride price. Husband was a good man, let me keep it for my own expenses.” I stared at the ground and rubbed my stomach. “Coin ain't worth much in the end.”
Just a flicker of sympathy crossed his face. He was silent for over a minute.
‘Just a little something else to add. You, ser headman, don't seem the type, so I’ll feel reasonably sure you’ll reject this offer.’
I shivered as if I was getting nervous, then looked to the forest behind me. I took a deep breath as if I was building up courage, then said in a shaky voice.
“I…I can provide other services to you, ser headman.” My voice was filled with hesitation and apprehension.
He refocused his eyes on me. I could see the insult in them. He looked to the sky with an unreadable expression, sighed, and said.
“Five eagles then, my home is already packed with people, but I can find you a corner to sleep. You won't freeze, and you can get a warm bowl once a day. As for your other services, what you do on your own time is your prerogative. I’ll have none of it in my home.” He sounded rather serious about the last bit. Of course, I had no intention of selling myself. I just wanted to see if he would be willing to take advantage of a desperate woman.
He passed my test splendidly. Honorable, but practical enough not to stop a woman from doing what she has to do if she deems it necessary. As for the steep price for what would likely amount to a thin stew, I couldn't care less. In fact, I approved. His food stores must be thinning, and every mouth shortened it. Based on his thin, gaunt face, he likely took no more than he needed.
‘I’m sure he can tell I’m a northerner. Inviting me inside is a clear sign he has no idea who I am. That means information hasn't traveled this far north. Once the winter breaks and snow clears, I’ll have to be even more cautious.’
Bowing deeply, I said, “Bless you, Ser Headman.” I handed him the five eagles, and they disappeared into a fold of his cloak.
“Name’s Willam, not headman or Milord, now come. Let’s get you out of the wind.” Willam turned on his heel and headed to the gate.
After giving both Nat and the young man a bow and my most sincere smile, I followed.
“Ser Nat, my greatest thanks, and You ser?” I paused, waiting for the young man to answer.
“Dalton,” he answered.
“My thanks, Dalton. I haven't eaten in days.” Him, I especially gave, my best smile.
He scratched the back of his head, “It’s nothin’. Sorry ‘bout earlier.”
“Had bandits a few weeks back, drove 'em off, but since then we been on edge,” Nat added.
“‘I understand. How you all been dealing with the winter?” I asked.
Willam answered, “It’s been damn hard. No trade, no new food for almost three moons. Death is an ever-present fear.”
“Headmas sells himself short; without him, we'd all be long dead,” Dalton added.
“How was it in your village?” Willam asked.
I shook my head, as if fighting away memories. “That bad, Aye.” Nat mused.
“It wasn't even the cold that was the worst.” I took a deep breath as we passed through the gates.
“It's the hunger, some people turn into animals…” I trailed off as if lost in my own mind.
I took a moment of silence to examine the town as we walked. Some other men closed the gates.
It was normal; wooden houses with thatched roofs. The streets were covered in snow, though most of the houses had a fire going. No one was about, save for a few people looking out windows as we walked by.
“You had a babe?” Willam asked.
‘Good, he picked up on that.’
I nodded silently, then, after a few moments, said. “Only a summer old, he couldn't survive.”
Perhaps that was too sad a backstory since no one said a word until we reached a slightly larger home.
“Alright, you two, back to the watch,” Willam said to the two men.
~
After they left, Willam nodded to me and opened the door. Inside was warm, but had the stink of unwashed bodies. Twenty people crowded the room, young and old, men and women, even children. A large hearth burned to one side of the room.
A young boy wearing poorly stitched clothing came running over, “Hey, headman, who’s the lass? Not steppin’ out on Liane are ye?”
Willam chuckled and patted the boy’s head, “I like living boy, now back to your mother.”
A short woman with the same brown hair as the boy came over, “Sorry, headman, you know they are.”
Willam smiled, “It’s all right, Lori. Liane finishin’ up with the meal?”
Lori nodded, then threw a curious glance my way. “Aye, though it's gonna be thin again. None of the hunters came back with anythin’.”
“Nina traveled here from out west,” Willam said, nodding to me.
Lori’s eyebrows flew up, “And didn't die, girl, you must have brass ones under that armor. You a fighter?”
I coughed, “No, no, it was me ma’s. She was the fighter.”
Everyone in the room was paying attention to our conversation.
“I’m guessin’ she’s another mouth,” Lori said to Willam.
“Yes,” Half the room bristled.
Reaching into a pocket in his cloak, Willam pulled out the five eagles. All eyes focused on the shiny silver coins.
“All she asks is for a place to rest her head and a bit of soup to last till the winter breaks. You know how prices will be after trade picks up.”
Just like that, the mood of the entire room changed.
‘Well done. Simple, but effective. Now that mistrust and hesitance to share food is gone.’
Lori smiled and said to me, “Come, come, come, let me find ye a spot.”
Then she shouted to a young woman, perhaps my age, “Helen, get the girl a blanket.”
Willam turned to me, “Rest for now. If you’re willing to spend coin, perhaps we can come to a deal. Let’s talk later.”
Lori wrapped my arm up and dragged me across the room. I navigated the small hoard of people that watched me with a combination of curiosity and mistrust.
For almost a year, I bathed regularly, once or twice every day. The smell of an unwashed body was something I loathed. These people clearly had not cleaned themselves in weeks. I couldn't blame them, but the smell was unpleasant. The girl returned with a bundle of cloth and laid it on the floor. Sitting to the right of the hearth, she, the boy, and everyone else were watching me.
“Hello, I’m Nina. ” I said, smiling.
“You a pretty one,” Lori said, looking me up and down. Shrugging, I changed the topic. “Willam seems like a good man.”
Lori nodded, “Aye, that he is. Damn rare in this world.”
“Well, yer the only stranger ‘ere tell us ‘bout yerself,” Lori said.
These peasants must be rather bored.
~
For a quarter of an hour, I gave them a bastardized version of Jenna’s story. Lying was easier when there was truth beneath it. Sometimes there were questions, and I could easily answer or make something up on the spot.
“You can read?” Lori asked.
“Aye, my pa’ taught me.” Being the only new source of entertainment, the entire room was paying attention to me.
“Know any good stories?” The boy asked.
“Quite a few, shall I tell you my favorite?” The boy and half the room nodded eagerly.
“Well then, gather around and listen all, let me tell you a tale of love, loss, luck, and lies. The tale of man turned to legend. The Tale of David the Dimwitted.”
~
While I couldn't recite the tale perfectly from memory, I read the book enough times to give them a reasonable accounting of the story. All I had to do was tell it with enthusiasm, and they were enraptured.
They laughed at his antics, loud and boisterous. Twenty eyes stared at me as I spoke, clinging to every word. At first, I thought it was pure boredom. But no, it was a distraction. These people were most likely the poorest in the village. They would have probably long died from starvation, but Willam would not allow it.
He was a good man in every sense of the word. I guessed that even if I had no coin. He would have let me in. But he took the coin not out of greed, but out of necessity; he would need as much as possible to feed these people.
“Girl, I don't believe you.” An old man said, shaking his head.
“Aye, he can't be real.” A young man added.
“I had the same reaction. But check the history books. He was a real man.”
“Just when I thought this world couldn't get any stranger,” Lori said.
The group talked and laughed amongst themself as they discussed their story. Men, women, and children laughed with equal enthusiasm. The small joy I brought them in the deep winter was enough for them to forget that I was a stranger.
“I want a story with fighting,” the young boy, Ben, said.
“No, no, no, I want another funny story.” Another girl said.
“How about both? Let's start with Tinker's Tales.”
And that led to another bout of storytelling. Eventually, I used my acting ability to give some depth to each character. The bride who needed pimples cured, and the villagers who were desperate for water.
Without prompting, I launched into The Magus and the Merchant. I toned down the sex and added more gravitas to the action. The entire room erupted in cheers as Evil King Gorlel was struck down by the hero of the story. Men cheered and women swooned. To my shock, there were even a few tears.
I often mused about making acting a career. I wondered if these enthusiastic reactions were due to my skill. Perhaps it was simpler than that. The story was an escape; for a precious hour, they were not starving, foul-smelling peasants trapped in a deep winter. They were heroes fighting against a great evil to save their beloved.
‘They feel powerful. That’s it, isn't it? Elier, the hero, could wield powerful magic, decimating entire armies. That’s why these stories always had heroes with great, almost godlike power. I guess that’s why I hate them. The moment the story ends, I’m pushed back into reality. Then we realize we aren't great heroes, we have no purpose, there is no great prophecy, our lives are still meaningless.’
I chose differently. I forged my own destiny. Regardless, their worries are gone, and in the space of two hours, I smiled and talked with everyone as if I had known them half my life.
~
After the stories were finished, supper was called. Willam, along with a woman whom I assumed to be Liera, brought out a large cook pot and dozens of bowls. People lined up; however, Willam caught my eye and nodded to a side room. Carrying two bowls, he entered, and I followed.
It seemed to be a small but barren office with an ill-made desk and two chairs. Sitting on the table was a steaming bowl and a wooden spoon. Taking the offered food, I sat as Willam watched me eat.
“There’s something about you that’s false, but I can't put a finger on it.” He said, after a minute of silence.
“We all have our secrets,” I said, shrugging.
“You wear armor, but I can tell at a glance you're not a warrior. Lines up with what you told us, though I still feel like I’m missing something.”
Willam sighed, staring up at the ceiling again, “I am no great diviner of truth, Nina. I can only ask, are you a danger? To us?”
“No, I am a simple, desperate woman whom you offered help to as the noble and kind man you are. There is no other truth to be divined here.”
'That's also what you should tell anyone who asks.'
He stared at me, then nodded in understanding. “We don't have much to spare. But I put out word. Food is what you need. I can get you some hardtack, a couple of pounds of dried meat, good quality.”
“You have any dried soup? Fruit preserves?” I asked.
Willam shook his head, “No soup, but the wife can make it. Preserves? Old Gren’s been miserly, but I can talk him out of a jar or two.”
“Call it two?” Willam gauged my reaction.
I put three pieces of silver on the table. “Do you know where I can find a horse?”
Willam whistled as he thought, “There’s a small horse trader out east, right bastard though. But he has good horse flesh; convincing him to part with one of his beasts will be hard. You have a map?"
Placing my map on the table, he marked the location of the trader.
“Call it three, for the information, resources, and my stay until the winter breaks or a week passes.” I offered my hand.
Willam shook; there was a slight bit of trepidation in his countenance, but he couldn't hide his desperation. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ n0velfire.net