Fate In Time 4 Chapter 4

-The final rant of the mad woman, Maridale Gobsfree.

They say a monster once terrorized the Western country side in the town of Argale. It did not matter whether you were behind doors, locks, or gates, nothing could stop it if it wanted to kill. As a terrorizor of the country folk, it not only feasted on their live stock, but left behind its ilk. Thus they said to burn the bodies and spread the ash to the wind...Thus they said...Thus they said. Yet no one listened.

Now...Now it was too late. From the dead they rose, eyes murky and without purpose. Blood was their calling. All that really mattered was death. Death everywhere. Nothing was spared, not the cattle, not the homes, not the people, and not even the children.

The Blood Pack spares no one.

Argale was destroyed, the area left undisturbed for decades, the beasts of the Blood Packs, gone and forgotten from the world. Years later, new settlers arrived. New buildings of cobblestone and thatch erected themselves as the settlement became a town. The town of Bristol.

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Arturia was on an errand for Sir Ector. Unfortunately, it didn't involve selling the pigs, or cattle for a pair of magic beans. Now she knew it was childish to think of such things, but it entertained her better than walking across town for wood and a pail of nails. Her brow twitched in irritation. If Kay called her a child for fighting with the pigs, then he was a bigger child for messing with her newly named horse, Llamrei. Sure they didn't get along, and sure Llamrei may have kicked him into the well again, but that doesn't mean Kay should have broken Llamrei's stall. Albeit, it was after Llamrei soiled his armour, and took his share of s.h.i.+rou's food.

She sighed, she would rather be with s.h.i.+rou then be on an errand that was Kay's fault. Then again, she had already told s.h.i.+rou she couldn't make it today...What a waste. She lamented her misfortune; there were better things she could have been doing.

s.h.i.+rou had just taken her to his home a couple weeks ago, and it was the oldest thing she had ever seen. Not a soul seemed to live within the manor, old tile and brick erroding away to creeping vegetation. It was sad. She truly felt for s.h.i.+rou. She finally understood why s.h.i.+rou had never brought her there before. The isolation, the emptiness, she couldn't comprehend how s.h.i.+rou had lived with it for so long. How would she react knowing that she was the only one to live? How would she feel living within a home where everything was a source of fond memories? Memories she knew all too well would bring her pain. It wasn't something that s.h.i.+rou should handle alone, therefore she had decided that she would ease his burden. If staying by him helps, then so be it.

She walked a couple paces forward until her eyes widened as she caught a glimpse of red in the crowd.

"Oh, it's you!" A voice called out before Arturia could.

s.h.i.+rou turned to see who had addressed him, it was the girl he had helped several weeks earlier. He wasn't ever expecting to meet up with her again, and definitely not when he was in town to sell his latest catch: a fox and a hare pelt.

Arturia held her tongue as she watched the girl approach s.h.i.+rou.

"Hi, you're that girl from before," s.h.i.+rou said slowly before he smiled. "I hope the extra coins helped."

The girl smiled back as she smoothed the wrinkles of her clothes. They weren't rags this time, but a simple brown one-piece. "They did actually. Papa was able to buy a whole new hen for the rooster for the farm." The girl stood straight and brushed back a lock of her blond hair. "I'm Emily by the way." She introduced herself.

"s.h.i.+rou," s.h.i.+rou said. "You run a farm?" He soon asked.

"Yeah, near the Smithy's"

s.h.i.+rou furrowed his brows in contemplation. "Would you happen to know how to raise two calves?" He eventually asked. Sure he won two calves from the contest, and sure he was doing a good job keeping them alive, but he didn't exactly know how to raise them.

Emily's eyes widened. Never before did she expect a n.o.ble to care for their own livestock. That was always the job of the serfs, or peasants like her. "Y-Yes I do," she stuttered out. "B-But I'm not the best. You'd have to go ask my dad or something."

"I'd be happy to. Are you free now? Or should I come at another time?"

"Ah uhm- I'm free now." Emily decided. She shouldn't have much difficulty convincing her father anyway.

"Then if you'd lead the way."

Arturia stared as s.h.i.+rou and Emily walked off, and then stared a little longer. What just happened? For a moment, she contemplated the small bout of irrational panic that welled up from within her as she noticed Emily smiling at s.h.i.+rou and standing by his side. The image of herself overlapped with Emily, and she subconsciously began to frown. Whether it was because Emily was taking her place, or her frustration at Kay, she didn't really know, but her mood was not fairing well. Not at all. But who was she to stop s.h.i.+rou from making new friends with a pretty girl? It's not like she cared that s.h.i.+rou saw her as a boy...Her mood darkened further.

At this point, not even the Knights of Wolfred who had been patrolling the streets for a certain boy dared to approach Arturia. Her gaze was frosty, her mouth unconsciously set into weird combination of a frown and a sneer. Luckily, she had neared the market area selling the required wood and nails. All she wanted to do was get back home and train. She could meet up with s.h.i.+rou again tomorrow and he d.a.m.n better well cook her a feast. A feast! Maybe then she could even give him hints about her gender. She seriously began to ponder the thought.

As she went to buy the wood and a pail of nails, she couldn't help but eye the jug of milk on sale from the opposite vendor...

Staring out at the modest farm in front of him, s.h.i.+rou began contemplating. The state of the field in front of him was definitely well maintained, but it was hardly efficient. Then again, he was in the medieval era. Rather than work a three field or four field rotation, the field he was staring at was just that- a field. He didn't know when in the medieval era that farming would improve, but maybe he could do something to ease the burden on farmers. Sure he was here to get advice on the calfs, but couldn't he also give his own advice in turn? It was the least he could do for intruding on someone else's time.

"Papa should be stacking the rye by now," Emily said. "I'll go call him." She bowed towards s.h.i.+rou before she went and ran towards the back of her small home.

Idly, s.h.i.+rou watched the animals in the stys. There were pigs, sheep, cattle, and not much else. Unlike Arturia's home, there didn't seem to be any horses, or oxen to help in the fields. He furrowed his brows as he just then took notice of the quality of the harvesting equipment. The sickles and scythes were rusted and torn, the edges dull from constant use. He glanced back where Emily had run off to, but she had yet to reappear. Slowly, he walked towards the equipment and took matters into his own hands.

"Sorry it took so long," Emily apologized when she returned. "Papa's on his way. Sorry, but I have a few duties I have to attend to."

"Not a problem. Thank you for today."

"Y-You're welcome." Emily blushed as she left.

It wasn't long before a burly man came walking towards s.h.i.+rou. He was rather short in stature, standing at roughly five-feet-two-inches. However, what he lacked in stature he more than made up for in physical build, his small goatee only adding to the effect. His brow was creased in sweat that stuck his long black hair over his forehead. At least it seemed to suit the man's mildly sun burned features. His brown eyes peered curiously at s.h.i.+rou. "My name's David. Meh daughter said you wished to talk to me?"

"Yes, about raising Cattle. s.h.i.+rou by the way."

David looked surprised for a moment, but he quickly hid it away behind a smile. "That's not something I'd hear any day," he said. n.o.bles never did do their own farming, or training livestock.

"Then that would mean I'm the first."

"That you are lad." David leaned against the plough he had brought with him. "Now what specifically do ya need ta know?"

s.h.i.+rou pondered for a moment, he frankly had no idea what he needed to ask. "How to raise a calve?"

"That's easy lad. Feed em, and put 'em inside when it's cold out. They'll grow up in no time." David motioned to his own cattle out in the field. "It's when their older and ya have to milk them that it gets troublesome- at least for me. Till then, you're free to come back to me for advice."

s.h.i.+rou smiled in thanks. He was pleased that he didn't have to do much in the short term, and that David was willing to aid him. "Thanks," he said. An act of kindness should not go without another act of kindness in return. "If you're willing, I have my own advice to give."

"Sure," David said. n.o.bles were always educated from young. Perhaps he might gleam some sort of insight.

"Your farming method," s.h.i.+rou began slowly, not sure if he would offend David with his next statement. "It's quite bad."

David raised a brow. "Do tell?"

"You use only one field for all your crops," s.h.i.+rou pointed out. "It would be better if you'd separated the land into three or four distinct fields. A three-field, or four-field system if you will."

David scratched at his head, skeptical of the foreign idea. What could he do with three, or four fields? "I don't understand." He said.

s.h.i.+rou scratched the back of his head before an idea struck him. "What if you could grow food at any season and keep the soil fertile?" He prompted.

David thought about it, and in a moment it hit him. Hard. Sure he could grow wheat, rye, or barley, in early spring and summer, but what about fall, or the winter? The answer was obvious, they would all die. However, if he planted ground growing vegetables like onions in one field for the winter, and some other crops in the other fields...

"We'll never have trouble harvesting for the winter again." David summed up in astonishment. Still, it would be tricky to accomplish, but it wasn't impossible. Now if only they had bigger fields, but he supposed he would make do with what he had.

s.h.i.+rou nodded his head as a hen came pecking around him. It was plump and healthy, its eyes staring at him curiously before turning its attention to more important matters. Eyes narrowing, it continued pecking at a jumping gra.s.s-hopper. "Quite a healthy hen," he said.

"Indeed. It was a worthy investment to give away the coins." David spoke before realizing what he said.

"You gave away all of the coins?" s.h.i.+rou asked.

"I-I'm sorry if I gave them away, but the Anderson's had just lost their final pig. So I gave then the twelve copper to purchase new pigs, and they gave me a new hen." David explained. He really hoped that he wouldn't get in trouble for tossing away another's good will, especially a n.o.ble's.

Noticing David's troubled face, s.h.i.+rou just shook his head. "I don't mind that you gave away the coins. I'd be a hypocrite if I did." He said. "I'm only surprised that you'd give it away with what little money you had on hand."

"Then I suppose I'm a bit different from the other folk in these parts." David sighed. "Still though, money doesn't grow in da fields." David thought about the simple dress he wanted to buy his wife, but shook his head. It wouldn't due to dwell on such thoughts. Especially for a simple farmer like himself. "The coppers were nice though." He ended up saying.

s.h.i.+rou acknowledged David's point. It was hard living life without money. Money bought food, money bought homes, but "Sometimes there are things that money can't buy." He said with finality. Money did not mean happiness, it only helps. "You're a good man, never know when something lucky may come your way."

"Aye, for that we look to the stars for guidance and pray to the one's above." David readily agreed. Despite his lack of income, he still had his wife and daughter. In the end, they were all that mattered.

"I best get going; I still have to feed the calves back home." s.h.i.+rou straightened his back and his clothing before extending out his hand.

Unsure about the gesture of fair well, David clumsily grasped s.h.i.+rou's hand in a hand shake.

Moments later, s.h.i.+rou let go of David's hand. "Thanks again for the help. I appreciate it." He said as he left.

David watched as s.h.i.+rou left his home. He had promised he would try this three, or four field system thing, but at the moment he still had some work to do in the field. He called for Emily and asked her to tell the missus that he would be late for supper once again. Tiredly, he stared across at the unharvested portions of the field, gauging how long it would take to harvest with the equipment he had on hand. The answer seemed bleak, but he wasn't a man to wallow in self pity.

So, without another thought, David began to work in earnest. He first gathered the cotton bags to store the harvest, and then moved on for the other supplies. He had no field animals to aid him, so he had to rely on his own strength. He froze suddenly as he walked into the small shed adjacent to the field.

"...never know when something lucky may come your way."

That boy.

David dropped the cotton bags and the rest of his equipment to stare astonis.h.i.+ngly at his sickle and scythe. The chipped and frayed ends, even the growing rust was all gone. Tentatively, he traced a finger over the sharpened edge, and for once, he drew blood. Not even the Smithy could sharpen such an edge. He grasped his scythe unfamiliarly, he didn't feel any splinters digging into his skin, just the bare smoothness of timber. He could work with that. Maybe now he just may have time to attempt the three-field system.

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Arturia was boring holes into the jugs of milk she bought. Not physically mind you, but mentally with her eyes. She had bought the milk on impulse and now had to find a reasonable explanation for Sir Ector. An explanation that involved why she didn't have any wood for her pail of nails. Not that she had one that wouldn't embarra.s.s her. She could already feel the heat flooding her face just imagining herself saying 'I wanted s.h.i.+rou to notice me' to Sir Ector. G.o.d she was an idiot, and even then she would still have to explain to Sir Ector that she wanted s.h.i.+rou to know she was a girl. If Kay ever heard about this...no! She shook her head. She couldn't let him find out about it; he would definitely hold it over her head.

Arturia glowered over her own self restraint, but faltered under the smiling gaze of Sir Anders. What did he want with her? She hadn't exactly seen him in weeks, not since s.h.i.+rou sparred with him.

"Pleasure seeing you again," Sir Anders said.

"I don't recall meeting you."

"Then I'm Sir Anders, and you?"

"Arthur."

"There. We've met."

"And I'll be on my way." Arturia made to move on, but Sir Anders lifted up a palm.

"A little bit of your time lad." Sir Anders knelt until he was eye level with Arturia to convey the seriousness of the question. "You were there weren't you. With s.h.i.+rou of Ashton." The question was a statement.

Arturia pursed her lips. Sir Anders wanted s.h.i.+rou, but for what reason? Could he be in trouble? She needed more information that she didn't have. She turned to the Squire beside Sir Anders in an attempt to buy more time before she would answer.

"Oh, this is my Squire Palamid." Sir Anders readly introduced. "He's roughly ten summers old and fairly well off with a sword." A glint appeared in Sir Anders eyes. He could tell from the way Arturia clamed up from hearing s.h.i.+rou's name that she was affiliated with him in some way. It also told him however, that he wouldn't be getting his information so easily...and d.a.m.n he needed that information. It had already been several weeks of patroling Bristol and the surrounding forest of Ashton for a single boy that they still hadn't found. Why did s.h.i.+rou have to make things so difficult?

"I can introduce myself, Sir Anders," Palamid said. His face was obscured by a steel helmet, and his body covered in plate held together by leather straps. "But why bother introducing me to a peasant?"

A peasant? Arturia's eyes narrowed. She didn't take much offense to being called a peasant, but the manor in which the word was used irked her to no end. Peasants were people too, the people who provide for the entire Kingdom.

"...And what's wrong with being a peasant?" Arturia asked, her voice low.

Palamid huffed beneath his helm, the answer was so obvious to him that he didn't even dane it with a proper answer. Arturia didn't like that, not one one bit. She didn't like the implied message.

"Now now lads, no need to quarrel," Sir Anders said. Arturia glared at him. He definitely had her now. He turned to Palamid, he just needed a little push. "I'm sure you both know the way Squire's settle quarrels anyway."

"Again, Peasant." Palamid pointed at Arturia. "Not worth my time."

"Then fortunately this peasant is a Squire." Arturia stated coldly.

"Oh, I see now." Palamid turned to Sir Anders. "Do peasants enjoy playing 'Squire'?"

Cool your head, Arturia, just cool your head. Arturia gripped the pommel of her wooden sword. She shouldn't let the enemy provoke her. "Do Squires play Jester, Sir Anders? I believe I see one in front of me." She blurted.

Palamid stilled. "Sir Anders..." He began. "It's under a Squire's duty to discipline the peasants is it not?"

"In most cases, yes," Sir Anders said.

"Then I see a peasant over stepping boundaries."

Sir Anders shrugged. He knew better than to think the pretty boy was a peasant. He had noticed first, the calluses on his hands, and then his posture. He was trained, of that he had no doubt. Still though, perhaps he could works things to his favour. "How about a duel then? Winner grants one wish to the loser."

"Those terms are acceptable," Arturia said before she registered it. She furrowed her brows, she couldn't back out now.

"Hmph, against you there's no way I'd lose." Palamid drew his sword.

Sir Anders signaled Arturia to draw her sword before he stood between them to oversee the duel. "Winner draws first blood." He said.

"By the count of three."

Arturia flexed her fingers and lowered her hips into a low stance.

"Two."

Palamid pointed his sword in front of him, gripped firmly in both of his hands.

"One."

-Clang!

Sparks flew as Arturia's wooden sword pressed up against Palamids. Sir Anders smirked, he had his own experience with that wooden sword. Although it made no logical sense, it was durable enough to dent his armour, and sharp enough to chip away at a steel blade. By now, he had no doubts that his Squire Palamid was dumbfounded. Still, it would take more than surprise to defeat him.

Palamid grimaced, his arms were straining against Arturia's wooden sword. A wooden sword of all things. He braced his feet on the ground and lowered his center of ma.s.s. Taking into account his opponents smaller frame, he should have taken a higher stance to over power the fool. Yet the fool's strength was deceiving. The fool's stature appeared to have no correlation with his strength. It was surprising, but he had his own surprises. He released his right hand from his swords pommel, and near instantly, the fool's sword carried over to his side and was deflected by his left angled sword-hand; letting the wooden sword harmlessly slide down his swords shaft and towards the ground.

Arturia's eyes widened as her strike dropped harmlessly to Palamid's side. She hadn't expected him to ease his grip by removing a hand, but she did see Palamid's approaching fist. She backpedaled, eyes dilating as the fist drew nearer to her face. She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth, but the blow never came.

"What in G.o.d's name is that?" The voice was Sir Anders.

Slowly, Arturia opened her eyes as she felt the sensation of a peck at her back. She turned around.

"Friend?" Efret, the glowing blue hawk asked. It had been asked by s.h.i.+rou to watch over Arturia should he not be there to protect her.

Arturia turned to Palamid, putting aside her interest of why Efret was here. Palamid still had his fist outstretched. "Not a friend." She said.

"Of course I'm not your friend, what the h.e.l.l are you talking about?" Palamid said as he pulled back his fist. "And you haven't answered Sir Anders' question either."

"Not friend?" Efrets eyes narrowed.

"Nor have we finished this duel," Arturia said as she resumed her stance, sending a glance at Efret to communicate her intentions. Nothing would surprise her this time.

Duel? Efret began to think. It saw s.h.i.+rou and Arturia play every morning. Efret nodded its head and eased the glare it had on Palamid. They were only playing.

"Fine then." Palamid raised his sword. "Come at thee."

Keep your eyes on your opponent at all times, observe first, strike later

Arturia attacked, but maintained her distance, her strikes more like pokes than anything. Based on the way Palamid was defending against her, he was naturally left handed. She took note of that.

Arturia thrust in, attacking Palmid's right side. He pulled back to gain ground, but she wouldn't let him.

Sir Anders watched the proceedings as he warily eyed Efret off to the side. What exactly do you feed a bird to get it that large and glow blue? Magic Herbs? Mushrooms? He wasn't paying as much attention to the duel, as he was debating the pressing questions in his mind.

"b.u.g.g.e.r off!" Palamid yelled as he shoved Arturia back with his shoulder after a sword-lock. He needed to recompose himself. He had not given his opponent enough credit. The fool was good. Real good. He stared warily as the fool picked himself off the ground, glared at him, and then resumed his stance.

The most important thing to understand, Arturia, is to never give up.

Arturia steadied her breath as her spinning vision cleared. She would have to up her training later in a way that would further her reaction time.

Palamid was breathing heavily, she observed. It probably had to do with the heavy armour he was wearing. Compared to her leather armour, she was better off in endurance. Heavy Armour?

Arturia's eyes widened as she scanned Palamid.

In full body armour, the joints are the priority targets

Arturia ascertained her targets and charged.

-s.h.i.+nk!

Her sword deflected Palamid's up and positioned her pommel for a heavy blow to Palamid's knee. She struck, hearing the dull crack of steel, or bone. Either way, Palamid dropped, unable support his weight.

"Yield." Arturia said breathing heavily. Her sword was positioned just under Palamid's helmet, aimed at the neck.

"..." Palamid refused to answer. Sir Anders did instead.

"Unfortunately, it's your loss Palamid." Sir Anders said with a sigh. There goes any information on s.h.i.+rou, but maybe the other men had found something. "I'm going to have to up your training, and don't forget the bet you made either." Sir Anders turned to Arturia. "What do you want the lad to do?"

Arturia contemplated as she caught her breath. Looking t o the fields, an idea struck her. "He is to work as a peasant for a week." She said.

Palamid was less than happy, but held his tongue when he realized Efret was directly above his face. Inside his helmet, he began to pale. Oh G.o.d it was going to eat him!

"I'll see to it that the lad gets it done," Sir Anders said. "Sorry for wasting your time."

Arturia nodded her head as Efret flew beside her. She watched silently as Sir Anders dragged Palamid to the fields and away from sight. She stared at Efret, and Efret stared back. "I owe you one friend," she said, referring to when she nearly got punched.

"Play?" Efret said.

Arturia smiled. "Of course, I'll play tomorrow morning."

Efret nodded before flying off, leaving Arturia alone.

Arturia stared down the road and sighed. She still had half-mile left to get home. Even then, when she got home and stepped through her front gates, she had to find a way to hide her milk jugs from Sir Ector. She'd think about it more when she got there.

Half-an-hour later, and she arrived at her home.

Her eyes darted back and forth, making sure the coast was clear before she proceeded to the back door. Sir Ector was probably in the study relaxing, or putting Kay through more training. Either way, the back door was the safest option...That is, if Sir Ector wasn't already standing there.

Their eyes met for a fraction of a second, before Arturia turned back and bolted away. She didn't get far as she had ran into the barn without thinking. She heard Sir Ector's patient steps before she registered his voice.

"What are you doing, Arturia?" Sir Ector asked.

Arturia placed the jugs of milk behind her and fumbled with her hands for the pail of nails. "I got the nails?" She ventured as she presented them. Hopefully, Sir Ector wouldn't see the milk.

"Indeed you did." Sir Ector shrugged. "But what are you hiding behind you?"

"Nothing." Arturia said as she began to panic.

"And I suppose the milk jugs I can see between your legs are nothing?"

Arturia flushed in embarra.s.sment. Her only recompense was that Kay wasn't here to see anything. "...Yup."

Sir Ector raised a brow. "What are the milk jugs for? And don't even think about lying, I've raised you better than that."

Arturia pursed her lips in hesitation. G.o.d she wanted to die right now. She couldn't lie, not when Sir Ector trusted her with his well earned money. "I-I heard the l-local mothers say that m-milk is good." She stuttered out as she turned her gaze away from Sir Ector. She couldn't meet his gaze in fear of him seeing the growing blush on her face.

It didn't even take two seconds for Sir Ector to realize the hidden truth of Arturia's answer. She said it in a way that it seemed like she bought the milk for her own health, but there was another meaning hidden in the context. He smiled at Arturia in amus.e.m.e.nt. Who was she trying to fool? The answer was clear as day no matter how much she tried to deny it with excuses. "You fancy that boy s.h.i.+rou don't you," he said. "Perhaps as a friend at the moment?"

Truthfully, Sir Ector was still testing s.h.i.+rou if he was trustworthy, but from what he's observed, it's likely. His observations had nothing to do with the food s.h.i.+rou kept bringing in every visit.

"Well yeah he's my friend." Arturia said quickly.

"Let me rephrase that: You like that boy s.h.i.+rou enough to let him in on your secret."

"..." Arturia looked away as Sir Ector laughed.

"I'm not mad," Sir Ector said as he ruffled Arturia's hair. "I'm kind of happy actually. It's very rare to find a person you can place your trust in."

"...So I can tell him?"

Sir Ector sighed, staring at Arturia's questioning face. "That, Arturia, is only something that you can decide. By the way," Sir Ector's gaze turned towards the items Arturia had brought with her. Sure she already got the nails and a questionable amount of milk jugs, but... "Where's the wood?"

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It was with a huff of resignation that Arturia once again found herself on the way to the market for wood. Sir Ector had asked if she wanted him to come along, but she was a strong girl. Besides, what kind off Knight couldn't carry a few planks of wood?

As she made her way towards the outer edges of Bristol for her wood, the market having closed, she paused as she took in her surroundings. She had never been this far to the outer edges of Bristol, at least not this particular area. The ground was scorched from some recent fire, pasture fences and upturned crops littered the country side. What could have happened? She began to ponder. Still though, she had arrived at her destination, the Old Arken's Trading Post. It was a shop that sold the trading goods of the neighboring towns, but it also sold wood.

Stepping in, her nose was invaded by the distinct scent of a fragrance called incense. It was a foreign trading item, and it calmed the nerves. She walked to the front counter and waited for the burly man to attend to her.

"What do ya want Laddy?" The man asked.

"I'd like to purchase some wood, maybe a meter long or more," Arturia said.

The man measured Arturia with his eyes.

"Sure laddy, but yer a wee bit young to carry somthin this heavy," the man said as he pulled a bundle of ceder roughly a meter long from the wall. "Do ya want meh little wagon?"

"No," Arturia said as her lower lip twitched. She didn't like being underestimated. "I can handle myself."

Tha man paused in his working, his eyes gazing forlornly at the ruined pastures outside. He shook his head after Arturia began to stare. "Sorry laddy, yer phrase was somthin my friend said before he went to hunt da beast living in da far outskirts of the forest over there." The man pointed out the windows and towards the thick forest past the ruined pastures.

"A beast?" Arutria asked, her eyes widening.

"Aye, a mighty one taller than three men high, and stronger than seven cattle I reckon. It would explain why ma friend came back in pieces."

"I'm sorry for your loss."

"Don't be. Ma friend died a hunter. His honour lives on." The man wrapped the bundle of wood in thin leather before he placed it in a small pulling wagon. "Take the wagon laddy, the wood's to heavy for ya."

"I said I-"

"Take it. Don't make meh feel bad. I'm already in high spirits cause of the beast."

"High spirits?" Arturia questioned as she grasped the handle of the wagon given to her.

"Aye, the day s.h.i.+nes in my favour. I won't question it, but the beast does not come to attack again. I'll actually be able to sleep tonight," the man said with a smile.

"Then where is it going." Arturia asked curiously.

"Based on its direction, to the old Ashton's place in Ashton forest- what's the matter laddy? Your britches caught in a twist?" Arturia ignored the man's comment, a sinking feeling taking root within her gut. "No worries no worries, no one lives there."