Chapter 8 #2
Consoling herself with these thoughts, Maxi finished her supper and relaxed in her room. But when Riftan returned late that evening and told her that he would be leaving in two days for a monster raid, Maxi’s anxious thoughts returned.
Oblivious to her distress, Riftan continued speaking.
“When the envoy from Livadon arrives tomorrow with our compensation, we’ll finally be rid of Rob Midahas and the other prisoners.
Ruth tells me the magical devices will be ready by then.
With the new gate almost finished everything should be fine, even if I’m away for a short while. ”
Maxi licked her chapped lips and tried to respond calmly. “W-Where are you g-going?”
“We’ve received reports that a horde of goblins has settled on that mountain,” Riftan said, pointing to one of the mountain peaks beyond the window. “It’ll likely take four to five days to deal with them.”
“W-Won’t it be d-dangerous?” Maxi looked at him anxiously.
“Are you worried a goblin might hurt me?” Riftan snorted incredulously. “Goblins are a nuisance, but they aren’t dangerous. A goblin raid is about as dangerous as hunting rabbits, if a tad more bothersome.”
“I-If they aren’t d-dangerous, can’t they j-just be l-left alone?”
Riftan frowned. “It is my duty to protect this land. You’re asking if I can simply shirk my responsibilities.”
Maxi shrank under his sharp tone.
“Goblins may not be powerful creatures,” Riftan said. “But they are prolific breeders. If we don’t deal with them now, they will multiply at an alarming rate. Merchants will be attacked on our roads, and our hunting grounds will be destroyed. I must make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“I-I’m sorry. It w-was presumptuous of m-me.”
Riftan studied her pained expression and let out a long sigh. He reached for her, and she fell into his arms. Nuzzling into her shoulder, he played with her braided hair.
“I’m not leaving our bed to sleep on the cold, hard ground because I want to,” he said softly. “It’s something I must do, as Lord Calypse.”
Maxi remained silent as she ran her fingers through his thick black hair.
The thought of him sleeping outside in winter made her heart ache.
Was it the fate of a knight’s wife to live with these worries, always?
She wondered if other noble couples kept each other at arm’s length to protect themselves from this anguish, and feared that she had become too attached to Riftan.
—
The next day, a new steel gate was installed, sturdy enough to withstand blows from an ogre’s hammer. Ruth’s magical devices were mounted on either side of the gate, large ivory disks roughly the size of a pumpkin.
Maxi followed Riftan to the gate to watch as more of the devices were installed on the watchtowers. A red magic stone, like the one Ruth had shown her before, adorned the center of each ivory disk, and ancient inscriptions lined the edges.
“W-What is this m-made of?” Maxi asked as she ran a hand over the smooth surface of one of the devices.
“Basilisk bones,” said Ruth.
Maxi drew her hand back in shock. “B-Bones?”
“Creatures of the Ayin Race—basilisks, wyverns, lizards, earth dragons—possess powerful defensive magic. Most protective devices are constructed using their bones.”
Maxi studied the pale, polished disk. Knowing what they were made of caused the hairs on her neck to stand on end.
Ruth clicked his tongue. “No need to look so appalled. They’re just bones. You eat meat, so this can’t be your first time touching bones.”
“B-But these are m-monster bones!”
Ruth snorted and turned his attention back to the device. He secured it to a stone pillar using clay, then walked through the gates. Maxi moved to follow him, but Riftan stopped her, pausing his orders to the guards.
“It’s dangerous out there,” he said to Maxi as the gates began to close.
“B-But Ruth…”
“Ruth is a high mage. He can protect himself. Just be patient and wait here.”
Maxi nodded, and Riftan ordered a handful of sentries to protect her before proceeding up to the ramparts. When he motioned a signal to Ruth, a massive flame formed outside the walls and hurtled toward the gate with a roar.
The ground shook, and a magical barrier sprang from the earth, blocking the flames before they could connect with the gate. Maxi watched, stunned, and swallowed her startled scream. Villagers had come to watch and were similarly shocked. Many had stumbled backward and slumped on the ground.
One of the sentries guarding Maxi let out a whistle. “He’s always loved a good spectacle.”
Seeing how calm her escort was, Maxi realized that this sort of display must be completely ordinary to them. They had undoubtedly experienced far more frightening things.
“Excellent!” Riftan bellowed triumphantly. “It’s working. Open the gates!”
At his command, the heavy steel gates swung open, and Ruth trudged in, covered in dirt.
“Was that really necessary?” Ruth asked.
“We have to show them that Anatol is impenetrable even when I’m away,” Riftan said, slowly descending from the rampart. “This should dissuade anyone from even thinking of invading us.”
“Well,” Ruth said reluctantly. “If rumor spreads that Anatol’s defenses are impenetrable, merchants may be more inclined to do business here, which isn’t a bad thing.”
Testing the new magical devices was not the sole purpose of this demonstration. It was also for the people of Anatol. Riftan wanted to assure them that their home was safe. Maxi watched him exchange a few words with the gathered knights before he approached her.
“You should return to the castle.”
“W-What about you?”
“I need to supervise the transfer of Rob Midahas and his men to the Livadonian envoy.” Riftan turned back to the knights. “Ruth and Hebaron, I want you to escort my wife back to the castle and begin preparations for the goblin raid.”
Before Maxi could say anything else, Riftan departed with the rest of the knights, his cape fluttering behind him. She watched his retreating figure before mounting Rem. Ruth and Hebaron followed suit.
“So, we’re off to the mountains again,” Hebaron grumbled as he led the way. “And here I thought I could sleep in the comfort of my own bed for a while.”
Ruth smirked. “Just a while ago, I heard you say your muscles were aching from inaction.”
“Why don’t you try sleeping out in the snow?”
“I’m afraid I must decline. That’s a death sentence for a delicate sorcerer like myself.”
Hebaron snorted. “Delicate? I don’t know a single Remdragon Knight who has skin as thick as yours.”
“That, Sir Hebaron, is only your opinion.”
Maxi rolled her eyes, unable to tell if they were bantering or bickering.
When they reached the town square, Ruth suddenly slowed his horse. “Let’s stop by the market.”
Hebaron turned to him, irritated. “We can’t stop just so you can go about your personal business. Come back on your own, when we don’t have…” He trailed off, glancing furtively at Maxi.
Ruth sighed. “Must you continue to treat her ladyship as if she were a contagious boil?”
“Now, wait a minute! When did I—”
“You treat her like a persistent pest when you deign to notice her. Give it a rest.”
Hebaron looked away, a sheepish twist to his mouth. Before he could retort, Ruth turned his horse to face Maxi.
“I just need to buy a few things before the merchants leave. Once winter arrives, they won’t return for some time. And this would be a chance for you to see the market.”
Maxi glanced hesitantly at Hebaron. The knight, as disgruntled as he was, eventually relented. Letting out a sigh, he turned his horse in the direction of the market and Maxi quickly followed after them.
“W-What are you l-looking for?” she asked Ruth.
“Herbs and magic stones. I’m almost out, you see.”
Despite the cold weather, the market was bustling.
From pitched tents and temporary vending stalls, merchants sold nearly everything under the sun—animal hides and bones, coarse fabric and rustic ornaments, meat, bread, potatoes, and sacks of grain or acorns.
The merchants’ booming voices clamored in Maxi’s ears, and she urged Rem closer to Ruth.
“Sorcerer! Oi!” Hebaron called out to him, but his thunderous voice was drowned by the noise of the market. “Slow down! Escorting someone through a crowd like this isn’t easy.”
Maxi looked nervously around them as they followed Ruth.
“Worry not, my lady,” Hebaron said. “The chances of an attack here are slim.”
“Th-That’s not very r-reassuring.”
“Anatol is quite secure. You’ll only attract unwanted attention by behaving so warily.”
Maxi tried to look calm but flinched at every unexpected sound from the crowd.
Ruth shook his head at her before finally coming to a stop at a stall displaying strange plant roots, mysterious bottled powders, and thin twigs.
Jumping off his horse, he began to inspect the items. Maxi and Hebaron dismounted as well.
“Are these all herbs?” Hebaron asked, craning his neck to peer at the items.
Ruth ignored him and beckoned to the youth sorting herbs inside the stall.
“I’ll take twenty segal of each of these,” he said. “How much will that cost?”
“It’s one derham for ten segal,” the youth answered. “These are rare herbs of high quality, so for twenty segal of each type, it’ll cost forty derham.”
“Do you accept payment in liram?”
“Of course. Let me get the scale.”
Maxi watched as the youth meticulously weighed the dry herbs on a brass scale. As each was weighed and bundled, Ruth collected them in a small pouch. He paid with four silver coins, and the young peddler placed these on the scale as well.
“W-Why is he w-weighing them?” Maxi asked in a whisper.
“He’s confirming that they’re real silver. Counterfeit coins have become common, and some scoundrels have even started shaving coins to make new ones.”
“Th-They shave the c-coins?”