Chapter 19: The Last Suitor

Chapter 19: The Last Suitor

Landar

When father and I returned home shortly after noon, we found a small crowd outside our building. Tomas pushed through to find three merchant guards barring the entrance.

Whats the meaning of this? he demanded as he loomed over the shorter spear wielding men.

Who are you citizen? One guard asked, his voice polite but firm.

I am Tomas Guadhaus and I live on the top floor of this building. Why are you denying people entrance to their homes?

Yeah! someone shouted from the crowd, and a small chorus of angry voices echoed the sentiment. No doubt emboldened by the giant of a man who had just taken up their cause.

Settle down! My fathers voice boomed over the crowd as he used his captains voice. Ill deal with this. The crowd calmed and waited patiently for a response from the guard. My father glared at the man, who hesitated. I couldnt blame him. Tomas was not a small man.

Sir? one of the other guards said, getting his superiors attention. I think this is the father.

Oh. Oh, youre Tomas Guardhaus. My apologies, sir. Please enter. Master Tombrith is waiting for your return. He let my father pass, but when I tried to follow, he stood in the way.

The man moved, as my father gently, but firmly, gripped his shoulder and forcibly relocated him. That is my son, coin chaser. He will come with me.

A few minutes later we were at our door, and had passed several more guards, one or two stationed at each level of the townhome. When we got to our floor, there was a cleric, roughly the size and stature of my father, standing in the doorway. A merchant guard from the same company did his best to stare the giant down from across the hall, but with little success.

Your home is under the protection of the gray priesthood. The cleric said, as he stepped aside. The massive mace on his hip clanked slightly against his heavy armor.

Thank you. Tomas whispered as he passed him by. The cleric winked at me, and I stayed close on my fathers heels. When we got inside, the air changed.

***

As I said, youre home while modest, is lovely Lady Guadhaus. I am impressed with the eloquence youve created with so few resources. A fat, no fat was being kind. A corpulent man said, from where he sat taking up literally half of the table for himself.

Oh, your husband is home. The man tried to stand, but found himself caught on part of the table and fell back into his seat. Well please excuse me. I cant seem to get up without moving this table. Which is quite inconvenient.

My father stepped in, and I followed him. He took the mans out-stretched hand, and shook it. When he then offered his hand to me, I took it as well and found the blob-man had a grip that could probably have crushed me into dust had he had the will to do it.

Fantasy world, right. I told myself as I took up a spot behind my parents with Tabitha standing by the wall facing the merchant.

Please let me introduce myself. I am Guildmaster Tombrith, of the gold and silver smiths guild. Were a small, but well to do guild that does business both with the wealthier common and merchant folk, and the nobility. We pride ourselves on bridging the gap between the classes. The mans smile made my skin crawl, and his teeth were far too bright to not have some kind of magical or chemical treatment done to them.

Its good to meet you Guildmaster. I am Tomas Guadhaus. Im sure my family has introduced me already. Why are you in my house, sir? My fathers voice was polite, but his tone had an edge to it that meant business.

Right. Down to business. Thats what I always like about the common classes, see? Much less fussing about with niceties, while still maintaining a quality of social interaction that is at least acceptable. Its a hard, and fine line to walk but you do so masterfully Captain. I must say. Yes, I am here to see about making match between your daughter Tabitha, and my nephew, Roland.

Is Roland here? Tomas asked and the fat man shook his head.

Im afraid not. You see, my nephew has a kind heart. He joined the gray priesthood some time ago and has been a practicing cleric for nearly a year now. Normally, this wouldnt be a problem. Families have many lines, and merchant families have large households. Unfortunately, many of my kin were recently incarcerated. For crimes I hope they did not commit. But if they did, even after their service of repayment is concluded, it would make them ineligible to be my heir, you see.

And a cleric can not be a merchants heir. Mother explained when my father gave her a questioning look.

Ah. I think I understand. Clerics do not take a vow of celibacy.

Not in the gray priesthood they do not. One of the few intelligent things that foolish boy did was choosing the gray rather than the blue, or Gods forbid the yellow. Those nitwits would have him off to some monastery somewhere, praying for years on end. Hed have been nearly a hundred by the time I would see him next, if I ever did. Though I must admit to thinking him a fool at the time for not choosing the blue. Far better magical prospects in the blue, you see. Anyway, the guild has enough influence to protect you, dear. His gaze fell on Tabitha. He had to dab sweat away from his forehead with a handkerchief and it was then I realized my mother had a small fire going in the oven.

She doesnt like him. I had to fight a smile from finding its way onto my face. She wants him gone as much as the rest of us.

And I am in charge of the guild. My house seat is anyway. Your first child brought about by the union would be required to take up an apprenticeship with me as soon as they turn 16 years of age. At which point, if one of your other children shows signs of being more suited to the role, they can also take on apprenticeships. But in order to protect my houses spot as head of the guild, I need an apprentice from my line as soon as possible. I am desperate and in need of your aid, my young lady.

We would like to meet this young nephew of yours first, before we agreed to anything. Tomas said, but it was clear he was intrigued.

Of course. I was told that his leadership has made him available today and tomorrow, so you may make your decision. Suffice it to say, if you decide in my favor, I would be honored to bless the union with an appropriate bride's price and dowry. Do you have any questions?

Mother and father had a few, and they went back and forth a few times until they came to a somewhat natural ending. At that point, the guild master thanked everyone and left, heaving himself down the stairs with the help of the poor guard who had been stationed with the Cleric outside.

The cleric popped his head in to check everything was alright, then left. His job concluded.

So, what do you think? I asked Tabitha, who shrugged.

I dont know, except Im glad hes not the suitor. My father and mother both laughed, but underlying the joke was an edge of tension. Perhaps we can go visit this man today? Everyone agreed, and my father stood to escort Tabitha down to the temple.

Woh, where do you think youre going? He asked as he put a hand out to stop me from following him.

With you? To the temple so I can do my daily studying.

Nope. Youre grounded. Youre going to stay here with your mother and help her clean everything. And I mean everything in this house. Do I make myself clear?

I tried to argue, but it was no use. When the door shut, I turned and picked up the broom. It was going to be a long, long afternoon.

***

When they returned, the sun was down, dinner was made and I was covered in dust.

Things get sooty and dusty on the fifth floor of a five story building where wood-burning stoves are the main heat source at night. Tomas and Tabitha entered, clearly exhausted. Tomas n particular looked like he had just gone three rounds with Mike Tyson with both his arms tied behind his back and Tyson had his gloves off.

Well? Elsbeth demanded as they sat down to eat her stew. How was he?

They both tried to talk at the same time, before glaring at each other. Tabitha bent to her soup and mumbled, ask father, he practically scared the guy off.

Tomas sighed the sigh of a defeated man who had just fought the most arduous battle of his life. I did not. The boys perfectly fine, with all his body parts intact.

What happened? I asked as I sat down. Elsbeth pinched my ear and shewed me away.

Go clean yourself off. Then you can have some soup. Youre all dusty. I did as instructed, taking a wet cloth to my face and arms while I listened in on the conversation.

Father tried to kill him.

I did not. Tomas matched her indignant tone with one of his own. I merely asked if the kid wanted to have a friendly spar, is all. He uses a mace, much like my club. I thought itd be good practice and let me get to know the kid a bit better.

Yeah, sure. But you nearly took his arm off with that thing! Tabitha shouted, pointing at the club at my fathers hip.

Okay, I admit, I probably hit him a bit too hard. But his arm is fine, just a bit bruised. I just got the thing today. You cant expect me to be an expert in controlling it, can you?

The conversation went quiet for a moment before my mother broke it with a pointed question and glance at me. And where did you get your new club, darling? There was a dangerous edge to her voice.

Landar improved my old one. Hits twice as hard now, this thing is amazing! Im sure our son can join the magical weapons smiths guild. Just look atOh, youre not happy. Whats wrong? The young man is fine, he even said hed love to have Tabitha over for a stroll tomorrow morning. My mother glared at him and he put the club away. He had taken it out to show her just what his little boy had done.

He said that while another cleric healed his arm and fixed his armor. Tabitha said, trying to match our mothers glare.

When Elsbeths gaze landed on me, it was not amused. Behind her back, my father mouthed an Im sorry but that did little to help me.

You were grounded. I explicitly told you to go, watch with your father, then come home. Did I say anything about being able to make magical weapons?

No.

How about encouraging your father in his antics?

Hey! Tomas protested, but Elsbeth shot him a withering glare and he shut up quick.

Smart move, old man. No was my only response to her.

To bed. No dinner.

Honey, thats a bit harsh, dont you think? My father tried to save me but failed.

I think YOU dont deserve a supper either! She took his bowl of soup and tossed it into the cleaning bowl. Tomass hand darted out, grabbed the bread roll, and stuffed it down his gullet before she could so much as glance at it.

Ill go to bed, he said through the half chewed roll. Night, my ducklings, love you. He got up and followed me to my shameful bedtime punishment.

Once the door was shut, he handed me a piece of jerky and winked at me. Mouthing dont tell your mother.

***

The next day was filled with more punishment duties, starting from when I woke up, until about noon. After I had finished grinding the last of the cornmeal into fine powder for storage over the coming winter, my mother glared at me for a few seconds before snapping her fingers.

Selling slaves internally was a perfectly legal thing to do. Buying slaves from outside the kingdom was also legal, but they would come with an automatic one year slave contract and at the end of which they would be free. It limited the practice and abuses of slavery, without eliminating it entirely.

It was a compromise between the idealists, and those who sought ruthless practicality in all things. Such compromises rarely lasted.

But to sell slaves from inside the kingdom to foreigners was a capital offense. One of the few things a merchant could do to earn the hangmans noose. Slavery was a punishment, it wasnt meant to be a life sentence except for the most heinous of crimes. Even then, hereditary slavery was seen as an evil by all the clergy.

Freedom, and the chance to start over, were the rewards for good and noble service as a slave. Not a life of hellish abuse without hope. At least in theory.

Yeah, I know. My entire house was caught up in it except for my uncle and me. Theyre still trying to determine exactly what everyone knew, and what they did and when. But until then, everyone but me and him are in prison. Including two of my younger sisters and my older brother. His voice was soft and sad as he spoke.

You didnt get along with them then? I asked, trying to find a thread to take the conversation in a direction that would lead to results.

Not particularly. My father, well, practically my entire immediate family, was obsessed with money. Not earning it, but making sure they had more than other members of the family. That their position was higher than theirs, because they had the largest chest of gold. He spat on the ground a few feet away. That kind of greed, where youd take a hit if it meant the other guy lost more than you did, was something I always thought was disgusting. Even when I was a kid.

So why join the gray, then? Why not do something else? Im sure you had options.

He nodded. Yup, lots of options. Women wanted to marry me, men wanted to be my friend. I was the second oldest child in a successful merchant family. Of course, I had options. I could have even bought a spot in the dukes academy if I really wanted to.

Why didnt you?

He shrugged. Didnt seem like something Id be good at. Taking orders, marching around, being a landless hedge knight if I was lucky, or an adventurer? Facing down monsters, or the enemies of the kingdom, fighting for political reasons? None of that sounds good to me. None of it sounded right.

And the gray did?

The gray priesthood is the only institution that gives a rats butt about anyone but themselves in this miserable city. Hells, in the entire kingdom, really. From the king on down, everyone is out for something self serving. The Blue is out to be the home of the smartest mages, to do the most research and get recognized for their accomplishments. To make a name for themselves. I can respect that at least. The red and yellow both have their own thing that they lust after too. Be it power or wisdom. Its still something they seek without concern for anyone else. That same naked greed that my family suffered from.

His face turned a light shade of red when he realized he was talking to a twelve-year-old. Sorry, thats a pretty heavy thing to put at the feet of a kid.

I sorted and waved it off. Kinda figured all that out just by looking around and seeing what everyone was doing. Dont worry about me. What about the adventurers guild?

His face screwed up as if I had just asked the stupidest question in the whole world. Kid, do you know what clerics do? I mean, besides guarding kids reading in libraries.

I thought about it for a moment, then shook my head. I didnt really know on a practical level. Fight evil I guess?

Yup, exactly. And we do that by partnering with members of the adventurers guild. Adventurers get paid for hunting down monsters, gathering rare materials, or fulfilling quests issued by the local guild house for paying customers. Us clerics go along to provide healing and cleansing and basic magical support, and our share goes to the priesthood. Which is then used to do things like run the orphanage.

He gestured vaguely towards one wing of the campus. Or help sickly kids get better. He eyed me and I got the point. No way my mothers efforts would have been able to pay for the services of someone like Mother Margaret on their own. Charity had to be involved at some level.

I broke the awkward silence. Sooo, why arent you out there fighting monsters, then?

He scoffed. Kid, do I look like a walking mound of muscle that radiates holy power with every step yet?

I took him in critically. If I was in my old body from back on Earth, the kid would have been a scrawny, tall teenager with far too many freckles on his face to not have been teased off the football team. He looked more like a gawky track runner than the linebackers that most of the other clerics seemed to emulate. I shook my head, and he smiled.

Exactly. Emphasis on the yet though. Ill get there soon. Now, your parents and sister are probably wondering where we ran off to. Ready to get back? He stood and stretched.

Wait. There is one more thing I need from you.

What is it, kid?

Im going to be teaching my sister the basics of magic over the next few days. Maybe months if we can draw out your engagement that long. Shell talk to you about that, though. His eyes went wide, but then he nodded. That was something they had to work out between them. She needs to learn to protect herself. I was hoping

And you were hoping I would help? I nodded, then told him my rudimentary plan. A few moments later, he agreed as he looked off towards the southern wall. Interesting idea, kid. Youve got a deal.

Father and mother gave me dagger like glares as we rejoined them, while my sister had only eyes for the nerdy-looking Roland. The kid was alright; I told myself. But hes no Adonas. Why did she fall so hard for him?

Now that lunch is over, I have some duties I have to attend to. But I received permission to have you all shadow me if you would like.

We would love to see what you do here every day, Tabitha said as she nearly jumped out of her seat. I caught my parents smiling at each other as we joined them.

The first stop was a long two storied hall that wreaked of illness and blood. This is the hall of the sick. Us clerics come here to practice our healing skills, both mundane and magical, on the less fortunate of the city.

Who do you treat? my mother asked in a tone that suggested she was about two seconds away from choosing this place as her new passion project. From the sounds of crying injured people, and the smell of sickness, it made sense.

Mainly those who cant afford the services of a private healer, or the services of a veteran cleric in the main hall. He walked to the center of the hall where half a dozen clerics, who looked very similar in their build and gawky size to Roland, received small slates with names written in chalk on them. When he got his, he turned to us and showed us the slate.

There are five people today. A few more than average. Looks like two drudges who were caught in a cart accident, a man with a stomach illness, and two men who were found drunkenly brawling last night and who were brought here by the guard around midnight. My mother took the slate from him when he was finished reading it and read it herself.

These poor people. And you serve them without compensation? She asked, concern creasing her brow.

Not entirely. The drudges get paid for by the city council. Usually. He looked uncomfortable for a moment, then pressed on. The citys normal citizenry usually have to pay us back for their services. No more than a days pay, but for some it can be difficult. So we allow in-kind payment as well. Its what we usually use to feed and cloth those in the orphanage. As for drunks and criminals? Well, its much like citizens, but their debt is usually doubled as a fine for minor crimes.

We came to the first of the five alcoves with the ill people inside. First the drudges. Roland pulled the small thin curtain sheet aside, revealing both men. They were awake and looked like they had broken legs.

Thats a compound fracture. I said. Do you know what to do with that? I asked, remembering my first aid training.

Youre right. Well have to force it back into place. Roland laid his hands down on the leg and started pressing down hard. The man screamed and quickly passed out from the pain. There was a terrible crunching noise and I could tell that the bone hadnt quite set right. And then we heal it with a simple spell.

Wait! Elsbeth I both said at the same time, and Roland pulled his hands back.

Whats wrong?

How long have you been treating the ill? Elsbeth asked as she forced her way forward and took a hold of the leg exploring the bone in the wound.

Only a week now.

Well, that explains it. You knew to set the bone, but you didnt do it right. You cant just force the leg down or the bone might do what it did here. She grabbed his hands and ran them along the leg. Feel that? The bone fragments arent aligned. Theyre partially off. He nodded, and his face went paler than normal. If you had healed it like this, his leg never would have worked properly and pained him for the rest of his life.

She pulled the injured drudges ankle, and the bone realigned itself with a muffled yet audible snap. Okay. Now heal. A slight golden light emitted from his hands as he ran them over the slightly bleeding wound.

There. That should hold long enough for his body to heal. He turned to Elsbeth and bowed. Thank you for your help.

No matter. How is this one?

They looked at the next drudge patient together. My mother coaxed Roland along, asking him questions in the right direction rather than giving him the answer. It had something to do with the mans shoulder, and after a few minutes of probing, Roland popped the arm back into its socket.

The drudge screamed in pain, and sweat ran down his face, but he thanked both my mother and Roland as they moved onto the next patient. More like a victim, I thought as I reeled from the brutality of this treatment.

Next up was the stomach illness patient. He had been throwing up small amounts of blood, and there was blood in his urine and stool. My mother and Roland tried several things but in the end were stumped, and the man looked like he was getting worse.

Mom? Elsbeth turned and looked at me. It sounds like a stomach ulcer thats ruptured.

A what?

Ulcer, I pointed at the mans stomach. If hes throwing up blood, and its in his poop and urine, then its probably a bleeding ulcer. Which means hes going to need some serious and targeted healing.

I can stop bleeding. Roland said. I just need to know where.

I felt along the guys stomach, and when he winced, I grabbed Rolands hands and placed them there. Here probably. Though Im not sure. He cast a light healing spell. I looked into the mans eyes. Youre going to need to drink as much clean water as you can. Boil it before you drink it. Youre also going to need to be on a liquid diet, like soups and gravy, for a week or so. After that, eat small meals. Try to avoid hard breads. For now, drink, and sleep. Once we see that youre not bleeding anymore, they can send you home.

The man thanked Roland, and then practically collapsed back into the wooden plank that these people called a hospital bed.

How did you know that? Roland eyes watched me, suspicious.

I read about it. In the library. It was in a book of common stomach illnesses. Elsbeth praised me, but Roland kept giving me sideways glances, like he felt something strange was going on. The same look I was giving Elsbeth.

There was more to that womans past than just considering joining the gray. There had to be.

I had suspected for a long while that my mother was more than she let on. She was, I realized, a leader in our community among the tenements. If someone didnt know where to turn to for help or advice, they came to see my mom. Despite our own poverty, my mother always found time to help those who sought her out.

The fact she knew how to set a compound fracture was just the latest in a string of odd things, that made me think she knew, and was capable of far more than she should.

The last two were drunks who had gotten into a fight and beaten each other nearly senseless. Roland found a bit of internal bleeding and bruising at the base of one mans neck and healed it with a light spell. But other than that, he told the men to drink clean water, and rest for a few days. Which would be easy as they were both going to be in jail for a week waiting for a judge.

Never get arrested on a Friday, makes everything take longer.

By the time everything was finished and done, it was growing dark outside. Elsbeth and my sister went for one last walk through the gardens with Roland, while Tomas and I headed home. I was growing tired at that point. I was healthy now, but I was still technically in a kids body.

Somewhere along the line, I fell asleep on my fathers shoulders and dreamed dreams of smiting evil and healing the injured.

I have to admit, being a cleric is a pretty cool thing.