They were most of the way to the next fief when the 'bandits' hit them. A sudden rain of arrows as a Lancer appeared between her and the forest. Screams and the nail-biting pattering of arrows striking metal or reinforced hide that was stronger than most metals. Chest pieces, helms and the skirt-like barding on the heavy chargers shed the lot like an oiled rain cloak.

  Then the chargers were moving, full speed into the forest with a charge that shook the very ground. Then they weren't spinning to the side and launching those small throwing spears, no pilum. Launching the pilum in a volley further into the woods, for an entirely different kind of pattering. Like a butcher's knife chopping into a side of venison.

  Then the screams rang out. Again and again for what seemed like a month and only a few seconds.

  Then it was over and she found her hands shaking where they held her suddenly inadequate belt knife.

  An armored hand reached across her body, slowly, and took the knife away. Patting her gently on the shoulder in passing.

  "No harm, Miro. You’re fine." Leo's abrupt words never sounded quite so sweet. She let out a strangled, sobbing muddle of sounds that even she couldn’t decipher. Then taking a deep breath, tried again. "What was that?"

  "Some fools who thought they was smart." The knight offered, reaching down to slip her knife back into its sheath.

  "Wha-?" She felt like slapping herself. Why wouldn't her mouth work right? Why was the sound of her breathing so loud in her ears?

  An abrupt blow between her shoulders shook her out of it, and nearly out of her saddle. "Miro. Slow your breathing or you'll pass out. Focus on my voice. Steady. Calm. Safe."

  She tried to follow along. And a few moments later managed it. Glancing around where two of the common guards behind them were pulling an arrow from a horse’s flank, and applying a dressing to the same while another was removed from one of the non-Alfwin guard’s upper arm.

  It took her a minute; she was ashamed to admit it, but the shock of it wasn’t easily shaken off. Of going from peace to abject violence in no time at all. Of sun-dappled evening to a rain of arrows! She took a slow, deep breath. Held it for several seconds. Exhaled. Then a slow three-count before repeating it.

  "Why? With so many armored men and horses, why?"

  "They thought they was smart." Leo repeated patiently, gesturing with his chin towards the forest side of the road where a half dozen Lancers, red slicked spathas in one hand and a bundle of bows, long knives and what might have been a belt pouch or three were jumping over a bush and branch-strewn section of forest floor that was bulging downward beneath a body. And with another two dozen such lying still behind it. Each festooned with leaves atop crimson spotted leather. "Dug themselves a ditch and figured if they poked us, we'd run right into it." He spat to the side. "Have to be a right git to fall for it."

  "How did you-?" She trailed off, unsure how to ask how he'd- Seen? Known?

  He glanced at her and shrugged. "Not a great idea to do what your enemy wants you to. Most of the time."

  "But why? The risks can't be worth it for a group of bandits? A military column.."

  "Adventurers turned bandit by desperation or greed. Mighty scrawny, the lot of them."

  “Adventurers? Why?”

  “Lotta men coming home from the Demon wars. Not so many jobs to come home to. Trained men, what else they going to do? More adventurers, more armsmen, same number of rifts.” He offered, leaning down to retrieve a small bundle of arrows with- she glanced away abruptly. With less than clean ends from an unmounted Lancer.

  "A waste. But not a complete one." Leo suddenly announced. pulling her attention back to him, and along his pointing hand to where another lancer emerged from the woods with a short string of pack horses, backs strewn with what looked like a fairly light load. Not the best horses she'd ever seen. But well fed and recently curried.

  “If they were adventurers-“ She offered hesitantly.

  “Were.” Leo interrupted her firmly. “Now Bandits. A man is as a man does. There are no excuses and can be no mercy. Prey on their neighbors first, most do.”

  “So you just kill them all?”

  “About two in three. The rest ran too fast.” He nodded.

  She stared, mouth moving, but she found she had no counterpoint to offer and at last fell silent.

  It took them a couple more minutes to collect loot, clean off weapons and finish bandaging a few wounds.

  Then they were moving along as if nothing had happened... except for two dozen bodies behind them and a string of new pack animals lightly burdened with cheap weapons and, ah, well-used leathers. She shuddered and decisively turned away.

  Her mind was already running the numbers on what they could be sold for... She shuddered again and firmly stopped thinking about it.

  For now.

  Definitely.

  ___

  “It’s not an uncommon reaction, love.” James offered, squeezing his wife’s shoulders.

  “I didn’t freeze up when the wolves attacked.” She muttered, looking at her cup of wine as they sat at a long trestle in what stood for a great hall. If one that was more than half barracks. A low-ceilinged, long, narrow hall with small bays to either side filled with bunk beds.

  “Not the same at all.” Ethan offered with a sympathetic smile. “Most people, of any sex and class, will fight given a reason and enough time to nerve themselves up to it. It's an entirely different thing to go from a quiet ride to killing in a split second. It takes experience and a particular mindset. One you don’t need to develop, my dear. Leo had that front covered.”

  The man in question nodded easily. “More like half century of bodies.” He noted after a moment of thought.

  They stared at him blankly, then Ethan couldn’t help but snicker as Miro let out an affronted hiss. Trying to hide it behind his raised wine glass. And damn but that tasted good! “Then what?” He prompted.

  “Sir Leosige spoke to Baron Aldricht at Buchenhein about the bandits. He wasn’t particularly surprised nor sorry to hear of their end. He wasn’t unpleasant about it, just aware of the realities and more interested in settling his returning veterans down than worrying about the livelihood of a few adventurers.”

  “Bit of luck that.” Leo offered with a satisfied grin.

  “Yes… luck.” Miro muttered, somewhat resentfully giving the knighted scout a dark glance. One that he easily ignored. “Offered to take the Baron's extras off his hands on the way back through. He was, well, more than willing to let any as were willing to leave.”

  Leo nodded again. Smiling all the broader.

  “And the same at the next barony. And the next. Till we reached Lord Dietrich at Eichenhall.”

  “He as boisterous as ever?” James asked with a small grin.

  If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

  Leo nodded with a pained grimace.

  “His reception was… well it wasn’t what we were expecting.” Miro offered.

  “Nope.” Leo barked. Taking over the tale.

  ___

  “You’ll take my adventurers?”

  “With Your Lordship’s permission.” Leo repeated carefully.

  The man leaned back in his overcarved high seat, considering the matter for a moment. Then sprang to his feet with grace and energy. “I believe I can do better than that! Take a walk with me, Sir Knight.”

  And walk they did. Straight out of the keep, picking up a quartet of Principes on the way by, and down into the town proper. And not a single moment of silence the entire time. How the mushrooms were growing in. The grapes. Recent rifts. Births of the flocks and recent unpronounceable social engagements he’d pranced and blathered his way through-

  ___

  “It wasn’t that bad!” Miro protested over Ethan’s now constant snickers.

  “Was worse.” Leo bluntly retorted, a bit of horror etched into his normally blank face as he continued on.

  ___

  They stopped outside a blacksmith's yard to the sound of hammer on anvil and the smell of peat. Hammering that stopped immediately as the Blacksmith scurried out to meet his liege.

  “Master Gottwin, I recollect that you had a third son you were having trouble finding a place for. Is that still the case?”

  “Ah, Yes Milord. Oliver’s a good lad, and a good smith in his own right. There’s no enough work and with him married now…” He trailed off awkwardly.

  “I thought so. Be known to Sir Leosige of Alfwin Pass. A new fief bestowed by the Emperor –“

  “May his light ever shine on us.”

  Leo and Miro chanted automatically. Picking up the rest on the second word. The baron nodded, then continued. “-for honorable service during the war. They survived and thrived through their first winter and are in need of skilled tradesmen. I’ve prevailed upon them for a number of livings. Be so good as to spread the news among your neighbors, yes? They may see me if they wish such a favor.”

  The Blacksmith was smiling fit to burst as he nearly knelt and kissed the man’s hand and would have his ass too if he’d offered. Took a good sand glass to do it-

  ___

  “Now you are really exaggerating Leo!”

  “Hush! Yous had your turn.”

  ___

  They made a few more stops, delaying supper to do it too, and by the end, at least 15 craftsman and their families had already accepted. Thanking the Baron profusely for the favor…

  It was an eye-opener. A man able to give them good common classes for a favor while gaining more favors from the other end too.

  An impressive swindling. And done in the open with no shame! Enough to make a Mercator jealous.

  ___

  “Hey!”

  ___

  Then it was on to Rivervald. A bit of a hassle at the border fort-

  ___

  “You threatened to flog the man.” Miro pointed out.

  “Have him flogged.” Leo corrected. “Deserved it to. Ignoring My Lady’s letter.”

  “He couldn’t read Leo!”

  “No excuse.”

  Ethan, barely able to breathe for laughing moved to the side table and snagged a refill while the two bickered behind him.

  A favor for finding them a place and a favor for placing them? Now that was a good bit of business. And as Ermina had often pointed out.

  Favors were the currency of power.

  Ethan turned back towards the table in time to see James mouth thank you over Miro’s shoulders as she fought, eyes brightly flashing once again, with Leo over small details.

  He pulled a Leo, timing a wink with the girl's natural blink.

  Ethan let them be for a while, but eventually had to clear his throat. “And then?”

  “Ah? Sorry My Lord.” Miro offered, a bit sheepishly. “We made Rivervald later that day and scouts being what they are, our father-in-law and Barons Aurek, Rufus, Gaius and Flavius-“

  “Flavius joined in after all? I didn’t think the old goat he had the patience for it.” Ethan muttered.

  Miro grinned. “I think he had his arm twisted a might, but the grain markets must have been quite glutted with loot at the end of Fall. Even he had to see an opportunity of selling the same to fresh markets after a hard winter.”

  Ethan shrugged. It was obvious when she said it like that. But many a man wasn’t interested in waiting for a better payoff.

  “-between them, they managed to raise over 700 tons of grain. Three quarters of it looted from the good duke, I’d judge-“ It went that well then? Ethan grinned even wider. “-and 12 riverboats to hold it all.”

  Ethan let out a small whistle. “I wasn’t sure they’d manage it, no matter what we planned last July.” Just as well, the backup plans were far less promising.

  She just smiled. “It was a good plan My Lord. And we made it work. Between the prime furs, monster cores and protection, we have a third of the total value-“ His heart hurt to have parted with those cores and several unique situations overlapping that made it possible. Looted grain meant they could afford to stock it up, rather than a quick sell to make ends meet. Then a large complement of powerful tier 2s for protection, under his colors and with his newly fiefed protected status… Politically, the Riverlanders could not send sufficient guards to protect such a valuable caravan. Not through the fiefs of the Great Forest under the Count of Auenland's nose. Not without giving him a massive cut at least.

  “-Baron Theodric had another third. The remaining Barons shared the rest.” And thank you for that vote of confidence, father-in-law.

  “It took a few days to organize, but we left Rivervald with the grain, 250 sets of Umbral Lorica Segmentata, our 45 Scrimshawers, another 50 Common classes of various types and a century of Labori.”

  “Poor Bastards.” Leo spat to the side.

  Miro shrugged uncomfortably. “He’s not wrong. With the troops and men coming home from the wars all at once- well, it's not pretty even in well-led territories. Even Baron Theodric was happy to have a decent place to send them.”

  Ethan’s eyes lit up. “Might be an opportunity.” He offered quietly.

  “A bird in hand, captain.” James muttered softly. “We can only take in and feed so many. Not without introducing chaos and crime. We’re pushing that line more than is wise with what they brought back.”

  Well. There was that.

  Miro shrugged again. “From there it was fairly straight forward-“

  Leo coughed. Loudly. Giving the young woman a stern glance. “She traded at every fief north.” He offered. “And took no losses. Rained coins and no river fee either.”

  Ethan stared at the young woman, beyond impressed. “No taxes?” That was…unnatural!

  “I gave them a very good deal on the grain-“ She muttered looking down.

  “Doubled the cost.” Leo retorted.

  “I could have pushed for three or four times after the winter.” She shot back. Then shrugged. “But not without making enemies. Between long term problems and the immediate threat, it didn’t seem worth it, My Lord.”

  “As we discussed.” Ethan offered waving it off. Double was excellent. Even if the costs would eat into that a good bit.

  “And at every stop, we had more of the same.” Miro continued. “More of Leo’s little hints bearing fruit. Adventurers for the most part, including your old friend Gareth who requests an audience by the way.” She paused, waiting for Ethan’s nod, then with relish, “And nearly 50 Herdsmen moving several hundred mixed goats and sheep.”

  “50?” Ethan nearly stood up. “With flocks? Damn! How did you manage that? Hell, how did you afford it?” And however she did it, he’d happily accept. It filled a critical shortage of both!

  “We’re decently flush with coin now, My Lord. But in this case, we didn’t pay for it.” She smiled at Ethan's confused look. “The flocks are theirs milord. We merely offered them space, protection and Sir Leosige’s word of honor that the flocks would remain theirs.”

  Ethan stared, then chuckled. Now why didn’t he think of that? He didn’t have to own everything. Why not let his citizens empty their own pockets instead of his?

  “Wasn’t the only place it happened either. Quite a few of our new residents brought goods to use or sell.”

  “And welcome to do both. Though we’ll need to sit down with Ermina and work out how to make it all work.”

  She nodded and continued. “Sets of riverboats returned as they were emptied. Trading grain for wine, mushrooms and rift loot for the most part. And the Barons should do quite well on that leg. By the time we left Wegend we were down to four riverboats. Filled to the brim too!”

  “How did they handle the current?” James asked, kissing her cheek exuberantly.

  “Quite well for the first few Forest Baronies, but by Auenland we had them on tow ropes. We’d have done as well or better with wagons on the last forest leg. From Wegend to the mountains, with no road, it was till worth the trouble. But those last 10 to 20 miles… well I’m glad the scouts spotted us. Because we needed every extra hand on the tow ropes.”

  Ethan winced. That would put a bit of a damper on trade. Unless they put a trade station at the foot of the mountains and took wagons down to it…

  Something to think about.

  “It’s a hell of a tale, and you did better than I ever expected Miro-”

  “I’m not done yet My Lord.” She broke in with a saucy smile and a bouncing twist that had James' face turning interesting colors.

  “Once the boats unload the hundred tons of grain and 30 tons of posca, we’ll sell the owners our less impressive hides, fill them up and send them back downriver!”

  “Fill?” Leo asked with a raised eyebrow.

  She coughed. “Maybe not.” She offered after a moment sheepishly. That was a lot of space! “But it's still coin. And the more money they make, the more likely they are to come back on their own later.”

  A point Ethan allowed. But one to worry about later. They might not be in a position to accept a trade delegation this time next year. But then again, they might. No reason to burn a bridge they didn’t have to. He’d see what bits of rift loot, ivory and other trade goods they could part with. Silver or gold, it wouldn’t be wasted come Fall and a final trade trip before the weather closed them off.

  But that was a worry for later.

  “Well done. You’ll have to tell it again to Ermina later of course, but that might be a bit as I think James will need to stay here?”

  James nodded. “I’ll need to deal with our overcurious guests My Lord. At least a week before we can unload, reload and send them off.”

  Ethan nodded. As planned then. He’d make sure they didn’t see what they didn’t want them to… and make sure they did see what they did want them to! “And I’m not about to separate you two again so soon.”

  “Thank you, My Lord!” Miro offered with sparkling eyes and another little wiggle.

  “Minx. I guess that means Leo will have to tell her the tale.”

  The room stared at him for a moment.

  Then broke out laughing.

  ___