The Normal Farmer - Completed

Chapter 23 – Beginning the Patrol Quest in Durant

While Ronald and his group were getting out of the City of Tannery, Ma Yangfa was in Durant, at the Adventurer’s Guild, in a meeting with his Party and Mira, as an extra Mage.

He was pointing at the City Map, with some lines drawn on it, making a grid. “So, everyone understood what we were supposed to do? No questions? Good. Remember, we patrol in groups of two, as we already discussed. Go talk with the people and explain that we are just making sure that everyone is safe from criminals or any kind of violence. If you see any misdeed, if only two of you are enough, stop it. If needed, ask for backup from the nearest group. Today, we patrol these sections, walking along these lines. At each intersection, we report what we saw or did to the nearest group. Remember, even City Guards are not excused. If you see any of them committing a crime or putting someone in danger, arrest them immediately. By force, if necessary. Preferably, without killing them, I want to take every prisoner to a proper trial to serve as an example.”

Mira raised her arm. “And if during that trial, a prisoner is considered not guilty? We couldn’t find enough proof of his misdeeds, or he had an excuse, or someone vouched for him…”

Ma nodded with a serious look. “That can happen; that’s why we must make sure that anyone we arrest is caught in the act. Or we have more than one trustworthy person to act as a witness. We must also prevent any person from setting a trap for another by accusing someone of an evil act, forging evidence, or hiring liars as his witnesses. That’s why I want us to patrol every day. If some of us go on a Quest to gain some extra money, we must have another meeting to assign new patrol routes to the free members. We are a big Party, so I think we can handle this.”

Ma took a look around at the ten members of his Party. Twelve, counting with him and Mira. By far the largest group in the Adventurer’s Guild of Durant, considering that the average number of members was four.

Ma’s Party was not only big, but it also had some of the strongest members. That was the reason he applied to Ronald’s Quest; he was sure they could do it and turn that City into a peaceful one.

Since no one had questions, Ma ended the meeting, and they left the Guild to walk alongside the sections assigned to each pair of Adventurers.

…

By the middle of the morning, Ma was walking with Mira by his side on patrol. At the last intersection of his map grid, two groups reported the capture of one man who was beating up another one in an alley, trying to rob him, and two others who were harassing two single women at the market. They were all sent to the Castle to face charges.

When Ma was looking to the front of an armour shop, where a man was discussing with the seller, complaining about the high price of a sword near the entrance, two Royal Guards approached Mira and saluted her.

One of them was making a bow towards her. “I am sorry for disturbing your walk, Miss Mira, but the King asked us to come. The King wants to talk with Mister Ma regarding the three men that some members of his Party sent with some heavy accusations.”

Mira returned the bow by grabbing one side of her dress and lowering her body. “By all means, for something like that, you can disturb me. But I would like to accompany Mister Ma, considering that today I am also a member of his Party and that a call by the King would for sure include me if he knew about this previously.”

“Of course, Miss Mira. Mister Ma, can you come with us?”

“Yes, lead the way, please.”

They both followed the two Royal Guards along the main road. At one intersection, they turned right and started to go up the hill where the Castle was located.

When they were approaching the main entrance, Mira smiled, looking up at the tall towers and walls filled with battlements. Because of his aggressive neighbour, the Kingdom of Loriath had all of its Cities surrounded by high rock walls and a Castle, always prepared for a battle.

Durant was more fortified than any other City, and that Castle was the residence of the Royal Family.

As soon as they approached the entrance, the doors opened to let them pass, and two Royal Guards greeted them with a bow while they were passing. Along the corridors, they were always greeted with a deep bow by every servant or Guard that crossed paths with them.

Two Royal Guards were guarding the two enormous doors, the entrance to the Throne Room. Mira and Ma greeted them with a slight bow as they entered and went straight to the middle of the room, where three men were seated on the floor, chained together.

The Guards that were escorting Ma and Mira passed by them without even looking and stopped in front of the throne. Seated in there, King Essor Thirdrin was looking at them with a very serious look on his face.

Ma and Mira made a deep bow, with Mira speaking first: “My King, I am glad to see you well.”

“Hello, Mira Sonanji. I asked my Guards to bring me Ma Yangfa. I am surprised to see you in here.”

“Well, I have been working with Ma since yesterday on a Quest, and I thought I could come as well. But if my King is bothered by my presence, I can leave and let you talk with Ma in private.”

The King smiled, and he lightly shook his hand. “There’s no need for that; I am just a little curious why those three were sent here, charged with a robbery attempt and harassment towards some women at the market. I was hoping that Ma Yangfa could enlighten me on that matter, considering that some members of his Party arrested those men.”

Ma nodded, and he explained, as best as he could, the Quest he was trying to fulfil. Mira helped at some point because Ma was getting too nervous after seeing the King hear him so attentively.

After the explanation, the King leaned back on his throne and was silent for a while, thinking. After a moment, he asked: “If I understood everything correctly, your Party intends to compete with the City Guards in the security of this City?”

Ma slowly shook his head. “Not compete, my King; complement. And if needed, bring some City Guards to face justice. There are a few of them who think their job grants any kind of right to be violent towards the people they are supposed to protect.”

The King nodded with a worried face. “Yes, I had some troubles recently, but I thought everything was peaceful. Maybe I am being misled and misinformed by my Ministers and Captains of the Guards, if things are as bad as you say, for someone to find the need to make that Quest. I know the details about such a person are kept secret during a Quest, but can you tell me at least if the one who created that Quest is reliable? I mean, what is his interest in making it?”

“My King, I think I can answer that, even better than Ma Yangfa. I was told he intends to settle in this City, get married, and have children. But the violence here worries him. I know such a matter also worries my King, but that person just thought of another approach to dealing with this problem.”

“I see… I suppose that from this day on, more people will be arrested, correct? I hope you do your best to gather proofs and testimonies about their evil deeds so that they can be judged swiftly.”

Ma Yangfa made a deep bow. “That is my intention, my King. I said the same thing at our meeting in the Guild early this morning, before going on patrol around the City.”

When the King was about to speak again, a Royal Guard entered the Throne Room, escorting the Courier that Duza sent. “My King, I am truly sorry for this interruption, but this Courier arrived with an urgent message!”

The King signalled the Courier to approach, and he delivered the letter that Duza gave to him. “My King, The Adventurer Duza Sonanji sent me. I came from the City of Tannery, near the border with Kwoghia. Upon my departure early this morning, the City Chief ordered his City Guards to stop us from leaving to prevent this message from being delivered. If it weren’t for the protection of Miss Duza’s Party, I would be dead by now.”

The King was starting to open the letter, but he paused. “Did you come from Tannery this morning? How did you get here so fast? It’s a two-day ride!”

“My King, I came mounted on a very fast Magical Being, summoned by a member of that Party, and I was also escorted by a powerful woman warrior because Miss Duza wanted to make sure this message was delivered.”

The King quickly opened the letter and read it. He started to frown in the middle, and at the end, he was pounding one arm of the throne with a fist. “This is outrageous! Marlo Lozzot was once a Baron, and he lost his title because I found out he was using, for his own benefit, the Kingdom’s money. I made him a City Chief there as a punishment. He was once a skilful administrator of the lands under his care, and I was hoping he changed his ways in that City. His last report about the state of Tannery never mentioned any kind of problem. Guard, get together a platoon of Royal Guards, go to Tannery, and arrest that scumbag!”

The Courier asked for attention: “My King, may I ask to accompany them to Tannery? I don’t have a ride to get back.”

“Of course, you can, and thank you for the swiftness of this message!”

Mira made a deep bow. “My King, may I ask this Courier how my sister is?” I am worried about her."

At a signal from the King, the Courier reassured Mira that her sister was well and heavily guarded, with her Party and two extra powerful warriors. That woman warrior who brought him was already returning to meet her again. Mira was curious about those warriors. “I don’t know who they are. They are from Tannery?”

“No, Miss, I never met them in there. I thought they arrived together, but I never saw or heard a*********s about a warrior being able to do what they did to those City Guards. I have met many people in my line of work, but never someone like those two. The man has more strength than ten men combined, and the woman is ferocious. And extremely beautiful…”

“At least my sister is safe. Thank you for telling me this.”

Seeing the King so angry and reading the letter again, Mira thought it was better to excuse themselves and leave. The King waved at them with a serious look. “I hope your Quest can prevent this kind of thing from happening in this City. I may need to talk with you two later this week to check on your progress.”

Mira and Ma made a deep bow, and Ma replied, “It will be an honour, my King.”

They both left, taking one last look at the three captives. By accompanying one Royal Guard to the exit, they went to the same place where they were stopped by the Royal Guards to continue their patrol.