The Normal Farmer - Completed

Chapter 28 – Arriving to Kwoghia

Ari put her head out of the side window. “Miss Duza, instead of saying we are foreign dignitaries and causing another mess like what happened in Tannery, can we be a couple of young Merchants travelling to Argoheria and doing business along the way? Because since Mister Ronald is going to sell more balls of web and that game, we could use that as our disguise.”

Duza nodded. “Yes, I was going to do that. And you are right; we can use Ronald’s products as an excuse. As long as he keeps his mouth shut and his hands on the reins, correct?”

Ronald nodded and remained in complete silence. Duza smiled. “Good boy! Now, let’s get this done. Ronald, take care of the Spiders and the Rat! You can keep the Bird up there.”

Ari opened the small window behind Ronald, and Woof went through there and sat at his side. Ronald grabbed his rope with one hand and the Bulls’ reins with the other.

As soon as the Magical Beings disappeared and the Cards were again with Ronald, Duza went to her place at the front. She kicked the horse’s sides to make him trot, and they quickly approached the Loriath checkpoint.

When the two Guards stationed there were looking at the unknown group, Duza slowed the approach and made the horse walk.

When she was at 5 metres, she made a hand signal for everyone to stop and introduced herself to the Guards: “Good morning. I am Duza Sonanji, and I am escorting a couple of young Merchants on a voyage to Argoheria.”

“Miss Duza Sonanji, can I see your Adventurer’s Card for verification?”

She took her Card from a closed pocket and showed it. One of the Guards approached with one hand over the hilt of his sword. Duza gave him her Card, and he made a bow as soon as he read the name and looked at the picture of her on the Card. “Miss Duza, it is indeed an honour. May I be so bold as to ask who drew your picture on this Card? Because it’s really well made.”

“Our Guild Master did it, Haje Sonanji, my father.”

“Really? I grew up hearing stories about him, but I never knew he could draw with so much detail!”

“Yeah, I thought it was weird when I was younger and questioned him about that. He told me that when he was going to rob a Noble’s house or a Merchant’s warehouse, he always made detailed drawings for his team to follow, and he became rather good at it. I regretted asking. That was when I discovered my father’s evil past!”

“Hahaha! I can only imagine! Well, let me just…”

That was when the Guard noticed Woof, peacefully seated next to Ronald. “Miss Duza, you have a wolf up there? How?”

“He is a friend of my companion, Ronald. That wolf is also a member of our Guild. He is very good at warning us about any danger or any unknown person who might approach us.”

“I see… Well, I wish you all a safe voyage.”

He joined the other Guard, and they stood at the side of the road in a pose with a straight-up body. When the carriage was passing by, the Guards shouted, “Safe voyage, Miss Duza Sonanji’s Party! May God Seya guide you all!”

They all made a slight bow to the Guards as they passed. A few metres ahead, another Guard with a different uniform was waiting for them.

Duza stopped at the same distance she did previously and, while presenting her Guild Card, introduced herself again. The Guard approached, and as soon as he compared the picture on the Card with the person in front of him, his jaw dropped. “Miss Duza Sonanji… What… I mean… May I ask the reason for your visit?”

Duza explained again, with Ari and Taly having to get out of the carriage to convince the Guards. Even Woof had to get down and sit on the floor for the Guards to be convinced he was friendly.

Duza was curious about so much suspicion towards someone that came from Loriath: “Do you mind explaining why you are so apprehensive? Because last time I checked, Loriath had good relations with the Kingdom of Kwoghia.”

The Guard nodded. “Yes, that is true. But it is also true that we must stay vigilant against any outsider because Breidan’s spies are always trying to cross our country to go to yours. We also must make sure no one from Loriath tries to give any kind of information to Breidan. If I may ask, where are you heading while in Kwoghia?”

“We want to stop at the City of Tha’alani, a few minutes’ ride from here because our employers want to sell some things. After that, we will continue and travel some more. If we get to another City or village in time, we pass the night there. If not, we camp.”

“I would advise you not to do that. Lately, we have been having some trouble with an enormous flock of Harpies. They invaded an abandoned barn right outside the City, and when they are hungry, they go on a hunt. The City is safe because there are many Mages, Adventurers, and Guards to stop them, but out in the open, they are deadly.”

Duza thought it was strange. A nest of Harpies so near a City? “But why are they still in there? Why the Guards and the Adventurers didn’t eradicate them?”

“The Harpies Nest is huge. A group of our stronger Adventurers, Mages, and Guards went there, and many of them were killed. No one tried again.”

Taly shouted from the back, near the carriage, “Is there a well-paid Quest in the Adventurer’s Guild?”

The Guard looked at him and then at Duza again to check her reaction. Since she didn’t budge, he answered Taly, “Yes, there is. But until now, no one has tried it. Not after the last group.”

Taly made a huge smile and winked one eye at Ronald. Duza understood immediately the reason for his question, and she hid a smile.

The Border Guard returned her Guild Card and moved to the side to let them pass. While they were crossing the border, everyone made a slight bow and smiled at the Guards.

When the City Wall was visible, Taly asked, “Mister Ronald, what do you say if we both go take down that Harpies’ nest? I wouldn’t mind doing it for free, but since there’s also a well-paid Quest, we can split the money. What do you say?”

Ari pinched his butt by putting her arm through the small, open window at his back. “No, you won’t! We don’t need to go look for trouble!”

“Stop that, you crazy woman! Do you want to sleep out in the open and always be on your guard because of some nasty Harpies? Why can’t we get rid of them and save a lot of people from being eaten? You could have some sympathy for the weak that aren’t able to defend themselves!”

Ari turned red and stuttered: “No… I wasn’t… I mean… Yeah, you are right. We have a powerful group, and with the Spiders that Mister Ronald has and mine, we could kill a lot of those flying nuisances. What do you say, Mister Ronald? Are you up to the task?”

Ronald was in silence, hearing Riattus at his side, nagging him to accept. After a while, he shook his head. “I don’t think it’s a good idea if we go with only our group and the Spiders. Maybe if Sonja or Conan were here, we could do it. When we get to the Adventurer’s Guild and have a cup of wine, we can discuss it some more. Who knows, maybe we could find some Adventurers in there that want to join us to fulfil that Quest.”

Taly made a sad face. “That’s a pity because, with so many people, you won’t be able to absorb all the Mana Orbs. And I also don’t like the idea of outsiders joining us. There could be some that are weaker than they say, and we could have some trouble saving them instead of taking care of the Harpies.”

Ronald shrugged his shoulders. “That could happen, but we can test them by making them fight against Miss Duza for a while.”

Taly leaned back and crossed his fingers over his belly. “That sounds like a plan.”

When they approached the Main Gate, Duza talked with the Guards, explaining again what the reason for their visit was. The Gate opened, and they were all allowed to enter.

Duza went in the direction that one Guard pointed out, straight to the Adventurer’s Guild. Upon reaching there, she went with her horse to the stable on one side, and a servant came out to take care of the other horses and the carriage.

He froze when he saw the ‘Big Dark Bulls’. “Miss, I don’t know what to do with them!”

Duza reassured him with a smile: “Don’t worry, they are peaceful, as long as you don’t mess with them. You don’t need to do anything; they are Magical Beings summoned by one of our members.”

“These big things are Magical Beings? Amazing…”

They all left for the Guild, leaving behind a dumbfounded stable boy looking at the Bulls. Ronald had a big wrapped cloth on his shoulders, containing a bunch of balls of web, and Duza was carrying the wooden box with Ronald’s game.

As soon as they entered, the noise of scattered voices came to a halt. A group of five Adventurers dressed alike, with a wolf tied to a rope that Ronald had in his free hand, was more than enough reason to make everyone curious. Duza went straight to the front desk with Ronald while everyone else went to find a free table.

The receptionist was somewhat surprised, but she gave them her best professional smile. “Good afternoon, strangers. What can I do for you?”

Ronald placed his Guild Card on top of the desk and asked, “Do you have a Quest asking for web from a Giant Spider?”

“Yes, we have one like that posted on the billboard. Why do you want to apply for that? Because your Guild Card says you are just a Carrier and a Cook, I don’t think…”

Ronald interrupted her with a smile. “You should learn not to judge a person so quickly. May I ask what is the price for a ball of web?”

“Well, that depends on the quality, but normally it’s two silver coins. If they are of good quality, I am allowed to pay three silver coins for each.”

Ronald opened the cloth, and the receptionist froze, looking at 20 balls of web. She touched one and picked it up with a dumbfounded look. “These are… exceptionally good… Do you want to sell all of them? Because I need to call the Guild Master for him to get the money from the safe to pay for all this!”

“That would be great because we also want to have a meeting with him concerning this wooden box my colleague has. It’s a new game, and I want to make a business proposal to this Guild.”

The receptionist nodded and excused herself to go call the Guild Master. A few moments later, she returned, followed by a short, beardy Dwarf.

He climbed to a small wooden bench hidden underneath the desk, and as soon as Ovaidel saw him, he got up and went to the front desk as well. “You are still ugly, Dofe Vastal! I hoped that ageing turned you into a better-looking Dwarf!”

“Ovaidel! Ovaidel Satsin! You are still alive? Damn, not even God Seya wants you by his side! Hahaha! What are you doing around here?”

“Just passing by. Well, we actually came here because Mister Ronald has a nice thing that might interest a businessman like you.”

“Really? I was told that… Wait a minute… So many webs… an outstanding quality indeed… Well, let’s go to my office, shall we? I have a nice bottle of wine waiting for us.”

Ovaidel smiled and followed him. Duza shrugged her shoulders and signalled Ronald to bring the balls of web. He wrapped up everything and went after them, smiling at the receptionist.

In the back office, the Guild Master picked up a bottle and four cups. He poured the wine while asking Ovaidel, “So, besides the web, what kind of business proposal do you have for me?”

“Not me; the web and that wooden box are from Mister Ronald over here. But for all purposes, this deal must remain secret. At least concerning his name. He doesn’t want to be famous. Yeah, I know; I also think it’s strange.”

Dofe Vastal was frowning. It was weird not wanting to be acknowledged. But he remained in silence while Ronald opened again the cloth with the web and, next, the wooden box that Duza had.

Ronald spent some time explaining the rules of the game, with Ovaidel interrupting from time to time by telling how their first game turned out to be so much fun.

When everyone was waiting for him to say anything, Dofe Vastal took another look at the balls of web, picked up the wooden box, and rolled in his hands the small wooden ball and the bigger rock balls. He then placed everything in its place again and went to his safe.

He returned with a purse and an official Selling Contract. “Here is the money for the web and this contract. I just need to write the name of the game… ‘Petanque’, right? I think a fair value for this would be five copper coins, and with each sale, there will be three coppers for the Guild and two coppers for you. Then, I sign here, and Mister Ronald signs here, and you both will be the witnesses, and you all sign here if you all agree with these terms. I will keep accurate records, keep your part of the money, and send it to you or to any Guild you want. We could ask for one silver coin for a complete set of this game, but it would be too expensive for a normal person. And as you said during your explanation, this is a game for everyone, not only for Nobles and rich Merchants.”

Ovaidel smiled and answered a doubtful Ronald: “That is, indeed, a fair price and a fair agreement. I think we can all sign this. I see nothing here that worries me. So, I sign here… Duza, your turn.”

Duza signed, and Ronald followed her. He then returned the contract, and the Guild Master signed it too. It was when he was checking the names that he realized one astonishing thing: “Duza Sonanji? You are so grown up that I didn’t recognise you! The last time I saw you, you were my height! Haje Sonanji, how is he? Still alive and kicking, I hope!”

Duza nodded with a smile. “My father is well; thank you for asking.”

Dofe laughed. “Hahaha! I wasn’t asking because I was being polite; I was worried because if he had died, he would never pay me for that bet he lost years ago! When he was a menace around here, we crossed paths. One time, I bet with him that he would settle down and be a responsible man. He gave me this scar on my head as soon as I said that! I need to visit him again one of these days to talk about our crazy old days. But lately, voyages aren’t as secure as they used to be around here because of those flesh-eating Harpies!”

Duza nodded. “Yes, the border Guards told us about that. He said something about a well-paid Quest to get rid of the Harpies.”

“That is correct. It goes up to five gold coins. Many people contributed to that. And even with that huge amount, only one group attempted to do it, but they failed.”

Duza thought that was strange. “Why didn’t you ask for help from other Guilds?”

“Well, this situation was only affecting our City in the beginning, but then more Harpies arrived, and now they are threatening the nearby Villages as well. Because they attack so suddenly, every time we try to send a Courier to deliver a call for help, he gets killed by them. It almost seems they recognise the uniform and know that if the Courier succeeds, they will be in trouble. I know what you are about to say — a Harpy is not that smart, but this is happening. So far, we have been able to stop the attacks on this City, but they are now travelling further, looking for easier targets. We should have asked Loriath for help long ago, but it was just stupid pride; we didn’t want to admit we couldn’t deal with some Harpies.”

Ronald remembered something: “Maybe those four Harpies that attacked us yesterday came from here!”

Dofe was worried. “They attacked you while still in Loriath? Damn, those things are increasing their radius of attack.”

Duza was silent while Ronald and Dofe were speaking. She then spoke, with a very serious look: “If this is taken care of, I need to have a talk with my companions about this problem with the Harpies. I think we can apply for that Quest if we want, correct?”

“Well, you could, but maybe a larger group would be better.”

Duza looked at Ronald. “I bet we can find one or two strong fighters who arrived in this City in hiding and can help us. Such an opportunity for a huge fight would make a certain crazy woman very happy, don’t you think?”