World Witout Wizards: Guard

"Hey, buddy." Polozoob was sitting on the porch of the house and he looked like he was waiting for me.

"Hey, dude. What's up? Have you found my parents?"

"No," Tren'ya shook his head, "the Baron sent me to warn you. You're on duty now, so you need to go and report to him. The Baron understands that you were badly wounded in the battle and that you probably lost your family. He didn't send you a magic MESSAGE, so that the magic wouldn't track you and punish you for the delay."

"He's all right."

"I agree. But you'd better not talk about him like that, to anyone but me. You could be executed for insolence." Tren'ya shook his head.

"I know," I said, waving my hand, "will you help me find my parents? If they're dead, I need to identify their bodies."

"Of course, I'll help you. Let's go to the beach. There are many bodies there—almost all those who tried to escape but could not."

The guard was right. It was a terrible sight. When I entered the village earlier, I was glad that there weren't so many corpses, hoping that the inhabitants had managed to escape to the forest.

Unfortunately, I was wrong, almost all the bodies were here: the innkeeper, the butcher, and the neighbors.

The soldiers, according to the law, were preparing firewood for the funeral pyres. The faces of the victims were covered with rags. I broke out in a cold sweat from what I was seeing.

They died in different ways. You could see that the villagers desperately tried to defend themselves and their children, trying to escape. But no one here managed to do it. The cultists had cut off people's arms and legs, pierced them with spears and arrows, chopped them with swords, ripped open their necks and stomachs, dumping their insides into the lake.

The water had already taken most of the remains, but the sand was red and teaming with black flies, and the fish were so full they could barely swim.

I've never smelled such sickening air in my life, and I hoped I wouldn't ever again. The bodies were so disfigured that it was difficult to tell them one from another. The sight and smell made me dizzy. But I bravely walked around the rows, lifting the rags to look at the faces.

My parents were very distinctive. Though many half-elves and half-dwarves lived in our village, the tall green-skinned elf and the gray-skinned stocky dwarf stood out even among the neighbors. I examined some twenty bodies, and when Polozoob held out a flask, which smelled of alcohol, I didn't hesitate and drank.

"What have you given me?" I coughed hard, handing him back the beverage that burned my throat.

"It's moonshine." Tren'ya smiled and took a sip, "you feel alive, don't you? It makes your blood run faster…"

"It's like poison, how can you drink this stuff!"

"Who's forcing you? More for me," Tren'ya shrugged. "Have you found your father?"

"No, my parents are not among the victims. I hope that's a good sign."

"It's hard to know. All those who hid in the forest have returned. Your parents aren't among them. But they are few—only ten residents. They were in the forest picking berries and gathering firewood when the village was attacked. Two villagers went fishing. Four of them have returned from the frontier. The Baron is now deciding whether it's reasonable to restore our village."

"What are you talking about?" I was surprised. "Where will the villagers go? In the River village, they thought of me as a stranger because I was a half-blood and not a human. It is better for the residents to stay here."

"It depends on the Baron's decision. You and I are low-ranking officials. If we're lucky, we'll be centurions by the end of our lives."

"I was recently promoted to a Sergeant," I said thoughtfully, taking a small sip from the flask. Tren'ya looked at me enviously, sighed and took a swig.

"Then you'll be a lieutenant," he said, exhaling, "in ten years. If you don't get killed, you'll be a captain. We've been lucky all this time. There haven't been raids here in the last fifteen years. Our chief Oulsast was strong enough to deal with the bandits, who sometimes wandered into our neck of the woods."

"Do you mean that such raids are common in the Empire?" I was looking over the field of dead bodies.

"Always and everywhere," the Guard grunted, rising. "We should go. I like your fancy pants, though the Guards don't usually wear such expensive clothes. Let's go to your parents' house. We must examine the ruins. Maybe we'll find their remains."

***

"We've got her!" a cheerful voice of one of the soldiers rang out from across the lake. "Your Excellency, we caught this scoundrel!"

"What's going on?" I asked, pointing to a boat in the middle of the small lake.

"They seem to have found a snake in the water," he shrugged, "yesterday someone attacked the soldiers who were pulling the bodies out of the lake. This creature was messing with the divers."

"Wait, I have to figure this out." I squinted watching the guys pull the net into the boat.

Perception Check

Base - 2 (one-eyed)

Bonus 0

Dice Roll 3

Requirement 2

Failure

I couldn't see anything. I was able to clearly tell objects within a hundred feet. Beyond that radius, I saw only blurred spots. I didn't seem to make any headway in the shooter's career. However, I was hopeful: the MESSAGE said that a life mage would be able to correct my shortcomings. I might find him someday. I wonder how much the treatment of this mage will cost.

"All right, bring her to me!" Baron Riny ordered. I felt something unkind in his tone. Apparently, the guys had caught my friend. There were no fish in our waters that large. I hurried to Strong Fist's tent. I had to report to him, although I didn't know what the procedure was. The only thing I was sure of was that I needed to bow down. I managed to get to Riny's temporary dwelling for a few minutes before the soldiers.

"Your Excellency, welcome." I bowed, not knowing what to say next.

"Hello, Sergeant," the Baron said and paused. I stayed half-bent until he snorted.

"Well, your slave is very eloquent. But you aren't good at the art of communication."

"Yes," I answered and added, "Your Excellency."

"Well, if you're so ignorant, I'll give you ten days to study the etiquette. I have no d.e.s.i.r.e to whip you. What do you want?"

I saw Triya in the boat moored to the shore.

"Your Excellency, your soldiers have caught my property—the mermaid in the lake."

"What mermaid?" Riny looked at me absently. "Do you mean a water maiden, or a naga, to be more precise?"

"That's right. She has many names."

"Listen, Sergeant. I can forgive your lack of etiquette, but not breaking the law. According to the law, all nagas are the enemies of the Empire, unless otherwise stated. She attacked my soldiers. Think again. I'll let you try again."

"Forgive me, your Excellency, she is my slave. I inherited all Oulsast's property, including everything in the lake. She saved my life twice—before I became an official, and a couple of days ago, when I was fighting the mage. She might have thought that your soldiers are the mage's allies. I beg you to excuse my impertinence."

"You're a complicated man, Sergeant. I protected you from Enmyra White. I've given you the inheritance so that you wouldn't live in poverty after your parents' death. But you're fooling around. Why do you need this water maiden? She's useless on land. The nearest sea is a thousand miles from here. There are few large rivers in our Empire, but they are also far away. There is no pond in our barracks. You can keep her in a bathroom but she'll die of boredom."

"I don't want you to kill her, sir. I can save this mermaid from certain death only if I declare her my property."

"Well, I did warn you. I'm sure you'll regret your decision. According to the Statute of fines, the ownership of slaves belonging to the races of worgens, nagas and dryads are subject to a one-time tax of one gold coin. This amount must be paid within three days. A slave attack on the HAND soldier without loss of life is subject to a fine of ten silver coins, which must be paid within three days. If the debt isn't paid, the accused loses his official position and can be transferred to an auction. Does Sergeant Michael Greystle agree to this?"

They're crazy! Where shall I find so many coins in such a short time? I could buy a huge house with that money. I looked at Oulsast's house, which was my property now, and smiled sadly, realizing the Baron's plan. If I lose my house, I won't have a choice—I'll have to go to the barracks to work as a blacksmith, a caretaker or something to make a living. But I can't leave Triya here. That would be despicable. She saved my life twice. Can't I thank her?

"Sure. I'm aware of the responsibility and plead guilty on behalf of my slave, and admit her attack on the HAND's soldiers. I also admit that my slave belongs to the other race."

"Right," Riny clapped his hands, "have you decided where you'll get a gold coin?"

"I'm not sure, but I think I'll manage."

Attention, you've agreed to the verdict of the Black guard Baron Riny Strong Fist

Total amount of the fine is eleven thousand copper coins

Payment deadline is three days from now

In case of violation…

I didn't finish reading the MESSAGE and turned to the mermaid, who was being dragged in a net. When she noticed me, she calmed down and stopped thrashing about. Every minute out of water was painful for her.

"Can I take her back to the water?"

"She's yours, do what you want. But if she attacks again, I'll increase the fine," the Baron shrugged. "If the matter is settled, take your fish and get out of here. Think about how you're going to deliver her to the castle."

"Thank you, your Excellency," I replied, bowing deeply. Riny waved his hand and forgot about me in a second.