Outside the outskirts of Mucktown, Kraus stood silently with Red alongside him. His hand holds the leash of the horse, making sure it wouldn’t run away.
In the far end of the woods, Siderius emerged from behind the trees. His black scarf covered his face entirely, leaving only his eyes exposed. However, because of his new pair of sunglasses, even his eyes were now hidden.
On his head was the straw hat made by Ashe, which concealed him even more.
His red and white bow was strapped on his back, ready to be used at all times. On his waist was the half-broken sword and a few different knives. The hunter’s knife, assassin’s knife and even the silver-coated knife were there. The sling tucked securely inside his waistband with its projectiles stored inside a leather pouch.
Behind his thigh was a leather quiver Siderius made to store the obsidian arrows.
As he approached closer, Kraus kneeled down on one knee and lowered his head.
Siderius nodded. "How was the horse? Did it give you any trouble?"
"No, Lord Watcher. It is very obedient. However, from the way I see it. It may not fit to be your ride."
"Oh? Do tell me your opinion?"
"Yes, Lord Watcher! The horse does not seem to be trained. It may cause you trouble if you try to ride it."
"How do you know this?"
"I see horses every day, Lord Watcher. I can differentiate between a good and a bad one."
Siderius approached Kraus and pulled him up, tapping him on the arm.
"You are very observant, Kraus. This horse is untrained."
Kraus scratched his head. He felt a bit embarrassed hearing Siderius’ compliments. He learned a lot of things while surviving on the streets of Mucktown. But never once did anyone acknowledge it. Siderius was the first.
"Did you buy what I asked?"
"Yes, Lord Watcher!" ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ NoveI[F]ire.net
Kraus pointed at the hay bales on either side of the horse. There was also a smaller sack being strapped on its back.
"I got the two hay bales and a bag full of oats like you said. The hay bales were fifteen bronze coins each and the oats cost a total of fifty bronze coins.
And here are the items you requested. The satchel and sleeping bag were five silver coins. The brush was seventeen bronze coins and the map was three silver coins."
Kraus handed over a large brush to Siderius. It was a brush used exclusively to groom horses. And the map was made from parchment, a rather valuable piece of material made from animal skim.
"Eight silver and ninety-seven bronze coins..." Siderius carefully estimated the value of the items in his mind. He couldn’t find any fault with it.
He checked the items carefully. The brush was new and in a good condition. The map was a bit old but it contained all the sufficient information. The roads, the town, even some dangerous places you needed to avoid. It showed everything in detail.
Eldoria highly discouraged its people from moving around, especially commoners and slaves. Acquiring this map must be a real challenge for Kraus.
The satchel was made from cured leather. It was poorly made and had a small storing capacity. However, it was very durable, suitable for a long journey.
The sleeping bag was made from the same material and simple needlework. It was made from thicker leather, probably a buffalo or some big animal, to produce good heat preservation in the night. The sewing was tight, avoiding water to seep through and guaranteeing a good night sleep for fellow travelers.
"Here’s ten silvers for the items. Consider the extra as a gift for your trouble." Siderius gave ten silver coins.
"It’s my honor to serve you, Lord Watcher. I can’t take the other coin." Kraus bowed his head.
"Take it, Kraus, it is your rightful reward." Siderius smiled.
"I... I am indebted to you, Lord Watcher!"
Kraus survived on the streets for a long time. He knew when it was needed to make an impression.
"Walk with me, Kraus. Tell me your story." Siderius stepped forward, onto the old path outside of Mucktown.
Kraus led the horse from behind, following him.
"Which story do you want to know, Lord Watcher?"
"Let’s start with your family."
Kraus’ eyes lost their focus temporarily. He looked up into the gray muddy sky. It was not sunny that day and the wind was howling.
"My mother was a whore, Lord Watcher. She worked in a brothel in Mucktown.
Some man knocked her up and she birthed me. I’ve never met my father. Even if I wanted to, I didn’t know where to look.
Bastards are everywhere. So I thought it was also pointless anyway. It’s not like we were going to have a happy reunion."
Siderius kept walking leisurely ahead. "Then what happened next?"
"Well... My mother died, Lord Watcher. She got the Gray. The guards led her away the very next morning.
I’ve never heard about her since that day. From what they told me, they burn people with the Gray to stop it from spreading.
It was almost sixteen years ago."
There was a taste of bitterness in Kraus’ voice. Siderius didn’t detect any sorrow inside him. He did not weep for his mother, only felt sorry for himself, for his fate and the unfairness of this world. Why was I born a son of a whore while another was born in silk and gold?
Kraus was probably too young to even remember his mother. Or maybe he was just that heartless.
"And how did you survive?"
Kraus chuckled. "I don’t even know till this day, Lord Watcher. I did jobs to get coins and buy food. The winter was cold and harsh and most of the time I laid under someone’s porch to sleep.
I was always tired and sick back then. But I always stood back up and kept going. One more day, I told myself. One more bread, I told myself. I still remember the taste of the hard and cold bread from many years ago.
It is still my favorite food till now. The hard bread. It tastes like shit. But...it makes my tummy silent.
There were many kids around my age too. They died off eventually."
Siderius and Kraus stopped at a grassland. Red the horse lowered his head and feasted on the green wild grass.
The two men sat alongside each other and observed the horse, feeling the wind in their faces.
"If you allow me, Lord Watcher. May I ask a question?" Kraus said.
"If it doesn’t cross the line, you can."
"You promised us wealth, power and influence. Well, if you have wealth, you will gain influence. But what about power, high lord? Will you teach us how to use a sword like you?"
"Maybe. But you aren’t curious about that, are you?"
Siderius gazed at Kraus which made him lower his head immediately.
The former thug gulped and didn’t say anything. He let Siderius decide what’s going to happen next.
"Using the sword is a simple thing. It takes time and effort, yes. But any man can become proficient with a sword.
If you, or your friends, are able to become an official member to our guild, there is much more power to be gained. Power that can be compared to...
Kraus took a deep breath. He had the answer he needed.
"Thank you for your answer, Lord Watcher."
"It’s your turn. Tell me the rest of your story. How did you become a thug and follow Gert?"
"Yes, Lord Watcher. As I was growing older, I needed more food and more water. I also needed women.
Scraping horse poop wasn’t going to cut it for me anymore. So I looked into other ways to survive.
For a bastard like me, there was only one. To become a cutthroat.
As for Gert. He was different. He wasn’t a child of the streets like us. His father was an old merchant with no other offsprings. So he got all of his coins.
But Gert didn’t want to follow his father. He wanted to go around, causing trouble, messing with girls. He was his own little prince amongst the commoners.
I followed him because he paid well. And then he met you, Lord Watcher."
Siderius smiled. He stood and dusted off his knees. The horse had filled itself up and started to look around. It was time for him to go on the road.
"Keep your eyes peeling and ears sharp, Kraus.
I’m rooting for you, Kraus. For a bright man like you, it is wasteful to be left here as a low-life thug.
Do your job well and I will do my best to recommend you."
Kraus kneeled down on one knee.
"Yes, Lord Watcher! I won’t disappoint you!"
And with that, Siderius led the horse away and went on the road.