Lucian was tired and hungry, worse yet his tail ached from riding the pitiful animal he was forced to mount after leaving the garrison at Stonespire. His trading with the quartermaster of Stonespire had been very profitable, but the man had been absolutely miserly with trading supplies. The burly man had eagerly counted out two-score gold guilders and a dozen silver after looking over Lucian's tools, it was a small fortune in coin, but when Lucian had asked for dry rations the quartermaster had refused, when he tried to get a saddle for the swaybacked nag he traded his ox for again the quartermaster claimed none could be spared. Lucian shifted his hips against the rough doubled over blanket that he was making do with, two burlap sacks tied with a length of rope served as saddlebags for the young wanderer. Lucian's guts grumbled with hunger.
"Ungh! Curse this whole land!" Lucian wrung his hands on the rope reigns he had fashioned for his mount, if wasn't wearing the simple clothing of a tradesman he thought he would look just like the impoverished pilgrims that occasionally passed through his old home village of Hedgemire.
Lucian had set off back to the east, there wasn't anything worth his trouble further west beyond Stonespire, though he still didn't know where exactly he was heading, in fact he wasn't sure where he had gotten himself to, the path he was on was different than the road he had traveled, more narrow and with more plant growth, it did not seem disused or overgrown just different than the rocky rutted road he had used. Still his mount clopped along the trail as if she knew the way.
As he climbed a subtle rise in the road a turnpike slowly came into view, he knew for sure now that he had not been on this trail before, or at least the turnpike had not been on the trail before. The closer he approached the more he could make out. the turnpike was just a simple felled tree braced on a few crossed spars, the tops of which were sharpened to deter someone from jumping the road block with their horse, not that Lucian's mount could manage a feat like that. Lucian tried to slow his approach but his nag kept walking on at its leisurely pace.
There was a rustling behind Lucian and he turned his head in time to see a couple men move from behind a particularly dense bush.
"Whoa there goodman, there is a toll to use the road." The pair quickly walked towards Lucian, easily able to outpace the nag he was riding.
Lucian tugged at the reigns and his mount came to a stop, bristling a little while whinnying through the rope harness.
"Sorry, this is the first time I've traveled this road... I can pay the toll..."
Lucian's words trailed off as the men came up on either side of him, they looked different than the men he had seen at the garrison, or the cavalry patrol he had encountered on the road before. They both looked the part of soldiers, but gone was the common blue and white livery of the Stonespire garrison. These men were dressed in dark green and faded black, one man was clad in a dark brigandine and the other wore a breastplate darkened with forge scale, a sign that the man's armor was made in a hurry or bought for cheap skipping the polishing process.
The man in brigandine looked up at Lucian from under his wide brimmed helmet, one hand resting on the pommel of a fine sword hanging at his belt.
"What are you doing on the Baron's road?" The man regarded Lucian with a puzzled expression tinted with disgust, like a man might look at unexpected dung he had stepped in.
"I have just finished some business... and was headed east for someplace to rest... I have to admit I do not know where I am exactly..." Lucian felt uneasy as he started to think on the words the man had said, weren't all the roads the Kingdom's roads, who was this Baron?
The man in the brigandine reached out and gripped the harness of Lucian's horse, "These are dangerous roads for a man who does not know the way. It would be best for you if you came with us. Further up this pass is the village of Verdenvale, we have a garrison there and enforce the Baron's law. You would be welcome to rest there if you can pay for room and board."
Lucian shifted nervously on his mount, "I was warned of bandits by a patrol of horsemen yesterday... and... well..."
The two soldiers shared a look before again regarding Lucian, the man in the darkened plate spoke this time, "Aye, these horsemen, did they wear the blue and white livery of the Marches?"
Lucian nodded and unconsciously shifted one of hands to his belt where he gripped the small purse of coins he had cinched there.
"By Mara's tits! Will those thrice damned Brathburn curs never recognize the Baron's rights?" The soldier spat in the dirt and balled his fists.
The soldier in brigandine tried to calm his comrade, "Easy Goadwyn, there is every chance this man knows nothing of the troubles here in the Marches. We are the law here, the Baron is our lord and we do his bidding. Those other soldiers, the ones setting up in Stonespire are the bandits. They charge taxes and tolls they have no right to claim and they attack us any chance they get. That's why we were hidden when you rode up. They have the gall to call us 'bandits' they are the bandits."
Lucian nodded along in agreement feeling completely lost but at the mercy of the two soldiers. "Well I am glad that I am safe now."
"Aye, we will see to your safety traveler, but there is still the matter of the toll. One silver Guilder for the use of the Baron's road with an animal." The soldier in brigandine held out his free hand.
Lucian fumbled with the tie of his purse and quickly produced the coin, at this rate he would expend all his money on tolls and taxes and would end up begging in the streets of whatever place he finally found himself.
The soldier took the coin and pocketed it, "With that settled the three of us can find some rest and shelter in Verdenvale. First round is on me traveler, and you can tell Goadwyn and I about your journey. Come on we can make it before nightfall if we get going."
The odd trio set off towards Verdenvale, and what Lucian hoped might be a better beginning for his new life.
