“-armsmen for every Herder I tell you! Between wolves and kobolds, it’s a miracle if yous can walk 20 feet without trippen over a fight!” The Labori complained, staring morosely as he took another gulp from his mug.

  A mug that was topped off again a few moments later by a Smith’s Apprentice in his spark scarred leather jack with a bit of a sly look in his eye. “Sure, sure, complain some more why don’t you? Not like yous doing the fighting! Just standing around watching sheep fuck you is.”

  “Na such thing!” The red-faced Labori howled back. “Yous dreaming. Movin rocks, fillen in holes, the Baronet, he don’t like idle’ans.”

  “Thas a fact.” The Apprentice offered, though still looking at his drinking companion with a bit of doubt. “So why is yous here then? No’ up there digging cart paths or no’-just-watching the sheep diddle each other?”

  “Swine!”

  “Na pigs round here. Its sheep or goats for the likes of you.”

  The laborer threw a fist widely enough that it was halfway to a miracle that it struck the apprentice, who, not the least reluctant, piled back in with the large muscles developed in smithy not three buildings down.

  The surrounding tables were quickly drawn back and men stood cheering and betting as the two laid into each other. None noticed when a sailor turned and carefully made his way out the door with a contemplative expression.

  Or almost none. James emerged from a dark corner several minutes later and left two silvers on the bar before disappearing again with a small, satisfied smile.

  One for the grinning barkeep, another for the Apprentice. They’d done quite well.

  Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  ___

  “Up there.” The somewhat raggedly looking Labori offered. Jutting his cleft chin in the direction of a stone building built right up against the side of a steep hill. Up against and into from all the signs. Two Armsmen stood in front of it in full battle gear, including spears and tower shields.

  Hastati if he had to bet his last copper.

  “And more yous say?”

  “Aye, just yous wait. Should be switchen up soon.”

  He took another sip from his filled mug, making a point of staring out over the lake. Keeping the armsmen in the corner of his eye.

  And indeed, it was only another refill later that it happened. A big, armored bastard, all black leather and evil-looking scales, emerged from the heavy iron-strapped door, his hand resting on the hilt of a long, deadly-looking blade. The helmeted head turned back and forth easily, and the man buried his face in his mug for a long, satisfying slurp.

  But soon enough two other Hastati emerged to replace the previous two and as the armored man turned to walk back inside he took his chance.

  Well now. That was something at least.

  He dropped a handful of copper into the smiling Labori’s hand, his heart aching as he did so. But he’d sell this for more than that later. Possibly several times as they made their way back downriver.

  A new baronet and his unknown fief. He’d be a fool not to make a bit while the making was good.

  And he never saw the armored knight standing atop one of the watch towers above, smiling.

  ___

  The sailor's hand had barely grasped the rope handle before him. Maybe giving the door that was half flush with the hillside a pull when a heavy hand with an iron bracer on its wrist fell on his shoulder.

  “Nothing for you there, Sailor.”

  “Wha-“ The words had barely left his teeth when they crashed back together, trying to keep in the contents of his lungs beneath a sudden gut punch.

  Trying and failing. Nor did they keep the next few as he was treated to a rather efficient, but curiously lacking in malice beating.

  And as he crawled away afterward, he realized he really didn’t want to know what was in there that badly.

  ___