The moment we crossed the boundary into Leyloon, a shiver ran through me. At first I thought little of it. With the adrenaline flooding me since the Timberaine Tyrant, I thought it was the residue from that. But then I noticed the fact that Rita had shifted at the same time. Though it was more than a shift. Her entire tail poofed out, the strands of fur standing on end and then falling just as quickly.

  When I glanced at her, she caught my eye, and then reached down to pull her tail around into her lap. She didn’t appear annoyed that I had caught her, instead she gave me a reassuring smile.

  “There’s a barrier to protect the farms.” She sounded tired, as though her adrenaline had faded far faster than mine. Which made sense. Out of the two of us, she would be the one most used to dealing with such things. “It’s keeping the really nasty monsters out, or that was what the adventurer who raised it said.”

  “That’s impressive magic.”

  Rita yawned, and I had to fight not to copy the motion. “He claimed he owed it to those who stayed.”

  “Why?” I asked, as I glanced around us.

  There wasn’t much here, though the clear sky allowed the moon to mix with my lanterns so I could see. The path beneath us was dirt and wooden fences boarded it on each side. Those spit off at points, marking what I assumed were various properties and plots. In the distance, I could see the occasional light on or around a farmhouse.

  One light shone at the back of what appeared to be the biggest property. I wondered why it was riverthere, but Rita’s words pulled me away from it. Her voice was soft, as though she was worried about carrying it.

  “About two decades back, this used to be a pretty thriving farming village. They had a mill, and the river, and a church. Then, and no one’s sure how, a sea serpent made its way to the banks.”

  “You have to be joking?” I almost choked on the words, and she shook her head.

  “No.” She glanced at me. “As I said, no one has any idea how it happened. They sent for help, and several adventurers arrived. Back when we had those. They killed it, but it didn’t go down easily. Their enchanter did something to make the river shallower to drive it into view, which killed the mill’s operations. Before they left, they raised the barrier.”

  I frowned. “And people stayed? Even with the mill being shut down?”

  “Ancestral land for a lot of the farmers. They had grandfathers and great-grandfathers who worked on these plots. Everyone else moved. And left about five or six families behind.”

  “And they created Yuliosa?” She nodded, and I felt grateful for the chance to think about something other than the horrific monster we had left behind us. “Ancestral land or not, why would anyone stay in a place full of monsters? It’s why the capital city has walls.”

  “Because not all monsters are bad.”

  I gave her a look, and she met my gaze with a passive stare. Then she pointed into a nearby field. A glance in that direction let me see a strange wooden scarecrow. It was lit up from the inside by a blue light, which allowed me to see its thin limbs and rather well painted wooden face. Though it didn’t have eyes, I swore it was still watching me.

  “Those are Nightwatchers. Do you know what those are?” Rita asked.

  When I shook my head, she reached out to take the reins and got the horses to stop. Without the sounds of creaking wheels and hoofbeats, the night air turned deathly silent. Rita didn’t speak, and instead pointed towards the fields again. I followed her finger, and for a moment I couldn’t see anything. Then a shape popped up near the bottom of the Nightwatcher.

  Thanks to the being bathed in the blue glow, I could make it out even in the darkness. It looked a bit like someone had fused a mouse with a lion made of flowers. The body was tiny, and it had a lion’s mane made of marigolds. Others joined it until there was a mass of the things huddled up next to the Nightwatcher. Before I could study it further, Rita directed my gaze upward.

  There was a shape against the moon. A massive pair of wings unfurled from a rotund body, and I swore a collection of horns jutted out of the silhouette’s forehead. Then it dived. Soundlessly, it fell towards them, and I watched with bated breath. It was hunting, and its prey was obvious.

  Quicker than I thought possible, the Nightwatchers thing limb lashed out. A thump solid enough that I could feel it in my chest sounded out as it smacked the winged creatures away. Hoots and screeches filled the air as the winged monster flew away.

  Rita met my gaze with a small smirk and gestured to the field. “Harvest mice. They’re great pollinators and help grow the crops. You basically can’t find them outside of this region. The winged beast was a horned owl.”

  “Magical beasts.” I frowned. “But not monsters.”

  “All monsters are magical beasts,” Rita countered.

  “But not all magical beasts are monsters.”

  My thoughts turned to the goblin, and beside me Rita shifted. “No. But even some of the deadlier things have uses.”

  “Of course.” I nodded along. “Verilo Spiders have silk used to make sails for ships. That doesn’t mean I want to live near them.”

  “You’ll get used to it.” Rita sighed and shook her head.

  While I wasn’t sure I agreed, I didn’t waste time arguing. Instead, I got the horses moving once again. It wasn’t a long trip to get to the other side of Leyloon, where Rita said her headquarters resided. What I found wasn’t as run down as I had partially feared. In fact, some people would have called it cozy.

  My first thought was that it was small, especially if the other members of her team slept there as well. An assumption I felt safe making thanks to the snoring coming from the inside. As Rita slipped off the bench, I continued to watch the darkened hut, and wondered if there was a chance I could buy a room with one of the hamlet farmers. While I only had a few of them, one of my gold coins should get me something, even out here where they seemed to barter for everything.

  Pain, both from my back, and stiff legs, made itself known as I climbed down. There was nowhere I could stable the horses nearby, and so I left them attached to the coach. It wouldn’t be good as a long-term solution, but it would do for the night. With slow, almost careful movements, I went to retrieve the tools to care for them, only to find Rita had beaten me to it.

  “Show me,” was all she said, as she walked towards the horses.

  I followed her, and together we brushed them, fed them, and checked them over for anything they might have picked up during the run. None, to my utmost relief, had damaged horseshoes or ticks. Though I had to pull a few stuck leaves from their hooves, and by I, it was actually Rita who did the bulk of the work.

  Soon, there was only one task left to do. I picked up a bucket as she moved inside to get several bowls. Then we walked together to the river. It was a slow, haltering trip, filled with more of my short gasping breaths than any conversation. We returned, and I made sure each had water they could access before we parted ways.

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  Rita moved into the house, and I let out another yawn as I moved into the carriage and did what I could to get comfortable. It was an arduous process, but it wasn’t the first time I had slept in a coach. When I was a child, my father often let me take naps in the back of his whenever he didn’t have someone who wanted a ride.

  My eyelids closed, and I drifted off. When I dreamed, it was full of monsters.

  ***

  Aggressive knocking jolted me awake, and I felt my heart pound as the remnants of my dream faded away. I could almost still feel the teeth that were too close around my neck. With trembling hands, I checked that my gold was still in my pocket, and then grabbed my gun. Once I had adjusted my clothes, I pushed open the carriage door and poked my head out.

  Nearby, a young man stood, his fist raised as if to pound once more on Rita’s door. He was shirtless, which I found strange, until I realised he had the type of muscular physique of someone who clearly worked for a living. When combined with a haircut plenty of people in the city had dubbed farm boy chic, I realised what this was.

  He was paying a social call. In fact, as I watched him, I realised I recognised the scene. It was from a play called Farmers Wish. Where the young farm boy, fresh from the fields, dared to knock on the window lady’s door to ask for a cup of water. I wondered who he was trying to visit.

  As silently as I could, I climbed down from the coach and then shut the door. He didn’t turn, and I was content not to disturb him. This would be interesting. Then Hubarrah ruined it by snorting and drawing the younger man’s attention. His bright blue eyes met mine, and I could see the way he studied me, at first wary, and then curious.

  It didn’t shock me. I doubted many people wore clothes this nice around this part of the world. In three steps he was over to me, and grasping my hand with a firm grip. A part of me expected him to squeeze to prove dominance, but he shook it and let me go.

  “A new face in Leyloon? And here I thought I would be lucky to see my darling Sasha today. The name’s Hester Threson, pleasure.”

  I blinked, having to take a moment to parse the thick drawl he spoke with. “Likewise. Though if I may ask, does she know you call her that?”

  “She does,” Rita said, and my gaze shifted to the doorway where she now stood. “Though I doubt you’ll believe it when you finally meet her.”

  Unsure what to say to that, I let my attention move to the hut itself. It was an uncommon sight in the day, and I could tell how well looked after it was. There were no signs of the peeling paint I had envisioned. No overgrowth or sagging roofs. While it was much too small to squeeze four people in, even if that was anything close to proper considering the situation, it wasn’t the ruin I had worried about.

  Rita stepped out, and the door shut behind her with barely a sound. I glanced over at her as she did, and I couldn’t help but notice she had changed. No longer was she wearing the clothes of a rich merchant’s daughter. Instead, it was a sturdier, more practical outfit, of a flaxen shirt and long trousers. A thick belt cinched around her waist, to which she had attached her ever present sword.

  She nodded to the young farm boy, who gave her a grin back that most would call charming. It would have been a boon in my line of work. It’s amazing what someone, male or female, would do for the right smile and a kind word. He stepped forward, hand outstretched, and Rita rolled her eyes before pulling him into a hug.

  “Hey Hester,” she said, and if the hug didn’t tell me how familiar they were, the tone she spoke in would have. “Your dad going ok?”

  Hester nodded. “Dad is dad. He’s worked up, and sent me over to check if you were back yet. This is the fifth time in the last two days, actually. He wants to know if you can come deal with his problems?”

  “Of course she can,” I interjected. “For the right price.”

  “Sorry?” he asked, looking at me.

  “None needed. I’m Chad Burling, Miss. Thrumlins newest Employee.”

  He gave me a once over, and from his face I could tell what he was thinking—I don’t look like a fighter. That was fine. He was right. However, while I might not be fighting monsters, this type of thing was my battlefield. No matter what she said, I didn’t want the company to be taking on more barter jobs. We, I, needed it to be making money.

  “You don’t look like her normal hire,” Hester said, as he studied me. “No offense.”

  I gave him my best smile. “It’s fine, I’m not. She hired me because I’m a Fixer, one whose function is to help her improve her business. Which will include earning a profit.”

  “That so? Well, let me be the first of Leyloon to welcome you. I’ll have to buy you a drink? You ever tried Grole Apple Cider before? We’re the only place that makes it as far as I know.” Though his words were kind, I could see the mood of the glance that passed between him and Rita, and it was dower.

  “Well, I’m always up for trying a local delicacy. But we should head on. Rita and I still have some paperwork to fill out for my new position.” I tried to sound cheerful, and Rita gave a small nod.

  “He’s right. Talk to your dad for me? Tell him we’ll come see him this afternoon?”

  “I think that’ll be fine. Dad has to milk Charlene and check the Grole trees anyway, so we’ll be busy. I should be back to help him.” He paused and glanced back toward the hut. “You’ll tell Sasha I dropped by, yeah?”

  “Promise,” Rita said, and I could see the mirth in her eyes.

  With another grin, he turned to me. “Nice meeting you Chad. Though word of advice, you may want to get something a bit more practical to wear, yeah? We’re all a bit dirt-streaked down here.”

  “I’ll see what I can find,” I said, as I watched him leave, his shoes kicking up dust.

  Beside me, Rita shook her head, and then waved me away. “You may want to take a bath before heading inside, plus Sasha is still asleep. Penny’s out hunting, so it’ll be a while before we’re all together, anyway. Plus, it would be nice if you were more presentable before I introduce you to the rest of them.”

  “As you say. But a question first. Who was that?”

  “Hester Threnson,” she said, and then gave a sigh. “Before you ask. Yes, he’s in love with Sasha. No, she hasn’t said one way or the other. His dad is Ted, so we’ll need to see what he wants.”

  “Ahh, he’s the son of the self proclaimed mayor?” I glanced after him and wondered what he would say about me.

  Rita nodded, though her gaze never left the road before Hester had vanished down. “Yes. I think the fact we’re friends is the single reason that people here are willing to pay me to help.”

  I didn’t smile, but a piece fell into place for how to move forward. If Rita had connections to the people in charge, that was something we could use to boost our capital quickly. That would be good, as we needed it. But first she was right. My night in the coach hadn’t exactly left me fresh, and if I was to come in and make changes, I would need to make sure they would take me seriously.

  “Good to know. Alright, river bath and then, come back here. Can you get everyone together? Maybe, I’m not sure if being outside is easier or not…” I trailed off as she gestured towards the back of the house.

  “We’ll meet at the firepit. It’s near Shasha’s makeshift lab. You can’t miss it.”

  “Right,” I said, knowing a dismissal from my employer when I heard one. “Any dangers I should watch out for?”

  She thought for a moment before she shook her head. “When the sun is out? Not if you stay on the road.”

  With that, she walked back inside, and I turned towards the river once again. In the mix of darkness, exhaustion, and adrenaline of the night before, I hadn’t gotten the chance to examine the road much. Someone clearly maintained it, as they had beaten back the trees and grass enough to keep the path clear. Small puffs of dust rose as I walked, and I gave better consideration to what Hester had told me.

  By the time I reached the water, I was panting again. As I caught my breath, I examined the river. It was as shallow as Rita had mentioned the night before, about calf deep at best, though it flowed reasonably quickly. Stones of all shapes and sizes sat in piles beneath the clear water, and I knew just by looking at them it would make bathing awkward.

  Thankfully, I had taken a bucket, and that was enough to keep myself soaked. This wasn’t the first time I had to bathe using something other than a shower. My father had made sure I kept clean during our infrequent trips outside the city. Some of those journeys had been during winter, and he had cared little about my protests of dunking myself in the cold water.

  After I climbed my way out of the water, I dunked my shirt and jacket in after. My suit pants remained on. No matter how much I needed to bathe, undressing somewhere like this was not happening. I could imagine that would be the moment a monster would dart from the bushes. The idea of running back into town without pants, chased by something worse than a goblin, was not something I wanted to experience.

  With my jacket in my arms, I walked back towards the hut, my steps careful because of my lack of shoes. It felt odd to be walking a dirt path like this instead of on cobblestone streets. After several minutes, my breath was becoming laboured, and I tried not to think of how disappointed my father would be in me.

  A branch beneath my feet caused me to wince, and then I let out a curse when I caught sight of a snake in the bushes nearby. The creature watched me before it slithered away. I picked up my pace and did my best to keep to the center of the road. No other surprises found me for a while until I heard the cracking of a stick nearby.

  My hands shook, and I glanced about. There was nothing until — there! A flash of white darting through the trees. I remembered what Rita had said. That the barrier should keep anything too dangerous away from here. My hands shook when I heard a long, loud, yowling. It sounded like a dying cat. Something heavy hit a trunk, leaving a dull thud. A tremble ran through me, and all I wanted to do was run. This wasn’t my specialty. I was a businessman.

  A shadow moved, and my head snapped towards the trees on my right. I went for my gun, but before I could, something hit me from behind, knocking me into the dirt.