Kemi and the Bandits (3rd month of Autumn, 10th day, 16th hour, day)

  Kemi watched as the mage spoke to her raven. The exchange took longer than usual. Listening was no use — her words came out as distorted gibberish meant only for the bird. That was how connection magic worked, and you weren't supposed to ask why. Kemi resented magic for its obscure, arbitrary rules.

  At last, the mage turned to him.

  "A caravan is being pursued — two leagues southwest. Three dozen bandits. The guards won't hold."

  "How large is the caravan?"

  "Six wagons, eight guards."

  "How soon will the bandits reach them?"

  "Five to ten minutes."

  Kemi had a dozen good warriors at his side. Not enough to win a fight, but enough to parley — and to retreat, if needed. Three dozen wasn't an overwhelming number. This might even be an opportunity.

  "We ride to intercept!" He raised his voice for everyone to hear. "Don't rush in — I need to assess the situation. You — send a message to Rogri, then catch up with us. The rest — after me!"

  Within fifteen minutes, they spotted the caravan. The guards had taken a defensive position around the largest wagon. They huddled behind shields, with spears jutting outward. Several corpses lay on the ground — the formation had held against the first assault. For a moment, the shields parted, and a lightning bolt shot from within, striking down a careless bandit. The rest fell back to regroup.

  As Kemi's squad approached, several riders moved to intercept them.

  "This caravan is ours! Walk away!" shouted the man in front.

  "We want a cut. Let's talk," Kemi called back.

  The bandits engaged in a quiet discussion.

  Kemi leaned toward his lieutenant. "You're in charge. If a fight breaks out, we retreat." He gestured. "Bregi, Nogri — with me."

  The three of them rode forward. A group of three riders split from the bandits to meet them halfway. As they neared, Kemi studied their gear — light armor, cavalry pikes. The equipment was battered but functional, and worn correctly. The elf leading them sat in the saddle like a seasoned warrior.

  "Don't you value your lives? Leave, or we'll kill you as well," the bandit said.

  "You couldn't even handle the guards. Give us a share, and we'll help. We have mages."

  A subtle threat. The bandit appraised Kemi.

  "A fancy noble like you should know better than to gamble with his life. Leave. You don't want to cross the desperate and hungry."

  "Nobles can be hungry too. I can't eat my title."

  The bandit chuckled. "Maybe sell your finery, then, and buy some grain?"

  "I would, but nobody's selling. And I have mouths to feed. Look, give me a share — it's good for you, good for me. No need to fight over it."

  The bandit squinted.

  "Things are that bad, eh? Fine. Kill the guards, and we'll give you one wagon."

  "Three."

  "What? There's too few of you for that!"

  "If we're doing most of the work, we deserve it."

  "Two wagons. Final offer."

  "Then we'll only kill their mage."

  "No, the guards too."

  Kemi heard the flapping of wings. He became all ears.

  "Two wagons. We'll kill the mage and half the guards. Our mages need to conserve power. You'll finish the rest yourself."

  He spoke while listening carefully. Then he heard it — a mockingbird trill.

  "What was that?" The bandit's eyes narrowed.

  "Do we have a deal?" Kemi asked, ignoring the question.

  "It's a signal! They just got a raven!" another bandit exclaimed.

  The lead bandit cursed, reaching for his sword. "What are you playing at — "

  Kemi's blade flashed. The man's head tumbled from his shoulders before he could finish his sentence. Kemi had positioned himself for the strike and used strengthening magic in advance. His speed was always a nasty surprise for his enemies. But surprise alone only got you so far.

  His men and the remaining two bandits drew their swords. For a heartbeat, nothing happened. Then — two bolts of lightning struck the bandits almost simultaneously. His mages' timing was on point. Without waiting for the bodies to fall, Kemi wheeled his mare.

  "Retreat," he ordered — but his men already knew what to do. The three of them galloped back, pursued by a wave of bandits.

  Caravan Folk

  Aya was leaving the stables when Xia caught up with her.

  "Aya, there's a caravan coming in. Make sure Ixi doesn't fly around — the guards might attack her on sight."

  "Can't we just tell them not to?"

  "Sure, sure," Xia said, waving a hand. "But it's better if you keep her in your arms the whole time. Or even leave her in your room. Do it for me, sweetheart, just to be safe."

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

  "All right."

  Before long, the caravan arrived — along with most of Vemer's warband. They entered through the southern gates, instantly crowding the yard. The snowelf was promptly destroyed by a maneuvering wagon.

  Aya took Ixi and went to the lounge. Within minutes, the place erupted into chaos. Servant girls rushed around with trays of food, while warriors and mages came and went, eating, drinking, and loudly boasting about the day's battle. Aya, feeling out of place, retreated to the farthest corner with Ixi curled quietly in her lap and listened.

  Gradually, a picture of the battle took shape in her mind. Kemi's squad had lured the bandits into a reckless pursuit, softening them with spells as they fell back. The bandits, lacking strong mages, tried to return fire but couldn't focus their attacks. Then Rogri's squad appeared from the flank, catching them in a pincer. Confused, the bandits faltered — right as Kemi's mages struck in full force. Realizing the trap, the bandits broke ranks. Some charged at Kemi, some at Rogri, while others tried to flee. Rogri's warriors smashed through their main force, and what remained was quickly scattered. Only a few made it out alive.

  The best part: not one of Vemer's men was seriously wounded. The whole room sang Kemi and Rogri's praises.

  Later, the caravan folk joined in, adding their own takes on the battle. The conversation turned to the South — poor harvests even there, rising grain prices, and dangers on the road. They spoke of mounting unrest, places Aya had never heard of, houses with strange names. Even those she recognized, she couldn't place on a map. The name "Raku" came up more than once.

  No one paid much attention to Aya, which suited her just fine. By the time the crowd had thinned, Aya was already sleepy. She quietly got up and went to her room.

  Kedi and the Caravan

  Kedi was in his study when the caravan arrived. He gave his orders and went to the guest room. A few minutes later, Trademaster Misher, the head of the caravan, entered with a clerk and a guard in tow. Kemi and Rogri followed behind.

  "Oh honorable Master Vemer, let me express my heartfelt gratitude to you and your honorable brother, Lord Kemi. If not for his timely intervention, many of my men would have lost their lives. I admit Lord Kemi made us worry for a moment, when he engaged in negotiations with the bandits. But then his valiant actions proved his noble intentions to our enormous relief and joy!"

  Kedi's eyes must have expressed his puzzlement, because Kemi explained:

  "We needed to buy time for Rogri to arrive. I pretended to negotiate with the bandits, demanded my share of the spoils. That's the only language such people understand. They agreed to give me two wagons in return for dispatching the guards."

  Misher was quick to interject:

  "But of course your lordship realizes, that they were lying! Such people can never be trusted to keep their word!"

  "Of course, I was prepared for such treachery," Kemi said.

  After a pause, Kedi said:

  "It's obvious that my brother had no intention of dealing with the bandits. It was all a distraction. And his excellent results speak for themselves. I've heard we lost no warriors?"

  "None," Kemi said.

  "But I also heard you, Trademaster Misher, weren't so lucky. How many killed and wounded do you have?"

  "Oh, sadly, three of my servants were killed. Besides, one of our guards passed away, and two were wounded. Honorable Lady Vemer agreed to help them. As I have humbly told her, we do not dare ask for healing. It is enough if you could dress their wounds so we could transport them to Bizenki. We are so reluctant to impose even more upon your hospitality."

  Misher's guard, a mercenary by his looks, listened with a stony face.

  "You aren't imposing at all, respected Master. You and your men escaped mortal danger today — that was truly a gift of fate. Accept our hospitality as a humble addition to it. And let's discuss it no more."

  Kedi raised his hand to stop Misher's protests.

  "On another note, may I see your road papers? As the ruler of this territory, I have to make sure everything is in order."

  "But of course. I assure you, Master Vemer, my trade is fully compliant with the merchant guild's regulations."

  His clerk took a paper from a leather holder and passed it to his master. Misher laid it on the table with a bow. Kedi looked through it. The caravan was bound for Bizenki, mostly carrying grain. He gave the paper to a scribe boy.

  "Copy this carefully."

  The boy was young and not well-trained. House Vemer didn't have a proper scribe. Xia entered.

  "My lords," she curtsied and sat by Kedi's side.

  "You're just in time, my lady. What is the condition of the wounded?"

  "We treated everyone, no life is in danger. Trademaster Misher, one of your guards, Arzhi, was in critical condition. The only way to save him was healing. Luckily, our healer had enough strength, since most wounds weren't serious. Even so, she didn't heal all. Those with lighter wounds will need to wait until the morning."

  "Oh, but Lady Xia, I am afraid I lack funds to cover the cost of healing..."

  "That's unfortunate, but I assure you there was no other way to save the man's life," Xia said.

  An uneasy pause ensued. Clearly the caravan head thought that dying was part of mercenaries' job. On the other hand he hesitated to say this directly before his people. The common etiquete required to heal those dying if possible, but also required to pay for healing services.

  "Trademaster Misher, I am willing to forfeit the cost of healing in return for a favor," Kedi said. "I would like to purchase some grain from you."

  The merchant lost his sugary smile and his expression became more serious and a bit distressed.

  "Master Kedi, this is a delicate matter... So I..." He paused searching for the right word than sighed. "Oh forgive me, I am tired. Could we meet again later tonight? I need to make sure my people are well set."

  "Of course, Trademaster Misher. Eat, rest, and come find me in my study at nine. I'd give you more time, but the matter can't wait."

  Buying Grain

  At nine, Misher arrived, escorted by Xia. She curtsied and left. The study was quiet, lit only by a low fire and a single lantern on the desk. Misher gave a silent bow. His polished smile had faded, replaced by a cautious, professional mask.

  "Please, have a seat," said Kedi.

  "Thank you, Master Vemer. Thank you for granting me this audience."

  "Let's speak about the grain," Kedi said. "As I mentioned, I wish to purchase some."

  Misher hesitated, shifting slightly in his chair, absently turning a ring on his index finger.

  "This is... problematic, Master Vemer," he began. "The grain I carry isn't meant for open trade. I was contracted by the Magistrate of Bizenki to deliver it directly — it's bound for the city's reserves. I'm under strict orders not to sell any along the way."

  Kedi nodded slowly.

  "I understand your position. But surely there's some room for discretion in emergencies. Our reserves are running low. If we starve, who will guard the roads? Without us, none of that grain would reach the city at all. I'm certain the Magistrate understands how important this route is."

  "I sympathize," Misher said carefully. "Truly. But the Magistrate — "

  "Would he rather deal with bandits?" Kedi interrupted. "I'm not asking for your entire shipment. Twenty-four sacks will be sufficient for now."

  Misher swallowed. "Twenty-four is... a significant amount."

  "It's a manageable one," Kedi replied. "And I'll pay fair value — above fair, if necessary."

  Misher was silent for a moment, then leaned forward, voice low and wary.

  "I can agree, but I need protection. If I arrive in Bizenki lighter than expected, I must have something to show. A letter, from you. Confirming that the grain was purchased by you for the estate's emergency need — and not sold for my own gain."

  Kedi studied him. That was easier than expected.

  "Of course," he said. "I'll write it tonight. It will state plainly that I requested the grain under exceptional circumstances and that you complied only out of duty to stability in the region."

  Misher gave a weak smile.

  "Thank you, Master Vemer. That will help things... proceed smoothly."

  They haggled over the details a while longer before Misher finally departed. Kedi called for a servant, but Xia appeared instead.

  "How did it go?" she asked.

  "Reasonably well. We're getting twenty-four sacks."

  "That's too little."

  "The grain belongs to the Magistrate. This is as much as we can take without being accused of theft. Even this may raise objections."

  "So that's why he looked nervous. Did you sell the slaves?"

  "He took only three — to replace his lost servants. Said slaves are sold by the hundreds in the South. Not even worth the food they eat."

  "Oh my, what an awful year. How are we going to survive this winter?"

  "We're on the road. We'll survive."