Protect
1919 Words
"Hey, Guy, what are the chances of the Irish Travellers that we had just met earlier to be enticed to head to our town? Would they take in your words as a guarantee that they would be having a better living condition and also an end to their hardships?"
The Guinness asked while feeling firm of what Guy had mentioned to the Irish Travellers to proceed to our town to have a look-see before deciding to settle down as settlers and no more would they be facing harsh weather conditions just for the sake of their livestock.
"Well, I may put it this way. If words do come from my mouth, I sincerely hope that it would be convincing enough for them to settle down in our town. However, we all wished not to have the same incidents happening to them like what had happened in the past."
"Hopefully, that O'Malley would be convinced by the others as well. Besides I had emphasised the future of the children since no one would refuse free education for their young ones."
"Once their young ones were able to read and write and be proficient in other subjects, they would be out from their own caste just like what we had done right now. We were treated with great disparity and almost being looked down everywhere we went."
"But right now, even I had been chosen as a leader due to being educated in some way back for about 2 years since we had settled down in Gracehaven. If not for the Teacher Heather that had taught us to read and write, I don't think I would be delegated to hold this decree from His Majesty, do you think so?"
It was a lengthy explanation by Guy and the Guinness had no choice but to nod their heads approvingly since everything that was narrated by Guy was not horseshit. Every single word and sentence hold some weight and the proof was already standing before them.
This drove the Guinness to make up for some classes in the evenings or their free time so that they could also learn how to read and write well.
"Brother, if the Aidi Village and the O'Malley group came to our town, does that mean we had achieved 2 towns already, right? How much would that earn us at this point?" Gillian was ecstatic as she walked ahead of the group and pestering her brother to reveal the number of silvers that they would earn.
This provided that the people they had been approached would head to town later on.
"It would be 40 silvers for us to be shared all around, my dear little sister. Just wait a while longer and we would be able to get another 10 more towns and villages before we head back to Gracehaven. It would be a long journey back since we are now getting further and further away each day as we walk."
That statement was true. If they covered at least 15-20 miles a day, by end of the whole expedition, they would have trekked a total of 200 miles or so based on the next 10 more towns that they would intend to travel to.
"But brother... Do you think settlers would travel hundreds of miles back to Gracehaven? I mean, you wanted to have 12 towns to be notified and the distance would be greater as we trekked on."
"Do you think there would be others who wanted to settle down in our town despite nearing winter season?"
What Gillian had mentioned made everyone wonder especially Guy who had never thought of these poor folks who would sacrifice to travel up to Gracehaven in wintertime.
"However, what we need to do is to relay the message over and from there we would be able to see out results. I am sure the results would not be immediate but it would be gradual."
"Some people would reveal during this time, some others would travel in winter or even next Spring. What do you think, Guinness?"
The Guinness' looked up as their names were being mentioned and agreed to what Guy had said earlier. The most important thing is to spread the news to these towns and note down the contacts of who they had spoken to and which towns or villages that they had gone through as well.
Even if the settlers decided to move to a Gracehaven after winter, the payment would then be transferred to them when it was duly completed.
"I don't think Gracehaven would be cheating us of our coins and I had been here for 2 years and all had been smooth sailing except for some unforeseen incidences. But as for coins, Gracehaven never cheated anyone of it. It is our hard-earned money, that's it."
Guy concluded as the party of four trekked in before deciding that they would take a break for the evening near some cluster of bushes and undergrowth. There wasn't a single tree that could be found and that means that there won't be any fires tonight.
"Aww...its going to be chilly tonight and luckily we have our bread that had been spread with the berry jam earlier today. So tonight, we won't be having any tea but we could munch on the berries unless the Guinness had finished them up earlier. Hahaha"
Gillian complaints to his brother hut they had no other choice. It was either they make a small camp here within the undergrowth and bushes or simply be lying flat on the ground and facing the clear skies above.
Living conditions in the wilderness was tough and Guy wanted the Guinness to learn and adapt themselves to the situation as much as possible. It would be harsh on some days and while it would be heavenly the next.
Not every day would be a wonderful day for an Adventurer so basically, they have to learn to adapt well to the surroundings so they would be well accustomed to the frontiers as much as possible.
Of course, Guy would not put the newlyweds to such an extreme test since the undergrowth would also provide a good cover on the ground due to its fallen leaves and small twigs.
Fortunately, they had bought some hand warmers from the grocery store back in town and that saves them a lot in keeping themselves warm in such weather conditions.
They were also fortunate that it wasn't even raining...!
"What kind of berries are these, Guy? It looked like the kinds of wild berries that we had picked earlier but the looks of it are kind of glossy and may have some exact textures on it."
The Guinness picked a few of the berries and showed it to Guy and Gillian while the former informed them that these could be used to make condiments and added to some dishes to give a tangy taste. It would also be used to make sour-sweet candies that were widely distributed in the hospital wards.
"Can we eat straight away? I mean we could give it a taste like what you did earlier to the berries beforehand."
Guy laughed and remarked, "Go on ahead, you would be surprised but don't take too much though. Just maybe a handful for tonight and another handful for tomorrow."
"Besides you do have the Berry jam in your bread so it would be better than those Hawthorn. Different people have different reactions to it."
The Guinness gave the Hawthorn berries a slight squeeze and tastes the juices at the tip of their tongues. In its raw form, it had a slightly tart and semisweet taste and remembering the advice given by Guy, they had decided not to gobble up those berries but instead keep them for later.
"See that under forest there? It would provide just enough coverage and bedding to lie on tonight. Since there won't be any fire tonight, we could use one of our leather skin to drink from it."
"Just remember to wrap yourself up like a cocoon and the slide underneath those bushes."
"Also you may hang the Adventurers clothing above you, at least it will absorb some dew in the night. It may be slightly damp in the morning but we would soon learn to adjust, alright?"
"Alright then, Guy. It seems a sensible idea and we don't have anything to complain too. As long as we can get the night through, we would be able to head to another town and that would leave us less than 10 more to go. Hahaha."
The Guinness was overjoyed that the fact that they had managed to contact two groups of people and there would be much more people and groups to meet.
If they had not joined as members of the Adventurers Guild, they would not be able to enjoy such life experiences that they were now experiencing.
The party of four had their bread with the Berry jam spread and washed them down with the water stored in their individual leather skins.
They had each consumed one leather skin each and there's another two more and it would be a necessity for them to find a body of water soon or some birch or maple trees.
They could go on for days without food but jot water even though its in the midst of Autumn right now. Gut and Gillian carefully laid out the linen beeswax cloth underneath the Hawthorn brush, with hopes to catch some dew inside and underneath it as a cup was placed squarely in the centre.
It would be a blessing if they would be able to full half a cup each and this could be a start for the day tomorrow.
In the darkness that would soon envelop the party of four, the incandescent pebble was not hung up to illuminate the surroundings but preferred to remain as dark as it was right now.
This enabled Guy and Gillian to see far into the darkness around to see any signs of life such as fires form a torch or a fireplace. In fact, they did see a glimmering light about 5 miles out which indicate some kind of civilisation and spoke to the Guinness' before they went to sleep like a cocoon.
"Great job, Guy. So we would be heading there straight in the morning then. At least we can expect to have some hot food and replenish our water supply."
The Guinness replied when Guy told them of a telltale sign of civilisation and since they were quite bushed from their journey, they fell asleep right after they found a comfortable spot to lie on.
"Well, another night will pass and it would be a long one tonight. Once day breaks, we would dry our uniforms out and then begin to make a beeline to that source of inhabitants."
"Gillian, you watch the other Guinness while I watch the other one as well. We are now in unchartered territories and anything could happen. Be prepared."
"Uhmm... No problem brother. I will protect big sister. At the meantime, get some rest first. It is a good thing we never set any fires or we would alert some people who meant to be kept away from."
Both Guy and Gillian were speaking in Shelta the moment they heard soft snores and steady breathing from a distance underneath the bushes.
At least they do not raise any suspicions to the other party when they converse in their own language.
- Writer
