Fat Bastard
1571 Words
Sunday, 11th September 1442
Before the break of dawn, Guy had awakened the party of four and hurriedly had the remaining slices of bread that had the berry jam spread in between them. It was also washed down with the plain water from the leather skins.
"Alright, listen up everyone. We would not be wearing our Adventurers uniforms for now. We would also not be bringing our knapsack since we would be leaving them behind but would be bringing along our bow and sword."
"All of you know how to wield a sword, am I right? Remember to keep an arrow nocked in the bow the moment we leave this place. We would hide the rest of our stuff here in this undergrowth well before we head on to the next village."
"I won't be bringing the decree scroll that Our Majesty had given."
The Guinness listened as Guy explained the details of his findings from the night before. When everyone had fallen asleep, he had sneaked out and walked the whole few miles to take a closer look at the village that lay before them.
So they rolled up their uniforms inside the knapsack and hidden their knapsack inside the undergrowth to make it as discreet as possible and then slung their blankets over their heads and shoulders like some kind of cloak. Beneath that, their swords were hanging behind their backs as they nocked a bladed arrowhead on the bow, ready to advance into the unknown village.
"Remember, we are just normal hunters, looking for some fresh water to refill the leather skins."
"We would not reveal much to any of the villages until we had gotten more facts about that. It was night time so my judgement might be wrong. But we have to make sure everyone's safe for now."
Guy advised the rest and they all nodded their heads. They never realised that the task they had two-star ratings, for the time being, had risen dangerously close to a four-star rating at this moment.
"Guy, do you suspect anything when you scouted the villages last night? How could you endanger yourself without telling us your whereabouts? You might... You know maybe sprain your ankle or broken a toenail or something in the process."
The Guinness quipped as they discussed the matter right before they leave. Guy shook his head and told him that, 'It's all gut feeling, my friend."
"I can't explain much but something tells me something is wrong with that village. Not that I know what is the matter but then we might uncover something from there."
Gillian spoke up next and reassured everyone, even though she was the youngest of the group she was not a bit afraid wince her older brother was there and would not compromise anyone's safety.
Gillian then slung a few of the empty leather skins with her and then once they had readied their bows, they proceeded on. Gillian had used blunt arrows instead since she would be hunting some game on the pretence of being a hunter so it would give such suspicions away.
Along the way, Gillian managed to get 2 woodchucks and that would suffice to make them look like hunters as she exchanged her blunt arrows to be bladed arrowheads.
"Remember, if it's time to draw blood, make every arrow count. Shoot and run and shoot again until we had gotten clear of the village and gather back our belongings."
"Just as a precaution, there. We hope we won't be needing to use those arrows and swords against these people then."
As Guy had mentioned to them about the possibility of a fight, they were sure that the town ahead does not harbour any good intentions. But since they need to resupply, they would need to mask their identities and moved on with tact.
It was slightly over an hour when the party of four had reached the border of the village and when they saw an old man sitting at the side of a cruck house that seemed to fall on its side anytime soon, Guy greeted him.
"Good morrow, old man. We are in need of some water, could we kindly ask to use the well inside this village? And by the way, what is the name of this village?"
The old man looked up from where he was sitting and, cleared his throat and hocked out a thick yellowish-green phlegm onto the ground.
"Who are the four of you, eh? This is Broderbund, a village full of vile and old men like me... Hahaha. Do you want water? You need to pay a toll first since you do not know the rules of this village here."
The old man cleared his throat once again and this time he hocked the thick yellowish-green phlegm near Guy's feet but the latter took no notice of it and acted nonchalantly.
"Hmm... I can't pay any toll but I would gladly give you these woodchucks to you if you give us to the water well. Would that be a fine idea, old man?"
"Having these as food would be much better than having coins jingling in your pockets, don't you think so? Look at how fat these woodchucks and it would last you for a day or two if you make into a stew or roast them slowly over a fire. Y-U-M-M-Y...!"
Guy enunciated the sentences to the old man before the latter stood up and walked within the spaces of the houses which led to the centre of town where a solitary well was sitting. There were some ladies there who were doing some washings and the party of four greeted them.
"There... There's a well there but the water is not too good. But it's better than nothing, right? Go on, fill it up and hand those woodchucks to me. I got my old lady to prepare them for lunch later on. Y-U-M-M-Y...!"
The old man gestured for the woodchucks with his thin elongated fingers with long and dirtied fingernails. Guy handed the woodchucks from Gillian over to him and thanked the man as Guy went to the well and began to draw water.
When the water had been drawn up to the surface, the party of four would hear the old man laughing and chuckling to himself and walked away. The water had a peculiar smell to it and there's a layer of some kind of slime or flotsam on it.
"God. Damn. It... This water could only be used for washing. No wonder the ladies were looking at us one kind." Guy thought to himself as he released the bucket that he had drawn up from the well to fall back inside it.
"Excuse me, ladies, would you mind pointing to us where we could draw some good drinking water?" Guy asked the few ladies that were doing their washings at the well area.
"Eh, young lad. Do you want some good drinking water? We don't normally drink water here but if you need some you can always look for the chief here, Fat Bastard. He's the one that controls good drinking water here in this village."
"He charges 1 penny (same as a copper) for a leather skin such as yours. I could lead you to him if you want." one of the ladies flashed Guy a grin that had some rotten black teeth that were all left but stump inside the mouth. Ewwww...!!!
"Hey, Fat Bastard...!! Someone is here to buy some good drinking water...!!" the lady with stumps of rotten teeth inside her mouth hollered out and the party of four were thinking that the lady was going to lead them to the chief instead.
A thin man suddenly walked out from a house and beckoned Guy and the rest as he remarked, "You going to buy some good drinking water, innit? That's one penny for a leather skin full. Come and get some over here. It's being filtered right at this moment."
"Daylight robbery... That's what it is...! How could drinking water be charged and at such a price...! That's almost 4 times the price of meat...!" thoughts were racing inside the minds of the party of four and all were hesitant to go ahead and enter the house which had only a single entrance.
A trap... That's what they had in the mind right now...!
"Oyy... What are you standing around for? You wanna get some good drinking water or not? Then, come on in then, lads..."
Should they refuse or should they enter the house to get the good drinking water? What kind of mystery or surprise that awaits them behind the closed door?
Besides, this village does give them the creeps and they wondered if its a good idea for them to venture further even another step forwards. Dammit... The suspense was really killing the party of four as they looked at each other with questioning looks.
"Oyy... What are you four doing looking like headless chickens, eh? I won't be here waiting all day for you to get your drinking water. Come on, we need coins too, you know. Just a penny for a leather skin...!"
The skinny man hollered to them once more and Guy finally made his move as he brought the party of four slowly heading towards the open door of the house that looked quite or ordinary from the outside.
- Writer
