Tribute

They hurried on their way back, dark clouds had brewed together in the sky and it was starting to get dark. Fall was slowly creeping into the country. Olaf pushed Alya through the uphill street.

Alya spotted a familiar face walking in their direction. The tall merchant strode directly towards them with a serious expression.

"You're a commander, right? I need you to contact the director." He put on a worried look on his clean shoven face.

"About what?" Olaf put on a deep tone.

"This director must be a pretty important person." Alya thought.

The merchant looked at Alya for a second, but he decided he could talk even with her present.

"We have a shipment that is still on its way to here. Two wagons worth of slaves. They are headed through the Capped Woods." His voice sounded quieter than before.

"Shit..." Olaf looked at Alya, "We need to report that. Immediately." He turned around her wheelchair and they started walking towards the the entrance's side of the city wall.

"Why are you coming with us?" Olaf looked at the merchant.

"I need to know what happens to them, and if I'll be compensated in case of extreme measures." He lifted his chin. Olaf fell silent and turned his head back to the direction they walked in.

Jines had a rough day. Most towns and villages south of the city had reported rebellic behavior and physical conflict by slaves against supporters and troops of the king. He rarely received letters, but from that point on, he was done with them. If people wanted to bring bad news, they should talk to him in person.

He wiped his oily, grey hair out of his face. He needed to get it cut, his wife had been pestering about it for half a year. The pitter patter of light rain sounded on the tiled roof, "Maybe I'll stay for the night." Jines felt like going home would ruin his mood even more, he needed a quiet environment and some rest.

He signed the letter he had written for the king and layed down the feather and rubbed his stubbly beard. He was just screwing the cap back onto the inkpot when somebody knocked on the heavy, wooden door. Jines sighed, "Come in."

A man Jines recognized walked into the room, it was the commanding paladin who had fled from one of the cities the slaves had raided. His caravan had been the only one to arrive at the gates, others might still be on the run.

"Sir." The man greeted him with good posture, Jines noticed.

Behind him, followed the owner of the city's trading company and a young woman. He tried to not stare, but the she was riding a chair into his office, "What are they here for?" Jines looked at the commander.

"She's with me." He gestured towards the woman, "And, he wants to get compensation in case-"

"You're not getting shit, leave." Jines grumbled.

The merchant stood silently, until the woman poked his side, "You heard the man, I think you should go." The man wanted to protest, but turned to leave when she kept poking him.

"Women." Jines thought as the heavy door feel back into place. He turned back to the important task, "So, what are we talking about?"

"Two wagons filled with slaves are still beeing transported from the sea ports and they have like five guards."

"So we need to deal with them before those troublemaking slaves get their hands on them." Jines spoke out loud what the commander had implied, he knew how cagey messengers of bad news would get.

"Yes, but what should we do?"

"Can't send the city guard nor your troops, we need them." Jines groaned, "We'll send someone to tell the poeple guarding the shipment. They'll have to incapacitate them the old-fashioned way." Jines looked at the black-haired woman.

"If I send just one of my men to tell them, it should be fine." The paladin said, "One of them should be stationed at the city gate, I'll go tell him to get a horse right now." The commander ran through the door. Jines watched the girl slowly follow on her wheeled chair.

Olaf hurried through the door on the inner side of the wall next to the gate. He went past the outer door, which he looked at to make sure it was locked using the wooden board. He hurried up the stairs, "Hey, Ole. You need to get a horse right now. Follow the road towards Kilien and if you meet a shipment of slaves before you reach the Capped Woods. Tell them to kill them all and show them this." He handed the guard a sigil. It was given to him by the king and represented his position.

"Yes, commander." He saluted and ran downstairs.

"Sorry to put this on you." Olaf slowly followed the man downstairs, "Why is the door open?" The guard was already gone, nobody answered.

Olaf closed it and put the lock back in place. He strode towards the office.

He opened the door, "Alya, we're done here." He looked into the room. The director sat at his desk and looked up when Olaf entered.

"She's not here, she followed you out."

"God save her soul." Olaf hurriedly ran back to the wooden door leading outside of the city. He opened it and ran outside the walls. Next to him the gate had just been opened a quarter to let Ole and his horse through. The guard immediately started riding past Olaf, "Good luck."