Chapter 36: Come With Me

"Making friends in this peculiar town isn't exactly easy, is it?"

Glen couldn't resist teasing when he saw the puppet's flustered reaction.

"I share that sentiment completely. After being here so long, I almost forgot how to speak."

Anna seemed to relish conversation, responding to Glen's comment with unusual enthusiasm.

"Speaking of which, how long have you and your brother lived here? Do you know the place well?" Glen resumed his work, but chatting didn't hinder him.

Anna tilted her head thoughtfully before answering uncertainly, "Brother and I have been here for... over a hundred years, I think? Hmm... hard to recall."

Glen's hands paused for a microsecond before continuing smoothly. His tone remained unchanged. "That makes you quite the veteran resident."

"Veteran?" Anna seemed to disagree. She shook her head gently. "Brother and I are still considered new residents, Master Glen. The truly old residents... they never appear on the outskirts of the town."

Glen looked up, fixing Anna with a surprised gaze for several moments before exhaling slowly. "That is genuinely unexpected. Seems this town holds more secrets than I imagined."

"Hehe..." Anna seemed pleased by his reaction. She gave a light laugh before continuing, "A fairly... warmhearted resident told us that. Well, warmhearted compared to the others anyway. He said the old residents are practically one family. They slumber deep in the town's center. We almost never see them. It's said to be... to avoid harming others. And to keep the Mayor company."

Glen felt the folding table had been worth every non-existent copper coin. He was silent for a long time before offering sincere thanks. "Thank you for telling me this. I wouldn't have known where else to learn such things."

Anna seemed genuinely delighted. She spun in place once, smiling brightly. "I'm happy to share! I truly can't remember the last time I spoke with anyone besides Brother."

"The pleasure is mine."

And so, Glen worked on his carpentry, while the puppet lady, resembling a figure from a fairy tale, chattered animatedly nearby. Both seemed thoroughly engaged. Their conversation flowed from Anna's century of observations within the town, to amusing anecdotes from her and her brother's travels in the outside world, stretching long into the evening.

During their talk, Glen gleaned more fragments about the town. For instance, the strange, misshapen creatures that roamed the night were actually the Mayor's pets, unlikely to harm residents without cause.

"Oh! Oh dear! It's already dark!" Anna suddenly exclaimed mid-sentence, finally noticing the encroaching night. "I'm terribly sorry, Master Glen! I must return! Brother will certainly know I slipped out by now... he'll be furious! Goodbye..."

The puppet lady turned to leave, but Glen, feeling a touch wicked, called out, "No need to rush, Anna. Your brother arrived quite some time ago."

Anna froze, seemingly struggling to comprehend his words. But a deeply familiar voice cut through the dimness, making her expression instantly crestfallen.

"Anna. You disappoint me."

Parindus, resembling a walking bundle of sticks, emerged from the shadows. Though his words were for Anna, his gaze was fixed intently on Glen.

"I'm sorry, Parindus," Anna murmured, head bowed, her contrition palpable. "I was just... terribly bored in the house..."

Parindus opened his mouth, then seemed to deflate slightly. "...Go home."

Anna gathered her skirts and hurried off immediately. Parindus, however, remained motionless for a moment. He watched Glen, who had never stopped working. "Thank you," he finally said, his voice low and raspy. "For speaking with Anna. I haven't seen her that... happy... in a very long time."

Glen tossed aside the piece of wood he was smoothing. He looked directly at Parindus, a hint of playful challenge in his tone. "I was half-expecting you to tell me to stay away from your sister henceforth."

Parindus's wooden fist clenched visibly. A flicker of something like the urge to strike passed over his simple face. But he mastered it. "I understand gratitude, strange boy," he stated flatly. Then he turned and walked stiffly after Anna.

This world really is interesting... Glen watched the puppet siblings disappear into the gloom, a silent smile touching his lips.

The next morning.

After a reasonably hearty breakfast, Glen bundled the wooden furniture he'd finished the day before onto a sturdy wooden sled. Ensuring everything was tightly secured, he released the large deer from its enclosure, intending it to pull the load.

The deer seemed largely acclimated to its human surroundings and Glen's presence, offering little resistance as he handled it and attached the harness. After feeding it some fodder, Glen carefully hitched the sled to the deer.

Relieved when it didn't buck or protest, he cautiously took the makeshift reins. Mimicking a carter, he guided the "deer-cart" forward at a gentle pace.

While not particularly fast, it was significantly more efficient than walking while burdened. Relaxing slightly on the sled, Glen experienced the novel sensation of being a carter. It wasn't unpleasant.

The journey, however, soon grew less smooth.

Just beyond the perceived boundary of Bayeck, Glen found his path blocked by a group of men clad in mismatched armor.

Their leader was a man wearing the finer plate armor of a noble knight, clearly marking him above the rest.

"You, boy! You've offended nobility!" the knight declared, hand resting pointedly on the pommel of his sword at his waist. "The honorable Lord Cheneys demands your presence! Get down and come with me now!"

"Lord Cheneys?" Glen raised an eyebrow, then feigned realization. "Ah. The poodle-permed twerp's sire, I presume?"

The knight, Barbour, flushed crimson. "How dare you! A base peasant shows such insolence to his betters!" Around him, the men-at-arms drew their weapons with a rasp of steel, the sudden glint of sunlight on blades momentarily dazzling Glen.

Barbour expected the young man to soil himself at this display of force. Instead, Glen remained utterly calm, his expression suggesting their menacing postures were wasted effort.

Glen glanced back at his carefully loaded furniture. Annoyance flickered across his face. Option one: Go with these clowns and sort out this 'Lord'. Option two: Beat them senseless right here and now. He leaned towards option one, but the risk to his goods nagged at him.

After a moment's contemplation, he decided on the visit.

"Alright. I'll come. But I need to secure my belongings first." He gestured towards the sled piled with furniture.

Barbour narrowed his eyes. The instinct to berate the peasant for daring to make conditions surged. But the young man's utter lack of fear, coupled with his residence in the notoriously eerie Bayeck, prompted caution. He gave a curt, reluctant nod.

Under the hostile stares of the armed men, Glen guided the deer-cart to a sheltered nook formed by large boulders. He tied the deer securely to a sturdy tree nearby. Only then did he turn to face the knight's party. "Lead on."

The group had horses. Glen did not. He received no offer of a mount and didn't expect one. Fine. We'll settle all accounts later, he thought, falling into step at the rear of the mounted men.

Within the grounds of Lord Cheneys's manor.

The Lord himself was engaged in conversation with a guest in the sprawling manicured gardens behind the main house.

The guest was similarly attired in fine, if slightly ostentatious, noble garb, sporting a meticulously waxed goatee. His manner of speaking was theatrically modulated.

The two men seemed quite familiar, their conversation punctuated by bursts of hearty laughter.