Chapter 2
Bellandia
After a brief but freezing winter, another spring arrived in the Arvena highlands. The snow melted, and the scenery changed dramatically. Meadows turned colorful with purple and yellow wildflowers while the wind carried whiffs of floral scent as the land returned to life once again.
Like most villagers, the Arryn family spent their first week cleaning their yard and maintaining their thatched roof. Afterward, the village welcomed the new spring with a week-long festival. Only after the soil was soft enough did they return to farming.
Last year, Lansius had unexpectedly assisted with the village's annual report, a job typically reserved for the village chief, scribe, or officials. However, his hopes for rapid advancement were quickly dashed. In a rural farming community, there were seldom job that required such skills.
Despite the setbacks, the townsfolk began to see Lansius in a different light. They now viewed him as a foreign merchant apprentice who was robbed and lost in the woods, explaining his odd-looking clothing and inability to speak the common language.
Since Lansius lost his memory, the rumor went unchallenged. Even the village chief wrote such in his reports. The officials learned about the appearance of a foreign straggler, but with the nobles locked in conflicts, they saw it as an unnecessary tidbit.
The Arryn family followed their work routine as usual. During the warm spring season, Lansius was able to help around and they planted more than usual. Things were looking promising.
After the planting season was over, Marc convinced Lansius to accompany him for daily strolls just before sundown. They would make their way around the village plaza, where the young people would socialize under the watchful eyes of their elders. Despite his social awkwardness, Lansius engaged in small talk and gradually improved his speaking skills.
On one such evening, they found themselves wandering aimlessly and ended up at the butcher shop. Though they were penniless as usual, they still went inside to catch up on the latest gossip and perhaps offer their help in exchange for some slices of meat.
The butcher required no help that day, but he halted them. “Lad, I heard you can do calculation?”
Lansius’ eyes widened. “Yes, I can.”
Connor, the butcher, was tall, muscular, with a graying mustache. “I have some savings and next week I’m going to town to purchase supplies. Problem is, I don’t know whether my savings will suffice.”
Hmm... shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Can I have something to write?” Lansius asked.
Connor gave him a waxed tablet and a wooden stylus. “Would this suffice?”
“This will do, thank you. Now, name me the things you want to purchase, their price and quantity.”
Connor informed him about the goods.
Lansius tallied them and compared the sum against the savings. “You’re still forty copper short.”
“Three silvers short, eh?” Connor mulled while rubbing his chin.
Sensing an opportunity, Marc grinned and hyped it up. “Wow bro, you sure can count fast. Not even the chief can calculate that much.”
Lansius could only smile sheepishly, but Connor nodding his head. “Indeed, lad, you’re pretty good with this.”
Marc found an opening. “Surely such assistance beget some-“
“But of course,” Connor said happily.
They went home with three iron coins and a sausage. The treat was a pleasant surprise for Tanya and Arryn. Before eating, the boys smelled their cut multiple times to savor it. The meat was juicy, unlike the dry salted meat they had on festivals.
One small favor led to another. In the following weeks, the number of people asking for help, while random and inconsistent, steadily grew. Lansius was happy, but knew that he couldn’t count on them for a living.
When spring almost came to a close, Connor returned from his trip. He happily reported that Lansius’ calculation had saved him from taking out loans. Now, he wanted Lansius to teach his oldest child calculation.
Lansius, ever in a hurry to escape from farming life, immediately agreed. With mother Arryn’s blessing, he took two students under his wing. At first, he thought that this was doomed to fail, but he soon realized that he was dealing with teenagers, not kids. They were well-behaved and curious, so the teaching went smoothly.
For his effort, he earned six iron coins or half a copper daily. A copper was the price of a full meal with ale, so Lansius’ rate was abysmal. Earning half a meal per day was not a living wage, but he was content.
The road to financial independence is never easy.
Afterward, things went in a good direction. In the summer, he added two more students, the village chief’s son and the baker’s. Summer went by without a hitch. Autumn arrived and tutoring abruptly stopped as the entire village took to the field for harvest.
Harvest was the biggest celebration of the year, and other festivity like marriage and feast commonly arranged around it. Only after the festivity ended, did things slow down as people prepared for winter.
One day, on a clear but windy day, without warning, hundreds of armed men marched towards Bellandia. It was then that the villagers learned that Arvena was at war. Young Lord Arte led a column of men, including wounded soldiers and refugees, towards Bellandia. They camped in Bellandia and waited for reinforcements. Marc and the other villagers were called for training.
This unforeseen event made Lansius worried. He had never had any experience with war or fighting before. Although he never said it, he felt sickened by not knowing what was going to happen. In his mind, the situation could worsen at any moment.
***
The trees shed their orange leaves and the cold air from the western Targe mountain descended upon the Arvena highlands, signaling the approaching winter. Despite the usual calm during this time, Bellandia saw an influx of armed men arriving in columns. The situation reached its peak with the arrival of Lord Maurice of Arvena and the main troops.
Another morning came in Arryn’s household. Despite all the military activities and the rising price, they continued their life as usual, except for the addition of a mother and daughter. They were war refugees, and Arryn gladly sheltered them in her house.
The guests helped with the chores and offered some coins for food. With the farm empty for winter, Arryn, Tanya, and the guests went to the wool shop. Meanwhile, the boys were busy fixing things like roofs, window covers, and fences.
Today was washing day. Marc and Lansius scrubbed and beat their laundry with a wooden bat before rinsing them. Despite training, Marc was only out at noon for a few hours.
“Lansius. I’m looking for Lansius,” a woman’s voice came from outside.
Marc and Lansius stared at each other. Lansius cleaned his hand from the white ash they used as a detergent, but Marc headed straight to the front.
“Wow, a woman, not from Bellandia, too. I never thought this could happen to you,” Marc commented sarcastically.
Lansius splashed water on Marc for his stupid comment.
“Bah!” Marc tried to smack Lansius’ back but missed. He ended up grinning and shaking his head while returning to his laundry.
The woman leaned against the short wooden fence, her hands resting lightly on the rough wood. Unlike most of the women in the village, her hair was cut short.
“I’m Lansius,” he said as he approached.
“I can tell from the hair,” she quipped.
Lansius unconsciously frowned. Unlike other people’s brown hair, his was almost charcoal dark. He disliked it as it made him stand out.
The woman missed the subtle change. “Are you really a foreigner?”
“I think so. Even now I’m struggling to talk.”
“I understand you enough.” She straightened her posture and revealed a weathered black gambeson. An exquisite-looking belt decorated her waist and a well-worn scabbard hung neatly on one side.
“I’m Stefi, a Squire. They sent me to help you on the journey ahead.” She gave a little bow at the end.
Lansius blinked several times to process what he just heard.
Ehhh... a squire? Accompany me? A girl...!?
Lansius had sort of guessed why she was here, but nobody had told him about this arrangement.
“May I call you master Lansius?” she asked indifferently.
“Eh, no, I’m not someone important. Just Lans is enough," he clarified.
Stefi stared at him briefly. Lansius noticed that there was something about her gaze. It was so abnormally powerful and penetrating.
Not wanting to start on a wrong foot, Lansius decided to explain his stance. “Listen, before anything, you should know that I haven’t made my decision.”
She looked surprised. “Are you by chance afraid of the upcoming battle?”
“That is one concern, yes,” he admitted. Life for him was already hard without sanitation and antibiotics. Adding war into the mix would be suicidal.
Stefi offered a stiff smile and explained, “Be at peace. At most, you’re probably going to work as a scribe.”
“But I never travel out and I can’t even write that well.”
Lansius' confession broke the ice and made the squire chuckle. “That’s why I’m here. And Lans, put more trust in your ability. I was there, you know, when you counted the troops.”
“Ah…” He seemed to remember.
Three days ago, the young Lord had summoned Lansius. The chief had introduced him as a calculation teacher and the young Lord asked Lansius to entertain him by calculating the troops. Lansius did just that by multiplying the soldiers’ formation width and depth. That made the young Lord somewhat impressed and wanted him as a retinue.
“The troops had barely assumed formation. The squires just started their counts when you finished counting. How did you do that?” Stefi asked with great interest.
“It’s just multiplication,” he said, but he knew that mental math was uncommon in this era.
“But you didn’t even use a multiplication table. That’s amazing, you know?”
The way Stefi said it made Lansius rather proud. However, he still had doubts. “I’m just a farmer turned teacher. I only want to live in peace.”
“Ahh, so you’re that kind of man,” she said, gazing out across the landscape.
“I’m not sure I follow,” Lansius replied.
“Humble. Many people got a speck of skill and become pompous and haughty.”
Lansius couldn’t help but smile at her kind words.
“Is that your house?” She gestured at the small hovel.
“Yup,” he remarked without intention to hide that he lived in poverty.
“Looks cozy and well taken care of, aside from the rotted thatched roof and wood panels," Stefi observed.
"Indeed, it's need a bit of repair," Lansius admitted.
Stefi nodded sympathetically. "Must be costly..."
"Yep." Lansius knew where the conversation was headed and braced himself for her sales pitch.
"So why don't you take the offer? Being a lord’s retainer brings wealth and status. What’s not to like?”
Lansius was hesitant and asked sheepishly, "Do you know about the pay?"
“For non-combatants on a campaign, it’s usually half silver a day.”
Half silver was six copper; it was six times his income. Lansius started to see the benefit.
“I don’t know about teachers’ pay, but I think it’s hard to pay for a better house,” Stefi teased.
Lansius unconsciously nodded in agreement.
Stefi noticed the subtle change. “I heard you guys aren’t related, but... don’t you want to help them out? I imagine working the land is hard on the body.”
Lansius exhaled deeply. Mother Arryn’s back was getting worse while blue dyes wrecked Tanya’s fingers. The family had taken care of him, a complete stranger. It was only natural for him to help them back.
“How about if I return tomorrow morning for your answer?” She knew not to push too hard.
“Yeah, that’s probably for the best.”
“I hope you say yes, otherwise I’m stuck with half-pay,” Stefi commented without sounding bitter.
“Eh, why?”
“Well, because I don’t have any job right now,” she answered flatly.
“But you’re a squire?”
“A masterless one. My knight master, unfortunately, died on a hunt. Maybe I’ll tell you about her when we have the time.”
“I’m sorry to hear that… but why won’t other knights employ you?”
She giggled. “Because I’m a female and most all other knights are males. If I fuck around and become pregnant, then they’ll be the one who gets the blame.”
“T-that’s awful…” He felt embarrassed by the frank answer.
She laughed. “It’s just a lame joke. But yeah, at any rate, you would be stuck with me. But don’t worry. I’m more reliable than my looks.”
Lansius smiled at Stefi’s self-promotion.
Sensing a change in his mood, she asked, “So, how about it? Are you coming?”
He mulled about it. “Are you sure about no fighting?”
“Of course! We’re only defending against a small incursion. We’ll be mostly at the rear, far from any battle.”
Lansius was getting swayed. He looked around to settle his mind and spotted Marc hanging clothes.
“He too, would get exemption,” she whispered.
Lansius’ eyes widened. He looked her dead in the eye and asked, “Are you sure?”
“It’s common knowledge that the Lord can only levy one from a family.”
He knew that most men in the village had already answered the call. While a lord couldn't legally force the same man to answer the call multiple times, they could impose a quota on the village or settlement. As a result, many volunteered multiple times on behalf of their sons or other male relatives. Youngsters and first-timers like Marc, who had no protection from their parents or uncles, were sure to get selected.
Lansius finally found his courage. “When will we depart?”
Stefi smiled brightly. “Tomorrow after sunrise.”
“So soon?” he asked while trying to steel his resolve.
“Winter is coming in a month or two, so we’re running out of time,” she remarked. “Don’t worry, I’ll prep you up and show you the basics.”
Lansius remained doubtful. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he was treated as an exotic pet with a talent for numbers. If that were the case, assigning him a squire would make sense - not as an assistant, but more like a handler.
However, he still wanted to repay the family’s kindness. Lansius wasn’t trying to play a hero. For him, it was about survival chances. Obviously, a scribe in the backline was safer than footmen in the frontline. Having made up his mind, he offered his right hand.
Stefi took Lansius' hand, and the two clasped hands to seal the deal. "I'll swear to protect you from harm and injury until we reach our destination."
“I put my life in your care,” Lansius said, taking a leap of faith.
Autumn of Elven Calendar 4422 was drawing to a close.
Chapter 2
Bellandia
After a brief but freezing winter, another spring arrived in the Arvena highlands. The snow melted, and the scenery changed dramatically. Meadows turned colorful with purple and yellow wildflowers while the wind carried whiffs of floral scent as the land returned to life once again.
Like most villagers, the Arryn family spent their first week cleaning their yard and maintaining their thatched roof. Afterward, the village welcomed the new spring with a week-long festival. Only after the soil was soft enough did they return to farming.
Last year, Lansius had unexpectedly assisted with the village's annual report, a job typically reserved for the village chief, scribe, or officials. However, his hopes for rapid advancement were quickly dashed. In a rural farming community, there were seldom job that required such skills.
Despite the setbacks, the townsfolk began to see Lansius in a different light. They now viewed him as a foreign merchant apprentice who was robbed and lost in the woods, explaining his odd-looking clothing and inability to speak the common language.
Since Lansius lost his memory, the rumor went unchallenged. Even the village chief wrote such in his reports. The officials learned about the appearance of a foreign straggler, but with the nobles locked in conflicts, they saw it as an unnecessary tidbit.
The Arryn family followed their work routine as usual. During the warm spring season, Lansius was able to help around and they planted more than usual. Things were looking promising.
After the planting season was over, Marc convinced Lansius to accompany him for daily strolls just before sundown. They would make their way around the village plaza, where the young people would socialize under the watchful eyes of their elders. Despite his social awkwardness, Lansius engaged in small talk and gradually improved his speaking skills.
On one such evening, they found themselves wandering aimlessly and ended up at the butcher shop. Though they were penniless as usual, they still went inside to catch up on the latest gossip and perhaps offer their help in exchange for some slices of meat.
The butcher required no help that day, but he halted them. “Lad, I heard you can do calculation?”
Lansius’ eyes widened. “Yes, I can.”
Connor, the butcher, was tall, muscular, with a graying mustache. “I have some savings and next week I’m going to town to purchase supplies. Problem is, I don’t know whether my savings will suffice.”
Hmm... shouldn’t be too difficult.
“Can I have something to write?” Lansius asked.
Connor gave him a waxed tablet and a wooden stylus. “Would this suffice?”
“This will do, thank you. Now, name me the things you want to purchase, their price and quantity.”
Connor informed him about the goods.
Lansius tallied them and compared the sum against the savings. “You’re still forty copper short.”
“Three silvers short, eh?” Connor mulled while rubbing his chin.
Sensing an opportunity, Marc grinned and hyped it up. “Wow bro, you sure can count fast. Not even the chief can calculate that much.”
Lansius could only smile sheepishly, but Connor nodding his head. “Indeed, lad, you’re pretty good with this.”
Marc found an opening. “Surely such assistance beget some-“
“But of course,” Connor said happily.
They went home with three iron coins and a sausage. The treat was a pleasant surprise for Tanya and Arryn. Before eating, the boys smelled their cut multiple times to savor it. The meat was juicy, unlike the dry salted meat they had on festivals.
One small favor led to another. In the following weeks, the number of people asking for help, while random and inconsistent, steadily grew. Lansius was happy, but knew that he couldn’t count on them for a living.
When spring almost came to a close, Connor returned from his trip. He happily reported that Lansius’ calculation had saved him from taking out loans. Now, he wanted Lansius to teach his oldest child calculation.
Lansius, ever in a hurry to escape from farming life, immediately agreed. With mother Arryn’s blessing, he took two students under his wing. At first, he thought that this was doomed to fail, but he soon realized that he was dealing with teenagers, not kids. They were well-behaved and curious, so the teaching went smoothly.
For his effort, he earned six iron coins or half a copper daily. A copper was the price of a full meal with ale, so Lansius’ rate was abysmal. Earning half a meal per day was not a living wage, but he was content.
The road to financial independence is never easy.
Afterward, things went in a good direction. In the summer, he added two more students, the village chief’s son and the baker’s. Summer went by without a hitch. Autumn arrived and tutoring abruptly stopped as the entire village took to the field for harvest.
Harvest was the biggest celebration of the year, and other festivity like marriage and feast commonly arranged around it. Only after the festivity ended, did things slow down as people prepared for winter.
One day, on a clear but windy day, without warning, hundreds of armed men marched towards Bellandia. It was then that the villagers learned that Arvena was at war. Young Lord Arte led a column of men, including wounded soldiers and refugees, towards Bellandia. They camped in Bellandia and waited for reinforcements. Marc and the other villagers were called for training.
This unforeseen event made Lansius worried. He had never had any experience with war or fighting before. Although he never said it, he felt sickened by not knowing what was going to happen. In his mind, the situation could worsen at any moment.
***
The trees shed their orange leaves and the cold air from the western Targe mountain descended upon the Arvena highlands, signaling the approaching winter. Despite the usual calm during this time, Bellandia saw an influx of armed men arriving in columns. The situation reached its peak with the arrival of Lord Maurice of Arvena and the main troops.
Another morning came in Arryn’s household. Despite all the military activities and the rising price, they continued their life as usual, except for the addition of a mother and daughter. They were war refugees, and Arryn gladly sheltered them in her house.
The guests helped with the chores and offered some coins for food. With the farm empty for winter, Arryn, Tanya, and the guests went to the wool shop. Meanwhile, the boys were busy fixing things like roofs, window covers, and fences.
Today was washing day. Marc and Lansius scrubbed and beat their laundry with a wooden bat before rinsing them. Despite training, Marc was only out at noon for a few hours.
“Lansius. I’m looking for Lansius,” a woman’s voice came from outside.
Marc and Lansius stared at each other. Lansius cleaned his hand from the white ash they used as a detergent, but Marc headed straight to the front.
“Wow, a woman, not from Bellandia, too. I never thought this could happen to you,” Marc commented sarcastically.
Lansius splashed water on Marc for his stupid comment.
“Bah!” Marc tried to smack Lansius’ back but missed. He ended up grinning and shaking his head while returning to his laundry.
The woman leaned against the short wooden fence, her hands resting lightly on the rough wood. Unlike most of the women in the village, her hair was cut short.
“I’m Lansius,” he said as he approached.
“I can tell from the hair,” she quipped.
Lansius unconsciously frowned. Unlike other people’s brown hair, his was almost charcoal dark. He disliked it as it made him stand out.
The woman missed the subtle change. “Are you really a foreigner?”
“I think so. Even now I’m struggling to talk.”
“I understand you enough.” She straightened her posture and revealed a weathered black gambeson. An exquisite-looking belt decorated her waist and a well-worn scabbard hung neatly on one side.
“I’m Stefi, a Squire. They sent me to help you on the journey ahead.” She gave a little bow at the end.
Lansius blinked several times to process what he just heard.
Ehhh... a squire? Accompany me? A girl...!?
Lansius had sort of guessed why she was here, but nobody had told him about this arrangement.
“May I call you master Lansius?” she asked indifferently.
“Eh, no, I’m not someone important. Just Lans is enough," he clarified.
Stefi stared at him briefly. Lansius noticed that there was something about her gaze. It was so abnormally powerful and penetrating.
Not wanting to start on a wrong foot, Lansius decided to explain his stance. “Listen, before anything, you should know that I haven’t made my decision.”
She looked surprised. “Are you by chance afraid of the upcoming battle?”
“That is one concern, yes,” he admitted. Life for him was already hard without sanitation and antibiotics. Adding war into the mix would be suicidal.
Stefi offered a stiff smile and explained, “Be at peace. At most, you’re probably going to work as a scribe.”
“But I never travel out and I can’t even write that well.”
Lansius' confession broke the ice and made the squire chuckle. “That’s why I’m here. And Lans, put more trust in your ability. I was there, you know, when you counted the troops.”
“Ah…” He seemed to remember.
Three days ago, the young Lord had summoned Lansius. The chief had introduced him as a calculation teacher and the young Lord asked Lansius to entertain him by calculating the troops. Lansius did just that by multiplying the soldiers’ formation width and depth. That made the young Lord somewhat impressed and wanted him as a retinue.
“The troops had barely assumed formation. The squires just started their counts when you finished counting. How did you do that?” Stefi asked with great interest.
“It’s just multiplication,” he said, but he knew that mental math was uncommon in this era.
“But you didn’t even use a multiplication table. That’s amazing, you know?”
The way Stefi said it made Lansius rather proud. However, he still had doubts. “I’m just a farmer turned teacher. I only want to live in peace.”
“Ahh, so you’re that kind of man,” she said, gazing out across the landscape.
“I’m not sure I follow,” Lansius replied.
“Humble. Many people got a speck of skill and become pompous and haughty.”
Lansius couldn’t help but smile at her kind words.
“Is that your house?” She gestured at the small hovel.
“Yup,” he remarked without intention to hide that he lived in poverty.
“Looks cozy and well taken care of, aside from the rotted thatched roof and wood panels," Stefi observed.
"Indeed, it's need a bit of repair," Lansius admitted.
Stefi nodded sympathetically. "Must be costly..."
"Yep." Lansius knew where the conversation was headed and braced himself for her sales pitch.
"So why don't you take the offer? Being a lord’s retainer brings wealth and status. What’s not to like?”
Lansius was hesitant and asked sheepishly, "Do you know about the pay?"
“For non-combatants on a campaign, it’s usually half silver a day.”
Half silver was six copper; it was six times his income. Lansius started to see the benefit.
“I don’t know about teachers’ pay, but I think it’s hard to pay for a better house,” Stefi teased.
Lansius unconsciously nodded in agreement.
Stefi noticed the subtle change. “I heard you guys aren’t related, but... don’t you want to help them out? I imagine working the land is hard on the body.”
Lansius exhaled deeply. Mother Arryn’s back was getting worse while blue dyes wrecked Tanya’s fingers. The family had taken care of him, a complete stranger. It was only natural for him to help them back.
“How about if I return tomorrow morning for your answer?” She knew not to push too hard.
“Yeah, that’s probably for the best.”
“I hope you say yes, otherwise I’m stuck with half-pay,” Stefi commented without sounding bitter.
“Eh, why?”
“Well, because I don’t have any job right now,” she answered flatly.
“But you’re a squire?”
“A masterless one. My knight master, unfortunately, died on a hunt. Maybe I’ll tell you about her when we have the time.”
“I’m sorry to hear that… but why won’t other knights employ you?”
She giggled. “Because I’m a female and most all other knights are males. If I fuck around and become pregnant, then they’ll be the one who gets the blame.”
“T-that’s awful…” He felt embarrassed by the frank answer.
She laughed. “It’s just a lame joke. But yeah, at any rate, you would be stuck with me. But don’t worry. I’m more reliable than my looks.”
Lansius smiled at Stefi’s self-promotion.
Sensing a change in his mood, she asked, “So, how about it? Are you coming?”
He mulled about it. “Are you sure about no fighting?”
“Of course! We’re only defending against a small incursion. We’ll be mostly at the rear, far from any battle.”
Lansius was getting swayed. He looked around to settle his mind and spotted Marc hanging clothes.
“He too, would get exemption,” she whispered.
Lansius’ eyes widened. He looked her dead in the eye and asked, “Are you sure?”
“It’s common knowledge that the Lord can only levy one from a family.”
He knew that most men in the village had already answered the call. While a lord couldn't legally force the same man to answer the call multiple times, they could impose a quota on the village or settlement. As a result, many volunteered multiple times on behalf of their sons or other male relatives. Youngsters and first-timers like Marc, who had no protection from their parents or uncles, were sure to get selected.
Lansius finally found his courage. “When will we depart?”
Stefi smiled brightly. “Tomorrow after sunrise.”
“So soon?” he asked while trying to steel his resolve.
“Winter is coming in a month or two, so we’re running out of time,” she remarked. “Don’t worry, I’ll prep you up and show you the basics.”
Lansius remained doubtful. He couldn't shake off the feeling that he was treated as an exotic pet with a talent for numbers. If that were the case, assigning him a squire would make sense - not as an assistant, but more like a handler.
However, he still wanted to repay the family’s kindness. Lansius wasn’t trying to play a hero. For him, it was about survival chances. Obviously, a scribe in the backline was safer than footmen in the frontline. Having made up his mind, he offered his right hand.
Stefi took Lansius' hand, and the two clasped hands to seal the deal. "I'll swear to protect you from harm and injury until we reach our destination."
“I put my life in your care,” Lansius said, taking a leap of faith.
Autumn of Elven Calendar 4422 was drawing to a close.
