Chapter 2. Part 4.

The Nasty Neighbour.

Mark and Gwen parted ways with the Iron Imp group once they finished their business at the guild hall in Midval. Everyone agreed it had been a good adventure and they would be happy to work together again. But for now the pair needed to get home to the cabin and back to Earth. Keeping track of the time difference was a pain in the ass, but they both wanted to avoid a mistake like last time.

On the 3 day trip back to the village, one day is full of rain. Turning the road into mostly mud.

As they near the end of the road, they see an unexpected sight. Most of the men from the village are out chopping wood. But that is not what draws Mark's concern. It is the armed men on horse who seem to be patrolling the work force that draw his attention. They dont seem to be on alert for wild animals or monsters, but rather they are acting more like prison guards.

“What is going on? he calls out.
One of the warriors trots his horse closer and answers, “Nothing that concerns you. Everything is under control.” The two nearby men who were stacking logs pause in their work, to listen.

Mark not recognizing the warrior grows more concerned not less. “Id rather have an explanation from the villagers, if you dont mind.”

“You two back to work.” the man snaps, then says to the mud splattered adventurer, “This is not your business. Just move along.”

Normally Mark would have avoided conflict. His old self would not have even asked what was going on. But it seemed clear that something odd was up. These unknown men were treating the villagers like they were some sort of prison labour gang.

“Explain this now or after I knock you off your horse.” he demands.

“You wouldn't dare.” the man sneered. Confident he had every advantage.

“How about you bring your boss over so we can talk with him?” Gwen asked, trying some diplomacy.

“How about you shut up and move along.” the man answered.

Mark called to the men by the wood pile. “What is going on here?”

But before they could decide what to answer, the horseman trotted between the rude intruder. “Iv had enough of you interference.” he growled. Then raised his spear to strike with the butt.

Mark blasted him with wind. Not a blade of wind, just a strong gust to knock him off the horse.

“Want to get your boss now?” Gwen asked as she drew her sword.

“Help Help! Bandits!” the man yelled.

“What now?” she asked her companion.

Try not to kill anyone.” he answered.

The warrior on the ground rolled and quickly got to his feet. He trusted his armor would protect him from any quick thrust a girl could make. Tactically it was a sound move. However he did not know what Gwen could do. She was fast becoming a master of electrical magic. So all she needed to do was touch him with her sword. The smallest contact and zap. Just like a taser.

The warrior dropped back to the ground, twitching into unconsciousness.

Meanwhile the nearby horsemen started responding to the situation. To them, the pair of intruders looked travel stained and scruffy. Adventurers or bandits, it made little difference once their comrade called for help. They rushed over, in no particular order. Each thinking they could handle the pair. Against ordinary bandits, they may have been right. But these were not bandits and not at all ordinary.

Mark cast several quick spells, to boost abilities and to protect from arrows. Then he drew his sword. But he never got a chance to use it. Because Gwen brought down a full on lightning bolt from the sky, right in front of the oncoming horsemen. The flash was blinding and the kaboom ear splitting. Everyone could feel the impact wave vibrate through them.

The horses were frightened and ran. The men like wise, they just could not run as fast.

The battle was over, quick as a flash.

Mark looked at her, “You enjoy that too much.” he said with a huge smile.

“You are damn right, I do.” she answered.

Then he revived the warrior on the ground. “Wake up. Now go tell your boss to stay off my land.”

The man glared but said nothing as he walked way.

It was then that the villagers started coming out from hiding. “Will someone please tell me what has been going on here?” Mark called nice and loud.

An old farmer spoke up. “Well you see its because the village is unteathered. Our lord was the hero master Crane. But he has not been seen in many years. So mostly we just been ignored and that is fine with us. But every now and then the neighbouring lord Asat makes demands of us. As payment for his protection. Being poor folk there's nothing we can do about it. So this year it was lumber he wanted. We deliver our logs to him and he makes sure his bandits dont raid our farms.”

“That is despicable.” Gwen said harshly.

Mark nodded his agreement. Asat was just another bully, running an extortion scam.

“Well there is something I can do about it. Call village meeting at the Inn, tonight. I will explain things then.” he said with as much authority as he could project. “And stop all this cutting. The only thing we will be giving Asat is the boot.”

A few villagers cheered at that.

“Do you have a plan?” Gwen asked,

“I have concepts of a plan.” Mark answered. 

 

First he went to the Inn, to talk with any adventurers who were there. “The village may come under attack soon. I want your help defending it.” he says to the few guys at the bar.

“Who did you piss off?” one of them asks,

“Our neighbour, lord Asshat.” he answers.

“Ok, then you can count us in.” the man declares.

“If you want to know more, come to the meeting here tonight.” Mark says before departing.

Second he took a bath and got his clothes washed. For most of his life he had not cared much about his appearance. 'People were dumb if they judged me just because of how I look.' He often thought. But the truth was that people will always judge a book by its cover. He accepted this now, even if he still though it was dumb. It was a fact of life and he would take it seriously. After his many days adventuring and travelling, he did look scruffy and muddy. Not really a surprise that lord Asat's men called him a bandit.

Third he sat down and had some food. Gwen joined him, after her own bath was done.

As they ate he asked, “You remember that fancy letter?”
She nodded, “The one that named you as lord over this area?” she asked.
“Yes that is the one. Well its time I made it public.” he says with some hesitation.

Gwen just laughed for a few moments before asking “Why keep it a secret?”

“Honestly, I didnt want the trouble that I knew would come with the title.” he said bluntly “Being a lord seems like a lot of work. There are always people depending on you and asking you for stuff and what if...” he trailed off. Suddenly realizing the common room of the Inn was not the best place to talk about his insecurities.

She look his hand and said “You are right. It is a big job, it is a serious one. Its really ok if you are scared of it. Id think you a bit mental if you just jumped in without any hesitation.”

“Thanks.” he said quietly “Its really great to have you here.”

The Meeting.

Once the room had filled up with people, Mark climbed onto the bar. His hands shaking slightly. There was an old joke about 90% of people preferring to face death, rather that to give a speech in front of a crowd. He counted that as another truism of life. But he had brought this on himself and was determined to go through with it.

“As you all know, our neighbour lord Asat, has made demands of this village. Demands he thinks he can get away with, because your former lord, my grand father, the hero Crane, has not been seen in these parts for many years. In fact he will never be seen again. But fear not. I am his heir and the king has acknowledged it.” Mark waved the document for the crowd to see, then passed it back to the Innkeeper who had been holding onto it.

“I am now your lord. You are now my people.” he tried to look dignified and not to rush, but everything inside him was screaming to get this speech over with. “I dont want to change how life is here. It is a nice quiet place. But I can not allow a bully to have his way. So I will do everything in my power to stop Asat or anyone else from making dishonest demands of you.”

The villagers said three cheers for their new lord.

Mark gave everyone three beers in thanks of their support.

Time to Plan.

The next morning, over breakfast Gwen asked “What is our next move?”

“As far as Asat knows his men were driven off by some random adventurers. He will no doubt label as bandits.” Mark observes. “Maybe there is a price on our heads even now?”

“Well that is what you get for keeping your identity secret.” she said playfully.

“As to that point, we need to send messengers to all the nearby settlements, announcing there is a new lord of the Fearful Forest.” he decided.

“Now using the royal we, are you?” she joked.

“What? No, not yet.” he answered Then continued his line of thought. “The messenger sent to Asat, should be someone who can get out of trouble, just in case our dear neighbour does not know the saying about not shooting the messenger.”

Gwen smiles an evil smile. “Id like to go.”

Mark's natural caution came rushing up. But before he said “That would be too dangerous” he stops to consider it. Then he says “That would be a bad idea. His men may recognize you and accuse you of whatever. Yesterday was fun, but I think we both may be getting overconfident. This is not a game.”

Gwen gets a serious look on her face. “You sure have been acting like it is all a game. And Im ok with that, honestly. But dont forget, its a two player game. Im not just tagging along like some NPC.”

“Im sorry. Your right. Im still not good at dealing with people.” he quickly says.

She waves a hand dismissively. “Anyhow, I have no idea where Asat lives.”

They both laugh. Mark wishes he had a map. 

After talking with Grogson the Innkeeper who was also the guild master, it was decided to send out four messengers. All were local adventurers who knew the nearby settlements well. The ranger, Rally Hyll, was selected to visit lord Asat. He was well known and respected in the area. He was also tough as sabre teeth.

While the others were given simple announcement to make, Rally would have an extra few lines to say. After Delivering the news that “Cane's heir was now at the village, having been granted royal title to Fearful Forest and the land round it”, he would add that “Lord Cane wished to talk about compensation for the unlawful logging and the poor treatment of his people at the hands of Lord Asat's men.”

Gwen being more diplomatic by nature, stressed to the ranger “Dont accuse Asat directly of anything. If he wants to save face by blaming bad behaviour on his own men, let that option open for him.”

Given the distance involved, Rally said he should return around night fall.