With Help - Friends?

[Aura Thesin]

Continued from "The Home of Zou, Mentor and Musician"

Aura looked up at the brusque woman shoving a drink in her face. She couldn't seem to focus, and what Gerda would notice would be the dull, flat, lifeless look in Aura's otherwise sparkling eyes.

She couldn't remember sitting, but took the water and had a tiny sip before putting the container on the ground next to her. She shrugged her pack off and let it fall to the ground as well, before she noticed the food being held out to her as well.

The thought of eating nearly caused her to bring up her recently consumed breakfast. Images of Zou falling forward into the two tiny spears of wood holding up the plant just inside the doorway of his house inundated her, and tears began running fresh tracks down her face. Her eyes stared blankly forward as she imagined that she had heard the sound of twin pops as the spears stabbed through the delicate orbs of Zou's eyes. The thought occurred to her that she couldn't remember what color his eyes were.

You should come home with us. You can help out on our farm and take a few days or longer to strengthen your body.

Aura could barely comprehend what she was hearing, but she did notice that she was now fenced in by two people, with her back to a door and little room on either side to escape. Her adrenaline began pumping, and she resisted the urge to drive the heel of her foot straight up into the man's face as he bowed toward her. It helped that her mind slowly understood the words he had just spoken as it caught up to the flow of the world around her.

I am a simple swordmaster who now grows tea and teaches a few students. We have room and you would be most welcome.

Aura stared speechlessly at the old man for several seconds before looking at the woman with him. The way the light was, Aura couldn't properly see Gerda's face, but it looked like she might be scowling at the old man. Before she could really look to be sure, Gerda began talking, offering Aura an escape while introducing the two of them.

"I - I don't really have anyone around here I'd call family, and I don't have bishan or even a job to keep my life busy. I ... " Aura paused as she swallowed a wail, then looked down to the ground, her quiet voice nonetheless carrying up to the two before her. "I'm not really from around here," she managed before a sob escaped her lips.

Suddenly words flowed from her mouth as she began to speak quickly. He had asked her if she needed to stay somewhere, and she suddenly felt the need to be anywhere but in this city. " I'd really like to come stay with you. I don't have any money and nowhere to stay," she waved a hand at the doorway behind her, "except maybe here, and I don't think people would like trying to enter their shop to find me sleeping in the doorway. I can work well, and I do need a job to start making some money so I can find my way home ..." Aura paused a moment, to catch her breath, and run the last words she'd said through her head. It took a moment to realize that what she had just said wouldn't give her away. She felt crazy just leaping at the opportunity like this, when anyone could be a stone-cold killer around here, but the woman, Gerda, didn't look like she would take any garbage from anyone. And the old man, though a self-professed swordmaster, didn't look like he'd hurt a fly, let alone a seemingly defenseless young woman.

Of course, she wasn't defenseless, but they didn't need to know that, yet.

Aura realized that she was looking back and forth between the two of them, nearly panting. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, calming herself. It was scary when she became like this, since she was usually so well in control of her emotions and her body, but the last few months had been trying to say the least.

She stood slowly, offering a sickly smile at the two of them. "I'm sorry, you'll have to excuse me. I've had a difficult few ... weeks. If the offer's still open, then yes, I'd like to stay with you for a few days to sort myself out." She looked at Gerda, sensing the most resistance would be from her direction. "That is, of course, if you're alright with it too."

[Coax]

Gerda masked her feelings as she saw this helpless, weakling leap on her grandfather’s offer of a place to stay. Blessed with a natural cynicism honed to a fine-edge through a wanderer’s years of little humiliations and an assassin’s professional disdain for humanity, she ascribed the basest of motives to this girl, this helpless bit of fluff.

Meanwhile Ken Zsu let a wide smile grace his wrinkled visage. A born collector of stays, a natural teacher of men and women, he felt blessed every time a newcomer deigned to spend even a brief period in his company. “Well lass,” he said. “I can’t promise an easy, comfortable place to sleep. But it’ll be warm and as safe as we can make it. There’s plenty of hard work, but the rewards are there for those who seek them.”

He gathered up his pack with a small groan, brushing off Gerda as she immediately moved forward and tried to take it. He laughed. “This overprotective lass is Gerda, my granddaughter. She thinks every one we meet is after the two coppers I rub together these days. I’m Ken Zsu, a retired gentleman of leisure if you count working from dawn to dusk staying fit and maintaining my swordsmanship and then of course, planting, maintaining, and harvesting the tea we grow for sale here.”

He gave Gerda a look. “You’ve wanted my pack all day now, so I’m going to give it to you. You sell the tea for us and I’ll see this delicate young lady back to our farm.”

Gerda gasped and then stood there with her mouth open like a fish freshly hooked and gasping for air. “But …,” she said. Her voice trailed off as she realized that she couldn’t really say anything. Her fears that this woman might prove a threat to her grandfather seemed paranoid at best. Finally, she choked out, “I won’t be long.”

Turning to her grandfather, she took his bundle of tea. Even for a strong healthy girl, the double bundle proved a heavy burden. She glared again briefly at Aura and then staggered down the road to the market. “Don’t think I won’t be done sooner than you think,” she called back over her shoulder.

Ken smiled as he watched his granddaughter vanish down the road. “You up to a walk,” he said to Aura. “I think you’ll like our little farm. And if you’re keen for a bit of training, we might both learn by sparring a bit.”

[Aura Thesin]

Aura watched the exchange between the two. It was obvious they both loved each other in that familial way, as a grandparent to a grandchild. It was also equally obvious that, though Ken Zu professed to being a swordsman and trainer of, Gerda felt he needed her protection.

The young woman felt a pang of heartache and loss. Even though she hadn't been close with her father before she was somehow dumped into this world, she still missed having him close to hand.

As Gerda walked off, tossing a glare over her shoulder at Aura, the erstwhile monk tested her legs. She nodded to Ken Zu when he asked if she would be up for a walk. Her legs were tired, but she had been through much worse. Though she looked like a slip of a girl, she had excellent muscle tone and stamina. She bent and picked up her pack, noticing the water beside it. She frowned as she picked that up as well, tucking it into her pack before shouldering it.

Indicating Gerda as she began following Ken Zu, she asked, "She doesn't like me much, does she? I know we've just met and all, but she seems very ... suspicious of me, I guess."

Aura threw her own look over her shoulder at the quickly receding outline of Gerda. She was glad to know that there were people who were from this world who felt as suspicious about other people as she did. And yet, here she was, taking a chance again, on Ken Zu, his granddaughter and their farm. The last chance she had take with Zou ...

Aura quickly stopped that train of thought, not wanting to view the image of Zou lying with his head in a plant, looking ridiculous yet unnervingly still.

Aura suppressed a shudder and looked at Ken Zu, awaiting his response.

[Coax]

Indicating Gerda as she began following Ken Zu, Aura asked, "She doesn't like me much, does she? I know we've just met and all, but she seems very ... suspicious of me, I guess." Aura threw her own look over her shoulder at the quickly receding outline of Gerda.

Ken Zu watched his granddaughter stride off, a bit off-balance from carrying both packs of dried tea. Then he turned to Aura and offered a smile. “Gerda was born convinced the world is a dangerous place and that those in it are either wicked or fools.” He laughed. “I’m confident that Gerda does not see me as wicked. And I’m too vain to speculate as to whether she considers me a fool.”

He set off with the easy stride of a man who has traveled dusty roads all of his life. Although, he claimed status as a sword master, Ken Zu wore no open weapon, though, the thick knotted walking stick could probably serve as such should the need arise. “We’ll reach Shim long before Gerda. I thought you might sleep in the dojo itself, but eat with us for the meals. It’ll give you privacy. We all need a little time to ourselves.”

He watched Aura’s pace carefully, adjusting his own if it appeared needed. “I spent my early years as a military man,” he said after awhile. “Politics changed a good few years back and it was decided that my ‘retirement’ would be best for everyone.” He laughed to himself. Ken Zu had the look of a man who laughed often. “Of course, they never consulted me, but I’m not unhappy with my life as it stands.”

He intentionally introduced his own background and history into the conversation. To his view, it opened a door for this young lady to share a bit about herself. But if she chose to maintain her privacy, he would respect her decision. He wondered how Gerda would interact with this young woman. He suspected she might be equally prickly as his granddaughter in her own way. But Gerda needed to grow and this might be good for her and possibly ‘Aura’ as well. They would see.

[Aura Thesin]

Aura set out after Ken Zu, ignoring the protest from her legs. They felt slightly crampy from the short but intense run she had just put them through, but she knew from previous experience that walking would help stretch them out and loosen the tightening muscles. She was able to keep pace with Ken Zu with little difficulty.

Aura smiled at the old man's laugh. It felt good to be around someone who wasn't hunted for what he could do. Around here that meant magic. Aura's experience with magic was limited to Zou's abilities and the little show Naris, the little gnome with the human brother, had put on at Zou's place. She had known that they were somewhat in hiding, especially when Naris had arrived and they had discussed the 'safeness' of one another.

This old man, aside from the warriors' sway to his walk and the way he handled himself, didn't seem like he would be harmful, and was as unlikely a practitioner of magic as Aura herself. His granddaughter, on the other hand...

Aura realized several seconds had passed from the time Ken Zu had finished his last moment. She inwardly cursed herself for a fool, wondering how daft this kindly old man thought her. She didn't feel like getting into her history, so avoided the unspoken question somewhat.

"As I said before, I'm not really from around here. I haven't been her long though, so I'm not sure of much of the politics of the area. I mean, aside from some ban on 'magic' or whatever. They ask you that question at the gate if the guards aren't familiar with your face," Aura said, making a face. "I wanted to ask you, what would you have me doing at your farm for you? I'm stronger than I look, and not afraid of menial labor, as some people are."

Aura continued walking on Ken Zu's left, watching people as the passed, going about their morning business. In the distance, she could see the entrance to the city.

[Coax]

"As I said before, I'm not really from around here. I haven't been her long though, so I'm not sure of much of the politics of the area. I mean, aside from some ban on 'magic' or whatever. They ask you that question at the gate if the guards aren't familiar with your face," Aura said, making a face. "I wanted to ask you, what would you have me doing at your farm for you? I'm stronger than I look, and not afraid of menial labor, as some people are."

Aura continued walking on Ken Zu's left, watching people as the passed, going about their morning business. In the distance, she could see the entrance to the city.

Ken tempered his pace slightly. He kept remarklably fit and though getting on in years, he loved life and kept active. He carried the walking stick more as prop than an aid for travel. He found it occasionally productive to be the 'old man' and the stick helped foster that impression. Guards who might interfere with a young, spry person were inclined to give the old man a pass. Plus, in the rare event when danger threatened or rescue was needed, the thick knotted stick had a good heft to it and served as makeshift weapon.

He admired the girl, because he saw she was in some pain. But she just pressed harder to keep up. When she began to speak, he slowed his pace slightly and listened to her words. "I'm not much with magic," he said. "So I don't care much one way or the other for the ban. I like a bit of steel in my hand and if someone can kill me from afar with magic, then I guess my time will have come. I do know a thing or two about healing and the mixing of herbs. But I wouldn't call that magic, just good old-fashioned common sense." He smiled.

"Ah my farm, well we grow tea. It's healthy and tastes good and warms the belly on a cold night or a winter morning." He laughed heartily. "But it doesn't grow itself, there's plenty of work and weeding and pullling and sowing and chopping. None of it's menial work to my view, it's what we all do. If you're good at something, you may do it more often, but we tend to mix up our chores. Gerda is gone often enough, but she brings in a little hard currency from her trips. We sell our tea and use it to stock up on things we can't grow. There's a vegetable garden and Gerda hunts. She's a fine eye in the woods. What I'm saying is, just look around and you'll find things that need doing. I'll give you a few tasks if you're willing and then you'll be in the swing of things."

As they walked, they soon came to the entrance. The old man nodded at the guards, gestured to Aura and referred to her as his new farm hand. He seemed to expect no trouble and continued to speak as they waited to pass through the gate, telling her about Shim, his home town for many years now and the people who lived there. "Tend to be stand offish with newcomers, don't mean anything by it, just their way."

[Aura Thesin]

Aura listened to the old man as they walked, moving with a bit of obvious stiffness in her legs, but moving on stubbornly. Even so, she was glad when Ken slowed a bit to make it easier to walk and talk at the same time.

When they reached the guard gate, Aura's attitude changed. Gone was the helpless piece of fluff she had seemed upon first meeting Ken and Gerda. In her place was a strong, confident woman, which was her normal role. She knew that if she looked nervous or out of place to the guards, they might decide to see why she was looking at them in this way. Instead, she nodded once curtly, and offered just a hint of a smile, nothing at all sexual or suggestive about it as her shy smile sometimes looked.

The guards grunted their acknowledgment, and Aura and Ken waited only a few moments before they were whisked out of the city by the press of people leaving to their farms.

With everything that had gone on so far this morning, Aura had forgotten that it was not quite noon yet, instead thinking it was later in the day. She frowned up at the sun, shielding her eyes with a hand as she surveyed the sky. She took a deep breath to draw in the fresh air, and was surprised at how stuffy the city could get.

With the smell of the city gone from her nose and lungs, Aura's outlook on life in general, and her spirits, lifted. She smiled over at Ken Zu, and it almost appeared as if she were on the verge of skipping.

"I'm more used to small towns anyways. I know how they can be sometimes." Her gaze swept from his face to the road before them, and her pace increased just slightly. "How long did you say it was going to take?"

[Coax]

Ken laughed. “I’m glad to hear that you are used to small towns. We’ve got one inn, the Red Chalice, a few farms, and a manor house, but none of us will be going there. My granddaughter gets cabin fever I think, so she’s often off and about.”

He paused to take a good breath of country air and then continued. “Shim is east of here, you can’t miss it. We take one road, cross a river, and then we’re there.” He gave his best estimate of how long it would take to reach the farm and then set out, making sure his pace wouldn’t be torture for his younger companion.

The journey passed quickly and soon they were over the river and Ken was pointing out to a low hill that overlooked the town. “A man named Belatucadrus owns the manor, I can’t tell you much about him.” He laughed. “Actually, you’ll find us who live in Shim are a close-mouthed lot with strangers, which is anyone who hasn’t lived here since the year dot. But in this case, we really don’t much more than rumor and gossip. He keeps to himself as shall we.”

“We’ll be at my place soon,” he soon added. Aura by now would realize that Ken was a man who enjoyed conversation and was perfectly willing to fill in the quiet spots in the day with a stream of thoughts, generally of a good-willed nature. His granddaughter was a quiet girl, so he was used to being the main one speaking. “I suspect you’re hungry,” he added. “We can rustle up something a little more substantial than wind pudding and rabbit tracks, which to look at you is all you’ve been eating lately.”

The farm consisted of three buildings. A small, snug building built of cut boards. “The main house,” he told her. “Six hundred square feet,” he added proudly. “The other longer, rectangular building is our dojo. You can sleep there. We’ve no students at the moment, but if some come we’ll sort it all out.” The final building was more shed than barn, but it was where they sorted and dried and packed the tea and kept the daily gear needed for farming.

[Aura Thesin]

Continued in "With Help - Farming and Swordsmanship"