Read Online 01 - The Price of Talent by Peter Whittlesey - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Peter Whittlesey
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tapestries. I don’t know what I expected to see, but it certainly wasn’t such a homey place. I guess the tales of bandits living in the forest I had read painted a more rugged picture. The longhouse and the surrounding property more resembled a small logging village than the den of cutthroats and thieves. But on a certain level, I realized, it all made sense. These people needed to live here year round in all weather and likely could not always rely on what they stole from passing merchants and tax men.
They live a lot more normal a life here than I would have thought, I said to my sword.
What were you expecting? Tree houses and bonfires? Caves full of treasure? You seem to think all those fairy tales and stories were factual instead of fanciful.
It’s not like that. I guess I never really thought about it before; how you would live as a bandit living in the forest I mean.
Well, anyone who wants to live through the winter, especially this close to the mountains, is going to want a roof over their heads and a hearth for fires. Think about it kid, no one comes out here this far into the frontier. They likely have nothing to lose from having a permanent encampment here.
Yeah, you are probably right. It will make staying here more comfortable. I worried I would be huddled up in a cave or something.
Who would want to live that way? Especially with all this wood around. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that building a real house to live in would make your life better out here in the wilds.
Just then Sapphire strode over to me.
“Alright kid, here is the deal. The Boss is sedated and his wounds have been seen to properly. However, as he is sedated, you and he are going to have a hard time having a meaningful discussion. So, for now, till the Boss says otherwise, you stay in one of the spare rooms. There are eight rooms in the hallway, excluding the Boss’s at the end of the hall, and only seven people living here, so you take the unoccupied room on the right. It’s got a straw bed and a chamber pot. The privy is out behind the longhouse on the side farthest from the water. You keep your own room clean, you empty out your own chamber pot and when we figure out what to do with you, you will have chores. This isn’t an inn, nor is it your mom’s house. We all work here and you will too. Now I’ve got shit to do, so you’re going to have to entertain yourself.”
And with that, Sapphire marched off. I decided this was my cue to go check out my room. I walked to the end of the hall, turned right, and found the unoccupied room that was now mine apparently. It was one of two right near the boss’s room. Upon entering it was obvious it was being used as a spare storage room. The bed and the chamber pot were in the back, but the front had a few empty boxes sitting on a couple of barrels. There were spider webs between the barrels and the wall.
“Ah, I see you found your room… Such as it is,” said a male voice behind me.
Startled, I turned around quickly clutching my sheathed sword. The man standing behind me was of average height and weight, dark hair with some salt and pepper grey in it, and was wearing a blood stained smock over a shirt and breaches.
“Sorry to startle you” he said. Noticing I was staring at his bloodstained smock, he said “and sorry about the appearance. I only just finished stitching up the boss. He should be fine with some healing. Fortunately, nothing important was damaged.”
“Oh, you’re a doctor?” I asked.
“My name is Ross” said the man. “I am both the chaplain and the healer here. Unfortunately, my skills as a healer are more frequently needed than my skills as a spiritual guide. But then, what do you expect in a bandit camp, eh?”
“My name it Tyr, Tyr Janus” I stammered out, relaxing a little bit. “And I didn’t know
They live a lot more normal a life here than I would have thought, I said to my sword.
What were you expecting? Tree houses and bonfires? Caves full of treasure? You seem to think all those fairy tales and stories were factual instead of fanciful.
It’s not like that. I guess I never really thought about it before; how you would live as a bandit living in the forest I mean.
Well, anyone who wants to live through the winter, especially this close to the mountains, is going to want a roof over their heads and a hearth for fires. Think about it kid, no one comes out here this far into the frontier. They likely have nothing to lose from having a permanent encampment here.
Yeah, you are probably right. It will make staying here more comfortable. I worried I would be huddled up in a cave or something.
Who would want to live that way? Especially with all this wood around. It doesn’t take a genius to figure that building a real house to live in would make your life better out here in the wilds.
Just then Sapphire strode over to me.
“Alright kid, here is the deal. The Boss is sedated and his wounds have been seen to properly. However, as he is sedated, you and he are going to have a hard time having a meaningful discussion. So, for now, till the Boss says otherwise, you stay in one of the spare rooms. There are eight rooms in the hallway, excluding the Boss’s at the end of the hall, and only seven people living here, so you take the unoccupied room on the right. It’s got a straw bed and a chamber pot. The privy is out behind the longhouse on the side farthest from the water. You keep your own room clean, you empty out your own chamber pot and when we figure out what to do with you, you will have chores. This isn’t an inn, nor is it your mom’s house. We all work here and you will too. Now I’ve got shit to do, so you’re going to have to entertain yourself.”
And with that, Sapphire marched off. I decided this was my cue to go check out my room. I walked to the end of the hall, turned right, and found the unoccupied room that was now mine apparently. It was one of two right near the boss’s room. Upon entering it was obvious it was being used as a spare storage room. The bed and the chamber pot were in the back, but the front had a few empty boxes sitting on a couple of barrels. There were spider webs between the barrels and the wall.
“Ah, I see you found your room… Such as it is,” said a male voice behind me.
Startled, I turned around quickly clutching my sheathed sword. The man standing behind me was of average height and weight, dark hair with some salt and pepper grey in it, and was wearing a blood stained smock over a shirt and breaches.
“Sorry to startle you” he said. Noticing I was staring at his bloodstained smock, he said “and sorry about the appearance. I only just finished stitching up the boss. He should be fine with some healing. Fortunately, nothing important was damaged.”
“Oh, you’re a doctor?” I asked.
“My name is Ross” said the man. “I am both the chaplain and the healer here. Unfortunately, my skills as a healer are more frequently needed than my skills as a spiritual guide. But then, what do you expect in a bandit camp, eh?”
“My name it Tyr, Tyr Janus” I stammered out, relaxing a little bit. “And I didn’t know
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