Mastery Is Earned

“Don’t take it personally. That’s just how he is. He doesn’t talk much,” the girl hurriedly explained, afraid Raymond might be angry.

“It’s all right.” Raymond smiled faintly. “Is Silverleaf Village just ahead?”

“You’re already in it. This is just the outskirts,” the girl said. “You’re here to deliver goods, aren’t you?”

She looked only fourteen or fifteen. She wore a coarse cloth dress faded from repeated washing, and her cheeks were still flushed from running all the way there.

Bob cast an irritated glance at Teddy. “Next time, find out what’s going on before you open your mouth. Don’t go inviting trouble for the caravan.”

Teddy curled his lip but did not argue.

Bob turned to Raymond, his expression softening noticeably. “You handled that well. Get back to the caravan. We still need to enter the village before dark.”

When Raymond returned to the caravan, he called out to the girl as she prepared to walk back alone. “You’re going by yourself? Why not come with us?”

“There’s no need. I know this area very well. Nothing will happen,” the girl replied with a shy smile.

Raymond shook his head and said earnestly, “Things are different now. People have been going missing lately. You should stay with us.”

“You might as well come along. The woods haven’t been safe lately. Who knows what kind of monster might suddenly jump out?” Teddy chimed in.

Only then did the girl begin to hesitate. Still, these people were accompanying a caravan from Blackstone and could be trusted to keep her safe. After a moment’s hesitation, she nodded in agreement. She walked over to Raymond and followed the caravan toward the village.

“What’s your name?” Raymond asked.

“I’m Sarah.” The girl glanced curiously at the sword at Raymond’s waist. “Are you a mercenary too?”

“Why ‘too’? But yes, I am a mercenary—just a rookie.” Raymond found her choice of words strange.

Sarah’s eyes lit up, and she hurried to explain. “Because my brother is a mercenary! He works in Blackstone too.”

Raymond faltered. “What’s your brother’s name?”

“Tom. His name is Tom. He’s my third older brother, and he works as a mercenary in Blackstone. Do you know him?” Sarah asked with a smile.

Raymond stopped. Looking at the smile on the girl’s face, he had no idea how to respond. After a moment of silence, he said slowly, “I knew him. Besides escorting the caravan, I came to Silverleaf Village to see his family.”

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The smile gradually disappeared from Sarah’s face. She seemed to realize something. Her lips twitched, but no words came out.

Raymond glanced at Bob nearby. Bob had already overheard their conversation but did not immediately let him leave. “Stay with the caravan until we enter the village. Once the goods are unloaded, you can attend to your own business.”

Raymond nodded and said nothing more about Tom. Sarah did not leave either. She silently followed the caravan into the village. After the goods had been unloaded, Bob told Raymond they would spend the night in the village common house and instructed him to return before dark. Only then did Raymond shoulder the pack containing the money and personal effects and follow Sarah to her home.

***

Sarah’s mother sat at the table, and her two brothers had also been called home. Raymond took out the coin purse and identifying personal effects Carter had prepared and placed them before the old woman. “This is Tom’s payment from the assignment, his death benefits, and his personal funds.”

Sarah’s mother reached out with a trembling hand but did not immediately touch the purse. The room fell into a long silence. After a while, sobs that could no longer be held back began to rise.

“Was he brave when he fought?” Tom’s mother asked in a trembling voice.

She was overwhelmed with grief, and her voice was weak and weary.

“He was a true warrior,” Raymond replied evenly.

“Good. Good. Good.” The old woman nodded shakily, repeating the word three times.

Finally, Raymond removed the shortsword from his waist and placed it on the table. “This was the weapon Tom used.” The old woman gently stroked the worn scabbard, and tears began to flow again.

Tom’s eldest brother remained silent for a moment before saying quietly, “No one in our family knows how to use a sword. If we keep it here, it’ll only slowly rust away.”

The second brother looked at Raymond. “Can this sword be sold?”

“Yes,” Raymond answered. “A blacksmith would probably pay about one silver coin for it.”

He looked at the shortsword that had accompanied him out of Blackpine Forest. After a moment’s thought, he said, “If you’re willing, I can buy it for one silver and twenty copper.”

The two brothers conferred quietly. Then the eldest asked tentatively, “Could you make it one silver and thirty copper?”

That price was still lower than what a comparable shortsword would cost at a smithy. Raymond did not haggle further. He took out the coins and placed them on the table. The sword he carried was not suitable for every environment. After the Dragonblood Goblin had trapped his weapon last time, carrying a shortsword as a backup did not seem like a bad idea.

He fastened the shortsword at his waist again, nodded slightly to the family, and left the house. He had taken only a few steps when hurried footsteps sounded behind him. Sarah came hurrying after him. When she reached him, she said, “Raymond, thank you...”

“What are you thanking me for?”

“For bringing my third brother’s belongings home, and for telling us he wasn’t afraid at the end.”

Raymond remained silent for a moment, then nodded gently. “It was the least I could do.”

“Sarah! Sarah! Come back! Come back!” her brother called from inside the house.

Sarah stuck her tongue out at Raymond before running back inside.

Bang!

The door slammed shut, and he could still faintly hear her brothers scolding her from within.

“Sarah, why did you run out there by yourself? We only just met him!”

“Stop being so trusting all the time. A few days ago, you gave your own food to that half-orc, and now you dare run after a mercenary you hardly know!”

Raymond paused. He remembered that immense frame, the dark golden eyes, and the canines protruding over the lower lip. So that was it.