Plots, Plans, and Promises

Jeremiah wasn't the only one watching the strange show being put on by the boy. After leaving the main house he trudged straight to the wall and headed up the short rough wooden set of stairs that gave them a place to peek over the wall. It wasn't a proper archer tower or even a guard stand as no one in Lender's Mire had such ranged weapons. It was literally just used to peek out over the entrance. New spell quill in hand he worked writing out the softly glowing runes before they would shrink down into small circles that sailed past the wall to disappear beyond. Jeremiah was standing on the small porch of the main house when his cousin Eli came up asking what was going on.

Jeremiah watched the boy for a bit while thinking what exactly to tell his loyal and hard working yet very simple cousin. "Made a deal, boy be a Warden. Doing Warden magic. Should make the fight easier." Eli turned back to watch the boy standing on the platform with a mix of awe and a touch of fear.

"Warden eh? Still don't be knowing about none of this magic stuff. But it is in your blood so I'll leave it to you." Eli started to walk off then stopped seeming to think about something. "They say magic folk make good money eh? Ya know my Adiel got a sister with a daughter already past marrin age. Ain't any good ones around these parks. He single?" Jeremiah frowned, annoyed that Eli would come up with the same line of thought he had.

"He ain't! Already talked to the boy, if he does well and his magic is as good as he claims he wants my Dorothy as his betrothed!" Jeremiah figured it was best to cut off the competition.

Eli turned around to face him fully. "And ya agreed? Ain't she a bit young? She's not to be marrin age for a few more years. Me niece… she's already too old, girls nearly eighteen! Your Dorothy has time. So let me talk to the boy, bet they got a good dowry with her being so old." Eli pleaded.

"Bah, stop your whinin. Wouldn't matter anyways, the boy came all the way here for this job just for me girl. Ya didn't really think his story before was true did ya? A Warden comin all the way here for such flimsy reasons. His heart be set so don't be botherin my future son in law!" Jeremiah decided to go all in, he hoped the boy proved to be as good as he thought he would be. If not he could back out, for now the little white lie would ensure he got first dibs.

Eli grumbled but seemed to believe Jeremiah's story. It made more sense that the young Warden would be here wife hunting than working for pennies for a baited bounty. As Eli went back to his post Jeremiah watched the boy hop down, dropping a dozen feet to land easily at the base of the stand instead of taking the stairs. It just added more questions and greater credibility to his assessment that the boy was something special. 'Ya better not let me down now boy. Me Dorothy deserves better than eking out an existence in this backwater place.' D entered his tent completely unaware of all the plots, plans, and promises made about him without his input.

**********

Morning came as a dull glimmering of light brightening the thick fog that hung over the entire marsh. Frogs croaked and bugs buzzed around annoying everyone. Everyone except D who's tent was suspiciously bug free. Had anyone looked closely they might have noticed the tiny almost imperceptible sparks of light every time one of the bugs tried to get too close to the tent. Still, despite his comfort, he was up and outside the tent with the sun rising. Not particularly because he wanted to be but because Dean had kept him on such a strict schedule his body practically rose on its own. Half asleep he was standing outside his tent running through the practice moves Dean had worked on drilling into him from dusk till dawn. By the time he woke up enough to realize the Royal Ranger wasn't there to yell at him he'd already been doing it long enough he decided to finish out the routine.

Jeremiah watched with a slight smile of approval while his two cousins, who by now believed the boy to be there courting Jeremiah for his daughter's hand, debated on if the overprotective father would consent. The girl in question also watched the boy from her small window in the attic curious about the boy that, if she was right, might end up being her future husband. Mixed feelings consumed her but in the end, it would be her father that made the choice. Finally, both of the other hunters were watching the boy. So far he was their only competition for the kill based hunt. Rough and brawny they were more cunning than they looked, they had already scoped out the little settlement.

They knew the men of the settlement were far from weak or careless, they had after all had been careful to watch the hired sellswords. Carl and Ced had been partners for a long time, long enough to know what the other was thinking without needing to ask. The residents of Lender's Mire would be a pain to rob, even being three to two they were sure they could win. Just not easy enough to make it worth the risk. Right now they were sizing up the only other hunter to show up for the bounty, the original plan had been to see if partnering with the others that showed up and robbing the settlement would be worth it. Or if not simply making sure there were as few to split the rewards as possible. When the boy had emerged and started his drills the two men had laughed at his posturing. But as they watched that laughter slowly started dying out. Neither men were ever formally trained to fight, like most hunters they got into the business out of necessity. But they also were skilled enough to recognize real techniques. The boy wasn't just flailing around in an imitation of what he'd seen or a child's play at fighting. They recognize real training when they saw it.

Both shared a glance thinking the same thing, that this job might be less profitable than they had hoped. But neither could they back down at this stage either without coming out with a loss. With the tilt of a head from one to the other, they both approached the boy.

"Mornin, Names Earl and this is Bob. You came in last night. Here for the bounty?" Though it was phrased as a question it was spoken as a statement along with their fake names. Carl and Ced were practically carbon copies of each other. Big men, as much fat as muscle, with unkempt beards and the wild hair of those that spent more time on the roads or in the waste than civilization. Their gear was a step up from the gang D had faced in Nimil but not by much. Mostly bits of leather and hide worn with straps over their filthy common clothes. Both of the men looked just like D's first owners, so D wanted nothing to do with them. Ignoring the men he continued his morning drills.

"What's the matter, boy? Warg got yer tongue?" Bob gave a mocking laugh as he started to reach out to grab the boy. Yet, suddenly he pulled back. D hadn't slowed or changed his routine as he went through the motions. Nothing seemed different but Bob hadn't lived this long in such a profession without a sense for danger. When he'd reached for the boy every hair had stood up on his body and an icy shiver had ran down his spine. Every instinct told him he'd not only lose his hand but his life had he touched the boy then.

Nudging Earl who had gone quiet to both mercenaries back up before heading to their tent. Neither needed to speak to know what the other felt, the question was did they stay or leave.

**********

Jeremiah was more confused than anything else when Eli came to the main house to tell him both of the other mercenaries had packed up and left. "They say why?"

"Nope. But they did talk to the boy earlier today. Looked like they'd seen a ghost when they be done talking at him." Eli added.

"Talking at him?" Jeremiah frowned, the way he described it sounded odd.

"Ya they be talkin at him but he not be payin them any mind. Then they just left lookin like they shit themselves. Dunno, bit odd. Maybe ya should change yer mind bout him n yer girl." Eli added helpfully getting only a scowl from Jeremiah.

"Bah them scabs weren't to be of much use. You will see, da boy will show ya!" Jeremiah hoped not to be eating crow later.

**********

Jeremiah stood on the platform with Eli and Danial just after sunset. Jeremiah had been more than a little nervous after boasting so much to Eli earlier about the boy's magic and their impact on the fight. Now the three men watched as night became day when half a dozen spouts of white hot fire erupted thirty yards into the air. With the sound of air ripping a group of charging Bunyips stepped on another ward, razor sharp blades of wind shredded them before a concussive force blew their remains away with such force their green blue blood rained on the three men like a fine mist. Beside Jeremiah, a shocked Eli who stood frozen at the first few minutes of battle turned slowly to his esteemed cousin. "Ya can keep the boy."