Kale: The Dryad Chronicles, page 13
“I don't want things to go back the way they were,” Emma said. “I want a middle ground. The land around here is horrible and is reverting to what it was. We can live in harmony with everyone benefitting.”
“We are in harmony right now,” Kale said. “We all live together and there is no murder, beatings, ravishing or anything else that goes on in the human world. Why would we want to come back here to help? What do we gain?”
“You would only have our gratitude,” Emma said. “Things are not the same since everyone left. The food you could grow was far more resilient, tastier and grew year round.”
“We know this,” Kale said.
“Don't beg him,” Margaret said. “He beat his master who only ever loved him.”
“Immediately after this, I am going to punch you in the face and completely knock your teeth down your throat. You should prepare yourself Margaret. As for you Emma, you sold children away from mothers. Emma you still haven't answered my question on why haven't you beat these humans around us for not working as hard as we had to,” Kale said. “Before you claim to have a softer hand than some of your friends, so what. Why did everyone leave here if life was just so great?”
“Because they wanted to be lazy and now look at them,” Margaret snapped. “The Goatmen are starving and barely have enough to eat. They had full bellies when they worked for me.”
“You think I lie,” Kale said as he whipped around and punched the older lady directly in the nose. She fell down screaming as the men around her looked like they wanted to do something. Kale gave them a smile and welcomed them on. The men looked at each other unsure of what to do. Kale turned his attention back to Emma. “Full of brambles and grass. The starving humans can start eating those and everyone will be happy. I came here to start bringing Goatmen with me to my home. I came to offer all Menials a chance to live in happiness instead of the nastiness that used to happen here. Imagine if your children were treated as badly as the Centaurs and your daughters forcefully bred with animals. Coming here and watching you all suffer is making me feel better. I used to care what happened to humans, not anymore. All of these well fed people were off the backs of my people. If they starve and die, you will not see me worrying at all. Now if you don't mind, I have things I need to do.”
CHAPTER 14
Kale smiled as he left Emma, Lord Trevor and the rest. He bet Lady Margaret had never been laid into like that before. The woman was evil and fancied herself as being fair. The more Kale thought about it, the more he realized he could do more things, more permanent things. Lady Harriet had been the cause of many Menials being beaten, ravished and even killed. Just taking away her money wasn't enough for him. He had to end her evil and possibly the evil of people like her. The goatmen would know who the worst of the worst were located but Kale wasn't sure he could even trust them. Well, he couldn't trust the ones he had met. They were too preoccupied by how much he looked like a human. They would still be a good place to start from. Kale had been to Lady Harriet’s once, getting there again shouldn't be too hard.
As Kale walked, he smiled as he saw how much things had changed. No more humans living in opulence while his people suffered. The nerve of some of them and their stupid Holy book. Now everything they had looked like it was crumbling. Kale enjoyed himself as he walked. He smiled at the people he saw on the street, even the obviously destitute ones. Kale thought he passed by Lord Rodney, one of Lord Trevor’s friends. The man was looking like the pit. He was obviously well fed but his clothes along with himself were dirty. He had a real job now, something he probably never had to deal with before. Kale had just reached Lady Harriet’s estate, at least he thought it was. It looked like a house in the middle of a field of corn, the only thing that wasn't corn in her once pristine yard was the small driveway. On that driveway, was an opulent carriage coming towards him.
This carriage had been well maintained, whoever owned it had real money. It was even being pulled by a team of Centaurs, they had no need for a driver. Kale recognized one of the Centaurs as they neared him. It was Teffren and he used to work for Lord Faramount. Teffren slowed down and looked at Kale like he had seen a ghost. The piebald Centaur bumped the Centaur next to him, Kale recognized him as Teffren’s son Halen.
“Kale?” Teffern said unbelievingly. “Kale! You got away!”
“I did,” Kale replied. “Nice to see you and your son.”
“We heard they captured you,” Teffren said. “And when you didn't come back.”
“You had to hear that I was helping people escape. I know some of the Goatmen thought I was killing people, but that wasn't the case. We all live together far away from here. I just came to offer everyone a way to get there.”
“In Jarlan?” Tefferen asked.
“No, someplace different. It is nice there, we live free and there is no conflict.”
“What is taking so long?” asked an annoyed female.
“I am just talking to a friend,” Tefferen shouted.
“Well then talk to him later!” came the feminine voice.
“How about my boys and I unhitch and leave you to deal with this carriage by yourself?” Tefferen shouted back. “We aren't even getting paid for this job. Now shut up!”
“Whoa,” Kale said. Just a few years ago he would have never heard a Centaur talk to anyone like that. Things had really changed around the place. Maybe Tefferen was who he needed to talk to.
“Tefferen,” Kale began and bit his lip. “I have something else I want to do here. Normally Dryads wouldn't be caught up in something like this but I am also part human. The human part wants revenge.”
“Shut up!” the Centaur behind Tefferen said in a harsh whisper. Kale was confused until Tefferen reached down and grabbed his arm. The Centaur was strong, with one pull he had Kale and his back and started to ride.
Kale didn't say anything. The Centaurs obviously wanted him to shut up and seemed to be in a hurry to get to wherever they were headed. They stopped in front of what looked like a home for Soldiers. There were uniformed Jarlenians outside of it armed with swords. Kale jumped off of Tefferen and opened the carriage door. A woman he sort of recognized came walking out of it followed by a younger woman around Emma’s age. They just looked him over and were a bit surprised to see they had a doorman. Kale stood straight like he used to when helping Lord Trevor out of his carriage. It almost made Kale want to laugh as the two women marched on inside of the building. Kale shut the door and Tefferen mentioned for him to follow. Kale jumped on the carriage as it took off again, this time around back. Soldiers helped get Tefferen and his crew out of their harnesses, Kale just stood to the side while everything was being completed.
“Make sure no one is listening,” Tefferen said as the other Centaurs formed a loose perimeter. Tefferen led Kale into a stable and looked around before speaking.
“What do you mean by revenge?” Tefferen asked.
“You know what they have done to us,” Kale said. “None of them should survive.”
“Killing them off is bound to bring trouble,” Tefferen said. “You know how the laws are.”
“What do you mean?”
“If a Menial does something, we will feel the full brunt of the law,” Tefferen said. “It doesn't matter that Jarlan won the war or not. Things are a lot better for our people but nothing is equal.”
“Then I will not be caught,” Kale said. “There are people out there who saw nothing wrong with having young dryads violated.”
“You are too late for all of that,” Tefferen said. “Once the Dryads started going missing, they started falling into debt. The Goatmen took the chance and killed a lot of them as the Jarlanians were moving in. Those that remain have had it difficult. It is much easier than killing them off.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“We steal, we destroy, we rob, we do everything we can to make sure they do not live a happy life. Sometimes they even take their own lives. You remember Lady Harriet?”
“I remember her,” Kale said angrily.
“Well she was repeatedly violated by her Goatmen once her guards took off in the face of the advancing Jarlanian army. Most of her valuables were rounded up and freely given to the soldiers.”
“Most of it?” Kale asked.
“Coin and jewels were of course hidden away by the Goatmen for all of their hard work. All of her former Menials split it all up. I know a few of them banded together and bought a little piece of land and put their own estate on it.”
“That much money?” Kale asked.
“That much money,” Tefferen replied. “As for Lady Harriet, nothing she tries works out. Currently she is renting out rooms in her home to poor humans. She turned her worthless grass into a vegetable field. The people she is renting the rooms out to are her workers. Of course the Goatmen sneak in there and eat for free.”
“They could get caught,” Kale said.
“They only go after former Nobles. No one wants to hear them crying about their big fields when most of the other humans don't have anything to eat. Lady Harriet and her entire family are stuffed into two rooms. We know she hates the situation, that is the only reason we are leaving her alone. Well almost, we know her family is planting in their own little plot. The Goatmen make sure they defecate all over the ground just in case she doesn't know who did it.”
“I heard something similar happened to Lord Trevor and his shop,” Kale laughed.
“It has,” Tefferen said. “His mother had killed at least three of my kind by trying to have them mate with an animal. The so called baby they wanted tore up their insides because it is unnatural. I will not even speak on what happened to the males.”
“Then why let them live? I have seen Lady Margaret and Lord Trevor. They even have two dryad girls on their property.”
“They do?”
“They are treated like family, better than family,” Kale said. “It is the only reason I left them alone. I wish I knew where I could find more Dryads. I know I didn't get them all.”
“I know where some are,” Tefferen said. “What I am helping do out here is too important to the movement to go off into some magical place. I don't doubt you Kale, I just know it is more important paying these people back. The man who first grabbed you, I have some friends randomly salt their fields or steal vegetables. Now he has guards, if he hires too few, then we still get fed. If he hires too many then I know he is losing money. The same happens to Lord Faramount’s fields. We just aren't ready to topple them yet.”
“And they believed they were honestly good people. I had a human tell me that we are the sole cause of their suffering.”
“I have heard it plenty of times,” Teffren said. “We still do not make what a human would for doing the same job but we are paid something. We also have something else going on, I am sorry Kale. I like you but there just isn't room for one more.”
“Okay,” Kale said.
“We pool our money together and we have a human leading us,” Tefferen said. “From the outside it looks like a grand estate would look a few years back. Menials working hard while some humans look out over everything. It is just for show. With a human, the prices for our goods still fetch good coin. Without him, we would be making half.”
“I really didn't come for all of that,” Kale said. “But I don't want to mess anything up. If me taking care of these humans the way they used to take care of us will interfere, then I will leave it alone. I would like you to spread that I have a good place to live. I will not accept any humans there, they have proven untrustworthy.”
“Not all humans,” Tefferen said. “You sound like the Goatmen. Some of them never liked what was happening with us. It is because of a human that we are finally free. If you want to look for Dryads, then your search should be easy. Just get into a business where you would come into contact with them.”
“Business?” Kale asked.
“Business,” Tefferen said. “If you really have an island of Dryads, and I am not doubting you, then business. You could earn a lot of coin and that money could go to making things better here. You could hire the Goatmen, Centaurs, and Dryads to work for you. You look human enough to pass once you leave this area. Buy and sell produce, start small and then expand.”
“You have a plan?”
“I know two Dryads that are getting the worst of it. You could absolutely help them out with the problems they have. I could get you there. It is a few weeks away, maybe they can tell you where more of their kind are.”
“Where are they?” Kale asked.
“I can get my daughter to take you,” Tefferen asked. “Do you know how to defend yourself?”
“Yes,” Kale replied. “So do Wood Dryads. “The problem is that they are beholden to a tree. I am not beholden to anything. But I don't get it, if the Dryads are in a tough spot, why didn't they ask you to just take them away?”
“And go where?” Tefferen asked. “Here or there, one place is just as good as another. I’ll let you talk to them about everything.
“I am ready to go whenever. I don't travel like a human. The clothes I have on now are good enough for me.”
“Taffy can fill you in on everything while you are traveling. There may be men looking to take down a single Centaur and rider.”
“They will learn a horrible lesson if they try it,” Kale replied. “If I had come into my abilities when I was much younger, I doubt a lot of the suffering that I, along with some of our people went through would have happened.”
“Don't play the what if game, play the right here and right now game. What can you do right now to make things better? Pooling all of our money and resources works. It doesn't matter if we have a lot of simple jobs and are underpaid. We pool it all until we can get our own businesses going and then we quit. I could have quit long ago. As a Centaur I am too important, I can travel unmolested through most places and can exchange messages and update others. You can be important because you can walk between worlds.”
“What about the others like me?”
“I haven't ever met a Water Dryad before you,” Tefferen said and then looked confused.
“I am talking about any Dryads with humans for Fathers.”
“They stay away. At least those that can stay away. They pretend to be human so their lives can be better. Not all of them, but a good number. Some even help out the cause but they only will do so much. None of them want it getting out that they are Dryads. The Goatmen have outed a few whenever they find out. It is not worth it to them to get involved with us.”
“Well I am here,” Kale said. “And I am not going anywhere for now. Our Island is surrounded by the Merfolk and they are tough to beat. Then there are the Dryads themselves if someone lands. None of them want to go back to their former lives.”
“They could do much to help,” Tefferen said. “But I wouldn't blame them for never coming. Well you should get to moving soon.”
CHAPTER 15
“There is someone hiding up ahead,” Taffy said as she slowed down to a trot.
“How do you want to play this?” Kale asked.
“I can take care of myself. Centaur have tough hides and we heal quickly. I could just run through whatever this is and I have my spear.”
“Don't worry about me,” Kale said. “If we get separated, just wait a few thousand paces up the road.”
Taffy continued walking when a dirty looking human man jumped into the middle of the road. He looked shocked at first, maybe he was expecting a horse and rider instead of an armed Centaur. Others started crawling out of their hiding places as Taffy continued walking.
“We don't have anything you want,” Kale said as he looked at the first man. Except a quick death if that is what you are looking for.”
“It is a Menial,” said a large human holding a club.
“But a human is riding her, maybe he has coin?” said the first man who crawled out of his hiding place.
“Do any of us look like we have money?” Kale asked. “What we do have are our weapons and we will use them if you really want to play this game.”
“Now why is a human and a Centaur riding together?” said the first man who Kale had taken to be their leader.
“What my wife and I do is none of your concern,” Kale replied.
“Wife? Why you sick bastard!” the larger man cried out. “How do you even, it doesn't matter. I ain't getting tangled up with no Centaur, Sittle. One of these things ran Vic the Knife clean through and then took out most of his gang before he was brought down. Not worth it losing too many of the crew. I say we let these people pass as a courtesy.”
“I’m with his plan,” Kale said as he looked at their leader Sittle.
“I am not going to just let them….” Sittle said as he then frowned. “Someone else is coming.”
“Alright you, get to moving,” the larger man said. “You are going to mess up our work here.”
Kale just nodded and moved on. They had reached maybe a thousand paces when Kale saw a team of horses coming around the bend. These were large horses, two of them were unicorns. Taffy had an annoyed look on her face as the carriage the horses were pulling came into view. There were two drivers and they looked at Taffy with an amused grin on their faces as they drove by. Following them were ten heavily armed men. Taffy refused to move out of the way and it didn't look like the men were going to move either.
“Get to a side, animal,” the lead man said as he pulled his sword out.
“I am not trying to start any trouble,” Kale said as he raised his hands. “But your horses look so majestic.”
“Go away boy,” another man said. “And tell your animal to drop her spear.”
“O, we must be in the way,” Kale said as he rubbed an angry Taffy’s back. “Tell you what, we are just going to move on out of your way. You have any food that we can have. I seemed to have misplaced my purse.”
“Last chance,” the lead man said as Kale slowly led a reluctant Taffy to the side.
“You see how slow they are moving?” Kale said as he asked Taffy. “Those horses couldn't keep up with you. Those men are just jealous of you.”
