Kale: The Dryad Chronicles, page 16
“So what would you like?” Seffanie asked.
“I only have two and a half copper,” the woman said as she backed away from Kale.
“Here,” Seffanie said as she grabbed ten carrots and threw in five cabbages and two turnips.
“That is way too much for that price,” Kale said as he looked at Seffanie.
“But she has humbled herself and she is kind,” Seffanie said. “I think she is being a proper role model for her daughters.”
“I wouldn't give her even one radish,” Kale said. “She is lucky that you have a kind heart and a soft spot for those in need.”
“Have a great day Ma’am,” Seffanie said as the woman gave her a thankful smile and then departed.
“I think this way is better,” Kale said and gave Seffanie a smile. “Those humans will never come over again screaming at you about what is what.”
“Hmm,” said a heavyset man as he walked over and started picking up the vegetables and eyeing it. “I’ll give you a silver for the lot of it.”
“Hello Merchant Heresby,” Seffanie said.
“Bring it by my shop, you can have this new animal of yours tug it there,” Hereby said.
“Not happening, now piss off,” Kale said.
“Excuse me?” the man said, taking notice of Kale for the first time.
“You heard me fat man. Take your silver and piss off. We want at least five for everything here.”
“And who are you supposed to be, boy?”
“Kale the Blade,” Kale said as he placed his hand over his pommel. “You want to make something of it?”
“I’ll have the constables come deal with you!” Heresby said.
“And when I’m out, I’ll come deal with you,” Kale said as he walked from around the cart so there were no obstructions between the two. “Now five silver, or piss off.”
“Dryad, are you going to let this man run off a good customer?” Hereby said.
“You don't even know her name,” Kale said. “Now do something or piss off.”
Kale watched the man leave and settled back down. Everyone here was going to learn things were going to change. The foursome sold just a little more in another few hours, many self important people had been turned away. Kale could see that these people probably depended on Seffanie being a pushover. Now they were stuck dealing with Heresby.
“How often do you sell to Heresby?” Kale asked.
“Every time we come out,” Seffanie said. “He normally waits a few hours and then comes over. A few times he has met me as soon as I start setting up and tries to buy me out. He knows that I wouldn't sell to him unless I had no other choice.”
“And how often are you out here?” Kale asked.
“Every four days,” Roland said. “We need time to harvest everything and bring it down to the market. We thought things would be easier with Goatman help, but it wasn't. They don't want to help, they don't see a need to.”
“Well I don't think we are getting anymore sales,” Kale said. “I think we should just pack up and head on.”
“I think Heresby gets a decent portion of his produce from you Seffanie,” Taffy said. “If you are out here every four days, then that means he takes a good portion of your food. Some of the people that came by were asking for deals awfully similar to what you used to sell to Heresby for.”
“I think you are right,” Kale said. “A few days of not getting anything is liable to drive your prices up. I think half of what the product is worth is fair if Heresby brings his own people over to harvest and load everything up. In fact, his people should do most of the planting and other things as well.”
“Why not just open our own shop?” Taffy asked. “You could front it Kale.”
“I could, but I don't plan on staying here indefinitely. I think we can change the ways things are happening here and then leave. Maybe make everything better for those who want to go.”
The group talked about sales as they packed up and then walked home. As they neared the inn, Kale could tell that something was wrong. The door was wide open and there were a few Goatmen sitting down in front of it, eating vegetables. Kale rushed over and the Goatmen looked a little fearful at first but didn't move. Inside he saw Reppy. She had been ravished and things in the inn were obviously torn apart.
“Who did to you?” Kale asked as he gave the Goat Woman his back.
“The Rinks did and then they let the others have a go,” Reppy said throughout her sobs. Kale didn't waste no time as he went out front.
“You have anything to do with that in there?” Kale said as he asked the first Goatman he came across. The Goatman stayed silent as Kale drew his blade.
“I am going to take that as a yes and your life is going to be the price you pay for it.”
“I didn't,” the Goatman said as he dropped his food and started backing away. The others started to do the same.
“Then pay for the food you stole or die,” Kale said.
“Tom said we can have this food,” another Goatman said.
“I am going to go back inside and get Reppy,” Kale said. “If she says you have anything to do with anything, you are dead. I don't care what Tom said. If you run off, you are dead.”
“It wasn't us,” the first Goatman said nervously. “I’m a bum not a criminal. I just want to lay about and eat good food.”
“Cindel how could you?” Taffy asked as she finally came to the inn.
“Go help Reppy,” Kale said to Seffanie who rushed inside.
“I didn't, I swear,” the Goatman said as he looked at Taffy. “The others rushed in, did what they wanted to do and then told the rest of us that we could have any food we wanted.”
“And who is this rest, who was with Tom?” Kale asked.
“You know, the rest,” Cindel said.
“I don't know,” Kale snapped. “I do know that I will kill you if you don't say who it was.”
“It was Dush, Enix and their group,” another Goatman said. “I don't want anything to do with them. We just came for the free food. Many others hauled a lot of it off to their homes. We just got too lazy to leave.”
“Piss off,” Kale said as he motioned with his head for Taffy and Roland to go around back. Kale walked inside and saw a very angry Seffanie.
“Look what you have done!” Seffanie said as she held Reppy.
“They were doing the same to you,” Kale said. “I will get them back.”
“You have done enough!” Seffanie said.
“I want you to get them back,” Reppy said weakly.
“And I will,” Kale said as he kneeled. “I am going to need your help to identify who all did this. If you know where they live, that would be even better.”
“I know where all of them are at!” Reppy said, her voice taking on some anger.
“Today was the last sunrise that at least one of them will see,” Kale said as he looked at her. “Our own people are helping them out, this ends now.”
“All you are going to do is get yourself killed Kale,” Seffanie said. “We were better off before you came.”
“No you weren't,” Kale said. “But if you want me to go, I will. Still doesn't mean that I will not pay back the people who did this.”
CHAPTER 17
“I don't know why you needed this saw,” Roland said as he looked fearfully at it.
“I have a plan,” Kale said. “You just make sure that you do your part in it.”
“I will,” Roland said. “I know where everyone is located. There are too many of them, I tried to fight back before.”
“The first thing we need to do, is break up the Goatmen and the humans. I have a plan for doing just that.”
“How?”
“I am going to make them distrustful of each other,” Kale said. “People will die tonight Roland. Your mother didn't want you to come out with me.”
“We were already dying, we were dying a slow death,” Roland said.
Kale nodded and then walked slowly throughout the night. They stuck to the shadows and tried to not catch anyone’s attention. There were people outside but most seemed to be minding their own business. Roland tugged at Kale’s sleeve and pointed after they had walked a few blocks. He was pointing to a home that looked a bit better than those around it. In fact, it looked at lot better. Kale was about to say something when Roland answered the unasked question.
“Brothel,” Roland whispered. “Filled with Goat Women. I know a few of them come here every night for freebies. The Rinks stay away from this place as a favor to Dush. Dush and his crew get all they can handle in return for not taking money from here.”
“Where are they?” Kale asked.
“Likely inside, they can’t sleep here so they will be out in a few. I have stalked this place plenty of times. I have gotten a few of them alone once. They always come back in greater numbers.”
“I am going to need to check it out.”
“There is another place they might be,” Roland said. “They could have been satisfied with what they had done to Reppy and are now drinking ale. Only one tavern around here that would allow them in. I am going to check there. If I see any of them, I will come back.”
“Stop,” Kale said as he saw the door to the brothel open. The Goatman called Dush walked out of it with his chest puffed out and a swagger in his step. Kale watched the man head down the street and then turned into a side alley.
“I know where he is going, we have to be quick!”
Kale ran behind Roland. Roland didn't care about being seen and had them run flat out down a street. When they finally stopped, Roland caught his breath and pointed to Dush who was just about to come out the other side. Kale burst into fog and slowly floated over. When he had enveloped the unaware Dush, he liquified part of himself and started rushing down Dush’s nose. The Goatman started swinging wildly and went to scream out. It gave Kale the opening he needed to force more of himself down the Goatman’s throat. Roland for his part had never seen Kale in this form but wasted no time joining the fight. He was landing big blows to Dush who was more concerned with just trying to breathe. Roland unsheathed Dush’s own dagger and stabbed him through the shoulder with it as the Goatman finally passed out. Roland was going to finish him when Kale rushed out of the Goatman’s mouth and solidified a part of his body to grab Roland’s weapon arm.
“We need to hide him,” Kale said as he solidified into his solid form.
“We can kill him right now!” Roland said. “No one has seen us just yet.”
“We don't know that. We need to tie him up and hide him. Do you have any way to do so?”
“For how long?” Roland asked.
“At least two hours.”
“Then we are going to use the saw to cut him into pieces?” Roland asked with a look of determination. “Reppy didn't deserve that, not from them.”
“No, I got a better idea but I need to hide him for a while.”
“Then what?” Roland asked.
“Then we are going to let him go,” Kale asked. “How strong are your dryad powers?”
“I can manage to bury him,” Roland said.
“Then we will bury him up to his neck,” Kale said. “I didn't let him get a good look at you while you were attacking him. Now help me cut off one of these horns.”
Kale cut off one of Dush’s horns and then watched as Roland buried him up to his neck. An old box was placed over his head. Kale and Roland hurried to where the Rinks were located. It was outside of the slums and down a pretty desolate street. Kale thought the buildings he was passing by were warehouses. Roland pointed at one, it had two stories and Kale stripped naked and then burst into fog. He was careful to bring along the horn he had taken. Kale floated up until he found a window. He was lucky it wasn't covered by glass but instead had a wooden slat. The first room he was in was a bedroom but Tom wasn't inside. Kale floated out and had to check two more bedroom windows before he found who he was looking for.
Tom had obviously been hitting the bottle before he fell asleep. Kale covered his entire head in water and watched the man struggle as he awoke. Tom flopped off the bed but still could not shake Kale who would solidify parts of his body just to kick or trip Tom. When Tom finally went down, Kale grabbed the horn and had started stabbing the already dead man. Kale made sure to leave it inside of his body and then floated out to meet Roland.
“Tom is dead, I left Dush’s horn as a trophy,” Kale said and smiled.
“We are framing the Goatmen?” Roland asked and then thought about it. “Take Dush’s dagger with you. I stabbed him with it. Put it in Tom’s hands. In fact, I wish we had some Goatman dung to spread everywhere.”
“You get that and I’ll handle the dagger.”
Kale did his part and made it look like a great fight had taken place. The many times he stabbed Tom with the horn already had a lot of blood around. Kale made Tom’s hand grip the dagger. It looked like he died defending himself. Kale met back up with a disgusted looking Roland and took charge of the dung to spread. Once he was finished, Kale met back up with Roland.
“I am going to get the City Watch and tell them all about what I have seen,” Kale said.
“They are going to know it was us.”
“No they are not,” Kale smiled. “They are going to know that a human saw three Goatmen sneak out of a room window. One of them was covered in blood. I am sure that they are going to search the slum for any Goatman that they can find.”
“I thought you were just trying to turn the Rinks against their allies,” Roland said. “This is a good plan. I will see you back at the inn.”
“I need directions,” Kale said as he started getting dressed.
Kale found the City Watch easily enough. Only two men were on duty inside of their office when Kale stumbled inside. The older man looked at him curiously. That curiosity turned into alarm when Kale collapsed on his floor.
“What is it son?” the man said as he looked over Kale. His uniform had a name stitched into it, Luksam.
“Menials,” Kale said weakly and started choking.
“I hate those demon bastards myself,” Luksam said. “But I am talking about what is wrong with you?”
“I saw a few of them,” Kale said as he made fake tears erupt from his eyes. “They were bragging to each other about killing a human!”
“What? WHERE?!?” Luksam cried out as the other Watchman, this one named Franks got to his feet.
“I can show you the window of the building I saw them crawl out of,” Kale said. “They all look alike to me. But one, I could tell him from anywhere. He was dirty and he was bleeding. His shoulder looked like it was drenched in blood but I could have been wrong. I just hid and tried to stay small. I heard one of them call the other Dush or something.”
“You tell me where this place is right now boy,” Luksam said. “Franks, go round up the others. Get the Commander down here. Boy if you are lying, I am going to tan your hide.”
Kale nodded and Luksam helped him to his feet. The pair rode in a wagon while Franks, presumably, went to gather more men. Kale led Luksam right down the desolate street and then pointed to a building that had an open window.
“They all climbed down right there,” Kale said. “And then they walked over here and left down that way.”
“Stay here boy,” Luksam said as he drew his sword.
Kale watched the man knock hard on the door and then give it a shake. Someone opened it and recognized the Watchman. He attempted to close the door hard and caught the Watchman right in the face. The Watchman stumbled backwards as whichever one of the Rinks didn't bother trying to close the door again and instead just ran. The Watchman barreled into the building and Kale could hear yelling and the sounds of a scuffle. Men started pouring out of the building from any place they could find purchase. Kale watched them run like they were on fire. Almost half an hour passed before Luksam came out holding a man at swordpoint. Kale couldn't hear what was being said. Luksam kicked the man in the seat of his pants and the member of the Rinks took off running. Luksam put his sword away and came walking up to Kale.
“The Watch has been looking for that lot for a while now,” Luksam said. “You didn't tell me that it was criminals who were attacked.”
“I didn't know,” Kale said. “I only knew that they were tough men who sometimes kept the Menials from attacking us.”
“Well your information was good. There is one man inside there dead. Those Goatmen can climb with their cloven hooves. The damn Menials are as stupid as six year old that was dropped on his head. Look at what I got.”
“What is that?” Kale asked as Luksam held up the piece of Dush’s horn.
“It is the horn from one of the Goatmen,” Luksam said. “Just like you said, one looked like he was missing most of his horn. There was also their droppings all around the place.”
“Poor bastard,” Kale said. “He couldn't even put up a fight.”
“Oh, he put up a fight. He had a blade in his hand. That one I kicked out of here said he recognized it as one of the cheap blades that the Goatmen carry around. I made that one dig the horn out of his friend. I wish I had more Watchmen, we could have taken the load of them down and gotten you more money.”
“Money?” Kale asked. “I am not a criminal.”
“There was a bounty on Thomas Wadam’s head. I sure in the piss am not going to give it to the Goatman that killed him. That ten gold is going to be all yours. If more of them were dead, you probably would have gotten more. As is, I am just one man and I can't take them all down. I can't even go after the Goatmen right now. If they have already killed one human, then they would kill again. Well let's go back to the station. I can see about your gold and then me and my boys can see about those criminals and the Goatmen.”
Kale nodded and was a bit surprised as they traveled back to the station. Luksam took out a big book and flipped to where an artist had drawn Tom’s picture. He put a big red X across it and then counted out ten gold from a bag in the desk. Kale pocketed the money and gave a little smile.
“Are all of these men around here somewhere?” Kale asked.
