Chapter 2: The First Step

It took a day’s ride to get to the nearest town. James was glad he hadn’t tried it on foot, because he had no idea where he was. It was obvious, at least to him, that this was a medieval era, but he did not know if it was high fantasy or just armour and swords. Time would tell when he could investigate further.

James was simply enjoying the moment, bouncing on a horse as he held onto a well-endowed dame. He was going to have to take care of his erection at some point ... being in the past (or future?), he didn’t know what the cultural take on masturbation was, so he needed to be careful lest he incur the wrath of whatever religion was here.

Again, more research was required.

They approached what passed for ‘civilization’ in this brave new world; large stone walls had torches on them, flames flickering away and embers rising into the heavens.

“What’s this place?”

“Aschenburg,” Ella said.

‘Aschenburg,’ he ruminated on it. That was all she really said. Nothing else was explained, he let the conversation drop as they closed in on the walls.

They approached the main door, which was a huge wooden and ironbound slab. It showed signs of battle and the walls were full of scars, too. This made James uncomfortable as reality struck him. This land was real, with its own history and great kings and old battles and lives wasted.

“Who comes?” Demanded a voice from the other side of the door.

“The Dame Ella from Aschenburg, daughter of the Baron Wilhelm Whiteburn. And a man who I found in danger and rescued.”

“Welcome, then.”

The man opened the wicket gate and Ella guided the cart horse, then the armor horse through. She then told James to dismount. He complied and then walked through the gate. Before he saw anything in the city, the guard confronted him.

“Give me your name, natal city, and age,” demanded the man who sat at a desk with parchment and quill.

“James Smith, 20 and I come from a place called Ontario.”

“How do you spell that?”

He spelled it out, Ella turned to him, “I have not heard of this city?”

He shrugged, “It’s quite far away.”

“Indeed.”

“Written. Okay come on and welcome to Aschenburg. The Lord Edelstein will know of your arrival. Stay close to the lady; she’s bound by oath to care for you.”

They moved on. Although without electric lights, the city was not as dark as James expected it to be at night. The moon and stars shone a pale bluish light upon the stone and wood buildings as well as on the earthen streets. The air was humid and cold and tinged with many odors. James couldn’t identify any of the smells. They walked to what looked like the only open building in the city, a squat edifice with a wine purple and gold banner. Inside an old man was distractedly reading a book. He was wearing a gambeson and a mail shirt; he had the look of a veteran. Ella approached.

“M’lady, what can I do for you?”

“I want to collect my reward. We wiped out the Goldpoint band.”

“Fine. Let me check the book ... Wait. Well, it’s a hundred gold coins for every head. And there will be a bonus because you finally got to your hundredth kill. The ceremony will be tomorrow, but I guess I can give you the suit now.”

Ella told James to wait outside the shop while she finished with the veteran. Standing out in the night, James felt alone. But not as in “no people around,” more like “no one from his old life.” No person he knew was here. A complete stranger in an unknown land and he was waiting outside a shop where they would change severed heads for money. What a change from cleaning the attic to this.

A faint sound came out of the shop. And it got louder and louder until she came back through the wooden door. She was wearing a complete set of armor, masterly crafted to fit her. From the pauldroms with Lord Edelstein’s emblem to the last bit of her fingers it was silvery steel. For adornment, it was enameled in some parts with wine purple and gold - Aschenburg’s colors. The suit made a constant noise as she walked and moved, metal clanking and cotton sliding. And inside the majestic Armet helmet, her sky blue eyes shone with moonlight. She looked like a valkyrie ready for battle. James was certainly impressed with the fact that, as thick gambeson as all those cotton leather and iron layers were, he could still make out her womanly shape.

“If you are going to be my travelling companion, tomorrow we will need to find you more suitable attire,” she mused. “Here.”

She handed him a bag of gold.

“What’s that for?”

“Your share of the bounty,” she said. “Since you gathered it and helped bring it, it seems only fair that you get a reward for your work.”

“Thanks.”

“Tonight though, we rest.”

After almost an hour of walking through the sleeping city, they found a warm inn with available rooms and a hot bath; Ella decided it was good enough. They settled the price and she paid from her big bag of gold; just a couple of pieces made the innkeeper smile.

James went to take a bath in the inn’s back bathhouse. The water was hot and though the soap was too harsh, it felt good to be clean. Sadly, he had to wear the same dirty clothes he’d been in all day; he simply had no others. He re-dressed and went to his room, courtesy of Ella’s gold coin. The room was surprisingly comfortable and sleep came easily.

The bells of a nearby church woke him right at dawn and the smells of a thousand breakfasts inundated him.

He heard a cockerel singing and groaned. At first he had wondered if it had all been a dream, but waking up in a bed that was not his own was a stone cold reminder of what had happened. When he was awake, he smacked his lips together and looked around for a toilet.

Finding none, he peered under the bed and located a piss pot, he pulled it out, got his cock out and let out a large sigh.

James relieved his bladder and flicked the rest out when he was done. He heard a knock on the door and opened it, Ella smiled.

“Good morning.”

“How are you feeling?”

“Like shit,” she uttered.

“Well,” he smiled. “You don’t look like shit, you look beautiful.”

She flushed, “It is kind of you to think so.”

He nodded, “I’m fucking hungry, what’s to eat around here?”

“Come.”

They went down and were given a table. The barkeep wandered over to take their order; she ordered first then James ordered after.

Drinks were brought over and the two sat back.

“Attire and weapons.”

“Yes,” she nodded.

“I have some cool ideas that I want to test out,” James said as he drank, he coughed and spluttered, she smiled.

“Too strong for you?”

“Just a tad,” he coughed and wiped his mouth.

As word spread, guests gathered around the two and Ella told the tale while they ate and drank, “And there was I almost dead and with a crossbow bolt in me, hopeless and broken, against three men. Suddenly the infamous Johan fell to his knees with an arrow through his heart...”

“I shot him in the ass not the heart!” Interrupted James as he grabbed a piece of fresh bread and spread it with butter. It was quality bread commonplace in these lands but oh so rare back in downtown Ontario. The hall laughed hard and everyone seemed happy. Faint music from another inn reached here and cocks still crowed their morning wakeup. The group broke up as they muttered amongst themselves

“Have you decided what you want to do?”

“Not yet, no.”

She sat back and studied him, “You’re a little too old to be a squire.”

“And I heard squires don’t get paid?”

“They do not.”

He nodded, “Travelling companion then?”

“Would seem fitting.”

“Works for me,” James smiled.

“Good,” she nodded, “But I sense there is more?”

“Yeah,” he nodded back, “I look like a raider, if we’re going on diplomatic missions and the such, or even rescue missions I need to be better equipped.”

“Agreed, what do you have in mind?”

“While you’re the brute force,” James said. “I want to be somewhat stealthier.”

“Like a thief?”

“Yes, or an assassin.”

“Not exactly honourable?”

He shrugged, “I’m not a knight, or a squire.”

“Very true.”

“I don’t want to be an assassin, per se.”

“Oh?”

“No, but it would be a useful talent to have,” James shrugged. “I could be lurking in the shadows, or looking where others don’t want you to look, see things that might not be seen.”

“Makes sense.”

He nodded.

“So, first thing on the agenda, clothing.” She nodded, “Then supplies and weapons. I’d like, if I may, to adopt the Golden Point design.”

“It may be an expensive upkeep.”

“Yes,” he sighed, “I’ll use them until I run out.”

“Good.”

She guided him through the city’s labyrinthine streets and alleys until they reached the Iron Plaza. This great marketplace was completely devoted to arms and armor. In the air hung the song of a hundred hammers pounding anvils and the smell of charcoal, sweat, and hot steel.

They located a tailor first.

The owner looked up and grinned as they entered. He offered a short bow to Ella and looked curiously at James.

“What can I do for you, my lady?”

“My travelling companion,” she turned to James, “Requires new clothing.”

“And a bag to carry things,” James added.

The man nodded, “Is it a rush job?”