Chapter 4

I put the cover over the pot, preserving the food for later, and left it to the side of the fire. I put a log on the fire and adjusted the currently burning ones to surround the new log, ensuring that it would catch and keep going while I was gone. I grabbed my satchel from off the pack, my water flask and the rabbit hide. It would prove useful if I was lucky, I might not even need to make any drying racks. Confident I had everything I needed for my quick trip, I made my way out of the cave and double checked to make sure that there was not any moisture in the wood to make the smoke visible.

When I was sure that there was no chance of the smoke being seen, I turned towards where I knew Fardun was, and looked up to the sky. It was a two-day hike to the village, but at the speed I could go when I ran, I could do that distance in a few hours. Depending on how much time I spent I could get back to the cave just after dusk, if I did not spend more than four or five hours in the village. I planned to return to Fardun sporadically to gather information. That way, I was not away from the cave too long, and not in town long enough to attract attention from Blackheart.

I took a deep breath and started towards my destination, keeping my stride even, as I did not want to wind up too tired for the run home. Soon the trees and vegetation of the forest were passing by in a blur as I dashed towards Fardun. As I ran, I noticed something. Despite the speed I was going, I was starting to be able to focus on things, allowing me to make necessary adjustments to avoid tripping, or colliding with large trees and animals.

I was keeping a steady pace and figured I would reach the village in around two or three hours, as I intended to take a break to eat and drink. Regardless of how easy it was to move at that speed, I had no doubt it was sapping a lot of energy from me. I had a feeling that, as time went on, I would be eating more and more food than I used to, just to keep up.

When I reached what I would figure was the halfway mark, I stopped to eat some of the local berries and apples, while having a drink from my water flask. Based on the placement of the sun, I figured that I had run for about an hour and a half. I would rest for a half hour and then head off again to the village, this would put my arrival just after midday.

Once my rest was done, I collected my things and set off towards Fardun, keeping the same pace as before. When I could tell I was nearing the village and where there could be some members of the forestry workers, I slowed down to a more believable speed. I did not want to scare anyone or alienate myself due to the wonder of my new abilities, as people were very superstitious even with all the progress, we had made in the last hundred years.

My instincts proved me correct, as I could hear men working to fell a tree. From the point I heard them, to when I arrived at their location, seemed to be about fifty to a hundred meters, but that was only a guess at this point. I had a feeling that given the right circumstances and time, that distance could be extended, but I was unsure as to how much at this time.

I recognized a few of the men working there and gave them a wave as I approached. It took them a few moments before they recognized me and returned the gesture.

“Davik, is that you?” one called out, “I did not recognize you, as you look very different than when you left us.”

I laughed and replied, “Thank you, Verik, I guess that I still had some growing left to do. How has everything been going since I left, good I would hope?”

“Not too bad, Davik,” he said with a slight nod. “We have had a few new trainees and they have done adequately to pull up the slack while you have been gone. I have no doubt that in five to ten years they would end up being almost as good as you.”

I smiled and asked, “Where is Drovak? I need to speak with him about some possible business I might be able to drum up for the village.”

The workers stopped for a moment when they had heard me say that, as most of the wood for the village was made to build replacements of boats or for the various homes in the village.

He thought for a moment, then replied, “Drovak is in the mill overseeing some of the trainees, much like when you had been here.”

I nodded and gave my thanks, before I started for the mill. It had been quite some time since I had been here, and I felt slightly nostalgic as I approached the building. I could remember the years spent learning all there was to learn about forestry, and I was lucky to be passing some of the knowledge off to my apprentices. Still, with Ruben gone and his carpentry business now under my control, I would need to change my plans.

I entered the building, greeting those who recognized me as I made my way to where I assumed Drovak would be. I was not disappointed, as he had two young men working on a long tree trunk, showing them how to remove the branches and limbs quickly and efficiently. I stood there, watching for a few minutes, before he noticed me. He came over and we exchanged a hug, happy to see one another after almost a year.

“Davik, my boy,” he boomed, “It is so good to see you again, you are looking well - grown a little, have we?”

I laughed and replied, “It is good to see you again as well, Drovak. I see you are still teaching the young ones, since you are too old to be allowed near sharp objects.”

We both laughed at that, and he told the trainees to continue as we moved off to a quieter part of the mill.

“So, Davik, what brings you back to Fardun, let alone the mill? Last we spoke, you were heading home to Cartha, so I did not expect to see you for quite some time, if at all.”

“It is a few things actually,” I said with an exasperated sigh. “I am looking into information about something that happened north of here, about twenty-five to twenty-seven years ago.

“However, I also wanted to speak to you, to set up a possible business venture. I have had apprentices for the past few years, and they have taken what I have learned from you and taken it a few steps further. They show amazing promise, but they need to concentrate on the carpentry aspect of it, as I have recently procured a carpentry business. I was hoping that Cartha and Fardun could work together on this venture, for the betterment of both of us. People from outside of Cartha are coming to purchase the work my men are doing, and soon we expect a steady flow of Drectars coming in. We want to send some of them Fardun’s way, as I hope that you will work to provide the wood for us to use. That will give us more time to focus on working with the wood to fulfill customer requests. It would be processed wood for the most part, but, of course, there will be times that we will need whole sections of tree.”

“Hmm, that sounds like quite the venture, and the notoriety could help us to grow. While we do provide some wood for villages and towns on occasion, they tend to just collect it on their own. If we were to come up with a system that others could see, we could begin to really grow. But what was this about something happening years ago?”

“It is about two young boys that passed through here around that time,” I replied, picking my words carefully. “They stopped in for the night, after trading with the leather worker and spent the night at the inn. The next day, they headed north to Revtan, and, about three weeks later, they were attacked in the woods.”

I watched his face as I said it, looking to see any recognition ... but nothing. I could tell he was searching his memories for any information around that time.

“Hmm. I do not recall any word of two boys being attacked, but if it was that far north, we would not have heard anything about that. The inn has been run by the same man, Fergus, since that time, I would suggest that you go talk to him. He has a very good memory and should be able to answer some questions for that time. As for your idea, I will talk to the Patron and the merchants guild later today, I could have an answer for you by tomorrow.”

I smiled and said, “Thank you, Drovak, I will be leaving in a few hours, as I have some pressing matters to attend to. I should be back here in four or five days. We can go over more of the details then.”

“No problem at all, Davik, I will also ask around to some of the older members of our community, see if they remember anything about these boys you spoke of.”

I thanked him, and we shook hands before I made my way out of the mill. I then headed east into the heart of the village, where I remembered the inn to be. Many people noticed me and gave warm hellos as I passed. Some stopped me to ask how I was doing, and what I was doing visiting the village. Of course, some of them asked if I would be returning to the village, those of course being some of the young women, as well as their mothers. I was quite flattered by the attention, but I told them that I was just passing through and would be doing so for the next little while.

I received even more attention when I stopped in the market to buy some vegetables, and seasoning. I could not go to crazy, as it all needed to fit in my satchel, but I was happy with the amount I bought. I could make these last, and of course, given where I was staying, if I picked up a pot.

I could grow my own potatoes. I also found someone who would buy the rabbit skin I had brought, and he gave me a decent amount of Drectars for it. I took longer than I had intended, due to how many people wanted to greet and talk to me, but I finally arrived at the inn.

I entered the building and saw Fergus, as always, behind the counter. He was a quiet and polite man, who always greeted anyone who entered his establishment with a warm smile. He had been running it since his father had died, though he had been learning and working there since he was a young boy. He was starting to show his age, grey streaked the temples of his brown hair, wrinkles bordered his pale blue eyes. It took him a few moments before he recognized me and came out from around the counter to give me a greeting.

“Davik, it is good to see you here, my boy, I thought that we had seen the last of you in Fardun when you left nearly a year ago. I am glad to see that you look well, but what can I do for you, young man?”

“I need some information actually,” I replied quietly. “It is a bit of a sensitive topic, is there somewhere more private that we can go to speak?”

“Of course, Davik,” Fergus said before turning and yelling, “Roger! Get to the counter immediately, I have some pressing matters to attend to that require me to step away.”

A boy, around fourteen years of age, popped out from a door leading to behind the counter area.

“Yes father,” said the boy quietly. “Do you have an idea on how long you will expect to be away? Just in case someone comes with something important for you.”

He smiled and said, “I am not sure at this time, son. Please take a message or ask them to come back in a few hours.”

He nodded and Fergus led us to a room at the back of the hall, on the top floor. Fergus and his family lived in the inn, with his wife being the cook. Right now, she would be working to prepare food for the evening meal, leaving their living quarters empty for the time being. He let us in and asked me to take as seat, as he locked his door, before joining me at the table.

“So, Davik,” he said with a slightly confused look, “what is it you want to ask me? It would have to be pretty important to go through all of this.”

“What I am about to talk to you about must not leave this room, but I need to ask you about two young men who passed through here about twenty-five to twenty-seven years ago. They did not give their real names, but they would have both been around twelve or thirteen and they stayed the night here before heading north. They bathed, had their clothes cleaned, ate dinner and slept the night. Also, I know that this is a long shot, but was there anyone who was staying at the inn around the same time, someone who felt off to you? Like they did not really belong, possibly made you feel as if there was something wrong that you could not put your finger on?”

I watched as he became lost in thought, his eyes darting left and right, as he searched through his memories of that time. I knew that it would be a long shot, but he might be able to tell me something. A few minutes went by, and then he excused himself to go downstairs for a moment. He was gone for nearly a half of an hour before her returned to their room, a book in his hand. As I looked at the book, I realized it was a ledger, like the one I had seen at the front counter when I had first entered the inn. He sat down and began leafing through the book, until he found the page, he had desired.