A stout man stepped out from the village chief's house. His gait was arrogant, each heavy footfall deliberate, the wooden cane in his right hand seeming less a necessity than a prop to support the weight of his bulging stomach.
He was Baron Carven, a landholding noble who governed the eastern territory of the Kingdom of Artez.
Three figures followed behind him, a young man and woman clad in Grover robes like Zen's, and among them a thin elderly man whose exhaustion was etched plainly across his face Wen Wo, the village chief of Horgaz.
"Chief Wo, remember this well," the baron declared loudly, his tone sharp with authority.
"The Kingdom of Artez does not tolerate thieves. This land has been entrusted to me by the king himself.
"I understand, my lord," Wen Wo replied, clinging to a fragile hope. "But is there truly no leniency for us?"
"No," Baron Carven answered flatly. Then his gaze shifted toward Zen. "However, I will offer a small measure of assistance. I order you to capture them."
Zen's eyes widened. "wait a moment. I was hired to escort you, nothing more. Capturing thieves is not part of our agreement."
"You should be accustomed to dealing with such matters," the baron said dismissively.
Zen frowned. "Perhaps. But don't you have stronger royal soldiers at your disposal? Catching common thieves would be easier for them than handing the task to the three of us.
"Do not concern yourself with trivialities," the baron replied lightly.
Trivial? Zen's thoughts flared. Just because you hold power doesn't mean you can treat us however you please.
Zen had every reason to refuse.
To most nobles, Grovers were nothing more than tools workers who labored for coin, convenient precisely because they bore the risks themselves. Unlike the kingdom's official soldiers, who were bound by formal contracts, received steady wages, and were compensated for injury or death, Grovers were expendable.
Hiring them for dangerous tasks was cheaper, cleaner, and far more efficient in the eyes of the aristocracy.
"The payment we received does not match the difficulty of this new task," Zen insisted. "Escorting and hunting thieves are entirely different matters."
Baron Carven's expression did not change. "I will discuss it with your guild master."
Zen glanced at his two companions standing behind the baron. They gave him two subtle nods. The meaning was clear they had no desire to argue at length over rank and privilege. Baron Carven stood far above them in status; pushing the matter to the king would only invite trouble.
"Very well," Zen said at last. "We accept. But I want payment for the escort mission now."
"That is no issue."
The baron produced a pouch and handed Zen thirty silver coins.
Having shifted the burden of capturing the thieves onto Zen's group, Baron Carven climbed into his carriage and departed, followed by his soldiers.
Not far away, Rea had watched the entire exchange in silence. When it ended, she approached Wen Wo.
"Chief Wo, may I speak with you?"
"About what, young lady?" he asked, his voice still heavy.
"I would like to stay in Horgaz for a few days. May I have permission to remain here temporarily?"
"We do not have an inn," Wen Wo said apologetically. "There is only an old house on the outskirts of the village that you may rent."
"That will be fine. I will pay."
And so Rea settled the matter of her lodging.
Meanwhile, as Zen continued to mutter under his breath despite having agreed to the baron's demand, his two companions approached Wen Wo.
"Is there another house we might rent?" asked the woman in their group, Lety.
Wen Wo shifted his weary gaze from Rea to Zen and the others. The fatigue lining his face seemed deeper than before.
"For you…" he murmured. "There are a few empty houses, though they have long been abandoned."
"Leaking roofs?" Raven asked, folding his arms.
"In some places," Wen Wo admitted. "And damp walls. But they will keep out the night wind."
"We're not picky," Zen said with a sigh. "As long as the roof doesn't collapse while we're sleeping."
Lety elbowed him sharply. "Don't be rude."
Wen Wo gave a small nod. "There is one house at the edge of the village, beside the one I have prepared for this young lady." He gestured toward Rea.
"It stands near the path leading to the eastern forest. It once belonged to a hunter. After his death, no family claimed it."
Zen raised a brow. "Near the forest?"
"It is the most isolated house from the other villagers," Wen Wo continued. "If you intend to search for thieves, it may prove convenient."
Raven and Lety exchanged glances. It made sense.
Zen exhaled slowly. "Very well. We'll take it."
Wen Wo hesitated. "As for the rent,.."
"We'll pay," Zen cut in. "But don't make it steep. Our duties have already increased without a proper contract."
For the first time that day, a faint smile touched the old chief's lips. "I will not burden you."
Dusk had begun to settle when they arrived at the house. It was small, its wooden walls aged and greened with moss along the lower planks. The roof sagged slightly to one side, but the structure remained sound.
Zen pushed the door open, it creaked long and low.
"Well… it's better than sleeping under a tree," he muttered.
Raven opened the windows to let the stale air escape. Lety took a cloth from her bag and began wiping the dust from the wooden table.
Zen lingered in the doorway, his gaze drifting toward the darkening line of trees in the eastern forest. The evening wind stirred the leaves, their rustling long and rhythmic.
"Tomorrow morning," he said at last, "we venture deeper into the forest."