Free Short Story: Trailheads

Tomas set down his tray, then threw his legs over the bench and collapsed onto it. Dust billowed up from both the bench and his pants, but he hardly noticed. He grabbed the mug of ale in front of him and drained a third of it with one long gulp. He wiped his lips and sighed, thanking the boss for his simple gifts.

Luc sat down across from him, mirroring his routine. As the ale slid down his friend’s throat, a contented smile grew on his face. “Nothing better after a long day in the fields.”

Tomas raised his mug to that and took another long sip. Then he put the mug down and pushed it a few inches away from his tray. Boss only provided one mug for free per night, and Tomas wanted it to last through the meal.

He ate slowly, letting the food rest on his tongue before chewing it. Kathi’s food was tasty enough, but the food on his tray was all they freely gave Tomas for the day. He’d learned early on to make it last as long as he could. Luc did the same, albeit with less success. When the stomach rumbled and twisted itself in hungry knots, most eventually surrendered to its demands.

Tomas hadn’t, yet. He was no stranger to hunger, as it had been a crude tool his masters at the sword school had used as a frequent punishment. Limiting himself to the one tray had become a test of discipline, a reminder of days long past.

Luc finished both his ale and food about the time Tomas was halfway through his meal. He stared at Tomas’ half-finished tray and shook his head. He fought his nightly battle for almost three minutes before standing up. “I’ll never understand how you do it,” he said. He took his tray and mug back to the food line, where all the other farmhands had queued for second helpings.

Tomas watched the rest of them go through the line. Kathi made little marks in her notebook for every soul that passed. Later tonight, she’d take that notebook to the main house, where the marks would be transferred to the ledger Keith kept.

Most would stop after seconds, leaving a pittance to their names after a full day of labor. Some would return to Kathi’s line again and again, each tray and mug another mark next to their name. Those were the ones who would end the day poorer than when they woke up.

Tomas recognized the cruelty in the system. But it was an honest cruelty. Keith sold the work as a new start, a clean slate for anyone. The prices for everything from a day’s work to a second mug of ale had been listed on the contract, written plain for anyone who could read. Some kept their own tally, and whenever they inquired about their balance in the ledger, Keith had given them a matching answer.

Luc groaned as he sat back down, one hand going to his lower back.

“You get hurt?” Tomas asked.

“No. The overseers just worked us hard today. We’re trying to get a new field ready for planting before the seeds arrive. Not all of us are as tough as you.”

Tomas took a scoop of his potatoes and put them on Luc’s tray. Luc had been one of the few kind faces when Tomas had arrived, wandering the frontier, looking for any form of honest work.

Luc tried to return the food. “You don’t eat enough as it is.”

“And you’ll never recover unless you eat more. I’ll be fine.”

Luc didn’t put up much of a fight. “Thank you.”

Tomas watched Luc shovel the food into his mouth while ignoring the persistent growling in his own stomach. “How long until you’re done, again?”

Luc grimaced. “Six months, at the rate I’m earning. Could be one or two if I ate like you, but I’d be a walking skeleton if that happened.”

Tomas wasn’t sure Luc had six months of back-breaking labor left in him. Luc was at least a dozen years older than Tomas, and he bore the marks of a long, hard life. Small white scars crisscrossed the back of his hands, and his face was weathered and leathery. He always squinted as though he was staring at a bright reflection. He groaned more often than he spoke, and he was among the most verbose of people Tomas had met.

The door to the dining room opened and a young man was tossed in by one of the overseers. The young man cursed and charged at the overseer, fists raised. A powerful kick sent him sprawling back across the mud-splattered floor. ”Meal’s over in about fifteen minutes. Eat now or go hungry.”

The young man scrambled back to his feet, but the overseer slammed the door shut as if it were a prison cell.

Luc grunted, a flash of recognition crossing his face.

“Who is he?” Tomas asked.

“Ferris. Firstborn of one of the town’s merchants. Doesn’t make much sense for him to be in a place like this.”

Tomas watched, just like everyone else. Entertainment was sparse in these parts, and Ferris looked angry enough to spit fire. Wasn’t much he could do, though. The overseer that had manhandled him was twice his size, and Tomas could hear him laughing with a partner on the other side of the door. Not only that, Ferris had a scrawny build that spoke more of books and schools than farming and fights. After he postured for another few moments, he deflated and turned to the food line.

For anyone in the black in Keith’s ledger, the farm was always open. Come or go, the boss didn’t care.

But Tomas had the sneaking suspicion Ferris had a lot of red next to his name.

###

Tomas crawled his fingers deeper into the dirt, forcing them around the sharp edges of the stone. It was bigger than he’d expected, and a few of the others had stopped to watch him make good on his boast, confident smirks on their faces.

“A little help?” he asked Elzeth.

The sagani yawned, just a little too loudly to be convincing. “You dug this hole, literally and figuratively. Find your own way out.”

Tomas gripped the edges of the stone, holding on with just his fingertips. He pulled, but the field refused to give up its grasp of the offending rock. He heard one of the others snort in amusement.

That settled it. Tomas’ shovel was by his side, but he wasn’t going to settle until he’d pulled this stone out of the field with his bare hands. He dug his hands a little deeper, feeling the clay worm its way underneath his fingernails. Then he repositioned himself, locking out his arms and using the strength of his legs to pry the stone up.

He pulled, straining against the stone as it refused to admit surrender. The snorts became chuckles, but then Tomas felt the stone give a fraction of an inch. No one else could have noticed, but Tomas was encouraged. He pulled harder, his legs, back, and arms burning with the effort.

The stone rose an inch, then it popped free as though it had never been stuck. Tomas cursed as he overbalanced and almost tripped. He imagined falling backward, the stone laughing as it won a final victory as it crushed his chest.

A hand pressed between his shoulder blades, supporting him long enough to regain his balance.

A few of the other workers tipped their hats in his direction as they returned to their own work. Tomas glanced over his shoulder to see who had aided him.

Ferris stood there.

“Thanks,” Tomas said.

“No problem.” Ferris let his hand drop and Tomas carried the stone over to the cart where it would rest among its brethren. He heard Ferris follow him.

Tomas had no real opinion of the young man. He’d been at the farm a week, and he was a study in contradictions. When he put his mind to a task, he was more productive than Tomas would have expected. Tomas’ initial impressions still held, though. Ferris was too weak to be much use, which gave the overseers plenty of practice with their whips. So today he ignored Ferris and waited for him to go away.

“You’re strong,” Ferris said. “Not many people could have lifted that stone alone.”

Tomas kept ignoring him.

“The others say you’ve got more than enough money in Keith’s ledger to leave and live comfortably for half a year. So why don’t you?”

Ferris clearly wasn’t going to leave him alone. Tomas sighed. “None of your business.”

The young man didn’t hesitate. “You should buy me out. Once I’m free, my father will pay you twice what you lost.”

“If he’s that rich, he can pay for you. You’re not my problem.”

“Keith won’t take his money,” Ferris said.

“So why do you think he’ll take mine?” Tomas asked.

“Because you’re strong. I don’t think Keith will cross you.”

“You’re a fool, kid.” Tomas looked at Ferris for the first time. The merchant’s son looked like he was close to tears.

“I don’t belong here! He’s holding me against my will!” Ferris’ voice cracked.

Tomas snarled. The kid’s whining grated like pinecone against his skin. “You’re not my problem, kid, so leave me alone.”

###

Two nights later, Luc collapsed after standing up from his meal. He groaned, clutched at his lower back, and stumbled headfirst onto the floor. Tomas was at his side in a moment, and with the help of a few others, they got Luc to his bed. Once they stretched him across it his pain seemed to lessen.

Tomas pulled up a chair and kept watch until Luc’s snoring was loud enough to deafen any soul within a half-mile. When he went to bed that night, he had an idea, inspired by Ferris.

The next morning, he spoke to one of the overseers about meeting with Keith. They let him up to the main house, where three burley men sat on the porch playing cards. They stopped Tomas at the steps. He repeated his request and was told to wait for Keith to come down.

The sun burned down on Tomas’ shoulders as he waited. The air felt heavy with water, a sure sign of an approaching storm. He wiped his brow as the guards basked in the shade of the porch. They didn’t invite him up, but he didn’t ask, either.

Keith strode out of the house and looked out on his fields as though he were a king surveying his lands. He held the pose a moment longer than was necessary, then turned to Tomas. His grin was wide and left Tomas with the feeling he was about to be sold something. “Tomas! How can I help you?”

“It’s about Luc,” Tomas said.

“Did something happen to him? I didn’t hear anything about him missing work this morning.”

“No. He’s just getting worn down. I’d like you to give him the money I’ve earned so he can move on.”

Something flickered in the back of Keith’s eyes, reminding Tomas a bit of a predator spotting prey. It was gone a moment later, replaced by the too-wide grin. “That’s not something I usually do.”

Tomas tensed. His deal was straightforward enough, and he was more than willing to sacrifice the last few months of work for Luc’s sake. But Keith had probably emerged from the womb negotiating with his mother over the amount of milk she’d provide.

This time, though, Keith surprised him. “For you, though, I’d be happy to do so. It’s been a pleasure having you on the farm, and if that’s what you want, I’ll honor that. Send him up as soon as you find him.”

Tomas bowed. “Thank you.”

###

Luc’s eyes watered when Tomas told him. He clapped Tomas on the shoulder, shook his head, and wept. Tomas gave him a minute to regain his composure.

“Don’t really know what to say,” he said.

“That’s a first.”

Luc chuckled. “True. Still, I think it’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for me. I don’t have any way to thank you.”

“Nor do you have to.”

Luc put down his shovel, then stood up straighter. “Well, I guess I’ll go see Keith. I’ll come find you before I go.”

“See to it. Life will be a bit less colorful without you around, so I’ve got to enjoy your presence while I can.”

Luc chuckled again, then took off towards the main house. Tomas watched him leave, then turned back to his own work.

“Not like you,” Elzeth said.

Tomas shrugged, even though there was no one around to see him. “Seemed like the right thing. He wasn’t going to make it much longer.”

“Hate to break it to you, but even you have limits. I can’t keep you whole for much longer without more food.”

“So you’ve said. Don’t worry. I’ll work a few more weeks, build up just a little, and then we’ll move on.”

“So long as the next place we go has more food, I’ll be happy.”

“You and me both.”

The sagani was silent for a moment, then said, “Ferris is going to be furious when he finds out what you did.”

Tomas laughed out loud. “See, everyone wins.”

###

The day came and went. Luc never returned. Tomas worried and chewed at his lip. When he could spare the time, he walked to a place in the fields where he could look up at the main house. The building stood, quiet and imposing upon the prairie.

To the west, the sky darkened, and the wind picked up. Tomas welcomed the breeze but feared what might happen to Luc if he was caught without shelter in the storm. It was nearly a full day’s walk to the nearest town, and Tomas couldn’t imagine Keith letting Luc stay the night for free.

When the bell rang for dinner, Tomas hurried up to the main house, where he was once again stopped by the three men on the porch. “What do you want now?” one of them asked.

“Curious what happened to Luc.”

“Boss paid him, then he ran out of here faster than anyone’s ever seen.”

“That so?”

Another of the beefy men chimed in. “Ran out of here like he was being chased.”

Tomas looked at the three men. For the first time since he’d gotten here, he wished he’d brought his sword. He’d buried it someplace safe a few miles back so as to not cause any trouble. There was already more than enough of that following him around. He swallowed the rock that had formed in his throat. “Thanks for letting me know. I was just hoping I might get a chance to say farewell.”

The only response to his statement was three impassive faces.

He bowed and walked away. Off in the distance, thunder rumbled.

###

Luc wasn’t at dinner, but Tomas hadn’t expected to find him there. He looked around and the only person who stood out was Ferris, eating alone in a corner of the room. He strode over and sat across from the young man. “Why are you here?”

“None of your business,” Ferris said.

Tomas supposed he deserved that, but it didn’t deter him. “Is Keith the sort of man who will honor his word?”

Ferris laughed out loud, drawing the attention of the whole room. “Look around! You think anyone here is ever leaving?”

Despite his dislike of Ferris, Tomas did look around. That was when he realized all the faces were familiar. They were the same faces that had been in the room the first day he’d stepped on the farm. There were some new ones, too, but Ferris had a point. No one had left yet.

He’d never thought twice about it. To his mind, there were only two groups of people: those who would never work off their legal debt here, and those, like Luc, who just hadn’t saved enough yet. He hadn’t been here all that long, so it didn’t seem that odd no one had left. Ferris’ simple claim twisted his perspective.

Tomas had never liked Keith. But he’d always seen him as honest enough.

Now he felt like the fool.

“So, why are you here?’

“Keith is holding me here, using me to extract ransom from my father. He’s a rich man in town.”

Outside, the storm finally hit. Lightning filled the windows with light, and thunder shook Tomas to the bones. The whole world was furious with Keith, unleashing its vengeance on the landowner.

It was a good night for seeking the truth of the matter. He leaned forward and spoke softly. “I’m going up to the main house later tonight. Will you come with me?”

“Of course.” For once, it looked like Ferris had found his spine. Perhaps there was some hope for the kid after all.

Tomas ate his meal, then went back up for seconds. Kathi eyed him suspiciously but filled his tray again. He devoured the second almost as fast as the first. Then he waited.

Eventually, an overseer came with an umbrella for Kathi and the two of them left for the main house. The workers, done with their meals, crawled into bed. Tomas sat and waited in the dark, Ferris quiet beside him. At times, the thunder was almost deafening.

When Tomas felt like he had waited long enough, he stood. Ferris followed him and together they went out into the storm. After a dozen steps he was drenched, and after that it didn’t matter. Ferris, to his credit, didn’t complain.

It didn’t take long to reach the main house. The guards were inside, silhouetted by the bright lanterns burning inside. Tomas climbed the stairs onto the porch, grateful to be out of the lashing rain. The porch was on the leeside of the house, and so between the house blocking the wind and the ceiling protecting him from rain, the porch was almost bone dry. He stopped when he saw blood between the boards.

He squatted and ran his finger across it. Someone had tried to clean it up and done an imperfect job. It wasn’t fresh, but not that old, either.

It wasn’t much. Plenty of explanations sufficed. Maybe one of the guards had gotten a papercut on one of their well-worn cards. But it was enough for Tomas. Luc would have come back to say goodbye. Tomas trusted that more than anything else.

Tomas decided it was time for him to leave the farm.

He rolled his shoulders, then glanced at Ferris, motioning toward the door. Ferris nodded.

Tomas saw little point in subtlety. At least one of the guards was stationed in the front entryway, so there wasn’t any way of sneaking in the front door. Perhaps he could climb in a window somewhere, but he suspected most would be shut and locked due to the storm. Besides, he wanted his answers now. He opened the door and stepped through.

The first guard to see him was a second late in responding, his surprise at Tomas’ brazen entrance freezing him in place just long enough for Tomas to close the distance between them. The guard pulled at his sword, but Tomas struck him in the throat before the steel cleared its sheath.

The guard fell, hands clutched around his throat. Tomas didn’t think he’d hit the guard hard enough to kill, but he wouldn’t lose any sleep over the matter if he was wrong.

He heard a sharp intake of breath behind him. He twisted and raised his arm as Elzeth flared to life for the first time in months. A wooden board, aimed for his head, cracked over his forearm. Tomas finished turning to see Ferris standing, wide-eyed, a now-shortened board in both hands. Tomas drove his fist into the kid’s stomach, and he folded like a worn shirt.

The commotion brought the other guards running into the hallway.

Thanks to Ferris’ attack, Tomas couldn’t get to the first guard’s sword in time, but he didn’t think it would matter.

The guards were used to intimidating their opponents with their size and strength. They lacked any real skill with their swords, and before long Tomas was surrounded by groaning bullies.

He reached down and picked up one of the swords. It was in poor condition, with notches down the blade, but it would do for tonight. As he stood, an angry shout came from his right. He glanced to see Kathi running at him, one large kitchen knife in hand.

With a flick of his wrist, he slapped the knife out of her hand with his sword. He held his own blade straight out and she came to a very sudden stop. He fixed her with a cold stare. “No.”

She held up her hands, nodded, and backed away.

Tomas heard noise from the upstairs level of the house. A chest slammed shut and was scraped across a room. It sounded heavy. That was followed by swearing, and Tomas ascended the steps in time to hear a sword clearing a sheath.

Tomas reached the upper level, where he found Keith with an ornate sword in hand. The tip wobbled back and forth, and Tomas could see the man’s knees shaking. “What did you do to Luc?” Tomas asked.

Keith stammered something, but Tomas knew it for a lie the moment his lips started to move. He stepped forward and Keith attacked, swinging his sword wildly.

Tomas cut Keith down and stepped around his falling body, searching for the heavy chest. He found it a moment later. It was wood and iron and filled with money and gold.

Tomas snorted. He’d set out west to start over, to get away from the life of crime that had marked the last several years of his existence. Instead, he’d ended up with a sizable haul. The old gang would have been proud of him.

He pushed the thoughts aside while he put some of the money in his pockets. Then he took out everything that wasn’t money, lightening the chest a bit. Elzeth was still burning, so picking the chest up wasn’t too hard. Tomas worked his way down the stairs, kicking the two guards who hadn’t had the decency to lose consciousness earlier.

He stopped by Ferris. “Why?”

All the fight had gone out of the young man. He sat, slumped against the wall. “Most of the story was true enough. Only the ransom was supposed to be split between Keith and I.”

“So you let yourself be worked in the fields?”

Ferris gave him a bloody smile. “Foolish now that I think about it. But yeah, we wanted to make it look real. He also promised he’d pay me extra if I could find out any of the workers were plotting against him. Seemed like a good deal at the time.”

“It always does.”

Tomas left the main house and walked back to the bunkhouse. The storm had subsided a bit and was now little more than a constant drizzle. The grass smelled green and fresh, and Tomas expected there would be fresh blooms come morning.

He left the chest in the bunkhouse and stomped his feet to wake up the others. They came into the dining room, wiping the sleep from their eyes. Tomas opened the chest. “Keith never planned on paying any of you. But this here is enough for everyone to start a new life. You might want to take it and get out of here soon. Not sure how much longer the guards will be out.”

Tomas ignored their questions and stepped back out into the drizzle. It felt good.

He felt good.

It wasn’t the fresh start he’d imagined, but it was a fresh start all the same.

First, he had to retrieve his sword.

Then it was time to head out west for good.