Selia led her horse down the road to Town Square. She was thankful for her discretion when she saw Tender Harral, Meada Boggin and Coline Trigg already waiting in the square with the militias. It would not have done for so many to see her arrive with Lesa.
Meadas son Lucik was with them, along with his wife Beni, and nearly a dozen men and women from Boggins Hill. Their round shields had two concentric rings of wards, with a frothing mug of ale painted at their centre. The Boggins wore boiled armour with wards burned into the leather, and kept their warded spears close to hand.
The change magic wrought on Selia was more pronounced, but any fool could see the power at work here, too. Folk shed known their whole lives were changing in noticeable ways. Tender Harrals armour was hung from an acolytes horse, but he kept spear and Canon close. Muscles strained the sleeves of his once-loose robe.
Meadas grey hair was streaked with brown. She led the Boggin militia in clearing the demons from Boggins Hill, but had since given her spear to her son. Lucik was always a strapping boy, but hed added fifty pounds of muscle in recent months. A quiet lad, he was fierce when fighting corelings.
Speaker. Lucik dropped his eyes when he noticed Selias gaze. Fierce in battle, yes, but still loyal as a pup.
Good boy. She resisted the urge to scratch him behind the ears.
Meada snorted as Luciks ears coloured. Good to see you, Speaker.
And you, Meada. Sorry I ent been up the hill recently. As she spoke, Selias eyes scanned the assembled Square militia, mounted five wide and five deep. Twenty-five of her best fighters to keep the peace and stand guard when the sun set. The wards on their wooden shields were a perfect square, a map of Tibbets Brook painted in the centre of its succour.
Dont think on it, Meada said. Creator knows youve been busy clearing corelings out of town, and its got everyone feeling sunnier.
Credit for that goes to a lot of folk, you and your son included. Selia spotted Lesa in her assigned place in the second row of the formation close enough to see, but far enough to mask any hint of favouritism. Normally Lesa would meet her eyes and give Selia a private smile, but today the girl had her eyes studiously forward.
She was still upset.
Perhaps thats best, while the council meets.
Brine sent word not to wait on the Cutters, Harral said. Theyll come in their own time. Hog left at dawn with a dozen store security.
Selia harrumphed. Store security Hog called them, but they were fast becoming his personal army. The Square militia was all volunteers, men and women with normal day lives, coming out to fight for their town when the sun set. Most made and warded their own weapons and equipment, with varying degrees of quality.
Hogs store security all wore armour of thick leather, studded with warded silver. Their matching spears were of the finest quality, etched expertly with wards. The three concentric ward circles on their steel-covered shields had in their centre a painting of the original General Store Hog built when he first came to Tibbets Brook.
Store security pulled their weight in town, keeping the square clear of demons and aiding the militia in culling corelings from valuable land, but there was no illusion about whom they answered to.
Lets not waste time, then. Selia mounted and they set off north.
Jephs farm was already bustling when they arrived. Hogs pavilion was set, his thick-armed daughters, Dasy and Catrin, selling food and ale. Security was still unloading carts, and Hog himself carried a keg in each arm.
Night, Coline said. He looks thirty again.
Hog had always been robust, but he carried more than sixty winters, and in recent years it had begun to show. But, as with Selia, the seasons had melted away with the lines on his face. His hair and beard were coal-black, any last vestiges of grey trimmed away. Thick curls grew on his crown where not long ago there had been bare skin.
Its unnatural, Coline said. Harral grunted in agreement. Even Meada was nodding.
Selia turned to them, raising an eyebrow.
Thats different and you know it, Speaker, Coline said. Youre out every night, riskin your life to keep folk safe. Ent the same as payin store security to drag you a chained-up demon every Fifthday to suck on like a skeeter.
Ay, maybe, Selia said. But Hogs always pulled his weight with this town. Id have run him out for a cheat long ago if he hadnt.
Ay, Meada agreed. But dont forget he voted Renna Tanner into the night because he thought it was better for business.
Coline dropped her eyes, losing bluster. For, of course, she had voted Renna out, too. No one, not even Selia, had entirely forgiven her for it.
Creator plans our trials as well as our triumphs, Harral cut in. Could be He put Hog here to cast that vote. Might be thats what brought the Deliverer to heal our divisions.
If that Messenger was the Deliverer Ill eat my cookie crock, Selia said. Didnt heal a corespawned thing. Brooks more divided than ever.
That, too, is the Creators plan, Harral said. Brooks been evening a long while. Might be it needed to get dark before the dawn.
Selia wrinkled her nose. Cant know the Creators plan, my da used to say, but we do know Hes not going to come down from Heaven to carry the mail.
Whats that supposed to mean? Coline asked.
Means we own our problems. Selia locked eyes with the Herb Gatherer. And our choices.
Coline flinched and dropped her eyes. Ay, Speaker.
Jeph Bales was showing off his new greatward like a prize pig at the summer Solstice festival. Bales property was one massive ward of protection now, formed by fences, shrubs, hedges, stone paths, and curve-roofed storage sheds, not to mention the barley fields, manicured from the straight rows of their original planting. Simple shapes flowed seamlessly into one another, creating something altogether more complex. Folk walked around eyes agog as they waited for a turn to climb the watchtower to see the greatward from above.
Jeph broke away from a group of guests when he noticed Selia arrive. Speaker.
Youre a Speaker now too, Jeph Bales, Selia reminded him. You can call me Selia.
Jeph shook his head. Ent ready for that. Not looking to lead this town.
Ready or not, Jeph Bales, thats what youre doing. Theres more to leading than fancy words. Folk need an example, and youve impressed everyone with this monstrosity youve built.
Wait till sunset, Jeph said.
There was a shout, and they saw Mack Pasture storming away from Hog, who had his arms crossed. Behind him, two store security guards loomed.
Mack headed their way and Selia sighed. Pasture had become a thorn in everyones side since he was voted off the council as Speaker for the farms in favour of Jeph.
Everything all right, Pasture? Selia called.
No, it corespawned ent! Mack cried. Hog wont sell me a warded spear on credit.
Could have had your own, Jeph said, youd had the stones to stand when the Messenger came. There was no divide in town deeper than those who wanted to protect Renna Tanner and those who voted her into the night.
Could have had your own, Jeph said, youd had the stones to stand when the Messenger came. There was no divide in town deeper than those who wanted to protect Renna Tanner and those who voted her into the night.
Dint need it, Mack snapped, till Hog bought the old Tanner farm and sent store security to sweep the property. Sent all the corelings runnin my way, scarin the cattle and apt to overload the wards. And now he wont so much as rent me a spear.
Selia pursed her lips. She had little more sympathy for Mack than Jeph, but her fathers advice sounded in her head.
Town Speaker speaks for everyone, not just the folk they like.
Ill have the militia out tomorrow night to start clearing your property, Selia promised.
Next to arrive was Brine Broadshoulders with his adopted son Manie Cutter. Selia remembered the boy, shivering at her table the night corelings breached the wards of the Cluster by the Woods in 319 AR. Manie was a man grown now, tall and heavily muscled, with a warded axe mattock strapped to his back. He and his father led a score of giant Cutters onto Jephs property.
It was afternoon before the Fishers made their way up the road. Raddock Lawry, their Speaker, was older than Selia, his thick beard stark white, face deep with crags.
Raddocks eyes widened when he saw Selia. Shed shed decades since he saw her last, now looking much as she had when Raddock tried to court her, fifty years ago. Guess it shouldnt surprise me youve exploited the unnatural too, Selia.
Selia felt a flash of anger. Ive done nothing but stand up for this town when you and yours were too stubborn.
So much for speaking for everyone. Anger came easily where Raddock was concerned.
Punishing Fishers is how you stand up for the town, Speaker? Garric Fisher was not so old, taller than Selia and half again her weight. He leaned in, trying to intimidate, but Selia hadnt scared easily when she was old and her bones ached. She sure as the Core didnt now.
Ent punishing anyone. Selias eyes flicked over his stance, deciding how best to put him on the ground without breaking anything. Been sending militia to keep Fishing Hole safe, like we agreed.
Ay, for the Dukes tithe worth of fish! Raddock growled. While your militia bullies and robs us.
Selia blinked. Come again?
Drunk on demon magic and looking down on regular folk, Raddock said. Garrics got Boggins pissing on his fence and leaving demonshit on his doorstep. Other night, someone staked a coreling in my yard. Turned into a rippin bonfire when the sun came up.
None of this was surprising. The Fishers had turned Tibbets Brook on its head last year, and a lot of folk resented them for it. Raddock wasnt wrong about what magic did to folk, whetting emotions already sharp.
She blew a breath through her nostrils. Thank you for bringing it to my attention, Raddock. Ill put a stop to that nonsense straight away.
Stopping it ent enough, Selia, Raddock said. Want to see some punishment. Stam Tailor had Maddy Fisher below decks in her fathers boat!
Selia clenched a fist, imagining she was squeezing Stams throat. Girl wasnt willing?
Dont matter! Raddock snapped. Shes thirty summers his junior! Its an abomination.
Selias eyes flicked to Lesa, and this time the girl met the look proudly. She stood with the rest of the Square militia, all of them ready to pounce if the Fishers got out of hand. Raddock caught the glance, taking in the militia with a scowl. The Fishers brought a dozen men with them, but both sides knew they were no match for warriors who killed demons each night.
Maddys got nineteen summers, Raddock, Selia said. Ent for you to say who she should be kissing.
What about her da? Raddock demanded. Tried to break it up and Stam blacked his eye.
Selia pursed her lips. Ill have a talk with Stam and get to the bottom of it. If its like you say, hell make it right.
Needs more than talk, Selia, Raddock said. Law calls for a whippin in the square.
Selia shook her head. Last time we tied someone up in the square, whole town turned upside down. Were better than that.
Always an excuse why Fishers dont get justice, Raddock sneered. Ent even botherin to pretend the town council means spit any more.
No ones saying that, Selia said. But we dont take every dispute to the council, Raddock. Might be this can settle if Stam apologizes, does right by Maddy, and makes some fresh sails for Fishing Hole.
Dont want rippin sails, Raddock growled.
Of course not, Selia said. All you ever want is blood, Raddock. Ent changed in fifty years.
Raddocks face tightened, wrinkles becoming fissures on the craggy landscape. Dont want blood, Selia. All I ever want is respect, but thats always been too much to ask.
Not for the first time, Selias hand itched to punch him in the mouth. After all hed done when they were young. How dare he?
Fishers got a point, Selia.
Selia turned to see Jeorje Watch had arrived with fifty armed Watchmen. They wore their traditional garb bleached white shirts under suspendered black pants, tall black boots, black jackets and wide-brimmed hats. The jackets were bulkier than a year ago, sewn with plates of warded glass to absorb coreling blows. Their hats were likewise armoured, secured by heavy straps.
Coran Marsh was at Jeorjes side, pushed in his wheeled chair by his eldest son Keven. Big as Lucik Boggin, Keven had been killing demons since the night the Messenger gave his father a spear, but though his body had failed, Corans mind remained sharp, and it was to him the Marshes answered.
It was more than a moon since Southwatch annexed Soggy Marsh, but it was still disturbing to see Marshes and Watches standing together. Combined, those boroughs counted nearly four hundred of the thousand or so folk who called the Brook home. A dozen Marsh militia marched with the Watches, carrying thin, warded fishing spears.
But it was Jeorje who led them. The oldest person in the Brook by two decades, Jeorje looked not a day over thirty. His thin wisps of white hair had been replaced with a thick mat of nut brown, his leathern skin smooth once more. His coat was off, the sleeves of his bleached white shirt rolled over meaty forearms. Thick muscled biceps and chest looked ready to split the seams.
He wore no armour, not even a hat, and carried no shield. The cane he used to stomp to make a point was like a sceptre now, covered in intricate warding, with a sheathed speartip at the narrow end. Selia had watched Jeorje beat corelings to death with that cane.
Selia fixed him with the look, though it never affected Jeorje the way it did others. Ent one to talk, Jeorje. Hear tell you just married Mena Watch last month. Girl ent seen twenty summers.
Married, Selia, Jeorje said. I dont dishonour womens families by luring them into fornication.
Just into your harem, Selia quipped. Mena is your sixth?
Seventh. There was pride in Jeorjes voice. A holy number. And my wife Trena arranged the match with Menas family personally. I didnt lure her in secret and steal her virtue.