Whiron nods. “I am afraid that you are right. I think the guards are eyeballing us too closely and not because they see us as a threat. I have no idea how to throw one those nets, but we should get one and a hoop net, even if they are only for show. Nets will help us gather fish easier and help hide our other talents. Let us buy some extra food and give it to the elderly. We never know when we might need a friend or two.”
Realizing that their fortune is also a burden because of the potential envy of others, the two young friends negotiate for several purchases to reduce the amount of physical coins. There is no system in place for the clerk to maintain a record of earnings. Only the status of dues is maintained. A single fish trap, hoop net, and cast net are purchased using the bulk of the money. The cost of new tunics and an extra waterskin, each, is trivial. Buying all of the elderly who make hats and clean game an extra bowl of soup goes a long way toward building rapport. After all is said and done, the two are left with 30 total coins that they must carry. The ceramic, circular, discs, which measure about two finger’s width across, have little mass and are easily deposited in various places about each person and a couple of locations in the skiff.
Like having a sense of foreboding or perhaps an inspired premonition, when about to return from the second trip out of the new Cycle, two skiffs carrying four javelineers pull up onto the muddy berm where the two are filling their boat with the day’s catch. Clothed in the bright red, official tunics and armed with ceramic bladed javelins, the four men move with deliberate purpose to flank the two youths. The only one equipped with sharkskin bracers calls to them. “The meager coin that I am paid to protect you mud grubbers from lizards, sharks, and each other is just not enough to inspire me or my men to trudge through this slop. I do not recall that you two have ever, personally, paid me for that protection. I am certainly not going to have you searched for any coin. I can plainly see how much gear you two have to be so young. I do not want to get that close to you. Mud grubbers stink. You will take your catch for the day and divide it up between our boats, then we will leave you.”
It is obviously not a negotiation. The guards are older, more experienced, better trained, and better armed. It would be suicide to resist, at least at this time. This far away from the bulk of the populace no one would witness the atrocity, not that anyone would really care, much less come to aid.
Jalakaag: full wellness
Whiron: full wellness
district maintenance: even
protection: even
voting: even
food: even
water: double
surplus: 30 coins
Jalakaag runs his tongue over his top teeth, consciously refraining from making a vulpine grin. He is not much of a talker and has no idea of how to handle the situation. If the javelineers attack, he hopes to cause as much damage as he can, but he is inclined to just give them the current collections. He looks at Whiron and nods a single time.
Whiron makes eye contact with Jalakaag and nods back almost imperceptibly. He understands that this is a losing situation, but he figures that being easy of a target, even against javelineers, will have even more negative consequences. He wants to maintain some dignity without getting he and his friend killed. He looks at the speaker of the group. “I do not suppose that you would settle for half of the game… No, well, I had to ask. We do have to live in this mud hole.” He moves to the boat, signalling his friend to help and opens the fish trap to dump the contents into one of the other boats.
The leader of the javelineers snickers at the comments from Whiron. Violent though he may be, he is not overly stupid and is more interested in prolonged power and future gain. If he kills the residents instead of robbing them, it would quickly diminish his gains, as it is far faster to kill them than they can breed replacements, but he still figures that the boy needs a lesson. After the animals are loaded into the two boats, the leader, quickly and effectively, smacks Whiron on the side of his head with the butt end of his javelin. The blow stings and causes Whiron to momentarily see stars and hear a buzzing sound, but it does no real damage. “That is the price, today, for your dignity. Be thankful that is all.”
The other three javelineers laugh as they all step back into the skiffs and pole away, leaving the boys standing where they are, and Whiron rubbing his head. The price is probably worth it, as the extortionists took none of the gear, only the animals. Collected game can be replaced.
Jalakaag: full wellness
Whiron: full wellness
district maintenance: even
protection: even
voting: even
food: even
water: triple
surplus: 30 coins
After the javelineers are gone, Jalakaag goes to Whiron. “Are you okay? That was a risk. No sense in returning to The Pavilion, now. I guess we stay out another two days, but I say that we move.”
Whiron rubbs the side of his head for another second, then adjusts his hat. “Yeah, I am fine. It was a calulated risk. I needed to say something so that they would not kill us but also so that the would not simply follow us around. No one can know our secret. Eventually we will be able to take those thugs-in-uniform. Let us go more toward the ocean. The fish seem to be more abundant in the saltier water, and I want to actually practice with this cast net. If you use the hoop net, and I can learn to throw this thing, I think we can double our take on fish.”
