Company of the Spade

“Over there is the best baker in town. I like to drop on by when I have the time for their muffins. And just across the street here is a good place to pick up candle sticks. It’s the cheapest and most effective way to light a room for people like you.”

Ozahl gave JZ a pat on the back and continued forward with the tour. JZ had been following him for some time... In silence. Of course he needed to know his way around the city, but how could he focus after what he just saw? And it wasn’t just that. Now that he was walking around the city in broad daylight, he saw it everywhere. Other kinds of people besides human. Some tall, some short, some men, some women, and of course there were children too... All in shackles. There was no doubt about it. Not only was slavery common in this culture, but all the slaves were distinctly non-human. It disgusted him.

“Jabez? Don’t drag your feet now, we’re almost at the free company I wanted to show you to.”

“Yes... Of course.”

Ozahl glanced back at him. JZ expected another stern, frustrated gaze. But instead, he only saw pity.

“Perhaps... We should talk in private first.” Ozahl led JZ away to a dark, quiet alleyway. After he waved his staff about, the hustle and bustle of the city grew silent. “There. Now no one can hear us. Speak.”

“Why...” muttered JZ.

“Hm?”

“Why are there slaves?”

Ozahl sighed. “I know it must be difficult for you. I expected you’d experience culture shock eventually, but I didn’t think it would be like this.”

“You didn’t?” JZ’s mouth grew crooked. “Why the HELL did you think otherwise?!”

“Does your world not have slavery? At all?”

“No!! I mean, it did, but we all realized how awful treating other people like that was and we abolished it! And for good reason!! Did you not see that woman’s eyes back there? Did you not see how dead inside she looked?” JZ grew closer to Ozahl, casting a shadow over the wizard. “Don’t tell me that doesn’t bother you.”

“Enough,” Ozahl pushed JZ away with his staff gently. “You might not like it, but this is the end result of war. Humanity fought for peace, and humanity won. If we lost, we’d be in chains instead.”

“Peace? Peace?! You call this peace?! This is terrible!”

“Jabez, you shouldn’t speak as such. You lack the context!”

“I don’t need context to understand what’s going on isn’t right. No one should be treated like a possession.”

At this, Ozahl furrowed his brow. “Then what are you going to do about it? You do realize this is how the entire country operates. One man cannot undo what has been done by thousands.” Ozahl stepped up to JZ and looked him in the eye. “Do you know why I had you apologize? Why I slapped your hand back there? It’s because in our land, a slave cannot be handled by anyone except their rightful owner or a higher authority. What you did back there, whether you realize it or not, was a serious crime. Do you know what could have happened to you?”

“What?”

“You could have been made a slave yourself, or even killed!”

“So slaves have protection against everyone except their owners?”

“Exactly,” Ozahl nodded. “This law was put into place to minimize the mistreatment of slaves.”

“That sure didn’t look like minimized mistreatment to me.”

“I don’t like it either, you fool!! But there’s nothing to be done about it! Change, real change does not happen overnight! Even if we decided tomorrow to free all our slaves, where would they go? They couldn’t stay in our cities, there are only so many homes and jobs to go around. They couldn’t retreat to the wilderness either because it’s full of monsters!”

“You’re just making excuses. These people didn’t manifest out of thin air. They had homes once. Land, even.”

“And what do you suppose that war I mentioned was fought over?”

JZ was ready to strike Ozahl then and there. But before he could, he felt his hands freeze in place.

“Tsk. Another spell? I see how it is.”

Ozahl stomped his foot. “I am done with you! You’re reckless, ignorant, violent, and you won’t even try to see the bigger picture! No wonder Sigard wanted you in a free company! The only people you could possibly get along with are mercenaries!” JZ finally unclenched his fists, and he felt the spell holding him in place dissipate. Ozahl walked past JZ, looking back at him for a moment. “I am the most patient man in this city, but even I have my limits. If you run your mouth like that around anyone else, the next time I see you will be at the gallows. Learn your place if you want to survive here.”

And the silencing spell was gone. Soon JZ could hear the sound of merchants peddling wares, people walking the streets, children laughing... And the rattle of metal collars. After Ozahl was gone, JZ punched the wall.

Don’t think this is over, old man.

In time, JZ caught up with Ozahl, who was already talking to a man outside a lodge made of wood with a solid stone foundation. His eyes looked up at the sign on the building, noting the sword crossed with a spade, and foreign letters shifted around in his mind until it read as “Company of the Spade.” JZ blinked a few times, rubbing his eyes.

Wait... Am I able to... Translate things? Is that why I was able to talk with people immediately?

“Ah, there he is,” said Ozahl. “Jabez, I want you to meet someone. This is Captain Bowen, leader of this free company.”

“So you’re Jabez, huh? You seem like a real piece of work. I can tell by that look in your eyes. You’ll fit in just fine here,” the man grinned. He was a stocky muscular man with a scarred face and shaggy brown hair. His left eye was milky white with a cut scar running across it. He had a friendly enough aura, but JZ could readily tell how strong he was just by shaking his hand.

“Yup, that’s me. I’ve been looking for work ever since I recovered from my injury,” said JZ.

“Well if it’s work you’re looking for, we can accommodate. Come inside, you two.”

“After you, Jabez,” gestured Ozahl.

“Of course,” JZ nodded.

Walking inside the building, the first thing JZ noticed was the smell of sweat. There were plenty of able-bodied men and women in the building wearing all sorts of different armor. Some armor was simple, others more ornate, and everyone was armed. Among the many decorations in the building were battered shields and old weapons hanging on the walls, each with a plaque beneath them indicating the original owner and when they left this world behind. There were also the heads of wild beasts ranging from the furred and fanged to the slender and scaled. Not a one among them looked familiar, which surprised JZ a little. There were so many kinds of people outside that seemed reminiscent of fantasy races you might encounter in an RPG or a light novel, so much so that he wondered if the realm was a reflection of one and he was somehow trapped in a book. But that would be silly.

“Jabez, this here is Isaac. He’s our scribe. He handles all the pain in the ass book keeping I can’t be bothered with. He can get you registered with the company once I’ve decided you’re a good fit, and he’s your go-to man if you want to find work.”

“Hi! Nice to meet you, Jabez! It’s not every day I see someone recommended to us by the court wiseman himself!”

The kid before JZ was short with a round, soft face. He had blonde hair, as well as light blue eyes behind spectacles, and he was dressed in simple blue and dark brown robes. He looked like a teenager to JZ, no older than 16 by his guess.

“Nice to meet you too,” said JZ. “It’s quite the honor to be helped by Ozahl. He’s as wise as they come.”

“Quite so!! Has he shared with you any of his stories from his youth? I’d love to hear them if you’re willing to share!”

“Oh, don’t bother. I didn’t waste his time with any of my boring old tales,” said Ozahl.

“Boring?! Heaven’s no! You’ve slain dragons, fought beside the king himself in the 50 Year War! I can’t think of anyone more decorated than you!” Isaac cleared his throat. “Besides our beloved Captain Bowen, of course.”

“And don’t you forget it,” Bowen pointed and shouted, frightening Isaac before Bowen reared his head back in laughter. “Don’t worry, Jabez. We like to have fun here, so don’t be surprised if someone tries to pull a prank on you.”

“I’ll keep my eye out,” smiled JZ.

“There you go! All right, next we got these two lug heads over here. They’re Ronnie and Bobbie. They might not look like much, but they’re veterans, so if they offer you advice, you best listen!”

“Fresh meat, huh?” said the brown haired man on the left, Ronnie. “He doesn’t look like much.”

“Figures you’d be a no-talent if you needed a recommendation to get in,” said the auburn haired man on the right, Bobbie.

“Mind your tongue, boys. This isn’t just anyone recommending Jabez,” said Bowen.

JZ glanced over to Ozahl, who was talking to a woman nearby. He could swear he saw Ozahl slip the woman something, but he didn’t catch what it was.

“And let’s not forget your star rookie, Aurora,” said Ozahl, walking over with the woman. “Even I’ve heard of her exploits!”

“Rightly so!” said Bowen. “Jabez, meet Aurora. She’s one of our newer members, but you wouldn’t think it based on her track record. She’s one of our top cave sweepers!”

“Big deal,” said Ronnie. “Anyone can squash a few bugs.”

JZ looked Aurora over. She was a confident, smiling woman with a thin but athletic build, bright auburn hair tied back in a ponytail, and vibrant indigo eyes. She was lighter skinned than the other mercs, but if she really spent her time in caves all day, it made sense to JZ. Her leather armor was lined with steel plating on her torso, shoulders, arms, and legs, and she had a longsword and crossbow with her.

“The star rookie, eh? Then I’ll be looking to you for example,” said JZ. “If that doesn’t bother you.”

“Whaaaa? Nooo, of course not! I’m not exactly the teaching type, but if you ever have any questions, feel free to ask!” said Aurora.

Bowen continued introducing JZ to the various mercs, but they were less chatty than the others, looking like strictly business-types. Then JZ, Bowen, Ozahl, and Aurora stepped out behind the lodge to a fenced-in area where training was taking place. There were wooden dummies, targets lined up for practicing with bows and crossbows, as well as mercenaries sparring with each other. At the end of the tour, Bowen waved down one of the archers practicing.

“And last but not least, this is Alech. He’s one of the best marksman in the entire company! Alech, this is Jabez. He’s been recommended to us by Ozahl the Wise.”

“Is that so?” said Alech, a red-haired man with brown eyes. “I look forward to working with you.”

“Speaking of, let’s get the test underway.”

Alech nodded, running off to gather some things. Soon enough, a small pile of weapons was placed on a table and organized.

“Now Jabez, do you have experience with any of these?” asked Bowen.

“This... And this... And that as well,” JZ said, gesturing to a dagger, a spear, and a longsword. He wouldn’t admit it to these people, but he had swung more than his fair share of sticks and fake weapons in parks back in the day.

“But no bows, huh?”

“No, but I’d love to learn.”

“We can arrange for that. But first, let’s see what you can do. Aurora, go ahead and get in a ring with Jabez.”

“Yes sir!” Aurora saluted.

From there, JZ was led into one of the sparring circles in the area (essentially a circle of smooth stones around a patch of dirt), and both JZ and Aurora were armed with wooden swords after she set aside her real weapons.

“On my signal, you two have at it. I don’t care about points or form or any of that crap. I just want to see what you do when one of our own comes at you, Jabez. Ready? Go!!”

The signal was so sudden that Aurora got the upper hand, nearly disarming JZ in a single blow. He managed to keep his grip though and the two became locked in combat.

“Better focus, ‘cause real fights don’t always give you time to prepare!” said Aurora, swiping at JZ.

“True enough,” said JZ under his breath. Once Aurora was focused on pushing him back, he stepped to the side and tripped her, causing Aurora to smash face-first into one of the ring stones. Strangely, he heard the sound of metal hitting the stone first.

“Ow!! That’s a low blow, Jabez!” Aurora rubbed her head, seemingly uninjured. For a moment, it looked like she was adjusting something on her head, then she got back up.

“Ha ha! Good one, Jabez! Maybe you got potential after all!” said Bowen.

The fight continued, and while Aurora was no doubt the better swordsman, JZ held nothing back and knocked her over more than a few times. While some would describe JZ’s style as dirty fighting, where he grew up, that was just how things went.

After a few minutes, Bowen called the match.

“Well done, Jabez! Well done!”

Auroa got up, tossing her sword to the ground. “Well done?! That wasn’t even a proper sword match! He even kicked dirt in my face!”

“I know. It was great,” Bowen smiled.

“Great?! He cheated!!”

“Weren’t you the one talking about real fights a minute ago?” said JZ. “Sorry if I was rough but I just figured that’s how I was supposed to fight.”

“You didn’t have to be that rough though...” Aurora rubbed her wrist. This only made Bowen laugh.

“Don’t worry about her. She can take it,” Bowen patted JZ on the back. “You pass with flying colors. You fight like a brigand, and that’s exactly what we’re looking for, because honor will get you killed in these parts. I was a little worried when Ozahl recommended you. Not to say he doesn’t have an eye for talent, but I was worried you might be some lord’s bastard or something, swinging around a blade like a wimp. But you held nothing back, against a woman no less!”

You saying it like that is making me feel bad...

“So does this mean I got the job?” asked JZ.

“Of course! Well, sort of. There’s one more thing I need you to do before I can call you an official member of our company. Now Aurora, I know this might not excite you to hear, but I’ll be needing your talents for this one. I need you to take Jabez on a cave sweep.”

“I’ll be happy to help! They’re more my specialty anyway...” Aurora glanced away. “Will it just be me?”

“No,” Bowen shook his head. “Ronnie and Bobbie will be with you as well for insurance. If Jabez screws up, it could put you at risk, and I don’t want to lose you on a simple cave sweep. I’ll go tell them while you two get ready.”

“Yes sir!” Aurora saluted.

“Is that a normal gesture?” JZ asked.

“Of course! It’s only proper! Back in the day, Captain Bowen led the Company of the Spade during the 50 Year War. The whole company was used for military engagements, serving alongside the army. The only reason we don’t do that now is because there are no wars to fight... Though we do get hired as extra muscle by the sheriff on occasion.”

“I see...” JZ walked with Aurora as she helped him to some proper weaponry, as well as a helmet. “So what’s a cave sweep like, anyway?”

“You’ve never heard the term before? Well... How much do you know about cavemar?” asked Aurora.

“I beg your pardon?”

“You really did hit your head...” Aurora scratched her cheek. “Well we used to call them by another name. I wonder if that one’s more familiar?”

“Used to? What do you mean?”

“Before the 50 Year War, all the races used to be called different names. Forestmar used to be called elves. Mountainmar used to be called dwarves. Shortmar used to be called Kortu.”

“You changed their names too...”

“Huh?”

“Nothing. So then what were cavemar called back in the day? It wasn’t goblins, was it?”

“Yes, actually! Have you ever encountered one before?”

“Can’t say I have.”

Not in real life, at any rate, thought JZ.

“Well, don’t worry too much. Once you get used to their tricks, they’re barely an inconvenience. Stick with me, and we’ll be done in no time!”

As Aurora walked back into the lodge, JZ pondered the meaning of her words. Before, Ronnie had mentioned bugs regarding cave sweeping, but was that right? Elves looked like elves JZ had seen in fiction, but were goblins different? He had a bad feeling, but he tried to shrug it off.

They must be something else. If they’re anything like the other people I saw... Then why would they be so casual about this? Unless...?

JZ shook his head. That level of callousness seemed too extreme, even for these people. He tried to push the thoughts out of his mind as he tied his weapon belts to his waist. Slipping on his helmet and buckling the chin strap, he was finally ready for his first mission.

All right... Here goes nothing.