Before the Harvest

Before the Harvest

Morning had fully risen when Old Bob pulled his horse cart out of the shed. The field air was still cool, mixed with the smell of damp soil and hay. The wooden wheels creaked softly as they touched the dirt path that had not fully dried.

The empty sacks were already stacked inside the cart.

Zio stood beside it, helping without saying much. He tightened the ropes, checked the knots, then made sure the iron hook was secure. His movements were calm, like a habit.

Old Bob watched for a moment, then gave a small nod.

They were about to leave when the sound of several horses approached from the dirt road.

Old Bob stopped. Zio turned as well.

A thin cloud of dust appeared first, then the riders came into view at the end of the road. Their clothes were neat, the region’s crest fixed on their chests. Their horses were clean and well cared for.

They stopped near the fence.

Old Bob lowered his gaze to the ground. “Why now...” he muttered quietly under his breath.

One of them dismounted. He straightened his clothes before walking closer.

“Good morning, sir.”

Old Bob answered, “Morning.”

The officer opened a small notebook.
“The tax on this land has not been paid for almost a year.”

Old Bob took a breath.
“But we have not harvested yet. This land has only just been worked again. I would like to ask for time until the first harvest—”

The officer raised a hand slightly.
“Sorry. I cannot delay it any longer.”

Silence settled for a moment.

Old Bob stood still, then turned and walked toward the house. He returned with a small pouch. He let out a long breath before handing it over. The coins inside clinked softly.

The officer counted quickly.
“Thank you.”

He gave a signal. The riders mounted their horses again and left. The dust they stirred slowly settled.

Zio remained near the cart. Old Bob was already pushing it back toward the shed.

The trip to the city was canceled.
The field was still empty, but something had already been taken from it.

Old Bob tapped the side of the cart twice, then turned. A light smile appeared on his face.
“Hahaha. Looks like we go without fertilizer until harvest.”

Zio looked at him.
“Will the harvest be different?”

“It’s fine. We’ll just sell cheaper to the collectors,” Old Bob replied.

Zio was quiet for a moment.
“How much for the fertilizer?”

“Maybe a hundred silver coins. Or two gold if we buy it all at once,” Old Bob answered while leading the horse back into the stall.

Zio nodded, then walked to the small shack at the edge of the field. He returned with a pouch of coins.
“Here. We’ll use mine for now.”

Old Bob shook his head right away.
“No need. I haven’t even paid your wages yet.”

“It’s fine. I don’t need it yet.”

Old Bob looked at him for a moment, then chuckled softly.
“You really are something.”

He patted Zio on the shoulder.
“Alright. I’ll treat it as a debt.”

“Okay.”

Old Bob added,
“There’s a fertilizer shop in Ravenhold and Solcarys. Ravenhold is cheaper but farther. When harvest comes, sell in Solcarys. The price is better.”

Zio nodded.

The cart was pulled out again. Zio climbed to the front. Old Bob stood at the edge of the field.

The wheels began to roll toward the road to Ravenhold.

***

Teodor’s axe came down.
Beast blood sprayed across the grass.

The first beast fell, but two more were already charging from the left. Jaws open. Claws sweeping low.

Teodor turned. One beast’s arm was severed before the claw could reach him. The body crashed to the ground.

Rask ran in. His shield slammed into another beast’s head with a dull impact. The creature was thrown back.

“Leon,” he said.

Leon raised a hand. Dense fire formed into a spear in his grip. It shot past the beast in front of Rask and pierced through its head.

Teodor tightened his grip on the axe and set his stance.

The one that had lost its arm was still crawling. Elyn fired. Her arrow, wrapped in compressed wind, struck the base of its neck.

Several roars came from behind the brush. More beasts emerged.

Slightly larger. Thicker hides.

Rask cursed under his breath and stepped forward. One slammed into his shield. The impact pushed his arm back half a step. He held. His feet stayed planted.

Teodor circled left. The second beast turned toward him. Its jaws snapped. Teodor ducked. The axe moved. A sideways cut tore through the creature’s body. It dropped.

Leon hurled a burst of flame into the dry grass behind the beasts. The fire was not large, but enough to make them hesitate. Their retreat was cut off.

“Elyn,” Teodor said.

The first arrow flew. It lodged in an eye. The beast thrashed and charged blindly. Rask held again. Teodor moved in from the side and cut into its knee. The joint broke. The body collapsed heavily.

The remaining beasts tried to flee deeper into the forest. Elyn had already drawn again. Several arrows flew. Leon followed with spears of fire.

They struck backs, legs, and arms. One beast kept running.

Teodor chased.

He made a short leap, landed beside it, then cut across the neck with a flat swing. The head nearly came off.

Silence returned.

Their breathing was heavy for a moment, then steadied.

Rask lowered his shield. “That’s the last in this spot.”

Leon stamped out the remaining fire with his boot. Elyn was already kneeling, her small knife opening the chest of one carcass.

“Core intact,” she said.

Teodor wiped his axe with a cloth. He scanned the area, making sure nothing else moved among the trees.

“We take all the cores first.”

They worked quickly. Elyn pulled the cores out one by one. Rask rolled the heavier bodies. Leon packed the cores into a pouch. Blood soaked into the dirt and grass.

A few minutes later, the area was clear of anything worth taking.

Teodor stood first. “How many?”

“Eleven intact cores,” Leon said. “One slightly scratched by Elyn’s arrow.” He grinned at her.

Elyn did not answer. She tightened her bowstring.

“Continue?” Rask asked.

“Eleven intact is enough for today,” Teodor said. “My legs are still a bit stiff.”

No one argued. There was no need to push further.

Elyn glanced at his leg.

“Maybe from lying in bed too long,” Leon said lightly.

"Yeah. We might need another frontliner,” Teodor said.

“We’ll talk about that later. Let’s head back to the horses,” Rask said.

Teodor nodded once and started toward the trail.
The others followed.

Within moments, the forest swallowed the sound of their steps.

***

Nyssa pushed the door of the small restaurant open with her shoulder and stepped outside. The midday light greeted her warmly, settling softly on her face without any glare. A gentle breeze drifted in from the main road, carrying the lingering scent of baked bread and spices from the kitchen that slowly faded behind her.

Solcarys was busy. Wagon wheels rolled over the stone street. People chatted in relaxed tones. Vendors called out to passersby. The sound of a large city that felt alive without being overwhelming.

Nyssa and her friend walked a few steps away from the entrance.

“Finally out,” her friend said, stretching her shoulders. “So… you’re really sticking with the inn?”

Nyssa glanced at her. “Yeah, Laura. How many times have I said it already?”

“You could just stay at my place,” Laura shot back. “We’ve got a spare room.”

Nyssa shook her head. “I don’t want to trouble your family.”

“My parents would be totally fine with it. Seriously.”

Nyssa gave another small shake of her head. “I know. Still.”

Laura let out a long breath. “You’re so stubborn.”

They paused near the edge of the street. A few people walking by glanced at Nyssa. Just brief looks, but noticeable enough. Her silver hair caught the daylight. The tips of her elf ears, not fully hidden, made her stand out among the human crowd.

Nyssa pretended not to notice.

Laura did. “See?”

“What are you even planning to do, staying alone in the city?”

Nyssa smirked. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she looked at Laura. “Whatever I feel like.”

Laura stared at her for a few seconds, then lifted a hand in surrender. “You stubborn princess. I give up.”

Nyssa let out a soft laugh.

“I’m serious, Nyssa,” Laura continued, her voice quieter. “Don’t head back too late. Even if people don’t know who you are… your face alone is enough to attract the wrong kind of attention.”

Nyssa leaned a little closer and whispered lightly, “Relax. There are plenty of Gatekeepers and Iron Watch from the Royal Forces around the city.”

She stepped back and gave a small chuckle.

Laura shook her head. “Yeah, yeah. Just be careful anyway.”

They started walking toward the next intersection. The midday crowd flowed around them.

“Alright,” Nyssa said. “I’m heading back to the inn.”

“Don’t forget to drop by my place sometime,” Laura replied.

Nyssa nodded. They shared a quick hug on the sidewalk, then split off in different directions.

Laura headed toward the residential district. Nyssa moved toward the main road leading back to the inn.

Her steps were light. Her expression calm.
But her eyes kept quietly tracking the movement around her as she moved through the crowd of Solcarys.

***

The sun had already begun to lower when the cart returned to the edge of the field. The light felt warmer now, stretching across the soil that had been turned since morning.

The horse slowed on its own as the wheels passed along the familiar path. Dust lifted lightly, then settled again.

Zio climbed down. He moved to the back of the cart and loosened the rope. Several sacks of fertilizer were stacked neatly beside a bundle of tools. He lifted one sack onto his shoulder and carried it toward the small shed.

Old Bob came over from the direction of his house, then took hold of the reins and led the horse.

They worked without much talk. One sack after another. The dull, heavy sound of weight meeting the wooden floor. The soft scrape of tools being set back into place.

By the time the last sack was moved, the sky had shifted into the gentle tones of late afternoon.

Old Bob wiped his hands with a cloth and looked at the small stack inside the shed.
“That should be enough until harvest,” he said.

Zio leaned the final tool against the wall and nodded once.

Old Bob glanced at him. “You did not have to pay for all of it at once.”

“It’s fine,” Zio replied.

Old Bob let out a quiet chuckle. “We will pay it back properly when the crops come in.”

Zio did not answer right away. He stepped out of the shed and looked over the field. The soil was still rough, but the rows were already set. The air carried a faint smell of earth and fertilizer.

The horse shifted its weight near the fence. Somewhere beyond the trees, the distant sound of evening insects had begun.

Old Bob headed toward the house. “Come inside when you’re done. There’s still some stew left.”

Zio stayed for a moment longer. “Yeah.” Then he turned and followed him.

The shed door was left slightly open behind them, the scent of earth and fertilizer lingering in the air.

The fertilizer would help the crops grow.
Whether it would be enough, only the coming season would answer.