If this is your first time here, check out chapter 1 and chapter 2 before reading this one.

*Please note that this story is copyrighted and is the sole property of the author. No part of this may be transcribed, copied, or used by humans of any intelligence or artificial intelligence without the express written consent of the author. Thank you.

---

Chapter 3 – Friends and Strangers

Coins jangled against one another as Himmel patted his breast pocket. The money bag he’d received from the sale of the redwood was far larger than any he’d ever received. It had fetched such a high price he’d paid off his debts to the miller, the physician, and soon, the blacksmith. 

The price of wood had increased drastically over the past month as a trail from the Silverlen mines down to the city of Solomon had been discovered by some student from Alturis. A trail that, if he trusted the rumor, would turn into a major highway between the silver mines and the capital city.

If that happened, it could mean less traffic, and therefore less business for Feltus, as fewer people traveled up the road through the Eastern Fringe. If and when that ever happened, he’d worry about it then. Roads took years to build, and by then, maybe he’d find a cure for his face, and he and Betany could move away from here.

The night he’d found the medallion, he’d wondered if he should sell it to help pay his debts. However, as he stood in front of Betany’s garden holding the medallion, trying to decide what to do with it, something strange happened.

Nothing grew in her weed patch except moss and current berries. If only the woman would try to grow something they could actually eat, like carrots or potatoes, he might actually enjoy eating her meals. Gems, he’d even take turnips at this point.

At these thoughts, green sparks flew from the medallion and fell onto the moss. Before his very eyes, sprouts shot through the soil, and soon a veritable garden surrounded his house. Now, they had more edible produce than he’d ever consumed in his life.

After watching the garden grow, he tested the medallion to see what else it could do. He placed the chain around his neck and strength flew down his limbs. On impulse, he picked up his ax and with two swings felled the nearest tree. Within moments, the space around his home was clear of trees and bright moonlight shone on him. The resulting pile of wood was so high it took several trips to haul all the lumber to the miller.

Thanks to his medallion, even his old horse had more of a spring to his step as it bobbed its way down the road toward town. Wooden houses and shops with animals carved at the cornices soon came into view.

A trickle of sweat trailed down Himmel’s back. He just needed to drop the andari off to Rowley and he could be on his way again. If he stayed on his horse, just maybe he could get out of there before the Meyers found him and accused him of some other law he’d broken.

When he arrived at the blacksmith’s shop, two wagons stood side by side, loaded with nearly every tool Rowley owned. One of the man’s sons came out, sour-faced and carrying a crate with horse shoeing nails, while his brother rushed out carrying the heavy anvil. They each loaded their items into the left wagon before closing the tailgate.

Himmel hopped off his horse and strode over. “What’s going on? Why are you loading your wagons?” The boys looked up at his voice and stared at him in surprised recognition.

The older boy, Aaron, he thought, spoke. “Pop’s been forced to leave. We have until tonight to clear out.”

Himmel blinked, unsure if he heard right. “But your family’s owned this shop for three generations.”

Rowley came out of the shop, face purple in rage. “We’ve been cited for not complying with a new law our ‘councilors’ have just inked.”

“What law have they put into force now?” He almost didn’t dare ask. If they’d blackmailed enough of the other councilors into voting their way, he was afraid of what they’d do.

Rowley set his armload onto the other wagon and secured it in place before speaking. “They say I violated the law that states anyone caught not paying import taxes on goods purchased outside of Feltus will pay a five hundred andari fine.”

Himmel’s mouth fell open. “Import tax on what comes into town?” He’d been gone less than a month. How could something this drastic have happened?

The younger son stepped forward, hands balled at his sides. “Outright lies from those shroom-eating, loftknobbed, kettlebellied—”

“They said I could either pay the fine that day, or they’d force me out of town. As no one in their right mind would keep that amount of money on hand, I must board up my shop and leave town,” Rowley said before his son could finish his tirade.

Himmel stepped back, a hand coming up to his mouth. “This is because of me, isn’t it? Because you were the only one who wouldn’t cow to those two toe rags, and shun me and Betany like the rest of the town.”

Rowley didn’t answer. He didn’t have to.

Himmel hid his face in his hands. “I’m so sorry, Bert. They should run me out of town, not you.”

A thick hand landed on his shoulder. “It’s not your fault, Himmel. You’ve only ever done your best with what you had. Most folks around here would be good to remember all the times you’ve helped them out. Now, were you looking for me for a reason?”

Himmel swallowed his distress and patted his shirt pocket. He tugged out a purse with the andari he still owed the blacksmith. “I came to pay the rest of my debt for the saw blade, plus some interest.” Himmel pulled out the pouch with the thirty-five andari and passed it over.

Rowley opened it and counted the coins, eyes widening. “You didn’t owe me this much, Himmel.”

“I know, but as the only person who treated me like I’m still human, that counts towards a bigger debt.”

Rowley swallowed and tried to hand the money bag back. “I can’t accept this. I know how long it takes to make this.”

“Luck is finally shining on me again. Keep it, Bert. You’ll need it as you set out,” Himmel said, suppressing the urge to clutch the silver chain hidden beneath his shirt. No need to let on he’d found the fabled medallion. Not even to someone as genuine as the blacksmith.

Rowley’s eyes misted over as he nodded before tucking the money away.

“Where are you going to go?” Himmel asked, glancing back at the wagons.

Rowley sniffed, but his voice was even. “We’ll try our luck in Solomon. I’ve heard there’s plenty of work among the metalsmiths with the Silver Road being built and all.”

“May fortune smile on you, Rowley.”

“You as well.” The man gripped Himmel’s hand in a tight farewell. Then he called to his sons to load up. Soon, the wagons were rolling down the road and out of town.

Himmel shook his head. What would he do without the blacksmith?

“Right over here,” called the oily voice Himmel despised. He turned to see Jude Meyer directing a beat up wagon with metal bits and long iron rods loaded in the back. The poor beast pulling it was lathered in sweat. A pink tinge colored the foam around its mouth.

A large man with arms as big around as Himmel was wide whipped the animal to back up to the now unoccupied space in front of the smithy.

“Whoa!” the newcomer called, giving a violent jerk on the reins. The horse stopped and hung its head in exhaustion.

Rowley wasn’t even fully out of Feltus yet and they were already replacing him? This was more than Himmel could take. “What in the wandering woods do you think you’re doing?”

Jude Meyer turned to look at who spoke. The snake’s face gleamed with delight when his eyes landed on Himmel.

“Well, well, well. Looks like the warted fungus decided to show its withered face. How many people did you infect with your heinous face on the way here this time?” Jude cat-called. 

“Rowley left only five minutes ago, and you’re already replacing him?”

“The town needs a blacksmith, but not one who swindles our town out of its needed funds.” Jude crossed his arms, as though daring Himmel to contradict him.

There was much more Himmel would like to do than just contradict this soulless chicken gizzard.

“You’ve just run off one of the last decent people in this town. He was the best blacksmith we’ve ever had, and you just evicted him because he wouldn’t bow to you like you were a Comstock king!”

“We eliminated a free-loader on our tax system and installed a more upstanding citizen.” Jude sniffed.

Himmel’s lip curled as he gestured to the stranger. “An upstanding citizen? He looks more like a mercenary in an apron.”

A sharp dagger appeared in Jude’s hand, pointed directly at Himmel’s long throat. “Watch yourself, you pustulate blister. I own this town, and if I say Rowley goes, he goes. And if I want to replace him with someone more to my liking, that’s my business. Now get out of my town before I take you and your rat’s nest of a wife, tie you two to a tree, and make you watch as I burn your house down.”

The threat to Betany was more than idle, and Himmel knew it. If this man was willing to run the best man out of town just for being kind, what would he do to the woman who’d married the town’s outcast?

Himmel glared into the man’s oil black eyes, wondering how he saw anything at all. If there was only himself to worry about, he’d use every one of his woodsmen’s honed muscles to ensure the greasy snake never opened the pits to his pitch dark soul again. But he couldn’t risk anything happening to Betany.

“Leave now, fungus face, before I cut you up and see if you’re just as ugly on the inside as you are on the outside.” Jude flashed a grin at his own cleverness.

Himmel’s hands clenched into fists, but he shoved them in his pocket and stomped back to his horse. With a final glare at the two-legged serpent in front of him, he wheeled the old horse about and trotted out of town, chest hammering, and hands shaking.

One day. One day I will crush that snake’s head and he will know it was me who dealt the killing blow.

Read Chapter 4