The Enchanter of Rangel: Child of War Book 1 (10 page)

             
“You really are a sweet boy Xander, sorry for being mean to you.”

             
“Apologies are not necessary my Lady, a smile is all I require.”

             
“Ooh smooth talker” said Shelia as she entered the dining room holding a tray of food. “Are you trying to lay your hooks into my daughter young man?” Shelia said jokingly.

             
“I wish!” Xander said making Mesha blush.

             
“I am happy to finally see you getting along; my Mesha just needed someone her own age. Around here there is nothing but old men. No one for her to court, her only time with people her own age comes when we visit Meadow, a place she doesn’t like hanging around as much anymore.”

             
“I do not see why not, she doesn’t have the extra pounds many women in the city carry around because of their sedentary lifestyle. Any man would be a fool to turn down such a woman, especially a future baroness at that” Xander said as he began piling his plate.

             
“I think so too Xander, my Mesha has more to offer than she thinks. A lot of digging has been done since you have been resting but we still have a lot to do. Trevor told me he thinks if there is going to be any attack, he thinks it will be here in valley with only a small attack happening on the road. You have had some good ideas so far, how would you best protect our shipments?”

             
“Lady Shelia, when I was younger I had an idea for a covered wagon, not a wagon covered in cloth but wood instead. It would have slits all around it so archers and crossbowmen could fire off bolts and arrows all the while staying protected in the wagon. I also think there should be some type of door retreating into the wagon for the driver. I would send that wagon out ahead to scout, but I would conceal its true nature somehow, no one I think would stand much of a chance if they had to fight off that attack plus that of regular swordsmen” Xander said remembering how once back in Riley and Army caravan had come under attack from numerous arrows from which they sustained heavy casualties. 

             
“Xander I wish I would have had you here earlier. We do not receive many people on their commitment and we do not really have any fighting men or even a single witch. But  I think we can outthink these bandits. I do not want to wind up like some other small towns especially since we receive no help. The ruling class does not want any more nobles, however minor my title may be when I get it. The Viscountess Dahlia, which whom land I am technically on, certainly does not want me to take over her land whether she was using it or not, and that is echoed by her benefactor Countess Black. We are supposed to be leaving the day after next, I do not think we have time to build this armored wagon of yours, would we be able to use my carriage instead? It is an old one I was given for coming out here. It is not in the best shape but it is road worthy.”

             
“I think it would do fine my Lady” Xander started. “In fact by your leave I think I will cut my dinner short and tell Hoss all about it. I believe I saw your carriage around back. We have plenty of work to do before we take off.”

             
“Just don’t work yourself too hard Xander, you are still young and the problems of this village shouldn’t even be on your shoulders” said Mesha in what Xander thought was a surprising display of compassion for him.

             
“Worry not my Lady” said Xander as he headed for the door.

             
Xander reached Hoss and told him about his plan to fix up the carriage to be a rolling attack fortress.

             
“And Lady Shelia went along with that, destroying her carriage?” Said Hoss before continuing, “That’s why I will never leave Valley along with the rest of them. Boy you will be lucky to be stationed here or someplace like it for your commitment. I have a couple of slats I think would do the trick, but right now I have a bigger problem. You can see I have already roughly split the logs you made, but driving these thick nails are taking a pounding on my muscles. Can you see if you can at start on some more of this floor work while I see what’s what with that carriage?”

             
“I can” said Xander as he picked up the big hammer Hoss was using. Looking at the hammer, it looked more like a Warhammer than what a carpenter would use, it was probably given to him by Jack. Xander waited for Hoss to depart before he pulled out his dagger and started inscribing on the side of the hammer his word for strength and poured his ether into it, this time making the hammer for use by everyone. It took more out of Xander, but he figured this way everyone could use it, and it would save Hoss. A short while later Xander had all of the floor completed as Hoss came driving up in the carriage.

             
“Boy I don’t know how you are doing this but thank you” said Hoss as he climbed down. I know you have been told to rest but this time I am enforcing it, go to sleep!”

             
Xander left and went to his spot in the stables, where he found a thick mattress and a plate of covered food. Xander first thought it was from Lady Shelia, but upon reflection she would have invited him in the house, insisted upon it. Xander ate his food and went to bed.

             
The sun still was not out when Xander awoke, just the way he planned it. Xander went to see the work that had been done on the gate and could see in many areas the outside was at least ½ done, which would probably not be complete by the time they left. Xander grabbed a shovel and put the same enchantment he put on his first shovel, except everyone could use it. Xander decided to do one more before he would eventually feel weak then went to bed awaiting the sunrise.

             
Xander could feel the morning sun on his face and opened his eyes seeing the sun much higher than where he wanted it to be. Jumping up, Xander made his way to the gate where he could see the two shovels he left inside the gate were being put to use. Already a sizable amount of dirt was moved so Xander decided to secretly enchant one more before moving on to breakfast.

             
When Xander returned from breakfast he could see the outside must have been done completely since Trevor and everyone else were working on the inside. Xander could see that for the town to expand, they eventually might have to fill everything in and shook his head at the amount of work that would take.

             
“Hey Xander, looks like you are rubbing off on these lads, it’s not even noonday and we finished the outside and are working on the inside! I think even Hoss had that carriage of your fixed the way you wanted. I am not sure if there is anything left for you to do to tell you frankly.” Trevor said looking around.

             
“Well sir, if you are telling me to go have fun instead of work, then I’m outta here” Xander said smiling.

             
“Well then get!” Trevor said as he continued to work.

             
Xander walked to the bath house and took a much needed soak. After his bath he dressed in a new uniform and walked towards Lady Shelia’s home. Before Xander could knock on the door, Mesha stepped outside.

             
“Hi Xander, are you ready for our trip tomorrow?” said Mesha looking happier than usual.

             
“I’m a little nervous to tell you the truth, I have never been to a big city before” said Xander.

             
“Well we still have to make it there first, but with you here, I don’t think there will be any trouble” Mesha said smiling.

             
Xander really took a good long look at Mesha, the first time he had ever really stared at a girl his age. He thought she looked absolutely beautiful from the way she smiled to how her hair was moving with the soft breeze.

             
“You look a lot happier, you must really be looking forward to your journey to Meadow” said Xander.

             
“Meadow is fun to visit sure, but I think I just needed my self-confidence back, thank you Xander” Mesha said as she gave him a small peck on the cheek and walked out towards the rest of the town.

             
Xander felt the heat rising in his body as that was his first kiss! He decided to see how Hoss was doing with the carriage. Xander found Hoss by the blacksmith whom everyone called old Jack laughing and smiling about something.

             
“Ah and here is the boy of the hour, are you ready for our trip boy?” said Old Jack.

             
“I am, I just wanted to see how the carriage was coming along” said Xander.

             
“Hell the carriage is done lad, we even improved upon it, instead of having all that stuff on the outside, we just armor plated the inside. It still looks like a regular carriage on the outside, but the inside there are four seats each facing out, no way somebody will get close without an arrow for their trouble” Hoss laughed.

             
“We really got nothing for you to do boy, just be ready though, we are leaving about two hours before first light. Bandits are normally sleep by then and we want to be on the road early, you are riding with the rest of the lads surrounding the carriage. Lady Shelia and Mesha are both going to dress up as men and depart with a bigger group on horseback about an hour later. That way if we get into a scrap, a rider can be sent back telling them to find an alternate route. You know to shoot a bow?” asked Old Jack.

             
“I’m one of the best I have ever met sir, and that’s not bragging either. But I don’t have a bow” said Xander.

             
“Hell we got plenty of bows, arrows too. You might have noticed we are not the best with swords this being a village full of old men and all, but a damn arrow don’t care how big, tough or young you are. Go get with Trevor and he’ll show you where they are kept, go find one you like for the trip” said Hoss as he returned to talking with Old Jack.

             
Xander found Trevor and asked about the bows where he was directed to a weathered looking shed. Looking in Xander could see there was trap door under some planks exactly where Trevor said it would be. Xander thought it was smart the way they hid their armory and walked down the steps. Inside he lit a torch and could see hundreds of bow with countless more arrows. Xander looked around and could see the Bows were nowhere near the quality of the one he had lost, but saw they were functional enough to get the job done. Xander spent the rest of the morning and afternoon finding him a spot he would ride in the carriage, complete with making sure he and whoever rode with them would have enough ammo. Afterwards knowing he had a busy next couple of days ahead of him, Xander turned in early.

CHAPTER

             
Xander could not sleep most of the night and instead went to pick out a spot in the carriage. He could see many men milling about at their guard post, probably nervous more than half of the able bodied men were leaving. As Xander climbed into the carriage, he thought any enemy short of a real army was likely to have big problems if they attacked Valley. Xander figured when he got to Meadow he would write his mom and tell her about the new defenses he had seen.

             
Xander wasn’t in the carriage for more than but a handful of minutes before Jack came in.

             
“Ha I should have known you would be here already, can’t sleep huh boy?”

             
“No Sir, I’m just anxious to finally leave” said Xander.

             
“Well plenty of us are and it’s almost time to go anyway. I see you stocked us up with arrows, I just hope old Francis will have a quiet trip.”

             
“Who is old Francis” Xander asked not sure if he had met a Francis in town.

             
“That’s my old bow, got her as a prize when I was younger than you in a shooting competition. Kept him in good shape just in case, just hope the only targets I’m shooting are old apples.”

             
Xander stayed quiet until the other men came in and began to pull out, wondering if they would have to fight the band that Sam was a part of, and wondering if Paddy or Rolle had died in the melee. The carriage pulled out with a guard of 8 riders beside them, Xander thought they didn’t look much swordsmen to him, but then again neither did the bandits.

             
The sun was at its highest point in the sky and the carriage was not attacked, thinking the bandits decided it wasn’t worth the trouble even if it did look like a Lady and her retinue. The horses were water and left to eat for an hour or so and then they were hitched back up. Xander and the other men stayed in the carriage much to his chagrin, as Xander loved being outdoors; he loved the sun on his face, the smell of the spring time flowers and the sounds various small animals make. Small animals, Xander listened but he could not hear any. It could be because him and the other men were in the area, but animals quickly go about their business if they determine you are not a predator and they are not on the menu. Xander had an eerie feeling in his stomach as the wagon started to move again.