Squirrel at the fighting village

Squirrel settled on the ground outside of the hut door, leaned against a boulder they used as the front wall of their hut and looked up at the sky. The near sun had disappeared for the night and the far sun cast long shadows over the valley. He could hear the sounds of the crowd cheering and yelling as the fights began he wondered how Snake was doing on his wagers. For a moment he wished that he had sent a few coins with him; but maybe it was best that he didn't. He began to relax against the sides of the hut. He wondered about the news he’d heard. How much is really true, I really hope Bellatrix is okay, does she have a new name too? He started at the sounds of twigs snapping. He looked around the perimeter of the valley. There were several pairs of guards walking at intervals around the encampment. Some walked like they had quality training others looped along. They all carried weapons, some spears, some swords, one had a bow and arrows. Squirrel couldn’t see the details on all of them but the two coming close to him also had several knives in their belts. He stepped back under the shadow of the hut, hoping that they wouldn’t see him.

“Do you believe it’s true? the part about the crown prince being dead?” The taller man with the bald head spoke softly, Squirrel could barely hear him.

“I don’t know, there are rumors that the Reds took him across the river and buried a troll in the yard.”

“I heard that there was a grave in the woods that’s supposed to be him.”

“Why are you whispering? There is at least a half a kilometer between us and the next patrol.” The short stocky man had short, cropped hair that could be brown, red or black in the shadows. Squirrel tried to gather as much of their details as he could without being seen.

“Voices echo next to the canyon walls and we don’t know who’s out here. These fights seem to have drawn a larger crowd than usual.”

“A lot of people on their way to the caravan circus stop here this time of year.”

“Do you think that anyone from the royal household escaped and will show at the circus?”

“Why are you obsessed with the royal family? None of them have been out here since before the sickness. Maybe the Reds will care more anyway.”

Squirrel stiffened. Deputies had been sent out, twelve of them every year. They brought reports back from villages all across Fair Kingdom, from as far south as the frozen mountains, and as far west as the sea. He wasn’t old enough for official duties, but he was aware of some things. He waited until they were out of earshot and growled under his breath. I wish I had paid more attention to my kingdom than I did myself, now there is trouble and I can’t do anything about it. Not yet anyway.

“I don’t trust the rumors, someone from the royal family or a red scout could be standing right over there.” Their laughter faded into the night.

Squirrel stiffened, his heart raced and he forced himself to step slowly back into deeper shadows. He looked out at the crowds around the fight rings. There were three distinct groups that blended slightly with each other. There were a few people still on “main street” one of them broke away and headed towards him. He watched the figure walk gracefully through the street; she reminded him of his mother and sister as she neared the hut he recognized Cat. She was dressed like a man, but she wasn’t hiding her educated, cultured feminine walk right now. When she got closer, Squirrel used his best imitation of Master Bertrand and hissed “back straight, shoulders back, march firmly, only ladies glide.”

Cat’s stance immediately became as masculine as she could muster. “I guess I’m more tired than I thought.” She dropped the bucket she was carrying and set about building a fire. Squirrel stepped away from the hut and surveyed the area, another set of guards was getting close, he stepped back into the shadows. “What is the patrol saying?” Squirrel watched Cat set the bucket over the fire. Soon a sharp acrid smell assaulted his senses.

“What is that? You must be really hungry.”

“HA, it’s hair dye.”

Squirrel squinted at Cat, “hair dye?”

“Ok, you might as well know, my hair is not naturally brown.”

Squirrel opened his mouth to ask what color it was, but the tension in her shoulders stopped

him.

“The patrol?” Cat spoke firmly

“These two seem to be discussing the terrain and the fights. I get the impression that the group of fighters travel around and set up temporary areas wherever they think they can make money.”

“Hmm”

Squirrel turned to see Cat wrapping a wet cloth around her head.

He stepped away from the doorway and looked around no one other than the patrol seemed to be near their hut. “Do you have another cloth?” A lot of people have golden blonde hair, and blue eyes but my face is healing better than I thought it would, I can’t do anything about my eyes. . .

Cat handed him a wet cloth and chuckled at his attempts to wrap it around his head.

Turtle dashed into the hut “Hey guys are you hungry? There's a guy down there selling meat on a stick and mead. Do you want to go get something?” He stared at their heads then laughed, “You guys going to the desert?”

Squirrel grinned “maybe but not today.” He fished a few coins out of a pocket on one boot and handed them to Turtle. “Here go get us all some meat, bread and of course mead.”

Cat handed him an empty water bag. Turtle grinned and bounded off into the night. He was back a while later with the food and they all sat around the fire and ate. Squirrel tried not to grimace at the low quality of the mead, “pick up any news?”

“A group of Red foot soldiers raided a farm with a greenhouse and destroyed a bunch of plants, said they were looking for yellow spotted thistle. What's yellow spotted thistle?”

“I think it is what the Red Kingdom calls the plant that cures the sickness. It is poisonous if you eat it fresh.” Cat spoke hesitantly.

“Well, the meat vendor said that they grated roots into boiling water, then drank it and it made them crazy.” Turtle shuddered, “they tore trees out of the ground and pulled out the poles that held up the barns, then most of them passed out and a couple of them died. They went on the next day leaving the farm and green houses a broken mess.”

“Did they say where it is?” Squirrel thought maybe I would be safer in places they’ve already been.

“How are the farmers?” Cat stood as if she would run to their aid. Squirrel hoped no one could see him blush in the darkness, I’m still thinking of myself first.

“The farmers are ok, they managed to hide, the raiders got off with some of their stock though, and just left the dead bodies for them to bury. I think it's about a two-day walk. Not sure which direction.”

Fox and Snake ran into the hut laughing. “We did good tonight.”

“I think that Snake has had too much mead.” Fox tossed something to each of them. Cat’s and Turtle’s disappeared, Squirrel stared down and the small bag in his hand. “It’s coin, hide it on your person, we will sort it all out later.” Squirrel nodded and tucked it into a pocket at his waist.

“There’s going to be three more days of fights, anybody can sign up for the early set tomorrow, er um today.” Snake grinned and pointed to the brightening sky.

The near sun was shining on the horizon. Parts of the village were waking up and other parts were settling down. Squirrel spread his cloak over a pile of loose dirt and leaves, watched the sky through a gap in the wall of the hut, and listened to the quiet murmurings of his new family.