Adventure of Exiles

***

Felix double checked the paper with the address. He looked back up.

It was a humble farm. There were fields of wheat and there was a small herd of cows.

There was a small stone building where the livestock was held.

A man was tending to the animals. He looked a little bit older than Felix with a full beard and short cropped brown hair.

Michael gave some options he found for jobs from the inn. He picked work as a farmhand.

“Hey! You Klaus?” Felix called out approaching the man.

“Hmm?” Klaus turned to see him, “who are you?”

“Felix. You wanted a farmhand, right? I’m here for the job.”

Klaus scratched his chin, “I see. Finally, someone answered my posting. Farming is hard work through. You have any experience with farming, lad?”

“Not at all.” Felix said without hesitation.

“Well, I suppose everyone has to start somewhere.”

“I’m a quick study. I’m also strong and tough.” Felix said confidently.

Klaus raised an eyebrow, “really now? Alright, but I’m not going easy.”

So, Klaus led Felix around the farm and explained the work that had to be done.

He would have to clean the stalls, tend to the cows, sheep, and chickens. Feed them and gather the eggs.

Felix would also help with the crops. Harvest, maintain and till the fields.

Klaus had a deep calming voice as he spoke. Broke things down so easily while explaining each task like its second nature.

Felix agreed and got straight to work.

He was no stranger to hard work.

Who would ever expect a lowly farmland in a backwater town in a sleepy duchy to be guarding the last claimant for House Strass? He thought.

Felix spent a whole day working.

The sun was setting.

His arms were sore. His body was tired. But it felt good.

It was a simple honest hard day’s work.

Felix kept tilling the field. Trying finished for the day.

“Hey! It’s you again what are you doing here!?” Felix heard called out.

He put down his hoe and looked over to see Lisa running over to him.

She stopped as the fence and leaned over.

“Better question what are you doing here?” Felix asked.

“This is my father’s farm you goof!”

Felix paused to think. He took some winding paths to get here.

“Wait, wait. Are you serious?” He asked incredulously.

“Of course, I am. See that grove over there? Your house is pass there!”

“Huh.”

Felix turned to the grove and then back at her.

“I should have known.” Felix muttered. He was set up by Michael, that jerk.

“So, what are you doing here, Felix?”

“I’m working. What else would I be doing?”

Lisa crossed her arms, “a farmhand?”

“What? You don’t think I ever worked an honest day’s work?”

“You literally bought a house just like that. Aren’t you rich?”

“Well why not have a lot of coins plus more coins?”

Felix paused and wiped his brow, “honestly, this is kind of nice. Reminds me back when I was a kid working odd jobs to help out my mom.”

“Where is your mother now?” Lisa asked.

Felix went back to tilling and replied to Lisa, “she passed away when I was a teenager. Dad was never there. He was a deadbeat and left as when I was a kid. After mom died, I ended up joining the Order of the Raven.”

Lisa looked downcast, “Sorry to hear that.” She said quietly.

Felix shrugged, “Nothing to be sorry about, Lisa. It happened a long time ago. Life goes on.”

“Still...”

“It’s fine. Really. I can’t change the past.” Felix said slightly agitated. He always hated the look of pity people gave him when he talked about his mother.

Lisa didn’t say anything, and she hopped over the field and grabbed a hoe. She started to help Felix till the field.

They worked in silence, didn’t take long Felix was nearly done anyways.

“Thanks for the help, Lisa.” Felix said as he took the hoe from her hand and put away both hoes.

“Whelp, that’s that. I suppose I can try cutting across the grove now that I know.” Felix said as he hopped over the fence.

“Wait! Don’t you want to grab some dinner with us?” Lisa called out to Felix.

Felix was about to say no, he should get back home. Michael would annoy him if he came back very late.

Then his stomach growled.

Lisa giggled.

“What’s so funny?” Felix asked defensively.

“Nothing, you must be hungry. Why not join us?”

Ah what the hells. Why not?

“Alright, alright.” Felix replied.

Lisa grinned, “great, follow me.”

Felix walked alongside Lisa following her to her house.

She opened the door loudly and even more loudly, “Mom! I’m home. Felix is going to eat with us!”

Felix entered the house.

It was a two-story wooden house. The living room was right near the entrance and kitchen was attached.

He could hear someone walking down the stairs and a woman appeared.

“Lisa! How many times girl do I have to tell you to just open the door normally. Sheesh.”

Lisa’s mother was a beautiful and graceful woman, long brown hair tied back, and her face was a little lined from age.

Felix noticed Klaus quietly smoking a pipe at the dining table. Klaus calmly waved at Felix and gave him a small smile.

“Hello, I’m Lisa’s mother. You must be the new farmhand. My name is Maria.” She greeted him with a warm smile.

“Felix.”

“Please have a seat.”

Felix took his boots off and then entered the house proper.

He took his seat across from Klaus.

“You met Lisa before?” He asked.

“Yeah, your daughter stalked us when we bought the house.”

Klaus chuckled and took a puff from his pipe.

“Hey!” Lisa said as she punched Felix on the arm.

“She has a mind of her own. She’s an energetic one.” Klaus said.

“That’s putting it mildly.” Felix replied.

Maria came out with delicious smelling chicken and bread. She then served everyone.

Maria sat down and smiled at Felix, “thanks for all your hard work today. If only Lisa was as hard of a worker as you are. She was always daydreaming and going out on her little adventures.”

“Mom! That was years ago. Besides I wasn’t going to be a farmer.”

Maria sighed, “I suppose so. Still a mother worries, you know?”

Felix took a bite of the bread.

The bread was soft, fresh, and fluffy.

Maria smiled, “anyways, it’s nice to have some company. So where are you from?”

“Breslow. But, I moved around with the Order of the Raven.”

Maria nodded, “just like my father, Jakob. He was in the Order of the Raven too.”

“So, I been told. I met Eileen when we got into town. He apparently owns the Whispering Oak Inn.”

“Yeah. He owns the inn, the apothecary Lisa runs, and he did own the farm before we paid it off. It’s a shame he can’t run the farm anymore. His health isn’t what it used to be.” Maria explained.

“Oh really?” Felix asked.

“Yeah. You should meet him one day. I’m sure he will be glad to see someone from the same mercenary company as him.”

Doubtful.

Felix nodded, ” maybe one day.”

After they finished dinner. Klaus stood up and went to the kitchen and grabbed a wine bottle.

“Here Felix, you seem like a man who can handle his drink.”

Felix took the wine and examined the label.

“Ah, a fine year and selection. A crispy red wine from Winnicus outside of Strausehaven. A classic.”

“So, you know your wines.” Klaus remarked.

“A little. I have a good nose for the finer things in life. I appreciate good food and drink.”

“Aren’t you the fancy one.” Lisa teased.

“I can be.”

Felix was a bit surprised. This wine was a bit pricey. He wasn’t expecting much from this town.

Felix took a sip and relished the flavor.

Klaus raised his glass, “a toast. Welcome to Kurkenburg and here’s to a good relationship.”

Felix tapped his glass to his, “here, here.”

Maria gave him a small bow, “thank you for putting up with my troublesome daughter, Felix.”

Felix shrugged, “no problem, she’s not that annoying.”

“Hey!” Lisa exclaimed.

Felix chuckled.

Klaus pulled out a deck of cards and set them on the table.

“How about a few rounds?”

“Sure.”

They spent the rest of the evening playing and drinking.

Maria retired for the night.

“Thank you for your hospitality. I’ll be back to handle the chickens first thing in the morning.”

Karl nodded.

“See you tomorrow.”

He walked through the grove. The moon was shining brightly illuminating his path.

He was a bit through the grove when he heard a twig snapping.

He put his hand on his sword and turned to the sound.

“Show yourself.” He commanded.

“Sorry! It’s just me, Lisa.”

Lisa slowly came out from the bushes.

Felix shook his head, “Lisa? What are you doing? Can’t just stop bothering me, can you?”

“No.” As she came down to stand besides Felix. She then gestured for Felix to keep moving.

Felix shrugged and kept on walking.

“You fascinate me. You seemed to have lived such an interesting life before coming here. Yet, here you are working as a humble farmhand in a house by the sea. I never left Kurkenburg other than going Wittenden a couple of times. My grandpa told me all these stories of far-off places he was in while in the Order of the Raven.”

Felix couldn’t help himself but to scoff. Oh yeah? Did grandpa ever tell you men shit themselves as they die? Or how hard it is to apply pressure to a wound when their guts are spilling out? The hunger and thirst? How your muscles burn, and ache and your eyes feel like they are bleeding after constant combat?

“Listen Lisa. There is nothing admirable about my life. I hurt people. A lot of people and I got damn good at it. I became a mercenary because I was poor and miserable. Enjoy the life you have here. It’s peaceful here and you have parents who love you. You been blessed.”

Lisa shook her head, “I want to leave this place. I want to go on adventures, explore new places and uncover hidden treasures.”

Felix sighed and rubbed the back of his neck, “You remind me of Emily. It’s your life and you can live the way you like. I’m just saying the world out there can be brutal and ugly.”

Lisa didn’t say anything. They walked back to the house together in silence.

Felix waved, “have a good night, Lisa.”

As he turned to leave.

“Wait, Felix!” Lisa called out.

Felix stopped, “yeah?”

Lisa hesitated, “thanks for putting up with me. I will think about what you said.”

“Yeah, no problem. Just be safe. You should come over and visit sometime, Emily is quite lonely being cooped up in the house all the time with only the big oaf around for company. We could play some cards.”

Lisa’s eyes widened, “really? You wouldn’t mind.”

Felix nodded, “of course, just come over when you can.”

“Okay, thanks Felix!”

Lisa ran back home.

Felix watched her run off.

She likes running everywhere, doesn’t she?

He shook his head.

Why did he say that?

Ah, whatever.

He continued back home.