The Once and Future Man - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Tolm was definitely right about the respect people would give him walking around with a nice sword.

David walked down the street casually as if he were there every day. His left arm swung loosely; his right rested lightly on the hilt of his sword. People made way for him as he passed. The sailors thinned out as he left the docks behind. Even the surliest of them hadn't blocked his path.

Now what?

His stomach rumbled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since before he died.

No, that's too depressing. Since before I moved?

He looked around for someplace to eat. After walking past a block of sail and rope makers he found a clean looking tavern. Stepping inside he saw a dozen polished wood tables spread out across the room. Half were full of tradesmen from the district having their lunch. David sat down at a table in a corner, the owner came over from behind the bar at the back of the room where he had been cleaning mugs. It was impressive how well he could weave through all the tables considering how fat he was. He bowed to David once he reached his table, but that may have been politeness to a customer, David couldn't tell.

"What can I get you sir? I'm afraid for lunch today it's just cold meat and bread."

"That's fine by me, thank you. I'll have lunch and a mug of cider if you have any." David didn't trust the water yet and it was a little too early for him to start day drinking. The barman nodded and went back to the kitchen. He was back a few minutes later with a platter of cold chicken, a wedge of cheese, a small crock of what looked like mustard, and a small loaf of brown bread.

"That'll be five coppers for the food and the cider." The fat man wiped his hands on his apron and waited.

David reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of coins. He handed the man one of the silver coins and settled into his lunch. He failed to notice a nearby table watching him talk to the bartender.

He fixed himself a sandwich, the bread was fresh and soft, the mustard surprisingly tasty. David listened to the other tables while he ate. It was mostly talk of their work and their families. He did pick up a few things here and there. Wellon was apparently an island, and he was on the west coast of it. It was the end of summer and harvest season was coming up. Then talk around the room moved on to the Courting Line. Everyone got involved in this conversation. The end of the month was approaching, and the hopefuls would present themselves to the Queen.

"Not much to see with this group. Just a few that came in a couple days ago from the mainland, don't know where from, but they didn't look like much." An older man told the group.

"Aye, I saw 'em too. Barely looked like they had enough to make the trip here. Don't see how they'll impress the Queen." That came from the barman himself.

"Not much to wager on this time then." Said the first man again. "My money is still on Lord Harsk. He keeps coming back, the Queen's going to pick him just on repetition. And he's homegrown."

Another man from a table near the door spoke up, "You're crazy. If she ain't picked him by now she's never going to. I'll put ten coppers on one of the new ones."

The first man shook his head. "Three to one? If you're giving those odds, I'll take that bet."

Both men nodded and raised their mugs to seal the wager.

The bartender brought David his change which amounted to forty-five copper coins the size of dimes. "You're both nuts. If the Queen picks anyone this time, you'll get a free suckling pig dinner on me." The lunch crowd all raised their mugs and cheered the fat man. He looked down at David, "Been making that bet every month for two years now."

David continued to eat his sandwich and listen to the others talk. After the excitement of the wagers the conversation went back to their work and how badly they were taxed by their lords and guildmasters. It seemed it was true, the only certain things in life were death and taxes. No matter what world you were on.

The group started to break up shortly after, with most of the men needing to get back to work. David really didn't have anywhere to go, so he ordered another cider.

What to do now? Everyone he met brought up the Courting Line, the universe wasn't exactly being subtle. From what he had gathered during the lunch conversation, men in the city were free to take up a trade but if there was an existing guild for it you had to pay dues or get run out of town. All land outside the city was owned by the nobility so if you wanted to set up anything there you needed approval and be ready to get taxed whatever they thought was fair. So much for buying a nice house on the beach.

David thanked the fat barman for the meal and left. The table of men that had watched him pay for his lunch waited a moment and then followed him out the door.

As he walked through the city David looked for libraries or schools. Anywhere that he might be able to ask more about the world at large. He wasn't really paying attention to where he was going, just daydreaming and trying to get a feel for where things were in the city. That was why he didn't notice that he had walked into a dead end. As he turned around the men from the tavern spread out across the road behind him.

Great. Not even one day into being here and I'm about to be murdered.

There were four of them, all heavily muscled rough looking men. Two carried long knives and the other held clubs. They were all slightly shorter than David but each one must have outweighed him by at least twenty pounds. The shortest one in the middle took a step forward, "Hand over what you got, or we'll leave you bleedin' in the alley."

David drew his sword and tried to stand up as straight as possible. His stomach was churning, and his mouth was suddenly bone dry. There was no way he could see himself fighting off all four of them. But he also didn't believe for a minute that they would happily walk away and leave him alone if he gave them the coins in his pocket. He looked past the muggers to the mouth of the alley, a few people were walking by, but no one even looked their way.

"I think I'll keep 'what I got', and you guys can just walk away. How's that sound?" He held the sword in his left hand, pointed towards the ground.

All four of the men laughed at that. The short one looked at his friends and then spoke to David again. "We'll be taking that fancy sword of yours too. Be a smart boy and just hand them over so we don't have to leave your brains all over the ground."

No one moved or talked. Even the background city noise had faded it seemed.

The attackers exchanged glances. David's hand was sweaty, he gripped the sword handle tighter.

"Enough of this shit, get him!"

All four rushed forward raising their weapons. David raised his sword in both hands, held out in front of him. The attackers were closing in on him quickly, clubs ready to bash his head in.

Well dying wasn't so terrible the first time, right?

David ran forward, swinging the blade in a wide arc. His foes spread out to circle him. In less than a second, they were all around him. David didn't stop moving forward. When he was within striking distance, he extended his arms as far as he could and spun hard on his right heel. The sword flashed around in a full circle. Blood spurted into the air as arms and fingers were cut. There was only the short thug in front of him. David finished his final turn and caught the man across the face, the tip of his nose flew into the air, blood flooded down his shirt. David lowered his sword and ran straight at the short man while he tried desperately to stop the bleeding. David used his shoulder to shove him out of his way.

He stumbled forward another step and then turned to look at the scene behind him. All four of the attempted robbers were bleeding, some were on the ground looking for fingers. Short Man had removed his shirt and was using it to soak up the blood from his face.

David was breathing heavily, and he had a horrible flop sweat going but he couldn't believe it, there wasn't a mark on him. The less injured thugs were already starting to recover and looked at him menacingly. There was nothing between David and the street now. He ran away as fast as he could.

****

I'm really glad no one was around to see that.

He had run all the way back to the docks, weaving through crowds, looking over his shoulder for the muggers. When he could see the harbor again, he dropped onto a bench under the last tree on the street to catch his breath. David leaned back and closed his eyes. He'd made it. And his skills with a sword were right on par with what he expected. He doubted swinging around like a crazy person and hoping for the best would work a second time.

I either need to find someone to teach me or start thinking outside the box a little.

He could always hire a bodyguard. He'd seen a few rich merchants that day walking around with armed guards around them. Even a fat noble going by being carried on a palanquin, guards in front and behind. He hadn't seen anywhere offering guards for hire though. And how could he be sure that they wouldn't just turn around and rob him like the guys in the alley. There was a ton of money in that cave. Literally.

He wished he had been allowed to bring some guns with him. He was no special forces operative, but he'd lived in Texas all his life. He'd gone buck hunting every year and to the range every other month or so with his friends. Even firing into the air might have gotten him out of danger today without cutting off any noses.

They just said no modern weapons would be sent. No one said anything about trying to make weapons once I got here. That feels like it falls under doing whatever I want to.

A simple flintlock pistol should be manageable for the craftsmen here if he could find the right ones. He knew how to make gunpowder if he could find the components. His friend's brother back home had been what he called a 'hunting purist' and only used black powder rifles. He'd bored everyone to tears one weekend explaining the whole process of making it. It had been interesting at first, but anything will get boring when you hear about it for six straight hours.

David got up and walked back down the docks to where Tolm's stall was. It was a longer walk than it seemed. When he got back to the north end, he found out that the old farmer had already left. The others told him that he and Harv had only stayed long enough to let the horses rest and then gone home. They were all very respectful to David, bowing and dropping sir's and m'lords right and left. He was disappointed that he had missed Tolm, but glad that he had been able to help him out so much. He asked if any of them knew of a good blacksmith nearby. One of the other farmers pointed farther north down the docks. They let him know there was a guy there that worked on lockboxes and other intricate devices.

He thanked them and wished them luck selling their chickens.

It was a quick walk up the pier to where the blacksmith's shop was. It was a small stone building set back away from the pier. David let himself in the front door. He didn't see anyone inside but there were signs he was in the right place everywhere. There were a few horseshoe blanks on the wall, but it seemed to mostly be ship related items. There was a barrel of nails right by the door, display shelves of padlocks and spy glasses, even a rack of cutlasses against the far wall. There was also a whole ship's anchor in one corner. Walking around the room he saw a few sextants on a table and... he couldn't believe it.

On a small table near the horseshoes was what looked like the handle of a flintlock pistol. There was no barrel, just the flint, a frizzen, and a trigger on a stumpy handle. David picked it up and turned it over in his hands. He pulled back the hammer and it clicked into place like he expected. He pulled the trigger and the flint snapped forward against the frizzen creating a shower of sparks. It was exactly how he remembered it from that hunting trip. The Aliens had said there were no explosives or guns here, so why would this be here?

"Oh, hello there, I didn't know anyone was in the shop. Sorry, I was out back working. If you're in need of a fire starter, you're in luck. That's my last one." A tall skinny man had just walked in from the back of the store. David turned around with the flintlock still in his hands. The blacksmith wiped his hands with a rag, smiling at him in a friendly way. He looked even younger than David, maybe in his early twenties. His hair was a short cropped mess of black curls, sharp blue eyes took in everything around him.

"Actually, I was hoping to have something made. Are you the blacksmith?" David asked.

"Oh no, not at all. I belong to the artificer's guild. Anything with iron, brass, glass, leather, or wood and I can make it. Way better than some everyday blacksmith. And my name is Setrek."

David smiled; this guy had hipster written all over him. He was waiting to be told that the anchor in the corner was locally sourced. "I'm David, I need to know if you can modify this 'fire starter' into something else."

"I'm sure I can. What did you have in mind? It's a pretty straightforward device, hold it over your kindling, cock the hammer and pull the trigger. Instant fire."

David explained that he needed him to alter the frizzen to be on a hinge with a small pan under it, place the whole thing in a longer stock, and attach a steel pipe sealed at one end to it with a pinhole next to the pan.

Setrek looked puzzled. "I'm sure I could but I don't see what the function would be. The sparks will have cooled off before they make it to the end of the pipe. The few that actually get through that pinhole anyway."

It wouldn't do any good to explain, "But you can make it?"

"Sure, it'll take me a day or two to take that one apart and alter it. Make a new stock and the pipe. But I'm already working on a pair of spectacles for a merchant captain so it may be a while before I start."

David thought that over and reached into his pocket. He slapped down four gold coins on the table in front of him. "Will this hurry things up a little?"

Setrek's blue eyes opened wide, "It sure will!" That was ten times what he was being paid to make those spectacles.

They went over technical details for a few minutes and then shook hands over the deal. David happy he would have a way to defend himself that he was much more familiar with, and Setrek happy that he would be getting an impossible amount of money for a device that was already half made.

By the time David left the artificer's the sun was low on the horizon. He walked back down to the farmer's stand. There was no one there, they had all shut down for the day. He kept going down the pier to one of the taverns Tolm had mentioned earlier in the day.

It was a ramshackle building, but the inside was clean enough. A few sailors were already there settling into their dinners. Or passed out drunk, in the case of one hapless individual. David sat down at a table by the wall farthest from the door and waved over the barmaid. She was an older woman, used to dealing with rowdy sailors every night. "Drink or food boy?"

"Food. And a beer to wash it down with." David answered. She walked away before he could ask what food he had just ordered.

It turned out to be a thick seafood soup with biscuits. It tasted amazingly fresh, which made sense considering where he was. There wasn't as much talk as there had been at lunch. When he had finished his soup he asked the old barmaid about a room for the night. She reached into a pocket on her apron and handed him a key. "Room two upstairs. That'll be ten coppers for the food and the room."

He paid for everything and went up to his room. Just like the common area of the tavern, it looked clean enough. A bed by the window with a small table next to it, another table against the left wall had a bowl and a jug of water on it. The sun was setting outside, the sky awash in pinks and reds. David sat on the bed and watched out the window.

All in all, not a terrible first day. He'd made it to a city, so he wouldn't be starving in the woods. Sure, he'd been mugged, but even that had worked out ok. Except for that guy's nose and a few fingers. He'd hopefully have the world's first gun in a few days. He just needed to find the components to make black powder.

And figure out a way to get an audience with the Queen. There just didn't seem to be any other way to move things out of medieval times around here. If she seemed ok, he could offer his services, get an industrial revolution started and help this place become a little more prosperous. Easier said than done, but what else was he going to do here? He wasn't sure what he would do if that didn't work out. There was no way he could move all that gold by himself and set up shop somewhere else.

The sun had set now, and the stars had come out. The smooth water of the harbor reflecting the light was very calming. He didn't recognize any constellations up there, but it was a pretty sight. He wondered what was going on back on Earth. Did anyone other than his family care that he was dead? Probably not. The moon was up now, almost full. Its silver light was surprisingly bright. He'd expected things to be pitch black with no city lights around. He was about to turn in when a second moon came out from behind the clouds. While the first was a normal silvery white color, the second was dull brick red.

David had already known he was on another world, but this still shook him quite a bit. When he had been offered a role in this experiment, he had been thinking maybe he was just in an alternate dimension on his Earth, a 'many worlds' kind of thing. Not a chance of that now. He really was on another planet, abducted by Aliens.

He laid down on the bed, finally overwhelmed by the day. Dying, getting offered a weird new life, two moons. Enough was enough, he was going to sleep.

Tomorrow was a brand new day on a brand new world.

****

"What are you doing asshole? Move that fuckin' thing out of the way!"

David woke with a start. He'd left the shutters open and he was jolted out of a deep sleep by the sounds of the docks coming to life for the morning.

"Yeah, yeah, I've got a ship to load too pal. High tide isn't for another four hours. I'll be done and gone before your tub needs to sail."

A man with a flatbed wagon was moving rope onto a sleek two masted ship while another one was parked behind him loaded with barrels of fresh water. The barrel driver was the one to start the shouting. He was too far back to use the crane to load the ship on the other side of the pier.

Despite the sudden rude awakening David felt well rested. He got dressed after splashing water from the basin on his face. The dockworkers were still arguing when he went downstairs to find breakfast. The common room was even emptier than it had been for dinner. Only one man was there, bent over a plate of eggs and potatoes by the door. David sat down at the same table as the night before and after a little while the barmaid brought over a plate to him. The potatoes had plenty of garlic and onions to flavor them and the scrambled eggs weren't bad either. He thanked the old woman after he finished and handed her a few coppers before he headed out.

Time to make some gunpowder. I hope.

He headed back into town, paying better attention to where he was going and who was around him than he did the other day. Before long the harbor was far behind him. This city didn't compare with Dallas or New York in terms of size, but it still took some time to get around. He'd made it to an area west of the palace hill but still outside of the ritzy neighborhood that surrounded it.

Shops lined the street around him, but none looked like what he wanted. Plenty of workman's trades, but nothing as arcane as what he hoped to find. He stopped in a square with a big fountain in the middle of it. He bent over the water to wash away the grime from his face and hands. This place was cleaner than he expected but horses and wagons still kicked up a lot of dust. When he turned around there was a group of boys staring at him. About a dozen of them ranging from five to ten years old if he had to guess. There were plenty of kids running the streets here. Some were apprentices learning a trade, but most seemed to have nowhere to be. He smiled and waved, causing them to look at their feet and elbow each other excitedly. When they had settled down, he tried to motion them forward. After some more pushing and shoving one of the youngest was forced into volunteering. By the look of him he was only six or seven. He looked healthy, if a bit underfed. His feet were bare, the rest of him covered with pants that were too short and a threadbare shirt.

"What's your name young man?"

The little boy looked up for the first time and David could see bright blue eyes under the boy's ragged mop of brown hair. "Jaym m'lord."

David rolled his eyes but he knew it was pointless to argue the status of his nobility with this child. "Is there something that you and your friends want from me?"

And I'll cross my fingers you don't work for a guy named Fagen.

The boy shook his head. "We saw you ride in with the farmer yesterday. And we heard about some bandits that got their faces cut off by a stranger."

Word spreads real fast around here. "I did ride in with a farmer yesterday, but I didn't cut off anyone's face. Just part of a nose."

That caused more chatter amongst the group of kids. One of the older ones with a black eye shouted at the others, "I told you! Dravit was only missing a finger when I saw him."

David looked at the little spokesman in front of him. Was a group of kids really going to attack him now? The boy looked at his friends and then back at David, "Dravit and his gang like to try to rob new people in the city. They don't like us because we sent the guards after them the last time they beat us up. We were just playing in the street too! Not even trying to stop them from stealing."

"Well I don't think they'll be robbing strangers anymore. For a little while at least, anyway. Are you familiar with the area around here? I can't find what I'm looking for. Do you know the shops and trades?"

The boy nodded happily. He would be the local hero for at least a week for talking to such a lordly figure.

"Good. Is there a chemist close by?" A blank look was his only answer. "An alchemist? Potion maker? Soothsayer? Wizard?"

The boy brightened at the last one, "You mean old man Murdock?"

The group of boys tittered with laughter. David silenced them with a look and turned back to Jaym. "Who is Murdock? What does he do?"

"He owns a shop closer to the center of the city. People go there when they're sick sometimes. My mom went there when she was trying to have my brother and he made her something that helped. We try to sneak in there sometimes, to look at all the weird stuff, but he always chases us out."

The other boys nodded. Some laughed while others rubbed their hind ends.

"Can you show me the way to Murdock's shop?"

Jaym smiled, revealing a few missing teeth.

David took that as a yes and stood up.

The little boy bounded away until he remembered he was supposed to be leading someone. He came back and, greatly daring, took David's hand. He proudly led the way out of the square heading towards the south side of the palace hill. The others followed along behind. More boys joined the group as they moved through the streets. Stories flourished as the newcomers sought out what was going on. Older townsfolk stared at the motley parade in their midst. David shook his head knowing he would be the talk of the town in no time. The strange young noble being led about by a gang of street urchins. He'd wanted to keep a low profile until he was comfortable here but that would be impossible now. Between cutting off a bunch of bandit fingers and this trip across town, half the residents of the city would probably know about him before long.

They turned a corner and Jaym pointed to a shop halfway down the street. A sign marked with a mortar and pestle hung above the door. The small boy pulled him along until they were in front of it. The others hung back on the other side of the street, fearful of 'old man Murdock'.

David reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver coin. "I need to go in here and talk to Murdock. Can you wait for me out here and show me to a few other places?"

The little boy's eyes never left the coin, but he did manage to nod his head.

"Good. Take this and stay here until I come out."

David opened the door and headed inside the dimly lit shop. The other boys rushed across the street to get a peek at their friend's prize. The inside of the workshop was crowded with barrels and shelves. David could easily see why young boys of the city would be interested in getting inside. Here were the dreams and nightmares of any adventurous youth come to life. Glass jars with pickled animals inside lined one shelf. Herbs hung in bunches from the low ceiling. Ground up minerals were heaped in buckets and barrels along the floor.

"You may have made a friend for life."

David jumped at the sudden voice. Sitting behind a counter near the front window was an ancient looking man. His hands kept grinding herbs while he looked out the window. "That is, if he survives his new fame."

Through the window he could see little Jaym on the ground curled up in a ball trying to protect his reward from probing hands.

"God damnit!" David started to leave when the old man stopped him.

He reached onto a shelf behind him and dropped some crystals out of a jar into a sack. He tossed it to David. "Give that to them. It should help your friend."

David looked at the bag and then at the old man.

"It's just rock candy, flavored with blueberries."

David smiled and stepped outside with the bag. He had to shout and bully his way to the center of the pile to get their attention. He pulled Jaym up off the ground and gave him a piece of candy. When they saw what was in the bag the others pushed forward again to see if there was more. David tossed the sack out into the reaching hands. "That's all you'll get from me after treating your friend like that! Now take it and go home!"

The children were sullen, but they did as he asked. Jaym looked up at him wondering if he would be sent away as well. David ruffled his hair and told him to sit outside Murdock's and wait.

The owner smiled at him when he re-entered the shop. "Well handled sir. And now, what may I do for you today?"

"Would you be the owner, Murdock?" David couldn't think who else he might be. He was a small wiry man. A few tufts of white hair sprouted around his ears, other than that he was bald. Bushy eyebrows shadowed bright green eyes. He came around his work bench and bowed before David. "I am indeed Murdock, the best herbalist in Thaladon, if I may say so. What can I find for you in my little shop?"

Right now he was only interested in three things. There would be time later to investigate the wonders here. "I need one pound of sulfur, one pound of charcoal, and five pounds of saltpeter. All ground into a fine powder."

Murdock wiped his hands on his leather apron and shuffled off around the shop. He stopped by a few different barrels and scooped their contents into leather pouches. These he brought back to the workbench and set each on a set of scales one at a time to weigh them out. He picked out the excess until he had the right weight and tossed it in a trash can next to him. David hoped he didn't drop a candle or something in there next. "There you are young man. I can't see what you hope to make with that. Most men in your situation try flowers. Jewelry is a safe bet too."

David was suddenly confused. "Excuse me? What situation?"

Murdock's eyebrows rose until it looked as though he had hair. "I may be old, young man, but my mind hasn't gone soft yet. You're obviously foreign or you wouldn't be using children to find your way around. You're wealthy but I doubt you're from the nobility. No noble would have let himself be pulled around by little Jaym out there. Yes, I saw you come down the street. So, you're a rich foreigner newly arrived in the city... The logical conclusion is you're here to try your luck with Queen Mialana. Like I said, get some flowers. I've never met the Queen but no woman I ever knew would be impressed by a bag of sulfur."

"I'm not here to marry anyone! From all I've heard, this Courting Line must stretch around the world. I had planned to present myself at the palace to offer my service but that's all."

Murdock smiled but didn't appear moved by David's stance. "Then I suggest you bottle your pride and join the Line. No, no, don't get angry. Your accent gives you away as someone who isn't local and unless you're in the Line you won't get through the gate. The only other foreigners allowed before the Queen are ambassadors and you don't have the pomp and arrogance to be one of those. I haven't met the Queen herself, but the palace does call on my services now and then. I've seen my share of the upper crust of society. You don't have to actually win her hand, just make a good impression. When it's your turn state your case and let her know you're open to another arrangement besides man and wife."

David thought it over. Even with his knowledge and the money stored in the cave his options were limited in this society without approval from on top. There was only so much he could do on his own. All the resources and the workers to utilize them were controlled by the Queen and the nobility. Sure, he had enough money to get established somewhere, maybe buy a small business. He could live comfortably but he knew he would soon go crazy with boredom. Not to mention the Aliens might renege on their deal if he just sat around and did nothing all day.

"I appreciate the advice but why be so helpful? We don't even know each other."

The old man sat back down on his stool. "I remember Jaym's mother and father. Nice people. His father was a journeyman in the stone mason's guild. The mother came to me a few times over the years. I appreciate what you did for that young man. He would have shown you around for free. It speaks well of your character how you treat the lowest among us."

David thought that over for a moment. "Do you know where I can find a good goldsmith?"

Murdock clapped his hands sharply, "That's the spirit! Those street rats will have spread rumors about you faster than a brushfire. By the time the ears of the palace hear them you'll have been carried through the streets by a wave of children, throwing gold around like rain drops. The Queen takes her responsibility towards the common folk seriously from what I've heard. Knowing you've been generous to her people ought to give you a leg up. As to the smith, you'll want to see Alden. Jaym should know where he is."

David paid for his items along with a small barrel. He thanked Murdock for his time, resisting the old man's attempts to find out what he was going to do with the minerals. He left and asked Jaym if he knew where Alden was. The boy nodded and pointed down another side street. David sat down next to him and put everything inside the barrel, then sealed it. He stood and offered his hand to Jaym again.

The small boy held his head up proudly as he pulled David through the streets. He already had enough money to not go hungry for a week, now he was leading this odd foreigner from the strangest shop he knew to the most wonderful. Murdock's was a legend for the local youth, surrounded by mystery and danger. Alden's smithy was equally famous. There was always a crowd pushing their faces up to the window to watch him make rings and chains out of the finest silver and gold. That is until the city patrols shooed them away. Alden's shop was in the rich part of town and the local residents didn't take kindly to riffraff in their streets.

They received a few unkind looks due to Jaym's ragged appearance but no one stopped them. It was a good ten minute walk from Murdock's to Alden's but Jaym got them there quickly, only getting lost once. A portly man was relaxing outside under a sign bearing a ring and a hammer.

He seemed to be early middle age with curly brown hair and beard. His leather apron was stretched around a prominent middle. Muscles bulged along his arms. David could see that while his hands looked rough and calloused they were also long and nimble. He was about to clear his throat when the man popped his eyes open and took in his visitors.

"No shoes, no service."

Jaym looked down at his bare feet and shuffled uneasily. He seemed like he was going to cry, when the smith laughed causing his belly to shake.

If there's a version of Christmas here, there wouldn't be anyone better to play Santa. A jolly toymaker if there ever was one.

"Don't worry young man. I don't mind when you and your friends come and watch me work. Have a seat and your master and I will go inside and talk over whatever business he has in mind. If a patrol comes tell them you're waiting to make a delivery for me."

David and Alden went through the open door of the smithy into a neat display area. Tables covered in black cloth were piled with rings and necklaces. Pendants and bracers for rich men filled a few others. And right by the front window, a small table and stool laid out with small hammers and pliers.

Alden went to a desk at the back and pulled out a chair for David before sitting down on the other side. "So, what can I do for you sir?"

"Murdock, the herbalist, told me you were the best goldsmith around. Is that true?"

Alden's brown eyes twinkled, "That old crackpot? He may have been right for once. Anything to do with gold or silver and I'm your man."

"Not a fan of Murdock? I'm surprised he would recommend you if you're hostile to each other."

The smith scratched at his beard and laughed again. "Oh, we get along just fine. He's been in business longer than most of the other tradesmen in town have been alive. Good man, but a terrible gambler. Always playing stupid hunches. Half my stock of gold has come from him over the years."

David took a deep breath and explained what he wanted. The craftsman nodded and thought for a minute. He pulled a sheet of paper towards himself and a piece of charcoal. David sat quietly while the man worked. Alden glanced up at him while he drew, "Can't say I've ever had such a commission before. The lady it's for will surely be impressed."

"It's for a Queen so let's hope so."

Alden stopped drawing and sat up straight. "This is gonna be your gift for the Line?"

David nodded.

"In that case you'll never see better work than what I'll do for you. All these fops and foreign dandies bring garbage from their own craftsmen. They want to rule us but can't be bothered to throw a little business our way. Couldn't think of a better way to dash their dreams than to have a gift from down the street outshine all their exotic treasures."

Alden went back to drawing, stopping every so often to clear up a few things with his customer. Crumpled papers rained down on the floor around their feet. Another ten minutes and they were both satisfied with the design.

"How long would it take you to make this?" David asked.

The smith sat back resting his hands on his belly. "Should take maybe a week if I had all the materials. Not so much the metal as it is the other parts you see? Some of them are pretty hard to come by. I can start the mold after lunch and have it ready in a day or so."

"I can get you everything else you need by lunch tomorrow." David reached into his backpack for his money pouch, but Alden stopped him.

"Don't pay for work until you've seen it done boy. Even from me."

He nodded and pulled a silver coin from his pocket as he stood up and tossed it to Alden. "Lunch is on me all the same." He promised to be back the next day and stepped outside.

Alden flipped the coin up in the air and caught it. "Might as well go home you foreign devils, the contest is already over. The Queen won't care what you've brought from over the sea when she sees what's come up from down the hill."

****

Jaym bounced to his fee when David stepped out onto the street. The gunpowder barrel was held tightly to his chest. "Where to now m'lord?"

"Point me to the nearest inn and then you should probably go home for lunch."

"Begging your pardon sir, but I don't have a home."

David was puzzled, "I thought you said Murdock helped your mother?"

"He did. My mom had a boy two years ago. Our house caught fire during the last harvest season. I was down at the harbor with some friends, but the rest of my family was home..."

David put his hand on the boy's shoulder and said that he was sorry for his loss. "Where do you live now? Who takes care of you?"

"I live on the street with the other boys. Some of the bakers gives us leftovers at the end of the day. Other than that, we take care of ourselves." He stood as tall as he could, as if daring this stranger to doubt that he could look after himself.

David reached out his hand, "Take me to the nicest inn in town."

****

As it turned out, the best inn was around the corner from where they were. By 21st century standards it was a fancy log cabin. Here it was one of the most well-made buildings he'd seen besides the palace. Three stories of plaster and beam. Open shutters on large windows could be seen on the upper floors, the first floor was all stained glass. Scenes of feasting and warm fires glowed with light from inside, even at midday. David opened the door, the smell of fresh bread and stew hit him in the face. His stomach rumbled, reminding him he hadn't eaten since the morning. Jaym sat down outside to wait again but David pushed him inside.

A serving girl rushed over to protest. David cut her off before she could really get going. "My servant has had a very rough day. Give him a hot bath and whatever he wants to eat. I'll also need rooms for both of us for the next few days." The gold he put in her hand stopped whatever argument she'd been thinking of making. "I also need a fast horse for the day if you have one, brought out front."

The girl nodded and went to talk to an older woman that might have been her mother. They both had the same curvy build and dirty blonde hair. The two spoke for a few moments and broke apart. The girl went behind the bar and out a back door. The woman came over and took Jaym by the hand. She started to take him to another door, the boy resisted and looked back at David.

"It's ok Jaym. Do what she says."

After that he allowed himself to be led about by the matron. She patted him on the head and frog marched him out the back as only an experienced mother could do. He grabbed a bowl of stew and had it gone in minutes. David went back out the front door to wait for the horse. After a few minutes the girl came around the corner with a grey colored mare saddled and ready. She smiled coyly and handed him the reigns. "This is Honeycomb, she's the fastest horse we have."

David put his foot in the stirrup and pulled himself up onto the horse. He caught her stifling a laugh while he mounted it.

Can't blame her. I only rode a horse once at that stupid summer camp. And that was for ten minutes while a guy led it around on a rope. Even I think I look like an idiot up here.

When he was finally seated the right way he leaned down to the girl. "If my servant is finished eating before I get back send him up to his room to rest." He sunk his heels into the horse's sides, hoping it would rear up and gallop away like they did in the movies. The horse shook its head and left the inn at a dainty trot. He headed back to the main eastern gate, keeping the palace on his left. It was the best landmark around as it could be seen from anywhere in the city. Soon enough he was back at the gate and through it. The guards never said a word, only being concerned with who came into the city, not out of it.

It had taken over two hours to get to the city on the wagon with Tolm. Now he hoped to make the trip in half that time. The mare cantered along easily past the farms and fields. The few people that he saw bowed and made way for him. David only hoped he didn't fall out of the saddle in front of any of them. Somehow, he thought it would shatter his image as the new Lord in town if he landed on his ass in the middle of the road. Fairly soon he was back at the entrance to the woods he arrived in.

****

By the time he made it back to the inn David was too tired and sore to stay in the saddle any longer. As soon as they were safely in the inn's stable he rolled off the mare and hugged it around the neck. "If it's all the same to you, I think I'll walk from now on." The horse twitched its ears and snorted. "I knew you would agree."

He'd gotten everything Alden had requested along with some replacement clothes from his cave stash and made it back to town just as the sun was going down. Spending the whole afternoon on a horse had left him more exhausted than he had ever been before in either life.

Stableboys took charge of the horse and promised to bring his saddle bags up to his room. The young girl from before came out and bowed to him. David was so tired it didn't even bother him. She did her best to hide the dismay on her face when she looked at him. "Are you alright m'lord?"

"Yes, nothing wrong with me a hot bath and a lot of food can't fix."

"The bath I can have readied shortly sir. The food may take longer. Cook said there wasn't enough left for a mouse after your young man had had his." The girl smiled but then looked down as though she was ashamed. "Forgive me m'lord. I meant no offence."

David waved her concern away. "I'm sure the boy was hungry. I'll take whatever you have available. Bread and cheese if that's all there is. Was he any trouble?"

The girl forgot her manners and giggled openly, "Mother had a bit of trouble getting him to bathe. After that the only problem was keeping him full." At this point she had to pause to swallow her laughter. "He fell asleep in a bowl of stew so mother had him carried up to your rooms."

David felt much better after the bath and the meal. Up in his rooms he found his saddle bags laid over the gunpowder barrel in the corner. He had a suite of rooms, a shared common area with a table and chairs, it even had a small fireplace. There were bedrooms on either side of the main room. He expected to fall asleep immediately. He'd checked on Jaym and found him doing exactly that. Wrapped in a blanket, spread across as much of the bed as he could reach. Even his small snores couldn't keep the smile off his face.

At least one of us had a good day.

****

He delivered the supplies to Alden the next day as promised. The mold was coming along nicely and the whole thing should be ready in time for his audience with the Queen. Jaym followed him everywhere he went. David knew he didn't have a home, but there had to be somewhere he could go and be looked after. While they were having lunch at the inn he offered to set him up at one of the guild houses, maybe be a mason like his father.

"No thank you m'lord. Dad was treated horribly by them guildmen. Always doing the worst jobs since he was just a poor commoner. The other masons bought their way in he said. Helped them get ahead."

David knew he could pay for him to be the guild master at any trade in the city if he wanted to. "What do you want to do? You can't want to live on the streets forever."

"I don't know sir. A few more harvest seasons and I can crew aboard one of the merchant ships. I'm only nine so they won't take me yet. Most of the boys of the street end up being cabin boys."

It didn't sound all that great to David. Maybe he could pay for the navy to take him on and train him. Did they have a naval academy here? Either way they would probably treat him like dirt. Scrub toilets and haul heavy things everywhere for years. They only met the day before, but he couldn't send the boy off to that kind of life. Especially one as undersized as Jaym was, he had been sure the small child had only been six when he first saw him. He might have wandered the city for days before finding the right herbalist without Jaym. Even then he wouldn't have been directed to Alden for his gift for the Queen. "If you can't join a crew for a few more years, how about you work for me until then? I still need directions around town, and I don't know who anyone is yet. I can pay for rooms and food for you. And some new clothes."

Jaym's eyes shot open wide and his bread fell to the floor. "Be a servant for you sir? I'd love that m'lord!" He reached down to retrieve his bread and his eyes fell. "But other people wouldn't. They'd make fun of you for having a street boy as your servant."

David laughed, "Who cares? I don't know anyone here, so their opinion doesn't matter to me. You helped me a lot yesterday. You could have taken the coin I gave you and ran off with your friends. I don't have much for you to do yet, but I'd be happy to have you as my servant if you're willing."

He reached his hand across the table and Jaym hesitated for maybe a second before shaking it with both of his. David figured if the kid didn't work out he could always set him up at a guild or on a ship like he had offered to.

The little boy ate the rest of his lunch with the biggest grin anyone had ever seen on his face.

He followed his new master to a tailor the matron had recommended after they finished eating. David pushed the boy in ahead of him and a little bell attached to the door announced their presence. A middle-aged woman with big frizzy grey hair turned around from where she had been pinning up a silk gown. She had more pins in her mouth and a measuring string around her neck. "How may I assist you today my lord?" She asked after removing the pins, standing and bowing.

"My servant here needs a new batch of clothes. Shirts, pants, shoes, everything. No need for silk, just good everyday material."

"Of course, sir." The woman bowed again and directed Jaym to stand up on a stool. She pulled the string from her neck and started her measurements. David sat down in a chair by the door. Jaym giggled when she had him raise his arms and measured down to his armpits.

"Now, now boy. None of that out of you. I need accurate measurements. Though at your age I'm sure I'll be seeing you again before too long. My own boys would grow out of three sets of clothes a year when they were that young."

When she had finished Jaym sat down on the stool while she went around the shop picking up different articles of clothing. Soon she had a pile of shirts, pants, jackets, and vests for them to pick from. "He'll certainly be one of the best dressed servants in town my lord. I don't usually dress their sort, meaning no offense. Not much to pick from here, I do a little work for the children around here but it's not my main trade. These will be easy to alter to fit him. Given more time I can make something more to your liking my lord."

"These will be fine, thank you." David picked out three of everything and was promised socks and shoes to go with it.

They thanked the seamstress and went back to the inn.

True to his word, David didn't have much for the boy to do over the next few days. They ate their meals at the inn or down at one of the taverns by the harbor. They both enjoyed walking around there and checking out what the ships had brought in. There were many interesting things, just not much of them. David learned that Wellon's exports weren't worth much on the mainland, the ships hunted whales before going to the mainland to trade.

They wandered the city during the day and relaxed at the inn at night. Jaym was growing used to bathing at regular intervals, though he still was not enthusiastic about it. During bath time David worked on his gunpowder mixture. It took a couple days working with tiny amounts at a time to get it right. The matron had given him a dirty look about the burnt smell in his room but the amount he had paid for it kept her from saying much. Finally, he was sure he had it right. It flared up the way he thought it should when he put a small pile of powder on a piece of paper and lit it with a candle. He mixed the rest of his supplies at the same ratio in his barrel and sealed it shut again.

Day after day David went to his merchants and checked on their progress. The flintlock was ready first. It looked just like the ones he'd seen in the movies. Blued metal barrel in a reddish wood stock. Altogether it was about thirteen inches long. The grip was comfortable in his hand, although it would take some getting used to its weight. He took a day trip out to the woods while he had Jaym help out at the inn. No need to scare the kid and they would keep him around to work if the worst should happen.

Far enough into the woods that no one on the road would see him, he placed the flintlock on a fallen log, propped up by some rocks. Setrek had included a hundred pieces of round shot with the gun as requested, lead alloyed with antimony. He poured in a small amount of powder, tore a square from a piece of cloth he had brought for the purpose, and placed a ball on the end of the barrel. The ramrod for the pistol was attached to the bottom of the stock. He shoved everything down the barrel until he was sure it was good and tight. A little powder in the pan under the frizzen and then he tied a string to the trigger. There was no way he was going to fire this thing in his hand the first time. He cocked the hammer and set it down on the log. He placed a heavy rock behind it to hold it in place and walked away behind a tree.

Three... two... one...

A sharp pull on the string and... CRACK! The gun bucked on the log, he'd seen a spark in the pan and a spout of fire out of the end of the barrel along with a cloud of smoke.

It worked!!

David ran to the log to inspect the pistol. Everything was still tight, nothing looked broken. There was no bulging in the barrel and then end didn't look like a Daffy Duck cartoon. A quick peek down the barrel showed it was empty. It really had worked! He had no idea where the bullet had gone or how far, but who cared? He had a working gun! The only one in the world. He could defend himself from bandits without getting so close to them they could hit him with sharp objects. If he had to make a run for it he was pretty sure he could hunt with it so he wouldn't starve right away.

Back home he hadn't cared one way or the other about guns. He hunted and went to the range but if they were taken away, he wouldn't have been too broken up about it. He couldn't describe how much better he felt having one here though. David blew down the barrel and loaded it with another round of ball, powder, and wadding. He picked a kno on a tree ten paces away, took careful aim, gently pulled the trigger... CRACK! Another round of fire and smoke. The pistol kicked up quite a bit, but he had been expecting that. An inspection of the tree showed he had hit it an inch or two above the knot. A bit too high but perfectly straight. He could work with that.

David packed everything up and made the trip back to the inn, smiling the whole way. He didn't even mind that he had to ride a horse that day. Jaym was surprised to see his master in such a good mood for no apparent reason, but he took it in stride. He went back to helping in the kitchen while David went upstairs to clean the flintlock and pack it away. At dinner that day he explained that he was testing out something important and it had worked. The little boy accepted this without question. People in his position didn't ask questions of those above them to begin with. Jaym knew his master was different than most, but lessons learned over even a short lifetime take a while to unlearn.

They had received a package filled with Jaym's new clothes while he'd been out. They fit him perfectly. Plain white cotton shirts, brown pants, and a green vest. He was unused to shoes and made faces when he had to put on socks. David told him in no uncertain terms that his servant wasn't going to be a street rat anymore. He received a somewhat mutinous "Yes, m'lord" in return but Jaym put on the socks and shoes.

The next day at breakfast he was the talk of the common room. Both the matron and her daughter teased the little boy.

"Well look now, who is this? A new little lord come down to breakfast?" The mother, Rosha, asked him.

"Oh yes! Heaps of jam on the toast of the new Baron of the Leaping Horse Inn!" Her daughter, Liri, crowed.

Jaym blushed all the way to his hair. He tried to hide under the table, but David could tell he was pleased with all the attention he was getting from the ladies. Eventually the realities of running an inn took them both off to other duties and he was able to eat his breakfast in peace. David didn't think he had been praised for anything, even in jest, for a long time. The boy sat up a little taller in his new clothes while he ate.

It was getting close to the end of the month and all David needed was his gift from Alden. On the second to last day he went to see the smith. He'd stopped in a few times since his first visit and always been assured that things were progressing, just taking a little longer than expected. Stepping into the shop he crossed his fingers, "Alden? Are you in here or out back?"

"Take a seat at the desk and I'll be there in a second. I'm just wrapping things up." The portly smith called from somewhere in the back of the shop.

David sat back down at the desk they had made their deal at before. Jaym wandered around the shop looking at everything but (he'd been warned by his master before going in) not touching anything. Alden came up to the desk carrying a polished wooden box, a foot wide on each side. He set it down on the desk, took his seat, and smiled wide.

"Sorry it took so long, mold cracked the first time around, so I had to start over. But I daresay you'll be very happy with the results. Never had a commission like this before. If you stay in town I look forward to any other ideas you might have. You can only make so many rings and necklaces."

Alden pulled a clean cloth from his pocket and used it to open the lid of the box. Inside was padded green velvet. Sitting on top was exactly what David had imagined when he had talked things over with the smith originally. Light shone on every surface. It certainly was the best present he could think to give to a Queen.

"It's perfect Alden, thank you. I'll make sure to let the entire court know where it came from."

A laugh shook the man's belly, "Let's hope they don't all want one like it. I doubt they'll all have the materials needed. Or be willing to part with them."

He closed the box and wiped it down with the cloth. David motioned Jaym forward and the boy picked up the box in both hands, holding it close to his chest. Paying for the gift put a sizeable dent into the gold he had brought in his backpack. Couldn't be helped, he needed something to grab the Queen's attention. He thanked Alden again and he and his servant headed back to the Leaping Horse.

****

The next day David and his young friend joined the line of nobles in the Courting Line.

He'd hired a small carriage from the inn to take them there. Jaym held the Queen's present on his lap. They wound their way through half a dozen blocks up to the entrance to the palace compound. There were already a few carriages in front of them at the gates. His coachman answered the guard when it was their turn, and they were waved in. The little boy leaned out of the window and gawked at the palace. He had lived in this city his whole life, but he had never been this close before. David was interested also but he was concentrating on keeping his stomach under control. Images of the Queen of Hearts shouting "Off with their heads!" at everyone who displeased her ran through his mind. Everyone he had met had said nice things about the Queen and obviously thought well of her, but none of them had actually met her in person. The horses whinnied as they came to a halt at the front door. A platoon of footmen opened the doors and ushered them into a waiting room in the palace. It was so quick he didn't have time to notice anything about the entrance hall or any of the other rooms they walked through.

He felt completely underdressed for the event.

Ten other hopefuls were waiting to be admitted into the Queen's throne room. David had decided on a simple dark blue suit with a light grey shirt. His shoes were tooled black leather. His flintlock was attached to his belt, the butt stuck up just above the edge of his suit jacket. Compared to these others he felt as though he was wearing nothing more than shorts and flip-flops. One was decked out in layered silks from head to toe, his scarves flashed in a rainbow of color each time he moved. A couple others were dressed in the same style, just less flamboyantly. Two men covered in heavy plate armor chatted with each other in a corner. Every few minutes one would wipe a cloth on their face or neck, the late summer heat made their armor into ovens. Three other men huddled together in the center of the room. They were well dressed in stockings, pants, and jackets but it was clear from the quality of their clothes that they were poor for nobles. David noticed a couple of the fancy silk squad sneering at the three, obviously considering them inferior. The last man in the room was the most intimidating to David. By the door to the throne room a huge man was coolly watching the other hopefuls.

Since arriving in this world David had noticed that his five foot ten put him on the high end of average height. This man would be considered large even by 21st century Earth standards. He was also much older than any of the other candidates. His black hair was receding where it wasn't down to his shoulders and there were streaks of grey to match the grey in his long mustaches. The big man took in everything that happened in the room but didn't interact with anyone. Even in the heat he wore a fur trimmed cape over a chainmail shirt and padded vest. A well-worn belt kept the man's gut from being too noticeable. When it was David's turn to be looked over, the man met his eyes and gave a small nod. When he nodded in return a smile grew in the corner of the man's mouth.

The big man wasn't carrying a weapon that David could see. All the others carried some type of sword and a few also had a knife. Other than the man in the cape and the three poor nobles, all of the lords had an entourage of servants and guards. David looked down at little Jaym next to him. A few days of regular meals and bathing had helped immensely. He no longer looked malnourished aside from a few missing teeth. The young boy had latched onto the idea of being his hired servant like a drowning man with a buoy. At the moment though, surrounded by all of these rich powerful men, he looked like a frightened rabbit about to run. The excitement of seeing the palace had worn off it seemed.

David knelt down in front of Jaym, "You aren't going to run away, are you?"

He looked down at his feet and shook his head.

"Do the men frighten you?"

A nod.

"Don't let them. You're more of a man than half of them will ever be."

Jaym had to juggle the present box after that to keep from dropping it. "Me sir? That can't be. I'm not a noble or even a man at all!"

"That's what they want you to think. Not one of those fancy jerks over there could've made it alone on the streets like you did. The only thing that separates nobles from other men is nice clothes and a few extra coins in their pockets..."

"How dare you!"

The scarf wearing noble had come by and overheard his talk with Jaym.

"To suggest that this weak little servant boy is my equal? How dare you I say! My fortune is so vast I could buy that boy's life a thousand times and not miss the gold it took. And by the look of you it wouldn't cost me that much to throw your life in too. What say you to that?"

David stood and put his hand on Jaym's shoulder and spoke loud enough to be sure that all of the others heard him. "I say any man that counts out lives in silver and gold is worth less than nothing."

The silk man sputtered in a rage while his friends looked appalled. The two men in the armor had frowns of disgust on their faces. The three poor nobles were edging towards the exit to get out of the way. Only the large man by the throne room door seemed unaffected by David's statement. Guards began to push their way closer to their lords and the silk man reached down to draw his sword.

Before David could reach for his gun, the door to the throne room opened and one of the Queen's guards stepped into the room. "Her Majesty Queen Mialana, Lady of Thaladon, Ruler of Wellon, will see you now."

David smiled at the angry noble. "After you, good sir."

"This isn't over... peasant." The man snarled.

David nodded his head, "I'm sure it isn't."

The angry noble and his cronies filed into the throne room. The two armored men followed next while the three poorer nobles pushed each other towards the door. Soon only David and the large silent man were left. The big guy looked David over again and smiled wide. He turned without a word and walked into the next room.

What a weird guy.

He made sure Jaym had a solid grip on the Queen's present and that they both looked presentable. "All right, let's get this over with."