CAS short story

The feet of our horse click rhythmically on the cobblestone. The wind is rustling in the leaves of the trees. Apart from that, it’s quiet. No one is speaking a word. I look into tired eyes and worn-out faces.

After a full year of travelling through the country, it is time for us to return to our home. For many of us, this journey has brought great wealth and good trades. But it has also been tiring and exhausting. In a few miles, smiles will be growing on the faces of the men who have been travelling with me. They will begin thinking about their family at home, in their village. Those smiles will grow bigger with every mile that we ride, until eventually smoke will be visible above the trees, and the screams of their children can be heard.

Carefully, I reach for the small leather bag that I have fastened to my saddle and reassure myself that it is still there. I can feel the heavy golden coins through the thick material of the bag. If I spend my money wisely, this could last me for a long time. Unlike the others, I don’t have a family to feed. Finding food or a place to sleep for myself is much easier. A child wants two or three meals a day, and it will complain if its bed isn’t soft enough, but I can go two days without a meal, if times are bad. Luckily, it looks like good times are ahead for me. At least judging by the weight of that purse.

“You staying with us?” A deep voice interrupts my thoughts. One of the men has steered his horse right next to mine without me noticing. His eyes look tired, just like everyone else’s, but he manages to produce a smile behind his thick beard. It is the blacksmith, whose name I cannot quite recall, Arnaud or Arnold.

“Eh, not sure. For a while, I guess”. He nods.

“Just know that you will always be welcome in our village. You were good company on the journey.”

“It’s been a pleasure”. I too produce a smile. “I haven’t quite figured out my next steps, so I’ll probably live somewhere around your village for a few days, if you have any room to spare”

Our conversation is noticed by the others, and slowly, they also start talking to each other again. The prospect of returning home seemingly motivates them, as they start to increase the speed at which the horses are trotting.

“We can find an empty room in a hut for you, that shouldn’t be a problem” He pats me on the back and offers “I can talk to the others and see where we can accommodate you”.

“Don’t worry. It has time until later.” It’s very kind of him to be offering that, when I am sure everyone is much more eager to return to their families, compared to finding an accommodation for the random boy they travelled with.

“It’s the least we can do for you. Without you as our guide in the mountains, we would have been hopeless and lost. Finding the way in the middle of the snowstorm, that was quite impressive.” One of the guys riding behind us mumbles approvingly.

“Where your trades good at least?” Arnaud asks and I nod in response. “Glad to hear. Mind explaining what exactly you were selling?”

“This and that, you know? I trade what I have, and then I trade my gains for the next thing. Buy something here and sell it in the next place. Mainly spices or jewellery, but whatever I can get my hands on really.”

“If that works for you” Arnaud gives me another smile.

Without me even noticing, we have gotten closer and closer to the village. I can smell the smoke of the fires and the ovens, and you can hear the faint noise of children screaming. You can tell that we are almost home, just by looking at the excited faces of those around me.

 

A big fire has been set up in the middle of the village. The leftovers of the big feast are being cleaned away, and everyone looks tired, but satisfied.

Arnaud and some of the others have cleaned out an empty hut for me to stay in, as long as I may wish. Most of the men that were on the journey with me are sitting with their families now. For them, the profits made on the journey will hopefully last for years to come and allow them to stay at home.

I also have enough funds to settle down for a year or two now. But is that really what I want? I still have the freedom to go wherever I want right now, but can I still leave next summer? Who assures me I won’t be bound to this place with some silly responsibilities in a few months? If I am not happy elsewhere, I am sure I can always return here. A guide for journeys through the mountains or the woods will always be welcome in any village, and being able to provide for myself significantly increases the hospitality of most, I have discovered.

I sit and stare into the flames. Tonight, I am grateful for Arnaud and the other men who have provided me with a hut to sleep in. But tomorrow, my bags are packed and I am ready to go again, wherever my path might lead me.