Ordan Part Four

The light was beginning to fade and the cool, damp air was holding the evening smoke low over the village. Mealtime chatter and the squeals of rambunctious children could be heard from the huddled cabins. What had come to be called the road was empty. It was more a rubble track connecting the gaps between cabins that, by happenstance, were large enough to accommodate a cart and donkey.

Though it appeared that the town had a reckless disregard for planning, that was not completely the case. The outer most cabins had extended rear walls. The town was left open most of the time, but panels could be placed quickly to complete a ring wall of sturdy logs. Not intended to keep out people, it kept the town safe during the twice-yearly migrations. Large packs of carnivores were drawn by the smell of food. The animals were intelligent enough to breach the defences if they tried, but the urge to continue the migration was strong enough that they rarely lingered.

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Ordan’s cabin was one of those in the outer ring. Any villager showing weapons skill was encouraged to choose such a location. Packed moss could be pulled from sections of his rear wall to reveal archer slots, but he had not yet found the need to do so. His was one of the smallest homes in the village, and that was how he liked it. A bed to one side of the door, and a low table next to a fire pit and chimney hood on the other. His belongings were scattered about on shelves and hooks. A well was just around the corner, and an outhouse was far enough to avoid the smell, but close enough for convenience.

Ordan gestured down the road as he turned to Brynn. “There’s a wood pile between the cabins. Three down. I’ll go get us some food from the cold pit.” No formalities were required to assign chores to a guest. Not to do so would be implying that the guess was too infirm to be of use.

Brynn nodded silently and went to collect supplies for a fire. Ordan never could have asked him to collect the meal. A stranger could be seen taking a little wood for a fire without raising concern, but certainly not poking around the village cache. Ordan took a small container of rendered fat, a little bit of fat pork, and some grain for breakfast porridge. He returned to find the fire well under way. The water bucket was full, as was a small pot sitting near the fire.

“There are some Kinra leaves in that box nearest the bed if you want to mellow a bit with supper.”

Brynn took half a dozen of the dried leaves and dropped them in the water by the fire. They would brew into a slightly acidic tea with a definite taste of citrus and smoke. It relaxed the muscles and calmed the mind. A perfect drink to ready one for sleep. While that started to steep, Ordan began frying the pork and set the grain aside to soak for morning.