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  “Now the history of Vin. It was once dominated by only humans in the lowlands and griffins in the mountains. Roughly ten times the size of earth, its scope is massive. Five years ago a portal opened and out came the denizens of the Horde. Orcs, goblins, ogres, trolls, cyclops, and more fought a vicious battle to be the conquerors of Vin. The war raged on for four and a half years and the Horde easily won most of the fighting. Eventually, griffins allied with humanity. As the two species were forced into less and less territory they were able to slow, then stop the endless tide's advance. When the fighting stalled a peace accord was forged. The Horde are masters of contract magic and many rules were put in place. In exchange for protected settlements, the humans were forced to farm food and provide resources for the Horde's endless war machine that continues to fight on other planets. That is where you enter. A defeated, placated human race reduced to supplying their enemies with resources. With the war only being concluded six months ago your challenges on Vin will be great. There are a hundred thousand Horde creatures for every human left making life dangerous and hard outside the safe zones. A few of humanities biggest southern cities remain safe and many humans still live. Some more dangerous than the Horde. Should add even more excitement. Use this life wisely, Gryff the Griffin Rider.”

  ∞∞∞

  I felt a boot nudging my side. It was enough to wake me but soft enough not to hurt me. I opened my eyes to an early morning sun that hung low in the skyline. I was sitting up against an old wooden building. The road below me was dirty and rough. The person who had woken me was a ten year old girl, in a tattered dress, dirty from head to toe.

  “Excuse me, mister, got any food?” she asked while using her big begging eyes and a smile of yellow teeth.

  I took stock of myself. I wore padded armor with a thin metal chest plate. Shin pads went from my knee to well stitched hide boots. My hips and privates were covered with a leather kilt of sorts. A wide tight belt around my hip held up my kilt and weapons. A three foot long short sword hung from a ring beside a sheathed six inch dagger. Adjusting myself I heard something scraping the wood behind me. A cord from my left shoulder to right hip attached a shield and a container of some sort. I reached over and pulled the shield off my back to help me stand. Using it as a prop I noticed that beneath the muck and dried dirt was a nicely cobbled road.

  My legs were wobbly for only a moment as I stood. I brushed off a collection of dust that had thinly coated me. I inspected the container on my back and found a quiver with six small javelins. These projectiles were a few fingers thick and only slightly longer than an arrow. I did a waking stretch with a loud noise to shake off any tiredness. As I towered over the child I saw her frighten.

  “My goly sir, you are a giant. I am sorry I bothered you.” The little girl said and spun to run away.

  I dashed forward and caught her arm freezing her in place. I reached into my belt for a coin purse I felt digging into my belly. The belt was too tight against my chiseled abs, but I figured it had to be to hold up so much weight of the kilt, sword, dagger, and coins. I fished out a small bronze coin and handed it to the timid filthy girl.

  “What is your name and where are your parents?”

  “Lily, and dead sir. Horde killed ‘em last year before the peace accords. Thanks for the coin, Mr. Giant.”

  “That was not charity, it is a payment. I need you to take me to the town leader. Call me Gryff please.” I told the girl who nodded and walked away with a purpose.

  The town wasn't a town, more like a rundown village. A village that had definitely seen better days. Many of the buildings were abandoned, some were burned to the foundation. Most structures were one wrong wind gust from falling over. Those that were still in operation clearly were in need of repairs. A few signs hung from doorways showing the purpose of each building. We passed a blacksmith, a small inn named The Inn, and a deserted tiny market with empty stalls.

  During the short walk, I was able to tell at most only a few hundred people lived here. It seemed the goddess of Vin had deemed it fitting to stick me in a dying backwater village. Maybe they needed saving the most.

  We came upon the largest building in the center of the village. It held a tower with a bell at the top. It startled me when it rang out in a muted tone, not a full warning ring but more of a gentle chime.

  A balding middle aged man with a small gut exited the town center building. He had a large smile on his face and limped my way with his cane. His facial definition and expression gave a hint of hardship, perseverance, and intelligence.

  “Welcome traveler! I am Elan, the village leader. What brings you to our humble village of Fernlan?” The way he pronounced his name was different. He stretched the e then added the lan. E-lan.

  There were two ways I could play this. I could say I was sent by the goddess of the world to restore balance. I would probably be laughed at and shunned as a lair. Or I could lie and say I came from a portal of a different world like the denizens of the Horde had.

  “Thank you elder Elan. I am Gryff of the Redland. I came to Vin today via a portal from the planet known as Red. I seek to exchange some coins for travel rations and information. I need to find the largest human settlement on the border with the Horde.” I said, choosing to lie. Irony, they totally believed me.

  The villagers who had heard the bell, gathered around to see me, ‘The newcomer'. I heard gossip in the background. 'He is so clean. How are his teeth so white? Does he have a wife, tell me he has no wife.' It really kept going and the gossip grew in noise until Elan banged his cane with a light thud to silence the chatter.

  “Marga or Stov can see to your rations at a fair price. There is a city not far from here called Cern. Held out during a six month siege to the Horde. Ever since the peace accords though we have been cut off from it. The only way we trade with it now is by air with the mighty griffins. The route on the ground is infested with all sorts of vile creatures. As soon as anyone leaves the established safe zones they are hunted down for sport, and more. I am sorry to bear this bad news traveler but it seems you are stuck here for now. If you have enough coin you could hire a griffin to carry you. They only let females ride on their backs. I know many a man too prideful to be carried under a griffin so I understand if that is not an option.”

  “Carried under a griffin?” I asked.

  “The term is sacked. Griffins hate men, no one knows why. For a man to get a flight from a griffin they are placed in a well ventilated sack, bag, or box. The griffin will then pick up the object and fly it. Like I said, a humbling ridiculous experience. Still safer than braving the wild lands. What kind of place was this Red planet and why come to Vin now? Things are bad here to be visiting,”

  “My purpose is divine and a guarded secret but I mean the people here no harm. Maybe I can help you kind folk. I notice Lily here is an orphan and wonder what kind of establishment the orphans and widows of this place live in.” I said looking around the crowd.

  Far more faces of women looked back at me than men. The ratio was easily five to one. Must have been a tough war, losing so many men. This is probably what Sara meant by saying I would like it here. Yet I didn't. The villagers wore tattered clothing, and were desperately in need of a bath. Most wore no shoes or boots, and those that did were in need of repair or sized wrong.

  Finally, everyone besides Elan was excessively skinny to the point they had bloated bellies from malnourishment. The most depressing thing to me from gazing at the villagers was how many orphans I saw. When I was an orphan I hated it. I hated how unfair it was that my father died early and my mother killed herself to stop the pain. Little girls like this Lily deserved better. There was only one thing to do now. I had to improve these people's lives. Even if it cost me mine.

  “Mr. Gryff, if I may.”

  A dirty woman no older than twenty five stepped forward from the crowd. She had brown eyes and brown hair with clumps in it. Her dirty frazzled hair was in desperate need of com
bing. Her dress reminded me of a festival outfit with its patchwork from tares and different cloth types to repair larger sections. Her hands were hard and calloused with dirt under her nails from working the fields. This was a woman who suffered much, yet stood straight with pride. It was easy to see how she was stunningly beautiful beneath the filth.

  “I am Velia, my husband died early in the war on the great crusade to rid the Horde from Vin. Since I was one of the first widows I began organizing those who found similar fates like mine. Things progressively got worse, some couldn't handle it and took their own lives. Losing your love to vile creatures can be hard but it’s worse for the children like Lily. My point Mr. Gryff is that we have a collection of old farmer shacks on the western fields. Some of us sleep under trees. We are in need of new structures or repairs but we have no cut timber, or ore for the blacksmith to make nails. The list of things we need is expensive or dangerous to acquire. The food demands we must meet in accordance with the peace treaty leaves us with little time to improve our lot in life. The accords do not allow us leniency, we starve and give up the food, or lose the village protection and die.” She finished saying, then faded back into the group.

  My heart hurt. This place was wrong. These people were slaves to perverse beasts, so driven into poverty by the unfair peace accords that they couldn't even build a decent shelter. That got me thinking. Maybe Sara was appealing to my hidden brutal nature. I had enjoyed killing those bastards on that ice shelf. Here on Vin, there was inevitable blood and battle to be had. Lots of single desperate women, an endless supply of villains to kill, and my efforts would drastically improve the pathetic lives of these sad villagers. I was getting excited about adventure just thinking about it.

  “Thank you Velia, your story has struck a chord within my very soul. I was an orphan and understand how painful it is to always feel alone. Where every meal is a struggle and you are looked down upon. I promise that before I leave this small village of Fernlan I will at least try to build a suitable shelter for the orphans and widows as they work the fields. Hopefully, there are some other improvements I can get to but until I know more I am afraid this is all I can offer.” I said loudly to the attended villagers.

  Not sure what I expected but apparently they had heard promises before that had fallen flat. The crowd dispersed to begin the day's work. Elan presented a lady who had her cart with her.

  “Mr. Gryff if I can see your coins I can see what travel rations you can afford. Know there is not much to spare after we fill the quota to the Horde. I am Marga, by the way, my husband Stov is at home with the children. If I am not at my cart, he is.” She stuck out her hand, palm up waiting for a coin.

  I dug into my man purse, yeah that was going to take some getting used to. I found a silver coin and handed it over. She took a good look at the coin for a whole minute.

  “This is quality silver, even Cern uses coins far less pure. Do you have a bronze? This is too much.”

  I fished out a bronze and handed it over. She produced seven stacks of bundled food for me. I honestly didn't need them at this point as I was planning on staying but figured it could help feed others.

  “Thank you, Marga,” I said dismissively.

  “Elan before I go inspect the farms in the western fields could I buy a map please?”

  He nodded and limped back into the town center. It only took him a short while before he returned with a rolled-up map.

  “Keep it, we have plenty. The map is a very basic depiction of the area between here and Cern. You should have no problem reading it. Think of it as a thank you for giving a little hope to the people. I pray you can deliver on your promise and help the good people of Fernlan out.” Elan said to me.

  “Last question, if I go past the peace accord boundary and into land controlled by the Horde I can be hunted correct? What happens if I do the hunting and kill some of the Horde? Will there be reprisal to the village?” I noticed his brow furl as he frowned.

  “Yes you will one hundred percent be hunted in the wild lands as we call them now. Most Horde creatures are smart with uncanny smelling. This is where the first crusade failed so miserably. The enemy is not a brain dead mindless fool. They set traps, ambushes, and decoys. They built siege engines and used battlefield tactics like pincers, flanks, and warg charges. There were far too many lessons ignored in the early part of the invasion. Know you are going to face an enemy that is as smart as you. Well, the middle to elite ones at least. They still have their own idiots just like we do.

  “The main rule for humans entering the wild lands is the size of the party. Over a dozen is considered a military war band and the safe zone they leave from will go red and prevent further exits. If you do go hunting them and are successful, the accords allow it. The worst thing that will happen is more powerful Horde members will make their way here trying to find and kill you. You have to understand the mind of our enemy. They live for battle, and a weak easy battle is left for the inexperienced members of the Horde. If the elites hear of a sudden, powerful warrior, eliminating weak Horde members they will swarm to find you. If you hide for a bit and come back expect traps and ambushes. I hope that is clear enough for now. Oh, and be careful, there are occasionally elite members hiding out in the wild lands close to us simply because they like the quiet. Some of the women farmers have reported seeing a massive ogre on a few occasions by the western perimeter.”

  “Thank you very much Elan, I appreciate the map and knowledge. Have a good day.” I said and headed in the direction I last saw Velia and Lily.

  It didn't take long to reach the western farm fields. They were expansive and flowed almost as far as the eye could see. Past the fields, there was a tree line off in the distance. Crops of all sorts were being grown. Some I could easily recognize like corn, grapes, lettuce, carrots, while others I had no idea. The widows and orphaned must have numbered over forty. They were scattered in a close field picking some sort of purple berry, placing them into buckets that hung from their hips.

  The shacks, for that is what they were, barely had four walls and a roof. Some had no roofs. Others had collapsed by what I had to guess was a light wind. It was appalling. Hell, I had grown up in an orphanage that had bigger closets than some of these huts. Well, at least I knew where to begin. From scratch, none of these were worth improving.

  Velia lifted her head from berry picking and approached me swiftly. The mass of women followed behind her while the children were ordered to keep working.

  “Stop. The words were nice, and we could use the help but how do we know you are not here to prey on the children?” She asked defiantly with hands on her hips. “It is not natural for a man in Vin who is older than me to be without a wife or child.”

  I avoided her question and death stare. I placed six of the seven travel rations on the ground in a friendly offering. I tucked one into my belt line for later. A woman quickly scooped up the rations and ran to hand them to the working children.

  Her statement of my age bothered me. Off to the right, I noticed a well with a bucket. I dropped the bucket down and pulled it up to find it only a quarter full. That was probably why everyone was so dirty. I looked at my reflection that mirrored in the water.

  I was older, almost as if I had aged a decade or more. Gone was the youthful vibrant face of a young man. I was a grizzled adult with thick stubble. I was still me, but older looking. Actually, I thought this made me look far more handsome. I took a small sip of water and turned to Velia.

  “So...” hmm, how to tackle this one. “Let us start with my lack of a wife and children. I have been in a sort of training that was insanely intensive. I had very little free time, but when I could I craved a woman's flesh. On planet Red having children has become hard. There are many things that prevent it. Including a... how do I say it... a preventative even men could use. As for proving that I like women and not children I would gladly prove it but there may be an issue.”

  The women nodded in und
erstanding when I mentioned prevention measures. They looked confused about the issue of me proving my desire for adult women. I patiently waited until one of them would ask what the issue was. A tall redhead among the group no more than five foot five with almost no breasts or hips nudged Velia. She was at least a few inches taller than the other ladies who hovered around five foot. I was not sure why women and men were shorter here.

  “What is the issue?” Velia asked.

  “You are worked so hard you may not have had time to care how you appear or smell. I don't mean offense. I am sure most of you clean up nicely but right now you all need a bath, and your clothes a wash. Not to mention I will probably put a child in you. I am super fertile due to my physical conditioning. I had the doctors back on Red asking to use my sperm to help couples with issues make babies. I denied them but I would be worried about it here. Look I would love to bend one of you over and have my way with you but I am guessing there is a reason everyone is so filthy and that well only brings up a fraction of the water this village needs.” I finished my speech by pointing at the well.

  The redhead who nudged Velia earlier got everyone's attention with a throat clear.

  “I am on my moon flow. I will volunteer and save you all from trying to feed another starving child.” To my dismay she walked over to the well lifted her skirt to which there were no undergarments and waved me over. She obviously didn't care that I thought her current condition was gross.

  “She serious? I have to do this?” I had so many objections but kept most of them from being said.

  “Very. Prove you are a man and take her.” Velia said.

  “There are children not far away.” I hissed quietly at her.

  “They know how babies are made. They will not look and the well provides plenty of cover. This is how things are done here, outsider.”

  “Can I clean with the well water after?”