Patrol - 1. Chapter 1

The light snow was getting heavier as he turned off the trade road toward the nearest shelter. The cabins were placed frequently along the trade roads for emergencies. The cabins weren’t all the same. This particular cabin at the northernmost point of his patrol was the worst. It was adequate for two or three people for a few days of light snow but not much more. He had plenty of time to get there and settle in had the cabin been empty, but his keen eye spotted tracks heading toward the cabin.

There were three sets of footprints, two of them clearly being smaller and with shorter gait than the third set. Although the Dwarves occasionally traveled this way, it was infrequent. The most likely explanation was human children.

Finlay Frostbreaker considered himself blessed. He was the fourth son of Lord Frostbreaker, and he knew from the time he could toddle that he would serve in the King’s Rangers. He was eighteen, taller than most folks, and well-built from his constant patrols on his sector of the trade road. The timing of his arrival here was likewise blessed, as this cabin wasn’t suited for children.

The reports of a heavy blizzard brewing worried him. The mages and clerics with weather sense were warning of multiple days of heavy snow. Patrol and travel would be impossible for at least a tenday. He just hoped that whoever was in the cabin wouldn’t cause him trouble. Enough trouble had visited him already on this patrol.

The day had started off nice enough, but the temperature had dropped rapidly. The weather change was more than enough to catch most travelers unaware. He could feel the change in the wind as the snow became even heavier. He stepped up his pace so that he could get to the cabin as quickly as possible and make sure the travelers were safe.

The small cabin, tucked in the shelter of heavy fir trees and a mountainside, came into view as he rounded the bend on the path. Knowing that people were inside, he readied a dagger in case there was trouble. He approached the door slowly using the dagger to lift the latch. He kept himself ready for ambush as he nudged the door open.

The lack of immediate attack was a sign that they weren’t brigands. He slipped in the door, focused on the small fire sputtering in the room. There was just enough light from the flickering flame to easily spot two boys and a teen his age huddled in the corner with a meager blanket. Both boys were pale, and their teeth were chattering. The older teen looked frightened but positioned himself to defend the boys. He slid his dagger back into its sheath. He closed the door and relatched it. After making sure the door was secured against the heavy storm, he raised both hands, showing he was no longer armed.

“What are you three doing out in this weather?”

The boys’ teeth continued chattering as they shivered, so he turned expectantly to the teen his age.

“Sorry, Ranger. My brother and his friend did not return home for the midday meal, so I went to find them. The snow started, and none of us was ready for it. I knew of this cabin and came here because it was the closest shelter.”

He looked over all three. They were clearly not urchins, as they were too well groomed. They looked a bit banged up, but the clothing he could see was decent. “We can’t stay here. This isn’t just a passing squall. That fire won’t be adequate for long, and the boys need to warm up. You probably do as well.”

“We can’t go back out in this,” the teen replied.

“No, you are right. We can’t go out there. It was already too heavy to see far when I closed the door. Fortunately, there is a ranger nook here.”

He turned away from the boys and pulled out a small glowing pendant from a sheath hanging around his neck. It was enough to light up his path as he moved to the corner of the cabin. This back wall was built into the side of the hill, and he spotted the correct stone and depressed it. There was a click as the locking mechanism released, and a panel moved backward, opening a passage. He stepped into the corridor and gestured for the other three to follow him. The older teen got both boys moving, putting his trust in the King’s Ranger. Finlay waved the boys past him and turned to close the door.

“This door needs to be closed so we can open the Nook.”

He closed the door and then turned around to continue down the passage. They went a few cabin lengths before coming to another door. He quickly got it unlocked, and it swung open, light spilling out along with warmth.

“There is a natural hot spring under us, and the Nook uses it for heat. The floor is warm, so going barefoot here won’t be a problem. They also keep that magical lamp going so that there is always light. Let’s get you out of those wet clothes so you can warm up.”

“Yes, Ranger, we are all soaked through.”

Finlay nodded and then walked through a door into a small chamber to the side, gesturing for the boys to follow him. He went to a line of chests on the wall and pulled out a big towel and three sets of small clothes. “Strip out of those wet clothes, dry off, and then put on these dry small clothes. I’ll ready the bed in the healing room. Be quick; we need to warm those boys up, or they’ll risk getting the cold sickness.”

The Nook was set up to handle a few different scenarios. The most common was a ranger traveling alone and needing shelter. There were several small rooms with suitable bunks. There were also several rooms where the floor was padded to allow much larger numbers of people to sleep if the need arose. Finally, there was a sleep room to recover from the cold sickness. It allowed for several people to share a space to warm up, with thick padding on the floor and heavy blankets to cover people with.

The two boys and the teen came into the room in just their new small clothes. He pointed to the teen. “You take the inside, then pull a boy close to you so your warmth will warm him up. Then, the next boy gets close to him. I will join on the outside. That should generate enough heat for the two boys. Cover up, and I’ll return shortly.”

Finlay walked out after ensuring his instructions were being followed. He went back to the changing room, spread the wet clothes out on racks to dry, and then stripped his own winter gear off. After toweling himself dry, he also put on clean, dry, small clothes and returned to the chamber. He lifted the blanket and crawled in behind the outermost boy. The boy’s chattering teeth had quieted some while he was gone but had not stopped.

He made sure that the blankets were covering them, and he pushed closer to the cold boy, gently wrapping his arms around and rubbing the boy’s chest. The boy snuggled into him while still shivering.

“I’m Finlay Frostbreaker. This is my patrol area for the King’s Rangers. Who are you, boys?”

The older teen answered for them, “I’m Logan Baker, and you are holding my younger brother, Duncan. This rascal is Ewan Cooper. Our families are neighbors in Forgecroft.”

“Forgecroft is a half-day walk from here. How did you end up this far away?”

“Ewan is a bit of a troublemaker, and Duncan can’t help himself but follow along. I worked with Father for the first bread and noticed the little scamp wasn’t there for cleanup. Father sent me off to find them. They left enough indications of their passing that I was able to figure out where they went off. They don’t usually travel so far.”

“Why aren’t you holding your brother?”

“Ewan was colder, and he’s a great deal less comfortable with strangers than my brother. I figured since you were helping us, you’d appreciate helping the boy who wouldn’t be trying to get away from you.”

Duncan’s chattering teeth had slowed, and he snuggled in as close as possible.

“You feeling better, Duncan?”

“Yes, Ranger. Thank you for helping us.”

“It’s my duty. How are you feeling, Ewan?”

“Better, thank you,” the boy replied quietly.

“We’ll rest for a few candlemarks, letting you warm up. Then I’ll see about food for us. Can everyone last that long?”

“We can,” Logan replied to them.

“Nocturnus,” Finlay spoke the command to darken the magical lamp.

The room plunged into near-total darkness, and not long later, the four tired occupants of the room drifted off to sleep.

* * *

It was two candlemarks later when Finlay stirred awake. The magical lamp was letting off a slight glow, which was enough for him to see. Duncan was still pressed against him as much as he could, and he had a good grip on his arm. Ewan had turned and was sleeping close to Logan as he could, his face snuggled into the older teen’s chest.

Finlay very carefully extracted himself from the nest, tucking the blankets back in closely so the others could stay sleeping. He quietly left the room, enjoying the warm floor with his bare feet. He went back to the changing room and grabbed a heavy robe. The next order of business was food. He left the room in search of the kitchen area.

It was a couple of rooms down, but it was a decent size, with benches and tables for eating. There was a pantry at the far end of the kitchen that proved a lot larger than he expected when he walked into. There was enough food for all of them for at least a moon.

Finlay set about making a simple stew from the ingredients he found. The subtle noises of cooking, along with the smell of food, eventually attracted the three sleepers. They sat at the table and watched as Finlay finished the cooking.

“This should help make sure you recover as you sleep tonight. Enjoy.”

All four of them ate, with the boys finishing first. They looked very drowsy. “Duncan and Ewan. Go use the privy next to the changing room and then return to bed. You’ll need more sleep to recover.”

The boys didn’t hesitate. They both got up, thanked him for the meal, and then set off to the privy before returning to the room.

After the boys left, Logan spoke, “Thanks for saving the boys and myself.”

“It’s my duty.”

“Thank you, nonetheless. I appreciate how you treated my little brother as if he was your own.”

“It’s okay. I have two younger brothers, and I’d want someone to help them if the need arises.”

Logan stepped closer and said quietly, “I owe you, and I’ll do anything you want me to do.”

Finlay reached up and gently cupped Logan’s cheek. “I appreciate the offer. The road can be very lonely. But all I need is to see those boys safely home.”

Logan captured that hand and kissed the back of it. “You said this storm will be big, so we’ll be here for a few days. That’ll give me time to convince you.”

“I won’t require convincing, but we are here with two boys. No reason for them to grow up any faster than they are by seeing something they shouldn’t.”

Logan smiled and then tugged him back to bed.