Justin slept lightly that night and awoke early the next morning. He walked with Tory and his father to the burned field to meet with the other farmers. When they arrived Breck and his neighbor were discussing what needed to be done. The other farmers could be seen approaching from other directions. When all had gathered in a loose group a short man who worked the next field addressed them. “We’ve been talking and really there is nothing we can do now for this field. What is lost, is lost, and cannot be retrieved. Breck and his sons can help in our harvests, and we will help them through the winter by supplying their livestock with what is needed as Barker said yesterday. After harvest is over those of us who are able can help Breck till and reseed his fields.” A sound of assent rippled through the group and Justin saw men all around nodding approval. He knew that in a matter of seconds the knot of farmers would loosen and they would drift in all directions to begin their day’s work. He had to speak up or lose this chance, and he didn’t know when another one as opportune would present itself. Suddenly he was nervous, but squashing the feeling he spoke out quickly in the short silence.
“But what about Roth? What will you do about his destruction of your neighbor’s field? Surely you will not suffer it. Don’t you think the time has come to put an end to his tyranny? I know that not I, nor any of the men in my clan, would suffer such treatment. I realize I am an outsider, but I have even spoken to one of your own in the town who feels the same as I. The way Roth treats your people is not fair and he shouldn’t be allowed to continue so.”
“What are you speaking of young man?” asked a very tall farmer that Justin had seen but never heard speak before.
“I’m talking about a rebellion against Roth’s unjust rule over you. There are many able men of the town and the farms. Together we could overthrow Roth and his men. Then you could rule yourselves or set up a leader who would be fair.”
Breck spoke next. “Well, no one here has better cause for complaint right now than me and my family, and I don’t think you’d find one among us who would deny that Roth is oppressive, much more of late than in the past. But we must also not forget that it is the Great King who has placed us under Roth’s lordship, not we ourselves. I do not think we should remove ourselves from it without His council.”
“Breck speaks the truth,” agreed the tall man. “And even in the worst of times we have still lived mostly in peace, none of us has been harmed, and always we live in plenty.”
“And let us not forget,” added Tory’s father, “that because things have been harder lately the elder council has sent a messenger to the North side of the mountain to inquire of His Majesty about the matter. I believe we should wait for His word before even considering such rash action, let alone carrying out such violence as this would undoubtedly involve.”
“Those are wise words,” affirmed a voice from behind Justin and he saw heads nodding solemnly all around the group.
The talk did not last much longer and it was clear that the farmers would not be a part of any rebellion. Justin would have to sound out the townspeople and see if there was any support to be had there. He remained the rest of the day with Tory and the others doing anything he could to help with the now less than bountiful hay.
When he and Tory returned home in the evening, Justin did not try and turn the conversation toward Roth, but instead decided to explore another avenue down which he had thought he might find some help. All afternoon he had been preoccupied with the possibility that the townspeople would be as passive as the farmers had been. And looming above this thought was the face of Wyatt, in which he saw mirrored the same rage which he felt at the injustice of it all. Then he turned toward Tory, and his face was a complete contrast. He was simply at peace, even though it was obvious that he was concerned and disturbed about what had happened. Where did that strange peace come from? Justin mused on the question for only a second before his mind reverted to his goal for the evening. He had practiced several starts in his head during the day. None of them seemed at all natural, but he hoped Tory was guileless enough to not notice. And though he had no calm about him, Justin was focused if anything. Plunging ahead, he broke in upon his friend’s thoughts.
“I was thinking, Tory, I’ve heard your people talk about the Great King and even His gifts. I was wondering if some time you could tell me more about these things. You see, although He is sometimes referred to in our lore, specific stories aren’t known to my clan.”
“Oh, surely, I would be glad to tell you more. But there is so much. I, let me see. I could start with… He is so much a part of everything. I find I don’t know where to begin.”
“Well, why not start with the gifts. I’m sure we’ll get somewhere from there.”
“Yes, the gifts. The gifts have come to us over many years. The first has been with us for more generations than we trace. That is the canopy. It signifies His covering over us. We hold our holiday and convocation gatherings under it. During those we bring out two more of the gifts, the stone and the lamp. The stone represents the power and strength of faith if it is rightly placed. And the lamp, which we do not have to refill, symbolizes the wisdom, knowledge and truth available to us.”
“Are all of the gifts symbolic then? Are none of them of practical use?”
Tory laughed. “Justin, their practical use is inherent in their symbolism.”
Justin was slightly annoyed at being laughed at even though he knew no mockery was intended. But he wanted to keep Tory talking, at least a little more to see if this was going anywhere, so he replied, “Yes, I’m sure you’re right. I guess I just think in more concrete terms.”
“Well, there is also the sower’s bag. It would be of enough practical use to impress even you. It is a woven bag, such as you see worn by farmers when they go out to sow a field. But it is magical. Whenever in our history there has been such a shortage so that not enough seed remained to sow a new crop we have gone to the bag and it was full of whatever we needed. Once many years ago there was such a bad year that no one had anything to start with. The bag was passed from family to family and it always contained the type and amount of seed that was needed. But it is empty at all other times.”
“Did you get to use it to sow?”
“No, that was even before my father’s time.”
“I see,” said Justin trying to keep the doubt out of his voice. “That is amazing. So those are the gifts then that are mentioned in your songs.”
“Well, there is one more, but it may be classed with the first more symbolic by yourself. It is a mail vest. It is said to be impenetrable and even to make the wearer invincible, but of course we are at peace and have had no reason to test it, and as it is only one, I can’t see how it would be very useful even if we were in combat.”
Even though Justin had to agree with this last point, the mail vest sparked his interest more than all the others combined. But he kept coming back to the fact that even if it did work, even only as ordinary armor, it was still only one. Nevertheless, his thoughts returned to the idea of the mail vest several times during the evening.
Later that night as he waited for sleep Justin resolved to go to see Wyatt the next day. He didn’t look forward to telling him how it had gone with the farmers but he was eager to try for a better response with the townsmen.
