Escana by J. R. Karlsson Page A

vandalism?
    It
came to him then, the sudden realisation of the inherent differences
between country and city. Out here they were a close-knit community
where everyone knew everyone else. There was safety in numbers simply
because amidst all the revelry there would be watchful eyes looking,
who in turn would expect the same from others.
    So
lost was he in his thoughts that he nearly missed the gate, though
upon further inspection of it he didn't know how. It was a large and
imposing structure wrought of what appeared to be solid iron. Had
Garth smelted this himself at Harvester's behest? It appeared to be
corrugated like the shed roofs he had seen dotted about Daelovia and
was surrounded by a high and impenetrable hedge for walls. He rapped
at the structure with a closed fist, hoping that he was going to get
a response of some kind. The silence stretched out as the rattling of
the gate died away. Had he walked all this way only to be barred by a
single gate?
    He
gave it a second knock and this time heard a distant barking, he had
got a response from the dogs at least. Oh how he hated dogs.
    Their
barking gradually grew nearer and Jakob felt his pulse rising, Thom's
mocking voice coming back to him about how the dogs would chase men
down. He found himself wishing that nobody was home, that he could
turn tail and run back to... run back to where exactly? There was
nowhere to go, he had a powerful urge to keep moving forward. The
resolve met his fear and conquered it, was he going to let a few dogs
get in the way of his life?
    The
barking was very near now, just at the other side of the hedge. He
could hear them sniffing at the gate, trying to get a scent of this
new visitor to their home. The barks were joined by a man muttering,
clearly someone was about to open the gate.
    'State
your business, stranger,' a loud voice said, cutting through the
noise.
    Jakob
cleared his throat, stifling his nervousness. 'I'm here to work for
Harvester.'
    This
brought a snort from the voice. 'Is that so? Come on in then, the
dogs want a look at you.'
    He
heard the sound of several bolts coming undone and the gate swung
open on well-oiled hinges.
    He
was greeted by the source of the barking, several large wolfhounds
bounded out to him and started sniffing him. He went absolutely still
at the sight, letting them look him over. He remembered a long time
ago being told that dogs could smell fear, was the man at the gate
expecting them to sniff out deception as well?
    As
if answering his thoughts, the rugged man at the gate responded.
'Those dogs take a liking to you, I'll let you pass. If they aren't
fond of you then you go no further, are we clear?'
    Jakob
nodded wordlessly, not daring to make a sound as the large animals
kept pawing over him, as if waiting for him to startle.
    For
what felt like an eternity he stood there as they inspected him,
barely daring to breathe and hoping against hope that they could tell
that his intentions were honest in spite of his fear. Eventually the
gatekeeper nodded and gave a low whistle, the dogs trotted off and
the man approached him. 'It seems they don't dislike you anyway,
follow me to see Mr. Harvester now.'
    The
dogs bounded excitedly around them, as if waiting to play fetch, it
was such a strange behaviour to see from such fearsome looking
animals. The gatekeeper was having none of it and strode off down a
winding gravelly path that led toward a large barn.
    It
wasn't quite as vast as the Chipped Flagon but as he stepped in
through the main door he was completely taken aback by the interior.
    The
entire barn had been converted into a homestead. He hadn't expected
Harvester to sleep in a hayloft but the furnishings wouldn't have
been out of place in the city. A huge table and adjoining kitchen
dominated the ground floor and a large pine staircase ascended to
what looked to be a self-built second story. Jimmy had done the place
a disservice by calling it a homestead, that had left Jakob expecting
a small house