Being in Snowbourn again meant that Redwick had to find some sort of work to aid the folk of Snowbourn and to ensure that he and Therwen were fed. He loathed the thought of spending many boring hours in a tower with naught to do, and so he shunned that duty which he once had and turned to working on a farm as a guardsman.
To his dismay he found this trade just as boring as being a tower guard, though there was more to do than merely watch the crops from orcs seeking to assail the farmers. In the mornings he was to prod a spear deep within piles of hay lest orc cut-throats come jumping forth at for an easy slaughter upon working farmer while their back turned and by the time any one knew what happened the farmer would already be dead. He would spend an hour or more per morning making his way through the tall stalks of corn with the same intent. He seldom finds any, but there have been a few occasions when he has and swiftly they would hop out of their piles of hay and assail him with a vicious frenzy. Though expecting such to happen he has yet to be caught off guard, thus the orcs are slain by either the spear that he uses solely for that task, or he may maim them in such a way that they can no longer fight back, and this is where he finds amusement. Though it is folly to jest with your foes Redwick finds it to his own amusement when he bids an orc to flee to his masters as swift as he can and when he has gone far enough Redwick would notch an arrow to his bowstring and shoot the orc in the back.
He has been caught doing this before and some farmers were not pleased with him, for they thought that there could be consequences for such carelessness, then there are those who think that his cruel punishment is fitting for the foul creatures, and give strange looks to the farmers who speak of consequences. For naught has yet to happen and others believe that naught shall come of it.
Other than those duties Redwick had found himself aiding the farmers to pass the time, but mostly when his mood was fitting, for he knew that no real reward shall come of it. It was no duty of his, and he was oft very careless to let down his guard. Now he found some ease in his heart as he worked the fields, Redwick would often think of his father in those times and remember how much his father wished for him to be learned in working fields ere he could fully learn how to wield any weapon. Back in those days Redwick did not understand his father and he was more anxious to learn how to fight than to sow fields.
Anyway, on one particular day Redwick was doing naught. It was quiet and there was no sign of any foes through the entire day and he was bored. He laid himself down unto grass near the field with his eyes closed and small flaxen stalk being held between his teeth. His hands were beneath his head and he would have seemed utterly asleep were it not for the slow wiggling of his right foot. He heard something moving on the grass besides himself and his hand crept unto his bow beside himself but a voice spoke out, "Oi, easy now. I am no orc, unless you are implying that I smell, heh-heh" it was the voice of a man who worked on the farm, he sniffed beneath his arm and added, "...worse." The two laughed together and Redwick retracted his hand and placed it behind his head once more.
"What is your name, lad?" The farmer asked as he sat down beside Redwick.
"Redwick," He answered, "Son of Ceobrand."
"A name I have heard before, not that I know you in person. My son once spoke of you, he said that you and he were friends."
"What is the name of your son then?" Redwick asked.
"Audley" Answered the farmer and Redwick rose a brow at that, he seemed to know the name well and broad smile came to his face and he laughed. "Audley. If ever I had met a weaker drinker than Audley then I should hardly believe it. Ah, Audley." The farmer chuckled.
"My boy was never a drinker. He had a stout heart, witty mind, fairly good swordsman. But drinking? Nay. He could not do it. He spoke of seeking to best you in a drinking game, I doubt whether that happened, but he was quite fond of you, Redwick." Redwick smiled and shook his head in amusement, "So he was," He replied, "And so was I of he. Many cherished memories together, but I have not seen him since my returned. What has become of him?" Then there was silence and Redwick lifted an eye lid to look to the man, his beard was graying and his face seemed grim. "Have you not heard?" Said the elderly farmer, "He was slain a few months after you disappeared. I would ask whither you had gone, but it is none of my business. I miss that boy. He had gotten into plenty of trouble with you around, but he was always a good lad." The old man swallowed and sniffed sadly. Redwick's opened eye softened and he closed it to conceal whatever he was feeling and the wiggling in his foot ceased.
"I am sorry to hear of that. I truly am. He was a good friend to me and I loved him as a brother. I have and will miss him dearly. Thank you for your news, sire, even if it be ill tidings." At those words the Elderly man clasped onto Redwick's shoulder with a firm grasp and Redwick was startled. The stalk fell from his mouth and his eyes shot open as he looked to the weeping man, nodding a few times and speaking amidst his weeping, "Thank you, my boy, thank you." He said and Redwick looked upon him with pity. Even though this news had saddened his heart he did not show it put a brave look upon his face. He sat up and embraced the elderly man in silence and his eyes peered to the wide green plains that he could see whilst the man wept. At length Redwick spoke, "We must return to work, ere it gets to late and too little is done for the day." The elderly man nodded once more and returned to his work and Redwick watched him walk for a little while before he himself grabbed his bow and stood up to return to work once more.
