Chương 449: 444. Rewards - IV

Sweet buns were not something the village ever had in the past. But since spring came, some of the guards and hunters had started bringing back small portions of honey when they went deeper into the forest on their hunting trips. It was never much, but it was enough that Madam Helga's famous Toloraberry pies had become a weekly dessert offering to the guards and the other manor residents, even if all they got was just a small bite of it.

But until last year there had been nothing to sweeten food at all because people were too afraid to go deep into the forest. He had also heard that the new apiary boxes placed across the farms would start producing a good amount of honey by winter. If that happened, then there would be far more sweet things available in the village. Tesyb did not care much about eating sweet stuff himself. But surely Savomi would appreciate one. She was a woman, and women liked sweet things, didn't they?

He was wondering about it when Yufim appeared beside him, slung an arm around his neck, and bent close enough to whisper something in his ear. Tesyb nearly blushed at the suggestion. He caught himself in time and shoved his best friend away.

"Shut up," he whispered sharply, pulling Yufim a little farther from the sisters.

"You don't know what you're talking about... She would never even agree to go for a walk with me! But maybe you are right about buying something for her..." He lowered his voice further.

"I was already thinking of buying her a sweet bun or something, but I don't even know if she'll accept it. What if she gets annoyed and tells me to go away?" Yufim kept grinning.

"Oh, you know nothing, poor Tesyb... Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. But forget the bun. Or keep it for later. You need to buy her a trinket first. Doesn't have to be costly or anything. Just something that feels special—that makes her feel special. Believe me, you'll thank me later." Tesyb hesitated. Did his best friend even know what he was talking about? He glanced toward Savomi and found her already looking at him. She smiled at him.

He smiled back before turning to Yufim with some difficulty taking his eyes away from her.

"But... do you really think she'll like it if I buy her something?" Yufim retied his long blonde hair in a ponytail then slung an arm around his neck again. This time Tesyb hardly noticed.

"I've seen her look at you more times than I can count, you idiot!" Yufim scoffed.

"Believe me, she's waiting for you to buy her something. And yeah, if it's you who's doing the buying, she'll accept it for sure." Tesyb looked at him sideways.

"And how do you know that?" The blonde archer glanced away and muttered something about girls not appreciating his awesomeness. Tesyb frowned.

"Wait. Did you approach her too?" Yufim scowled at once.

"And got laughed at right in front of the other maids and female guards for my trouble... Basically every single girl likes it when I talk to them or give them something. But there's something wrong with that girl you like... Trust me, I'm not interested in her. Not anymore." Tesyb grinned, and found that he was suddenly feeling happy for some reason.

"Be glad she didn't slap you or something," he said.

"I've heard she and Hyola are becoming good friends these days. Hyola often gets small cuts in her hands when training, and Savomi is the one who treats her since she is training to be a medic." Yufim's scowl deepened.

"Shut up... Don't even remind me of the redhead. She still won't agree to a proper archery competition with me. I say she's just scared of losing! Anyway, you need to buy Savomi something." Then the archer squinted toward the sisters.

"Wait... You keep your hair cropped as short as possible, and Savomi is probably the only woman here who keeps hers cropped too, even if it's a little longer than you. Hyola used to have short hair, but hers has grown out now. That makes Savomi stand out even more." Yufim tilted his head.

"Didn't she do it to look more like you? Or to make you notice her?" Tesyb shrugged.

"Can't say... I have no damned idea how girls' minds work..." Yufim snorted.

"I still think I'm right. I guess you two really are made for each other. Neither of you looks at anyone else, and neither of you looks like anyone else either." Tesyb grinned wider, but before he could answer, the captain called out his name. He straightened at once and putting the question of what to buy for Savomi to the back of his mind, he walked toward the stage. Like the others before him, he climbed up onto the benches and bowed before Lord Kivamus.

Then he turned toward Sir Duvas, who had already begun counting out coins from a satchel he had. Lord Kivamus patted him on the back.

"You've been doing really well, Tesyb," the baron said.

"It hasn't even been a full year since you became a guard, but you're already an inspiration to the new recruits. Even Hudan agrees." The captain, standing beside the baron, nodded once.

"Your solo fight with Nokozal when he raided the village, as well as the final fight with that giant along with others in Torhan's raid when Nokozal was finally put down has already become legendary. Feroy has even overheard your name being thrown around in awe at the alehouse. You fought very skillfully during the counter raid too. Well done!" This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it Tesyb just grinned at the praise.

Then Sir Duvas took a small pouch, put the counted coins inside it, and handed the pouch to the baron. That surprised Tesyb at once. All of the others had been given loose coins into their hands. Why was his being put in a pouch? Lord Kivamus noticed his look.

"You're also receiving 10 gold coins as the reward for your Medal of Courage," the baron explained as he placed the pouch in Tesyb's hand with a smile.

"That is for the time you fought alone with Nokozal and protected a village merchant's family from the bastard. That reward is in addition to your weekly wage." Tesyb just blinked at the pouch which was suddenly feeling very heavy. 10 gold coins? He had never even held such a huge amount in his hands... The baron continued, "Your pay is 12 coppers a day before deductions, or 8 coppers after the cut. That adds up to 5 silver coins and 6 coppers for the week, apart from your reward amount, of course."

Tesyb's mind went blank for a moment. He had mostly forgotten about that medal. It felt like it had been so long ago, and he had tucked the medal away safely somewhere in the servants' hall and barely thought about it afterward. Getting more than 5 silver coins for the weekly wage already felt good enough... But he was also getting 10 gold coins? That was worth a hundred silver coins... Or a thousand coppers! In a way, he was rich now...

Most of the other guards were getting only around the same 5 silver coins as the weekly wages he had just heard. But he held more than 20 times that amount in his hands. What would he even do with so much? Where would he even keep it? He trusted the other guards with his life, and he did not think any of them would try to steal from him, but it was still a huge amount of coin, and it was making him nervous. Could he give it to his father for safekeeping? No! It would be even less safe in the longhouse blocks.

Then what other options did he even have? He was beginning to worry more and more when the baron's earlier speech finally connected in his mind. The bank... The savings facility. So this was why Lord Kivamus had made it. Tesyb grinned at once. Now he understood... He was definitely going to use it. Then another part of what the baron had said caught up with him. He looked from Lord Kivamus to Hudan.

"Wait," he said.

"Did you just say twelve coppers a day? But don't new guards only get eleven?" Lord Kivamus smiled.

"Consider it another reward. Or a raise, if you prefer. Apart from you, several other guards who've performed well in the recent battles—Yufim, Hyola, Savomi, and a few more—have also been raised to 12 coppers a day. The other recruits still get 11 coppers, as usual." That took another moment to sink in. It was not just the medal reward he had gained today. Tesyb was also going to earn more than most of the other guards, week after week. The feeling that rose in him then was not of shock this time. It was pride.

He could not wait to tell his parents! He could not wait to brag in front of Isuha the next time he saw her.

"Thank you so much, milord!" he said, bowing deeply. Lord Kivamus patted him on the back again.

"It's nothing more than what you deserve. Just keep doing your duty well and continue protecting the village as you have, and you may soon find yourself with another raise." Tesyb put a fist to his chest.

"I'll protect Tiranat with my life, milord!"

"I have no doubt you will," the baron smiled. The captain grinned at him as well, then with another light pat on Tesyb's back, he gestured for him to step down and make room for the next name. Tesyb walked off the stage, and only then did he realize how many of the guards were clapping for him. Yufim's cheers were among the loudest. Savomi's too. He waved at them as he jumped down from the benches. The pouch in his hand felt heavy.

He had never in his life imagined that he would hold this much coin at one time, and yet, here he was. As he returned to his friends, a few of the other guards patted him on the back and congratulated him for the medal again. His heart started beating faster when Savomi smiled at him and offered her own congratulations, while Yufim gave him a knowing grin and ruffled his hair—though it had no effect at all, since Tesyb always kept it cropped nearly to the roots so no enemy could grab it in a fight.

Then the next name to be called out was Savomi's. She gave Tesyb a little wave as she stepped toward the stage. Tesyb did not even realize he was smiling until Yufim waved a hand in front of his face.

"Hey, you idiot!" Yufim called out.

"Come back to Tiranat!" Tesyb shoved him away in annoyance. Dammit, the archer had disturbed his wonderful daydreams... Yufim scowled at him for a moment before he grinned, but Tesyb's own smile did not go even once. As he waited for Savomi to get her wages, and to cheer for her when she came back down, he realized he was happy. Happier than he had felt in a long time. Maybe happier than ever... He could not wait for Savomi to return so he could go buy something for her.

The market square would be open right now, and with all the workers returning from the coal mines and the other worksites, it would be crowded tonight. That might make it harder to find the right stall selling something good, but it would also make the whole thing feel better somehow. More festive. And with the pouch of gold in his pocket, he felt rich. He could afford to splurge a little. It was a previously unknown feeling, but it was still a very, very nice feeling...