Boy Among the Barrels

In the dim lower stores of Baron Edren's hall, eleven-year-old Toman Vale learns that real power isn't found in swords or titles — it hides in careful tallies, patched blankets, and small acts of mercy.Under the gruff guidance of Master Hobb, Toman discovers the stores have their own laws: count what is, waste nothing that still has life in it, and never trust a neat shelf too quickly.This sampler contains the first ten flash fiction stories of the series, introducing a quiet boy who changes lives through practical kindness in a hard world.Boy Among the Barrels is the first book in the NPCs Quartermaster's Tale series — a collection of low-stakes, slice-of-life fantasy stories focused on the background character archetypes commonly found in RPG games and books. Each series explores the hidden lives and quiet heroism of those who usually remain in the margins.If you enjoy these stories, the Complete Edition contains ten more that bring Book I to its powerful conclusion.