The Righteous Way

Chapter 10

“That’s very clever,” said Alex as they stepped on the fresh made path, “I should learn how to construct one,”

“Why?” asked James from under his hood, “If we’ve not horses to pull it?”

“Because we could share the design with other kingdoms,” said Scarlett, “Typical you’d only think to use it yourself,”

“And you like walking in the deep snow?”

“No, I loathe it, but you should know by now we do not act for ourselves,”

“I do know it, but sometimes I wonder why not make life a little easier,”

“Because challenge invites growth,” said Alex , “While luxury invites stagnancy,”

“I’m not asking for a castle, just a horse, maybe one for each of us,”

“When I first met you how far could you run before being winded?” Alex asked,

“I don’t know, a fair distance I guess,”

“And how far can you run now?”

James thought about it. It had been six months since that fateful day of their meeting. He realized he could run three times farther and faster now than before and was much stronger.

“I see your point, but I still hate walking in snow,”

“Don’t worry, we can rest at the next settlement, I believe it’s the city of Canton,”

“Canton?”

“Yes, they’re a city built along a mountain range, they have many mines and tunnels full of gold, silver and other precious stones and ores,”

“Great, so it’s full of rich snobs,” said Scarlett,

“I’ve been there before, their king is a good man and keeps his people humble,”

“If you say so.”

As they began to clear the trees they saw the mighty city shining in the sun. The light reflecting off the snow-covered hills made the walls light up as though they were made of diamonds. Multiple roads could be seen as knights riding on horse-drawn plows made way for the many carriages and wagons heading to and from the city. The troupe went forward and entered through the gates.

The first thing they noticed was the lack of snow on the ground. “They’re very dedicated to the comfort of travelers,” Alex said, he then bent down and felt the cobblestones. “It’s warm, their roads are heated,”

“How would that be possible?” Scarlett asked,

“Ingenuity,” said a passerby, “Our city workers are the smartest in the land,”

“Keeps them humble you said?” Scarlett raised an eyebrow at Alex ,

“It’s true,” said the man, “underneath our streets are crawlspaces lined with the excess coal we mine from the mountain, when it snows we light the coal to warm the streets and melt the snow, which runs off to our ponds and rivers,”

“Very impressive,” Alex said, “I had no idea, as I was here in the summer season,”

“Yes, we are truly a marvel to behold, enjoy your stay.” The man then walked off to resume his errands. “We’re going to be hard pressed for work here,” James said, “They’re roofs are solid, streets are warm... what service could we provide?”

“There’s always a service we can provide, no matter how small,” Alex said as he led them through the streets. They visited every tavern and inn they could find, but none had need of their work. They then started going door to door asking if they could substitute work for a place to stay, but again to no prevail.

“Hmm... I guess I may have been wrong,” Alex said, “They really don’t need help,”

“I guess we sleep in the snow tonight?” James asked with a lowered head,

“Don’t give up yet, we’ve still a few hours left of day--”

“Don’t I know you?” an elderly man interrupted him,

Alex dropped to a knee instantly. “Your majesty,” he said.

James and Scarlett looked at each other for a moment. The man wore common clothing and little jewelry. But they also bowed trusting Alex . “Rise Sir Alex , you know I don’t require knights to bow to me, especially you who have earned my respect,”

“I apologize sire, I have not known the honor of knighthood a long time,”

“Yes, I have heard of your leaving Korryn, I am surprised to see you here however, I thought you of all to be at the funeral,”

“Funeral?” Alex asked,

“You mean you haven’t heard? King Lyonel has passed, he is succeeded by his nephew: Prince Nyle,”

“Nyle? I thought the princess was next in line?”

“Bayle was, but she has given the throne to Nyle,”

“Why? She would have made a fair queen,”

“I have no news of why, I only know I shall be attending the coronation later this month, but I must apologize for such sudden news,”

“I shall mourn, Lyonel was a good man,”

“Is it your intention to return?”

“I will not, I have exiled myself from Korryn,”

“Not even to honor your king?”

“I will honor him here; for the dead, proximity is no object,”

“You have always been wise,” the king smiled, “Have you a place to sleep?”

“We do not, I usually prefer I work for my bed, but this city is so proficient they have no need of my services,”

“I’m not sure whether that’s a compliment or critique, but I will offer you a bed if you need it,”

“We prefer not to take blind charity,” James said, “But should you have some work for us we would be happy to serve the crown for a bed,”

“We should serve the crown regardless should the king ask,” Alex looked back at him, “Where’s Scarlett?” he asked suddenly. James turned to look and also noticed their female companion had gone missing.

Scarlett hurried along the streets. A good distance in front of her was a small girl quickly making her way through the city. She appeared to be looking for something. Scarlett was curious and followed. The girl entered a book shop and Scarlett watched from the window as she tucked a book under her dress and sneaked out without paying.

Scarlett was ready to turn her in, but felt compelled to continue her observation. The girl was in rags and seemed a homeless child, giving her reason to wonder what this girl would want with a single book. The girl led her out of the city’s gates and across the white covered field to a single tree. She climbed the tree and Scarlett quickly hid behind a boulder before she could be spotted.

When she looked out again the girl was sitting on one of the lower branches with her back against the trunk reading the book. She walked into the open and approached. The girl was so distracted by the print that she didn’t notice her pursuer until Scarlett lifted herself up. The girl gave out a gasp and lost her balance falling into the snow.

Scarlett dropped down and helped her up. “I’m sorry!” pleaded the girl, “I was going to give it back!” She tossed the book at Scarlett who caught it.

“I’m not here for the book, I was only curious why you’d take it, do you like to read?”

“Yes, but I wasn’t reading for myself, I was reading to mother,”

“Mother?”

“Yes, my mother,” she pointed at the tree, “Daddy said when I was born my Mother was planted here, she was put in the ground and has now become a beautiful tree, every day I come and sit in her arms to read her a new story,”

Scarlett now noticed the small gravestone at the base of the tree. “And where is your father?”

“He went into the mines last year and he hasn’t come back yet, but that’s okay, everyone in the village is so nice to me, but I do miss him and wish he’d stop working so hard and just come home.”

Now the tears were beginning to run down Scarlett’s face, she was struck by this girl’s naivety and knew one day her world would be shattered. “Would your mother mind if I listen to the story as you read?”

“I think mother would like that very much,”

Scarlett and the girl both climbed into the branch once more and Scarlett held the girl in her lap and listened as the story was read. It was a love story between a peasant boy and a princess, although not a forbidden love as a princess was able to marry whom she pleased, her father was very disapproving of such a lowly ranking citizen.

After they were finished the girl hugged the tree trunk and said goodbye as Scarlett walked her back to the city to return the book to its owner. The girl then led her to a small rundown hut where she stayed. “I can’t fix it like daddy can, but I try my best to clean it. Scarlett look at the leaking roof and poorly maintained beams, some of which had collapsed. “When daddy comes home he’ll fix it.”

Scarlett didn’t know what to do, she felt helpless. If she tried to explain the truth the girl might be traumatized, if she played along she would feel guilty. She wished Alex was there. He always knew what to do.

“May I bring some friends over?” she asked,

“Yes, but if Daddy sees boys in the house when he comes home he’ll be very angry,”

“They are boys, but don’t worry; they won’t come in,”

“Okay.”

Scarlett almost ran from the hut sprinting up and down streets looking for her companions. When she found them they were going door to door collecting taxes from the people as the king had asked them to do. Every door had a happy citizen who handed over ten percent of their income or food storage and very soon the two were carrying large sacks of money and produce.

“Wow, how did I not think to come here when I was dishonest?” James asked himself, “These people not only give away money, they do it with a smile,”

“That’s because they’re taxed fairly and the money and storage goes to help to maintain this city only adding to their comfort.”

Alex then noticed Scarlett running towards them. “What’s the matter?” he asked,

“I just met the most peculiar child,”

“Peculiar how?” James asked,

“It seems both her parents are dead, but she thinks her mother is a tree and her father, who I’m assuming died in a mining accident, she believes is still alive even though she’s been without him for a year.”

“That’s heartbreaking,” James said,

“It gets worse, she lives in poor hut with almost no food or heat, half the roof’s collapsed and now I don’t know what to tell her, I’ve been at wit’s end trying to think of how to help her,”

“First, I will speak to the king and see what aid he might provide,” said Alex , “Then we’ll meet her and see if we can’t do something,”

“Thank you.”

Alex and James then headed for the king’s mansion at the top of the city’s hill. They gave the taxes and then Alex explained the situation.

“Oh yes, poor Isabelle,” said the King, “Poor things been alone for a year, but the people are generous, they give her food and turn a blind eye when she takes something without paying, for we know she has no money,”

“What about her house? My friend here says it’s in disrepair,”

“She’s never spoken of it, we thought if she needed something she would just ask,”

“I’m sure she’s only waiting so her father can fix it,”

“Yes I see, I’ll have my men build a new one right away,”

“Don’t worry,” said Alex , “I’ll do it,”

“What?”

“I need a place to sleep anyway and I prefer not to be treated to a palace again, so I’ll fix the roof in exchange for a night’s rest,”

“But how are you going to avoid speak of her parents?” asked James ,

“I’ll just tell her the truth, but do it in a way she’ll understand,”

“A child? Understanding? Good luck with the impossible.”

Alex , James and Scarlett all walked out of the palace and back to the busy bustle of the main city. Scarlett led them to the small hut and had the two men wait outside. Isabelle came out to meet them with a smile.

“This is Alex and James ,” said Scarlett,

“I’ve come to speak with you,” Alex said,

“Well...” she looked at Scarlett,

“Don’t worry, he’s a knight, see the shield?” she pointed, “It means he’s a good man,”

“Okay,” Isabelle agreed and took his hand.

Alex led her out of the city and to a pond.

“Why are we going here?”

“Because little one, you must learn truth,”

“Truth?”

“Yes, do you know what Heaven is?”

“Yes, it’s a special place where people go when their old,”

“Almost, Heaven in like this pond full of water,” He then knelt down and scooped some water in a vial, “Before we are born we lived in Heaven with many spirits, when we were born our spirit was put in our bodies like this water is inside this bottle, when we die the spirit goes from the body,” he poured the water back into the pond, “To Heaven again where we remember all we have learned here,”

He looked down at Isabelle who seemed very confused.

“You’ll never teach her that way,” James appeared from behind a tree,

“Oh? And how would one teach a child the concepts of life and death?”

“Simple, follow me,”

Alex and the confused Isabelle followed him to the tree Scarlett had told them of earlier. “Why are we with Mother?”

“What do you remember about your mother before this tree? Did she have hair?”

“Yes,”

“Skin?”

“Yes,”

“Eyes?”

“They were blue, like mine,”

“Well do you see any of that on this tree?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean if this tree were your mother would it not have her skin, eyes and hair? I’m sorry child, but this tree is only a tree and your mother’s soul is not in it,”

“James !” Alex warned,

“Hear me out,” he put up his hands, “your mother’s soul can’t be in this tree, because it’s in here,” he knelt down and put his finger on Isabelle’s heart, “Whenever you think of your mother she is with you, you can feel her here inside and that’s why you feel happy with this tree, it reminds you of your mother, but it is not her, she is forever with you no matter where you go,”

“But why can’t I see her? Why can’t she hold me anymore? Doesn’t she love me?” Isabelle began to cry,

“Of course she does,” he smiled, “But we can’t see her because she has important work to do, she didn’t want to leave you, but she was called home to the stars,” he pointed up, “Where all the mothers and fathers go when it is their time,”

“When will it be my time to go to the stars?” she asked,

“Hopefully not until you are an old woman waiting peacefully in your bed,”

“And what if father goes to the stars?”

James looked at Alex who replied, “He already has child, he is with your mother up there and won’t be coming back,”

Isabelle’s face went from confusion to anger. “No!” she screamed at him, “Daddy’s not up there is working in the mines!”

“I’m sorry, but there was an accident and he went to the stars as well,”

“No!” she began to punch at him, “He’s coming back! He’s coming home!” Alex and James didn’t have anything else to say. Alex let the girl punch and kick at him until she grew too tired to continue.