The Righteous Way

Chapter 15

Alex thought about it for a moment, “James , you are a wise man and I’m glad to call you friend,” he put out his hand. James clasped it with his own, “Now let’s go do as the Lord will.”

The four of them went to the stables and hooked two horses to a large wagon. They took it to the storages and took a bag from each one while Michael spoke to the guards. Once they were all loaded up they took the wagon out into the night and towards the village. “Haha!” laughed Michael as his body swelled with excitement, “I’ve never done anything like this!”

When they arrived at the first farm they each took a bag and placed it in the farmer’s storehouse hanging them from the ceiling to avoid mice getting to them. They quietly went back to the wagon and then went to the second farm, then the third and so on until the wagon was empty and each farm had a sufficient supply of seed.

They then took the wagon back to Doranth while the sun began to rise. Michael entered his quarters and returned with three bags of food. “These are a few provisions set apart for us the priests, but there is far too much food for us all, I donate it to you for your journey and bless you for your service, truly you are a righteous band.”

“What will you do now?” Scarlett asked,

“I shall simply do my best to interpret the will of the Almighty God and act upon that will,”

“Why not come with us?” James asked, “You’re not detestable as a pious man,”

“I must deny as I plan to help remove the evils that seem to have infiltrated these walls, I wish you well.”

“And you Michael,” Alex held out his arm, the two shook and left.

The troupe only made it a short way out of the city walls before stopping near a tree along the road. They didn’t even try to spread their blankets after tossing their gear and slept from their extreme fatigue. Each dreaming wonderful visions as their bodies rested.

Scarlett stood near the top of the tree looking ahead. When she returned to the ground Alex and James were waiting for her. “I see a large farm a few leagues out, perhaps they’ll have some work for us,”

“Perhaps,” Alex said while lying in the grass with his eyes closed. He then sat up. “We won’t find out until we check.”

They picked up their things and made their way forward. When they were on the outskirts of the plantation James started noticing an oddity. “These workers seem... neglected,” he pointed out,

“What do you mean?”

“I mean look at their physique, they seem under-fed and poor,”

“They’re slaves,” Alex said factually,

“This is wrong,” said Scarlett,

“I agree,” said James .

Alex stayed silent on the matter knowing that so long as the laws permitted, it didn’t matter. They approached the front door of the main house and knocked. A young girl answered. “Yes?”

“May we speak to the master of the farm?” Alex asked,

“Daddy’s in the barn.” The girl then shut the door without another word.

“Hm, seems someone forgot their manners,” James scoffed. They went to the barn where the master of the farm was watching his workers fix a set of harvesting tools. “How can I help you?” he asked,

“We are wondering if you might have work for us in exchange for food and possibly a bed for the night.”

“I’m sure I could find something these wretches are failing at, they always do,”

Scarlett muttered something under her breath.

“Well if the woman wants to do some house work she can ask my wife for instructions; and you two,” he looked at Alex and James , “Are you any good at roof repair?”

They looked at each other and smiled, “Indeed we are,” James said. The master led them to his barn where the roof was in terrible disrepair, the wood was rotten and barely holding together. “No matter how many of those worms I send up there they never seem to be able to get the job done.”

James took a step forward, but Alex held him there. “Don’t worry sir, we’ll get it done.”

He and James then rigged up a pulley system for the new lumber and climbed to the top. They started their work placing and fastening the new boards in tightly like they had many times before.

“Why did you hold me back,” James asked as they sat on the barn roof for a break,

“That man although loathsome is within his own rights,”

“But he’s a slaver and no man should own another,”

“And I agree, but the law says--”

“Forget the law, what about your self-conscience? What about what is right?”

“Do you think I have no care?”

“Sometimes it’s hard to read from you,”

“Of course I care, do I wish I could free these men of their fates? Yes, but it is not my place and I would be deemed a criminal,”

“And you fear being a criminal over their freedom?”

“No, I fear being a hypocrite. I was a knight, a man of honor and I upheld every law, no matter what it was.”

“Is that why you exiled? You were forced to do something against the code,”

“No, but how can I, a man who is bound to uphold the law, break it?”

“Because it’s the right thing to do--”

James was cut short by Scarlett who was running towards them. “Alex quick!” she yelled. Alex and James clambered down the side of the barn. Scarlett led them in a sprint towards the back of the house. The master had one of the housemaids bound to a beam and was brandishing a whip. The maid already had lashes across her back and was trying to scream through her gag.

When the master lifted the whip again Alex grabbed him by the wrist and twisted the device out of his grasp. “What is the meaning of this!?” he demanded,

“I can overlook slave ownership, but I will not stand by as a woman is savagely tortured,”

“She is my property! I will treat her as I please!”

“She is a human being and will be treated as such!” Alex yelled at the man, “I am tired of this world beating upon the weary!” Alex ’s grip tightened, “I am tired of the monsters that haunt the night!” The man cried in pain clawing at the clasped hand, “And I am tired of men who take advantage with no regard for human life!” The man’s wrist snapped under Alex ’s crushing grasp. He let go and the man fell to his knees holding his mangled arm.

Alex went over and untied the woman. He carried her to a nearby horse and placed her upon it. “You dare steal my property!? And my horse!? You fool, I am friends with the king, I will have your head--”

Scarlett drew her lance and placed the tip at the man’s neck instantly silencing him. “You’re lucky he only broke your wrist, if we come back here again it’ll be your head that will be had.”

They all walked out and no one spoke until they were a fair distance from the farm. “See? Didn’t that feel good?” James asked,

“No, I snapped in anger,”

“But you helped this poor young lady,”

“And now I’ve put her and us at risk, what if he makes true to his threat?”

“Then we go to jail for theft, who cares?” James said, “I think we did the right thing,”

“As do I,” Scarlett agreed,

“Either way we need to find a place for her,” Alex brought the present moment back to view,

“Perhaps we take her to Doranth?” Scarlett suggested,

“No, they would dismiss her,” James argued,

“I know of a place,” Alex said, but then hesitated, “But it is far from here,”

“Distance is no object to us,”

“Yes… but…”

“What is wrong Alex ?” Scarlett asked,

“The place I speak of… it is in Korryn,”

“Aye,” James understood, “And you wish not to return,”

Alex nodded,

“Then we shall go to the border,” Scarlett said, “James and I may take her the rest of the way while you wait for us.”

Alex nodded again. He grabbed his map and checked where they were going. They turned and began to walk west. They walked until the moon was high before making camp. Scarlett lowered the slave-girl to the ground and placed her on a quilt. Alex fastened the horse to a nearby tree and started a fire. Scarlett left the camp and shortly returned with some small game for their meal.

James handed one of the small cooked animals to the girl, but she only took one small bite and tried to hand it back. “No, you may have the entirety of it,” he said.

She looked at the meat and began to eat it with vigor almost choking when she swallowed too big of a piece. “What is your name miss?” James asked,

“I don’t have name,” she whispered,

“But you must, what did that fiend call you?”

“You, he called me ‘you’ and ‘you there’,”

“So he didn’t even name you?” Scarlett’s anger washed over her face, “He was a true villian,”

“I’m just glad he’s behind us,” said James , “But you’ll need a name, how about... Lisa,”

She shook her head,

“Catherine?” asked Scarlett,

She shook her head again,

“Keep it simple,” Alex said, “Red,”

James and Scarlett gave him a confused look. But the woman nodded. She removed her servant hat revealing a head full of curly red hair. “How did you--” James began to ask,

“Her freckles gave it away,” Alex said, “I’ve seen many women with her complexion,”

“Ruby-Hair,” she said pointing to her head,

“Ruby,” said James , “How about we call you Ruby?”

She again nodded then took the hat and tossed it into the fire before laying on the ground ready for sleep. The others followed. Alex laid on his back and listened for hoofbeats knowing that Ruby’s old master might send a mob after them. The longer the night drew on the more relaxed he became until he finally closed his eyes and dreamed.

The next morning, they quickly gathered their things and Alex helped Ruby upon the horse. They began again on their journey keeping the sun to their backs. Now with the horse James and Scarlett had a few of their things tied to the saddle while Alex carried his usual load.

As the afternoon approached they came to a small village and Alex checked their supplies. “We’ll need food if we’re to continue,” he said. James and Scarlett nodded and headed off to look for work. Ruby followed Alex to an old house made of rotting wood. He knocked on the door and waited. An elderly man answered.

“I told you Alacots that--” the man started, but stopped when he noticed Alex , “What now? Did they send you to harass me as well?”

“No sir, I have no relations with any Alacots, my companions and I are simply looking for work,”

“Well if you want work, go tell that Alacot boy to stay away from my grandaughter!”

“I’ll have to decline that offer, I was wondering--”

“Go away!” the man yelled and slammed his door shut. Alex turned to leave, but Ruby tugged on his sleeve. “Us go see Alacot,”

“And why would we do that?”

“This man disturbed, maybe help?”

“It is not our place to meddle in the affairs of others,”

The door then opened behind them and this time a blonde young woman stood in the framework. She was incredibly beautiful and Alex was almost caught staring. She noticed his shield and bowed. “I apologize sir knight, my grandfather is a grumpy old man,”

“That is alright miss, but would you know where we might find some work?”

“Work? But you’re a knight, we should be serving you,”

“I have no need of servants,”

“What about her? She wears the clothes of a handmaid,”

“No, she is only a passenger with my band,”

“Well sir knight, I see no need of your work here, but perhaps you’ll find fortune in town--” the woman stopped as a young man approached the house.

“What are you doing here!?” she whispered as she shut the door behind her,

“I had to see you,”

“But my grandfather--”

“I’m not afraid of some old man,”

“Well you should be,”

“What’s going on Amber!” yelled the old man from inside the house,

“Nothing!” she shouted back, “Just helping this knight,” she looked at Alex pleading silently for his help,

“Let us walk, perhaps you may indeed help me further,” Alex said loud enough for the grandfather to hear. Amber grabbed the young man and followed Alex through the village. “Thank you she said when they were out of veiw of the house.