Miller ran through the streets, desperately trying to make his way out of Greendale and to Sir Otis and Conrad. The worst had just come to fruition and he was going to let the others know. He passed through the two gates with ease as there was nobody there. Everyone had made their way to the horse track, which made it easier for Miller to pass through town.
He made it back to his house and he grabbed a longsword from his room and headed out to the forest with haste. He ran as fast as he could to the creek where Otis and Conrad were waiting. It wasn't long before he crested the hill overlooking the creek. Suddenly his feet were kicked out from underneath him. "What the hell?" He exclaimed, confused.
"Ah shite, it's Sir Miller," Otis said as he came out from behind a tree. "sorry about that."
"I'm fine, but shite that hurts. My ass isn't as tough as it used to be." Miller jested as he stood up.
"What are you doing here? Weren't ya supposed to come back here tomorrow?" Otis asked as he sheathed his sword.
"I've got bad news, but I need to address you all."
"Sure, everyone else is down by the creek."
"Okay, let's go," Miller said as he rushed down the hill leaving Otis and Conrad behind. Wagner, Quillian, and Lawrence were sitting down under a Seri tree like the one Miller had in his front yard. "I thought I smelt someone," Wagner said with a chuckle.
"That's almost creepy that you could smell me from that far away."
"What can I say, I'm a natural at smelling."
"I see, anyways, I have some bad news for everyone here. You all are going to want to listen up." Miller said as he walked to the creek. "The King has already taken back his position as the ruling monarch of Asmeria. It would seem that we're too late; however, I'm certain that word has yet to reach Clearwater or the Prime Minister as of yet. So, I still plan on sending you all off to clearwater by tomorrow. Sir Erik Hughes will be personally escorting the five of you to Clearwater."
"I've got a question," Otis said as he approached Miller. "Why do we need to continue with our old plan, we're already too late."
"Did you think that just by telling the Prime Minister that the King of Asmeria was plotting to take back power, that he would somehow stop it?"
"Well… no."
"The Prime Minister has no idea about what happened here, nor will he for at least a week or two. If I can get you all to Clearwater in five days, even that small amount of time could be used in raising an army and a fleet."
"That makes sense to me," Wagner said. "So, now that we know that the king has taken back power at least in the last day or two seeing as it's at least that amount of time from here and the capital. What now?"
"You five will all wait here for Sir Hughes, and then you will make your way to Clearwater with haste. Once you make it across to Concord, it should only be a two days ride to Clearwater."
"Tell me about this, Sir Hughes; I've not heard that name before," Quillian said.
"He's a hero in Gregoria miss Quillian," Otis answered. "He fought alongside Sir Miller at the battle of Bequel. He was the man who took the head of the Ivari Tribe's war chief and brought it back to Clearwater for all to see."
"Oh my, that was this Sir Hughes?"
"Aye, I was next to him when he cleaved the head of the chief and was with him when we returned to Clearwater," Miller said as he took a seat next to Wagner. "You know, I recall that the Prime Minister was there in person to award us for the scores of men we killed."
"What is so impressive about this Prime Minister? You lot seem almost to worship him." Quillian asked.
"It's not that we worship him or hold him to some sort of mighty being. He is the embodiment of the will of Gregoria and the people of Gregoria. We simply respect that, above all else, as knights in the service of Gregoria." Miller answered.
"I understand now, so it's more out of duty than actually praising the Prime Minister."
"No, we still love the Prime Minister, as a matter of fact, I voted for him in the last election. It's just my own support for the Prime Minister. There's no real duty involved with our support of the Prime Minister; to even become a Prime Minister, you need eighty percent of the vote, and if either candidate can't get the votes needed, then they lose the bid for the office."
"What happens if you don't have a Prime Minister then?"
"Then the previous Prime Minister appoints a Ritter or as you Asmerian's call us, knight's, to take his place until a new Prime Minister is elected."
"That's very confusing, isn't it? I'd rather just have a king instead of all of those rules and if's and maybe's."
"I understand how it can be confusing after just now having it explained, but it really isn't that complex, miss Quillian."
"I'm sure it's not Sir Miller."
"Can we get back on topic, please?" Wagner grumbled. "I'm getting sick of all of this political crap."
"Ha ha ha, I feel just the same!" Otis laughed. "So, oh my, when can we expect Sir Hughes to arrive here?" Xavier asked.
"Tomorrow, if all goes well, he lives just across the river, in the town of Concord."
"But that's a four-day trip just going to and from Greendale and Concord. How can you expect him to arrive so soon?" Conrad asked.
"Simple, we use a system of horses. For however long a horse can sprint for we have a new horse ready to replace the worn-out one. Ya know, I don't mean to gloat, but it was all my idea." Miller said proudly as he stood to his feet. "So, basically, they could get here tonight if they pushed themselves."
"They? I thought it was just Sir Hughes coming for us, was I wrong in that assumption?" Quillian asked.
"Aye, my messenger, Fritz Barker, is with him. Though, I don't trust him at all. He's an insensitive man with a vendetta against me." Miller said with a softness Otis or the others didn't expect. "But, I don't believe he'll betray ya or Gregoria anytime soon."
"Why even bother with such a man?" Wagner asked. "I'd just run a sword through his heart and call it a day, so why is he even apart of this?"
"Because the man I would have used for this died two months ago from an infection. He was a good man named Victor and he had been with me since the battle of Belquel. He was one hell of a man."
"Sorry for your loss Sir Miller." Said Exavier.
"Well, I better be off. I have two children under my care now, and I left them at the racetrack, so I'll be on my way." Miller said as he started.
"We'll be seeing you, Sir Miller," Otis said as he rendered a salute.
"I'll be seeing you as well, brother," Miller said as he waved over his shoulder and disappeared into the dense bush of the forest. He was still out of breath from running down to their encampment.
He walked over the final hill as the sunset and the stars shined throughout the sky. The moons were both in the sky as Miller looked up at Zeria and Veria. Zeria always gleamed a magnificent blue that cooled the night sky, and Veria was a beautiful red that warmed the coldest of hearts. When they both displayed their glory on the same night, the night sky would turn a calming and dim lavender purple. Miller always took the time to appreciate the night sky when Zeria and Veria were together.
He caught his breath and started back to his house. It was in sight, and there was a bloom of smoke rising from the chimney. "Thanks, kid," Miller muttered to himself as he realized that Jackson had gotten the girls home safely. Miller crossed the wheat field and entered his barn to grab a bottle of ale and some oil for a lantern.
He opened the back door quietly and walked into the living room, Audrey and Ruby were fast asleep on the sofa, and Jackson was sitting down in the armchair with his sword on his lap. Miller put the bottle of ale and oil down on the table, and Jackson turned to see Mister Miller standing in the kitchen. "Welcome back, Mister Miller," Jackson whispered as he stood up. "I'm not going to ask where you were at or what you were doing out so late. All I've got to say is that we had a commotion at the gatehouse."
"What happened, kid?"
"Some scumbag slaver tried to take Ruby, but I nearly took his leg."
"What happened to the man?"
"A Deputy came and arrested him, apparently from what I overheard. Is that the man had kidnapped a knight's daughter, and she escaped and ratted him out or something like that."
"You have my gratitude kid; I'd feel terrible if anything happened to Ruby. She's so young and has been through so much. It reminds me of my father more than anything, really."
"Was your father a Slave?"
"Aye, he was a slave in the Cambri Empire until he escaped to Gregoria and met my Mother."
"Oh, how did they meet?"
"Well, my father just crossed Lake Sarif, and my mother was working as a waiter in a restaurant, and they met as my father was begging for food. I guess she felt sorry for him, and she took him to her house, and they got married shortly afterward." Miller said as he leaned against the table. "I hope that Ruby should be as lucky."
"She's a very kind girl, sir, but I don't think that there are any free male Varins in all of Asmeria."
"That doesn't matter, Varins and Humans can have children, but they'll lose any traits of being a Varin."
"How do you know that, Mister Miller?"
"There are plenty of Varins in Gregoria kid; it happens but not often."
"Huh, I see then, thank you for letting me know."
"Why, are you going to marry her?"
"I am of age to marry, but I don't think it would be appropriate to marry a twelve-year-old."
"Hey, just because you're fourteen now that doesn't mean go off and marry anyone just yet. I know a few men who married young and their wives ended up leaving them and shaming them."
"I understand Mister Miller, and besides, I still want to be a knight, but I might go and become a Gregorian knight instead."
Jackson turned to the girls who were still fast asleep as the fireplace crackled and popped. He turned his focus on to Ruby, who was wagging her tail as she slept. She reached out for Audrey as she was asleep next to Ruby and curled up next to her. He could almost get a glimpse into her past, and he felt a shiver run down his spine. The thought of being a slave was too much to bear. Her entire being was wrought with pain and suffering, and yet her tail still shows an ounce of joy.
Miller saw this and tapped him on the shoulder. "Hey, mind helping me carry them to bed kid?" Miller asked as he walked forwards to the girls. "Sure, Mister Miller."
Miller Carried Audrey upstairs to a small loft and put her in the guest bed without waking her. Jackson meanwhile picked up Ruby as Miller turned to go up the stairs. He gently moved his right arm under her knees and wrapped his left arm around her back. As he lifted her, she woke up. "What are you doing?" She asked confused. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"Where's Mister Miller?"
"He went upstairs to put Audrey in bed."
"Were you taking me to his room?"
"Yeah, then I'm going home to my parents. I hope they're not too worried about me." Jackson said as he started walking towards Miller's room. He opened the door and set Ruby down on Miller's bed. "You alright?" He asked as he started for the door.
"What do you mean by that?"
"You're always scared that something's going to hurt you or whip you or even kill you. So, are you alright, or do I need to stay here until Miller gets back?" He asked as he leaned on to the door frame.
"Well… I guess you could stay if you don't mind."
"Okay, so, tell me, how long were you a slave for?"
"All of my life, in the Lucc Empire, all Varin's are made into slaves. So, I've never been free before."
"Do you have any family?"
"No, my father was executed for protecting m-my mother."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but I want you to realize that you're still young. Despite what's happened to you to make you as you are."
"But I don't know what I want to do or what I want. I want to remain free, but I don't know how to stay free."
"Then fight for it, you've been living on your knees your whole life. You'll need to learn how to stand up for yourself sooner or later."
"Why, every time I've ever tried, I've been whipped or beaten."
"Do you believe that Mister Miller would beat you?"
"Well, no."
Ruby's tail started wagging, and it was just then that Miller came into his room. "What are you two doin?" He asked as he walked over to the mirror and started to clean himself with a wet rag.
"Nothing Mister Miller, we were just talking," Ruby said as she pulled herself under the covers.
"Good night Ruby, and I better be off, Mister Miller."
"Alright kid, remember, stay alert. The crown might hold you accountable for what happened to the Tyrant King and the royal family. Just remember that, and you should be fine." Miller said as he continued to wash his face.
"I will, sir, I'll see you all soon," Jackson said as he left the room. He was tired and worn out from the day's events and just wanted to go home and rest. It was a short walk back to the gatehouse. There were two deputies there with several guardsmen. They were all standing around where the accident had taken place with the slaver from before. He calmly approached the gate and entered back into the town.