That night, I formed a plan. A rough one perhaps, but a plan nonetheless. I would go into the next village I found and attempt to sell some of my excess herbs. I decided to keep a little of everything for myself, but I'd grabbed most of my stock before leaving my cottage, and had no need for such quantities. With any luck, I could earn a few coins or at least trade for some food and warmer clothes. While traveling along the road--no final destination determined as of yet--I would stay in some places for a few days and offer my services as a healer. I would have to be strict with myself and use no magic whatsoever when I wasn't alone, even if it meant I could not save someone. I'd been careless the last few months, and it had almost gotten me killed. I could not risk it again, especially not in a place that had no loyalty to me.
This did not mean I would be completely avoiding all magic. Erik's letter weighed heavily on my mind, and the book tempted me too much to ignore. I resolved to practice in private, when I was camped out alone in the wilderness at night. That way I would endanger no one, but could still hone my skills. I was eager to learn new incantations, especially ones for self defense. I needed some way to protect myself, now that I was alone.
I carried out this plan for a number of weeks, right up to the end of autumn. Instead of going further and further across the kingdom with no end in sight, I developed a sort of route which I would circle on a schedule. Two days in Roulm, two days in Wipsop, two days in Presh. Figuring in the travel time, I was in each place every tenth day or so. I began to build a reputation for myself. People heard about the traveling healer who would treat those with little money, and I soon had many visits to make when I arrived. I'd even take requests for specific herbs and try to harvest or trade for them before I came back, becoming a medicinal merchant of sorts.
I noticed something different about this area of the kingdom. The people here seemed more vocal. Braver. In Vrysdale there had never been any dissenting voices--at least not out in the open--but in these cities and villages, I heard them often. People who were angered by the current ruler and not afraid to say it.
I was in the back alleys of Roulm one day, leaving a house call, when one man became particularly bold.
"DOWN WITH THE CROWN," a passionate yell rang out through the street.
The phrase was repeated a few times. As the man's chant continued, it seemed to grow in power. All along the street, people were pausing their conversations and looking around for the brazen source of this demand.
"DOWN WITH THE CROWN!"
"Shut up man, you're going to get us all in trouble!" One voice called back.
Others began murmuring their support of the rebel's statement. I found myself pushed into the crowd as it converged at the end of an alley. A man emerged from the throngs of people, standing on something to make him taller than the rest of us. He was extremely average looking. It struck me as a strange juxtaposition to his current actions.
"Our people have lived in fear for too long," he said, addressing the enthralled crowd.
"For fifty years now, we have been subdued by threats and shameful acts of violence. And why? Because we wanted better for our families? No more! It is time for us to stand together, and to fight for our freedoms!"
Many people cheered and clapped. A few booed. The rest of us looked around uneasily.
/How can this man be so outspoken? Doesn't he realize if the soldiers find him, he's done for?/
As much as I agreed with the man, I could not understand how his approach was going to create any change. There had never been a successful uprising. Just more death, more destruction. I did not wish to see that here in the streets of Roulm today. I tried to back out of the mass of people, but we were packed in too tightly. I had no choice but to continue watching this scene unfold. I bit my lip nervously. The man was still talking, and throughout the crowd people were becoming invested in what he had to say.
"Do you want your children to grow up as you have, held to the ground like mice caught in a cat's paw?"
"NO," voices rang out in response.
"Is it fair that nearly half your earnings each year go to a king who cares nothing for you?"
"NO!"
"Is it right that those we love are ripped from us and forced to fight against us?!"
The impromptu rally grew ever more raucous as the man continued. He spoke the truth--the ugly, scary, difficult truth of life in Klymor under the last two kings--and despite my better judgement I found myself reeled in. This message of deserving better…this rebellious cry to stand against our oppressor...it latched on to my heart as it dragged my whole life before my eyes for review.
/What could my life have been, if more people were like this man? Happy. Free. Able to marry./
Suddenly the supportive shouts of the onlookers turned into shrieks. I was jostled by the shifting crowd until I reached the edge and made my way into a doorway. There was a step, and I stood on it to get a better view. Something had changed, and I wanted to know what.
As soon as I saw, I wished I hadn't. Approaching the man's makeshift stage from two sides were soldiers, dressed in the traditional emerald green and white uniforms. They pushed their way past people with whatever force necessary, and then some. People attempted to flee the packed alley. So brave just moments ago, they now had no desire to match their words with actions. I stayed in the shadows of the doorway, unable to tear my eyes from the scene.
The first soldier, a short but brawny fellow, reached the man responsible for the ruckus. He was sent sprawling to the ground and immediately a second soldier held a sword to his neck. They did not even hesitate. No words were spoken, no warnings given. The soldier raised his sword and brought it down with tremendous force on the man's neck, severing his head from his body in the blink of an eye. The head landed with a sickening thud. Blood spurted everywhere, quickly staining the cobblestones below. My breakfast rose in my throat. I turned and ran, a hand to my mouth.
I stopped to catch my breath a few streets over. I was crying uncontrollably as the scene raced through my mind again and again. I had heard of the violence in the kingdom, but before today I'd never seen it first hand. I didn't understand how anyone could live in conditions like this and not fight back! I paused, considering my own initial thoughts when I'd heard the man speaking out. I'd questioned the effectiveness of his methods, myself. I'd doubted that any rebellion was possible. But in just a few minutes time, he'd ignited a fire in me.
/He hasn't died in vain,/ I thought, wiping the tears from my eyes. /I may only be one person, but I will find a way to change my destiny...to change the destiny of everyone in Klymor./
Now all that was left was figuring out how.