"Brother I am feeling hungry. Let's eat something." Fiona started to pull Pheonix's shirt sleeves. Laughing, he took her to a small sweet shop. After getting a few candies and pastries they started walking back.
While walking back, Pheonix noticed an old man, struggling to pull a carriage. There were no horses to pull the carriage. The old man himself was pulling it alone. People around him, looked but no one helped the old man.
"Excuse me, why are you pulling this cart by yourself? Where are the horses?" Pheonix asked the old man.
Sir, I repair carriages, sometimes people stay and get the repair done. Sometimes they leave their carriages in my shop and after repairing I have to return it back. This time, the owner of this cart did not wanted to leave his horses. I was unable to reject the work as I had a sick wife at home to take care of." The old man sighed and tried to pull the carriage again, moving slightly forward but struggled to gain much distance.
"Please give the reign to me, sit on the driver seat. Pheonix took the reign of the carriage midst the protest from the old man. Fiona, you can sit next to him."
Once, Fiona sat, Pheonix started to pull the carriage effortlessly. The crowd looked at him in wonder. Some looked in disdain and some felt ashamed. Ignoring all the expressions and looks from the people around him, Pheonix moved forward.
"Where do you have to deliver this carriage sir ?"
"Sir, Please don't address me as, Sir. I am a nobody. My name is Fred. I have to deliver it at the High Comfort Inn."
It was the same place where Pheonix was staying. He walked easily and was pulling the cart without any effort even when they were moving uphill.
After walking for more than 30 minutes, they reached their destination. At that exact time, Simon walked out talking to a fat man with greasy hair. He looking surprised, and when he wanted to ask his son about the situation, Pheonix shook his head. However the fat man looked at the scene and became extremely angry.
"How dare you sit on my Carriage old man. Who is that begger child next to you. Guards, get them down and pay them with 10 lashes."
Pheonix stepped forward and took a humble stance, hunching his shoulders. "Sir, its my mistake. The old man here was struggling to pull the carriage so I helped him to bring it here. As he was old and tired, I asked him to sit in the driver's seat and that girl is my sister. Please have mercy on them."
"Who the hell are you to ask for mercy. You are the one who made my carriage dirty. Guards bring him forward and pay him with thirty lashes first then pay 10 lashes to those two."
When Simon wanted to speak, Pheonix slightly shook his head again. Sighing deeply, Simon stood aside.
"Sir, I am truely sorry, Please punish me. Let the old man and the girl go. They are old man and a kid. Please have mercy on them." Pheonix started to beg. By that time a crowd had gathered and were simply horrified by the cruelty the fat man was displaying. But no one dared oppose him.
"Guards, what are you waiting for, hold all of them and bring the Whip, I will punish them myself. It's been long since I administered it myself." The fat man yelled with a manic gleam.
10 guards started walking forward them with an evil glint in their eyes.
"Sir, please, leave them alone. I will take their part of whipping also. Please sir. "
Four guards held Pheonix's arms tightly. Remaining four held the old man. Luckily, no one touched the girl.
"Why are you hesitating, drag that bitch down from my Carriage." The fat man yelled and swung the Whip towards Fiona.
Suddenly a bowlder fell on top of the old man and both he and the boulder rolled a few times before coming to a halt. After a few seconds, the fat man got up shaking his head, still feeling dizzy. By the time his vision cleared, he saw all ten of his guards were laying down unmoving. The tenth one was the one who collided with him initally.
The crowd gasped in unison. "Such power, such strength." They can only say these words.
Baffled, the old man looked around and felt panic rise. He suddenly saw Simon looking angry. He ran towards him and begged. Lord Dragonheart save me. Please save me.
The crowd felt one more shock. Dragonheart, he is the powerful knight, Simon Dragonheart.
Pheonix walked forward, every step he took made the fat man quiver in fear.
"You bastard, how dare you call my sister a bitch. How dare you swung the Whip at my sister." He then walked to the old man and lifted him up in the air by his neck. Yet Simon was standing still, looking angry.
When the crowd observed closly, they saw that the hero of the Kingdom was not angry at the Kid but at the fat man. This made the crowd breath in relief.
A hand was placed on the shoulder of Pheonix. It was none other than the old man. " Sir, please let him go for my sake. I know he had done a mistake but, I don't want to get you in trouble. I thank you sincerely from the bottom of my heart for helping me. But I don't want you to end up in jail because of me."
Pheonix smiled warmly at the old man and let go of the fat man. He gasped for air and then started to cry holding Simon's hand.
"Sir..... Sir Dragonheart, please uphold the justice. Kill this insolent boy. Kill them all."
Simon didn't speak. He simply looked at the old man and then at his son.
"Will you solve it yourself or shall I ?"
"You can take care of it father. We shall take our leave." After that, Pheonix took out a handfull of coins and stuffed it into the old man's pocket. "I think you can get medicine for your wife with this and take care of her for a few weeks."
"Father, Please help this hard working man. His wife is unwell." After inclining his head towards the old man, he took his sister's hand and walked inside the Inn.
Father..... father... everyone there were stunned by this revelation and the crowd was impressed by the ability and humanity displayed by their hero's son.
"Like father. Like son...." This word was spoken many times that day.
The Fat man became stiff and looked from Simon to Pheonix and Fiona who disappeared inside the Inn. Then gulped audibly. If this boy is Simon's son then.... then.... The girl is Simon's daughter. And I tried to Whip her.....!!!
....
"Son, Derrick had agreed to pay 500 gold for the old man as a compensation for his misbehavior. He will also take the complete responsibility of the old man's wife's healing expenditures no matter what the cost will be."
"Thank you father. I am happy that the old man can live peacefully." Pheonix smiled and bowed his head.
"You are the best brother. But how can you throw a big person so far? Was he like a baloon, filled with air?"
Both Simon and Pheonix laughed heartily at Fiona's innocent question. Then her father tousled her hairs and said, " No child, he was a normal man like me. It's just because, your brother is a strong one that's all."