Fractured Kingdom

Scene 3

“Oyi! Clear the path.”

Kinsey’s attention was drawn from the puzzle of the mysterious man before her and Cadence’s response to him to a beefy soldier hollering at an elderly merchant, Grandfather Miners, who was pulling a wooden cart heavily laden with materials and tools behind him.

“The Over Lord, Dymtrus is coming through, best be clear of here as fast as you can.”

Numerous soldiers were herding the shoppers like cattle out of the busy street to make way for the Over Lord.

“But my bag,” a woman protested as a young soldier guided her to the side of farmer Mages’ stall. The woman pushed back past him and picked up her bag. The soldier pulled out a whip.

“Get back here,” he called after her and slashed the whip through the air making it snap. It didn’t touch the woman but the sound and action caused many to scurry with fear to the sides of the market roads.

The woman picked up her bag and hurried to the side of the street.

Kinsey shook her head. Why couldn’t they be a little kinder? She continued to watch the men from the palace threaten all shoppers off the road. Her heart beat faster as the burly soldier shoved gentle grandfather Miners telling him to hurry along.

Grandfather Miners merely bowed in acquiescence and shuffled along. Kinsey knew he was a strong man, but the cart he pulled behind him was heavy and he had to move slowly. He had always treated her and her sisters with kindness whenever they did business with him. He’d often fix their shoes for trade rather than asking for a price.

Kinsey slid out of the stall and moved quickly to the elderly man’s side.

“May I help you,” she asked in a soft voice and grabbed one of the cart’s rungs.

“That’s be might nice of you, Miss,” Grandfather Miners answered as a grin warmed his features.

“Move it along!” The soldier gave Grandfather Miners cart a push that caused the ancient man to stumble. Kinsey reached out an arm to steady the old man. She could feel her inner fire ignite. She breathed slowly and deeply willing it to settle lest it explode from her.

A third presence came to her side. “Why don’t you help the Grandfather? I’ll take care of his load.”

Kinsey looked towards the voice she was beginning to recognize as Aiden’s. She nodded and slid her arm around the elderly man’s shoulders. “Come with me, we’ll help you,” she spoke to Grandfather Miners.

She wondered at this strange man’s kindness. He was an enigma and she could feel herself question his motives.

Aiden took hold of the cart. “We’ll be right out of your way,” he said in his congenial way to the soldier standing over them.

Quickly they cleared the almost empty street and hurried to Kinsey’s sisters who were still standing at their stall.  Aiden set the cart next to their stall and Kinsey and Anika showed Grandfather Miners a place to rest. Cadence climbed next to the grandfather and cupped her hand in Aiden’s. Kinsey wondered at her youngest sister’s comfort with the caped man they had only met perhaps an hour ago.

A sudden murmur of voices caught Kinsey’s attention.

“Sister, look,” Anika whispered. “It’s the Over Lord, Dymtrus and his entourage.”

“They’ve come at last,” Kinsey’s voice, void of enthusiasm, was flat in comparison to her sister’s.

“Oh, isn’t it exciting?”