A Devious Exchange

Carriage Rides and Where Business Lies

 "Nevertheless, my patrolling does help some, didn't it for you?" Schwartz joked sarcastically, making my brooding stir up again. I do wish he'd stop nagging about that.

He smiled playfully with his wide smile, while holding up his free hand in a mock surrender, the other securing the reigns of the horses. The way he's so relaxed and behaving in almost a childlike demeanor is both an anomaly and heartening to me. I couldn't tell if I liked this side of him or not, I guess it almost reminds me of Delilah's bubbly personality. Still, I'd never witnessed a man behave so... unmanly?

He continued more seriously, eyeing the horses who seemed caught up with the miles of appetizing grass, "The other half of hostilities, as you mentioned, are near the Duke's properties. Those I do understand for their outbursts, but I am inclined to disagree with their violence." He stated with finality while looking back at the road.

I poked lightly, still disagreeing with his intolerance for violence, "And why does your conscious disagree? Would it be better of them to simply remain quiet?" Even if the hostilities stirred more trouble than good, how else were the poor supposed to make a point? They've tried to talk at royal events before, but they inevitably got ignored or forcibly silenced. If peace isn't an option, wouldn't actions be the next step?

After all, actions speak louder than words.

He turned my idea in his head thoughtfully, staring out into the bumpy road for a while. His body relaxed further against the coach seat while opting to rest the reigns in his lap. I hadn't noticed before, but the free winds of the country brushed a light fragrance to my nose. He must be wearing a fragrance, it almost reminds me of freshly chopped wood, maybe maple? I liked how the smell connotated with the tints of red in his hair, which kindly resembled the color of the bark of such tree.

Seeming to collect his thoughts before speaking, a pained look barely brushed over his face, the creases along his forehead becoming a bit more prominent.

"The violence is right and wrong, isn't it? But as a guard and as a human, I cannot promote violence as a means to send a message," He drew in a tight breath, hesitating on his words, "My family was killed in a village uprising a few sectors over, in Ortley. I was younger when it happened, but somehow a fire had started. It spread to my family's house before I managed to come back from my shift at the mills." I felt my chest drop as his voice grew gruff, a lingering anger and resentment in his voice, "My father, mother, and two younger brothers were all dead, bodies burned to mere ashes that day, and not one person cared."

I felt a prick of sorrow at his words, guilt overriding my skepticisms for plaguing the conversation whilst judging the unfortunate man. I frowned while diverting my gaze awkwardly, running my fingers over my clothed arm. However, I did wonder how the fire spread to his family's dwelling. Ortley wasn't any more prosperous than Quale's, but it did have its ritzy areas all the same. If the fire was aimed at the Duke's dwelling, Schwartz had to have been living in the upper class area at the time. That could only mean he came from wealth, but if he worked at the mill, that doesn't make sense. No upper-class child would be working if the parents had funds to support them. He must be sparring me a few details, or maybe I'm looking too deep into it.

He continued with a bated breath, "I didn't even get to say goodbye, nor do I even remember if I said 'I love you' to them before heading to work that morning. I've had a terrible grief all my life because of it."

The muscles on his face tensed even more with a sharp grimace prominent on his jaw line. His words pained him to say aloud, his throat bobbing with a harsh swallow. I didn't really know how to respond, my mouth moving to say condolences but only coming up with empty breaths. I felt I didn't know him well enough to express strong empathy aloud, nor did I want to sound like I pitied him either.