A Tale of Time: The Malice of Men

Chapter 27: Connections

Know them well. Know what they want.

What they care for, what they like.

The hope, the promise, the dream which haunts.

Know their love. Know their spite.

Protect them, help them, you must guide.

They didn't look at him so often anymore. The looks Robert's fellow travelers gave him when they first learnt he was travelling alone nearly made him squeal out in fright, saying 'It wasn't me! Rayenna made me do this!' A few days ago, he would have done it as well. The Robert who left home wasn't so brave or (as Robert liked to think) resourceful, though he was certainly no wiser.

Right now, Robert was only just able to pee without someone keeping an eye on him. Robert for one, did not understand what all the fuss was about. Yes, he was travelling on his own, and that was a novelty when one considers his age, but he is paying like everyone else and working like everyone else. Why the special treatment? Why did people care about him? What did matter what he was doing?

They were still a long way away from Geldavar. A lot could happen by the time they reached their destination. The journey was an uncomfortable one, with everybody on the caravan, except for perhaps the soldier, was trying to find a better life down south. Robert wondered how many more caravans were there and how many more people were going away from their old homes.

From what Robert dared to gather, these people all had similar stories. There was Ayesha, the kindly mother and Amana, her three-year old child. Amongst the lot, she was the nicest to Robert. She was kind to him, she smiled often and helped him with the chores the merchant gave. Robert hated it. It reminded him too much of home, which was still there. Or was it? That made him angrier and he would storm off to find a place which would take what he would give and not retaliate.

Ayesha was a single mother. She did menial jobs in the town Robert found himself in when he got off the boat. When she realized she wasn't earning what she was earlier due to the rise in food prices, she made the decision to move south.

Of all the people in the caravan, she was the most efficient worker, being used to such tasks. When she was asked to wash clothes in a pond, or find firewood for the night, Robert would accompany her, playing with little Amana and managing her for a while.

The man who bumped into him so rudely was the very opposite of Ayesha.

Upon asking, he said his name was Marcus. He had a sickly look about him. He couldn't stop wringing his hands, a habit Robert found incredibly annoying. He always tried to avoid work. Usually trying to push Robert to do his quota. It didn't take long for everybody to hate him and before long, nobody took notice of him.

The other two people were formidable characters. The man with the beard was also from the new men, but he was very different from Marcus. Heleros was always ready to carry out tasks assigned to him. He was strong, clever and had a way with the wild. He must have been in his late forties, as old as father just as strong without working at the forge all day. He wasn't particularly kind, as Ayesha was. He was a rough sort of man who spoke sharply and with great intent, always scaring Robert, who was afraid he would inadvertently tell the truth about himself, so he stayed away.

The soldier was a mystery. The merchant was afraid to order him around, so he just stayed in the caravan all day. Robert could only guess how he spent his time. He didn't ask any questions and nobody spoke to him. He was barely there.

Such was his company, but company it was, and Robert was glad. If the merchant tried something funny, surely, at least one of them would stand up for him?

The snow had stopped the day after they left. 'The weather is strange.' Robert thought to himself one day, sitting in the grass that evening when they finally came to a halt. 'One moment, it looks like winter is here. The next day, there are only a few clouds!' Night was falling, so they had finally come to a halt. The caravan was not the most comfortable way south and every bone in Robert's poor body ached, so he got of the caravan and fell onto the grass. It was in this state that Marcus found him. "Boy." He said, wringing his hands in that usual, annoying manner. "Lend me some money. Ten Navars, I will return it to you." Robert had been expecting no less from the man, and on their third day too. 'He doesn't even say 'please'.' Robert got to his feet, although it still hurt him. The purse of gold Navars that his sister had given him on their parting (the only thing she had ever given Robert that didn't yet end up in a beating) was still by Robert's side, and when he had to bath, he would give it to Ayesha, who was trustworthy.

"No." Robert spoke slowly, ready to run at the slightest hint. "I'm afraid I can't give you the money."

For a moment, Marcus remained as hungry as he usually was. When the words finally sank into his mind, Robert saw an anger he had never seen before. It wasn't spite. It wasn't hatred. It was the feeling of being turned down by a fourteen year old.

"Don't... have the... money, boy!" He spat out every word. Hs eyes were large and bloodshot, and Robert could tell he had been drinking. He backed away a little. "Telling me... what to do... is it?" For a moment, it appeared as if Marcus was preparing himself to strike him. Robert was ready. His feet were barely on the ground now, but then Marcus just walked away. Robert heaved a sigh of relief.

Just as he was about to embrace the grass again though, he spotted someone: it was the man in black.

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Yes, I know, this is a short one, even by my standards, but there really isn't much for me to tell you about this place right now, although I have a feeling what you have seen here will play an important role in the things  to come. (I make it up as I go along, so your guess is as good as mine, although I do have an idea about some future events)

I hope you liked this one. Please do not forget to let me know what you feel. You an use the comments section or just PM me. I will respond. 

Thanks

Archit Kottapalli