Kingdom Raiders

Chapter 5 - Asra

MORNING CAME AND there was no sign of father. Last night after that man bagged my head, they took me back home on a horse, about twenty minutes travel. I went to the markets just after dawn to collect the day's food with my horse, Horse.

"How much for a loaf?" I pointed to a crusty bread laid out on the table. I was holding onto Horse's lead, browsing through the selection of stalls. A woman whose stomach rolled over her legs was standing behind a stall full of different varieties of bread - Vienna, sourdough, baguette, you name it. Her recipes had been in her family for generations, hence her famous name in town for the delectable food she sold everyday.

She belly laughed, amusedly, "Nothing you can afford, dear. Prices 've gone up. My wheat crops are being destroyed during the nighttime, and I suspect the foxes are up to no good. M'Lord isn't too happy with the amount of produce, so he's insisted on raising the prices."

"No good, Agnes. I can't afford more than two copper pieces, you know how it is. Father's out working late hours, I'm trying to help on the farm. Could you spare us a little, just for me?" I bargained.

Agnes had known me since I was a tot. Father took me everyday to fetch the food, until eventually I was old enough to buy it myself. Everyone around town knew of Father's pathetic business in stealing. "Coward!" They would say. We would walk through the streets and be spat on. During the difficult times of economic downfall, Father made a living where he could, just like the rest. No one understood his motives though. We had seen people on the streets, begging for money for food, homeless. He never wanted that life for me.

Due to his damaged reputation, I had to make way for myself. When I became older, I introduced myself to many people in town and made friends for which would earn me the right to do what I please, without being shamed for it. I could go to work on my friend's father's farm, Ruth, and exchange pleasantries (and even get discounts on products) with the blacksmith and the baker.

Agnes reached behind a box and pulled out a small loaf of bread, wrapped it up and handed it to me. "Just this once, Asra. If I get caught doing this-"

"I know, I know. It's all my fault and you'll have my head." I mumbled under my breath, "What is with you people and death threats?"

She sent me a questioning look, to which I waved my hand. "Thank you, though. Father will be so pleased."

She scoffed at the mention of his name, but smiled pleasantly as I left for the apple stall. The tender looked red-hot mad, his cheeks flushed a dark red and his eyes darted from his apples to incoming customers.

I tugged on Horse's lead to follow me and I ended up in front of his stall.

"I hope your prices haven't gone up, have they?" I wasn't particularly familiar with this man, but I had bought his fruit some time ago. I couldn't afford two staple foods increasing in price, the expense wasn't covered by my small wage working as a farmhand,

He scowled, "If you're looking for a free sample, you can leave now. I've already had some kids stealin' my apples this morning, and I won't have it! I should double the prices, cheap money I'm selling 'em for. Apple growing is hard work, I'll 'ave ya know, nothing this new generation could handle. Ungrateful little-"

I quietly excused myself and Horse from the wrath of this tubby, short man rambling about his apples. I turned back to see him shaking his head and still ranting to himself as he rearranged his boxes.

I patted Horse down his neck, mentally apologising for depriving him of an apple. I stepped up on the stirrup and sat on his back comfortably. I pitied Horse, he did not find his own food, but relied on my memory, and my money, to feed him day to day. I apologised aloud to him this time, as he would need to eat his normal feed again.