Youngest of Them All (Rewrite)

A Spring of Beginnings and Chances

The ship rocked back and forth, carrying aboard treasures and valuables waiting to be bought and sold. The owner was a merchant, known for his reliability of getting items to the buyers. He was known to be a good man, but even 'good' men have their secrets. In the shady parts of the territories he sailed, he was known for transporting goods, people, slaves, traitors, spies, enemies to enemies.  He himself was a spy, a traitor, but preferred not to put himself with those he thought lesser than himself. So when he was approached about transporting three slave boys to a certain town he didn't bat an eyelash before accepting payment and heading off. 

The boys, captured years ago, had no idea where they were going, so weak from starvation and horrible treatment from former masters. Carter the oldest, the protector of the younger two, saw them as his two companions as his second chance. To do something right in his life for once. He had dark red hair, freckles dotted his cheeks, green eyes shut tight. He was just starting to get over a spout of seasickness, he hated boats so much. 

Jasper was the second oldest, his brown hair matted to his head and face as he tried to help Carter with his seasickness. Jasper threw around a few jokes only earning small smiles from Carter. But helping Carter seemed to be stealing all his energy though and Zach at the moment couldn't be much help.

"How's Zach?" Carter's anxious voice cut through the room. 

"Zach, buddy, how's it going over there?" Jasper helped lean Carter up against some containers before moving over to Zach as well as he could with the chains that bound his hands. He got about halfway to Zach when the chains pulled tight. Zach laid on the ground motionless, Jasper could barely make out his shallow breathing. 

"Don't... call me buddy. I-I'm not five." Jasper was grateful for the attitude.

"Are you feeling any better?" Zach forced his eyes open to look at Jasper. Jasper wasn't sure whether or not he was going to answer him.

"No," was the short answer. Jasper was thankful that he wasn't lying to him, but it didn't ease his worry at all. Jasper turned back to Carter who was looking a little more green every minute.

"He'll be okay." But they all knew that if they didn't get off the boat soon, the youngest wasn't going to make it. So Jasper was going to keeping praying for all of them, all he could do was trust that God would do the rest.

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Christina wandered around the small village flicking her braid of hair over her shoulder, it was the first nice spring day that had decided to grace them with its presence. Her older sisters were around she was sure and the wagon they had brought was left in a side street with their driver. Christina relished the fresh air and sea breeze, she was walking down to the docks, the merchant ships were coming through this week and she was intent on getting her prize.  

Finally the ship she had been waiting for docked, and she waited a few minutes before heading to get on board. When she walked over the gangplank and boarded she called out the merchant's name but she received no response. Confused she headed below deck, searching for him, yet she didn't find him as she ventured deeper into the mess of cargo. Just as she was going to turn back she heard the rustle of chains. She spun around, eyes searching the darkness for the source. "Who's there?" She called out, she could feel her heartbeat quickening as she waited for a response. A little voice was telling her to turn around and head back up before she got caught snooping. But her feet had another idea as they took her into the imitating darkness. 

She followed the oh so quiet sound of rustling chains, till she heard the audible voice of a male. Quietly she approached trying to catch what he was saying, he was trying to hush one of his shipmates, who as the body came into view looked injured.  There were three boys, all of who were chained. Her brain told her that these were just some slave boys who were in trouble and it was none of her concern. The other part had compassion on them and pushed her into their line of sight. 

"What's wrong with him?" She asked lowering her hood that hid her identity.  The boy who was trying to help him was too far away. 

"He is sick and his wounds are becoming infected," the young redhead answered after getting over his shock of this woman.

"You shouldn't be down here miss, these are dangerous fellows." The merchant had come up behind her.

"I am here for my brother's weapon." She replied her eyes staying on the boys as she followed the man beckoning her to follow him. She took one last look at them as she left. 

When they got back to the top of the deck, the merchant showed her the beautiful sword. But as she went to leave words she was not excepting tumbled off her tongue, "How much are the slaves?"

"I'm afraid they are not for sale miss."

"I'll pay you triple for them, some for yourself and some to compensate the man who was buying them." The merchant looked at her with wide eyes, he soon listed the price and she head off the ship to get the money to pay him and transportation to get the injured boys to the castle. When she came back with the horses and wagon, she told the driver to get the boys and wait for her to speak to her sisters. 

She headed through the town searching, luckily she didn't have to look far. Octavia was in a dress shop with Jane and some of her other sisters. Scarlet, Christina's servant, was also there with them. Christina rushed into the shop and pulled Scarlet away.

"I need your help."

"Anything."

"I need to get back to the castle, can you watch over my sisters and make sure they acquire transport back. Or make them walk, it is not that far." I suggest.

"Princess Octavia will be thrilled to walk through the forest," she said sarcastically before heading back to my sisters. If it had been anyone else I probably would have been offended, but Scarlet was practically my sister so I let it go. I quickly headed back to the wagon and sat next to the driver. The boys were all there and we set off on the trail to the castle.

The oldest looking, the one with the red hair, was looking much better now that he was back on dry land. He was staring at me, but once I noticed him he looked down not holding eye contact with me. The second, brown hair and most alert looking was watching over the final boy. He laid on his back unconscious. They were all so thin, so broken... she could only imagine what they had gone through during their few years on earth. 

As they arrived at the castle, she hopped out and gave orders to her other servants and attendants. Then she walked away from them, she knew she would be seeing more of them but it would not be proper or right to stay and watch over them, for now at least.

----------------------- 1 week later------------------------------------------

"What do you mean you sold them to someone else!" A man shouted at the merchant.

"The woman paid triple for them! You can have the money!" He cried, holding out the bag of money. 

"I don't want your money," the man let the merchant go before leaving. 

When he returned to his own master he looked down at the ground, "The merchant sold them to someone else..."

"Do you know who? Or where?" A woman asked anxiously from behind his master.

"I will soon know who has the boys, they are somewhere near Darkwood. I will go personally myself, to see to that the boys and are brought here."

"Good, may the Lord be with you." The man bowed before his master then headed out.

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Chapter one of the rewrite complete!