All the members riding in the carriage were silent until we exited the town. I then tried to break the ice. “So, Tanya, have you ever been to Vaspar?”
“No, My Lord,” She mumbled.
“Oh, well, I guess I won’t be using you as a tour guide,” I said jokingly.
“Sorry, My Lord,” She said uncomfortably.
“I was only joking. So, have you ever left Decmoore?”
“No, My Lord.”
I sighed. I think it was going to take a lot of work to get this girl to open up. We rode in silence for a while, and then I said, “So, have you ever ridden in a carriage before?”
“No, My Lord.”
“Well, dang, now you won’t be impressed by the smoothness of the ride.”
“Sorry, My Lord.”
“Ugh.” I rubbed my hand on my forehead. “Tanya, please stop saying you’re sorry for things that aren’t your fault.”
“Sor… Yes, My Lord,” She said, her cheeks turning a slight pink.
I started to chuckle at the ridiculousness of this situation, which made the girl turn a deeper shade of red. I held up my hand. “I’m sorry,” I said, “I’m just thinking about how ridiculous this situation is. You, the daughter of a Baron, are acting like a serf. Do you even know the laws of the kingdom concerning illegitimate children of nobility?”
She shook her head.
“So, I wasn’t really educated in it and have only had a brief time to look over the laws since I have become regent. Half of them don’t make sense yet. I’m hoping to find a steward that can help me. But that is beside the point. Some kings a few generations back felt that children with noble blood had rights above the commoner, even if they were illegitimate. Otherwise, what was noble blood worth? So, hence came the “Bastard Laws.” I’m guessing you haven’t read them.” I had read them because I was going through all the laws I could find pertaining to children. No, I wasn’t planning on sleeping with all my maids. I just ran across them while looking for information to help solidify Aaron’s claim. Making sure there were no loopholes that made it so someone could swoop in and take Aaron’s barony.
“I… I don’t know how to read, My Lord.” Tayna said, somewhat embarrassed.
“Now that right there is the first problem. All illegitimate children of a noble are to receive an education up to the level of a clerk. The noble is also required to find suitable employment at the level of a clerk or above by the child's eighteenth birthday or when they leave the home. Whichever is first. Though you do not hold a title, you can request that commoners address you as madam. You cannot be barred from any public building, just the same as any nobleman. There are some other rules. Also, you are held to the same standards that nobles are supposed to maintain. Don’t ask me what that means. There are a lot, and I am still trying to figure it out.”
Tanya looked completely dazed. I could understand why. Her whole life was a lie. She wasn’t some fairy tale princess, but according to the law, she was far more than a common wash woman.
Suddenly, she burst into tears and covered her face with her hands. My 21st-century instincts overrode my common sense. I stood up and braced myself against the sides of the carriage, switched to the opposite side of the carriage, and sat down next to her. I placed my arm over her hunched shoulders.
The awkwardness of the situation intensified a few minutes later when the girl leaned into me and continued to sob. Looking up, I saw Draves frowning at me. I looked back at him pleadingly. All I got in response was a slight shaking of his head as if he was asking, “How was it possible for me to always get into stupid situations.”
I had no idea what to do. Should I pull away from her or wait for her to calm down? I really need to think before I act. Not knowing what to do, I just continued to hug the young girl until she calmed down.
After about ten minutes she had cried herself out, and I got up to move back to my seat. The silence for the next hour was extremely uncomfortable—at least for me. Tanya kept her head down and said nothing. Finally, I said, “Draves, do you have any idea how to find this clinic when we arrive at Vaspar?”
Tanya gave a slight shutter but remained silent.
“We will have to ask, My Lord. There may be more than one. Baron Decmoore did not indicate a particular one.”
“Um… Tanya, did your father tell you anything?”
She just shook her head.
“Sorry, this is probably uncomfortable for you. We’ll figure it out when we get there.” Trying to cheer her up, I said, “Well, at least there should be plenty of work for you in a town as big as Vaspar.”
She started to cry again. In between sobs, she muttered, “I’m not a whore.” Tanya immediately covered her face with her hands.
I jerked back at the sudden outburst. I held up my hands, not that she could see them, “Whoa, girl, I already told you I know you're not doing that kind of work. I was talking about general employment.”
So, once again, we fell into silence while she got herself under control. Maybe I should have taken Lord Decmoore’s advice and made her walk. I repented of that thought quickly. She couldn’t be more than fourteen or fifteen, and her father had allowed her to be abused.
After a while, she said softly, “Sorry, My Lord, I… I was told that is all I would be good for in Vaspar.”
My fists immediately clenched into balls. Angrily I said, “Who would dare tell the daughter of a nobleman that they are a whore!” I actually thought I knew who told her that, but she needed to see my indignation. I had to get through to her that she was more than what she believed herself to be. “Captain, you have traveled this road before. Are there any towns along our route that would carry clothing suitable for the daughter of a baron?”
“I am sorry, My Lord, it has been a long time since I traveled to Vaspar.”
When I turned back to look at Tanya, her mouth was agape, and her eyes were wide.
“What?” I said uncomfortably, “Why are you staring at me?”
“You want me to get new clothes?”
“Yes?” I said, dragging the word out in a way that made it more like a question.
“From a store?”
“Well, yeah, it isn’t like I brought a personal seamstress with me.”
“But…”
“I mean, this all happened so fast I didn’t even think to get your clothes from the manor. I can’t believe your father just sent you in your work clothes.” I said, setting up the direction I was trying to get this conversation to go.
“Both my sets are work clothes.”
“Wait, you only have two sets of clothing?” I said in exaggerated mock surprise. Of course, she only had two sets of clothes, which is pretty much standard for serfs and peasants. I was such a good actor. I really should have gone out for that school play. “This will not do,” I said indignantly.
She put her head down in shame.
“Hey, I will have none of that. This isn’t your fault. I will buy you some clothing myself so you don’t have to worry about using the money your father gave you. He did give you enough to get established there, right?”
“Um, I don’t know,” she said, opening a little pouch at her hip and pulling out five coins. “This is what he gave me, but I have never had silver before. Is it enough?”
I looked at the coins and then over at Draves. His face remained stoic, but I knew him well enough to know he was as shocked as I was. Was her father trying to make sure she died on the street? She didn’t even know what five silver pennies were worth. How was she supposed to survive in a large town like Vaspar?
“That is way not enough for you to survive in Vaspar. Not for the daughter of a baron.”
Her head fell into her hands, and her shoulders slumped.
I shook my head. “Don’t worry, I will teach you about money on the way down there. I will also give you five silver crowns to get yourself established. Draves may not have been to the town in a while, but he knows how to live in cities, so he can probably help teach you how to navigate a large town. We have a lot of work to do before we get to Vaspar. Prepare for an information dump.”
“Information dump?”
“My Lord has a unique way of speaking sometimes.” Draves said dryly.
“Thank you, Captain. Anyways, tell me, Tanya, how high can you count.”
And with that began Madam Decmoore’s five day education. Fortunately, she was a smart girl, and she learned how to add and subtract within the five days. She also surprised me by learning the entire alphabet and the sounds that each letter made. Of course, that did not give her time to learn how to read, but fortunately, the language here was phonetically based, so she could sound out a few words.
At the same time as we were teaching her this, I made sure that everyone in my party knew to treat her as a lady with noble blood. The regular soldiers all bowed and addressed her as madam, and the captain always nodded when addressing her. Compared to how she was treated in her father's house, she was now practically a queen. She learned how to address people properly, and we practiced good eye contact. I role-played with her on how to interact according to her station. Captain Draves was quick to correct me when I was doing it wrong.
What really changed her were the clothes. I wanted her dressed up like I saw her sister-in-law Amelia. Unfortunately, there were no places in the villages that had those types of shops, and even if there were, Mathew would not have appreciated us taking the time to get the dress fitted. So we settled for overpaying a wealthy merchant's wife for her daughter's best outfit. I was surprised to find such a nice one in the villages we passed. It was worth it, though. She put it on after having the woman help cut and wash her hair. The effect on her was like switching on a light. She walked into the room as a beaten down girl with no self-worth and walked out with her back straight and a radiant smile on her face. Her face turned bright red when we made eye contact. I could tell the years of viewing herself as worthless were still going to affect her, but she was moving in the right direction.
The lady of the house came up to me and whispered. “Sorry it took so long, My Lord, she must have spent a quarter bell looking at herself in front of the mirror.”
“Thank you for your assistance,” I nodded.
“It’s nothing, My Lord. I wish my daughter had been as appreciative of the dress when I bought it for her.”
With that as the final touch, Tanya finally started to see herself as a person of worth. She held her head high and spoke with a little more confidence.
Captain Draves was indispensable in helping to train her to act according to her station. I was completely useless when it came to non-noble etiquette, and I was only slightly better at noble etiquette. He was hesitant at first and had even confronted me the first night. He was upset that I had taken responsibility for the girl.
“I couldn’t leave her there.”
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“My Lord, I don’t trust Baron Decmoore. No noble willingly puts himself into the debt of another. Well, except perhaps you.”
“True. Don’t think that I am completely oblivious to the fact that I may have stepped into a trap.”
“Then why did you do it?”
“Because I’m not used to thinking that everybody around me is trying to deceive me. I’m not a very good noble in that regard, but now I’ve given my word, and we will just have to see what happens.”
Draves nodded, “And why are you so convinced that she is innocent of any indiscretion.”
“Because I believe the only reason that the Baron would want her to go to an Expunger is if there was something to cover up. He doesn’t care about her.”
“You have a suspicion of who the father is?”
“Someone whose involvement would be very bad for the barony. I know you are trustworthy, but I don’t want to spread gossip.”
“That makes sense, and I think I also know who you are talking about. Now that you say that, though, it makes things even worse if we are involved. But we are already neck deep. We just need to find our way out of it. I’m not sure helping this girl is the best thing for us. The sooner we drop her off, the better.”
“No, Captain. We have at least four days, and we are going to do everything possible to make sure Tanya not only survives but thrives in her new life. I can’t do this without you.”
Captain Draves sighed, “Yes, My Lord.”
And that takes us back to the present as we enter the walled town of Vaspar. I have to admit I was shocked. The only other towns I had seen were dirty and ill-maintained, but Vaspar must have had some fines laid down for throwing filth around. Although I saw no signs of a sewage system, the streets were clean and evenly cobbled on the main thoroughfare. I also found out that cobbled streets were meant more for walking than carriage riding. It was definitely bumpy. I was so glad for the leaf springs to smooth things out. Some side streets were graveled. Buildings were not in pristine condition, but none seemed ready to collapse. There were patrols of guards both on the wall and roaming the streets. The design was such that two carts could pass each other without squishing pedestrians.
“Wow, this is pretty impressive,” I said, voicing my thoughts out loud.
“This looks more like a city than a town. Every time I have escorted your Father south, it gets bigger.” Draves said, “All this was not here last time I came through. I believe their port is becoming more popular.”
“So do we really have to go to the count's keep first?”
Tanya giggled at my question. She had become less guarded and more relaxed. She now involved herself occasionally in conversations. I had been begging to go to the port since Draves had confirmed that they had one. Her laughter, however, was because she knew I was trying to avoid the inevitable meeting with the count.
Draves just gave me a look. I think he was tired of giving the same answer over and over again. He also knew I was just saying it because it had become a joke. One that he didn’t find very funny.
The count’s dwelling was a three-story mini castle. It wasn’t just a keep. It had an outer wall with parapets. It sat on a hill, which I’m sure had a good view of the town and sea from the top level. Large flags adorned the high towers that connected the parapets. This guy didn’t seem to be hurting for money.
We were greeted by a handful of servants at the entrance. Mathew, the messenger, had a quick word with a sharply dressed man and then left us in his care. Our baggage was quickly unloaded by the servants as I was stepping down from the carriage.
“Lord Bicman, I am house steward Geoff." A tall, stately man said with a bow. I had learned that a House steward was different than a nobleman's steward. They were more like chief butlers. He would report to the count's steward. "I apologize, My Lord, but it will be a few days before the Count will have time to meet with you. This evening we will be holding a dinner party which you are requested to attend.
“Excellent, thank you for the invitation. This gives us time to explore your lovely town. If you could show my men where they are to stay and have my luggage taken to my room, that would be much appreciated, my good man.”
There was a slight quirk to Geoff’s eyebrows, but he recovered quickly. “Would you like a servant to show you around the town?”
“Thank you, but that will not be necessary. I prefer to explore new places without a tour guide.”
“A what?”
“Sorry, that was just an idea I came up with. A person paid to show people around a city.”
“Interesting. What is the point of such a thing?” The steward said, sounding intrigued.
“Well, the count could put a booth at the docks or near a gate. The person is either paid by the city or individual to take them around and show them different sights such as historical or shopping areas. The main goal is to get people to spend money while they are in the city.”
“I see. I will not detain you any longer from exploring the town of Vaspar.”
“Thank you for your assistance, Steward Geoff.”
With that, he left, and I asked one of the members of the Bicman militia to come over.
“My Lord, why did you not ask for assistance?” Captain Draves said before I could explain my plan.
“I would like to make inquiries as to the location of an expunger as discreetly as possible. You must have noticed how uncomfortable Tanya is with this.” Turning to the young man, I said. “Now, remind me of your name.”
“Thomas, My Lord.”
“Ah yes, now Thomas, I have a particularly sensitive mission for you. Can I trust you to remain silent on this matter?”
The young man stood up straighter, “Yes, My Lord,” He said firmly.
“Excellent, we need to find the best expunger in this town.”
The young man’s eyes went wide.
“Unfortunately, the young woman who we carry was raped, and her father asked us to assist her.”
He nodded in understanding.
“When we get to the market, your job will be to find out where the best one is located. Then, meet back up with us as we walk around. Tell us the information and then head out of the market in the direction of the place. Once we are done in the market, we will head in that same direction. When the coach passes you, we will pick you up.”
“Ah, I think I understand now. You are trying to prevent us from being linked with this situation.” Draves said.
“I think you put it nicely a few days ago. We are neck-deep in this situation, and I am just trying to prevent us from going all the way under.”
“Good thinking. Let’s get this over with.”
The driver took us down the main road leading towards the docks. As we exited the more wealthy residential district, we began to see actual taverns and shops. Decmoore had a single tavern/inn, and I saw a couple more as we got closer to civilization, but here, there was one on every corner. The stores turned into stalls the closer we got to the dock and Thomas hopped down from the front of the carriage and got lost in the crowd. A street later, my eye caught on something in one of the stalls, and I yelled for the driver to stop. I got down from the carriage and walked up to the stall. The stall was filled with odds and ends. But shoved off to the side was a hat that caught my eye. It was a felt hat with a similar style to one you would see worn by a gentleman in a Western film. Solid black, and it seemed to be made of felt. I, of course, did not let my eyes dwell on it. Other patrons backed away from the stall as soon as I arrived, and the short, balding man with dark skin was watching me like a hawk. My eyes fell on what I assumed to be a mirror. It was an intricately worked piece of bronze. It was round and had a pattern of interwoven vines along the edge. The center was about ten centimeters in diameter and looked like it was coated in polished silver. It gave better images than the polished bronze that most mirrors were. My mustache and goatee were growing in nicely, I thought with a smile.
Putting on airs, I said, “Yes, this will do as a gift for that brat of a sister. It will keep her from nagging at me for the rest of the trip. I will give you five silver pennies for it.”
His eyes went wide, and his expression turned into one of exaggerated indignation. “My Lord, at that price, you might as well just steal it while my back is turned. For artistry such as this, I could not ask for less than five Silver Crowns!”
“You call me a robber, but you appear to be a con artist. You could pick up such a small mirror for only a few silver pennies elsewhere. The only true value is the silver coating. But I will not be accused of being ungenerous. I will give you a whole silver crown for it.”
“Even if it were polished bronze rather than imported silver, I do not know where you have found such a shop that would sell you such a fine mirror at a price of only a few pennies. You must tell me where it is so that I might buy up all their stock and resell it at five times the price. Truly, I could not part with this for less than four silver and a half."
We went back and forth until we were at two and a quarter silver. “Two and a quarter silver, it is as long as you throw in that hat in the corner.”
Looking back at the hat in the corner, he said, “My Lord, truly a noble personage such as yourself would look splendid in a hat such as that, but alas, it is imported all the way from Hipnon. Even at a discount, I would not take less than five silver pennies for it.”
I smiled, I had only seen haggling done in books and on TV, but this was kind of fun. Personally, I had no idea if I was doing well or getting robbed. I snorted, “If it was imported all the way from Hipnon, then this was probably their last stop on their journey, and they were offloading their excess for copper on this silver. The style of hat is not popular here, and that is why it is sitting back in the corner. It is also made of felt with no real adornments. Since you seem to be bent on getting something out of this worthless stock, I will give you five copper for it.”
“You must not be acquainted with many in this town, for this is last in stock. Also, it is not some cheap wool felt but the fur of an animal that spends most of its time in the water making the hat resistant to water. Just imagine how difficult it is to make felt from water-resistant fur.”
This guy was so full of it. We went back and forth, and I got it for a silver penny and a half.
After we shook, and the mirror was wrapped in a soft red cloth—which I had managed to get for free, by the way—I had Draves pay the man.
“My Lord, might I have your name? I must admit this has been a most enjoyable exchange.”
“My name is Lord Amos Bicman of the Barony of Bicman. And the pleasure was all mine. For this mirror is most certainly a gift fit for my most beloved sister,” I said with a smile.
He shook his head, “Most nobles hand over their money like water in a rainstorm, but you hold to your coin like a lion to its prey.”
Hmm… I guess they have lions here. “I was taught by the best,” I said, not bothering to bring up the fact that the best was a Reality TV I used to watch.
With that, I turned and left.
As we turned to leave, Draves whispered, “Thomas reported back. We have directions. And, My Lord, that was some impressive bargaining.”
“Did I get a good deal?”
“I do not know, but you attracted quite the crowd. But why the hat.”
Handing him the mirror, I held the hat between my two index fingers and flipped it around as I put it on my head. Opening my arms wide, I said, “Because it completes my ensemble.”
Draves just gave a slight shrug and opened the carriage door for me. After I gave the directions to the coachman, Draves also hopped in.
“So, Tanya, do you like my hat?” I said with a grin.
She just smiled politely in response.
“See, Captain, she likes it.”
“She did not say yes, My Lord.”
“She didn’t say no. Besides, we have something I know she will like.”
Draves raised his eyebrows, “That-”
“Was for her,” I said, finished. “Hand her the gift.”
Tanya didn’t immediately grab the package. I thought she would be used to me giving her stuff by now, but once again, she proved how much neglect she had been through.
“Open it,” I said eagerly.
After opening it, her eyes went as wide as saucers. And then, for the next few minutes, I let her just stare at her face in the mirror. After what I figured was a sufficient amount of time to get over her shock at receiving such a gift, I said, “Tanya, I know life has been hard on you. You have been treated as nothing more than a common maid and abused in ways I cannot imagine. But I got you that mirror for a reason. I want you to carry it with you. Any time you feel like you are less than the amazing person that you really are, I want you to look in that mirror. I want you to see the beautiful young woman with noble blood who is worthy of her station. I know we have discussed this before, but before we part ways, I wanted to remind you that you are more than the bad things that happened to you. You are not at fault for the cruel words that were said to you or the actions that were inflicted on you. You are special because you are you. You deserve respect, and I admire you for the struggles you have persevered through. You are a woman of courage who has not given up in the face of her trials.
A tear trickled down her face and dropped onto the polished silver mirror that she gripped tightly in her hands. I really hoped the message sank in. The first part was impromptu but the second part I had been practicing in my head for the last few days. I let the silence linger as we headed back towards the wealthier part of town. About halfway there, we turned onto a side street and headed two blocks south. We drove past the clinic and continued for another two blocks before turning east again. There was a large inn there that we stopped in front of. “Thomas, go pay for a week's stay here for Madam Tanya Decmoore,” I shouted to him out the window. He hopped down and grabbed the small coin purse I gave him.
“Lord Amos,” Tanya said in a quivering voice, “What should I do?”
I shook my head, “Tanya, we have already discussed this. I cannot tell you what to do. This next part is your choice.”
“Will…” She paused, gathering herself, “Will you be disappointed in me.”
I smiled at her. Reaching out, I placed my hand on her hand, still gripping the mirror like a vice. “No, Tanya, the very fact that you are taking this seriously shows me what a wonderful person you are. Whatever you do once you step out of the carriage, know that I am proud of you. If you need anything, come to the castle and ask for me. I know you can make an amazing life for yourself here, but if you ever want to, you are welcome in the Barony of Bicman." Thomas came and knocked on the door. "OK, Tanya, here is the satchel I prepared for you. It has a written letter of introduction, a coin purse with various coins totaling five silver crowns, and the different reading primers and flashcards I stole back from Mathew. I also wrote down the story I told you about the swan.”
Both the captain’s and Tanya’s eyes went wide at the mention of the five silver crowns.
I had to read Tanya’s lips as she muttered, “Five silver crowns.”
“I am sorry I could not give more, but I could not leave someone of your station with the pitiful amount of pennies you had. Just promise me you will go to a dress make and spend part of it on a dress befitting your station. We have already discussed your various employment opportunities, and my letter of introduction should secure you a good income.”
“Thank you, My Lord.” She grabbed the satchel and stood up. Hesitating for a moment as if trying to decide on something, she quickly leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. With that, she fled the carriage and grabbed the key Thomas was holding out for her. I stared at her as she ran into the inn.
As the carriage started to roll away, I turned to see Draves looking at me sternly. I sighed, “Just say it, Captain.”
“You are too kind, My Lord.”
I smiled, “I know.”