Gamel was about as round as a boy of sixteen can get. His father was a rich lord, that amounted to nothing, being that he was the fifth son. He was the lowest of the low and being the youngest and fattest of his brothers growing up had been a torment for him. He was going to be married off to some lesser family likely in the next year. He would live his whole life under his father’s thumb, married to someone he likely would not love. Once he was married off for political or economic gains by his father, he would only be invited home occasionally, to show face. And that was only if he did not shame the family, his or his future wife’s. And it would all turn bad since both he and his future bride knew they were being paired for political gain.
He did not look forward to his future, if there was a way for him to leave this place, he would take it. He was smart, way smarter than his brothers and most of them knew it too and that too made it impossible growing up. Luckily some of them had already married and left the house but there was still Coran and Dargus at home, and they were the worst of the lot. Coran was the eldest and he would inherit his father’s fortune and everything that came with it; he was going to be married in a month's time to some rich merchant's daughter that was coming into his own in the local political scene. Poor girl, he did not wish any girl that kind of luck, his brother was a monster. A gambler, drinker, and womanizer, the fact that his father had not already disowned him amazed Gamel. Maybe if they were lucky, he would not ruin the family name.
So, what was there to do? He had no choices in his life, maybe he could run away? No that would be the coward's way out and while he was not the bravest man alive, he was no coward. He had confronted his father once a few years before, he had been sent out to work in one of his father’s mines for a month, he had almost died. While he still felt the same way about his situation he did not complain or confront his father, he was not stupid or suicidal. His father was a harsh man and was disgusted when he saw his youngest son, he would never present him to his friends or financial contacts unless there was something to gain.
Gamel spent his time alone, he had no friends in the nobility or anyone with any kind of influence. To be honest the only reason he was still around was because he loved to eat and food was never denied him, as a matter of fact the kitchen crew loved him. The head cook, a great woman, would always cook a little something special for him. That probably did not help with his weight issue, but he was happy with who he was.
He had a bit of money stashed away and he would probably make it out in the real world, but he was scared to leave. What was out there? Even as bad as he was treated, he was still spoiled, not as spoiled as his other brothers but still. His mother was the other reason he would not leave, she was the only one other than the kitchen crew that treated him well. She loved her baby son and treated him like he was five most of the time. His mother was a small thin woman one could say skinny. In the last month she looked sick and had lost even more weight, but it may have been something that was going around, winter was starting, and people got sick during winter.
Another week passed and his mother was now bed ridden and she looked bad. She would get fits of coughing and cough up blood and could keep very little food down. Gamel did not know what was going it scared him, no it terrified him. This could not be happening to his mother, while a slight woman she had always been healthy. She had borne five healthy sons with no problems. Now it seemed she was dying, Gamel was at her side as much as possible, his brothers came by but never stayed long, his father stayed away for weeks.
His father finally came and Gamel hid and allowed him some privacy. He just looked at his wife for a moment, there was no change in him, no emotion at all, Gamel was not surprised. His father never showed emotion, emotion was for the weak. He like many nobles married his mother for convenience and to advance in his station, not for any kind of love. Some men, Gamel had heard, fell in love with their wives after marriage, he did not believe it had been the case with his father. His father just accepted the marriage and the and the family that was born from that marriage. You would think that even after providing the man with five sons, he would appreciate his wife even love her.
She passed away a week after his father’s visit. They had a service for her, it was a very nice service with a lot of people giving their condolences. Most probably wanted to get in good with his father and did not care that his mother had died. He hated them for that, how dare they come and do this to his family, to him, to the memory of his mother. Neither his father nor his brothers felt an ounce of grief at her passing, this broke Gamel’s heart even more.
That night as the head cook comforted him and gave him sweets she had baked, he made up his mind, "I’m leaving Rhean, I can take this place no longer. With my mother gone there is nothing that’s keeping me here. Well except your wonderful cooking, you sure you don’t want to marry me, we can run away together.”
She had been crying for the loss of her mistress, his loving mother had always treated the servants like people, "Young Master if I was forty years younger, I might take you up on your offer, but my husband might not like it. Your mother was a good woman, the best to all of us here. Your father is another story, but we are mere servants. It will be bad for us in the future without the mistress.” He hated to hear that, it was hard for him to make up his mind about going and this made it worse.
He hardly slept that night; he would be leaving in the next few days. Leaving meant his life would change drastically, there were always servants around to clean after him, feed him, bathe him as a boy and prepare his bath water after he got older. He would miss the servants, the only family he had now that his mother was gone. They may have been servants, but he treated them well in comparison to his father and brothers.
He got up as tired as he had been when he laid down to sleep the previous night, there was a lot for him to do this day and he would get it done? The next day he would leave, he would need a pack that he could carry and whatever else he needed to survive out there. To his knowledge what he needed was a lot, and he would only be able to carry a small amount of that. While it was scary to start this adventure, he had made up his mind there was no turning back. His father and brothers would not miss him, only the servants would miss him. He was sure that his father and brothers would not even ask what had happened to him.
The day came to an end, it was time to sleep. He thought he had everything he needed. He slept like the dead, the next morning one of the servants had come in and left breakfast for him, he got up and washed up. The breakfast was still slightly warm, so it had not been long since they had dropped it off. He looked around his room, it was full of expensive furniture, a great large four poster bed, he would miss this, but it was only material things. He had packed up what he thought he could bring along with him and the other stuff would likely be stored away, he might one day come back.
After he finished his breakfast, it was time to go. If he did not leave now, in a week's time the weather would turn even colder, and it would be impossible for him to go. It was the best time to go, he left his room with his pack on his back and went to say his goodbyes to Rhean and the rest of the servants. They were busy getting the lunch meal ready as it was already late morning.
Rhean came to him and gave him a hug, “Good luck young master. I think this is for the best, it will not be easy out there, but it has never been easy here either.” Boy was that the truth. He hugged her back and thanked her, she had packed up some food for the road. He went and said his goodbyes to the rest.
He walked out the door, past their gate, and then he was beyond their property, he did not turn back. If he turned around, he was afraid he might go back to that non-existence that had been his life for so long.
That first day had been the hardest in his short life, he had not gotten as far as he wanted to but at least he was out of reach of his father and brothers. He had traveled beyond the town and ended up sleeping in some bushes, he was so tired that after eating some of his travel rations, he fell asleep. He awoke to a squirrel chirping at him, his whole body hurt. His feet were swollen from all the walking and his back hurt from sleeping on the hard ground. The coat he had did not provide much warmth he would need to get a blanket he could use if he was going to continue to sleep in the open.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
The second day had been hard as well, at the end of the day he had not gotten far as he was limping most of the way. He stopped on the side of the road, he did not even have a map to see where he was, he would purchase one when he reached the next town. He was able to find a small stream not far from the road and he got down on his stomach not caring that he was getting dirty. He drank up the water and replenished his water skin, it was a good thing that the servants had packed one for him. If left up to him he would probably be dead right now since his whole plan had consisted of just getting away. Yes, he had been some stupid spoiled lording he knew that, but he did not want to continue being that.
Again, he slept on the cold hard ground that second night, it was the same on the third and fourth night. On the fifth day of his traveling, he came upon a small town which he was grateful for as he had run out of food and had been leaving off whatever he could find. It had been hard from being a rich young man that had anything he wanted in food to eating nuts and berries, and that was only if he was lucky enough to find them.
The first signs of civilization had been the cultivated fields, not very large but they had wheat, barley, and other grains. He came upon the first farm and saw an older woman carrying a basket, probably laundry that needed washing. When she saw him, she stepped back, he must be a fright, he knew he was dirty and probably did not smell very good.
“Excuse me ma’am I was wondering if it was possible to buy some food from you.” The woman raised her eyebrow at this request.
“Young man. That fancy talking of yours says you're a noble or something like that. But
your look says otherwise. So, what are you?” What should he say? Should he be honest or lie, he was not very good at lying, if he tried, she would probably see it and he would get no food, "Well out with it.”
“My father is a noble as am I, but I have left his house and that life. I am traveling to see where I belong.” If that did not do it nothing would.
“Well don’t expect a meal fit for a king because we simple folk eat simply. I could use some coin as well; my family should be coming in from the fields soon for the noon meal. I will talk to my husband. Please go around the back and wash up.” With that she was on her way again.
He did not even get a chance to thank her, he obeyed and went around back where he saw a barrel that he could draw water from. He was happy to clean himself off as in the last two days there had been no river or stream to wash away the grime at the end of the day. After he was done, he felt like a new man.
He soon heard the talking of men and women coming in from the fields. He came around to see the various members of this family, there was an older man, probably the husband, and children some younger that he others older. Some of them looked like the husband and wife and others did not, likely the wives of their children.
They stopped and looked at him, the children hiding behind the men. From the door of the house came the voice of the woman he had met earlier, "We have a guest that will be joining us for the noon meal. Let's get the tables set up out here, it's a nice day and we have lots of work to do today.” There were yes dear, and yes ma’am from all around, this was her castle, and everyone knew it. Gamel relaxed and helped when he was handed bowls to put out.
The meal was the best meal he had since he had left his father’s house, he had finished before any of the others. He was licking his fingers and when he looked up the others were looking at him smiling. This was extremely embarrassing, and color came into his cheeks. They probably thought he was wild and had no manners.
“Well at least someone appreciates my cooking. Finish up lots to do before it gets dark.” So, the others did as she bade and finished their meal, "Now since we have an extra hand, he can help me clean up. The rest of you off to your afternoon chores.” He did as he was told and picked up the dishes and helped wash them and put them away.
“A few suggestions if I may.” He nodded for her to continue, "You hold yourself like a lord which you are, but you don’t want to announce that. Sometimes on the road you want to attract no attention, there are those that will defer to you, those that will offer you help, and then there are those that will cut your throat as you sleep.” She offered to take his clothes off his hands and offered him two older sets that were a bit tight on him but not too terribly tight, "If you are going to continue on your path. I expect that in a month or so those will fit just fine.”
She was just like Cook back home and made him feel like he belonged, but it would not be for long. He did not know where he was going, not yet. When he arrived there, wherever there was he would know it. She offered him a place to sleep for the night which he appreciated since he was tired of sleeping on the ground outside. Before the family returned for dinner and to call it a night, he offered her gold coin for all she had done and for the night.
She looked at the coin wide eyed, "Put that away. We won't make this in three month's time, and I will not rob you, I will send one of the boys with you tomorrow into town with a list of things you can use on your travels. And one other suggestion: don't go flashing that kind of coin around or you won't live long. Change that into smaller coins tomorrow when you go in to pay for the items.”
She was right of course, but he had not dealt with the real world before. Back home he had not gone out much but when he did everyone knew who he was, and he did not really deal in coins as everything was charged to his father’s accounts. Not that he did much shopping by himself, he had a servant with him, so he never actually had to worry. He had so much to learn, before he got himself or someone else hurt.
A week had passed since he had left the family that had hosted him. He now had what he needed, a small map, a pack to keep his things in, some flint and steel to start a fire. And a bunch of other items that the guide had sold him, half the stuff he did not know how to use. He would learn if he planned to continue or he would probably die out here, which he was sure was something he did not want to do. He could feel the weight come off, the hard road and the fact that he was not eating as he used to helped in that. He no longer got winded right away and his body was getting used to the harshness of being on the road.
It was noon and the sun was at its highest point, it was not hot but after walking for half the day it was time for a break and some food. He sat under a tree and ate the simple fare that he had been traveling with. He was still hungry at the end, but he was getting used to it. He could do very little to supplement what he had, he had never hunted, and he still had to rely on luck that he might find some nuts, berries, or some mushrooms. He was very careful now with anything he found and picked, the second day after leaving the family he had found some berries and they had made him sick for a day and a half. Having to stop every few minutes to puke or go the bathroom had not been fun.
He sure could have used a nap, but it would mean that he would be sleeping on the ground again, if he hurried according to the map, he had bought he might make it to a way station that had a sleeping area with a roof over it. So up he got and hit the road, he did not get far, there was something going up ahead, someone was yelling.
“You’re worthless! I don’t know why I keep you around. Just another mouth to feed that can't pull his own weight!” They were off the side of the road. There was someone on the ground, the person yelling was an older man. On the ground was a smaller body that was being kicked, "Useless!” He kicked the smaller body on the ground once, twice, and then a third time.
“Please stop that.” He did not know where that came from, he was probably no match for this man, but maybe just maybe he could trick him and stop him.
The man turned around, "Who the hell are you? This is none of your business. I suggest you go away.” He turned again, "As for you. This is going to get worse, since your friend disturbed us.”
“I said stop, I won't say it again.” He was closer now, as the man turned around, he hit him with a straight shot, blooding his nose. The man fell backwards, unable to keep his balance with the smaller body on the ground behind him. Gamel had learned that with a bully which his brothers were, you could only do two things. First you could hide from them, or second you could bloody them and then they would leave you alone unless they had friends with them. The technique had worked with two of his brothers the rest he hid from as much as he could.
“Here is what is going to happen now. My friend and I are going to go, if you follow us, you will get worse than a bloody nose.” He had been able to surprise the older man and it had worked out perfect with the smaller body on the ground. He was sure everything would be fine, but he needed to leave before the man got his bearings and he came after them.
The boy on the ground was a kid of about ten, he was skinny, you could tell very little about him with all the grime other than he had led a hard life. Gamel helped him up, “You're coming with me.”
The boy with his helped got up and followed him, they started to walk fast, away from the man on the ground. You could tell that the kid was a survivor, he did not look to beat up even though he had a black eye, and he might have a broken rib or two with the kicking he had been getting.
They had walked for about half a candle mark before they slowed down, the man was not behind them. They got into the woods and hid from sight of the road just in case. Gamel looked at his new companion, "Hi, I’m Gamel.” He extended his hand and the boy cringed away, "It’s ok, I was just offering my hand for a handshake.”
The boy crept back slowly and stuck his hand out, "Roach.” Why would someone name their child Roach?
“Alright, Roach, it seems like we are traveling companions now. Unless you have somewhere you can be safe at.” Gamel did not think this was the case or he would not be in the situation he had found him in.
The boy shook his head “Go with you.” And that was settled, just like that he had a traveling companion.