The party packed up camp the morning after the hydra attack. Sam had been extra sulky. Anastasia noticed that his comrades did not poke at him as much as they normally do. Once they were underway Sam was now at the back of the formation with Liza upfront alone and Finn and Brox in their normal spots behind Charlotte and Anastasia.
Charlotte was stumbling around trying to keep up with Anastasia. Constantly tripping over her own feet. The reason for this was she was too focused on her own hands. She was still practicing what Liza had shown her the day before. She kept the cycle going of her hands glowing golden then sometimes the spell would fizzle out and sometimes a very small light bolt would shoot into the air.
Anastasia did not want to disturb her protector. She had sworn an oath to abandon all her titles for the training she was now practicing. It would be selfish of Anastasia to interrupt Charlotte for her own personal concerns. So Anastasia solidified her resolve and moved forward to be closer to Liza. Seeing as how she seemed to act like the mother of the group. Anastasia approached Liza thinking she would be able to assist Sam.
“I hope Sam was not injured too much in the attack yesterday.”
“Sam is young. Don’t you know young men are invincible.” Liza comment sounded like a joke, but she said it in the same clam and even tone as she normally spoke
“Well, that is true, but still he seems to be troubled by something.”
“He will be alright princess, please do not worry about him.”
Anastasia was surprised that Liza did not seem more concerned about Sam. He could have been badly hurt yesterday and he seemed to be taking that fact hard. Anastasia had heard of knights that suffered too much in battles losing the will to fight. She felt that it should be his companions that help him through his troubles, especially considering his age.
“Ok thank you for hearing my concerns.” Anastasia joined back with Charlotte who did not even seem to notice she was gone. That fact amused Anastasia that the duty focused Charlotte was like a big kid with a new toy and basically lost to the world.
Anastasia dropped back a few feet to Finn to get his take on Sam. She was sure he would just crack a joke but since Liza did not seem to want to deal with it, Finn was really her last hope.
“Sam seems to be sulking a little today. He is not in trouble for what happened?”
“Why would he be in trouble? That hydra was a strong monster. It would be hard for even me to take out alone.” This comment unintentionally stung Anastasia perhaps if she and Charlotte had stepped in earlier, Sam would not have almost been killed.
“I agree. That is why I find it strange how everyone is treating him.”
“I am not sure what you mean Anna.”
“Well, no one has spoken to him much other than what seems to be the bare minimum. I don’t know him well, but something definitely seems different about him.”
“It is very sweet you are concerned for him Anna, but he will be ok in a few days. Do not let it worry you.”
Both Finn and Liza had asked her not to worry. For some reason that made her worry more. Anastasia would occasionally sneak glances back at Sam. If he was ever caught looking her way, he would snap his head another direction quickly. Things continued like this until the group stopped for lunch.
Anastasia got her share of the travel rations from Finn and made her way over to Sam and sat next to him. He seemed to stiffen up, he started to move away but must have realized there was nowhere to go and settled back down.
“I never got to properly thank you for saving me yesterday. If you had not knocked me out of the way I would have likely died.”
“…” Sam kept his face like stone as he ate his food
“I am glad it does not appear you suffered any major injuries due to me.”
“…” Again Sam has no reaction
Anastasia was not sure what to make of Sam. He was ignoring her completely.
“I can see you do not want to talk, that is fine. If you find that you do later, please let me know.”
“Whatever.” Sam said his face turned away.
Anastasia finished her lunch in silence. It was only interrupted by one outburst from Charlotte.
“By the Gods, I got it…. Oh wait, never mind… sorry.” Anastasia shook her head with a smile at Charlotte, still practicing away.
The afternoon was much the same as the morning had been. Sam is still sulking in the back. The other three seemed unconcerned by his actions. This indifference for their comrade bothered Anastasia more and more.
A few hours later they stopped to make camp for the Night.
“OK everyone, take it all in. This will be our last night in paradise tomorrow we should make it past the Marshlands. I have made a special meal to commemorate this occasion.”
“Stop trying to impress them with your ‘humor’ , it's not funny anymore.” Sam said in disgust as he snatched his rations from Finn.
Anastasia took note that Finn did not say anything back to Sam. No witty remarks about him being a punk or how cool he was trying to act, just silence.
“Come on ladies, you still enjoy my ‘humor’ don’t you?” Finn said, cocking his head with a smile as he handed rations to Charlotte.
“Hu…Oh…ya sure whatever you say.”
“You weren’t listening, were you?” Finn narrowed his eyes at Charlotte who was still messing with the magic in her hands.
“What… Sorry I was not listening.”
“Oh never mind. Anna, save me from these heathens who cannot enjoy life.”
“The only thing as stale as the bread are your jokes.” Anastasia said as she took her rations and followed Sam.
“Oh my! The princess has claws. Who would have known?” Finn jokes. Anastasia turned around and stuck her tongue out at Finn with a giggle.
Anastasia came over to Sam. Not wanting to impose on him. He did not seem receptive last time.
“May I join you?”
“It is a free country for Nobles, do what you want.”
Anastasia took a seat next to Sam and began eating her rations.
“So, I think I found a trick to make eating them easier. Do you want to hear it?”
“…”
“I pretend like it is going to be the most disgusting thing I have ever had… then when I take a bite and it is just a normal level of disgusting, it makes it seem less bad… you know.”
“…”
Sam still refused to respond. Anastasia could not get a read on him. At times he seemed depressed and at others he seemed hostile. If he would just speak, she could better understand him.
“So why two short swords and not just a normal long sword?”
“…”
“I mean it has to be harder to use two swords splitting your attention between each hand.”
“…”
“It does look a little cooler, I think. Is that it?”
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“DAMNIT ENOUGH!”
Anastasia was startled by Sam’s outburst. She jumped a little and leaned away from him.
“I don’t want to be you fucking friend.” At that Sam stood up and started to walk away.
“I am sorry if my questions offended you. It was not my intention. Please let us just enjoy our meal together.”
“No, I don’t want to eat with you. You are the worst kind of noble… A clueless one. I want nothing to do with you. I don’t even know why Finn agreed to help you. We should have left you to die. It would have made the world a better place.”
This ruckus had broken Charlotte out of her training trance, and she had risen and moved toward Sam with her hand on her sword.
“Woah there Char, let’s see how this plays out.” Finn stopped her. Charlotte stopped and saw Liza had flanked her other side and nodded her agreement with Finn.
Anastasia rose to meet the very agitated Sam.
“Sam, I understand completely why you feel the way you do toward nobles. I have seen the abuses of power that the nobles get away with. However, you ignore the good we do as well.”
“What ‘good’ do you do? Every lost cause you pretend to care about is a direct result of your own actions. You are not doing it out of a sense of compassion. You are doing it out of a sense of guilt.”
“Oh, I see nobles are the root of all evil in this world. Without us there would be no war, no famine, no plagues, no monster attacks, no murders. I did not realize the nobles were so all powerful to make all of those things happen.”
“I am not stupid enough to believe that. Don’t sit there and try to make my argument sound so naïve. Nobles are the cause of so much misery in this world. You know I am right, but you bury your head in the sand because being a noble is easier than being one of us. You never have to face the cruel world we do living at the whims of power mad idiots, perverts, and sadists… you’re all monsters.”
“Sam I cannot know the suffering you must have faced in your life, but I am willing to listen. I want this world to be as just and fair as possible. I work for that every day. I am only human so at times I fail. Due to my failure people can be hurt or even die, but do not say I bury my head in the sand and ignore those that are in pain. I have not and will never do that.”
Anastasia was shaking, tears welling up. Sam's anger was not swayed by Anastasia's emotion.
“Bullshit. You go to sleep every night in your castle, your stomach full. How many people die of starvation every day do you imagine?”
“We combat that. We have aid that is given to towns experiencing an immediate food shortage. We offer assistance in other ways when harvests are low allowing the people time to recover and prepare for the next year.” Anastasia moved her arms animatedly as she offered her point
“Oh, sure you are all saints. ‘Here poor helpless village. I will charge you less tax this year because times are hard.’ But you still come to take taxes. The people are struggling, and you still take. All the while still sleeping in your warm bed safe bed with a full stomach.” Sam’s voice was full of resentment
“The world is not perfect, but I am trying to make it a better place. What is your plan? Just tear it all down and see what happens?” Anastasia shrugs her arms
“Ya, sounds about right.”
“That would solve nothing. Someone would replace the nobles with some different power structure, and you would be in the same place you are in now.”
Sam throws his hands into the air “See you don’t get it. It’s not that the nobles are in charge. People being in charge is important. Hell, that is why I saved you even though I could not give two shits about you. The captain says it was my job.”
“So then what is it about nobles that is the problem?” Anastasia furrowed her brow hoping they were coming to the heart of the matter.
“You think you are better than us. You think we are beneath you. You think our lives don’t matter. The captain does not think any of those things about us. That is why we follow him, willingly.” Sam was now shaking, looking as if he would cry.
Anastasia could not respond to Sam’s claims. She knew he was right. She had seen noble’s treat commoners as little more than animals. She knew even her own thoughts at times made her feel as if she was better than they were. She was the princess after all. The thought of that filled her with shame.
“You are not wrong that nobles think they are better than everyone else. Even amongst ourselves most of our day is spent trying to maneuver ourselves into a better position than those around us.”
“So, you know it is wrong and you do nothing to stop it.” Sam approached Anastasia, his anger and sadness coming off him in waves.
“What would you have me do? The people in power like it the way it is. I try to do what good I can from where I am.”
“What can you do? Hold them accountable for their actions. You are the princess right your mother is the FUCKING queen. What is the point of your title if you cannot at least do that.”
“We do hold the nobles accountable for their actions. Again, it is not perfect but there are courts for dealing with issues.” Anastasia voice growing as desperate as her argument
“Courts for nobles maybe. What happens when the nobles abuse their power over a commoner? Or is there even such a concept in the courts?”
“Yes, the courts are open to everyone.” Anastasia made her point knowing she was only technically right.
“I am surprised you are so naïve. Have you ever seen a commoner challenge a noble in the courts? Have they ever won?”
Anastasia is unable to refute his point she had known her point did not really hold up when she made it. She had not wanted to give up.
“Do you want to know how I ended up following the captain?”
Anastasia looked up to Sam who was now very close to her. All she could do was nod.
“Four years ago, I lived alone with my older brother Erin. Our village was along a trading lane, so we had constant visitors, Nobles among them. Every child from our village was told never to speak to the nobles, nothing good will ever come from that.”
Sam smiled “My brother was the nicest guy. He helped everyone out. He would run himself ragged every day looking after me and still would find time to help anyone that asked…” Sam sighed. “I kind of hate him for that now.”
Anastasia stayed quite as Sam collected himself for the next part
“We came across a small girl crying in the woods. We were there collecting firewood. I knew right away she was a noble by the way she was dressed. I wanted to leave, but Erin would not leave the girl there alone crying. He sent me back home and he went with the girl.”
“Your brother was a very good man.” Anastasia reached over and tried to take Sam’s hand to console him some. But he pulled his hand away.
“I really wish he was not… My brother never came home that night. I never saw him alive again.”
Anastasia waited to see if Sam would continue and when he did not, she forced the issue. If she was to face this world she could not turn from the details.
“Do you know what happened to him?”
Sam only nodded.
“Are you willing to tell me?”
“What does it matter how he died? He died because he helped that little girl. A little noble girl, just like you.”
“I am sorry for your loss.” The words felt so hollow. Anastasia did not know what else she could say.
“The only reason I know what really happened was Finn just so happened to be passing through town. He can tell you the rest of the story. I am done talking to you… oh and leave me alone the rest of the trip. I don’t want to end up dead for helping you.”
Sam went off a little way into the marsh and Liza followed him.
Finn walked over to Anastasia and placed his hand on her shoulder. “I am sure that was hard to hear. Come on…”
“Not as hard as it must have been to live it. Please tell me why his brother had to die?” Anastasia was not really asking for the details of the story. She wanted to know why this cruel world had condemned such a kind boy to that fate.
“You are not going to like it, Anna. Just leave it as a tragedy. Knowing will not change anything.”
“You are wrong. Only a coward would turn from the cruelty of this world. I don’t want to be a coward anymore.”
Finn sighed and shrugged “OK you asked for it, but let’s sit down first.” Finn sat down and got himself comfortable. Anastasia sat next to him waiting for him to start. Charlotte sat slightly behind Anastasia to be of what support she could.
“I heard in town a noble girl had been abducted and a local commoner had done it. This already raised red flags for me. Sure, highwaymen abduct nobles from time to time. But those men have no connection to the area. It is crazy for a commoner to do anything to a noble in the village they live in.”
Finn sighed deeply as if he did not want to continue but Anastasia’s face told him he had no choice.
“I started poking around about the boy. I could not find one person that said a bad thing about him. Hell, even his old girlfriend had nice things to say. It was almost creepy. So, the likelihood that this boy suddenly snapped and started abducting children. Even choosing a noble to boot as his first victim sounded thinner and thinner by the minute.”
Finn started to stroke his beard in contemplation. “I knew I would not get anywhere just asking around town. I need to go to the source. So, I did a little abducting of my own.”
Anastasia gasped. Her face took on an angry look “Finn, how could you.”
“Not the little girl. Gods what is wrong with your mind. No, I took the sergeant of the town guard captive. I asked him very politely what happened to the boy…. He was very….forthcoming. It seems the personal guard that worked for the girl’s father were the ones that took the boy. The sergeant was only there to make it ‘official’. The men beat the boy for hours demanding he confess to a plot to ransom the girl. The whole time he refused.”
Anastasia was unable to hide the look of horror on her face. “What would be the point of that?”
“If I had to guess, the guards just lost her. That makes them look incompetent. While letting her get abducted is not great either, they would be the ones to return her ‘Safe’. So basically, Sam’s brother Erin died so a few pissant noble guards could save a little face.”
“That is horrible, and no one was able to do anything about it? I mean a proper investigation should have been done, they could have been brought to justice.” Anastasia knew it was a wasted question, but she futilely wanted to ask it anyway.
“You know full well that even if an investigation was done nothing would have come from it… Do you truly want to know if those that took Sam’s brother were ever brought to justice?”
Anastasia looked into Finn’s eyes, none of his normal warmth was there. She could see a burning hatred behind his eyes. Until this point, she had never been afraid of Finn, she was very much afraid of him at this moment.
“I told you I did not want to be a coward anymore. I must know the whole story.”
“Justice is an ideal for children. Sam and his brother can never get justice… but they can have vengeance. The men responsible for Erin’s death will never again be able to harm anyone.”