Gadolor

Restless Water

The river was all cold, clear water running over many-colored stones. It led them to a place where the water fell down a hill, pouring over giant rocks into a narrow valley. The mighty cascade shook the earth and sent perpetual mist into the air. “Woow,” Romni stood amazed, almost shouting above the din.

Sebastian chuckled. “Come on, let’s go down.” They descended toward the town below. The path was rough, wetted by mist from the cascade and strewn with rocks, forming an uneven staircase. Romni hopped down the slope, choosing each footstep.

The forest in the valley was thick and overgrown. Tall sycamores overshadowed the water where it ended its decent and flowed in a deep, slow pool. Leaves and bits of foam rested on the dark water. Piers lined the shore with various watercraft moored, and a few buildings rose from their wooden stilts. More houses hid behind trees and vines away from the shore. Most of the buildings looked old and many were covered by vines. One especially large house had a stockade surrounding it, which was guarded by a man with a sword. Perhaps it was the cloud covering the sun, but Romni thought it a dreary place.

Evening was drawing near, so they found an inn where they could sleep. Next door was a tavern, full of noisy people, all eating and drinking and gossiping. Romni listened to the talk as they ate. Because of the rapids, all trade going up and down the river had to be carried. And because the path was so rough, everything had to be carried by hand, not by wagons or carts. Some men were saying the town master had let the trail wash out on purpose, so he could charge more taxes on the goods that went through.

“He’s a sly one, Samin Grip,” one young man said, “He ain’t called Grip for nothing. I’m glad for something to carry, but I’d hate to be a boat captain in this town.”

There was a round of ayes and another continued. “This business about Easly’s widow, though,” he huffed into a mug of beer, “I don’t know, fellahs. Easly died hauling Grip’s stuff that muddy night and Grip swore to care for her. He’s caring for her, all right.” Another round of ayes.

“Grabbed her house and turned her sons into the river, more like,” chimed one. At this point Sebastian became bored, but Romni listened closely.

“Ah, but there’s no one to keep the house till those boys grow up,” contended another, “Grip is all right. He’s giving her that place downstream.”

“That old dump?” the young man scoffed angrily. “T’was a tool shed before I was born, my daddy said. The widow can’t live there any more than a rubbish heap.”

Romni was growing angry. All her father’s talks and the training of a ruler prodded her to pursue the injustice. “Who is Grip?” she asked the men, “And why is he oppressing you?”

“Travelers, are you?” said the young man, “This here town is Durnfall, and Grip is the master here. His house has the fence at the bottom of the rapids.”

Romni scowled. “A poor governor he is if he’s treating you like this. What do you think taxes are for? To keep the roads kept and all of you safe. You said a man died on that trail? I can see why. This town is falling apart.” She hoped she hadn’t insulted them, but they just nodded grimly.

“He’s taking a widow’s house?” Her father the king would never allow this. “King Austin doesn’t tolerate that kind of evil in his land. Why is Grip still governor here?”

The men shrugged. “Austin’s eye never comes here. We’re far from his capital. Grip does what he likes.”

“You shouldn’t be treated like this,” Romni insisted, but Sebastian pulled her arm, taking her out of the circle of talk, back to the inn.

“What are you doing?” he said when they got there, “You can’t talk to those people like a king who can fix their problems. We’re still in Esthena, remember? It isn’t safe for you to be noticed.”

“But Sebastian, he’ll put that woman in a toolshed and take her house. It’s right next to his and I think he just wants it for his own. And these people are so used to Grip, they’ll just let him.”

Sebastian scowled. “That’s too bad for the widow, but there’s nothing we can do about it. We’ve got to take care of ourselves.”

“They wouldn’t guess it’s really me.”

“Don’t be too sure. Austin might not care about this place, but I’m sure they’ve heard of you. There’s not a town anywhere that hasn’t talked about the princess who ran away with her lover. Ha,” he chuckled.

Romni frowned. She lay down facing the wall and ignored him, trying to fall asleep and forget. But she couldn’t help thinking about Easly’s widow and her sons. Winter was coming soon; already the nights were turning cold. What would she do without a decent house to live in? Would she end up homeless, picking through a rubbish heap for things to keep her alive? Would the townspeople care for her? Did anyone in this town have food to spare under the governor’s harsh rule? She dreamed of lying helpless, gripped by dark vines in a dark valley, slowly suffocating, pinched as she was between Sebastian and the wall as they lay on the narrow bed.

She was glad when morning came, but she couldn’t forget the poor widow’s plight. Sebastian sent her to eat breakfast while he got supplies. In the tavern, people were still talking about the governor. Romni would have kept quiet like Sebastian said, but one of the men recognized her. “Hey, she’s the one I was telling you about. She says if the king knew about Grip, he’d run him out of town.”

Another scoffed, “Bah, the crown doesn’t care what happens here.”

“You’re all a bunch of oafs,” Romni snapped. Then she felt guilty and added, “You could run him out yourselves, you know.” Blank stares. Her anger burned hotter. “Look at yourselves. You’re all strong men. Surely not all the swords in town belong to Grip. If the whole town hates him, you could pluck him out of his big house and send him right down the river. The king would love you for it.”

“But who’ll stand up to him?” asked one. “Maybe you, little sister? Grip won’t listen to you any more than a fly. You’re a woman, and a young ‘un at that.”

“Why not you?” she jabbed the man, almost shouting now, “Or you, or you. Any of you men could stand up, and lead your people against that monster. You’re letting your women die, for heaven’s sake!”

They looked down, ashamed, but the gleam of anger had spread to their faces. “Yeah,” said one, “She’s right. We could throw old Grip out.”

They looked to her for courage. “You’re not like the other women. Who are you, sister?”

She drew herself up, imagining a crown on her head and royal robes about her, ready to say, “Entressa the princess.” But then she remembered where she was and what she’d done these past weeks. She was barefoot in a noisy tavern with big men, wearing a dusty tunic with her hair in a mess. “Romni,” she muttered. They couldn’t hear and when she repeated herself, all the excitement had crashed down around her, and the men were confused. Romni was a nobody. Why should anyone care what she said? Sebastian was there grabbing her wrist and she let him pull her outside.

“What the blazes are you doing?” he hissed as sunshine hit their faces. “I told you to be quiet around those people and you made it even worse. Soon the governor will be looking for you. We’ve got to get out of here.”

She was smarting from her embarrassment inside, but still ached for justice. “Did you see them, Sebastian? They’re just sitting there under Grip’s thumb, and not one of them will do a thing to stop him.”

“I don’t care,” Sebastian growled, “And neither do you. Got that? Other people’s problems are not your business. You are not a princess; you’re not a ruler. You are a small, silly traveling girl who has nothing to say and no importance in the world.” He led her toward the inn. “Now come on.”

They got their things quickly and left. As they walked down the street, crowds had begun to form, and men were talking loudly about Grip and the widow. Romni obeyed Sebastian and kept her face pointed at the ground so she wouldn’t be recognized.

Soon enough they made it out, Sebastian’s words burning into her as they walked in silence. She longed to hug him and cry that she was sorry. It was many steps before he spoke. “Do you realize what would happen if the master caught you? People like him treat people like you as dirt. He’d have you stripped and flogged in front of the whole town to scare them. Then he’d kill you. Or maybe he’d find out who you really are and send you back to Esthen, where it’d be even worse. You’re probably the most hated person in the whole country, since you broke off. And to top it all, they would hang me for taking you with me. Do you want me to die? Eh?”

“No,” Romni sobbed, still walking. Her vision was a watery mess of tears. The bag on her back weighed heavily.

“I can’t flutter over you every moment, stopping you getting into trouble. If we’re going to be together you must learn your place. I can teach you my way of life, but you must do as I say. Understand?” She nodded miserably. Sebastian huffed and faced the road ahead. “The princess of Esthena is dead,” he said.