Chapter 18: Morage

Two days after Vincent's departure and royal troops are sent to Gordowe Winston sits in his chambers preparing his plan to be presented to his council. He picks up a couple of papers from among the scattered piles on his desk.

"Hmm... This is about the region of Mermont.", Winston says thoughtfully to himself sitting back in his chair. He stares at the paper with his hand thoughtfully against his face. At that moment a knock sounds at the door. "Enter.", he responds simply looking up. The queen mother enters, closing the door behind her.

"Hello son.", she greets him.

"Mother. What are you doing here?", Winston replies, sitting down the papers.

"Just checking on you. I hear you sent troops to Gordowe.", the queen mother replies.

"Yes I did.", Winston answers. Winston's mother nods her head as she moves closer to Winston's desk. "There is something you would like to say?", Winston assumes.

"No. No. I have nothing to say on the matter.", the queen mother corrects him. Although Winston doesn't believe her. "You're working on the budget I presume.", she says instead looking at her son's desk.

"Yes, I was just looking at the Mermont region. However, I think it's best I put it aside for now.", Winston tells her, choosing to say nothing. His mother chuckles slightly.

"Is that because it was once Alexander's lordship?", she replies.

"No. Of course not. For one thing it's not as populated as say... Thyves. Secondly, the most information I get about it comes from the church instead of the bank and the end of the year report is the most recent insight I have on it. However, I'm not sure if I can trust it.", Winston explains.

"I see. In that mindset any recent information on education will be hard to trust.", Winston's mother says.

"Exactly. I may have to let that budget remain the same. Even then it's no telling how the money is truly being used.", Winston agrees picking up another set of papers and removing the top page to look at the one underneath. At that moment a hurried knock is heard at the door. Before Winston can say anything the messenger is let in.

"Your majesty! Urgent news!", he announces. Winston is immediately on his feet slamming the papers down.

"What's going on?", he demands now on high alert. The messenger quickly gives the letter to Winston. Upon which Winston sees its an official letter from Gordowe. The letter is opened and read in haste.

"Well?", Winston's mother questions.

"Church and royal soldiers engaged in Gordowe.", Winston answers her breathless.

.....................

That same day Vincent and Colin are nearing their next destination. Colin looks around.

"We're going to Morage, aren't we?", he asks after a while.

"Yes we are. It's nearly impossible to avoid.", Vincent tells him. He looks down to Colin. "You must have come through it on the way."

"I did. That's where I heard about you.", Colin replies. His eyes become half closed. "I wasn't sure if I was going to find help then. I was thinking of giving up too.", he confesses. Vincent pities him.

"I'm glad you didn't. Your family will be too.", Vincent tells him encouragingly. Colin looks up with hopeful eyes. "You know...when I first visited Morage it was a small village.", Vincent goes on attempting to change the subject.

"Really?"

"Oh yes, but Morage is a very important place. It's at the center of the river lands and recently the center of trade. Now almost everything comes through there I heard. This will be my first time seeing it though since then.", Vincent tells him.

"You know...about the time I got there...I had been on my own for a while.", Colin starts off hesitantly.

"Right...", Vincent says slowly, detecting a confession.

"Well... I may have had to..."

"Steal?", Vincent guesses. Colin nods shamefully rubbing the back of his neck. Vincent laughs a little. "Oh young blood.", he says shaking his head. "Okay, let's see.", Vincent pauses. "What you did was wrong and you seem to understand that. Did you pray for forgiveness?"

"From the man?", Colin asks.

"Noo. God.", Vincent corrects. "Do you know how?", Colin shakes his head as a result Vincent gives him a half smile. "I'll teach you, but first welcome back to Morage.", Vincent says, gesturing to in front of them. Colin looks to see the way into the village. He shuts his eyes tight for a moment leading to Vincent asking him if he's alright.

"I'm fine. It's just being somewhere with a lot of people at once is hard for me sometimes.", Colin answers.

"Ah, because of your sensory. You don't have complete control yet.", Vincent replies quietly. "Just stay close to me okay.", with a nod from Colin the two enter the town.

As they make their way down the road Vincent looks around. The roads and stone houses are obvious changes, yet there is also the fact that the town has a layout.

"This place has definitely changed. It reminds more of Gordowe now.", Vincent says as they stop at a three way interception.

"So what do we do now? Mother Margaret said to head to Ahcer.", Colin reminds him.

"I know. If I'm not mistaken, we have to take a boat first. It's the quickest way.", Vincent says thoughtfully. As they take the path to the right Vincent continues. "We should be able to get information from the customs house.", he takes a pause to think.

'Ahcer is in the direction of Regece as well. Going there will keep us on track to make it to Colin's family in time. I can't tell him that though. It would only make him anxious and I need time, but...', Vincent clenches his fist. Every moment is precious for both Colin's family and his own situation. Oddly though Vincent couldn't clearly make up his mind.

"You okay?", Colin asks, looking at Vincent.

"I'm fine. Just thinking about where the Customs House should be.", he lies. "It's probably near the port. Let's head that way. Either way we will be able to ask for help.", Vincent suggests.

After a while, Vincent thinks he's figured out the town's layout. He notices the road they had turned down has begun to curb slightly. There is also a pattern of three way then four way stops. Vincent decides to turn left at a four way interception.

"Colin, you came through here right? Did you come by boat or by land?", Vincent asks as he does.

"By land. I didn't have money to come by boat.", Colin answers. Vincent thinks hard hearing the boy's answer.

"So how did you cross the river?"

"There's...a bridge that goes over it...to the south...and a road that leads here.", Colin answers struggling to remember. At that moment they reach the outskirts of the port.

"I see. The reason I asked is because Morage is laid out like a spiderweb now. The roads extend from the port and branch off at intended lengths. The market is probably the only other place with such emphasis on it, so I was wondering if there were any other ways to get into town from the east.", Vincent explains. Colin chuckles.

"You really don't know about travel in any other part of the kingdom, do you?", Colin teases.

"Well, I.."

"It's okay I don't either.", Colin admits as they cross the road that encircles the port.

"Halt!", the order causes Vincent to stop and turn his head in the direction from which it came. A knight approaches them. "I'm sorry sir, but horses are not permitted in the area of the port where the docks are.", he informs them.

"My apologies. We're not from here.", Vincent says to him friendly.

"Not a problem. Just take your horse to one of the stations and you and your son can enter.", the knight replies.

"That's alright. We were just hoping to get directions."

"Oh! Where are you two headed? Perhaps I can help.", the knight offers.

"Ahcer, but if it's easier the Customs House.", Vincent replies.

"Ahcer eh... Let's see.", the knight speaks thoughtfully with a hand to his chin. Suddenly another sound rings out over the regular noises of the docks.

"Hurry up!", the sound causes Vincent and the other knight to look in the direction of the river. They see a group of people being forced into a large boat with even more people on it.

"Excuse me. I'll be right back.", the knight says acting quickly. A disturbing feeling awakens within Vincent. He dismounts his horse and turns to Colin.

"Go over to the other side of the road and wait for me. I won't be long and don't get off of Cinders.", he calmly but sternly tells him. Colin nods his head obediently, but Vincent still sees the fear in his eyes. Turning back to the dock Vincent quickly approaches. As he does he hears one of the men tell the knight that what they were doing is church business.

"Is there a problem here?", Vincent questions, arriving behind the knight. The three men look at him.

"Nothing you need to worry about sir.", the knight tells him politely.

"As I was telling him, this is church business. You have no right to interfere.", one of the two men says. Vincent sees now they are soldiers.

"Whoever told you that was terribly misinformed. Knights of any rank have the clearance to question church soldiers and offer assistance as the individual sees fits.", Vincent counters.

"Is that so and how would you know that?", the gruff looking soldier responds. Vincent narrows his eyes.

"You, however, don't have the right to question a silver ranked knight.", Vincent retorts.

"Silver ranked? Here?", the other soldier responds surprised. He examines Vincent quickly. "You wouldn't be Sir knight Vincent by chance would you?"

"What are you talking about? He's not even in armor.", the first soldier.

"Who do you know travels in armor constantly?", the second soldier counters. "Besides you're not from these parts. I am and everyone knows the only silver knight who doesn't have a family crest is Sir Vincent."

"Enough. I am Sir Vincent. Now what's going on here?", Vincent snaps.

"Forgive me and my companion, sir knight. We are transporting these people to a-"

"Correctional facility.", Vincent finishes for the soldier. He nods. "All of these people came from this one town?", Vincent asks.

"No. The ones brought in today came from other nearby towns and villages.", the soldier answers quickly. Vincent looks to the people in the boat. They were chained and looking at him with pleading, desperate eyes. He could feel the fear radiating off them in waves.

"That's all I wanted to know.", Vincent says with closed eyes and an approving nod. "Still, you were treating these people as if they are criminals. You should treat them kinder and with respect.", he reprimands them.

"Yes, sir. You are right .", the second soldier agrees.

"Tsk, are they not in a way criminals?", the first soldier suggests. Vincent looks him in the eyes.

"All have fallen short in one way or another. You nor I are better than them in any way.", Vincent tells him sternly. An insulted look appears on the soldier's face. Vincent can tell he wanted to say something, but chooses not to. Instead he turns away to board the boat. The second soldier gives a respectful nod before leaving.

Vincent turns away and gestures for the other knight to follow.

"I-I'm sorry sir. I didn't know it was you.", he says scrambling to fall beside Vincent.

"It's alright. Don't worry yourself.", Vincent tells him, smiling.

"It's just... You're a legend around here and I've always heard about you. Besides that you're my top commander. It's an honor.", the knight explains.

"Thank you. Now tell me, do you know that soldier? The more pleasant one.", Vincent asks.

"Yes, he's a friend of mine. He often takes part in transporting.", the knight answers. The two arrive where Colin is waiting.

"So you know where they are headed?", Vincent responds.

"Yes. They're headed to Niacre in Ahcer.", at his answer Vincent becomes fully interested.

"Well, well looks like I have even more of a reason to go to Ahcer and now we have a town.", Vincent says slyly. "Now about those directions."