Sorry for the delay on getting this out! I’ve had it written for a while, but things got in the way. I’ll be working on Chapter 5 here, too, as an epic case of writer’s block is wearing off. Sorry again, enjoy!

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As I found a clearing to stop that night, after leaving the farming village, I heard voices following me. With a frown, I slipped into shadows behind a tree and got out my knife. “I’m telling you- It’s slavery, plain and simple. There’s no mistaking it.”

“I don’t know… Slavery’s been illegal here for a century… I mean… Can he just reverse that law, so simply?”

“Apparently! I saw it with my own eyes!” The voices were rough, male voices, and they were coming closer.

“Well, I think you’re full of it. No one would willingly make themselves that big a target. Everyone hates slavery, here and in the surrounding lands. He’d be digging his own grave.” This third voice was female, authoritative and strong. “Now, both of you, shut up and let’s set up camp. There’s a clearing through here I’ve used before. We’ll travel on at dawn.”

I put my knife away and moved away from the tree quickly. It sounded like they were just travellers, and I didn’t want to start a fight. “Good evening, folks,” I called in greeting, to announce my presence before I showed myself. The three travellers looked me over, weighing how much of a threat I was, before they nodded a greeting.

“Evening,” The woman nodded. “I hope your travels are well.”

“As I do yours,” I replied. “I believe I was headed for the same clearing as you. Would you mind dreadfully if I shared your camping space this evening?”

“Long as you don’t cause us trouble, we won’t cause you any,” One of the males answered. “Where you headed, stranger?”

“The capital. And yourselves?”

“The same. What takes you out that way? It’s another three days’ travel, and you look like you’ve been on the road a while already.” The woman looked me over slightly, taking in the road dust and grime.

“My… Feelings on the new king’s rule,” I replied. The three of them smiled slightly.

“Not a fan either, eh, lad?” The second fellow asked. I nodded. “Well, we’re on our way to join the resistance force as well. I think they’ll be making a move soon, before he gets too comfortable or frightens enough people to support him. He’s forcing people to work on various projects of his, didja hear?” I ground my teeth and shook my head. “Slavery’s what it is- And we mean to put a stop to that, on top of his other crimes.”

“I’ll be by your side on that,” I agreed, before we settled in to set up camp.

I discovered my new friends’ names were Clara, Trenton, and Clayton. The men were brothers, about 23 by my guess. Clara was a childhood friend of theirs, and I’d have put her at 25. Even given I was younger than them, the three friends didn’t treat me like a kid. They counted on me to handle my own share of things in camp, and to look after myself. It felt pretty nice to be respected.

Of course, we would need to be able to respect each other, if we would be fighting side-by-side. Being able to do so this easily just made it all better for us.

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“Let’s see… We’ve got the road repairs started… The bridges are being surveyed to determine which needs repairs… Docks are scheduled for surveying… I think we’re doing well…” Marcus commented, looking over his reports in his study. “Have we had any trouble with the labor forces?”

“None, my lord,” the man before him answered. “They seem to accept the new punishment deal. A few others are even requesting hearings to see if they can get the same. I will bring you my thoughts on terms for other groups. Once you’ve approved them, I can set up the hearings.”

“Wonderful. I think this will be good for them- Give them some extra skills, put idle hands to work, and do good for the kingdom. I’m sure there’s other infrastructure we haven’t thought to handle yet.”

“I will look into it, my lord,” the man bowed to him, then strolled off to take a look at various infrastructure reports.