I didn't have time to check this one very well, so sorry for all of the mistakes I made. I've been gone a lot.

Chapter 27

"Oh, what a BEAUTIFUL morning! Oh, what a BEAUTIFUL day! I've got a BEAUTIFUL feeling, everything's going my way!"

"ROSE!" I yelled for the third time. "BE QUIET!"

"How many times do I have to tell you," scolded Conrad. "It's 'I've got a wonderful feeling, everything's going my way.' You've got too many beautifuls in there."

"Oh," said Rose. "I'll sing it again. This time it will be right."

"No, you won't," I snarled.

"Yes I will! I'll remember the right words this time, I promise!"

"You won't sing at all, Rose."

"Why not?"

"Because we are entering a town, and you don't want to scare all the young men away with your croaking."

"Singing," she corrected with a huff. "I sing. What town is it? Why don't I see any people walking around? We haven't met anyone in over an hour. Why? This place is so desolant, I doubt there'll be any boys around. I've decided I don't want to marry a farmer, so I don't think I'll propose around here."

"There is a castle up ahead," I said, ignoring her questions. "The town must be bigger than the last one. More people. More young men. More information...more food."

"Sounds good to me," said Conrad.

"There won't be any flies," huffed Rose. "At least, not many. Darn people swat them."

The town was definately bigger, but I hadn't expected to find a brick wall all the way around it. It almost seemed as if they were trying to keep people out. As we approached the wall a man called out to us: "Who are you?"

"Friends," I replied.

"What do you want?"

"The obvious!" retorted Rose. "We want to get in!"

"Strangers aren't welcome here," he shot back. We could see his glowering face in the gate window and we knew he wasn't lying. "Go some place else!"

I rolled my eyes and asked, "How much will it cost us, sir. We are in a hurry."

His face brightened for a split second, then he scowled. "Five gold coins."

"Five!" cried Rose. "Just for entering a group of shacks!"

I dropped a few coins into his grimy palm. He counted them eagerly before swinging the gate open. We rode in while he counted his money, again. The townspeople looked to be in a bad mood. They either glared, scowled, retorted, or squawked. The women didn't gossip at the wells and few stalls, the men didn't barter, and the children didn't play together...nicely. All in all they looked like Rose.

Conrad nudged me and nodded to a barber's shop. "Barbers," he said. "They are great gossipers and are usually the most cheerful. Besides, you need it."

For once he was right. I needed a shave very badly. A hair cut too. Elaine would have fainted if she saw me now, hairy, with several layers of dirt on my commoner's clothes and torn boots.

When Rose saw where we were headed she squawked. "Now isn't a time to get a shave! We need to eat!"

"Later, you go look for flies. And don't get the horse stolen."

We made our way through the dusty street, and tied our horses to the post. The barber's shop was cool and empty. The barber was studying his portly face in a mirror when we walked in. He immediately turned around with smile which seemed strange in this dismal place.

"Ah! New costumers! You shall be my first today! And it seems as though I have quite a job ahead of me. Where and what have you young men been doing?"

"Traveling," I said simply. I didn't bother to mention being caught in traps, fighting demons, and sleeping in dirt. But he seemed to understand. I was about to question him about the well being and bad mood of the town, but I didn't need to. As soon as I sat down he started chattering politics. And for the first time in my life, I found it interesting.

"Bad times, we have here," he said as he snipped away at my neck. "The good lord of the castle has just died, about three months ago. Fine man, we would have made him king and rebelled if he asked us to."

"Did he?

"Why no! He was as faithful to King Augustine and Prince Lance as he was to his dear sweet wife who followed him to the grave soon after. Noble man he was. Unfortunetly he had a rotten son. Nasty fellow, always went around with a rough gang causing trouble. If he weren't the lord's son we would have sent him quick to the army."

Poor army.

"Well, that rascal, Henry, has moved his mischief from the bars and alleys to the good castle itself. He's the lord, and is more like a tyrant. Horrible guy. He refused the council of his father's old advisors of being kind to us and took to the blabbering of his young friends who say to put heavy taxes on us. They are so hard that we hardly dare have business for fear of earning more money. But he's got most of the money now and we aren't hardly left with a coin."

That explained the high price at the gate.

"What's worse he's tightening the noose, literally. If you can't pay, you go to jail, for a week, and then are hung before your poor wife and kids who are about to be sold off into slavery. So why don't we revolt you say? Well, he's consficated our weapons. Usually you'd see all the good men around here with a dagger at their side and walking around with a confident stride. Not so anymore. We all slink to our work shops, nervous and worried about getting caught and hung. A lot of the people have taken to the woods, in hoping for a better life. But, well, most of us have decided to hold it out to the bitter end. Plus he's got a lot of friends. I'm finished, sir."

"Thank-you," I said quietly. My mind was taking in all this information fast and furiously. How dare that pig put unlawful taxes, hang, and enslave my people? Dork. I remembered his father, the Good Lord James Dougles had been an excellent subject. I remembered him because he always sent twice the amount of tribute to us every year, and it had impressed me. His people certainly didn't deserve to be treated like this after his death.

On second thought. What if the barber was just exaggerating. They could do that. Maybe there was another reason for the bad air in the town that he didn't want to tell about. And why was he so happy?

"His daughter is the prettiest thing in the land, let me tell you," said the barber, continuing the conversation with Conrad. "A right blooming rose in a field of wildflowers. All the people love her. Especially since she's engaged to Florian."

Florian. The name sent an exciting thrill down my spine. I turned to the barber with great interest. "Who is Florian?"

"Florian! Why you don't know? He's nearly as popular as the Good Lord James Dougles. He's...he's...Well, he's a bit hard to explain. You'll have to meet him to really know who and what he is. He's the people's leader now that our lord has turned horrible. When our lord was still alive he was the Captain of the garrison and also his personal advisor, brilliant man, Florian is. But Henry has kicked him out of office and evenbanished himfrom the country. But some say he is here in the town, planning a rising against the tyrant.

"Henry has taken his sister and has engaged her to one of his cruel buddies. That has enraged the people and I wouldn't be surprised if there was an uprising. So, if you want to be safe, you better get out of town."

"Where is Florian staying?" I asked. I had a feeling the barber knew exactly the whereabouts of this Florian. I had to meet him.

He hesitated then said softly as if he were afraid one of Henry's cronies were just outside the door, "He is staying at Madam Jellineck's tavern. Might as well spend the night there, it's the best in town, though Sir Henry is trying to tear it down."

I thanked him, paid him double the amount and left him more cheerful than usual.

Rose was waiting for us just outside. She hopped up to us quickly and said, "Let's get moving! I don't like this town. The soldiers over there are beating up a little boy for no reason. I know. I was watching him the whole time, and he is completely innocent!"

I looked into the street and saw the commotion. Two rough looking men with swords slung carelessly at their sides were interrogating a young boy about ten. He looked scared, yet determined not to say anything to them. He only winced in pain each time they whacked him, kicked him, or pulled his ear.

The people had stopped to watch with angry looks. I couldn't tell whether they were angry at the soldiers or the boy. It seemed half and half. The ones who were mad at the soldier murmured angrily and stepped closer, as if they were considering stopping the injustice. But they didn't do it.

My teeth clenched at treatment those men were giving to him. I felt my body stiffen as I went into a protective mode. Without hardly thinking I found myself striding up to the cruel scene. I grabbed one of the soldier's hand just when he was about to strike the boy. He looked at me like I was crazy, and was about to tell me so but I spoke first.

"Is it the job of soldiers now days to beat the very citizens they are supposed to protect?"

He opened his mouth dumbly. His comrade answered for him, "See here, stranger. This fellow is a disturber of the peace. He's a thief."

"Liar!" yelled a woman. "He's the son of Madam Jellineck, you jealous blaggard."

Was she calling me that? And what did Jellineck and jealous have to do with it?

"He is in leage with Florian, who was banished from this country. He is a traitor and a rebel," said another man. I noticed he was young, and wore rich clothes. This must've been one of Henry's colleages.

None of the people dared to contridict him, for fear of being accused and hanged for treachery I'm sure. Well, I was the Prince and most certainly would not be hanged. I could speak up, and I did.

With a sudden burst of rage, I rammed my fist into the first soldier's face.

He went down like a rock in a river and lay there, totally unconcience. Or dead? The second soldier began to swear and grabbed me around the shoulders, but I whipped my sword out, and accidently nicked his stomach. He cried out in pain and doubled over. He was barely bleeding the wimp.

"This is treason!" screeched the rich young man. "How dare you do this!"

I glared at him, threatening him with my sword and replied, "Shut your foul mouth. Your master and friend Henry is the one who's doing treason here. Does the king know about these taxes? Does he know the population of his people is dwindling beacuse of your stupid thoughts and actions? Does he know you are slave traders? Barbarians? Worse than Gauls?Answer me you pig!"

He shut up. But he sent a triumphant peek behind me, and I knew there was more trouble.

"Soldiers!" shrieked a woman.