Amity: The Peaceful

Chapter 23

The stallion stopped from his steps after Horatius pulled the horse’s rope. He supported his weight using his arms and went down from the horse, after that he looked up and stretched his arms, pulling the cover from Ade and Finn’s head and body, he dropped it on the floor before gripping the man’s waist, carrying them down.

When Adeodatus adjusted after getting down the stallion Horace held his wrist and pulled him towards the biggest tent located just in front of them, a few steps away from where the stallion stopped earlier.

“Why a camp, why not go straight to your region?” Ade asked in curiosity.

Horatius took a glance at him while removing some of the excess clothes he’s been wearing.

“We have two campsites, this is the main camp where we bring all the goods we got and sort them, this is where we meet the merchants for trading purposes, here is where we get our eerie missions from them too. The sub camp near our region is where we stay for some hours and leave the goods for the people in our region. As much as possible we refrain ourselves from going to our region for security purposes, we don’t want to be followed by anyone, so we only go there once or twice a month.” Horace explained.

Ade raised his brow after hearing the man’s explanation, it’s a smart tactic, he never knew bandits were this careful. A smart tactic for small regions without nobility or government to protect them, especially that most guys of the crews are sailing every time, “Never knew you’re this smart.”

The man looked at him before shaking his head, “I won’t be the captain if I am not smart enough, so stop belittling me.” the man said in a normal tone, no ounce of transgress in his voice.

“Huh? You didn’t become a captain because your men fear you?” He stated, he's so confused, because that’s what he knows, that a person can become a captain because they are feared, just the royalty, either you are feared, respected or you are born with blue blood, and in this case, he got all of it.

“That’s one of the most common misconceptions. Captains don’t get their positions because they’re feared, they get it by votes from the crews, they earn it because the people respect them.”

Ade creased his forehead, “Meaning, you can be ousted anytime?” he whispered.

“Yes, if they find a suitable leader aside from me. They can even easily kill me in my sleep if they want to.”

Ade nodded his head before giving attention to the boy who was struggling from his grip, he let go of Finn and watched how the boy ran outside of the tent, he must be hungry.

“And when did you become a captain?”

“I started when I turned fifteen, together with the help of my comrades and some elders. They didn’t vote for a new one, our ships added up and so we appointed captains for them also, and they happened to be my trusted comrades who had the skills.”

“I see…” he mumbled before walking towards Horatius, “And when did you start to hide your face with this mask?” he asked while caressing the man’s mask. Horace held his hand and gave it a light squeeze.

“...I started to hide it when I was 21.”

“And why?”

“There are three reasons, and I can’t spill them now.”

Adeodatus sighed, the more Horatius hid things from him the more curious he’ll become, which is… bad, since prying isn’t his thing. It will become a hindrance to his plan to escape, of course once his curiosity eats him up, he’ll decide to unravel the man’s secret first before escaping.