The Wanderer: Mystery Of The Young Master

Chapter 8

In the process of getting to the south region and then moving towards the southeast of the kingdom. What was left of the evening was concluded, as it gave way for the first half of the night, before reaching the midnight.

The air outside was cold to the skin, as some parts of the streets of the southeast were not visible, due to some of the street lanterns losing their lights to the cold breeze of the night. 

Only a few remained lit, as the soldiers of the kingdom matched into certain communities in the region of the kingdom. Abusing certain resident owners, as they forced them out of their homes to the street of each community in the region. Dragging and breaking through all homes of those who resist, with a side dish of beating. 

They bound them up in to two groups in each communities, as some soldiers stood guard of one of the two groups in a form of shade in each region of all the communities. Most of the people in the communities of the region were kicked out to the street that night, being forced to endure the cold breeze the night offered. Shivering as some, were not fully dressed, others were in their sleeping robe, and the children cried in confusion of what was happening.

As more were being chased out of their homes. While the soldiers vandalized each homes as they searched. Leaving most of their properties out of commission, as all other residents that were unaffected or yet to be touched, in the communities played ignorant to all that was happening to the others, as they sealed their doors and windows shot. 

Believing they were powerless, to do anything other than, to turn a blind eye to things, as they prayed to survive through the night unscathed. The general and two other knights stood by the side of the street, of the center of the region. supervising the raid, as it progress from bad to worse, while the screams of the residents, echoed around the streets of the southeast region, but none from other community residents dared came to their aid.  

“They must be working really hard to instigate the people into a rebellion… Or maybe the folks are just unlucky enough, to have angered, someone with quite a temper and power?”

“Well, knowing how the general is one that tend to act not in the favour of the king, I would say a rebellion could be what their aspiring for… Especially, when the king’s order was to search for the princess, without alarming the people…” 

“But looking at this, it’s like they were ordered to do an all-night parade for abuse and assault… Contradicting, doesn’t begin to express how far off he has gone astray from the king’s order” Olamide relayed, sharing his thought and information, as regards to the situation before them, while amazed and enraged by how far one could go to contradict a simple order. 

As they stood on the roof of a two storey building, not far from the center of the street of the southeast, where most of the residents were bounded up. As the general. An old man in his 50’s, average height, with dark hair, in a native wear custom to the kingdom, stood folding his hands, with his eyes closed, to all that was happening. 

While two knights stood in front of him, one was with a machete, and the other was with a side gun, but both were in their uniforms. Supervising all that was happening. Few lengths away from the center of the street of the region, as some of the street lanterns that were still lit, in the communities to the center of the region, made the view of things visible, but rendered no solution to the cold breeze of the night.  

“Hmm… If you say so… However, I’ll give him credit for boldness, and cruelty… So tell me what kind of place is this, or rather is there anything that makes it standout?” the wanderer asked, not convinced the assault on the people was for something a bit too obvious as a rebellion, due to what he could sense around certain individuals. 

Especially when the people showed little signs of resistance, and unaffected resident showed no signs of concern to the others. 

While Olamide was a bit confused, as to what he meant by his words. Wondering, if he thinks the abuse on display wasn't to instigate the people into a rebellion, but was lost to how the status of the place would have any role to play, to the situation at hand. However, he knew keeping silent won’t get him any closer to the answer he seeks. 

“What makes it standout? Hmm… I don’t really think there is anything of such… Most of the folks here are commoners, which most abled body man has one of two occupation, they are farmers or merchants, although most in the region has mastered the act of deceptions, or cons… One has to keep an eye out when doing transaction around the region, especially in their market…” 

“Some has even been banned from dealing, or selling anything in other regions, due to their act of deception during transactions, especially in the market square… Now that I think about it, the region does have quite a productive rate of criminals, nothing outstanding, though, but I guess you could say thievery and deception is the order of the day here… That’s what I can classify, as what makes this place, or rather the region standout…” 

“At least from what I have observed… But even so…” Olamide explained stating all he knows, about the region as a whole, while believing that was still not enough reason for their acts, as the sight infuriated him. But was distracted by the young master’s response.

“Hmm… I guess they’ve own quite a reputation then… Which would explain the boldness of their acts, but not the act itself”

“What do you mean? Sire”

“Judging by all you've said, it would seem the region is filled with degenerates, and a certain level of criminals, which would naturally make the region an eyesore to most, if not all, especially to the nobles… With that said, I doubt the higherups would pay much concern about the wellbeing of the people here, or the region, given their reputation…” 

“Hell, they could even award the soldiers for their effort and phrase the raid to be a righteous act to keep the people in line, which explains why the others are not reacting to the raid, and the boldness of the act... But as regards to the case of the princess, they have no interest in such… From what I can tell, they are looking for something, not someone...”

“If you look closely at how they’re proceeding with the search of each houses… At the surface of things one would believe they’re trying to pass a message, as they vandalized certain properties in each homes, and frightened the residents…” the wanderer said, directing Olamide to look cautiously to how the search was conducted.

The wanderer then, explained all he observed, saying that, if he looks closely, with the aid of sensing their movement, and putting the sizes of the house into consideration. One will notice some soldiers were staying close to the edges of the building, and at certain positions for a while inside the houses, and some outside were also doing the same in certain space. 

And looking, at how only most of that same set of energies are the only ones holding their machete, and sheath on hand, when they leave each building, to search the next. And the ones outside has been tapping, and checking the grounds around the area. 

While others showed no sign of unsheathing theirs, he thinks it would be safe to assume, that the ones inside each building were tapping each walls inside the houses. And grounds of each house with their machetes and sheaths. In search for something.

Adding that, the manner of which the people were bounded up, was also something of an abnormally. Pointing out that, although most were being forced to face the opposite direction of where they were searching outside. 

Few who were being placed under a shade in forms of soldiers were granted view of what was happening, and an aid to the night cold breeze. While the others were being left in the open space where the cold of the night could get to them. 

And if truly most of the people here, were as Olamide stated them to be, it won’t be a surprise if there was a mole amongst them. Or the orchestrator was just taking advantage of that to make them think such. 

Placing the thought of some having special treatment, which would therefore cause a dispute amongst them, and an opportunity to negotiate for whoever was in charge. Or if any react during their search, or after. They’ll get to know, provided they have a mole in the region, which was highly likely, due to their acts. He explained, concluding his observation, and thoughts of things. 

Believing, whatever they might be looking for was not something the orchestrator believed, they could acquire without deception, which could mean the thing must be of high value to them. Or the orchestrator was just one who loved the complexity of things, as the thought of them using the lady as the excuse for their acts didn’t sit well with him.  

His words, left Olamide speechless, overwhelmed by his sense of observation, as each uttered word changed the view of the sight before him. Granting him a view of the possible plot of the general, and the reasons for his acts, while curious of the possibility of the success of the plot, and of what they were looking for. But at the same time furious of the way and manner the act was executed.  

“It’s quite a plan, one that requires a certain level of resolve and cruelty… Surely they must know this, so, why do I sense dissatisfaction and guilt from those three? And what's with that mark?” the wanderer pondered, as he view the scene. Observing the energy of the general and his knights, while gaining view of a certain mark on the general’s energy, but unaware of their status. 

“Have seen enough… It’s time to put an…”

“Sire, please wait, and re-think this… Stepping in could worsen the situation for them, yes it would save them from the assault tonight, but it might lead to many more, if not worse…” 

“And looking at it, from a logical view point, it will be in your best interest not to get involve with anything that could be consider a hindrance, especially if you’re going to stay awhile, so please let me…” Olamide debated cutting in to the wanderer, with hope of changing his mind to his action, but was silent by his young master’s response. 

“Enough! I get that you have my best interest at heart… But let me be the one to worry about what will, and will not be a hindrance to my stay in the kingdom… Besides, if I let you handle things, you might end up killing them… If your pent-up anger comes out to play, and that is what would be a hindrance” 

“For now, just calm down, and watch my stuff… Am just going to talk to them” The wanderer reply cutting in to Olamide’s sentence. Dropping his bag, while making him aware he knew of his status. 

He walked to the edge of the building roof, they stood on. Jumping down to the center of the street, opposite the mixed crowd of both the kingdom army, and the separated folks bounded up. Concluding their talk, as he released a bit of intimidation.

While Olamide was a bit surprise by his observation of him. But knew his prediction of his action was partly correct, as his relayed words of his stated purpose of going to the scene gave him a bit of comfort. But was still a bit agitated of the outcome of what might transpire.

Shortly, within the few seconds, before the landing of the young master, three simultaneous gun shot was fired directly at him, from one of the knights with the general by instinct, in fear of what he sensed. At that moment, the soldiers paused all activities, not sure of what was happening or what the knight was shooting at, since they didn’t see the target before and after the gun shot, and heard no sound of impact.

The people were also confused of what was happening. They hoped their situation has not turn from worse to horrific. While the general whose eyes was closed from the beginning of the raid, as they stood, opened them, after the shot, as his instinct was also on red alert while the other knights was trying to locate the source of the danger.

“I’ll take it this is yours, mister… Just a word of advice, if you don’t want the sensation you’re feeling to become a reality, I’ll strongly advise you don’t try such stunt next time… Here” the wanderer said, with a gentle but yet intimidating tone, handing over the bullets shot at him to the knight, up close, as the night concealed his face and clothing, while the knight quaked in horror, as all the street lanterns lost their lights, plunging the area to darkness, as all paused, to the change of event.