Chapter 4 Ower's Day

16 years later

It was a fair day, Ella couldn't help noticing as she made her way through the throng of people in the market square, her skirts swishing round her legs demurely. The sky was a surprisingly clear blue and the sun shone down merrily. There was a gentle breeze, coming every now and then to cool the villager's faces as they all went about their jobs gaily, calling out greetings and jokes over each other's voices. It was the last Saturday of the month, and these Saturdays were always good days. At least in the Mayweather household. Her pa would be home today, and her mum would be making the usual little puff pastries and rabbit stew. With their humble brick house and few livestock, they weren't exactly buoyant enough to afford these meals. But her pa always did what he could, saving up little pennies to be able to treat his family to this meal at the end of every month. And so the tradition had been for as long as she could remember. Tyson would be out with Isabella today. He worked so hard on the farm beside their father on the weekdays that the precious two days of the weekend were really when he could afford to see his fianceé, Isabella. Isabella was the local butcher's daughter, two years Ella's junior and perhaps, the most beautiful girl in the village. With her long blonde hair, cool blue eyes and rosy cheeks, it was hard not to stare at her anytime she made her way through the village. It was no wonder why Ty fell in love with her and poor Isabella could hardly resist the roguish handsome looks of and undeniable charisma of her brother either. They made a beautiful couple, a very beautiful one.

"Miss Ariella!!!". She turned to the voice and saw Jeffery, the mason's apprentice as he made his way towards her hurriedly, his face beaming with elation at the sight of her. Ella smiled politely and adjusted her basket of turnips on her hips. "Ariella". He breathed happily as he came to a stop in front of her, pulling off his cap, his cheeks flushed, green eyes twinkling.

"Jeffery". She gave a small, polite smile. "How pleasant to see you".

His cheeks flushed even redder and he looked away shyly as he fidgeted with the cap in his hand. His mannerisms weren't what you'd expect of a 6ft man who weighed well over 200 pounds with hands as wide and thick as the stones he worked on. With an amazing shock of red hair, Jeffery was typically shy and very easy going. He was also very fond of Ariella and had even gone as far as asking for her hand just two weeks ago. The moment everyone had turned to her expectantly to listen to her answer, she had felt this sadness at what she already knew she'd say. Jeffery was a great man, but he wasn't what she was looking for. He was quite lacklustre, would barely get anything interesting out of his mouth. It was exhausting conversing with him, for while he was very comely and pleasant, he couldn't bring up a topic with her to save his life. Once he has requested to give her a hug, and it had been so awful she had been left wondering whether she was indeed hugging a man or a tree. He didn't excite her in any way.

It had still hurt her heart to see how broken he'd been by her answer. Red faced and with eyes cast down, he had walked out of their house behind his parents. She had avoided him for days after that, not bearing to see the look of sadness on his face whenever he saw her. Despite all of that, he still hadn't stayed away and within a few days, had made it a personal mission to make her out in the crowd and talk to her just like he used to do before the whole saga.

"Aye...... it's indeed very pleasant". He still wasn't looking her in the eye. "M'father made a catch yesterday, a huge boar it was. I'll bring some over for you later in the day, miss Ariella".

She let out a small polite smile and waved him off. "Oh no you don't have to......".

"I'll bring it over ma'am. Please don't say no". He was looking at her with such beseeching eyes she couldn't stare back. Looking away, she readjusted her basket uncomfortably and let out a small sigh of resignation.

"Thank you very much, Jeffery".

His face beamed with the joy of being of benefit to her and in that moment, she felt an overwhelming pang of sadness. Would he still love her like this it he knew what she was?

"I have to go". She said briskly. This didn't feel right. All of this. Standing here, pretending to be like every other person when she was perhaps, some of their worst nightmares. She had to get away.

"Miss.......".

"I'll see you later in the day Jeffery". She said with a quick, watery smile before rushing off, barely registering the people around her as she made her way blindly through the crowd, muttering a "forgive me" every now and then when she hit people with her basket. The gradual lessening of the crowd soon indicated her exit from the square and she was grateful for the trickle of people that now surrounded her. Finally slowing down, she turned left, in the direction of her favorite place, the village river and made her way slowly, the feeling of peace engulfing her steadily as she made her way closer and closer. She never felt at peace anywhere like she did near a body of water. She liked to stare into the waters and imagine what it would feel like to live in a world free of cruel laws and tyrant kings. A world where she could close her eyes, feel the breeze in her long hair as she threw her head back and laughed with her family. Aside her nuclear family, Ella often found herself wishing for more. She wondered what it would feel like to live in a pack, be brothers and sisters in the spirit with people that were just like her, living without the fear of being caught.

Right before she took another right turn to head down into the river, she heard distant hooves of horses and froze in her tracks. There was only one group of people whose horses moved in such a manner......the azukhi. And having the azukhi in the village was never good news. What could be happening today? Heart beating in her throat, she tried to search frantically in her head for the missing information. And then it dawned on her.

It was Ower's Day.

The last Saturday of the year.

The day tax owers were fished out and taken to the palace, their fates unknown to the rest villagers but never to be seen again. And her whole being went cold as she recalled her parents heated argument a few weeks ago.

"We aren't going anywhere without you James". Her mum had hissed angrily. "We'll all leave toge......".

"Daphne can you just reason with me?". Her father's own angry voice had cut her short as he struggled to keep his voice down not to wake them up. But she had been right there.....by the door, halted in her steps on her way to get a glass of water. "I have hope that I'll be able to raise the money before the yuletide. But just in case I'm not able to, they can't take us all. You and the kids need to stall at your Aunt Betty's for the mean time. At least till I get a sentence at the palace".

"And who told you that the king will be generous enough to give you a sentence huh?". Her mum's had spoken through angry tears. "It could be death, James. Death!!!!!".

There had been a pause from her father and his voice had been lower when he spoke again, slightly laced with uncertainty. "My source was a good one. They say it's a slave sentence, not death". Ella hadn't failed to notice that he had sounded more like he was trying to convince himself......her mum had too.

"A slave sentence is as good as death".

"Not so quite". Her father had defended.

She had heard her mother's little sigh and had imagined her tilting her chin defiantly, in that way she did when her mind was made up. "I'm not leaving you James. And that's final". And the sound of her angry footsteps approaching the door Ella hid behind had sent her scurrying back up the stairs and into her attic room, heart beating frantically and her eyes shut tight to stifle the tears that threatened to escape. She hadn't known their condition had gotten that bad. Enough for their taxes to be unpaid.

And after that, she had worked hard. Staying longer in the market to make sure she sold out her goods....aiding in the farm when she could.... sneaking the few pennies that had been gifted to her into the family's piggy. She did not want her parents to know she had overhead their exchange and so had never asked if they finally had enough money to pay off their debts. Her father would have stared her down because of the unusual question, and he would have known she had heard.

Her mind now reeled back to this morning, the way her mum had practically bundled Ty out of the house, nudging him just a little harder than usual to go see Isabella, the slightly diseased turnips she had given her to sell knowing fully well not much people were going to buy them and that she wouldn't come back home till she had finished her sales. The merrier than usual wave her mum had given her as she had gone off, yelling after her to go have some fun when she was done in the market......it all suddenly made sense to her.

Her father hadn't been able to raise the money.....and true to her word, her mother hadn't left his side.

"No". The basket slipped from her side and she barely registered it's contents fast rolling downhill into the water. "No.....no......no........". Adrenaline pumped in her as she sprung into action and soon, she was running back down the path she had come, heart in her throat and mouth like sandpaper, her skirts bundled in her hands and her ebony mane bellowing behind her.