Canthem and they would often sit on the rooftops, throwing stones into the alleys and talking about various happenings throughout the town. They traded the secrets of Stable Canthem and all the ways to get from north to south and east to west. They passed many hours playing their own games of kick-ball in the streets and squares and markets, and Samuel also had his fair share of scuffles with friends and adversaries alike, often resulting in numerous bruises, black eyes and blood noses.
Samuel had never dared open any of Mr Joshua’s packages, but the other boys told him they were just letters, documents and sometimes items or precious things-probably stolen, so the street boys would say, but Samuel was not so sure.
Samuel told Mr Joshua everything he learned from the other boys, for he considered Mr Joshua his friend, and Mr Joshua would laugh at most of the comments he heard.
‘Don’t think poorly of me, Samuel,’ he would say. ‘Some of these stories have been exaggerated to the status of fantasy, but I must admit some are true. I’m not a thief, but neither are the men of this town saints-especially those in command. They’re all Imperials and they have little regard for those of us born of the land of Marlen. Natives like me who try to do business have a very difficult time. We have to work in secrecy, beneath the eyes of the Imperials. If our governors had their way, they would send everything of value here back to Turia. I take nothing from the poor or the needy-only the rich and pompous Imperials that no one here in Stable Canthem has any liking for.’
Samuel would nod at this. He did not really care what it was Mr Joshua did. He helped Samuel and gave him plenty of money, and Samuel liked to evade the town guards and race around with the other street boys. It gave him some excitement and was far more interesting than staying at the Three Toads Inn. More importantly, Samuel regarded his work for Mr Joshua as a means to escape his uncle and aunt. When he had enough money, he could be free of them or even start some business of his own.
Occasionally, Samuel would sit down at the small town docks and watch the riverboats gliding by on the water. They carried goods and people downstream to distant towns and cities, and Samuel dreamed of one day slipping aboard with Jessicah and disappearing from Stable Canthem forever. He had heard tales of all the wondrous places in Amandia and of all the great lands out across the ocean. He hoped he could one day be away with her and they would travel together and have great adventures and find glorious treasures. He knew it was just a dream, but Samuel had little else to think about. He kept counting his savings in his head and looking out after the boats as they slid away, wishing he was aboard one even now.
It was a cool and pleasant evening when Samuel was darting down an alley he used as a shortcut quite frequently. He turned a corner, aiming to come out in the middle of West Street, and he ran straight into a wall of flesh. He was knocked backwards and sprawled over, blinking with astonishment while he gathered his wits. Rough hands picked him up and, with sudden dread, Samuel realised he had run straight into some of the town guard. Three of them towered over him and a set of hands held him firmly.
‘So we’ve caught a street rat have we?’ the middle guard asked. Samuel knew these men well. They had chased him often and had caught and beaten many an errand boy.
‘I’m just on my way home, Sir,’ Samuel explained, bearing a smile.
‘Very well,’ the tallest guard replied. ‘We’ll just see what you have to give us first.’
Samuel swallowed. He had an envelope tucked into his shirt that was bound for Merchant Bellows and he dreaded it being discovered. They must have read his mind because, as quick as a flash, the shortest guard had his rough hands rummaging about under Samuel’s clothes.
‘What’s this?’ he exclaimed and he had the envelope out and was tearing it open without a pause. ‘I think it’s for me!’
‘Wait!’ Samuel cried. ‘That’s for my uncle!’
‘We’ll see, lad,’ the central guard grunted, keeping a firm hold of Samuel’s arm, ‘but I’ll wager it’s no more for your uncle than I’m likely to wed your wretched aunt.
The short guard was squinting as he peered over the envelope’s contents. ‘It’s a title to some land signed in the name of Merchant Bellows.’
The men all laughed.
‘Well, not nearly as much of a treasure as I’d hoped,’ the short guard said, ‘but worth a coin or two, I’m sure.’
‘I’m sure the good Merchant Bellows will be happy to have it back for a price,’ the taller guard spoke.
Samuel gulped again.
‘We’ll go see him tomorrow,’ the central guard said. ‘And now we have this brat, we’ll go get some coins from his uncle as well.’
‘Good idea,’ put in the taller guard. ‘It’s been a while since he paid us any dues.’
They dragged Samuel back across town to the Three Toads with him kicking and swinging his arms at them all the way.
‘Don’t take me back!’ he cried out, and the three men laughed as one. Townspeople giggled and sniggered at the sight and parted way as the boy was towed to his fate.
Samuel was thrown to the floor of the inn while the guards called out for his uncle. His feet barely touched the ground before he was up and running, pushing past his bewildered aunt who was coming to see who was making all the ruckus. He leapt out the kitchen door, eager to be away before his uncle learned what had happened. Jessicah was there, throwing some bread to the chickens.
‘Jessicah!’ he said, panting and heaving. ‘I’ve got to go! I’m in big trouble now. I think Uncle will kill me!’
‘Samuel, what is it?’ she asked him with obvious concern.
‘No time to explain. I’m off. I’ll come back and see you soon!’ And with that Samuel darted out into the street, narrowly avoiding being trampled by a team of oxen that was being herded along by a long-sticked shepherd boy. As he scampered away, Samuel could already hear the howls of his aunt and uncle, cursing his name in every manner possible.
Samuel ran as fast as he could to Mr Joshua’s and bounded up the stairs into the first room. As usual, the men were lounging around and they called casually for Mr Joshua on sight of the boy.
‘What have we here, Samuel? Why such a dramatic entry?’ Mr Joshua asked as he led Samuel into his office.
‘The guards caught me,’ Samuel explained. His eyes burned, but he refused to let any tears come, and he was furious and embarrassed by the urge to cry, which made him feel worse. ‘They took the letter for Merchant Bellows and told my uncle about it. My uncle will kill me if he catches me-I mean
Mr Joshua sat upon his desk and thought for a few moments, stroking his clean-shaven chin.
‘Well,’ he explained, ‘I’m afraid this marks the end of our business together, Samuel. I can’t use you any more to run errands. The guards will always be looking for you to make some money for themselves. In fact, you had better lay low for a time. I’m sure Merchant Bellows will want to get his hands on you, also-he knows you well. This will cost me dearly in business, Samuel, but it’s not something I didn’t expect to happen eventually and it’s happened many times before.’ Mr Joshua walked around the circumference of the room, rubbing his chin in thought. ‘You’ve been a good lad for me, so I’ll tell you what I’ll do. Luckily enough, another opportunity of work has arisen and I have been mulling the idea over in my head for a few days now. It seems this situation has helped settle the matter. I know a man who owns another inn of sorts here in town and I know that he is currently in need of a new stablehand of your talents. It will be much better than your uncle’s work and I am sure they will treat you well. You can sleep here on my floor for tonight and tomorrow we’ll go and see about that job. But for now, I must finish some business, so you can go wait in the town for a time,’ he handed Samuel a crown, ‘and come back after dark. Remember, it’s very important that no one sees you, so go hide up on one of those rooftops of yours.’
Samuel couldn’t believe his luck. He rubbed his eyes, feeling foolish at himself for almost crying like a baby, and thanked Mr Joshua wholeheartedly.
When evening finally arrived, Samuel returned to Mr Joshua’s office, walking past the card-playing men in the first room, and was overjoyed to see some thick rugs on the floor with blankets and a pillow.
