As Conri jogged up the road he was able to see a small group of people waiting for him. As he got closer he noted that they seemed paired off. He also noted the difference in clothes. The younger man was dressed more formally, as had been Mr. Wallace in town. While the slightly older man had on the rough clothes of a person who worked hard. As Conri introduced himself to his neighbors, Harry and Clara Lukkarila, and Johnson and Abigail Smith he noticed a woman walking past. Thinking she was part of the welcoming committee Conri started to raise his hand in greeting, but a cart head nod from Mr. Smith and a quite "We don't associate with folk from the islands" from Mr. Lukkarila stayed Conri's hand. He kept his confusion to himself, having always known island folk to be good company whenever they'd put in to port. Refocusing his train of thought Mr. Lukkarila was discussing how the unpredictable cold snaps during spring made farming challenging. As if on cue the air turned colder than it had been and flakes of snow started drifting down. As the sun drifted towards early evening over head Conri got to know his new neighbors and community expectations a little bit better. He learned that for now, due to his youth and lack of means he would be able to get away with his shoulder length hair. That to sell goods at market he would either need to hide the length in a neat bun or get it cut short. He also learned that if he wanted to be accepted in certain circles it would be far better to cut it short. Conri noted a certain tension between the Lukkarila's and the Smith's. It wasn't that they disliked each other, but definitely an undercurrent of class division. Such as he vaguely recalled from his nursery days, and had witnessed in the ports when the fancy carriages would show up as goods were being unloaded. Conri had already learned that people's attitudes and behaviors toward him changed if he mentioned that his mother had been the youngest daughter of an Earl, a broke Earl, but an Earl none the less. Wanting this to be a fresh start with no chance of word getting back to either the current Earl or the Duke, Conri kept his heritage to himself. Conri froze up a little when Mrs. Smith suggested that should he desire to court any young ladies in town he'd need to smarten up his clothes. Both of the older men teased him lightly about freezing up at the mention of courting, and steered the conversation back to things like when taxes had to be paid, where to find good trees for curing boards from, and other useful tidbits. Such as for 50 coin one could get a bath and bed at the tavern down the way. The sun drifted closer towards the tree tops and the Lukkarila's paid Conri for a few of his fish and invited him to come down to their farm for the evening. As Conri was accepting the invite he noted Mrs. Smith giving her husband a knowing look. Not sure if he was up for what would probably be a formal dinner at the Lukkarila's Conri headed to the look out point just up the road from his land. Noting both a handy bush, with the type of dense foliage that was good for hiding a person relieving themselves, and a fire pit, Conri seriously considered staying at the outlook for the night. He quickly changed his mind when he almost set himself on fire trying to get a fire going. Conri arrived at the Lukkarila farm just as dusk was settling in. Mr. Lukkarila introduced Conri to their children and told Conri that if he came by the farm early the next morning that he could walk to school with them. The way Harriet sniffed and turned away Conri realized he'd better pay very close attention to the route as she didn't seem likely to wait for him on any other days. Henry started to ask Conri how he got his scars. Conri unsure of what to say was grateful when Harriet stiffly told her younger brother to go wash up. Mr. Lukkarila was just informing Conri that diner was running a bit late, when Mr. Smith showed up and asked Mr. Lukkarila if he objected to the borrowing of Conri for the rest of the evening. With the barest of pauses Mr. Lukkarila said he had no objections if Conri didn't mind. Noting the swift change in his hosts demeanor Conri recognized the dismissal of an unwanted guest when he saw it, and despite the hunger in his belly agreed to go with Mr. Smith. Conri had to lightly jog to keep pace with the silent Mr. Smith. Just as he wondered if they were going all the way back to town Mr. Smith turned into a small meadow with tables and cooking grills set up. Mr. smith jerked his thumb towards the building across the street "that there's the Llama tavern that Mr. Lukkarila was talking about. The second floor has the guest lodgings and bath, not that you look like you have the 50 coin needed for a night's stay with the bath. Without the bath a night's stay is 30 coin." Mr. Smith next motioned to the grill "by the way you've been movin' today I'd wager the 10 coin Mrs. Lukkarila gave you for the trout that you've spent most of your time at sea, which means you've probably not learned how to cook a proper meal." While showing Conri how to gut and clean his fish Mr. Smith, or Johnson as he preferred, explained that the Lukkarila's meant well, but both came from middle class merchant families so didn't always know how it was for those who worked the trades or farms. Conri quickly noted that the Lukkarila's lived on a farm, and Johnson explained that they had hired help come in and tend the crops during the summer season, but otherwise Mr. Lukkarila was focused on growing a mail order catalog business. Johnson also explained that he and Abigail had just finished paying for their small farm, and that before buying the farm he had worked as a sailor but chose to settle down after meeting Abigail. "Now that were done with our dinner, take these small sacks and bag up the leftovers. Just remember to scrape off the mold to get to the edible bits." Johnson paused before whispering in a barely audible tone "Conri, you stay on the even keel and I'll take that you sailed under Captain Halloran and a pirates banner to my grave with me, but know this if your intent is to cause trouble it's best you find a ship out before the night is over." Conri felt his body go cold as Johnson whispered the knowledge that could get him hung. Pale faced Conri turned and swore to Johnson that he had no ill intent towards the township of Windenburg and that he appreciated the fresh start that the storm had tossed him into. After a few moments of staring at each other in the waxing moon's glow Johnson finally nodded his acceptance, and cuffed Conri on the shoulder indicating that he should get the leftovers bagged up before the local wildlife made off with the food. As Conri stood he started to talk, but Johnson just shook his head and waved Conri to where the leftovers were sitting out. As they parted ways Johnson showed Conri where a more secluded meadow was with a comment of folks being able to sleep off a night's drink undisturbed in it. Tired and content of belly Conri took Johnson's hint and found himself a semi comfortable spot to nap the night away undisturbed.
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Conri, a semi hardened and very broke 14 year old, stood at the edge of the road staring over the empty field before him. This was were the last 8 years and an unexpected storm at high sea had landed him. His survival was nothing short of a miracle. He was torn between a feeling of deep despair that he'd die alone of starvation, and hope that maybe this would give him the chance to start his life over with a clean slate completely free from his past. After a quick survey of the hillside showed Conri that the only way to the ponds, were he'd been told he could fish by the town clerk, was back down the road he'd come up past the Lukkarila farm. The clerk had also said that someone would be by about midday to welcome him to the town. As Conri fished he reflected on his life so far, he admitted to himself that up until he was washed ashore on Windenburg's outer island his life hadn't been going so well.
He supposed his early years had been fairly idealistic growing up in the nursery of the Bloxham country estate. The sudden and abrupt change of status from presumed heir of the Duke to being shipped out as a cabin boy was seared into his memories as was the violence of his mother being flung like a rag doll across the room by the enraged Duke of Bloxham, while he and his younger siblings were shielded by the nanny. Conri tried to sort the pieces of his past, that his mother had loved him more and taken him on special trips around the country side was beyond any doubt to him. That only once had she let slip that she hadn't wanted to marry the Duke as she tousled his red hair, was a fuzzy memory fixed by that violent day in the nursery, as it had occurred not to long before hand. He had always looked different from his younger brothers, skinny, red hair, and lavender eyes. It was his lavender eyes that had caught the Dukes attention that day when he'd finally visited the country estate in Hidden Springs. Before that day, their mother had always gone into Les Champs during the season to be with the Duke. The Duke never came out to the countryside, preferring to stay in city where he could keep up his card games and other pursuits. His mothers family was from up near the northern border, she'd taken him just the once. The carriage ride had seemed endless. A man in a soldiers uniform met the carriage at the edge of the estate. That memory was seared in for more of what was never said than what was, as his mother and the mystery man just starred at each other, the air heavy with something that a very young Conri couldn't understand, before they both turned away and his mother tapped for the carriage to move on. The shouting match before the Duke had turned violent was also seared into Conri's mind. Mother had been reading them rhymes from Tales of Mother Goose when the Duke had stormed in slamming open the door roaring "Is it true?" His mother had stayed calm "is what true Duke Bloxham?" They had watched as the Dukes face had mottled purple and red with furry "you've been instructed how to address me!" "How silly of me to forget Duke Bloxham, you'll have to remind me again." His mother's voice had an undertone to it that Conri had never heard before. Before he could reach the safety of their nanny and the door to the bedroom the Duke had grabbed his arm and twisted his face upwards with a hard grip on Conri's chin. Just as harshly as Conri had been grabbed he'd been shoved away as the Duke was roaring "who's child is he ... and don't give me that excuse of looking like some distant ancestor ... no one in either of our families has those eyes!" Conri watched in shock as his mother started laughing, it wasn't a normal happy laugh, there was something dark, broken, and twisted about it. When his mother had finally spoken it was as if each sentence was being spat with a furry that equaled the rage obvious on the Dukes face "I told you I didn't want to marry you!" ... "That I loved another!" ... "Yet you bribed and blackmailed my parents into agreeing to the match!" ... "Well I made sure that I spent what time I could with my love before you stole me from my beloved highlands!" At six not quite seven Conri had had a sudden flash of understanding beyond his years. He knew who the mystery soldier had been, that he would never be Duke, that his mother hated the Duke. The next memory was the sickening crack of the Duke's hands against his mother's body, the breaking of wood as she landed on the dollhouse. Her maniacal laughter as she lifted blood soaked hands from her lap and the shards of wood protruding from her belly, and grinned "ah now look at what you've done ... if I'm lucky you've rendered me sterile." There was a lot of general bellowing from the Duke as servants poured into the nursery. Conri watched in shock as his mother was lifted onto a board and carried out, laughing. With the shock wearing off Conri had started to move towards the bedroom, but the Duke had grabbed him by the arm instead growling "strip down boy or I'll tear the clothes off of you!". Shaking Conri believed the threat carried in the Dukes growl and stripped down as quickly as he could, when he reached his knickers the Duke growled "that's good enough!" Grabbing the nearly naked child by the arm the Duke hauled Conri not only out of the nursery, but down the 4 flights of stairs and into the carriage parked at the front steps. Confused Conri wanted to cry, but the hardened rage that was till flickering across the Dukes face kept Conri silent. After what had felt like an eternity the Duke rapped for the driver to stop. They were at the docks. After a few minutes the driver came back and reported to the Duke that there was a ship about to leave for the West Indies. The Duke instructed for the ships captain to be fetched. By the time the captain arrived the Duke and a shivering Conri were standing next to the carriage. It was a short exchange in which the Duke convinced the captain that it wouldn't hurt to have two cabin boys on the ship. A purse clinked as it shifted between hands "see to it that the boy never sees these shores again!" Tying the fish together Conri reflected on his years at sea. The first Captain had fobbed him off to another captain while keeping the Dukes coins. His first couple of years at sea hadn't been easy. The captains hand being heavy if he'd felt that Conri was slacking. The pirates had struck mid day somewhere out along the southern trade route. Conri had hidden himself in behind several barrels near the galley during the fighting. He watched in horror as those who wouldn't swear allegiance to Pirate Captain Halloran were run through. Conri managed to not squeak as a rough hand grabbed him from behind while hollering out "what say ye captain what be done with this shrimp?" The captain, who to Conri's amazement was a woman, had stared at Conri for several moments before finally declaring a need for a new cabin boy. Eventually Captain Halloran started introducing Conri as her child when they made port, but at sea he was just another cabin boy and sailor with no special treatment from the captain. The only duty he'd ever gotten out of was galley duty as the cook barely tolerated anyone, including the captain, within the galley. The captain had been discussing the purchase of a second ship with her first mate when the storm had hit them out of the blue. Everyone on had scrambled to lash sails down, even the captain worked on securing hold doors and cargo. A calm came upon the ship, during which the captain called out names, it was obvious that over a third of the crew was missing. A sharp cracking sounded like gunshot and the captains face paled as the center mast splintered. Conri couldn't remember if he'd been shoved or if he'd dived for the jolly boat on his own. What he was sure of was that he'd ended up adrift in the jolly boat for a couple of days before a small squall had crashed the jolly and himself onto the island. The jolly took the brunt of the blow against the rocks and an exhausted Conri had managed to stagger the rest of the way to shore before the next set of waves could wash him back out to sea. The following morning a boat landed, the man on board said he was an estate aid to the Barbour family who'd wanted their land on the island inspected after the storm gave Conri passage to the main land, and pointed him towards the clerks office. While Conri registered himself with the town clerk he'd been able to honestly answer that he was no relation to the notorious pirate Captain Halloran, as he also honestly answered that he'd no clue where he was or how he'd gotten there. When it became evident that Conri could barely print his own first name let alone read any of the documents put before him the clerk had pulled the papers back with a grunt. They were replaced with two very simple documents which the clerk read out loud to him. The first granted him use of land at Coorinberg hill just south of the Von Haunt Estate. Furthermore if he could prove the land and maintain the taxes and other fees associated with it by the end of twelve years and a day past this date then the land would be his outright to pass on or sell as he wished. The second enrolled Conri at the local school, he was to attend all days that the school was open or the land grant would be revoked. "Tis the town councils decision that illiterate folk do not make the best citizens" the clerk explained. A Mr. Wallace who'd stopped in to pay taxes witnessed the papers for Conri before heading back out of the small office. Noting the suns position in the sky Conri decided he'd better head back up the road as someone would probably be waiting to great him and explain in greater detail the rules Windenburg township adhered to, and just maybe he could trade some of his fish for a meal. |