Chapter Four

Gideon fiddled with the sleeves of his tunic as he waited for his sister outside their home. The dark red tunic was old but it had been freshly washed just for the occasion. It was one of his sister Elizabeth's creations and she had gifted it to him on his fifteenth birthday, only two years ago. That automatically made it his favorite. Gideon generally had better clothes than most due to who his father was. When merchants came through the village enroute to one of the bigger towns or cities, Jesse would buy expensive rolls of silk and gift them to his wife. She would in turn make beautiful dresses for herself and Elizabeth – she was a gifted seamstress. On occasion, she would even sell back to some of the merchants and make a healthy profit. Her daughter had inherited her talent and took pride in making clothes for her bastard brother much to the chagrin of her mother. 

Elizabeth was a ray of sunshine. She never had anything bad to say about anyone, not even old drunk Sean who lived in a dingy hut at the edge of the village. Everyone loved her and she knew it. Most importantly, she knew how to leverage this fact to her advantage especially with her father and brother. Normally, Gideon hated going out to any place that had people gathering but all it had taken was Elizabeth's puppy-dog eyes and he'd agreed to accompanying her to the fair.

The door behind him opened and Elizabeth came out wearing a pretty yellow dress and a crown of lilies on her straw-colored hair. She ran over to him talking a mile a minute. Gideon could barely pick out what she was saying but he could tell she was excited by the way she grabbed his hands and began pulling him in the direction of the village square.

"Calm down, little sister" Gideon laughed as he crouched down to her height.

"I'm not little anymore" She protested folding her arms in defiance. "I'm thirteen!"

"And you will always be my little sister even when you're thirty" Gideon said. "It's the way these things work"

Elizabeth huffed and pulled her lips into a pout. "Not with me!"

Gideon laughed and ruffled her hair. "Even with you Beth. Even when you grow bigger and you become the most beautiful girl in this whole village"

"Even more beautiful than Jane?" She asked, her eyes wide. 

"Ten times more beautiful. Even then, you'll still be my little sister and I'll always protect you"

"Like my very own knight"

"Exactly. Like your own knight"

Elizabeth grinned. "I'll call you Ser Gideon the Great"

Gideon pulled himself to his full height and held a fist to his heart. "Yes, my lady"

Elizabeth laughed and clapped her hands delighted. "Escort me to the fair, Ser Gideon"

Gideon nodded remaining in character as he held out his arm and she grabbed it. With that, they started the short trek to the fair.

The fair was the second biggest affair in the year for the citizens of Mettledown, second only to the Harvest festival. The fair was put together by a travelling caravan of performers and merchants. They usually stopped by Mettledown on their way to Rulem. 

The performers were the stars of the fair. They had a large caravan painted with a violent combination of red, yellow and purple colors. The merchants had set up shop at specific areas all around the square for buyers who had been come to see the performers. It was a lucrative arrangement for both merchants and performers.

The square felt alive in a way that it never was on any other day. A large bonfire was burning brightly in the center of the square casting a red glow across everything in the square and there were a bunch of people dancing around the fire. Gideon recognized some of them as villagers but scattered among them were the unfamiliar faces of the performers. They were easily recognizable with their clothes. Like their caravan, it was all sorts of outlandish colors- red, violets and shades of orange that Gideon was not used to.

The performers had set up a small stage just in front of their performance caravan and a bunch of logs had been arranged to make seats for villagers to sit as they watched. Gideon spotted his little sister's blonde hair a few logs in front where she was seated with her two best friends – Lily and Esther. 

The current show was a narration of the famous story of the battle of Ashford and many of the villagers had sat down to listen. Even the merchants had their attention on the stage as many of their potential customers were seated amongst the audience. The Battle of Ashford was one of the more popular stories in the rebellion of Bard King and it was one of the few that did not have him as the central figure, instead it featured one of his generals a man known as Eleazar. Even Gideon's book – the Chronicles of the Bard King skimped on the details.

A hush fell across the gathering as the story began. The narrator, a man in green robes and bright red hair stood on the small raised stage in front of the performer's caravan. He had the classic voice of a narrator; it was deep and it carried easily across the square and it made you want to listen.

"In the dark days, when the wicked King Saul still ruled all of Aldar. His kingdom ran from the shores of the Blue Cove all the way south to the mountains to the borders of Valar. He was greatly feared. No man dared to stand against the tyrant king" 

There was no sound in the entire square except the voice of the narrator and the flickering sound of the bonfire. 

"Until there rose a brave bard by the name David. Annointed in the name of Yachwah, he gathered unto himself mighty men and together they stood against the tyrant king. And these mighty men fought well but they were but men. One day, they suffered a great defeat in the Hebron valleys and they retreated to Ashford by Nahor. The good people of Ashford accepted the mighty warriors of David and took them in. They gave them food and shelter and bade them to remain and regain their strength lest they die in the treacherous wilderness."

"So, the Bard King and his men rested in Ashford. But the tyrant king heard of this and he gathered a force of one thousand strong and mighty men. Men of war. And he sent them to Ashford. And he ordered them – Burn it. Burn it all!" He made his voice deeper as he attempted to mimic the Tyrant King. It had its intended effect as some of the children in the crowd held tighter to the skirts of their mothers. 

"When the people of Ashford heard of this, they were greatly distressed but the Bard King arose and spoke to them in the name of Yachwah and they were greatly encouraged. And so, the mighty men of David began to evacuate the people of Ashford past the Red Hills into the Lands of Nor. But the host of the tyrant king came near, their fires burning bright in the distance. Then David said, 'I will go alone and I will overcome' but his mighty men would not agree. For if the Bard King fell, then their rebellion would die. So Eleazar stood and said, 'I will go'. Many tried to convince him but he would not listen. His heart was set."

"Then the Bard King embraced him and blessed him in the name of Yachwah – May your spear strike true. May your heart beat true. And may Yachwah be with you. And so Eleazar rode to face the mighty host. He descended in their midst with the force of a hurricane and he slew every one of them to the last man with the edge of his spear for Yachwah was with him. As he slew the last man, he fell to his knee, his hands on the shaft of his spar. He cast his face to the heavens and wept for there was no life in him any longer. And so brave Eleazar took his last breath on the field of Ashford with one thousand foes surrounding him."

The entire square went quiet as the story ended. 

"That story always gives me chills" Gideon turned to see Elias standing behind him. His long blonde hair had a strange sheen in the light of the fire. He had a cup in his hands filled with what Gideon guessed was sweet wine from Blue Cove. One of the merchants always carried an extra barrel to sell to the villagers.

Gideon shrugged. "The narrator's good"

"I think it's because of the story."

"It's a myth"

"All myths have some truths to them" Elias said

"So, you think that one man faced a thousand men and came out on top" Gideon scoffed.

"If he had the blessing of Yachwah, then it is possible."

Gideon turned to him. He didn't consider himself a non-believer but there was a limit to what he did believe. Elias had been just like him until the first time he went to Rushford. He had come back spewing nonsense about some priest that he had met. "Have you been seeing those priests in Rushford again? I told you Elias, the church is nothing but trouble." 

The church of Yachwah were a group of well-meaning people but confused people who went around preaching a message of damnation to anyone that would listen. They claimed that Yachwah had turned his face away from the people and would visit them with hail and brimstone. Gideon's father thought they were lunatics and he agreed. They rarely came to Mettledown but they had a church in Rushford. 

Elias shrugged and took a sip from his cup. Gideon sighed and let his eyes roam around the square instead. The villagers had moved on to other things after the performance and started to look through the many wares that the merchants offered. He spotted a few boys he had grown up with paired up with girls, laughing as they led them around the square. His eyes settled on one of the boys – Silas and the girl in his arms, Jane.

"Is that Jane?" Elias asked following Gideon's eyes. "When did that start?"

"I have no idea" Gideon replied. He wanted to look away but he couldn't. As much as he denied it, he'd always liked Jane. No one could blame him. She was beautiful. Long blonde hair that fell to the small of her back and blue eyes like the clear skies. She was dressed in a deep blue dress that made her look like a princess. She had a smile on her face as she talked to one of the merchants selling jewelry. She turned to look at Silas nodding at a piece that Gideon could not make out but he could clearly make out the confident smirk on Silas' face as pulled out his coin bag.

"Ah I see" Elias said watching the scene. "The old moneybag method. I wonder why you didn't try that method. Your father is one of the richest men in this village"

Gideon tore his eyes from the couple and ignored his best friend. 

"You really should come with me to Rushford next time I leave." Elias continued. "Just last month I met this girl, Rachel. She makes Jane look like one of the old maids down by the creek"

"Just stop Elias" Gideon said softly. The young couple had left the jewelry stand and were making their way to another group of friends. Gideon recognized them all. They had all grown up together. Everyone in Mettledown had grown up together. 

"Okay" Elias replied just as softly. 

Maybe Elias had a point, it would be good for him to see outside of Mettledown sometimes in his life. Mettledown would always remain his home but it wouldn't hurt to see what was beyond the Mettlewood before he settled down and got married. He looked at Jane again, she was laughing at something Silas said. There was a twinkle in her eyes. She looked genuinely happy 

"When next are you going to Rushford?"

Elias turned to him surprised. "Are you serious?"

"I'm.... considering it" Gideon replied.

"Good! And all it took was Jane with another man" He shut up when Gideon turned to glare at him. "Master Anthony says we need to make a delivery at the end of this week"

Gideon nodded. His gaze turned once more to the group of friends. 

"Did you ever try talking to her?" He asked.

"We talk all the time" Gideon replied. 

"You know what I mean" Elias snarked. "Did you ever let her know how you feel?"

He was silent for a moment. "I didn't know how"

Even when they'd all been kids, Gideon had always been shy. Everyone else seemed to find it easy to express themselves and use the right words in the right situation but he had never had that kind of ease. He found it hard to even express himself outside the confines of his family and when he was able to gather up enough courage to speak to others, the words seemed to tangle up in his mouth and he would become a mess. He'd grown out of that stage in life but every time he spoke to Jane, he felt like that kid again. The shy bastard who couldn't talk. 

And now the one person he had feelings for was slipping through his fingers. 

"I think I should go home now" He could feel Elias' gaze on him. He clenched his fist and wondered if his friend pitied him and how pathetic he was being. He couldn't even talk to a girl. 

"There's no rush" Elias said. "You never know. Maybe he's just accompanying her here. There might still be a chance"

"There's no chance for anything" He replied. He could see the couple joining the dancers around the bonfire. She looked happy, the fire painted lovely red hues on her pale skin. Silas had a giant smile on his face. He couldn't blame him – he'd have the same smile if he had been the one with her. He clenched his jaw and turned away from them. "Silas is a good man. I'm sure he would take good care of her"

"But so could you"

"I'm a bastard" He watched his friend's eyes roll at that

"And you think anyone else cares apart from your father's wife?" Elias said. He stepped forward and grabbed his best friend's shoulders, blue eyes boring into black. "You're as much a child of Mettledown as any other. The blood of Judah is strong in you as it is in me"

He wrapped his arm around him. "Now come. Let's go find your sister in this mess and have some actual fun"

Later, Elizabeth and Gideon walked home together. The young girl dedicated the majority of the walk to gushing about the fair – the dancers, the jugglers, the mimes, the acrobatics, the actors, the singers, the musicians, the pyromancers and many more. Even after a few years of this, it all never ceased to amaze her. 

"Thank you for taking me to the fair" Elizabeth said smiling and gripping his hands tight as they drew closer to their home. He could see the lights through the window, father and mistress Elsa were still awake. They usually came to the fair as a family but ever since Eliab left, they'd stopped going altogether leaving Gideon and Elizabeth to go alone. 

Eliab was a sore topic in their household. He was the first-born son and it was tradition for the first born to follow in the steps of his father. Usually, he would inherit his father's trade. As a result, most families in Mettledown had businesses or trades that spanned back generations. Eliab had been the perfect son. He was tall and strong. He had all the charisma that Gideon always wanted to have but never had. He looked like the son of his father and he knew how to work the farm, how to talk to the workers. He was his mother's golden child. Until one day, he disappeared with nothing but a note on his pillow saying he was headed to Kanaan to make something of himself.

He had left his mother heartbroken and his father hollow. Their pride and joy had disappeared, abandoned them and all they had left was a daughter and a bastard. It had certainly increased Mistress Elsa's dislike of him. Afterall, with Eliab gone he was next in line to inherit the farm and everything that came with it.

"I was happy to, Elizabeth" he said with a small grin. "It was very fun"

"Are you sure?" She asked. She was biting her bottom lips, something that she only did when she was nervous about something.

"Yes. I'm sure" He wasn't lying. Elias had forced him to have a drink of the sweet Norish wine that some of the merchants were selling and then he had dragged him to dance around the bonfire. He'd partnered up with a younger girl named Mara. She was beautiful in her own way – nowhere near Jane but she had been good company. She had even kissed him on the cheek after their dance. 

The door to their home opened and the raised voices of his father and step-mother filtered out through the portal.

"He's your only son!"

"He's not!"

"He's your only trueborn son" His stepmother's tone was biting. "You have to go"

"I don't have to do anything. He left on his own accord. I will not respect someone who did not have the guts to look me in the eye and tell me he was leaving." His father's voice was equally as biting and bitter.

"Our family needs to be represented there. He still has your name and he is still your heir"

"I'm too busy. The farm needs tending to"

"Then let the bastard do it. I could start preparing. Me, you and Elizabeth. We could be gone by tomorrow"

Elizabeth tightened her hold on Gideon's hands. "Maybe we should come back later." She turned in the direction of the fair. "Some people are still dancing. We could find that girl you were dancing with it"

But it was too late. Their father appeared in at the door just then and he frowned as he caught them standing outside the house.

"Were you eavesdropping?" 

"No" Gideon quickly said. "We didn't hear anything"

"Papa, are we going somewhere?" Elizabeth asked at the same time and Gideon winced.

"So. you were eavesdropping" Their father said, the lines on the face drawing even tighter as he frowned. "Elizabeth, go meet your mother. I want to talk to your brother"

Elizabeth looked at him and he nodded at her. Permission granted, she let go of his hands and walked quietly past her father into the house. Gideon could make out his step-mother's face standing some distance behind his father before he shut the door. 

"Let's take a walk" His father said.

In truth, he was exhausted but his father's tone brokered no room for argument so he simply nodded. 

"How was the fair?" 

It was a strange question. The fair was always good but Gideon answered. "It was fine"

"Did you dance with Jane?" Gideon's face flushed and he stumbled, prompting his father to start laughing. "Did you think I wouldn't know which girl my son fancied?"

"I don't fancy her" He retorted weakly and his father snorted in response.

"It's okay. She's beautiful and from a good family. So, did you dance with her?"

He shook his head in response. "She had company."

"Ahh. I remember what it was like being your age. You think one girl is the only one for you. Then you grow up."

"Was Mistress Elsa always the woman for you?" He asked carefully.

His father laughed. "Oh no. Deus! No. We hated each other growing up. I had my own childhood sweetheart. Most beautiful girl I ever met" A strange smile came across his father's face. "I always thought I would marry her"

Gideon took a shallow breath, "Was she my mother?"

The smile disappeared off his father's face and a guarded look settled in its place. It was always like this when he asked of his mother. "No, she was not. She died when we were much younger."

"I'm sorry" 

"No, I'm sorry. Every boy wants to know who his mother is and I have denied you of that all your life" The lines on his face grew more pronounced as he spoke and he suddenly looked much older than his age. "It is for good reason. I need you to trust me on that"

"Is she alive?" Gideon asked. His voice sounded choked even to him.

His father was quiet for a moment contemplating in silence before he finally settled on an answer. "Yes."

Gideon let out a breath he didn't know he had been holding and suddenly more questions came rushing out. "Where is she? Where does she live? What is her name? What did she look like?"

Already, his father was shaking his head. "I don't know where she is. She was always secretive like that. As for her name, it is best you don't know. At least not yet"

And just like that, the rug was pulled from under his feet. He felt like he'd been given air after drowning for so long and it was snatched back from him. Gideon felt a rush of emotions flowing through him all at the same time – sadness, hurt, pain, love and most of all, hate. Hate for his father for not telling him who his mother was. For not even telling him how she looked like and most of all, hate for his mother for abandoning me.

From a young age, he had quickly learnt the meaning of the word – bastard. He'd learnt it before his own name. It had even become a nickname when he was younger. The Bastard of Mettledown. It had hurt at first but he had learnt to accept it. He had learnt that it was his position and there was nothing he could do about it. He was the child that should not have existed. He was the product of his father's lust. And slowly, the hurt and pain that came with the name had faded.

But the longing for his mother had never left. He knew precious little about his mother. He didn't even know what she looked like. He would often look himself in the mirror and wonder which of his features he got from her but unfortunately, he was the very image of his father.

"Why?" He asked. He could already feel the sting of unshed tears in his eyes. "If not now. Then when? I'm seventeen years. I'm already a man fully grown"

His father shook his head sadly. "I will tell you soon. One day." He grasped his son by the shoulder. "But regardless of that. You are my son. Blood of my blood. Blood of Judah." Black eyes met grey. "You are my son"

Gideon nodded, pushing his emotions back burying them in the abyss of his mind.

His father sighed in relief and nodded. "I take it you heard what me and Elizabeth's mother were arguing about"

"Eliab?" Gideon asked

"Yes. Your brother." He answered. "Abinadab was in the capital earlier this month. He brought with him a message from Eliab"

Gideon perked up. He had not heard from his brother since he left.

"What did it say?" 

"He's getting married"

Gideon's eyebrows shot up. "Eliab? Are you sure?"

"I said the same thing but it's in his hand. You can't fake that kind of writing. Deus. I paid a small fortune to teach him how to read and write and he writes like a chicken scratching the ground"

Gideon chuckled a bit. It was hard to but he couldn't stop if he tried. Eliab's handwriting was that horrific. His father smiled. 

"So, Eliab is getting married" Gideon said. "What is the problem?"

"He has invited us" He replied. "It is at the end of the next month"

"Invited you to Kanaan?" He asked

"Yes"

"What about the farm? And the sheep?" Gideon asked. His father had some workers working under him but one did not simply trust someone to run their business. 

"I said the same thing" His father said with a chuckle. "So, I can't go"

"Eliab will be sad. Family means everything to him."

"Then he shouldn't have left the family" His father retorted. Clearly, he was still bitter about his first son's sudden departure. "But nevertheless, he is still my son. As are you. So, I'm sending you in my place"

"What?" 

"You will deliver a message in my name and you will stand in my place at his wedding"

"Father?" Gideon stuttered. "I've never even been to Rushford"

His father waved his hands in dismissal. "I plan to ask the blacksmith boy, what was his name?"

"Elias" Gideon supplied.

"Yes. Elias. I planned on asking Elias to escort you. He has some experience on the road and Anthony his master owes me a few favors. Plus, it's an opportunity for you to see the world. The world out there is different from Mettledown"

"Have you been to Kanaan?" He asked curiously.

"Yes. When I was a boy. It was never my scene. I like my farm. The quiet of Mettledown. With good people doing honest work. The big cities like Kanaan, Rulem. They are a cesspool for backstabbers and thieves" His father shook his head. "I had hoped Eliab would realize that as well"

Gideon nodded. He didn't understand but he nodded. 

"So, what do you say?" His father asked him.

He was already planning on asking his father for permission to go on a trip to Rushford. This just made things easier. Kanaan was probably a better place to visit than Rushford anyways and he'd still pass through Rushford on his way there.

"Yes" He replied.