Reputations

"What is the meaning of this?!" Came a stern voice behind the crowd causing many to flinched due to fear. The voice of authority made many disperse knowing they were lingering too long.

Some of the other villagers turned their heads seeing a circle of men who did not seem pleased with such a public gathering. Randel's father stood around the others looking disappointed how his son stood there like a fool not handling the body that was sprawled on the floor.

"Disperse. Immediately!" Came the command of Randel's father making the crowd disappear almost instantly not wanting to cause any trouble.

"Forgive us Mr. Santi." A villager commented toward Randel's dad giving him a sincere nod. The councilman didn't say anything dismissing the villager noting how some left the seen too slowly for his liking.

Evan Santi was once the most powerful man who walked the streets of this small community making him have an extremely high amount of respect from the people. However, even Evan had one person who looked at him as though he was the enemy. And that one person was no one other than his own son.

Randel was relieved to see his fellow councilmen come and rid the crowd from his house, but he knew that his worries were not quite over. The fact that a woman was found dead at his doorstep would cause quite an alarming amount of rumors especially since Sophia had reacted the way she did with total shock not wanting him to comfort her. He could only imagine the kind of gossip that was bound to start.

"What happened here son?" Evan asked snapping his son out of his own thoughts.

Randel stared into his fathers eyes trying to calm his racing heart. The old man had a stern look across his face almost disappointed at the scene his son was a part of. But this didn't make Randel happy not liking the old man to speak to him as though he was still a small child.

"She came to speak to me and just collapsed. I have no idea what came over her. She has been ill for some time." Randel quickly explained deciding not to go into detail as to what was said. Although villagers left, he knew some of the ears could still hear at this distance.

"Hmmm." His father replied leaning over the body of a woman he once considered a special friend. Evan's face softened and he seemed to show an emotion Randel had never seen before.

"Someone needs to take care of this body with proper care. Now!" Evan said with distaste not happy that she was on the ground for too long.

He gently touched her cold face that seemed so lifeless. He remembered a time when he once thought about proposing to the woman, but he was too late when he learned of her engagement to another. His days he often thought of the 'what if's' when it came to Ruby.

Another councilman came around Evan lighting the body in a gentle manner waiting for further instruction as he looked at the older man. This action did not make Randel happy as he did not like others to not go to him first for advice. He was the head councilman now!

Evan quickly told the man where to take the body of Ruby before looking back at his son with anger lingering behind his cold eyes.

"We need to send her to the village doctor. He'll need to investigate so no rumors spread concerning you. I mean, look at your attire Randel! What were you doing exactly? Do you expect anyone to believe you were being chaste dressed so along side the body of the dead woman. I know you have desires boy, but to appear like you acted on something so devious is disgraceful! You could lose your title! And you could damage the reputation of Ruby!"

Randel gritted his teeth refusing to answer his father. There was a time when he once blindly followed the old man and admired him, but the time had long since past and there would be no return. All Randel wanted was respect now and wanted his father out of the way.

"Calm down. Randel obviously wasn't doing anything with this sickly woman. We just need to take care it quickly and try to deflect the circumstances. We want the people to think we have everything under control." Another councilman said placing his hand upon the fathers shoulder.

Randel quickly excused himself deciding to visit the town doctor not wanting to be surrounded by the idiot council. Today was not his day and to make matters worse, he couldn't take the perfect opportunity to comfort Sophia!

He walked for a moment avoiding eyes of villagers as he reached another home of someone he could complain to. Randel didn't even knock as he walked into the house making his way to the doctor's exam room.

"I was caught looking improper in front of the village with this woman. Rumors could damage many things for me! My father insinuated me taking advantage of the body once she had died." He mumbled leaning his back against the cold wall taking in a long deep breathe. Randel was comfortable in the doctor's residence knowing the man was the only devoted follower he had that would never betray him.

But even that didn't make Randel consider the man a friend.

"You mean it could damage a relationship with Sophia." Jason chimed in grinning with amusement.

Randel scoffed not wanting to hear another man say the name of the girl he was attracted to. Jealousy overcame him whenever the mention of the girl was brought into conversation by anyone and he knew he needed to clarify at some point she only belonged to him.

"I need to look good in front of the people Jason! I need you to fix this as soon as possible! I obviously have my needs met by women, but I would never be with someone as disgusting as Ruby Red!"

"Calm down Randel, it looks like her body gave out due to her sickness. You can spin the story to make it look like you rushed out of your home to help without regarding your appearance. Women love that sort of thing!" The doctor said putting down his medical tool looking toward the man who had a temper. He then turned looking at his friend smirking. "Sophia would love to hear about you trying to rescue her mother that is."

Randel pondered his words knowing it was true that Sophia could see the good in the situation since she didn't give much attention to village gossip, but the memory of the council resurfaced making his anger reappear.

"I'm surprised you would be attentive to Sophia if you consider Ruby such an unworthy person." Jason said snapping Randel out of his thoughts.

The councilman laughed slightly to himself before saying, "Sophia is different for many reasons."

"Because of her beauty?" The doctor asked with sarcasm. It was known Sophia was a beauty and many men would overlook her living circumstances.

"I'm afraid the council saw the display as well." Randel said changing the subject wanting to not speak about Sophia any longer than necessary with Jason. "And my own father was the one questioning everything making things far worse for my credibility as the head council! I have outranked him and he still feels the need to put me down. I don't know how to handle him anymore."

"Hmmm." Jason hummed walking over to the counter to put his gloves in the shelf. "Your father doesn't have any say when it comes to disgracing the title and position. It's hypocritical in my opinion."

Randel raised his brow curious to what the doctor meant. And at the same time, Jason seemed to look pale as though he said something he wasn't suppose to.

"Explain." He demanded making Jason flinch.

"The night Ruby's husband died, I was to examine his body. Your father isn't as honest as he appears to be to you or the villagers Randel." Jason sighed looking off into the corner remembering the awful day. It seemed like yesterday he had to look at the remains of Tallkin and his body torn apart.

"Tallkin Red was brought here and I found marks of foul play when I examined him. I even had to double check not wanting to mistake the results. But your father requested that I say it was an accident once I disclosed my findings. I always knew the councilman had an attraction for Ruby, but to take the life of her husband? He really did something disgraceful in my eyes."

Randel kept quiet pondering over what he heard. First, he was surprised his worthless father even found the Red woman desirable. Second, would the man truly kill his rival?

"You believe Tallkin was killed by my father?"

Shrugging and looking back to the head councilman, Jason said, "I can't say for sure. But I can say he asked me to lie. Tallkin Red was a handsome man who had very strong opinions against the council. It's a mystery why Ruby fell for the man since they were somewhat opposite. But she somehow loved him dearly and became sick shortly after his death. Some say she couldn't live without him and that's why she couldn't be cured even with medicine I provided her."

"You may have solved an issue concerning my father Jason. Thank you." Randel's smile broaden as he made his way out of the home deciding to have a chat with the old man.

Randel had thought of ways to rid of his fathers menacing ways dozens of times before. The man didn't want him to become involved with the politician lifestyle, yet his own father was corrupt making it easy to blackmail him into getting rid of the seer woman.

He strolled calmly and confidently knocking on the home of his father.