Episode X- Contraband
Ramza relaxed, allowing his breath out in one even exhale. “What is that?” He said in a tone more serious than he intended.
“I I I need you to hide this,” Caspian said, removing his hand from the bag. He stepped between Ramza and the only door.
Ramza considered inspecting it, but continued making the last of his rolls. If he didn’t put them in the oven soon then by the time they were finished everyone would be out of the city until nightfall. “Just tell me what it is, and what you need.”
Caspian kept one foot on the door, lunging to the table and struggled to open the burlap open. The sleeves of his forest green tunic were frayed and worn. “I need you to hide this, I found it in the forest.”
Ramza eyed something black fall out of it. The thing couldn’t have been larger than his forefinger. It took several moments for before it registered in his mind what it was. A knife. “Are you crazy? Or just stupid? I can’t hide this! You know what they’ll do if they find it on me?”
Caspian glanced back and forth, shushing him. “I I I know, I wouldn’t ask this unless it was important! Please Ramza!”
Ramza seethed. He opened the oven door, the heat hitting him full in the face. Contraband like this is what they put people to death for. The Shills would be a pleasant vacation. Lenthrad outlawed any kind of weaponry when Ramza was a child. The country of Tul’Dan was a peaceful country. Mostly. “I can’t. No.”
“I found it out in the forest when we were clearing!” Caspian picked up the black shard of a knife. “It’s still sharp! Look!” When the teenager drew his finger across the blade a bead of blood dripped down his thumb. “That doesn’t make me want to help anymore than before!” Ramza shook his head. “What even made you want to keep it? Doesn’t Fraaz normally take any relics you find in the forest?” Caspian nodded, “But I hid this one from him. I don’t know why... I thought it just looked cool.”
“You’re going to risk everything because it looked cool!” Ramza felt himself getting more and more frustrated with the teenager. He paced the floors of the kitchen as he considered... Surely there was something he could do. “Fine. I’ll take it. Just so you don’t accidentally do something stupid.”
A crooked smile crossed Caspian’s face. His green eyes glimmered, and Ramza thought the boy was about to cry. “Thank thank thank you you.” He crossed the room and wrapped his lanky arms around Ramza in a tight embrace. “I I I owe you one.”
Ramza pushed Caspian away at the ribs. The boys thinness was offputting. “How long has it been since you ate?”
“We-we-well Fraaz hasn’t paid us in nearly a span. So... I couldn’t tell you.” Caspian said wiping his eyes.
Ramza shook his head. Those damn frontiers think they can mistreat someone just because they need the work. Just as Ramza was about to offer Caspian a roll when they got out of the oven the door flexed. Ramza rushed to grab the black knife and barely had it inside the burlap as someone pushed their way through. Ramza had turned back towards the oven and slid the contraband into the front of his black linen trousers. “And that’s how you make cinnamon rolls, Caspian!” He stuttered, sparing a glance over his shoulder.
A short woman stood in the doorway with a puzzled look on her face. Bristol has shoulder length red hair and a grin that could ease out the last few coppers of the most pious priest. “What’s going on in here?” She said with the flair of knowing.
Ramza looked to Caspian who shrugged, “Nothing, really.” The pressure of the burlap against his waist itched at the base of his stomach. He couldn’t turn around, and made certain to not look her way. “just preparing for the day, like most do.”
“Aye, and you?” Bristol said with a soft voice too soft for anything innocent. She spoke with the playful daring of someone who knew the secrets of everyone around her. “Caspian, you wouldn’t hide anything from me. Would you?”
“I-” Caspian stuttered. Caspian always stuttered. But THIS stuttering was enough to battle a rooster who debated with itself whether or not it wanted to crow in the morning. Ramza turned to see Caspian turn as red as that same rooster before pushing his way out of the kitchen.
“You oughta know better, Bristol.” Ramza pointed towards the door, “You know he has a hard time speaking to you.”
“Oh does he?” Bristol arched an eyebrow, “And what have you got for me?”
Panicked, Ramza turned back to the oven, “Nothing!”
“What was it?” Bristol stepped around the table and tried to peek around him. Ramza adjust the burlap pouch to the side and felt it slide down the leg of his pantleg. “Come on! You can trust me! it’s not like i’m going to turn you in for having some extra Kiiniik.”
“It’s not Kiiniik.” Ramza looked at her plainly. He knew too many people who had their lives ruined by the deadly flower kiiniik. Crushed into a fine powder and highly addictive... “Would you just go away, I’ve got things I need to do.”
“I’ll go away if you just show me!” Bristol pleaded, tugging on the back of his vest.
“Okay, fine!” Ramza said, stepping out of her touch. He reached down for the burlap, “Are you ready?” When she nodded vigorously he began focusing. He reached his hand inside, steady and careful, grasping the blade. When he pulled his hand out he heard her gasp.
____________________________________________________________
I apologize for the delay! I had several problems of the document deleting so I had to rewrite several times. I try to post these episodes every week! I know that I have had some issues keeping up with the intended schedule. Hopefully things will calm down here soon. As always, thank you to any and all who read this. This content will continue to be free, available to all, here on Tumblr.
I do post writing advice over on www.patreon.com/Cody_Perkins , for free as well. I do have some tiers of available benefits for anyone who wants to add a monetary aspect to appreciation factor. Thank you all!