"The Revolt in Ashdale" Chapter 4: The Escape from the Manor

Anna barely closed her eyes for the rest of the night, even though the bracelet was now cool again and didn’t tighten around her arm. There was no danger nearby, but the excitement settled deep in her bones over what had happened and what could have happened.

She was up long before the first rays of the pale autumn sun pierced through the windows. She was steadfast in her decision; she packed a bundle with the most necessary items. The rest had to stay. Her fine travel chest, the book from Paul, and the clothes she wasn’t wearing or couldn’t fit in the bundle had to be left behind. She hoped Lady Elara would hide it in a safe place for her, for she sincerely hoped to meet the wise woman again, whom she might be related to? She didn’t know if she could truly believe her story. Time would tell, whatever it held in store.

She stepped out the back door before anyone else had awoken to their daily chores. She quietly closed the door and hurried down to the river. It still flowed the wrong way, foaming and growling, as if it wanted to say, “Do something about it.”

Anna walked along the path that the villagers used when fishing in the river. The path led to the mill – she had to get hold of Paul. She dearly hoped that Paul would come with her away from this place. But how could she convince him? After all, he was so happy to have become an apprentice miller.

She waited by the mill’s door. There was a small terrace with a bench, where she sat, from which she could see the river, the mill, and the miller’s house. It was a beautiful place, shielded to the north by lilac bushes. It must smell wonderful in spring. Now there were only a few worn-out leaves left in pale green and brown hues.

Anna nervously shifted on the bench. What if the miller came out first? What excuse could she give for being here? The miller despised idleness just as much as the Lord of the Manor, though he suspected the miller of laziness.

Now the door of the miller’s house opened, and a figure stepped out. He stretched in the doorway and then trudged with clattering clogs down towards the mill. It was Paul. She recognized his figure immediately. Her heart skipped a beat, or at least that’s how it felt. She jumped up and walked to meet him.

Paul was surprised. “Good morning, Anna! What on earth are you doing here at this hour? You should be kneading dough for the Lord’s rolls by now!”

“For that Lord, I will never bake rolls again,” Anna began her reply and then told Paul about some of the night’s events. She left out the story about her bracelet, her grandmother, and the supposed kinship with the King of Elyndor, the Queen, and Lady Elara. If Paul heard those stories, she thought, he would think the rest was exaggerated too and might refuse to help her.

“But Anna, those are terrible news! I’m so glad you managed to escape the Lord’s grasp. I’ll give that filthy scoundrel a piece of my mind! I’ll go to the manor and knock some sense into him!” Paul fumed with rage.

“Calm down, my friend. You will do no such thing, even if he deserves it,” said Anna. “I must leave this place, and my plea is for you to help me. My hope is that you will come with me, though I know it is much to ask.”

“Even though the Lord doesn’t deserve it, I’ll refrain for your sake. But the other thing, I can help with. The master arranged for me to drive the cart to Sailsbury this morning and sail to Elyndor with a load of ground flour. The cart is loaded and ready. I just need to fetch the horses and prepare.”

“But isn’t it dangerous? The flour must be spoiled like the rest of our food,” asked Anna, thinking of how the recipient in Elyndor might react.

“No,” said Paul, “we checked it, and strangely enough, this flour is still fresh and fine, as if the curse hasn’t touched it. And the miller says he doesn’t dare keep it here in Ashdale to bake bread, as the Lord is very greedy and would punish him severely.”

“Can the cart carry me as well?” asked Anna boldly.

“Yes, it surely can. You’ll sit on the bench beside me, and we can talk and watch all the strange things we’ve never seen before on our way to Sailsbury. We’ll sail too, did you know that, Anna? You were always a bit scared of it, weren’t you?”

“Sailing! Oh dear, I suppose I’ll have to, but as long as you’re by my side, it should be fine.”

Paul prepared the cart and horses, hiding Anna under the cover over the flour sacks so the miller wouldn’t notice her. The miller came down to the mill just as Paul finished and handed him a pouch of coins to pay for the shipping to Elyndor. He wished Paul “a good journey and return,” and Paul set the horses in motion.

Once they were some distance away and the road turned inland away from the river and behind a forest, Paul stopped the horses and lifted the cover on the cart. Anna peeked out and stood up, jumping over the backrest to sit beside him. Paul climbed up, and the journey continued.

After an hour of driving, they could glimpse the sea’s sheen, and a town appeared. It had to be Sailsbury, with its spires and towers.

It was a breathtaking sight, and the two young people were excited and joyful.

They soon reached the harbor, found the ship, and Paul paid the captain for their passage.

“But that only covers the cart, horses, and driver,” said the captain. “You’ve got a passenger with you. She must also pay for her journey!”

Paul blushed and thought he might have to disappoint Anna and leave her here in a strange town without anyone to protect her. He couldn’t allow that.

Anna had heard everything and stepped up to the captain, reaching into her pocket and pulling out a coin.

“Is this enough payment?” she asked.

The captain bit into the coin.

“Well, I should think so! It’s pure gold, probably too much,” said the captain apologetically.

“You can keep it,” said Anna, “if you make sure to provide a good meal for the driver and me during the voyage.”

The captain nodded. “Of course, that’s acceptable.”

Paul stood frozen. Had Anna just paid with gold? Where had she gotten it from? Had she stolen it from the manor?

They boarded.

Paul couldn’t wait any longer to ask.

“Anna, where did you get the gold? Did you steal it?”

“No,” laughed Anna. “Lady Elara helped me last night after she saw her husband’s wickedness toward me. She felt she had to do something good in return.”

Paul understood this and accepted it as an explanation.

Anna sighed with relief. She didn’t yet have to explain the bracelet’s powers to Paul.

They gazed out over the water, feeling the ship’s swaying movements as they sailed out of the harbor, setting course eastward.

According to the captain, they would arrive by evening, if the gods of the winds favored them.

Anna quietly thought about what she might find in Elyndor and how she would uncover the knowledge to break the curse. She leaned against Paul’s shoulder, and soon she was fast asleep.

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If you missed the Prologue and the first chapters, you can read them here: