19

"You can't kill them." said the huge man with a full beard named Sammy. He was warily looking at the man glaring down at the three people sprawled on the floor. They are in varying degrees of pain and were all tear stained. It is visible that the three men already suffered immense pain yet the reason for their suffering remained unmoved.

A big man in his mid-thirties, with blonde hair and blue eyes was looking at them with no remorse. He was sweating, heaving with exhaustion from punishing the fools who dared to steal one of his properties. The chilling expression on his face could easily traumatize someone. His knuckles were dyed red from the blood of the men on the floor.

"Bring Joseph in. I want these fools branded and half of their ring finger," the man paused, thinking. "Have him cut half of their left finger." he added without any mercy for the men passed out on the floor.

"Where should I send them after?" Sammy asked flinching from the thought of losing any part of his limbs. He noted to never offend the blonde man unless he wanted to die a slow death.

"Quarry." the man gruffly replied before leaving the room.

"Should I let Dickens know?" Sammy asked in a hurry. The district 5 head like to be up to date about the goings and comings of the district. Punishments like cutting body parts usually involved the head's approval. After all, the productivity of the individual could be affected by it.

"Get Joseph and don't make me repeat myself." and the man walked out of the room without a glimpse He did not even mind the blood splatter on his immaculate white shirt. The sight would cause fear among the inhabitants of the district and most of all to the people directly working under him.

Arthur was known to be a violent man who didn't care about the rules and laws enacted in the district. The only law he upholds is the law against killing. However, the man would resort to maiming his victims as a punishment. It is more devastating than being killed. Dickens, his older brother and the head of the district, tolerated his actions. It instilled fear in the citizens, somehow benefiting the head in a twisted way.

The pleasure pub that Arthur managed was the most frequented pub in the area and would often be visited by the other districts. The man owned the most attractive whores in all districts and each one of them were treated well if they managed to meet their quota. Despite being violent, the man was reasonable enough to maintain the pleasure pub and make it successful.

Sammy sighed in defeat. There are going to be a lot of changes in the pub in the next few days. He could already guess that Arthur would ban renting out the whores. It would mean extra work for them since they have to face the wrath of their patrons.

He has been working for the man for a long time. He had seen things that could make someone throw up or pass out. For a minute there, he worried for the man who took in the whore that the three men stole. Even though the gold coins they got from passed out men was enough for the missing whore, Arthur won't take it too kindly. He never experienced being taken from, and this is the first time.

All he can do is wish the Hermit a little luck and hope the man won't make a visit in their district for a long time.

***

Tahlia is struggling. She is being tested every single day by the grinning man currently fanning the fire pit. It is taking a whole morning; whatever it is he was trying to do. She set out early in the morning to hunt some game, and just came back from the short trip. The wild chicken she hunted was already cleaned and ready to cook. The weather is hot today and she decided to cook the meat outside her dwelling. But for whatever reason, Langdon thought it would be fun to waste hardwood. Maybe he was practicing his hand on the few things she taught him about starting a fire. However, she was starting to worry when she saw a noticeable chunk of firewood gone from her pile.

"What are you doing?" she could no longer take the displeasure, so she approached the excited man. Some things inside her dwelling were also moved. A bunch of utensils were on the small dinner table, ready to be used.

"I thought you were not going to ask. I am making us some soap." he exclaimed, fanning the flames once again. It was already hot, and he was making it worse with the fire pit's heat emanating around the area.

The forest, its massive trees offered them a lot of shade, but the air today is too hot for comfort. It is common that is why she made a small cooking area on the right side of her dwelling a yard away. She got no backyard since the dwelling was built on the side of a gigantic smooth rock.

"I have soap inside." she said in a frown. He is wasting firewood over something that is already supplied and well stock. And speaking of soap, she remembers how they made their escape when the grizzly decided to move upstream, leaving them alone. It was fortunate that the animal was not that hungry and moved up the river after catching a fish or two.

"The soap you are using is so harsh on the skin. I'll make one that is good for you. You have nice skin, just a tad dry." He grinned, fanning the fire pit one more time. If he is making soap, then he might be collecting the ashes hence him feeding the fire pit with her hard-earned firewood.

"Since you wanted to waste my firewood, you might as well cook the chicken." She lifted the clay pot sitting on the small table next to the fire pit. After placing the pot over the fire, she left him alone. The chicken was already seasoned and just needed to be cooked.

It has been four days since they arrived in the dwelling. Another day to let Langdon settle in while she catches up with her chores. The man was clever enough to shadow her movements, learning along the way.

She looked around the shrubbery and the thick trees in the distance. The thick foliage reminds her of the things she needed to harvest. In the eastern side of her dwelling, in the center of the oak trees, she planted a few sweet potatoes. The trees in this part of the island tend to grow in clusters, and species. They served as a good landmark. It has been more than 90 days since she planted the root crop. It should be ready by now.

"Are you going somewhere?" she whipped her head around and found Langdon holding one of her many pots in his arms. He was dirty and smeared with soot. The tunic he was wearing was a little smaller on him, but he weirdly looked good in it. It is her clothes, but he fits in them just fine. The pants he was donning are a lot shorter on him though. She is torn, she is thinking if she would have to include his wardrobe in her list of necessities. He is only going to stay for a few weeks. The thought makes her second guess everything.

"I am going to harvest some of the root crops I planted." she explained. The last few days, the man was accompanying her doing some of her chores. She also handed him a detailed map of the place. It was sufficient to say that he was learning a little.

Also, handing him the detailed map did not make her uncomfortable. You can say that she has trusted him a little.

"Let me go with you." he excitedly offered. She forgot to tell that he has been enjoying all the little excursions they did days ago. He said it made him feel free and in control of himself. Langdon is adapting to the place more quickly than she can imagine.

She gave him a disappointed look, like he just said something ridiculous. "No. Cook the chicken while you are making whatever it is you are making. I'll be quick." She dismissed the man and proceeded to walk east.

Tahlia wouldn't admit it but having the man around is a good distraction, and the chores were a lot easier to accomplish. What is difficult is her act of hiding her real identity. All in all, everything is manageable.