The village men took off their hats and the women bobbed curtsies in deference. The young girls threw flowers that were supposed to be for the June festival. Everybody except the stars of the parade looked rather glum.
Then Gale, thanks to his unusual height, detected someone in the parade who looked so distressed and melancholy and familiar, and suddenly with an impressive sway of his arm, he covered Michaela’s petite size with his blanket-like cape. He put on the hood over his golden brown hair and hurried themselves off away the parade.
“But I am not done watching, Gale!”
“Now’s not the time, Theodore!”
Theodore quickly clamped his mouth as Gale never raised his voice or looked this anxious before. He was practically carrying his mother off her feet in the direction to the pharmacy.
Meanwhile, riding a white saddled horse, Abram Soussiere saw his friend hurrying away from the crowd. Next to him, stood a pot-bellied, hard featured captain in an even more ornate, splendid suit, riding a saddled horse.
“Soussiere, is there anything that catches your eyes?”
“Nothing, my liege.”
Abram continued to escort the major to the provincial courthouse that was in reality a private saloon in the town’s largest, finest tavern, Winterdale. Only the highest ranking magistrates, officers, and public figures were able to reside in this luxurious abode, and many people were curious as to what kind of political intrigue occurs within this tavern with beautiful stained glass windows, glistening with bright orange and light airy blue.
Abram, his superior, and the leader of the mercenaries, called the Queen’s Rangers, entered a suite that was in the second floor of Winterdale. Soon the three were seated on fine leather furniture with velvet cushions embroidered with fantastic flourishes of gold. The major of the British naval regiment was puffing on his pipe, with the Hulder Apothecary’s region-famous “Midnight.”
The only individual who seemed out of picture in this tasteful setting was the slovenly dressed man who got several bruises on his face, Denny Smith of the Queen’s Rangers. He yowled aggressively as one of his men applied some witch hazel to the scrape on his nose and inhaled at least two cups of strong midnight. He explained his injury as due to some “crazy she-bitch,” but his jaw hurt so much that he couldn’t put on his pipe.
The major said in a lackadaisical tone as he kept puffing.
“Soussier, tell that good friend of yours, the Hulder medicine man to give me at least six satchels of these. So exquisite. And look at this.” The pot bellied major exhaled a puff. “The smoke looks so wispy like vapor. And the odor reminds me of daffodils. Pure witchcraft. Haha, please don’t accuse me of blasphemy. But I only say what it is.”
Lying back on the sofa with his long, finely knuckled fingers intertwined, Abram looked at his major, deep in thought. His mind was still clear as he didn’t imbibe this bewitching mix. He continued.
“About that, captain. I ask you to not forget the purpose we’re spending our precious time here. We’ve received news from our counter intelligence that a firebrand subject planted his man in this area, leaking our men’s secrets. It is imperious that we have our man or woman.”
“I know, I know. But we can at least relish in this sorcery before we subject any possible rebel spy to interrogation. It seems that your friend, Gale, is the only one who makes this place worthy of the gilded title, ‘New World.'”
“Captain.”
All eyes were turned to Denny who didn’t show any interest in the conversation about the British troops’ search for this rebel spy until Gale emerged as the subject of interest. Abram’s marked brow and flashing dark eyes showed contempt for him but the major merely corked his white brow in encouragement to continue.
“Clearly Hulder is responsible for challenging his majesty! I mean, his woman suddenly attacked me, and you know, Sir, of my uncompromising loyalty to the crown of the Americas and England. I urge you to arrest him and torture him with hot running needles until he confesses.”
“I implore you to not rush into judgment, captain.”
Idly twirling the mouthpiece of his pipe side to side in his mouth, the major spoke to Abram.
“The records state that you’ve entered the royal academy when you were thirteen. Was Gale Hulder born here in Fullgreens?”
“No, sir.”
“Then we cannot exclude the possibility that Gale is part of the rebel forces. If he is not native to Fullgreens, who knows where he came from. Any relations?”
“An elder sister, sir. She lives in London. Her name is Octavia and she is of excellent society.”
“Hmm, depending on how it goes with Gale, his sister might not be safe either. Treason is an intergenerational crime. All progeny and relations are to be executed.”
“Major, I stand on rightful grounds for accusing this treacherous Hulder. I beseech you to lend me your hearing ear.”
“Here, I will give you Soussiere’s, how’bout that? I am fatigued and in need a bit of a lie down. Inform me when you have a solid case, not mere conjectures.”
The major stood up, almost lurching forward with his weight, and left the suite, leaving behind a seething ranger and the cool, detached captain of the second navy regiment.
Abram bent over, the tips of his defined fingers that held guns and sabers on the glossed mahogany coffee table. Flashing his perfect teeth in a refined smile he learned to wield in the courts, Abram made solid eye contact.
“So, monsieur Smith, do enlighten me of this discovery you made. So you have our man?”
His voice was like fragrant oil flowing from a glass flask. With a look of utter disgust, Denny drew back and barked.
“I’m fine, thank you!”
Abram chuckled, putting his two hands up in mock defeat.
“Why, Monsieur, what was I to do? Scare our possible suspect of treason? Plant a seed of suspicion by defending you? You can’t be serious. I apologize for in any way upsetting you. Now is the chance for you to finally avenge your honor. Tell me.”
At least, Westley’s anger went down a notch and he replied gruffly.
“I approached that wretch, telling her that she was different from these bucks.”
“Bucks, sir?”
At his inquiry, Denny grumbled begrudgingly.
“I can’t help it. I’m from Southampton!”
Abram just scoffed, looking at Westley with his expressive dark eyes that seemed to emit different colors depending on the light. His attention to his words reasonably quelled Westley’s temper, so he continued.
“Well, that Hulder wretch said that they were not bucks. She clearly has views that oppose Europe’s political constitution.”
“I see…the political constitution…Anything else?”
“That’s it. Since she showed anti-Empire sentiments by siding with the negroes, she must be the rebel spy we got our intelligence about. If it wasn’t for my quick wit and acumen, we could have been on the platter!”
“Hmm.”
Abram leant back on the leather sofa, closing his eyes meditating upon Westley’s words, his arms crossed. He finally opened his eyes, burning in a renewed sense of determination.
“I don’t believe you, sir. But you may arrest Gale Hulder.”
“Huh?”
“Go ahead, have him on house arrest. Station your men outside his store. Forbid any entry or infiltration. Wait for me till I get my search warrant. Then you may have him to your heart’s content. But do keep him conscious enough for further interrogation.”
Abram raised his tall, slender body from the sofa, but the ranger sat frozen, his mouth gaping in surprise at this unexpected turn of fortune. Abram raised his eyes.
“You seem surprised, sir.”
“I mean, my dear captain, I am beyond pleased, but can I ask you why you changed your mind?”
“I never changed my mind. I’ve always meant to serve the cause of the crown and the interests of the empire.”
“But, captain, you said you didn’t believe in me!”
Sighing, Abram sat back on the sofa and shot him a look of reproof at the man who couldn’t believe his sheer luck.
“No I don’t. But this is my chance to elevate my ranks to first captain of the navy. If I get a hold on a possible suspect, this would greatly catapult my social chances. Hometown friend or not, that is not important to me.”
“But still…”
Denny flinched, almost biting his tongue as Abram suddenly approached him really close. He could feel the heat emanating from his towering frame that is used to standing on top of grandiose ships and in command of sparkling lines of suits and armor.
In a low, menacing voice, Abram carefully spat each word.
“Look, Smith. If you really want complete frankness, I will give you one. You called my men goats and my women “bucks.” Well, I can’t blame you. I do that too. Just not to my people, but to suckling ewes like you.”
Westley gulped and Abram continued.
“Fool, we lived at different ends in the same village. When my sisters lived as laundry maids and midwives to the scullery girls on the other side, he made money off by selling questionable drugs and didn’t even turn his nose. I’ll be damned, if Hulder is all what is needed for me to get my family from this God forsaken place, I will gladly let a hundred Hulders perish under the gallows. I will string ropes around his neck myself, if I have to! Do you even know how I feel leaving my sisters in this land without my counsel or protection?”
There was a momentary silence which Denny broke with caution.
“But, captain, what would be proof?”
“The proof of his disloyalty to what you call Europe’s ‘political constitution’ is far than enough.”
“Then sir, I shall be expatriated immediately.”
“Yes, and do not leave the man till I come with a warrant.”
“Yes, sir!”
Westley, scrambling to his feet, making haste to rally his rangers while Abram turned to a small desk and pulled up his feather ink pen.
***
(A loud rapping on the door)
“Gale Hulder, you are to be arrested for siding with the rebel forces and committing treason against his Majesty, the crown of England!”
Hulder Tales 