Raphael gasped for breath as he sped as fast as his aching legs would take him, bound for anywhere but home. He had trudged on throughout the night, gritting his teeth through the pain of his protesting muscles. He was unaccustomed to running for any extended period of time, his pampered lifestyle paying him back as his lungs burned for air. He had to stop to catch his breath. He came to the crest of a small hill and finally stopped, easing his weary muscles into a sitting position.
He had thought that taking a moment to catch his breath would ease the pain, but now it seemed to flare as he was forced to focus on the daggers of pain that shot through his chest as his lungs starved for breath. At length, his breathing finally regulated and the pain in his muscles resigned to a dull ache.
He took a moment to examine the sweeping plains of grass and trees that lay on either side of the hill. His spirits rose when he noticed what appeared to be a small village off in the distance, a plume of smoke rising in the uniformity that suggested a nearby blacksmith and not an uncontrolled fire.
He rose gingerly to his feet, grudgingly leaving behind his brief respite. He could not allow his pursuers to gain too much ground. He had the lead, but with no horse, he would be easily caught if he wasn’t careful.
Raphael felt a strange mixture of relief and revulsion as he passed through the city gates. The village reeked of desperation and depravity. The buildings sagged with age, the people looked ragged and haggard, and a generally vile smell assailed his senses. Moving his coin purse into the folds of his tunic for safety, he pressed on into the city.
He had taken enough gold with him to afford a night at the inn and a horse to escape with the next morning. It seemed fortune hadn’t entirely abandoned him. They’ll never catch me, he thought, they’ll never see me again. A small smile ran across his face, though it wilted as a sudden realization hit him. I’m alone…
Although he had never been incredibly close to any of his family, when faced suddenly with the thought of being completely alone, he felt as though a piece of his heart had been torn out. If only I had been more careful! Raphael cursed himself.
He didn’t spend long in self-loathing before his blood began boiling in anger. His family had turned on him, not the other way around. And it would be they who regretted their foolishness, not him.
Raphael shook the thoughts away and returned his thoughts to the present. After wandering about the town for a bit, he found the local inn. The sign proudly displaying the lone letter “N,” as the others had apparently worn away long ago.
He pushed open the door, its hinges creaking loudly as he did so, and tentatively stepped inside. The commoners turned to look at him and seeing that he was an apparently rich noble, almost uniformly turned quickly away. A few eyes trailed on him and Raphael could almost see the coins dancing around the would-be thieves’ eyes. He barely had enough left to bother stealing. Taking a breath, Raphael approached the innkeeper.
“Evening, sir,” the bald and bearded man greeted him amiably. “What can I do for you?”
Raphael’s reply came in a rasp; he hadn’t had a drop to drink since he’d fled his family’s estate. “Do you have any spare rooms available?”
The man nodded, “Of course, sir. Just three coppers.”
Raphael smiled, handing the coins over to the innkeeper. “And perhaps a glass of ale?” he asked, sliding an extra coin onto the counter.
The innkeeper nodded again, taking the payment eagerly. “Your room will be the small room off to the left there,” he said, gesturing to a door on the far side of the inn. “And I’ll get you your drink in just a moment. Please, have a seat.”
Raphael thanked the man and took a seat at the counter, not quite trusting the inhabitants of the inn. Almost as soon as he took his seat, Raphael heard the creaking hinges of the inn door and the heavy clanking of armored footsteps.
Terror gripped him. He didn’t dare to turn around to confirm that they were the soldiers who were seeking him. His suspicions were confirmed in the next breath.
A man, presumably one of the soldiers, boomed, “We are here in search of a dangerous criminal. His name is Raphael Sorel. We will be posting a portrait of him here at the inn. If any of you see this man, alert us immediately. Any information will be rewarded generously.”
Raphael’s heart hammered against his chest in time with the soldier’s hammer as his portrait was hung upon the wall for all to see. Murmurs spread through the inn and all eyes turned to him.
Leaping to his feet, Raphael darted towards the guards, taking them by surprise. He crashed into one of them with his shoulder, running the man into the ground, and then bolted out the door. The sound of drawn steel rang in his ears.
His stiff legs protested mightily at the sudden flight, but he forced his body onward. Barreling into an alleyway, Raphael nearly trampled a small, grimy-looking girl who stood in the entrance. He apologized over his shoulder as he ducked off into a small alcove in the wall. He stood silently and hoped against hope that his hiding place would save him. It didn’t.
Within a minute, he heard a soldier’s voice, “Did you see a man come by this way?”
The small voice of the girl he had nearly run into at the entrance to the alley responded, “Yes, I did.”
Dread swept over Raphael as he awaited the words that would damn him. Instead of reveal him, however, the girl said, “I saw him go into the old book store. There’s an exit in the back.” A moment later, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps as the soldiers heeded the girl’s false advice.
Raphael stood motionless, scarcely daring to believe what had happened. The girl had saved his life. Stepping out from his refuge, he regarded her with a mixture of shock and awe. He had never owed his life to anyone before.
“Thank you,” was all he managed.
The girl grinned, “You’re welcome.”
Sweeping into a courtly bow, he introduced himself, “My name is Raphael Sorel. Might I ask yours?”
The girl giggled at the display. “I’m Amy, sir.”
Raphael smiled, “It has been a pleasure to meet you, Amy. I thank you again for your help. Now I must be on my way,” he said as he started towards the entrance to the alley, “You should be headed home, yourself.”
A shadow fell across Amy’s face. “This is my home,” she said weakly.
Raphael stopped in his tracks. “You have no home?” he asked, then the answer being obvious he amended, “Where are your parents?”
Amy shook her head, a tear welling in her eye. “Gone,” she whispered.
Raphael’s heart tore asunder. This girl who had saved him had no home and no family to look after her. She was alone in the world. Just like him. No, he resolved, she will have a family. I will be her family.
His mind made up, he knelt down beside her. “Amy,” he said, “No one should have to live alone, especially not in a place like this. Come with me, away from this wretched town. I will take care of you. I will be your father.”
Amy’s eyes misted and then brightened after a time of contemplation. A large smile spread across her face and she nodded. “I would like that, sir- father,” she amended.
Raphael stood, smiling. “Well then, let’s be off, Amy.” And then, adding her new surname, “Amy Sorel.”
