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Fox Tales

Hayden the Driver (Part 2)

Hayden the Driver (Part 2)

Jul 27, 2017

  Hayden spun around at the sound of a twig breaking. Behind him stood a woman holding a basket

"Guard! Guard!" she shrieked. Hayden jumped to his feet and signaled for the woman to hush.

"Quiet, quiet! I am not a guard," he whispered.

"What other man carries such a blade?" replied the woman, pointing to at the weapon in question. Hayden sighed.

"I do not mean any harm," he said

"Then why are you here?"

Hayden furrowed his brow. He motioned for the woman to crouch down and showed her over to the window. The woman peeked inside where the thieves were still trying to open the chest.

"I need to deliver that chest to the king," Hayden explained.

The woman pursed her lips. "I do not see why you even bother. I imagine the king and his family already own many fantastic things. The princess herself probably has enough dresses to clothe an entire kingdom."

"That may be so, but I am sure to be in trouble if I do not retrieve that chest," Hayden explained. The woman sighed.

"In that case, you are going to need help," she said. Hayden held out his hand. The woman shook it.

"Hayden."

"Alica."

"Got it! "

Hayden and Alica turned their attention back to the window. One of the thieves had found a large and heavy hammer.

Using all his might, the thief raised the hammer. Hayden ran to the door and knocked. The thieves froze. The one wielding the hammer quietly set it down.

They waited a while before they dared try raising the hammer again. But before the thief get a chance to strike the chest, someone knocked again.

This time one of them went over to the window. Hayden and Alica ducked into some brushes.

"Do see anyone?" asked the other thief.

"No."

The one by the window went over to the door. He opened it and stepped outside.

"Who is there? " he called out.

"Good evening sir!"

The thief jumped at Alica's voice. She smiled innocently and held out her basket.

"Forgive me sir. I did not mean startle you. I only wanted to sell some bread," said Alica.

"I do not want any," replied the thief.

"Are you sure? Perhaps there is someone inside who would like some?"

Alica pushed him aside to get a look inside. The second thief quickly ran to the front door and blocked her view.

"Fine, fine, we will buy your bread if you leave right away," he said, leading her away from the cabin.

"Certainly! Now how many loaves would you like?" asked Alica.

"Just one."

"One?" Surely the both of you would like more than one measly little loaf."

As Alica and the thieves talked, Hayden quietly snuck into the cabin.

"Now how am I going to get it out of here?" he wondered. He went over to the chest and pushed it towards a window. Hayden struggled to lift it, but gave up when he realized that it wouldn't fit through.

Hayden sighed. He was going to have to go through the front door. Grabbing hold of one of the brass handles, Hayden dragged it across the dirt floor.

He paused once he got to the door. Alica eyes widened once she saw him, but kept her composure. She grabbed a loaf bread and held it right up to the thieves' faces.

"Just smell how fresh they are! Surely they're worth three shillings a loaf!" said Alica.

"You're daft woman! They are not worth more than one!"

Hayden dragged the chest out of the cabin and stashed it in some bushes. He got down and lied among the tall grass.

“Two shillings a loaf and no higher!” said a frustrated thief.

“If that is what you are willing to pay,” said Alica. She reached into her basket and handed them each a loaf of bread.

“I hope you two have a wonderful evening. Now if you excuse me, I need to get going,” said Alica before running off. Once the thieves went back into the cabin, she rushed to where Hayden and the chest hid.

“Are they gone?” Hayden asked.

“Yes, but probably not for long,” replied Alica. They each took hold of a handle and made their way back towards the woods. However they hadn’t gone far when someone called out after them.

“Halt! That loot is ours!” shouted the thieves. Hayden and Alica ran as fast as they could while carrying the chest. Alica’s basket swung widely off her arm, spilling loaves everywhere.

“My bread!” cried Alica

“Just keep going!” shouted Hayden. In their hurry they failed to notice the ground dropping off suddenly. Hayden and Alica stumbled over the chest and fell down in a heap.

“Are you alright?” asked Hayden.

“I think so,” answered Alica. Hayden looked and saw that the thieves were almost upon them. He froze. They couldn’t outrun them. Not with the chest. Swallowing hard, Hayden pulled out his sword and planted his feet in front of Alica and the chest.

“Halt!” he shouted. The thieves stopped in their tracks. They stared at each other in confusion before turning their attention back to Hayden.

“Do not come any closer,” Hayden went on. The thieves hesitated a moment before taking a step towards him.

“I hardly believe you can fight both of us at once,” said one of the thieves. Alica gave Hayden a worried look, but he stood his ground.

“D-do you know who I am?” he said, “I am a one of the king’s royal guards. And my mission is to deliver this chest to the castle. Something that I intend to do one way or another.”

The thieves became silent. After awhile one of them finally spoke.

“You are lying. You cannot possibly be a guard,” he said.

“Look at me! I had to fight at least a dozen men to protect that chest! Surely I can fight two lowly thieves,” said Hayden.

“Then let us see if what you say is true.”

Almost at once, both thieves charged at him. Hayden took a deep breath and charged as well. Letting out a mighty yell, he swung the blade wildly at the two thieves chasing them among the trees.

As one of the thieves moved to dodge an attack from Hayden, he tripped over a root and fell. He quickly sat up and put up his hands in defense.

“Mercy! Mercy!” he begged. Alica and the thieves watched as Hayden raised the blade high above his head. He stared at the thief before him and lowered his weapon.

“I will spare your lives, but only if you leave now and cause no more trouble,” he said.

“Oh yes, yes! We will!” said the thieves.

“Now!”

Without another word, the thieves ran off as fast as they could. Alica got up and gave Hayden a curious look.

“I thought you said you were not a guard,” she said. Hayden dropped to his knees.

“I am not.”

                                                    * * *

Alica and Hayden dropped the chest before the embankment. Hayden cupped his hands around his mouth.

“I have return with the gift!” he shouted. He waited a bit before shouting again, and again, and again. But no matter how loud he yelled, no one answered back.

“It has appeared that they have left without me,” he sighed. Alica grabbed her side of the chest once more.

“Then let us get going. I know a way that will take us to the road,” she said.

The two trudged along the overgrown trail, slowly making their way up. Every once in awhile they would pause for a break before picking up from where they stopped.

“You did not need to help me,” said Hayden.

“I could not just let you carry this big thing by yourself, could I?” answered Alica, “How did you end up in the predicament?”

“I was driving the wagon when out of nowhere a cat ran across the road and frightened my horse,” he explained, “It ran off track and the next thing I knew, the wagon was already halfway over the edge of the embankment.

I could not let it drag my horse as well so I grabbed a guard’s sword and cut it lose, sending the wagon into the forest.”

“Sounds like you have had quite the night then,” laughed Alica.

“You could say that.”

Finally they reached the road. They rested a little before heading in the direction of where Hayden had lost control of the wagon. It wasn’t long until they were greeted by a friendly neigh.

“Glad to see that you did not leave me,” said Hayden, giving his faithful horse a gentle pat.

“Now all you need is a wagon,” said Alica.

“There is a village nearby. I am certain I can find one there.”

“In that case, I should return to my home.”

“Wait, before you leave…”

Hayden took a pouch full of coins that had been hanging off his belt and handed it over to Alica.

“For the lost bread,” he said, “It is the least I can do for all your help.”

“It was nothing. However you are always welcome to come visit me if you ever want to buy some bread. I would very much like to know what is inside the chest.”

After they bided each other farewell and went their separate ways, Hayden went into the village and borrowed a small wagon from a merchant. He loaded the chest into it, mounted his horse and headed for the palace.

The sun had just began to rise above the horizon when he finally arrived at the giant gates of the castle. The gatekeepers peered down from their posts.

“Who goes there… Hayden?”

“I have come with the gift that Lord Isaiah has sent,” shouted Hayden. The gatekeepers stared at him in amazement. One ran down the tower while the rest rushed to open the gates.

As Hayden entered the castle grounds, he was greeted by the countless shouts of the guards.

“Hayden! You are alive!”

“Aye, I live, I live,” said Hayden. They came running over and surrounded the weary driver in excitement.

“When you stopped responding to our calls, we all assumed that something must have happened to you.”

“No, no, I just had some trouble with a couple of thieves.”

“Thieves?”

“Aye, but I had some help with a woman I met. Oh and before I forget…”

Hayden pulled out the blade and held it out to guard that had loaned it to him. The guard let out a hearty laugh.

“After what you have been through, I believe you have earned the right to keep it.”

Hayden and the guards stood before the royal throne with the chest sitting between them. In the throne sat the king and beside him the queen and the princess. The youngest of the three fidgeting around in her seat.

“Your Majesty, we present you a gift from the great Lord Isaiah,” announced a guard. Producing a key, the guard swiftly unlocked the chest. He opened it up and pulled out a bundle wrapped in silk. The guard carefully unwrapped the silk to reveal a beautiful ornate doll within the folds.

The princess squealed in delight, barely able to contain herself. The guard handed the doll to her as he read a note that had been also inside the chest.

“For my sweet goddaughter.”

A couple of the guards tossed some teasing glances at Hayden. He tried to ignore them by focusing his attention on the doll he had risked his life for.

“What a wonderful gift from Lord Isaiah,” said the queen, “And from what I hear, we have you to thank for delivering it safely.”

Hayden looked up in surprise. He wasn’t used to having the royals speak directly to him.

“T’was nothing your Majesty. I was merely doing my job,” he replied.

“Still, I believe a reward is in order. Would you not agree dear?” said the queen.

“Hmm? But of course!” said the king. Hayden stood there completely dumbfounded. He looked over to the princess who hugged the doll tightly.

“Thank you for bringing me my doll,” she said.

“I was merely doing my job,” he repeated in a daze.

                                                  * * *

“All that trouble for a doll?” laughed Alica. She handed Hayden a mug full of warm milk. Hayden munched on a loaf bread before taking a sip.

“It would appear so,” he yawned, “But not only was I given gold as a reward, I was made the official royal courier.”

“And made a little girl very happy.”

“Aye, yawn, that too…”

“Well I suppose everything worked out in the end, would you not say so?”

Alica waited for Hayden to answer, but he didn’t. Instead he snored peacefully in his chair. She couldn’t help herself but laugh.

“Alright sir Hayden, have your rest. For who I am sure more adventure await you in the future.”

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Blackfoxross

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#medieval #mysterious_gift #adventure

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Fox Tales
Fox Tales

680 views16 subscribers

A collection of short stories.

Short summary of each story will be in it's description.
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3 episodes

  • Hayden the Driver (Part 1)
    Episode 1 Hayden the Driver (Part 1)
  • Hayden the Driver (Part 2)
    Episode 2 Hayden the Driver (Part 2)
  • The Midwife
    Episode 3 The Midwife
Ep. 2 Hayden the Driver (Part 2)

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Hayden the Driver (Part 2)

Hayden the Driver (Part 2)

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