Aphria shook her head. She was in too good of a mood to argue. “I just have to figure out how to carry this without alerting the guards.” It was a step in her plan she forgot to include. Dev’s cabin was much closer than her own if she took the side road of out town. She just had to find away to lug a rather heavy potato sack of coins past the guards roaming the town without making them think twice.
“You can use my wheelbarrow and fill it potatoes. Even if they saw the bag, they would not even make a second thought.” Sal offered a suggestion. He was always so smart.
“But you can’t afford to lose a whole barrow full of potatoes.” She felt guilty for even considering his ides.
Sal smirked. “Nonsense. No one will buy them any way before they rot. Take them.” His insistence won her over though there was still guilt creeping in her bones. She reached in the bag for another whole handful of coins. “Save it for the starving.” He laughed covering his belly. “I’m not quite starving yet. Come. Let‘s load them.” He spoke before she could protest again.
They began to gather all the potatoes taking them by the handfuls to the barrow out front. Aphria constantly watched the eyes of the guards around her waiting for a moment to work in the sack full of coins. It was obvious just by the lack of bulk that it wasn’t full of potatoes. If she could sneak it by carefully in just the moment they weren’t paying enough attention, she would be able to get away without being caught. The moment came when they grew bored of watching and began wandering their eyes. She snuck it in fast careful not to jingle the coins loudly. Potatoes were then piled on top. Her muscles were definitely going to fight her back later.
Aphria hugged her goodbye to Sal. “Thank you again.” She smiled.
“Make yourself some good dinner for the next month with those.” He winked at her.
Aphria laughed and began wheeling herself out of town towards Dev’s. She was reminded again how weak her muscles really were and her arms were starting to grow sharp with pain. But she kept going. The heaviness didn’t bother her. It was what it did to her arms that made her feel like swearing. Yes she was definitely going to ache later. She hoped Dev did not mind if she stored the bag at his cabin. Hers would be the first place they would look when they find their precious treasure missing.
She parked the barrow beside her and rapped lightly on his door. He opened it within a few moments. “Fri.” He gave her a kind smile. When he saw the bulk of potatoes, his kind smile turned into curiosity. His eyes were asking if she had misplaced her mind somewhere. “How are you feeling?”
“Wonderful.” She laughed as he kept eyeing her. “Can I bring this in?”
Devlin seemed slightly frightened of her actions, and began to speak very slowly and cautiously. “Not to sound ignorant, but don’t whole barrows of potatoes stay outside by the garden?”
“Dev.” She laughed in almost a scoff. “Please get me inside before the guards see me.”
His eyes widened as he opened the door for her and let her through. “Please tell me you did not thieve potatoes. You must be mad.” He was smart. He knew already that she had gone thieving. She could see the irritation building up in him. It confused her as to why, but she decided to ignore it.
“Not quite.” She giggled and dug through the potatoes to find the sack. She drug it to the top ignoring the pain in her arms and opened it. Devlin blinked in surprise. “I snuck into the guard’s manner.” She smiled. “They were too busy getting drunk. Probably celebrating their victory.” Of killing her brother. But she didn’t say that. “I took it and left. So easy.” She beamed with pride. “Can I keep it here until I can distribute it properly?”
“Yes of course.” He spoke without thinking then snapped himself back in the moment. “Were you trying to get yourself killed??” He was almost yelling at her and began pacing back and forth inside his cabin. “Do you know how dangerous that was?”
Aphria just shrugged. How rude of him to try and bring down her moment of glory. “I didn’t get killed. Or caught. Any danger that was is gone now. Do you realize how much a piece the townspeople are getting?” She was still beaming. “This is almost half a year’s salary for each of them. And there is enough for all the children as well, Dev.” She felt her face light up even more. “They won’t go hungry for a while.”
He seemed to be stuck between yelling at her again and laughing with her. He chose to chastise her. “It was a suicidal mission. Do you really have no care for your safety? Have you lost your mind? This is not like you. You do not do crazy acts like this on a whim. You plan for months. And you’ve always let one of us know first. Why didn’t you come to me? What if you got caught?”
“I didn’t.” She didn’t even feel like arguing with him. She felt so euphoric. “Can you just forget about all of that. Just for now. And celebrate with me.”
Dev shook his head. “You forget how well I know you.” He sighed. “Forgive me, but just this afternoon you were speaking as if your fate had been sealed. And then you decide to do this crazy stunt. I know you are grieving for your brother, but risking your life like this was not the answer. I’m elated of the outcome. The first of which being that you are alive. The second of which being that rather large satchel of gold. Arland would be proud. But please. I beg you, next time come to me first. If you did get caught, how was I to know? Your family’s fate really would’ve been yours if I couldn’t try and free you.”
Those eyes. The euphoria shrank when she looked into them. He was right though. It was a suicidal mission. Maybe she was trying to get herself killed. Though that wouldn’t be the most horrible of an outcome. She wouldn’t mind being with her family again. “I am sorry for getting you worked up. But at this point, honestly I have no care for my fate. I live for the people. If I get caught, then I die for the people. My conscience would be clean.”
“You must live for yourself first.” He retorted.
Aphria laughed in his face. “I’ve never lived for myself, Dev. I’ve always lived for the land, lived for Arland, and even lived for you. Never myself.”
Dev closed his eyes and sank into his chair. “Oh princess why can’t you love yourself as we all do?”
She shook her head. “The people only love me because I keep them from being hungry. And that’s wonderful, because they deserve a full stomach. They are good souls. You..” He was ruining her happy moment. She felt words leave her as emotion took over. Perhaps not the best argument to get into. “..do not understand what it is to love.” She got herself into it anyway. She immediately regretted the decision when his eyes widened. She decided just to keep that fire burning. “I do everything for you. I’ve done everything for you. What is it that you have ever done for me?”
His mouth opened wide. “You are a naïve young child. You do not understand what I have given up for you. Nor will you understand for a long while. And when you do, you will eat all those words you just said to me. I understand you are angry and insanely suicidal at the moment, so I refuse to argue anymore with you. If you wish for my company then stay. If all you want to do is argue, then please leave.”
Those words stunned her. He’s never spoken to her like this. She wanted to argue, but not with that hurtful look in his eyes. She decided just to turn around and leave out his door. When she did so, she realized that her broken heart was making itself known in her chest. Maybe she was naïve. Maybe all she did was nag and whine about the crazy stunts Dev and Arland always got into. She understood now after her mass thievery their mindset. And what it was like to be criticized for it.
She walked down the path back to her cabin. She couldn’t believe she was pushing Devlin away. Now she was by herself again. But when she opened her door, she realized that was a false thought. Three guards stood inside waiting for her. She recognized them from the guard’s manner earlier. By the look in their eyes, they did not have good intentions. She quickly turned around and began to run away, but her arm was being snatched back as she was thrown to the floor. Her head slammed against the table so hard it made her dizzy. She could faintly hear the guards chuckle.
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