Rowen and Kento found themselves being tied to the backs of horses.  There were several men around armed with muskets.  One particular figure stood out among them.  Just by the looks of it, the man had money.  He wasn’t very old, between his late thirties and early forties.  His salt-and-pepper hair came to the nape of his neck.  His clothes and the men's muskets suggested 18th century.  How close to the American Revolution where they?  There would be hell to pay if it was soon.  They really needed to get loose to get to the cave.

 

Kento: What’s going on?

Man: You are being taken to the state magistrate.

Rowen: What?  What's the charge?

Man: You were trespassing on my land.  That is not something I tolerate.

Rowen: We were lost.  We didn't know we were on your property.

Man: You'll have to explain that to the magistrate.

The man turned to his men.

Man: Follow me.  I have to stop by the main house for a moment.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Alexandra and Marlyssa were sitting in the parlor.

Alexandra: You really shouldn't try to rush getting married, Marlyssa.  You have plenty of time.

Marlyssa: That's easy for you to say.  You have a man to provide for you when your parents pass.

Alexandra: If it was up to me, I would not be married now.

Marlyssa: And why not?  Every woman on this half of the colony is envious of you.

Alexandra: I don't see why.

Marlyssa: I'm your friend, aren't I?

Alexandra: Of course.

Marlyssa: Then allow me to speak freely.  Your husband has money out the wazoo.  Every man wants to be him, every woman wants to be with him.

Alexandra: He didn't inherit it.  He worked hard for it.

Marlyssa: Still, you are very lucky.  Although he's nearly 20 years older than you, he chose you to marry.  You should be happy.

Alexandra: I know, but something's lacking. 

Marlyssa: What?  You do love him, don't you?

Alexandra: Of course.  He's my husband, but...

 

The sound of horses approaching the house stopped her.  Alexandra and Marlyssa look out the window.

 

Alexandra: My husband is home.

Marlyssa: Who are those men with him?  And why does that man have blue hair?

 

Alexandra looked at him.  Although he was tied to a horse, there was something about him that got her attention...other than the blue hair.  He had an air about him that surpassed even her own husband.  It wasn't wealth.  His clothes made that obvious.  Alexandra opened the door as her husband dismounted.

Rowen watched her.  She probably had every man in a 100 mile radius pining over her.  She was young, early twenties...younger than 28 years.  Rowen was hoping it was the man's daughter until he saw the kiss he greeted her with.

 

Alexandra: Pierce, why do you have those men tied to the horses? 

Pierce: They were trespassing on our land.  I'm taking them to the magistrate.

Alexandra: They don't look like criminals, I doubt they were doing any harm.

Kento: We told him we had gotten lost.  We wouldn't have trespassed if we knew this was your land.

Alexandra: Pierce, I hardly think is reason to send them to jail.  We could just give them the horses and let them find their way back.

Pierce: Alexa, if we let them leave, that will give others reason to assume that I am not a man of action.

 

Alexandra knew he was right.  Pierce continued saying that he needed to go to Philadelphia for a couple of months.  Alexa nodded.  He was always gone.  Not that she didn't mind the privacy.  She could run the household alone.  Her husband left with Rowen, Kento, and four other men.  Marlyssa was standing by the door when Alexa came back inside.

 

Marlyssa: Well, who are they?

Alexa: Trespassers.  Pierce is taking them to the magistrate, then he's leaving again.

Marlyssa: At least you don't have any children to try and take care of alone.

Alexa agreed.  Her thoughts were elsewhere.  She didn't think those men should have to go to jail just because they were lost.  Hopefully, the magistrate will hold them for a little while.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Pierce's men dragged Rowen and Kento into the magistrate's office.  The magistrate looked over the top of his glasses.  He had the white powerded wig and all.  Pierce reiterated the charges to the magistrate and left.  The magi (we're gonna call him...tired of spelling it out) picked up his quill and after dipping it in the inkwell, started writing.

 

Magi: What are your names?

Rowen: I'm Rowen and this is Kento.

 

The magi looked up.  What kind of name is Kento?  was written clearly on his face.

 

Magi: Last names?

Rowen: Hashiba.

Kento: Rei Faun.

 

The magistrate looked up again.  Rowen and Kento spelled it out.

 

Magi: I'm not going to ask where you're from.

Kento: Good.

Magi: I'm going to hold you in the prison until your trial.

Rowen: And if we're found guilty?

Magi: You'll hang.