I'm not afraid of getting hurt, but I admit, I'm also well aware I'm not strong. Nevertheless, I refuse to stand here and do nothing. -- DaniAndShali
Bravery is not the lack of fear. It is being afraid and acting anyway. It is facing down injustice knowing that it could hurt to stand up for the downtrodden.
She was an outcast, eking out an existence on the sketchier side of the village. He was meant to be fetching medicine for his auntie. Someone accused her of stealing a stuffed bun that he'd seen her buy. So he stepped between her and the Watchman and said, "I saw her buy it. Mr Halberston charged her five coppers when they only cost two."
"...teufel tax," she mumbled. "Used to it."
"It's not fair and its against the law," he said. "You should be arresting Mr Halbertson for defrauding the public, not her for eating a steamed bun."
The Watchman dragged him to his family by his ear so they could give him the whipping he deserved. The Hellkin girl managed to flee with the last of her bun stuffed into her cheeks. Doni let the pain happen all the way home. It didn't matter. Not to Doni. What mattered was that he'd stood up for the truth.
He stood silent while the Watchman told Da exactly what had happened.
"Don't worry, sir," said Da. "I'll make sure the lad learned the right lesson."
The Watchman left, striding away in confidence and the assurance that someone's snotty brat was going to get the switch.
Doni looked up to his Da. Da looked back down.
"Defending the Hellkin lass, is it?"
"She paid for that bun," said Doni. "She paid too much, but she paid for it. Right and proper. And then the Watch said she stole it. It wasn't fair."
Da sighed. "You were born under Tyr's stars, indeed. You remember your errand?"
Doni toed at a pebble on the ground. "Didn't get that far."
Da made him fake a limp all the way to the apothecary to get Auntie's medicine, then carry it with that limp all the way back. Then they went to Mr Halbertson to talk about the laws of fair pricing and how one witness was taken seriously by certain crowns, and how the Teufel Tax was illegal. He bought a dozen steamed buns at a discount and left the box and a blanket where the little Hellkin girl liked to hide.
"Should we watch and make sure she gets it?" Doni asked.
"She won't take it if we're watching," said Da. "We can watch the paths and make sure nobody else wrecks it, but we can't watch that gift."
"I wish I could help her properly," said Doni.
"When you're one of the few who want to help," said Da, "it's very hard to earn the trust of the people you want to help."
[Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash]
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