Journey to the stars and worlds of imagination: 2025 F : Freedom

Next in the challenge is "F" for Freedom. To illustrate both freedom and the opposite, being imprisoned, snippits from Windmaster Legend.

To set the stage, Leod has been placed under house arrest for bringing a weapon into a joint celebration of the trading houses. Even worse, he attempted to assault a member of his house and threatened a senior member of another trading house. Adding to the humiliation, Leod considered himself a future leader of his guild council and perpetually used his family's power and influence to get whatever he wanted. The excerpt concludes with what will be at least a temporary freedom.

From Windmaster Legend:

For the fifth time that day, Leod paced the exterior wall of the compound. It had taken a handful of silver to purchase his release from ship arrest. But the transfer to the main compound had not turned into the freedom he had envisioned. He had only traded one cell for another. Unlike the guards who kept the docks secure and who for a few coppers would look the other way for a candlemark or two, those at the main compound could not be bribed nor tricked.
The guards finally relaxed the house arrest to allow him into the rest of the compound. This freedom allowed more than fresh air and sunshine. It meant he had access to the outside world. “And apprentices to obey their superiors,” he laughed. “Now if that darned first-year boy would learn to return with my meal in a timely manner.”
A flash of color showed the youth returning. He had a bag in one hand and a sheaf of paper in the other. “Sorry for the delay, master. Fifth of the council caught me returning from your errand.”
“Follow me,” Leod ordered. He took a seat on a bench beneath a shade tree. “Give me my meal, then report.” “Fifth wants you to go to the lumberyard.” The boy waved the papers. “Here’s the list of items you are supposed to pick up and deliver to the ships as marked. The wagon will be here shortly. The horses were just being hitched up when I passed the barn.”

Unlike Leod who deserved the restriction of his freedom, the following excerpt deals with Iol, captain of Loch Bird ... and as far as Leod was concerned, the reason for all his problems. It was Iol who got his own command when Leod was given a garbage scow. Even worse, Pelra, the one woman who Leod couldn't charm, bully, or conquer, chose Iol as her mate.

The wick in the thin slab of wax tilted. The last spark flickered out, plunging the room into complete darkness. Curses learned at the wharves escaped Iol’s tight lips. If the guards had provided a full-size candle it would have lasted most of the day. However, they only stuck a short stub in the high sconce. “More of Leod’s machinations,” he growled. “That one has much to pay for.”
While the barred windows and locked doors of the storage building usually sufficed to incarcerate sailors who had committed some infraction or imbibed too much on shore leave, the council had decreed different arrangements for Iol. His prison was a windowless, ten-foot square room in the back of the barn. Even shallow breaths reminded him of the previous occupants—recalcitrant stallions sequestered before gelding.
The fragile hope that Faeld would be able to gather support to overturn the verdict vanished before the first cold meal. Whispers the guards meant for him to hear made it clear the councilman’s hold on his position as Third Seat was tenuous. No release would be coming from that direction. “Nor from the Bard Guild,” he growled. A message sneaked in from Conall stated their petitions were rejected. In fact, only his rank and the fact he had four senior journeymen with him, prevented the master from a physical assault.
Darkness of the soul—as well as that of the body—surrounded Iol in a cocoon as tight as a coffin.

~till next time, Helen