Casselberry was the first city established on Rylie Glen. Lord Lydal Henry Rylie convinced the Casselberry family to travel with him to the island. After some discussion, they decided to settle down in Rylie Glen.

The family established a farm, and the city began as an agricultural village. Their success brought other families to the island. Exploring the rest of the island with Lord Rylie, they added three new cities — Neardore, Midland and Bon Abbi. Lord Rylie appointed a noble family to every city and tasked them to build their community. They were to maintain order, foster growth and provide for their villagers.

Among other things, only landowners could be nobles. Lord Rylie invited those landowners to choose a city and claim new land on Rylie Glen. For those who weren’t landowners, Lord Rylie decided to make Bon Abbi a safe-haven city. The only noble recognized in Bon Abbi would be the ruling family and the land owned by the community.

Lord Rylie drafted an agreement between the four cities. It was an attempt to preserve the unique opportunities found on Rylie Island. He wanted to ensure that each city could develop without fear and at their own pace.

So, the rules in the agreement were simple:

• Borders for each city were never to change.
• Each city ruled independently.
• The next generation in the ruling family would take the mantel and continue to rule.
• Only descendants of the ruling family could rule the city. When there were no remaining descendants, the largest city would appoint a ruler.
• The last surviving ruling family had the option to claim all four cities under their rule. Then, and only then, could a king rule the island of Rylie Glen.

The cities grew as expected, a model for the rest of the Mainlands. Many of the nobles from Liez moved to Casselberry. It wasn’t too long before the city became a mirror of Liez. Noble families became the elites, with little connection to the commoners.

When the last Casselberry heir passed away, Neadore to appoint a new ruler. They selected the Robions who knew nothing about agriculture. It wasn’t long before Casselberry became a center of commerce. They built Southport to host merchant ships and store their goods in warehouses.

Merchants paid for the privilege of selling on the island. Casselberry kept the money in their coffers. The Robion family built a court where merchants and commoners paid tariffs and fines. Nobles served on councils as paid members.

Lord Edmund Orso Robion ruled with a firm hand. He made sure Casselberry followed the trends from Liez. If Liez created a new tax, Casselberry would establish the same fee not too long after.

He established a city square for noble to buy goods from stores. Merchants provided their wares to sell, once they paid their tariffs. Commoners served as storekeepers, servants and as indentured servants, when in debt.

The birth of their only child, Luka Dey, ensured the Robion family would continue. Lord Edmund was hard on the child. But Lady Beatrice Juno would spoil Luka to soothe his plight. Luka grew to fear his father and take it out on commoners who couldn’t respond.

It was difficult for Luka to make friends, so he latched onto Hodius Green and Ludder Weak, two stable boys. The two boys learned they didn’t have to work when they were with Luka. And in turn, Luka could order them around, get into trouble and blame it on them.

On his twentieth birthday, Lord Edmund demanded to know when he would marry. He got word that Lord Mayweather’s son was to wed a noble from Mercil.

Neardore had no ruling family, so Lord Edmund appointed a Sherriff who reported to him.
Midland’s ruling family was nearing its end. Lord Munci Nels Harper had two sons, but they drowned in a shipping accident years ago.

Bon Abbi was the last city in his way. They were keeping Lord Edmund from ruling the island. ‘I want a grandson soon. I want to know our lineage will continue’ he told Luka often.

‘Make yourself useful and do something about this marriage,’ Lord Edmund demanded. ‘If only you, Luka, could persuade the bride to marry you.’

The news that Nolan Baye was back on the island reached the cities. Each sent letters and gifts to commemorate the occasion. ‘It’s not too late for you to do something, Luka.’

Late evening, Luka told Hodius and Ludder to get their horses ready and be ready to leave. As they mounted the horses, Luka told him his plans.

‘Well get provisions for a few days and ride to Bon Abbi. We won’t make it on time for the celebration, but we’ll be there the next morning. Let’s threaten Nolan with his life if he follows through with a wedding.’

So, they rode off through the city and picked up provisions. The merchant had no choice but to provide the food and drink, even when Luka declared he had no money. They made it through the city gates, long before the three bells.

It was a day’s journey to Neardore, and then Midland. They would leave Midland late evening so they would make it to Bon Abbi in the morning.

Hodius and Ludder yawned as they neared the Bon Abbi wall. They had to get up earlier to ready the horses while Luka slept. The sun was rising, and the morning was warming up.

‘Tie up the horses to the wall. We’ll walk from here,’ ordered Luka.

He took his bow and quiver and told the two stable boys to follow him. He noticed as he walked through the gates that no one was around. As he got closer to the square, he saw the decorations.

Luka was getting nervous, so he pulled out an arrow and readied his bow. Walking around the first building, he stepped into the court, startled to find a young girl by herself.

Ayla May identified herself was the bride-to-be. No, she didn’t know when Nolan Baye would return. ‘Alright then. I want you to come with us.’

She stared at the three young men and found the courage to say no. ‘This is not choice. You’re coming with me.’ He pulled the arrow back and pointed it at Ayla.

Ayla started to turn and run. Without thinking, Luka released his arrow. The young girl stopped as the arrow pierced her back and into her heart. She fell.

‘What did you do?’ yelled Ludder. ‘It was an accident. I-I-I didn’t mean to… Quick. Let’s get out of here.’

They left Ayla dying on the square. Mounting their horses, they rode through the day and night, resting in Neardore. Luka kept talking about his plan. Hodius and Ludder refused to take the blame. ‘Alright then. Let’s go to Southport. One of the merchants can take us to Liez until things settle down.’

The next day, they rode through Casselberry and made it to Corner by evening. Luka took a room while the boys slept in the stables. Luka rose up early, an unusual event. He wanted to make sure he spoke with at least one merchant before they all left.

As they walked to get food at one of the Pubs, he heard a shout, ‘Luka Dey you killed my bride, Ayala May, and you will answer for it!’ Luka turned to see Nolan had drawn his sword. As Luka drew his sword, he motioned the two boys with his head. Hodius and Ludder already knew what Luka wanted. It was something they had done before to get Luka out of fights.

The boys were on either side of Nolan Baye. As Luka ran towards Nolan, screaming, the two boys rushed and grabbed Nolan by his arms. Before Nolan could defend himself, Luka ran his sword through him.

Now, there were two deaths. Surprised, Luka heard another scream, as a young boy ran towards him brandishing a knife. He waited until the boy was close and kicked him in the chest, knocking him to the ground. Luka raised his sword and hit the boy with the hilt of his sword. The young boy was out cold.

Some people stepped out of the Pubs. Those who knew it was Luka, went back inside. ‘Take the knife and run it through Nolan.’

‘I’m not killing anyone,’ said Hodius.

‘He’s already dead. Get away, I’ll do it. Now get rid of him.’ The two boys dragged Nolan between the builds and left him there.

Luka wiped some of the blood onto the boy’s hand. Then he grabbed the boy by the scruff of his shirt and took him to the first merchant he found. The two boys waited outside the merchant’s warehouse.

He told the story and convinced Captain Munro that the boy killed a noble, showing the knife and blood on his hand. ‘He’s a commoner. My father is Lord Edmund. He will sentence the boy to death. He is such a young boy and deserves a chance. Take him with you, away from Rylie Island.’

‘This will cost you,’ grunted Munro. ‘I don’t want to pay tariffs for the next two shipments. You tell your father. Otherwise, I leave the boy back on the island when I return.’

‘Yes, yes, I’ll work it out with my father. Now the boy owes a debt. He must bear the mark of an indentured servant.’

Captain Munro hesitated but what Luka said was true. He opened a book, turned a few ages and ran his finger down a column of numbers. He grabbed a set of numbered iron blocks and pushed them into the branding iron.

Sticking the iron into the fireplace, he waited for that familiar red glow. ‘Hold his right arm'” he directed Luka. Captain Luka ripped the sleeve off the boy’s arm. He placed the branding iron on his arm, just below the shoulder.

The sounds and smell of flesh burn were never pleasant. But all indentured servants bore a number. Even when they paid their debt, the burned circle and number on the arm remained. It was a symbol to remind the indentured servant of their debt and a warning to others to avoid any deals with them.

Captain Munro removed the branding iron at the right time. The skin immediately raised to show the circle and numbers – 323. Luka thanked him for his mercy and left the captain.

He met the two stable boys outside and smirked. ‘We don’t have to leave. No one saw me kill the girl and no one will accuse me of killing Nolan. That boy had to be Nolan’s younger brother.’

‘Won’t you Father be angry?’ asked Ludder.

Luka laughed. ‘No, he’s going to be happy. There won’t be a marriage, and Lord Mayweather lost his heir to Bon Abbi.’

Ludder and Hodius didn’t understand. ‘It doesn’t matter,’ said Luka. ‘If you don’t tell anyone what happened today, you won’t ever have to work in the stables. I’ll see to it you will always be by my side.’