Chapter 8

“Hand it over!” a large man yelled at an 18-year-old girl who sold fruits at the market. He was a soldier in charge of protecting the people of the town, but sometimes he was more of a nuisance than a protector. Two smaller men stood behind him as he threatened to hurt the young girl if she refused to give him all the money she had earned for the day, claiming it was tax.

The other market vendors minded their own business, watching from afar as the soldier bullied the girl and seized all her money.

“Give her back that money!” a little boy yelled from behind them. The large men turned around to see a 10-year-old Ivory standing a short distance away.

“What do you think you’re doing, boy? You better go to your mother, or I’ll come there and beat your ass!” the large man in the middle said with a sinister look.

Ivory was a little terrified. He and his parents were among the lower class in the town because they didn’t have much. Ivory wore a blue shirt and black s