Chapter 10 Edward is Trapped Again Miles searched the streets for Edward.
He raced along the bridge.
He ran from one end to the other, stopping people along the way to ask if they had seen Mr Canty or the boy.
He was able to follow their trail for a few blocks, but then he lost them.
No one had seen them.
No one knew where they were.
Miles continued his search throughout the day and into the night.
He was tired, hungry, and had run out of leads.
Finally he decided it was best to eat some supper and get a good night's sleep.
He would start searching again in the morning.
Miles lay in his bed thinking.
He knew that Edward would try to escape from the man who claimed to be his father.
What would his next move be?
Would he return to London?
No, he was only risking recapture if he returned to this neighborhood.
Was there anyone who the boy could depend upon?
No.
Miles knew he was Edward's only protector.
There was little Edward could do but search for his only friend.
Since returning to London was out of the question, Edward's only option would be to head to Hendon Hall.
Miles had told Edward that he was on his way to find his family home.
He would leave for Hendon Hall in the morning.
He was certain he would find Edward along the way or the young future king would find Miles at home.
Unfortunately, Edward was still in the clutches of Mr. Canty, but Mr. Canty was not alone this time.
He had a young friend with him named Hugo.
This new boy was also a thief.
Edward was shocked and furious when he saw the horrible man.
It was humiliating and insulting to be dragged through the streets.
Mr. Canty was not looking very healthy.
His arm was in a sling and he had a black eye.
It was also limping slightly.
With his one good arm, he held on to Edward and continued to pull.
Finally, Edward stopped.
He refused to go any farther.
It was Miles who should come to him, not the other way around.
This is as far as I will go tonight, Edward said.
I have had enough.
But your friend needs you, Mr. Canty said.
Your friend in the fancy coat.
His voice was very sarcastic.
He's been wounded.
It's asking for you.
Wounded, Edward said.
Why didn't you say so sooner?
Who would do such a thing?
The trio continued walking.
They went outside of the walls of the city and into the woods.
Finally, they came to an old barn near a farmhouse.
Mr. Canty, Hugo, and Edward all went inside.
Edward looked all around him.
Where is he?
Edward said.
His answer was a mean laugh from Mr. Canty.
Well, you must be my son.
You were fool enough to follow me into the woods.
You should have known better than that.
You are not my father, Edward said.
I have no idea what you are capable of.
I ask you to be a good man and return me to the inn.
I'm afraid not, my boy, Mr. Canty said.
The city isn't a safe place for me.
I'm a wanted man, don't you know?
He lifted his arm out of the sling and waved at Edward.
I'm in disguise.
You never know where your enemies might be hiding.
Edward tried to back away, but Mr. Canty grabbed him by the arm.
Tell me, boy, where is your mother?
Where are your sisters?
Edward looked him straight in the eye.
Enough Of these riddles, my mother is dead, my sisters are in the palace.
Hugo moved toward Edward.
He looked as though he might shove the smaller boy, but Mr. Canty stopped him.
Leave him be, Hugo.
There's no use wasting time on that boy.
While Mr. Canty and Hugo spoke in low voices, Edward walked to a dark corner of the barn.
He fixed himself a bed in the straw and lay down.
He ignored the sound of murmured voices.
He thought about his father.
If he did not make it back to the palace in time, he would miss his father's funeral.
Edward remembered all the tender moments he had shared with the king.
Even though he was sometimes distant, Henry had been a good father.
Edward could not blame him for the distance.
It was hard being the king of England.
It took up a lot of one's time.
After a while, Edward's eyes began to droop.
He was having trouble staying awake.
He was just about to fall asleep when he heard louder noises coming from the other end of the barn.
Mr. Canty and Hugo sat near a fire.
Several other men and women were there as well.
They were all laughing and talking loudly.
Edward did not feel safe.
They didn't look like very nice people.
Edward soon realized that Mr. Canty was old friends with this group.
He listened to their stories of robberies and schemes.
They talked about friends who had died, gone to jail, or worse.
He also learned that some of this group did not choose to become thieves.
They simply had nowhere else to turn when they lost their farms.
They blamed the king, saying that Henry took their land but did not provide jobs for them.
They had tried begging in the street, but they were arrested.
It was illegal to beg during the reign of King Henry.
They had families to feed, so they turned to robbery.
Edward wondered if these stories were true.
Could his father have done such a terrible thing?
The boss, or so everyone called him, stood up and lifted the back of his shirt.
See these scars? he asked.
The prison guards gave these to me when I dared to complain.
I said, begging wasn't a crime, so they whipped me.
Now if I go to jail, it will be because I'm a thief.
If the punishment's the same, why not steal?
The laws will soon change, Edward shouted across the barn.
He walked toward the group.
They all stared at him in amazement.
No one except Hugo and his father knew he was there.
The laws will change as of this day.
"'Who's this?' the boss asked Mr. Canty.
Mr. Canty shook his head.
He was embarrassed.
"'He's my son.'
"'Pay no attention to him.
Something's gone wrong with his mind.
He thinks he is the king.'
"'I am the king,' Edward said.
He rushed toward Mr. Canty.
"'Soon you will not doubt me.'
Not only have you mistreated your family, you are also a thief.
You will not go unpunished.
Will you betray me, my boy?
Mr. Canty hissed.
I will bring you to justice, Edward said coldly.
He was not frightened of this man.
Now, now the boss said you may call yourself a king, if you like, or you may call yourself a pauper.
No one here will think one way or the other, but we don't look kindly on people who snitch.
We don't like tattletales.
Edward did not reply.
He realized that this man did frighten him.
He knew the boss was dangerous.
Now come my brothers and sisters.
The boss said to the rest of the group, Give three cheers for the future king of England.
It's not every day we have royalty with us.
Long live Edward, the future king, they all shouted.
Everyone shouted except Mr. Canty, that is.
He sat with an angry look on his face.
I thank you, Edward said.
This response made everyone in the barn roar with laughter.
Even Mr. Canty smiled slightly.
He deserves a better name than plain old Edward, a woman said.
Anyone can be an Edward.
How about Foo-Foo, someone else suggested.
That's perfect, the woman said.
Foo-Foo the first.
Everyone cheered once more.
He needs a crown, she called.
She picked up a ball and put it upside down on his head.
Someone else draped a blanket over Edward's shoulders as a pretend robe.
And a throne, the woman said.
They picked him up and set him on a barrel.
Everyone in the barn cheered and danced around Edward.
They knelt before him and kissed his feet.
Edward tried to push them aside.
He yelled at them to stop, but it was useless.
They couldn't hear him above their laughter.
No one cared what he had to say.
