Hack, block, slice, connect. A man fell to the ground with half his arm gone. Then another dropped beside him as Warry kicked the lifeless body from his blade.
At the sight of their comrades being taken out so readily, the last three men dropped their swords and fled.
Thwock!
A crossbow bolt struck one of the fleeing men in the back. Slowed but not stopped, the man continued to flee.
“After them!” Raestin commanded.
“Yes sir,” replied Paul. To Sterret he said, “Come with me. The rest stay and protect Raestin.” Bolting forward, he and Sterret went after the fleeing men.
The creak of an opening door drew Raestin’s attention. He saw his beloved peering out. “Raestin?” she asked in disbelief. “Is it really you?”
Tossing his bloody sword to the ground, Raestin leaped from his horse and went to her. “Yes my love,” he replied. “I am here.”
Flinging open the door wide, Kaitlyn Borenson came to him. Wrapping her arms around him in a fierce embrace, choking sobs began issuing forth.
Raestin wrapped his arms around her gently and said, “It’s over. You’re safe.” As her tears wet his tunic, he couldn’t help but glance over to the pen where Black Face had met his fate. Anger burned in him anew, he knew how much that sheep had meant to her.
Later that evening, after Black Face had been laid to rest and the bodies of the dead men were dragged off to the woods for the kidogs and wolves, they gathered around the dinner table having a meal Terrance had thrown together. Outside, Koryn and Warry stood watch.
“It’s been this way for over a week now,” she explained. She then spoke of the coming of Daniel and their subsequent meeting at The Sterling Sheep. “At first it wasn’t bad, but now…” She paused a moment then said, “They say Riyan has found the King’s Horde.”
Raestin’s eyes widened. “King’s Horde?” he said in disbelief.
Kaitlyn nodded. “It’s possible,” she said. “Somehow he and Chad was able to get into the Warriors Guild. He’s also sent money home in those packages you would bring.” She sighed. “I never thought…”
“I know,” Raestin said.
“They don’t believe me when I tell them that I don’t know anything,” she stated. “They think I’m protecting him.”
“We believe you,” Paul said. The others nodded agreement.
Sterret took a drink of his tea, as that was the only beverage other than water she had on hand. “Do you know anything about what he’s up to?” he asked.
She shook her head. “He has always been one to keep his business to himself,” she explained then turned toward Raestin. “What am I to do?”
“Staying here seems a bit dangerous,” Cailin offered.
“That’s right,” agreed Raestin. “You should leave Quillim. At least until this all gets settled.”
“No,” she replied. “I can’t leave until Riyan returns.”
“But you saw what happened here,” argued Paul. “If we hadn’t happened by, who knows what might have happened.”
“I know,” she said. “But I can’t.” She looked imploringly to Raestin for understanding.
Finally he nodded his head. “I understand,” he assured her. To Paul he said, “We’ll stay here until her son returns.” Then turning a smile toward Kaitlyn, he asked, “If that’s alright with you?”
“Oh yes,” she said, returning his smile. “That is quite alright with me.” Tears began to flow once more.
In the morning, they walked down to the Magistrate’s office to report what happened with the mob outside of Kaitlyn’s home and the subsequent attack. On the way, Kaitlyn wanted them to stop by the Kelon home to see how they were faring. After all, their son Chadric was in this just as much as was Riyan.
As the Kelon home came into view, they found it quiet and still. Not even smoke was coming from the chimney. Kaitlyn glanced to Raestin who shrugged. “Maybe they left town?” he suggested.
“I saw her two days ago and she made no mention of leaving,” she told him.
“Elle!” she hollered as they drew closer. When no answer was forthcoming, she hollered again. “Elle! It’s Kate!” Still no answer. She turned to Raestin with worry in her eyes.
“Didn’t you tell me the last time I was here that her husband was the local miller?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes, he is,” she replied.
“They may be at the mill,” he explained. “On our way to see you yesterday, we saw a group trying to get into the mill. Maybe they holed up there?”
Beside him, Paul nodded. “If they had any experiences like what you did yesterday, that would make sense,” he said.
“Oh, I hope so,” she said. They left behind the Kelon home and made their way to the mill.
Through the trees they could see the arms of the mill turning in the early morning breeze. A few people were out, moving quickly from one destination to another. Of the men who had accosted the woman the day before, there was no sign. Though after what happened last night at the Borenson home, Paul had Cailin keep his crossbow locked and loaded, just in case.
A wisp of smoke came from the mill’s chimney which greatly relieved Kaitlyn. “Thank goodness,” she said happily.
“Someone is there,” stated Paul. When she glanced to him, he added, “There’s no way to be sure it’s your friend and her family.”
“It’s them,” she said with certainty. Quickening her pace, she was soon before the door of the mill.
Knock! Knock! Knock!
She rapped three times upon the door.
“Go away!” a voice she recognized as Elle’s husband shouted from the other side.
“Ferrun,” she said through the door, “it’s Kaitlyn.”
A face peered through the mill’s window at the group standing before the door. It was Eryl, the Kelon’s youngest son. From the other side of the door, the sound of the bar being removed could be heard. A moment later, the door opened.
Elle rushed out and hugged her friend. “I have been so worried about you,” she said.
“And I, you,” replied Kaitlyn.
“Come in,” said Elle’s husband Ferrun.
As they entered, Raestin could see sleeping pallets set out of the way along the walls of the mill.
“I think you know Raestin,” Kaitlyn said.
Ferrun came and shook Raestin’s hand. “Trader, right?” he asked. “Met you last time you were here.”
“That’s right,” he replied. Behind him he heard Paul tell Cailin and Sterret to remain outside and keep an eye on things.
“These are his guards,” she said, continuing the introductions. Glancing around the mill at the store of food and bedrolls lying on the floor she asked, “Are you staying here now?”
Elle nodded. “Yes,” she said. “It isn’t safe at home anymore.”
“People keep coming around asking about Chad,” Eryl stated. “When we tell them we don’t know anything, they get mad.”
“One threatened to kill Eryl if we didn’t tell them what they wanted to know,” Elle explained.
“That’s when we came here,” Ferrun said. “It’s closer to town and better fortified.” In truth, the walls of the mill were strong, they had to be in order to support the massive windmill at its top. With only two doors, each thick with a strong wooden bar, it would take a mighty effort to break in.
“We’re on our way to talk with the Magistrate,” Kaitlyn told them. Then she went on to explain about the incident of the night before, the timely intervention by Raestin and his guards, and the decapitation of Black Face.
“Don’t know what good that’s going to do,” Ferrun stated. “There aren’t enough men in town to keep order.”
“Then maybe your Magistrate needs to ask the Duke for help,” suggested Raestin. “A company of his soldiers should be able to restore order in little time.”
At mention of the Duke, Elle and Kaitlyn grew fearful. They didn’t want the Duke to know their sons may have recovered treasure without giving him his share. Raestin understood their misgivings. “We have no choice,” he said to the women. “He’s going to know soon enough.”