Bab 36: Elfric (2)
Nelda went outside crossing the scented and smoky air. The man's seed was inside her, yet she will not conceive. She had made sure of that.
She saw Elfric standing next to his horse bathed by the red light from the lanterns and the milky moonlight. She went to him slowly, clasping her fingers.
"It's a beautiful night, isn't it?" she said gazing at the sky.
"Are you Nelda? Will you be able to answer some questions about Odella?" Elfric asked while holding and controlling the reins of his horse.
Nelda looked at the door she came out from and saw the man who had made love to her. He waved to her shyly and she waved back smiling.
"That boy said 'I love you ' after sex. Can you believe that? Loving a prostitute. He is cute, but he is stupid," she said glancing at Elfric.
"Well, boys are naive. They believe that any woman that smiles at him is in love," Elfric replied.
"Are you like that mister?" Nelda asked.
"Well, I have already found my love."
"That's too bad," Nelda replied closing her eyes.
"Walk with me," she said leading them outside Lustville.
They walked between tall trees and soft grass. The branches looked like hands in the night, waiting to catch their prey. The grass rustled below their feet softly. Elfric looked at Nelda, her face was solemn as if she was remembering Odella.
"Odella and I were different, yet similar. We both loved the night, but she hated the work we were doing. It was not like I loved it but I already accepted it. It was a job like any other and it put food on my plate."
"We were both sold by our parents. They were poor and taking care of a girl was not profitable. I hated them then, but right now I don't."
"Lisa, that is the woman at the counter by the way is nice. She had earned what she paid for and is not forcing me against my will. But this is the only job I know and so I am still doing it."
"You said you have a wife?" She said looking at Elfric.
The horse snickered and tried moving to the right. Elfric pulled the reins and put him back to track.
"Her name is Bella and we have been married for ten years," he replied.
"It rhymes with Odella, doesn't it?" She said smiling.
"No children?" She asked.
"We have a son of twelve," he replied.
"Do you still love your wife?"
Elfric looked at her and then looked in front. His voice was serious. "We didn't believe life will be butterflies and candies after our marriage. It was hard to make it work, but we did it. I am going to stay sincere to her not because we are in love, but because I am her husband."
Nelda nodded to that answer. "I think what you said is true. I don't believe that some prince in a white horse will come and take me from this place. But Odella was different and she got hurt because of that many times."
"Many men told her that they loved her and she believed that. As if men will fall in love with a prostitute and take her home," she said mockingly.
"And it happened again. The day before the day I last saw her," Elfric sensed sadness in her tone.
"Do you think that man is responsible for her missing?" Elfric asked.
"I don't know. All I know is that she went alone outside after midnight."
Men came and went into Lustville every day. It will be near impossible to track this person. He needed something more.
"Can you tell me more about this person? It might help in finding her," Elfric said.
"Well, I only saw him once but I think he was a painter. He had this pointed and crooked nose. I don't know what she saw in him. I suppose when you are waiting, everyone seems like prince charming," she replied.
It was nearly nothing, but it will have to do. They walked through the woods and came to a lake. A weeping willow stood on its banks, its leaves hanging to the water. Fireflies lit their bodies, paving the way. Moonlight reflected on the milky water. Leaves fell on it causing ripples.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" She whispered.
"Yes," Elfric replied.
Elfric was tired and so he got on his horse and went back to Lustville, leaving Nelda behind. He had to look hard for finding a regular inn, but he did. He rented a room and waited for morning.
In the morning, he saddled his horse, got over it and went further south. His destination was Wolfsmead.
He saw nutmeg and teak on the way. Their large canopies sheltered him from the morning heat. He heard chicks crying for food and saw their mothers bringing them. He came across a clearing and shortly after, he saw a dozen houses banded together. That was Wolfsmead.
Smoke rose from the chimneys carrying the smell of soup and chicken. He saw sacks of wheat and large barrels inside many houses. He was hungry and so he decided to go to the tavern.
The doors creaked and the eyes turned to him. People didn't care for an old man, so went back to their jobs. Elfric went to the front and sat on a chair. The bartender, who was a woman in her forties, lean and blonde, put a mug with mead in front of him.
"Breakfast," Elfric said and the woman nodded.
She brought back a plate having a loaf of bread, two fried eggs, three strips of meat and some beans. Elfric paid back with ten pemphs for the meal. He broke the yolk, tore a piece of bread and dipped it into it. He then took some meat, put them all together into his mouth and chewed. The sweetness of the bread, the tender meat and the yolk mixed and filled his mouth.
"Do you know where the blacks live?" He asked the bartender after swallowing.
The woman laughed out loud, "Everyone in Wolfsmead knows who the blacks are. They make the mead that you are drinking. It's the biggest house in Wolfsmead."
"Then do you know..?" Elfric paused.
"About their daughter? It is a shame. I have heard that they have reported it to the king. I hope someone comes soon," she said concerning.
"I came for that," Elfric said smiling.
"Oh, great. I hope you guys find her,"
Elfric exited the door and untied his horse. He climbed over it and searched for the black's house.
He came across the house shortly. It was a two-storey building painted in blue. It had scalloped roofing, sloping to two sides. There were two windows on the ground floor and a window on the top floor.
He knocked on the teak door thrice and waited for an answer. Shortly after a man answered his call. His wrinkled face was sombre and he had lost most of his black hair. What little that remained was greying.
"Yes," the man asked softly.
Elfric knew it was the father and felt pity for him. "I am sorry to disturb, but I am here on the behalf of Rae black."
The man's face lit up. "Come on in, I am her father."
Inside the house, he met with two women. One young and one old. The old one was wiping her tears while the young one looked down.
"This is my wife Raylee and my younger daughter, Rue. I am Presley by the way," Presley said pointing Elfric to a chair.
"Can you tell me about the groom, sir?" Elfric asked.
"Oh no.. no. You don't need to doubt him. He is my sister's son. We were talking about a marriage way back," Presley said denying the possibility.
"Will you be able to find her?" Raylee asked crying.
"Don't worry madam, we will do our best," Elfric replied.
"Do you doubt anyone sir?," Elfric asked Presley.
Presley's reply came quickly. "Actually, there is a man."
"Can you describe him?" Elfric asked.
"He had this long crooked nose and a large forehead. His hair was black... or brown, I don't remember. We were walking around the village and to invite people to the wedding. And he just in front of my daughter and called her an art defiler. The people tossed him out of the village right after that."
'Could it be the same man?' Elfric thought.
"Thank you, sir. I will take you said back and we will find your daughter at the earliest," Elfric said getting up from the chair.
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