บท 3: Past: Run
The man, Lofgun, led her back to where the couches were after they heard a ringing noise. He explained it was a doorbell and stood. When he answered it, the same woman from before stood with a bundle of items. "I think I have everything. If there's anything I'm missing, just let me know."
Lofgun took the bundle. "Thank you, Rinnowra. Can you come by tonight? And bring Goomal."
Rinnowra raised a slight brow: questioning his choice of using her name and asking about what he wanted.
"I'll explain later," he said without looking at her. He nodded his thanks again and turned to the silent female behind him, shutting the door. "Follow me."
She followed him halfway down the hall and to a bedroom. There was a large bed with simple furniture, huge windows looking out into the backyard, and a plush rug covering most of the hardwood floor.
"Go ahead and make yourself comfortable. Shower, sleep, and I will see you in a couple hours."
She watched as he set the bundle on the bed, watching as he turned back to her, waiting. "Where are you going? What about the box?"
Lofgun walked to her. "The box is in the satchel, in the chest downstairs. Only you and I know. I am going to grab food and make sure everything is settled down." He smiled at her. It was warm and reassuring. "I will be back, Butterfly. Just relax."
She couldn't help herself. "What if they come back?"
Lofgun grinned with malicious intent. "They will be in for a surprise."
Lofgun left soon after that statement and she showered with hot, blissful water. She got dressed in soft, silky clothes and slid into the large bed. Almost instantly, she fell asleep.
Lofgun stared at Goomal with shock. "What do you mean our White Bulldogs have disappeared?"
Goomal gulped. "There was a note," he breathed, handing over a piece of heavy parchment. Lofgun took it and unfolded it.
Captain,
Your men are very loyal to you. You've done well. But they will die in vain if you do not hand over the youngling and or the items she possesses within forty-eight hours. Also, I'm sorry about your home.
Milbaral, Lead researcher of the RLG (Research Lab of Gemmology)
For a short moment, Lofgun was confused about the last part, having lived in a house in this place for so long. But then his heart broke. "Is it...?"
Goomal nodded. "They bombed it."
Lofgun sucked in a breath to clear his head. Who was this girl to them? What exactly were those stones? What is the poor girl doing by having them? She had said her father gave them to her, and he sensed the truth in that, but there was more. Just like there was more to him and his people. But as she was not trusting of him, she would not tell him. He understood somehow, but was torn between the White Bulldogs and her. It was obvious she had been running a long time before she crashed into his home and fell into him, a long time of betrayal and loneliness where she had hardened her heart to strangers. He even suspected it had been a long while since she had a friend. No one like them would trust her with how down-trodden she appeared. No one would want to get in the middle of a powerful dispute, no matter if it was over stones or not.
"Son of a-"
"Sir?"
Lofgun glanced at Rinnowra. "What?"
"The girl..."
She had awoken and thought she had seen him in the shadows. She screamed, racing from the bed and down the hall. She found a kitchen and started pulling out drawers, looking for something sharp. She screamed again when she saw the woman from earlier appear. She must have looked as terrified as she felt because the woman slowly lifted her hands and said she'd find Lofgun.
She didn't want to be alone, but the woman didn't give her a chance to speak before she ran out. She huddled in a corner of the kitchen, a rolling pin clutched in her hands as she waited for ten minutes.
"Butterfly?" That warm voice she had come to recognize and like. She heard another voice, then both Lofgun and the woman appeared. Lofgun glanced around and walked slowly over. "Butterfly?" he said softly, kneeling before her.
She swallowed a lump in her throat and said, "He was in the room."
Lofgun nodded once to the woman before turning back to her. "Did he touch you?"
She shook her head.
"Did he say anything?"
"No, just stood in the shadows."
The woman appeared and slowly approached. "I saw no one. But there was a strange presence in that room."
Lofgun nodded. "Stay with her. I'll be back." He stood and ran out.
The woman knelt beside her, a gentle expression on her face. "My name is Rinnowra. Can you give me that?"
She shook her head.
Rinnowra smiled and slid a blade from a boot. "Why don't you take this instead? It's more lethal."
She looked at the curved blade. It was simple, but well made. She gave the rolling pin over and carefully took the blade. It was light.
"I call it Shadowsong, as when I wield it, it sings and is as swift as shadows." Rinnowra put the rolling pin on the counter and sat down. "If you wish, I can show you how to sharpen and take care of it?"
She nodded.
A moment later, Lofgun returned and had two others with him. He sat beside Rinnowra and said, "Butterfly, I'm going to introduce you to two people. I want you to show them what you saw and show them where."
She nodded.
Rinnowra leaned towards her. "Don't worry, they look big, but are as soft as a puppy!"
The two grumbled and she smiled, relaxing. Lofgun helped her stand then said, "The one with the red beard is Jinnacoobeedy. We just call him Jin. The other is Boyenboomarra or Boom."
Jin was huge with a scraggly red beard, beady brown eyes, and a belly that suggested he liked eating. Boom had a black beard, emerald green eyes and a body that suggested he would flatten anyone he sat on. She was wary. Boom gave her a smile. "Hello, youngling!"
Jin elbowed him, but said, "Hello, little one."
She looked at Lofgun. He shrugged. "Rinnowra was right, Butterfly. They won't hurt you."
"Tell us what you saw," Boom said.
So, she told them, leading them to the bedroom. Immediately entering, she backed out again. Lofgun was right behind her, looking around. "Butterfly?"
She pointed. He was still in the same spot. How could they not see?
Lofgun gently pushed passed her and towards the man standing in the shadows. However, Jin stopped him by saying, "She's right."
Lofgun turned to him. "I don't see anything."
Jin said nothing to Lofgun, but went up to him and bared his teeth. He smiled. "Let me have the girl and I will leave you and everyone else alone."
She stiffened, backing away slowly. Rinnowra stopped her though, gesturing to the knife in her hand. She looked down, saw the blade had turned black and was steaming slightly. She almost dropped the knife, but the woman said, "It can hurt anything."
"Why are you after her?" she heard Jin ask.
He opened his mouth to speak, but she threw the knife at him. Jin jumped back. Lofgun swore. The blade hit the wall behind where the man had stood. He was gone.
Jin spun to Rinnowra. "Why did you do that!"
Rinnowra held up her hands. "It wasn't me! I gave her the knife to defend herself."
Lofgun glanced at her, saw wariness and fear in her eyes. Jin looked at her too. "I needed information," he said in a gentler voice.
She only said, "I can't let you have that information."
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