#erdene

On that thought he followed her outside where she stared at the goat, a wooden spoon in her hand. It was easy enough for him to sneak up on her, she was deep in thought when he stepped behind her, close enough to smell the floral-herbal scent of her hair. 

“Need help?” 

Her tiny jump made him grin; even more so her nervous answer. 

“I could fix that fence for ya,” he offered; paying his dues was a given. He couldn’t afford owing anyone, not even favors. Especially not favors, not in his position. 

“You should still rest,” she objected weakly. She probably was right, but he had never listened to his body’s demands and he wouldn’t start now. 

“Ya got an ax?” The fence was sturdy enough, it passed his first inspection and a light shake. Somewhere there had to be a hole or the goat wouldn’t be able to escape, but on a first glance he couldn’t find it. 

“Don’t worry about it. I will fix it soon. But you should really let me take a look at that wound.” Her face was flushed as she stared at his bare arms and shoulders. 

“Hm, gotta get to the village. Moonbright.” Despite his answer she didn’t look away, her eyes following the lines of ink covering his skin. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and flexed his biceps lightly while straightening his shoulders. 

Her flush crept from her cheeks down towards her neck, painting her pale skin a light pink in the morning sun. 

“I will have to go there anyway. After breakfast.” 

He took that as an invitation to take him there, so obviously she wasn’t an outcast. Or not fully. When she remembered the eggs her wide eyes grew even bigger and she rushed off, leaving him with the goat and the conviction that it would be an amusing trip with her as his guide.

After breakfast and a quick examination of his leg wound Tora got dressed and ready to leave for the village. Poppylan went first, but she stopped every here and there to pick some flowers and plants. 

Women. 

Tora’s experience with them was mostly limited to some meaningless rolls in the hay, some hunts and the few brave - or calculating - women who tried their best to get closer to him back in town or at the castle. They all seemed to enjoy flowers, many had pointed out the peonies on his arm and some even dared touch them. 

In the end they had all caused trouble so he didn’t encourage them, sometimes even scared or shooed them off. 

But this one was useful so far and he hoped she could tell him more about the forest and the people vanishing in it. He better stayed in her good graces. 

Which didn’t mean he couldn‘t try to get some more answers.

“Why are ya livin’ all alone in that shed?” 

He watched her cutting a stripe of bark from a tree. An oak, he figured by the furrows on the surface. One glance up confirmed his guess; the leaves were green, still young enough not to show any signs of brown or red.

“It’s a house, not a shed. A hut, maybe. But it’s my home and I’m not alone.”

She jutted out her chin, as if to keep him from arguing by putting up a tough front. He smirked and leaned against the tree.

“No? Didn’t see anyone else there.” 

With a huff she put her knife and the bark into her basket. There were various plants and herbs in there already as well as some more bandages. If he had to make a guess…

“Mimi lives there, too. And my chickens.”

She dusted off her hands and skirt and marched off, just fast enough to get a headstart but he caught her up with only a few strides.

“Mimi? That goat?” 

Without seeing her face it was hard to tell what she was thinking, but she straightened up and paused briefly before she kept on walking.

“Yes. My grandma used to live there. Until last winter…” 

Her silence was grief-laden so he skipped that topic. Everyone had lost someone; he knew not a single person who hadn’t suffered some loss in their life. Sometimes Tora was even the reason for that loss.

“And why not closer to the village?” He changed the topic smoothly, both interrupting her and his trains of thought. 

She sighed. “For someone who didn’t even tell me his name, you are quite nosey.” 

Again he grinned. True, he hadn’t even introduced himself properly. The less she knew about him, the easier it would be to gain her trust. There was no way of telling how far his reputation had traveled by now. Still, he wouldn’t drop this topic. 

“And? Why not closer to the village?” 

“I like my freedom,” she airily replied and stepped over a fallen tree. That much he could understand. Devils, freedom was the one thing he craved and couldn’t get anyway.

Another thing he didn’t want to think about so he asked her how much further it was. She gave him directions and told him goodbye at the edge of the forest and Tora nodded before he followed her instructions. If he had more questions for her he knew where to find her, but now he needed to talk to the village guard and come up with a plan.

“I see.” Joseph rubbed the back of his neck, his black hair thinner than the last time Tora had seen him. Maybe in his mid-fourties Joseph also didn’t seem as tall and strong as when Tora was a boy and had learned some of the basics from this man who used to be one of the best trackers around. He was also one of the few who had treated Tora and the other boys like actual human beings instead of animals who had to be trained to be fully operational, so meeting him always left Tora torn between feeling bitter - like every time he got reminded of the hell he had gone through as a child - and grateful for this one decent man. Others hadn’t been so lucky to get someone with a working moral compass, and although Tora was far from being a saint, he knew men twisted enough to actually enjoy what they had to do in Lord Vincent’s name. 

“And is young master Quincey unharmed?” 

Tora shrugged and shifted in his seat. “Shaken, mostly. The ploy was discovered before the assassin could reach him. But he was close enough.” He made a face, remembering Vincent’s fury at the news of someone sneaking into Quincey’s bedroom at night, ready to cut his throat. And once Vincent was furious he had to take his anger out on something. Or someone in this case. No need to tell Joseph about this, though, the bruise on Tora's temple did the talking. Joseph glanced Tora once up and down, his brow furrowed as he assessed the story so far. 

“So you followed the attacker into the forest and he just - vanished?” 

“Yeah, I know how that sounds. But no traces, no footprints, nothing.” Frustration rolled off Tora as he leaned forwards, resting his hands on his thighs, head hanging so that his hair hid his face.  

“Easy, boy. I didn’t say you messed up. I’m just thinking… if he could get away just like that, he probably knows his way around the forest. Which means he must have been here before and in that case, someone must have seen him. I haven’t heard anything about people roaming the forest, but I could ask around.” Joseph put a hand on Tora’s shoulder, probably the only person besides Quincey who wouldn’t end up with broken fingers for doing this.  

“Gonna go out there an’ ask around, too. If I can’t get a lead until nightfall I gotta head back to Narin. Reportin’ in.” Gritting his teeth Tora exhaled through his nose, rolled his shoulders back and sat up straight again. 

“I’ll send you a note when I find out anything, boy. And don’t be too hard on yourself. You can’t be everywhere at once.” Another pat and Joseph pulled his hand back. 

“Yeah, tell that Vincent…” Tora grunted and left on the search of villagers to answer his questions.

This wasn’t going well. No one had seen anything, and most people were too scared to actually talk to him. Well, there were a few women who ogled him, but when he came closer they clammed up or their husbands or fathers showed up. This place was a waste of time. 

In the afternoon Tora found the pub. Maybe the ale would loosen some tongues and he could get some information here. 

It was already packed and he wondered if all these people really had nothing better to do than sitting around, drinking, but who was he to judge? As long as they paid their taxes to Lord Balthuman in time, they could do whatever the hell they wanted. It wasn’t his business. 

“Ale?” a fair-haired bartender asked him. She had striking green-ish blue-ish eyes and a slender build. 

“No. Can ya get me some goat milk?” He plopped down on a seat and rested his elbows on the wooden counter.

“Fermented?” She furrowed her brow; a common reaction to his order. If possible he avoided ale, it made him too aggressive and impatient.  

“No. Fresh.” He put a coin on the counter and she nodded. 

“I’ll see what I can do.”

This gave him time to look around the tavern. Conversations had stopped when he had entered and only slowly got back on track. 

“Did anyone see a stranger around here?” he asked loudly, already not in the mood to deal with the dirty lot in there.

“Who’s asking?” someone grumbled from the back of the pub.

“I am.” Tora straightened up to his full height and the background murmurs faded. 

Several ‘no’s were uttered his way and he snorted and sat down again. The bartender set a cup down in front of him. 

“You’re the only stranger who came to the village in the last few days,” she explained and crossed her arms in front of her. With one eyebrow raised at him she looked him once up and down until a small smirk tugged at the corners of her mouth. 

“And the forest?” 

She shrugged. “Who knows? It’s not as if we were guarding the forest. But as far as I heard there were no signs of anything unusual.” 

He grunted and took a sip of the milk; it was strong in flavor, probably not directly from that day. 

“Any trappers in the area?” 

The bartender raised one eyebrow. “And breaking the laws? No, certainly not. I’m afraid you’re out of luck.”

She was probably right. Even if people hunted in the forest, they wouldn’t admit to it. 

“Woodcutters?”

“Aye, but he got attacked by a boar the other day and is still recovering.” She took the now empty mug from him. “ There is someone living in the forest, though. You could always go and ask her about - well, whatever you want to know.” When he didn’t react she shrugged. “Anything else I can get you? If you need a bed for the night, we do have a room available.” 

The door opened and she looked up. Something was blocking the sun from coming through the opening, or better, someone did. Dark hair, broad shoulders, serious gaze. 

“Welcome back, I haven’t seen you in a while.” Erdene nodded towards Tora who chose a seat close to her. 

“Been busy. Poppy sends her greetings, and some - stuff.” He set down a bag on the counter for Erdene to check. 

“Oh, the cough medicine. Good. Tell her I said thanks.”

Ever since Poppy had left Moonbright they sent notes and small items back and forth, using Tora or one of his men as messengers. Once the harvest was over, Erdene would go to visit her. Until then this would have to suffice. 

“How is she doing?” Pouring him a cup of light ale Erdene pushed her resentments aside. He hadn’t stolen Poppy from her, not really, but she would have stayed if Tora hadn’t come along. Just a fact, though.

“Fine. Keeps herself busy.” A small smile tugged at his lips and it was enough to appease Erdene. Even without tying the knot it was obvious Poppy and Tora were happy together, and if Poppy was happy so was Erdene. Only the small selfish part of her heart kept whispering that Poppy didn’t have to be that far away only to be happy. 

“Good to know. What are you doing here, by the way?” 

He grabbed the cup and downed it, his nose wrinkling slightly at the aftertaste. 

“Gotta talk to Joseph…” The door opened again and a head poked in.

“Sir? I took care of the horses.” 

Tora jumped up. “Good timin’, Damien. Wait here.” Without any more words of explanation he walked out again, leaving Erdene and Damien alone. 

Erdene went back to cleaning plates while Damien stood next to the door, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. 

“Can I get you a drink while you wait?” Taking pity on him she put the rag down and grabbed a cup. Damien nodded and shuffled closer, quickly smoothing down his clothes while Erdene wasn’t looking.  

She motioned towards a seat and set his cup down. 

“Soooo…” Leaning against the counter, both arms resting on the polished wood she watched him, how he took a big gulp and almost coughed. “I never got the chance to thank you for coming to Poppy’s rescue back then.” 

“That - it was my duty after all. Tora would have killed me if I hadn’t.” He wiped his lips with the back of his hand, giving her a good view of the inside of his wrist and the black lines there. 

“Oh my… is that one of those pictures that get painted under the skin?” Poppy had told her about them, but so far Erdene hadn’t really seen one. 

“Huh? Oh, yeah. They poke it into the skin with a hot needle. Wanna see?” Damien offered Erdene his arm for inspection and she came closer, wrapped her fingers around his wrist and turned it this way and that to see the crest from every angle. Her fingers were cool on his skin, from the cold water she used to clean the plates, he figured. 

“Doesn’t that hurt?” Leaning over his arm her breath brushed his skin, warm in contrast to her touch.

“Like hell,” he confirmed proudly. “But it shows I belong to Lord Balthuman’s men. Badge of honor, so I won’t complain.” 

Curious fingertips followed the lines of ink as Erdene stared at the picture with wide eyes. 

“Incredible…” She looked up to find his face directly in front of her own. Her smile sent heat into his face, it reddened under her knowing gaze. 

“I cannot offer you a badge of honor or a valuable reward,” Erdene whispered and bit her bottom lip. “But I do want to thank you.” 

So close to each other it was hard to tell who leaned in first. She tasted like cherries and he like good ale, sweetness and tartness meeting as they got lost in the sensation. Her hands found his hair, she sighed when he pulled her closer and into his lap.

After his talk with Joseph Tora trudged back to the inn. They should have had enough time by now. Not that he actually cared, but Poppy had told him how Damien had asked about Erdene often enough for Poppy to suspect he had a crush on her. And since she knew Damien better now, Poppy had actually approved. In a strange, roundabout way. Again, not that Tora cared, but he liked seeing Poppy happy and he assumed she would be pleased when he told her about this. 

Closer to the inn he spotted a crowd and furrowed his brow. Didn’t they have anything better to do than drinking in broad daylight? Too much free time and spirit usually led to trouble, that much did he know. Judging by the shouting and the noise, trouble was already there. Tora gritted his teeth and prayed for Damien that he wasn’t in the center of this. 

Hands on her hips Erdene glowered at Gil who still screamed at her, not giving her half a breath time to defend herself. 

“- a disgrace! In broad daylight you choose to disrespect me, to humiliate me! You demon, stringing me along for your own amusement! You strumpet!” 

“Whoa, that's enough!” Damien had given Erdene enough time to stand up for herself and to be fair, she had tried when Gil had started yelling and pushing her out of the inn and onto the streets. “You have no right to talk to her like that.” Pulling himself up to his full height, shoulders squared, he stepped in front of Erdene who put a hand on his shoulder and dragged him back so she could stand in front of him. 

“Listen, Gil, I didn’t say anything when you took the inn from me, I didn’t say anything when you gave me the smallest room, barely big enough to actually lie in there, I didn’t say anything when you told me to work from can to cannot while you only stumble downstairs after noon, but now you crossed a line. I don’t care if you wish to marry me or not, I don’t care if you only want me to warm your bed, I don’t care about you! I will do whatever I feel like doing and I see no need to apologize for something I’m not sorry about in the slightest!” Head held high Erdene ignored the crowd gawking and gossiping around them. 

“What happened?” someone asked the person next to them. 

“I heard she was bedding someone else on the countertop while others watched,” the answer came back. Tora furrowed his brow; this didn’t sound right. But then again, Erdene was an unmarried woman and attractive to boot, so rumors like that weren’t surprising. Only this public discussion of the fact was unusual to a point where Tora feared a lasting damage to Erdene's reputation. 

“But you should be sorry! I will make sure that you will be sorry!” Gil spat to the ground, right in front of Erdene’s feet. 

“Good luck with that, because right now I only regret trying to appease you for so long.” She narrowed her eyes at him and squared her shoulders, bracing for whatever he would throw at her. 

“Get out of my house,” Gil hissed. “Take your things and leave. You won’t work here any longer and you won’t live here anymore. See whether your - your playfellow can offer you shelter and take care of you, for I am not willing to put up with you and your defiance any longer!” 

The crowd whistled and some clapped. Erdene’s fists were trembling. 

“It’s only ‘your house’-” she choked out the words as if they were suffocating her, “because law says I’m not a suitable heir. And I will gladly leave - after you pay me what you owe me.” 

Before Gil could escalate the situation further Tora stepped up. Ever since he had led a whole army of Lord Balthuman’s men through Moonbright, people knew who he was and the hushed conversations died down.

“‘s going on here?” 

“Sir, this is a personal argument-” Damien couldn’t even finish the sentence before Tora growled: “Yeah, better take it somewhere less public, then.” 

“I’m not letting her set a foot back into the inn,” Gil declared, loud enough for everyone to catch. 

“Bad luck for ya, ‘cause ya just said she should go and grab her stuff. So shut up and get back inside. We’ll clear that up without everyone watchin’.” With a short nod towards Erdene who stomped inside Tora looked around. “Show’s over, folks. Go back to work.” 

He waited until Gil had followed his instruction before he went inside. Damien blocked the door and watched the villagers scatter after a while.

She didn’t own much, mostly her clothes, some trinkets and personal items. A scarf her mother had woven for her when Erdene was a kid, the small brooch her father had bought from some peddler for her. Nothing here really belonged to her, not the house nor the furniture. She gritted her teeth and wrapped her few things up in a cloth which she tied up tightly. In the small chamber she had barely enough space to turn around, there was no place for anything to hide. Hoping she had everything she left, slamming the door behind her for good measure. 

Joseph had joined the men in the inn, waiting for Erdene to come downstairs. 

“I heard there is a bit of an argument here,” he greeted her. Gil snorted but Tora cleared his throat, shutting him down easily. 

“Well, apparently I owe Gil my life and body since he’s been so gracious to let me stay in my father’s inn,” Erdene pressed out.

“Dene, girl, you know the law. He is the owner of this inn now,” Joseph started, making Gil grin triumphantly. “But that doesn’t mean you are obliged to stay and do whatever he wants. You are free to go wherever you want, and you are right in demanding the appropriate pay for the work you did here.” 

Erdene beamed at Joseph and turned towards Gil. She stated an amount that made Gil scoff.

“That’s far too much!”

“For four years of working here?” Resting both hands on her hips Erdene glared at Gil. 

Tora cleared his throat again. “How ‘bout this? Ya pay her that and another - let’s say, ten coins on top, just for good measure.” 

“And why should I do that?” Chin raised Gil glared at Tora who straightened up to his full height. 

“‘cause I think your last tax payment was a few coins off.” He openly wore his Balthuman crest since that short crusade against the Nine Daggers, there was no need to hide it anymore. His reputation as Balthuman’s bloodhound had made it through Moonbright and back and was working in his favor now. 

“Fine.” Gil spat on the ground and shuffled behind the counter where he rummaged in a chest under a loose floorboard. Erdene made a big show of counting out the coins he handed her in a small pouch before she nodded. 

“Oh, and one more thing.” She grabbed her bag and tilted her head lightly. “I want the sign.”

“The sign? What sign? Saints, woman, have you lost your mind?!” Gil ran his hands through his hair and looked at Joseph who shrugged. 

“If I remember correctly, it was Erdene who had made the sign. So technically it’s hers.”

The round copper sign with the fish was tucked away in her bag when Erdene marched away from the only home she had ever known, her fury carrying her forwards. 

“So, what are ya plannin’ to do now?” Tora met her pace and Damien followed them a few steps behind. 

“I have no idea. But I’m not staying here,” she growled and readjusted her bundle on her hip. 

“Ya know… Poppy would be thrilled if ya came with us.” 

They stopped until Damien had caught up to them. 

“Do you really think so?” She still wasn’t out of sight so Erdene stayed strong, her head high and her shoulders tight. 

“Sir, do you think… by any chance…” 

Tora groaned. “Spit it out already!” 

“She’s a barmaid and Gyu is always short on staff and maybe…” Inching closer towards Erdene Damien held Tora’s gaze. 

“Can’t hurt to ask. But-” Tora raised a finger and pointed it at Damien. “-ya give her all the space she asks for. If she decides to come with us, it’s her own free will and ya got no right to bother her about it.” Poppy had drilled that lesson into Tora’s thick skull already. 

“Don’t I get a say in this?!” Erdene stepped away from both of them and eyed them suspiciously. 

“Sure ya do. Take the offer or leave it. Your call. I’m goin’ to get my horse, just lemme know what ya picked when I get back.” With that Tora wandered off towards the stable. 

“Soooo…” Damien scratched patterns into the dirt with the tip of his shoe. “Got ya into quite a mess, didn’t I?”

Erdene shrugged. “Wasn’t just you. I’m part of this, too.” 

“Not blaming me?” His hair fell into his face when he peeked up at her, head still hanging. 

Erdene inhaled deeply and let the air escape her lungs again with a woosh. 

“No, not really. I’m honest, I haven’t even considered I could get kicked out of the inn, but then again, I got some nice compensation.” She patted her bundle and looked back over her shoulder. “It is strange, though. I always wanted to leave and live somewhere else, without the constant surveillance of people who knew me my whole life already and who think I owe them or anyone else something for just being here.” 

“If it helps ya, I got no home at all save for Narin. Can’t even remember my folks, grew up in an orphanage.” Sure it was harder for someone who once had a family, he figured. 

Erdene leveled a sharp look at him. He was taller than her, which was a plus. Cute. Clean for the most parts, at least as far as she could tell. 

“Well, I guess you could help me settle into that new life, don’t you?” 

Damien beamed at her. When Tora came with the horses, Damien helped Erdene on his before he got on behind her. 

“Poppy will either rip my head off or hug me hard enough to suffocate,” Erdene mumbled, but she smiled and looked ahead, Damien’s warmth in her back. 

Joseph listened to Tora, only occasionally humming or grunting to Tora’s explanation. 

“So you will arrest Julri instead? On what charges?” he asked as Torfa was finished. 

“False accusations, messing with my investigations. Heard he destroyed a Balthuman seal. Counts as treason, right?” Tora would find a reason for that worm to squirm and writhe, not knowing what’s going to happen to him. Usually he prefered a quick and clean end, but sometimes… 

“I’m not saying it would be a loss for the village,” Joseph slowly answered, choosing his words carefully. “But I’m not sure if that will help anyone. People around here are already suffering under the taxes and some of the measures Lord Balthuman’s men are taking.” 

Tora scoffed. “Ya know that’s not my part.” 

Joseph nodded and sighed. “I do. Tell Poppylan I will talk to Julri’s father. If she wants her dowry back, we can arrange that. This way she will be free to do whatever she wants. although she will be missed if she decides to leave here.”

“Will do.” 

With everything said and done Tora headed to the inn.

“Poppy!” Erdene half cried, half laughed as she hugged Poppy tightly. “I thought…. I thought you-” 

“So did I,” Poppy sobbed; seeing her friend like that reminded her of the horror of the last few hours. “But I’m alright. Thanks to you.” 

Erdene wiped her nose with the back of her hand and sniffled. “I didn’t know what to do, but then I saw this guy and -” 

“You did the right thing. He found Tora and that’s how I got saved.” Using her sleeves to dry her own tears Poppy smiled brightly. 

“Next time that Damien shows up here, he gets a meal on the house,” Erdene sniffed. 

“And some ale,” Poppy added. 

She told Erdene everything she had learned about Julri’s involvement and the actual charges against her, and when Jacob joined them and told them Mimi was looking for Julri nad couldn’t find him, Erdene spat on the ground and cursed Julri in colorful ways the priest wouldn’t approve of.  

“I’m feeling sorry for Mimi.” Poppy took a sip of the ale Erdene had pushed into her hands. 

“That broad… why are you sorry for her?” Erdene ignored the guests demanding her attention, she sent Jacob to deal with them instead.

“She’s carrying his child but they aren’t married. And if he never comes back, her child will be a bastard.” 

“So? It's father is a bastard, too.” 

“You know what I mean.” Poppy gnawed on her bottom lip. “She knew he was betrothed when she got involved with him, and I don't know how and when that happened, but I do know it’s tough being the outcast.” 

“So what? You want Julri to come back and marry her?” Erdene dropped her drying rag on the counter and leaned on it with both hands. 

“I don’t know what I want. It’s just - it’s not the child’s fault.” Children out of wedlock were accepted for men, but not for women. Both Mimi and her baby would have a hard time. 

“She could still leave, you know? She could live somewhere else where no one knows her and could tell people she’s widowed.” Erdene reached out to brush some loose strands of hair behind Poppy’s ear. “You’re too kind, Poppy. Do you think she worried about what might happen to you?” 

The door opened and all background chatter stopped. Poppy looked up to find Tora walking right towards her. 

He nodded once towards Erdene who bowed her head slightly. “Thanks for sending Damien. He’ll be back and give ya a reward for your help.” 

“I don’t need a reward, I’m just glad Poppy is alright.” Erdene had straightened up, her chin raised and shoulders squared. 

Tora nodded “Ready to leave, blossom?” 

“Yes. I’d rather not stay around here for too long, before the whole village knows I’m here.” The few guests in the inn had only briefly looked her way, but she was uncomfortable nonetheless. 

“Take care of yourself, Poppy. And come here if you need anything.” Erdene hugged her friend tightly, narrowing her eyes over Poppy’s shoulder at Tora. 

“I’m alright, Dene. Just tired.” 

With a last wave she followed Tora outside and led him over hidden paths into the forest. 

The fireplace was cold and so was the whole hut. Poppy looked around but couldn’t find anything amiss. She sighed deeply. 

“Lemme get the fire goin’.” Tora grabbed a few twigs from Poppy’s wood pile and broke them apart, arranged them in the fireplace and pulled out a flint. 

“Can I ask you something?” Leaning against her table she watched him fanning the sparks into a small flame. 

“Sure thing, blossom.” 

Poppy gathered her courage. 

“Are you Lord Balthuman’s bloodhound?” 

He paused for a heartbeat or two before he reached for thicker branches. They snapped easily as he bent them and added them to the fire. 

“Don’t like that name.” Kneeling next to her fireplace, his black hair a curtain hiding half of his face from her view, his voice low and pressed - she could barely imagine him as the bloodthirsty murderer people whispered about. 

“But you are,” she pressed on. She had to know. 

“If ya wanna know if I’m the one Lord Balthuman sends out when he wants to hunt down traitors and threats to his family, yeah, I am.” He turned his head to look at her, shadows dancing around his eyes. 

“And if not bloodhound, what would you call yourself?” She was clutching her hands, the knuckles white already. 

“Tora. I’d call myself Tora.” 

Tora. An usual name for an usual man, but still the name of a human. Not of a dog or a tool. 

“Of course.” Poppy smiled. “Well, Tora, I have to look after the goat and the chickens. Can you fetch some fresh water so I can make us something to eat? I’m starving.” 

The tension vanished, chased away by the warmth of her smile just like the cold was chased away by the fire. 

Poppy threw some ingredients into a pot and covered them with water. She placed the pot over the fire and sat back. 

“The stew will take a while.” She glanced at Tora who sat on the chair, watching her. 

“Ya wanna rest a bit?” 

She got up and shook her head. “I was locked up all night in some dirty cell and spent half of my day on a dusty road. I think I’ll take a dip in the river.” She pulled a linen cloth from a basket and wrapped it around a fresh shift. 

“Good idea. I could use a bath.” Snickering at her shocked face Tora got up, too. “Ya got another cloth for me?” 

“You - you can’t come with me,” she squeaked, pressing her bundle against her chest. 

“What’s the problem, blossom? Ya afraid I might peek?” He took off his cloak and arranged it over the backrest of the chair. “River is long enough so we can hop in at different spots. Ya can yell if ya need help washin’ your back, though.” 

He reached past her and pulled another linen cloth from the same basket. “Can I take this one?” 

Poppy nodded, her cheeks hot enough to warm the whole river if she submerged. 

“There - there is a bend not far from here. We could - I mean, kit’s probably a good spot-”

“Yeah, show me.” His grin followed her out of the hut and towards the river.

It was still chilly at night in late April, but the sun had only begun to set and Poppy longed to wash away the memories of that day, of jail and the stares of those men, the whispers of the villagers and of Julri and his betrayal. She wanted to float on the river and never return to the land. 

She couldn’t really swim, though, so she waded into a shallow part, naked as on the day she was born, and crouched down to wash quickly. The water was cold enough to make her toes numb before she finished washing her hair, but as soon as she was out and wrapped up in her linen cloth, she could rub feelings back into her limbs. After throwing on her clean shift she added her skirt and bodice for warmth. Since she was already there she rinsed her worn shift, wrung it out and wrapped it into the damp cloth. 

“Tora! I’m done!” Somewhere behind a row of bushes he had to be, had insisted on staying close enough to hear her in case she needed help. Not with washing her back, she figured. He had always been wary in the forest, looking for his prey. She still had no clear idea what he was hunting, but she was sure it was dangerous. 

“Tora?” She reached the bushes and paused to listen for his answer. There was none. 

“Tora!” Was the river just as shallow at his spot as it was at hers? What if he couldn’t swim, just like her? And what if he had gotten into a current? 

She inched closer to the shrubs and called again. Still no answer. Anxiety bubbled up in her, traveled through her body on every breath, with every heartbeat. She had lost so much already, surely god or fate or whatever wouldn’t take this from her, too, would it? That tiny shred of security, of happiness? 

“Tora, you better not be dead!” she yelled and ducked through the bush, came out on the other side just to freeze on her spot. 

He could swim, obviously, as he just did the crawl across the widest part of the river. He stayed at the surface, where the water was still warmer, his strong arms carrying him towards the shore. The river  was clear enough for her to see his broad back, his firm backside and how his legs moved underwater. His head dipped in and out of the water, his hair like a veil, meandering in the currents. 

Poppy gulped. Somehow her throat was dry, despite all the water right in front of her. Tora reached a shallower part of the river, he let his legs sink until his feet touched the ground and shook the water from his eyes. The water reached up to his navel, one more step towards the shore and-

“Enjoyin’ the view, blossom?” He squeezed the water out of his hair and grinned at Poppy. The blood rushed into her cheeks, only to plummet back into her stomach. Warmth pooled in her belly, it tingled and tugged in a way she hadn’t felt before. 

“I - I was calling for you but you didn’t answer,” she stammered, eyes cast towards the treetops. 

“Somethin’ happened?” She could hear him wading towards the shore and shook her head. 

“No, I was just finished and wanted to know if you’re done, too.” 

“Yeah, I’m done. Wanna help me dry off?” 

Poppy turned around, her back towards him. “N-no, I’m sure you can handle that on your own.” 

He laughed. “‘s not about ‘can’ or ‘cannot’.” 

She listened to the sloshing of water and the rustling of fabric afterwards, still waiting for her heartbeat to slow down again. 

“Ya can look now.” He was in his shirt and leggings, the rest of his clothes were tucked into a bundle under his arm.

“Let’s hurry back, it’s getting dark already,” Poppy suggested and rushed into the direction of her hut. At least the waning light covered up the flush on her face.

She was cold when she came back home, despite the heat in her cheeks and her belly that just wouldn’t subside. After serving Tora and herself a bowl of stew, with some dry bread for dipping, she took a seat across from him. He looked more relaxed now, the water had washed away his anger and tension. Poppy smiled at the memory of him rushing to save her, taking her to see her friend before he finally accompanied her back home. The image of him in the water though made her squirm. Her blood thrummed in her ears, her stomach churned whenever she looked at him. 

She wasn’t stupid, she knew what that was. Desire. She wanted to kiss him, not a quick peck like last time, she wanted to taste him, breathe him in. 

Only the thought of losing control held her back. Kissing was good, but kissing led to touching, which led to naked touching, which led to children not even a full year later. She knew about that, theoretically at least. 

So why wouldn’t her body listen to reason? 

“Ya alright over there, blossom? Lookin’ a bit - worried.” He finished his meal and set the spoon down. 

“I’m fine. Just - my thoughts won’t slow down.” She scooped up another bite of stew on her spoon and stuffed it in her mouth. She barely tasted anything, but the warmth of the stew was comforting, it helped settle her nerves. 

“Yeah, I was thinkin’ a lot, too.” 

Poppy pushed her bowl away. “Say, will you get in trouble? For bailing me out?” 

He shrugged. 

“You lied to that investigator,” she added. 

“Nah, didn’t lie exactly.” His face was unreadable and Poppy cracked. She needed answers. Well, she needed some other things, too, but she would ask for clarity first. 

“You told them I was your witness.” 

“No lie.” He shifted, resting his elbows on the table as he leaned towards her. “Listen, I can’t tell ya everythin’, but I’m followin’ a bunch of people and they all somehow get lost in these woods. Ya living’ here, so if anyone can tell me somethin’, must be ya.” 

She furrowed her brow as she pondered his answer. “Well, what about that map? I have no idea why it’s so important, but you said I was keeping it safe for you.” 

“And didn’t ya? ‘twas safe enough here, no one would think it’s here.” 

It was unnerving that, no matter what she said, he took it in stride. 

“But-” 

Tora shook his head. “I didn’t know ya had that damn map, didn’t even know it exists. But it’s good, it will help me find those vermin. And thanks to ya, I think I figured out how they managed to vanish without a trace.” 

She blinked at him, still not able to follow. 

“Here, lemme show ya. Gimme the map.” 

She had put it back on the shelf and fetched it quickly. It wasn’t that big, maybe like four times her hand. 

“What does it look like to ya?” 

They both bend over the map in the light of the fire and Poppy shrugged. 

“It’s a map of the area. Here is Narin Castle, this must be Moonbright.” Her finger moved to the triangle shapes next to the village. “This is the forest.” 

“See the red line? That’s their path.” His finger followed the line and stopped next to hers. “Around here is your house. And this is where I lose track.” 

 She barely dared to breathe, he was so close she couldn’t focus. 

“What’s this?” he asked and pointed at another big triangle. 

“Regina’s Peak. The queen’s summit,” Poppy whispered and looked up. His golden eyes were directly in front of her. 

“Ya know how they get there?” 

She could feel his breath on her skin, his gaze boring into her. 

“How?” 

“Across the river. Those bastards take the waterway.” 

He smiled, different to the smiles she saw before. This wasn’t teasing or smug, it was confident, not conflicted. He was breathtaking. 

“Will you leave in the morning?” Her lips trembled but she managed to press the words out. 

“Yeah. Gotta go back to huntin’.” 

“But you will stay the night?” Her heart hammered in her chest, a painful rhythm thrumming through her whole body. 

“If ya want me to.” His gaze flitted to her lips, back to her eyes and to her lips once more. 

Poppy swallowed. 

“Yes, I would like that.” 

She closed her eyes and leaned in as he tilted his head, allowing their lips to meet in a tender kiss. 

Hours crept by. Poppy watched the sunlight wander through the room and listened to the sounds of the busy village coming through the window. No one came to visit her, or to mock her, being locked up like some of the villagers had predicted when she stepped into her grandmother’s footsteps. Some of them sought her out in secret when prayers couldn’t cure their ailments and Poppy never refused nor did she bring up the times they had condemned her. Desperate times and desperate measures were part of her duty. 

She turned around, curled up yet unable to sleep. Alice had brought her a bucket of fresh water and another one, empty, so Poppy wouldn’t burst. With the meals she got and Erdene’s scarf it wasn’t even that bad, but not having anything to do, to distract her, was a torture in its own.   

Later, after Poppy had finished her lunch - a thin, watery stew but at least with some carrots in it - Erdene came back. She was pale under her flushed cheeks, her eyes flitted around and she was out of breath. 

“Poppy…” 

Poppy had seen Erdene cry only twice in all the years they were friends, the last time was when Poppy’s father had died and Poppy moved to her grandmother. So seeing tears gather in Erdene’s eyes send Poppy in panic mode. 

“What happened? Are you hurt?” Clutching the bars separating Poppy from Erdene, from the village and from her former life, she examined her friend frantically. 

“No, I’m fine. I just-” Exhaling deeply Erdene rested her forehead against the bars, cool metal on flushed skin. 

“If you are fine, it can’t be that bad.” Poppy patted Erdene’s head and smiled. “Now tell me what’s wrong.” 

“I - I couldn’t find it. I looked everywhere, I swear, but it’s just not there. Not in your drawers, not in that box, not on your shelves. There’s nothing like a wax seal…” 

“Of course not,” a voice from the door interrupted. Poppy straightened up, her stomach lurching as Julri strolled closer. “I threw it in the fire. Didn’t look like anything a girl like you should have.” 

“A girl like me…” Poppy repeated, voice cracking as her throat tightened. She clenched her fists to keep her hands from shaking, and bit her bottom lip. 

“Yeah. A traitor, you know?” He blocked out the sun coming in through the door, a dark figure in the sunlight. 

“So, it was you?” 

He clicked his tongue. “If only you had revoked the engagement like I wanted, this wouldn’t have happened. I hate that you make me do this, but it’s for the sake of our country and of Lord Balthuman after all.” 

“I think you are confusing two different things here,” Poppy spat out. “You didn’t get your way and now you searched for one that allows you to keep your money and marry that girl carrying your child before anyone can find out it’s a bastard. But that has nothing to do with the Lord or treason or whatever. It’s just you being the same selfish brat as always.” 

“It wasn’t me who hid suspicious items in their home,” he barked back. “And I wouldn’t have found it if you hadn’t run off with - with that thug!” 

Poppy’s thoughts slowed down, the veil of anger lifted just enough to see past Julri’s weak reasoning.

“So, that is what this is all about? You can go and have fun with whomever but I’m not even allowed to get escorted by another man?” 

Erdene snickered, she had been admirably calm until now. 

“That’s not it!” Julri cried. “I’m just doing what every responsible person would do after they found out-”

“What, huh? What did you find out? That I’m not crying over you? That I’m happy to have gotten rid of you?” Poppy glared at him, her chin raised and her eyes narrowed. “I know I haven’t done anything that would justify the treason charges, so save your lame excuses.” 

“You can be such a pain, Poppylan. So arrogant and always acting as if you are better than the rest of us. I’m glad things turned out like this, at least I won’t have to marry you anymore. Ugh, thinking I would have to spend my life with someone so - so dull and unappealing. It was bad when we were children, but it got worse during the last couple of seasons.” Yulri scrunched up his nose. “At least Mimi tries to charm me, while you are just annoying and boring.” 

Her nails dug in her palms, leaving small marks in the skin as she clenched her fists tighter. 

“At least I’m not some whining worm who only hides behind his father’s position in the village. If you didn’t have the mill, you wouldn’t talk big like that and no girl would look at you, let alone lift her skirts for you.” 

Julri’s flat palm hit the bars, the metal rang and Poppy flinched backwards.

“You know what? I hope they’ll hang you for your crimes,” he growled. 

Poppy’s eyes widened and her hand flew to her mouth. Before she could even react Erdene tapped Julri’s shoulder and as soon as he turned towards her, she pulled her fist back and slammed it against his nose. 

He howled, hands covering his nose, with no chance of stilling the blood gushing from his nostrils and the cut between his eyebrows.

“You crazy wench!” he screamed, his voice nasal as his nose swelled and eyes watered. 

“Erdene!” Poppy gasped, reaching for the bars. “Did you hurt your hand?”

Erdene made a face and shook her hand, moving the fingers to see if they were still working. 

“I think I’m fine. But saints, he was getting on my nerves.” 

“I’ll make you pay for this! Both of you!” Julri stormed off, leaving droplets of blood on his path. 

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Poppy mused as she watched towards the door. 

“But it was so satisfying.” Cradling her aching hand Erdene sighed. “You won’t set his nose, will you?” 

“From in here? No. Not even if I was out.” 

“What will you do now? Without that seal?” 

Poppy reached out and motioned for Erdene to show her the injured hand. 

“I don’t know. Maybe I can just send a message the normal way.” Her thumb gently ran over Erdene’s knuckles, she moved the hand this way and that. “You should put some cold, wet cloth on that.” 

“What happened here? I saw the miller’s son run off.” Joseph frowned at Erdene’s hand. 

“Julri wanted to visit me but he fell and hit his face,” Poppy explained with innocent eyes. 

“And what’s with your hand?” 

Erdene shrugged. 

“She tried to help him but bumped against the iron bars with her hand,” Poppy answered instead. Joseph eyed them suspiciously but shook his head in the end before he sighed deeply.