The Hibernian Runaway

Chapter 9

 Lilly rode through Whitemarsh to the small farms above it. Each farm she passed had people pulling bushels of crops in on horses. With it so close to the Harvest Festival, everyone seemed like they were in a good mood.

 She finally made it to the farm where she remembered leaving her horse Blizzard. The family that owned it was from Hibernia themselves and was named Kearney. The man Sam agreed to take the horse, but Lilly had no idea if he was still alive. Sam Kearney was a very sickly man, and his son James didn't take kindly to her proposal.

 There were only five farmhands in the fields, which was small for a farm of its size. A man with a black beard walked over to her with a scowl on his face.

 "Hello. My name is Lilly. I left my horse here about five months ago with Sam Kearney with the agreement that I would be able to take him back when I needed him. Can I please speak to the farmer in charge?" She said.

 "You're speaking to him." The farmer said gruffly.

 "Then you're James Kearney." Lilly said.

 "That I am. You must be that little brat my father agreed to watch your horse for." James said.

 "You shouldn't speak to a woman like that." Lilly said, trying not to let her anger get the better of her.

 "You're one of the reasons why we're in debt. My father refused to sell your horse, one that would've gotten us by for another three years!" James yelled.

 "I have another horse to trade for. And money." Lilly said.

 James' manner immediately changed, "Money, what money. You're a poor farm girl who couldn't afford to keep the horse." His eyes gleamed with greed.

 "What is the amount of debt that you're in?" Lilly asked, knowing full well that she was about to be cheated.

 "Thirty silver pieces." James said, his eyes still gleaming.

 "I'll pay you, once I see my horse. I will also take off coins if you have mistreated him in any way." Lilly said, putting a hand on her purse. She hoped that James wouldn’t take the horse that she stolen from the bandits.

 James sighed, and disappeared into the barn. He came out a second later with a sleek white horse. He looked well groomed and fed.

 Blizzard almost pulled James off of his feet, trying to get back to his master. Lilly threw thirty silver coins at James's feet and swung up onto Blizzard barebacked. As James scrabbled for the coins, Lilly rode back to the town to buy cheap tack and provisions, the stolen brown horse trailing behind on a halter.

  

Will rode his horse into the fishing village of Whitemarsh. It was dirty and stank of fish, but he didn't notice. His eyes were scanning for the tavern, where he could get a cup of coffee and maybe ask some questions. Soon, Will saw a tavern called the Catfish. He dismounted Tug and pushed the door aside to enter the tavern.

 Everyone looked up and saw him enter. They immediately stopped talking and shoveled food into their mouths. Will walked up to the bar and took a seat.

 The tavern keeper walked up to him, "How can I help you Ranger?" He asked.

 "I'll take a coffee." He said, sliding three copper pieces onto the bar top.

 The tavern keeper got a fresh pot of coffee going over the fire. It wasn’t long until the water started to boil. Will had heard enough of the conversations in the tavern. The tavern keeper set a mug of coffee on the bar top and moved to collect the three pieces.

 "No only one for the coffee. I'll give the other two for anyone who has seen a girl with two horses. And I'll throw in another, if you know where she is going." Will announced.

 Immediately a man with a scruffy black beard stood up and made his way over to Will.

 "That very girl was at my farm some moments ago. She stole a horse and started to go back towards Redmont." He said, eyeing the copper pieces hungrily.

 Will only gave him one copper piece, and stood up to leave.

 The man grabbed his shoulder angrily and forced him back into his seat. "Where are my other two copper pieces?" he said, his breath smelling of ale.

 "You're too drunk, and I know you're a liar James Kearney. She wouldn't steal a horse that had belonged to her and leave a considerable amount of money behind." Will said.

 The entire tavern got quiet. Everyone knew about the girl who came through and no one was ready to stand up for the man who had despised her from the start.

 James' face got red as he tried to figure out what Will was saying, "How do you know that happened?" He asked.

 "I know she was coming here to get something. I also knew that the horse she was using was not her own and was borrowing it, so I can presume she came here to get a horse. But why would she come here if she could by a horse anywhere in the fief? Because she owned the horse. As for the silver, you have been gambling for some time now and I know that neither you nor your gambling friends are rich enough to possess that much money on the table." Will explained, finishing his coffee.

 Will got up and moved to the table with the coins on it. He counted five gold pieces, thirty seven silver, and thirty copper pieces.

 "How much did she leave you for the horse?" Will demanded.

 "She left twenty silver pieces." James said.

 Will looked at one of the men at the table, "How much did she leave?"

 "She left thirty, Ranger." He said, avoiding James’ eyes.

 Will picked the thirty coins from the pile of money on the table. He scooped them into his purse. "No one should have to pay for what is rightfully theirs, right?" Will asked everyone in the tavern.

 They all nodded and went back to doing what they were doing. Will walked out of the tavern and led Tug out of the stables.

 "Well, how'd it go?" Tug asked. He sniffed Will’s shirt looking for an apple.

"It went fine, now I need to find this girl." Will replied to his horse, mounting him and turning him to the road to Redmont.