The Winds of the Past [Rune Factory 4]

Chapter 59

As the townsfolk behind me gasped and gaped at the spectacle playing out before them, I glared at the foreigner embracing my wife—a man who had not only just called her by name, but who had also called her his love. My ears flattening in anger, I stepped forward and pulled Avani from his grasp. She looked up at me, bewildered and upset, and I put my arm protectively around her. “Who are you, and what is it that you want with my wife?” I growled.

“Sir!” one of the guards said, stepping forward and saluting. “These foreigners appeared out of nowhere in the middle of the street by the dock! We tried to detain them, but they were very determined, sir! The silver-haired young lady in particular is quite spirited!” Avani nodded to him, dismissing him, and I again turned my eyes to the strange man as I awaited his reply.

He turned his face in my direction. “You must be Leon,” he replied in a light tenor voice with an oddly familiar, lilting accent, and I started in surprise to hear him speak my name. “I will gladly answer your questions, but I think we should remove to somewhere more… well, private.”

I stared angrily at him, my ears still flattened, then the lilac-haired woman moved where I could see her more clearly. As I glanced at her, she looked at me beseechingly, and in a gentle voice, she simply said, “Please?”

We stared at each other, her imploring eyes meeting mine for several moments before she looked down at the ground. I looked at Avani, who, after a moment’s hesitation, gave a barely perceptible nod. “Fine,” I said, curtly. “Guards, you may release them and return to your patrol. I’m sure Forte will discuss this incident with you later.” Keeping my arm around Avani, I pushed through the group  that had encircled us and out the door. “Follow me,” I said.

“Wait,” Dylas called after me. “I’m coming, too. I don’t know what’s going on, but I want to be there in case you need me.”

As I nodded agreement, Arthur pushed through the crowd, saying, “And I, too, will come.” I looked at him in surprise, and he smiled. “After all, it’s my duty to know what is going on in this town, especially when it concerns my father’s representative here.”

I gave him a faint smile and said, “All right. You and Dylas may both accompany us.” Then turning back to the townsfolk as they stared after us, bewildered and curious, I called back to them. “Please excuse us for now. Just go on with the party—we’ll rejoin you when we are able.” As Dylas pulled the doors closed behind us, I could hear Deasún strike up a lively tune on his mandolin while Margaret loudly exclaimed in dismay—apparently Porcoline had devoured quite a lot of the food while everyone was distracted.

Regaining her composure as we made our way through the dimly lit streets to the front door of our castle home, Avani again took the lead, though she still seemed wary of the strange man. As we walked, I glanced back behind me. The three strangers walked immediately behind us, first the man and the lilac-haired woman, who was carefully guiding him along the unfamiliar path, then the silver-haired woman behind them, and Arthur and Dylas brought up the rear. I called back to our unexpected visitors, “What are your names?”

The man replied, “I am called Rishi. My wife’s name is Sharmila, and behind us is Chanda.”

“Wife?” I said, scowling. I wondered what he was playing at then, calling my wife his ‘love’ when apparently he was a married man—and doing so in front of his own wife, at that. Just then, we reached the entrance to our rooms. Avani unlocked the door and entered first to light the lamps as we followed. I directed the three strangers to sit on the sofa while I built up the fire, which was no more than coals. Although it was spring, the nights were still cool in our northern town. A fire would be very welcome, and not just for warmth—it would also provide additional light.