The Sword Maiden

At the Finnleys'

Following Redwar, Simran, and Mr. Finnley, I stepped into the tavern.  Warm smells that I remembered greeted me.  Unlike the lone, filthy Baradom tavern, this place was inviting.  I was glad we knew the Finnleys.  

But before I could go further in, I heard hoofbeats outside.  Turning, I saw Valeria riding in.  She waved at me and slid off Clover.  

"Where's the doctor?  Is he coming?"  I asked.    

She nodded.  "He's coming, as soon as he finishes up with another patient."

"Good.  Oh, Redwar said that the stall next to Ladine's is Clover's.  I already put water in it for you."  

"Oh thanks."  Valeria patted Clover's neck.  "Were the Finnleys surprised to see Simran?"  

I chuckled.  "Oh boy were they.  It's a great honor to host a King's Messenger, and they know it.  Mrs. Finnley is giving him the best treatment, he's going to be so spoiled he'll never want to leave."  

"He deserves it, after all he went through."  Valeria led Clover over to the stalls.  

"Yeah, he sure does."

Derrek and Daxton were not with us when we came to the tavern, for those who are wondering.  They had gone to fetch Derrek's horse, Memory.  I didn't like my brother being all alone with a Ravager, but for the first time Derrek had actually shown some interest in something, so Redwar had let him go with Derrek.

As we walked in the back door of the tavern, we saw Zo scrubbing on the floor.  She looked up, her face flushed red and her hair floating in rebellious wisps around her face.  "Valeria, Ravine, hello!  Good to see you again."  

Her hearty greeting startled us.  Was this the shy, timid girl we'd left behind?  A smile graced her face and her eyes danced.  She'd filled out and looked more like woman than a girl.  

"You too, Zo.  How has life been with the Finnleys?"  asked Valeria as we walked through the kitchen and around the counter to kneel down beside on either side beside Zo.    

"Wonderful, Valeria, just wonderful!"  Zo's face beamed.  "The Finnleys' have been so kind to me."  

She was so different from when we'd left her, I couldn't help but believe it.  Somehow, the Finnleys' had transformed this girl in front of me.  

"You look like it," commented Valeria.  She stood and walked behind the counter.  After disappearing for a second behind it, she reappeared with two thick rags in her hand.  "You never were this gregarious when we were here!"  

I pushed myself up and took a rag from Valeria.  "Yeah Zo, you've really changed."

Zo blushed a little and ducked her head, finally showing a little bit of her past self.  "Thank you."  

I knelt down again beside her and dipped my rag into the soapy water.  After working at the tavern for a couple of days, I knew exactly what needed to be done and so did Valeria.  

Picking out a slight wet spot that smelled like ale, I leaned forward on my knees, put the hand without the rag down to steady myself, and began scrubbing.  

"I'm sorry you didn't find your brother."  

I looked to the side at her.  "Oh no, we did!  He's just not with us right now, he went to fetch his horse."  

Zo's face split wide open, showing clean, white teeth.  "Oh good!  I'm so happy for you!"  I could help but notice that her eyes flickered with some pain, and remembered that her brothers had left her.  No doubt, even though she'd found a second home at the Finnleys', she still missed them.