The Sword Maiden

Listening

Tied with rope to a chair, the ring-leader thief glowered at me.  A small cut on his chin dribbled blood from my small scuffle with him.  

Needless to say, I hadn't been gentle.  

The refugees still didn't know he was here, or that an impending hostage situation had been narrowly avoided.  We'd tied him up in the kitchen.

Derrek reported that after we'd accosted and taken this ring-leader, leaving the second in command conked out, the thieves had been puzzled and frightened.  Not knowing what to do, and with the sun peeling away more of their hideout with each passing minute, they retreated back to their swamp nest.  

Valeria was appointed guard duty, because she was the best shooter with a bow.  Derrek had gone for the sheriff.  

My stomach growled loudly, reminding me that I hadn't ate yet.  Valeria shot me a smile.  "Go eat, I'll watch him."  

"I'll bring something back for you."  

I turned and left the kitchen to slip in behind the bar, where the remnants of breakfast lay.  I suddenly realized Derrek had been sent off without breakfast either, and knowing him, he was probably starving.  

Breakfast had been simple bread, cheese, and butter, with the bread being toasted for whoever wanted it.  I grabbed the toasted bread, as I knew Valeria like that, and smeared butter on it, then put cheese on mine.  The bread was thick, and heavy, one piece was all we woman needed.

I rolled my lips as I remembered that Redwar would have inhaled three of them.  I'd been missing him before the raid refugees came, but now I was deeply concerned about him.

However, if anyone could get out of a pinch, it was Redwar.  

As soon as the sheriff left, I shoved a piece of buttered bread to Derrek, who grabbed it and chowed down savagely.  "Thanks, I was starving."  

I nodded.  "I figured.  Kinda surprised you ran off without breakfast."  

"Yeah, I got caught up in the heat of the moment, I guess.  It was maddening because I could smell fresh baking bread everywhere."

I laughed.  "I'll bet.  Don't choke yourself."  

He chewed with a smile on his face and his eyes closed.  "Mmmm, Mrs. Finnley makes some of the best bread..."  

I was about to agree with him when Mrs. Finnley bustled into the room.  "Ravine, can you go help Sherria and Zo with changing the sheets and cleaning the rooms?"  

I wrinkled my brow.  "I thought two was enough?"  I wasn't trying to get out of it, I was genuinely puzzled.  Zo and Sherria were an expert team together, they didn't need my clumsiness getting in the way.  

Mrs. Finnley bit her lip.  "Yes well..."  She came over to us and lowered her voice. "They can't get hardly anything done because the refugees all want to talk to them about what happened.  During the raid and all that.  I thought maybe you could occupy them while Sherria and Zo do the work."  

She was implying that I was the best one to do this because I'd suffered the same thing.  

And she was right.  

"Alright, Mrs. Finnley, I'll come."  

I knew, at least in part, what this refugees wanted.  Why they were so eager to talk about their experience and have someone understand.