The Wolf and the Lily of the Valley

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

"How did you know?" her voice, however, felt lost somewhere in that question.

"It wasn't that hard to figure you out," he replied in whispers, avoiding the kind of look in her eyes that he found so strange.

"Do you know where I can find him?" she sounded like she was pleading.

"The Lone Wolf just doesn't show himself to anybody, most especially to silly girls like yourself." He reached for his knife in his pocket and cut the ropes in one stroke, and finally she was freed. He tossed the lily-of-the-valley towards her and went on, "It's best if you leave now. It's going to get dark really soon, and the forest is no friend to girls like you."

"Please." She got hold of the sleeve of his robes and stopped him from turning his back on her. "The Lone Wolf—where can I find him?"

"Whatever you need from him, he will not help you."

"Why?"

"He does not do favours to just anybody."

"How can you say that?" She walked past him, so she was face-to-face with the man. "How do you know he will not help me?"

"How do you know he will?"

"I have heard the Lone Wolf is a reasonable man. He'll hear my plea and reach an understanding of why I need his help," she answered.

"Young miss," he said, looking down at her, "I advise you to leave now and forget about him. The Lone Wolf is a phantom. It shows itself only to people it trusts. And you're not one of them."

Sadness filled the empty spaces in her face. She felt as though her shoulders were carrying the weight of this prejudicial world.

Ming Hao and Ning Qi appeared with three horses. They came right on time.

"Take that road down there," he said to her as he received from Ning Qi the black stallion that he was riding earlier on. "It will take you back to the village. It's the safest route out of here."

She looked in the direction of the road he mentioned. Indeed, there were less trees, so the stars and the moon were clear from the sky, which can be her guide to safety.

"Ming Hao," he called. He was already on the horse, all strapped and ready to ride away. "Take the lady back to the village. Make sure she does not come back here."

Ming Hao nudged his head in a low bow.

"If she tries to resist, kill her," he added, his voice loud enough for her to hear.

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The ride back to the village was a quiet trip except for the soothing madrigals of nightingales and haunting hoots from owls on the tree branches. She could feel on her skin their watchful big round eyes constantly following her as her horse walk past leafless trees with twig branches that appear like fingers of the underworld. The light from the moon rippled on the road, so it was not difficult for Ming Hao to find their way.

"Ming Hao," she called, with her head looking up the sky, her eyes watching the blanket of clouds conceal the moon. The draft coming from the mountains was wintry, and it was blowing towards the direction of the village.

Ming Hao, who was striding next to the horse and was holding the rein tightly, turned to face her. He made her promise she won't run away, because if she does, his head was at stake.

"If your master is really a ruthless unforgiving person, why did he let me go?"

"What would he get from a girl who cannot even identify a real map from a fake one? Honestly, lady, you've been tricked twice today by the same merchant who sold you that horse. Five pieces a silver for a map that does not even exist!"