Chapter 89: The Shortsword

Early the next morning, Raymond and his companions packed their belongings and supplies, then prepared to leave the inn with their two packhorses.

Anna stood at the door holding Mira's hand. The girl plainly did not want them to leave. Beside her, Carter could not resist teasing her.

“You look like you're about to cry. Silverleaf Village isn't far. If you miss them, I'll take you there next time.”

“Silverleaf Village?” Anna repeated. “Isn't that where Sarah lives?”

She still vividly remembered how Sarah had been taken hostage by the leader while trying to save Mira in the cell. She had been hoping for a chance to thank her properly.

“Yes, Sarah lives in Silverleaf.” Raymond smiled and explained to Carter, “She's Tom's sister.”

Then he looked at Mira, who was on the verge of tears, and patted her head. “It's all right, little one. Don't be sad. It's not as if I'm never coming back.”

“Then we can catch a ride with Bob to Silverleaf next time.” Carter's smile faded. “After everything that's happened, I still haven't seen Tom's mother. I should find a chance to visit her too.”

After exchanging a few more words with them, Raymond, Henk, and Mara led their packhorses out of town.

“Who would have thought you were so popular?” Mara said sarcastically on the road.

Raymond chuckled. “It's not just me. Henk's popular too.”

Henk said nothing, only lowered his head and kept walking.

The town council had rejected Dario's request to bring the next exchange forward. They said it was too soon to approach the gnolls on their own initiative and that they should stick to the existing trading arrangement. Even so, Dario had asked Raymond to take part in the operation and assigned him to a posting in Silverleaf Village.

Raymond and Henk knew the villagers fairly well, making them a much better choice than other mercenaries. Silverleaf was also the village closest to both the mountain pass and the trading site. At the beginning of the next month, the carts would come to Silverleaf first. Raymond would then join the group for the exchange.

They could not be certain whether these would be the same gnolls as before, or whether they would remember Raymond. But since he had dealt with gnolls before, assigning him the job was much more reassuring than sending someone else.

As for following the gnolls into the mountains, Dario had already posted the job with generous pay. Anyone who accepted and confirmed their departure arrangements could collect part of the pay in advance. Bringing back reliable information would earn an additional reward. The Blackstone Mountains had always been forbidden territory to the townspeople, but Dario believed the high pay would attract at least a few dependable recruits.

Silverleaf Village was not far from Blackstone. The three walked for over half a day with their packhorses and arrived that afternoon.

Their main duties in the village would be patrolling, keeping watch, and protecting the villagers when necessary. Silverleaf would provide all their food and lodging, so they would not have to sleep rough as they had before. The pay was therefore only six silver coins a week for all three of them: two silver per person per week. The truly important task would come at the start of the next month, when Raymond, Martin, and the others would pose as bandits and try to resume trading with the gnolls.

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Most of the villagers knew Raymond and Henk well. Henk, in particular, had played a major part in rescuing Sarah, and they had not forgotten what he had done. The three companions naturally received a warm welcome.

Despite being a half-orc, Mara was treated no differently because she had come with Raymond and Henk. Being surrounded by people and treated with such respect made her distinctly uncomfortable.

The village head arranged rooms for them and planned a grand supper around the bonfires to welcome Raymond and Henk.

Fires were lit throughout the village square, where the villagers gathered. Every household contributed whatever food it could spare. Sarah's family was particularly generous, bringing a pound of cured meat and two loaves of home-baked bread for Raymond and Henk.

“This is too much. We can't accept it.” Raymond repeatedly waved away the food Sarah and her two eldest brothers offered. It wasn't expensive by his standards, but it was a considerable burden for their family. He could not accept it with an easy conscience.

“Take it. You've earned it,” Sarah's eldest brother insisted, pushing the bread into Raymond's hands.

Her second brother pressed the meat on Henk. “You did so much to save Sarah, and this is all we can give you. Please, take it.”

Sarah said nothing. She stood behind her brothers, her face flushed and her eyes wide, watching Raymond and Henk expectantly.

“No, really.” Raymond waved his hand, speaking firmly. “The town guard has already rewarded us. We've been paid enough. You don't need to give us anything more.”

“Please take it. It's just our way of saying thank you,” her eldest brother said, almost pleading.

Henk, who had remained silent, looked at Raymond and accepted the meat from Sarah's second brother. “Take it.”

Raymond paused, then recovered and accepted the two loaves from her eldest brother. “All right. Thank you,” he said sincerely.

“We're the ones who should be thanking you.” Sarah's eldest brother gave him a simple smile, then smiled at Henk too.

“Why make such a fuss? Just accept it when people want to thank you,” Mara suddenly said.

She snatched the bread from Raymond, tore off a piece, and put it straight into her mouth. Its rich aroma drew an appreciative exclamation from her. “Oh, this is good bread. Smells wonderful.”

“I made it myself,” Sarah said shyly from behind her brothers.

“You make good bread, girl,” Mara said casually. She rolled her eyes at Raymond, pushed the remaining bread back into his hands, and stretched. “The bread's good, but I'm going to find something to drink.”

“I know where you can get a drink. Come with me, ma'am,” Sarah's second brother said at once, then led her away.

“Henk, want to have a drink?” her eldest brother asked eagerly. “I've heard half-orcs can really hold their liquor. So can I.”

Henk smiled, showing his canines. “Of course.” He carefully wrapped the cured meat and set it aside, then left with Sarah's eldest brother.

Raymond and Sarah were left staring at each other.

Looking at her faintly flushed face, Raymond hesitated, then ventured, “Shall we have a drink too?”

Sarah shook her head. “I'm too young to drink.”

“Oh, right. That was stupid of me. How did I forget?” Raymond gave an awkward laugh.

Sarah smiled faintly and looked at him with quiet reserve.

He kept laughing foolishly for a while. When she only watched him, he finally stopped in embarrassment. Neither spoke. After a moment, he unfastened a shortsword from his waist and handed it to her.

“What's this?” Sarah took it, something flickering in her eyes. She seemed to have guessed where it had come from.

“This was your brother's shortsword,” Raymond said earnestly. “I have another shortsword that suits me better now, so I probably won't use this one as much. It's been a great help to me. If you don't mind, I'd like you to have it. It was Tom's weapon, after all.”

“It's also the sword you saved me with...”

Sarah spoke so softly that Raymond almost missed her words.

“What?” he asked automatically. By the time he understood what she meant, the question was already out.

“Nothing.” Sarah quickly shook her head and accepted the sword. She carefully studied the patterns on the scabbard and wiped away the dust. Only after a while did she speak again.

“Now that you have a better one, I'll keep this one safe.”

“Well... It's not that I have a better one. It's just... Well...”

For some reason, her words embarrassed him. He wanted to explain but did not know where to begin.

Sarah carefully put the sword away and smiled at him. “I'm teasing you. Thank you for the sword. I really like it.”

“I still remember how you looked wielding it that day.”

She quickly turned and ran, as though eager to escape.

Raymond stared after her. After a moment, he shook his head and gave a wry smile.