95. Meeting Nobility

Theren was waiting at a clearing to the north of the camp and hoped that the girls would come along. He was not to concerned if they came here he was more concerned with if they left the group or not. He could harass three a lot easier than he could five and one of the ladies was a mage, which would always make things more difficult.

Just after the night passed the halfway point he saw the first girl that he warned about the giant stumble into the clearing where he was sitting in the open. He did not want to step out of the trees and scare her. She slowly stepped a little closer to him.

"Are you the one that left me the note?"

"I am."

"How do you know?" He could hear the doubt in her voice. She thought that this was a trap and she was still really scared of him. But this gave you an example of how distrustful she was of the baron that she was willing to come out here.

"I," before he could finish Svetlana walked into the clearing beside him. "Let's wait on your companion that is only a few more minutes away."

The second girl was hiding at the edge of the clearing trying to get more information before she made her choice but apparently she missed the huge mountain lion and was discovered. She also realized that if the lion wanted her dead then she would not be able to walk out on her own. She straightened her robe and walked into the clearing.

Theren was a little surprised at how quickly she mustered up her nerve and entered the clearing so he had a little more respect for her. "Okay now that both of you are here I will introduce myself and answer a few questions. My name is Theren and this is Svetlana. I had a small run in with the giant that is supposed to show up in the next few days and it will no longer be making it." He could see that the mage was about to interrupt and ask questions.

Theren held up his hand. "Hold on just a few seconds and I might answer your question before hand. Now, the reason that I came here was to find out the purpose of the meeting and I will admit that I really did not like what I heard. Now, as I was listening to the noble and the big man I heard a few things that I liked a lot less. You see giants are one of the creatures in this realm that I hate the most. And I am not real fond of people that hire giants to do their dirty work."

As I sat listening I discovered two very important things. That the noble is trying to hire the giant to deal with an old colleague of mine. That is not going to go over well at all. And that when the big man asked him about payment he was hoping that he could only give the giant one of you and not both of you. And from the lewd look on the big man's face I am not sure which would have been better for the one of you that was not chosen by the giant."

"And now I assume that you are wondering, 'if the giant is dead why did he call us out here?'" Both of the girls nodded towards him. "Well, that one is simply a numbers thing. I am hoping that since you learned that he was going to use you as payment that you would not be so inclined to fight with him and the others against me."

The younger girl raised her hand. "The other guard the skinny one. Did he hear them talking about one of us being payment?"

"He was not there when the two were having a conversation so I am not sure of their level of involvement." He could easily see the look of concern on the girl's face. "Why the concern for that guard?"

"Well," there was a long pause as she thought about her next words carefully. "He is my cousin and chances are that if he knows then my uncle who sent me out here used me a bartered goods and the family does not expect or want me to return."

"I see. Well, I could ask him and we could find out."

"Why? I mean why would you do that? You do not know me."

"Well, since I am about to kill them I would rather not kill an innocent person. By the way what is your name?"

"Oh, call me Abby." On instinct she gave him a small curtsey.

"And as for the magic caster, do you have any questions?"

"My name is Evelyn. What spell did you use to hide from us on our search?"

"Trying to figure out why would could not feel the use of magic in the area even thought I told you I was here before you guys." She nodded to him. "That was because I did not use magic to hide. I simply used my natural ability and the nature around me."

"So you hid from all five of us without using any magic what so ever. That is impressive. I have no interest in fighting against you. I have no interest in returning at all. I think it is time that I move out of the area."

"Well, if you are looking for a place to stay I am headed over to Three Mines to talk with the Baron there and I have a feeling that he would have a position for you in his manor."

"I am not laying on my back for a noble for any reason. That is probably the reason that I am out here."

Theren stood up and bowed. "I apologize for the misunderstanding. My friend is not that type of noble. You have a magical ability and the desire to use it. He would hire you for your magic alone, if you are willing to fight."

"I am sorry. I just assumed. Thank you for the confirmation."

"I will be headed that way once I deal with the matters here. I have a feeling that it is going to be a lot sooner than later once teh noble realizes that the giant is not coming."

"How long will he wait before he leaves? It could take a week or more." Abby spoke up.

"Oh, after I find out about your cousin and he figures out that you two are gone I am going to tell him. No use in dragging things out. I am going to go and bring your cousin here to try and figure out what he knows."

Theren wrote out a third note and headed for the part of the clearing where the young man was standing guard. Theren got close and tossed the small rock and hit him right in the chest. The man surprised him and caught the rock before it hit the ground. He read the note and immediately started running to the north with his short-sword out.

When he got to the clearing and saw not only his cousin but also the mage he stopped and started looking around. "Lady Abby what are you doing out here?"

"She is waiting for you." Theren snuck up behind him and spoke.

Theman jumped and turned to face the voice. "What are you doing with the lady?"

Theren put a hand on his chest in feigned confusion. "Me, I only provided her with some enlightenment. The real question is what are you trying to do with the lady." Theren put a lot of malice in his voice when he said that and Svetlana stepped out of the woods behind him and growled. It was not a friendly sound.

The man saw the cat and stumbled back. "I was only following my father's orders. He told me that Abby had been selected by the Earl for an important purpose. Well, one that was beneficial to the family. She was going to be given to the Earl in exchange for a huge tract of land and the properties of a rival noble. I was told to escort her here and make sure that she survived until the time was right."

"So, you did not know what but you knew that she was not going to make it home, that is what you are telling me?"

"I, I knew that she was not going to make it home. My father also hated that she was getting more popular with the gentry without our area and there was a chance that she could marry above her station and then usurp his position. It was killing three birds with one stupid little girl." The fear in his voice was starting to turn into rage as he was always falling short and disappointing his father while his cousin was considered perfect.

The man turned to run and he made it about half a step when he ran into a person that was standing behind him. He looked down and saw a dagger was sticking out of his chest. He did not even feel the pain only the strength leaving his body.

Abby was the one holding the dagger. "I am sorry cousin. I will not let you or uncle control my life." With a tear rolling down her face she twisted the dagger and jerked it out of the body. He fell to the ground and she dropped the dagger as she collapsed to the ground shaking.