“Probably the best we’ll find out here,” I said, tightening the small strap.
Mintmorency’s hair kept getting in the way, but not because I hadn’t moved the strands out of the way.
She kept looking down at herself, to see what I was doing, which made her hair fall back to where I was fiddling with.
“Stop it. You can look once I’m done,” I said, pushing her head up with a finger under her chin.
“I can’t help it, I’ve never worn anything like this and it’s really interesting,” she complained. Yet kept her head up, as I pushed her hair back behind her shoulders.
Once clear, I went back to tying the small leather straps. Unlike the ones for men, this one had three on each side. Two near her shoulder, and one under her breast.
“Once you’ve tied these, you won’t need to do it again. You’ll be able to take it on and off like normal,” I said, as I secured the next strap.
“Then what are they for? I don’t feel it getting tighter as you tie them,” she asked.
“Well that’s mostly because your chest isn’t big enough. This one isn’t really your size, but it’s all they have,” I said.
“Oh.”
Glancing at her, I noticed the way her eyes dug into my own. She hadn’t liked that.
“They’re just fasteners. Makes the leather more… comfortable. Once you wear this, if you ever wear a normal leather shirt, you’ll then notice the difference,” I added.
“Hm,” she still didn’t seem too happy, but said nothing.
While tying the last strap, I glanced to the nearby door. I knew the shop owner was listening, not too far down the hall outside… but I didn’t know if I wanted to scare them away yet.
They were owned by Momma, so she might take offense if I did.
And it wasn’t like we were talking about anything too…
“You’re gentle, sometimes,” Mintmorency then said.
A little too softly.
Looking back at her, and her smile, I wondered if she knew that the man was listening. Something told me she didn’t, or didn’t care if he was.
How power of her.
“Turn around,” I said, finishing the strap.
She did, and was glad to do so. It let her look at herself in the mirror, as I went to tying the straps on her back.
These ran down her spine. As I went to fastening them, out of the corner of my eye I watched as she studied her reflection. She smiled at her appearance, touching her chest.
“Deep breath,” I said, grabbing the last two straps.
She did, and I tugged a little. Not too harshly, since there was no point for it to be as tight as could be. We weren’t going to war, after all.
“I felt that one,” she said, releasing her breath as I finished tying it.
“Well? How’s it feel?” I asked, finished.
“It feels weird, but… yes. Comfortable. Though I’ll need to get used to it, I think,” she said.
“Hm.”
I stepped back, so I could get a full look at her. She’d already put on the pants, and boots… the pants weren’t as thick as I’d like them to be, but this shop didn’t have anything else in her size.
After all this was power clothing.
And she wasn’t the normal size. She was at least a foot shorter than most other women of our kind, and that showed.
Her chest piece, which should have come to a stop a little below her belly button, was to her hip. But that was better, really. Although it’d annoy her when she sat down.
“I do feel heavy, though,” she said, as she turned a little to try and look at her back.
“You’ll get used to it,” I said.
“Hm. Is this kind of like what you wear?” she asked.
“Yes. Similar,” I said.
Not as good of material, but that was not because I wasn’t willing to spend the money.
They simply didn’t have anything better.
Though I wasn’t going to complain. In all honesty it was a miracle they had anything at all. So for them to not only have several sets of power military gear, but ones that ended up working for us…
Well…
“Do all of us wear this stuff?” she asked.
“Actually we do. Often. In the larger cities, the clothes are more casual, but outside those…” I shrugged, not needing to go into further detail.
She didn’t need to know that usually only servants, and workers, wore such clothing. Or soldiers.
“I don’t like the color. But it’s better than yours,” she said, tugging at the bottom of the leather.
“You’re not the first to say that,” I said.
While she messed with her new attire, I went to the box which was now almost empty. There was only another pair of greaves, and some hats.
None were what I wanted for her, but something was better than nothing. So I picked the smallest of the bunch.
“What kind of leather is this anyway?” she asked, as I studied the small hat.
It was just a common beret, although it had some scratches and marks on the top of it. The material was smoother than the other hats, though it was a little more beat up than the others in the box. It was made from the fish found in the Weeping Isles to the south of the Lands of Power. Something one could only catch with nets, since spears and hooks weren’t able to pierce its hide.
Stepping back to her, I put the hat on her head, which made her huff as she went to adjust it.
“Plants. Vines, actually,” I said as she adjusted her hat. Even though I had chosen the smallest, it was still too big for her. It kept tilting itself, falling to one side of her head.
“Vines? Really?” she asked, amused.
I nodded, as she re-adjusted her hat again. I could tell that it kept wanting to slide down, but was getting stuck on her horns.
“Are the packs ready?” I asked loudly.
Mintmorency raised an eyebrow, and as she did I realized she hadn’t known the man was listening to us.
He coughed, stepping out from his hiding spot. The older man had red on his ears, but kept it off his face. “They are, sir. I have both of them at the counter for you,” he said.
His voice told me he wasn’t ashamed at all.
“Let’s see them then,” I said.
He nodded, and turned as to head down the hallway. Once he took a few steps, Mintmorency tapped me on my chest as to get my attention.
“Was he listening to us?” she asked softly.
“Yes. But he most likely had been ordered to,” I said.
“By Momma,” she concluded.
I nodded.
“Why?” she asked as I went to leave the changing room.
“Why wouldn’t she? I’m the Riftborn. It’s good to know what I’m buying and why,” I said.
“Clothes though?”
“It’s not often the Riftborn buys clothes for a woman,” I teased, leaving her behind in the room.
She made an odd noise as she followed me into the hallway.
Walking down the hall, I heard the voice of the shopkeeper and his son. It sounded like the father was angry.
But not because he was planning something.
Rounding a corner, the main shop area came into view. Sure enough the father and son were near the counter… and the son’s head was hung low as the father chastised him.
“Get to the back now, and don’t make any noise,” the shopkeeper tried to whisper his words, but they came out harshly all the same.
The son didn’t even notice us, since he kept his head low the entire time as he left the room. The door shut softly behind him, but I heard the hard footfalls as he then ran away.
Human households were just like ours, it seemed.
“Right over here, two packs,” the shopkeeper said, pointing to the bundle on the counter nearby.
Ignoring his look, I went straight to the bundle.
They were flatter than they should be, and I noticed one of them was missing the extra strap they usually had.
“I can make slight adjustments, if needed, Riftborn sir… but, as you know anything too drastic would be impossible for me,” the shopkeeper said, stepping closer.
“It’s fine,” I said, as I picked up the pack that had the extra strap. Opening the top flap, and checking the seams, I decided it was good enough.
A little weathered, and old, but it’d work. For now, until I got her something better.
“I’ll take this one,” I said, folding it up.
“Right away,” the shopkeeper’s voice lit up a little, but something told me it wasn’t because he just made a sell.
Listening to the wood floorboards creak under the shopkeeper, as he rounded the counter… I wondered if he had at least buried the powers who he had stolen these from.
Or whoever had taken them, at least. Since pretty much everything I’ve seen so far was from the war. Actually although he was older… it was likely he had been too young to have taken part in those wars. I sometimes forgot such a thing.
“Here,” I handed the pack to Mintmorency, who smiled as she accepted it. Although it wasn’t too heavy, it was bulky… but she looked interested in just looking at it.
The shopkeeper peered at Mintmorency, studying her. “Vest, pants, shoes… armguards, and a hat. Then the pack? Anything for you, Riftborn sir?” he asked.
“Price?” I asked, not willing to humor him.
“Ah… The pack is one and…” he studied Mintmorency, this time something other than what she wore. “Say two and a half for hers. I’ll make it an even three, for you, sir,” he then said.
The price was actually decent. It’d be twice as much, even for such old stuff, in most other towns. But I knew that was because he rarely sold such things here. Not to mention I knew Momma was going to pay him well for the information about this visit.
Looking to Mintmorency myself, I nodded to her. She fumbled with the pack for a moment, trying to grab her pouch of coins, so I reached out and took the pack away.
She smiled, then pulled out three of the large square coins, and placed them on the counter. Just a tad out of reach of the man. She placed them down light enough that one of them even bounced.
Staring at the number of them, I was about to say something… to reach out and correct her, but the man let loose an odd sound.
“Thank you!” the man said hurriedly, grabbing the coins before they even had time to settle.
Hm…
Mintmorency smiled, unaware of what she had just done.
Glaring at the man who just got a massive tip, I decided to let it be. What kind of man would I be if I asked for the money back after his woman handed it over?
While she tightened her pouch of coins back up, I headed for the exit. We were done here.
“May the Rift bless you!” the man said from behind, and oddly sounded like he meant.
Course I would too if I just got a fortune.
Stepping out of the store, and out into the oncoming storm… I took a nice deep breath of the heavy air.
I could almost taste the coming rain.
“I hope these don’t get soaked easily,” Mintmorency said, exiting the shop behind me.
“They don’t.”
Glancing up to the sky, which was partly hidden by the cliffs on either side of us, I noticed how dark the clouds were getting. And it was still early in the day.
“Good. It rained at lot where I grew up, and I’ve always hated getting soaked…”
“Then you’ll like these. They don’t get wet at all,” I said.
“What don’t?”
I paused, as she walked up to me. Folding the pack under my arm, I smiled and tapped my own leather chest piece.
“Really? How does that work?” she asked.
“Water just… slides off. Similar to certain bird feathers,” I said.
“Huh.”
A far off rumble in the sky told me she’d soon get to see it herself.
“By the way, why had he been yelling at his son? Did he do something?” she asked.
“No idea. How are the shoes?” I asked.
“Very comfortable. My own weren’t that bad though, do I really have to leave them there?” she asked again.
I knew the shopkeeper would eventually find them in the box, but I didn’t care. “You’re lucky I don’t have you toss all of your clothes,” I said.
“I said you could, if it was needed,” she grumbled, hating the memory.
“Still debating it,” I said, thinking of the contents of her bag. Other than two sets of clothes, all she had were a few small personal items.
A cheap necklace. A diary. A broken feather pen, that she said her mother had bought her when she was young.
Hardly enough to be noted. I had planned on discarding most of her luggage, but once I had seen them…
In truth, her possessions were pitiful. This morning when we had been going through them was an awkward moment. One I hoped to forget quickly. She had been embarrassed, and it made me so as well.
A gust of wind blew by, and out of the corner of my eye I noticed her hand fly up to her head. To steady her hat.
It must have shifted in the wind.
“I’ll need to get pins, I think,” she said.
“We’ll get them.”
“Can I also get something else? Since you’re so willing to spend money on me?” she then asked.
“What?”
She paused, and glanced at a pair of men nearby. They were walking ahead of us, but had been walking slower than we. So we were nearing them.
I let her stay silent for a moment, until she was comfortable… and wondered what she wanted. Something private? Underwear?
“I’d like a haircut,” she then said.
Shifting, I blinked as I stared at the wide eyes before me. She was being absolutely serious, and genuine.
There was even a hint of shame in her eyes.
“Why…?” I dared to ask.
“Why? Because it’s long, I mean you kept having to move it out of the way earlier. I don’t mind it long, but it’s almost to my lower back and…” I raised my hand, stopping her from continuing.
“I mean why are you asking for a haircut so oddly? Why wait until they were far enough away?” I asked, pointing to the two men who were now entering a building.
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She hesitated, and I wondered if I was embarrassing her by asking. She then looked down, towards our feet. “Well, I thought I’d be able to get a real haircut.”
A real haircut…?
“Since you’d protect me,” she then added softly.
Although she hadn’t sounded too embarrassed, I could still hear her worry. She was worried over my answer.
Glancing at her shoulders and the hair that dangled upon them, I could tell her hair wasn’t that bad. Maybe not as well kept as most women, but… the real reason was obvious.
Yes. To hide her horns, that meant she probably only ever had family cut her hair. But that shouldn’t have been that big a deal. Most poor humans did such things. Practically all of them did, outside of the larger cities.
Though…
“Did your family know you were a power?” I asked.
She finally looked away from the ground, and I wished she hadn’t. Her eyes had gone dull. “Most. A few we kept it hidden from… but over time they found out or at least suspected. Only father knew right away… though he…” she stopped talking, and I knew the rest without being told.
He either wasn’t kind, or worse.
Typical.
“I’ll cut your hair at the inn. As far as I know there isn’t a barber here. Or we can ask one of the women at the inn, the older one would probably do a fine job,” I said.
“Ah… Yes, maybe…” she whispered, and I wondered if my answer upset her.
“Don’t get so weird about it. I understand what you mean, and I’m not so cruel as to look down on you, or tease you for it,” I said.
The sky rumbled again, deeply and close enough that I knew the rain would arrive at any moment.
“I… I didn’t mean to be weird about it. I was just unsure of how to ask,” she said, as I went back to walking.
She followed, and both her voice and her footsteps sounded a little happier.
“Next time just say you want a haircut. Worst I’ll say is not now, or something,” I said.
She nodded, smiling.
“Really… you’re not a child,” I said.
“I feel like one, sometimes,” she said.
Wind blew up some dust nearby, and I watched it dance in the air for a moment. Wind acted oddly here, inside the canyon.
“You could use one too, by the way,” she then added.
“I know,” I said, since I felt the longer parts blow in the wind.
She seemed to enjoy that fact, but the wind was picking up. So I picked up my pace to match it.
Although our leather was waterproof, I was in no mood to be drenched everywhere else.
Mintmorency held her hat as we approached our inn, and I noted the way she watched me open the door for her.
She was enjoying herself.
It bothered me for some reason. As if she shouldn’t be.
Better than the opposite, I suppose.
Entering the inn, I noticed no one was around. No one at the counter either.
“Hold on,” I whispered.
Mintmorency paused, glancing to me. Her happy smile died down as I studied the inn for a moment.
But before my concerns could grow, the older innkeeper walked out from the back. “Ah! Welcome back!” she happily greeted us.
Calming myself, I nodded and headed deeper into the inn.
“It’s a little early for dinner, would you like something to carry you through?” the older woman asked.
“Do you have any juice?” Mintmorency asked.
“We do. Anything for you, Riftborn?”
I shook my head, and pointed to the door on the right. “We’ll be in our room,” I said.
“Of course,” the old woman nodded, and then headed back into the door on the left. To most likely fetch the juice.
Her bruises had faded some, but still worried me. The imprints matched fingers.
Someone had choked her before our arrival.
Though, something told me it had been Long-Blades who had done it… but…
“Krift?”
I blinked and realized I hadn’t followed Mintmorency to the door. I was still standing near the counter.
“Yea,” I grumbled at myself, and headed to our room.
The long hallway passed quickly, as I pondered.
“Something wrong Krift?” she asked, holding our room’s door open for me.
“There is. But I’m not sure what to do about it,” I said honestly, closing the door behind me.
Mintmorency studied me, and gave me a kind smile. “Anything I can do to help?”
“Not yet. If you want her to cut your hair, ask her when she comes with the drinks. Or just pull around that chair and I’ll do it,” I said, gesturing to the chair in the corner of the room.
“Oh… All right. The baths are still open too, aren’t they?” she asked.
“Until nightfall, yes.”
“Why don’t they let women in? They’re separated, the doors even have locks on them,” she asked.
“Locks. In a town of thieves. Those work well, I’m sure,” I said plainly.
“Ah…”
Tossing the empty pack onto my bed, my mind wandered back to the old woman’s bruises.
Should I ask her? What if by asking, I scared her… and caused her to alert whoever had done the deed?
Did it matter?
Taking a deep breath, I wondered why I was letting it bother me so much.
Since when did it bother me if someone was trying to kill me?
Rather… that was just it.
It didn’t.
And that was why I was so bothered by it.
Because it wasn’t me that was being hunted.
Glancing to the other side of the room, I studied the newly clothed power. She was carefully pulling the chair to an open space in the room. She was trying to decide which way to sit.
I had already shaken her hand. I had decided that it didn’t matter if she was being honest with me or not.
So why was I so…?
A knock on the door drew my eyes away from the excited power, but I stepped in-between her and the door before she could open it.
Mintmorency hesitated, looking at me with worry as I shook my head.
Turning away from her, I opened the door and was glad to find the younger girl. She carried a large jug, and two smaller wooden cups.
“Juice?” she asked happily.
I stepped back a little to let her in, and gestured for her to put it on the table nearby.
“We have another type. Some kind of yellow fruit from the north, I can bring that too if you’d like,” the young girl said as she put the jug and cups down.
“I’d like that, but maybe a little later… thank you,” Mintmorency said.
“Sure!”
Before she could run out, I stopped her. “Tell the older one, that I need her hair cut. So bring a large towel, and something to cut her hair with. Also prepare one of the baths, for after,” I said.
The young girl looked to Mintmorency, and blinked… as if she couldn’t believe what she heard. “Oh… sure! I’ll let her know, of course!” she then said quickly, looking back to me.
“Good,” I said, nodding my head.
With a smile she hurried out of the room, nearly running down the hallway.
“You get anything you want don’t you?” Mintmorency asked as I re-closed the door.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Just something I noticed. You never really ask for anything… you just kind of say what you want, and people do it,” she said.
“Are… are you upset with how I said it?” I asked, wondering what her problem was.
“No. Not really. You’re paying for it, and I’m sure it’s not something too strange to ask for. You just… Well, maybe it’s because of who you are,” she said.
“I’m a Riftborn,” I said.
“And everyone knows that,” she agreed.
“That they do,” I also agreed, and went to sit on my bed. There was no point in me standing while she got her hair cut.
“Want some juice?” she asked.
“No.”
Mintmorency went to pouring herself a cup, and I wondered if I’d be able to just lie down and rest.
I wasn’t tired, but I felt as if I should be.
The soft bed creaked as I sat on it, and I listened to the whistling of the wind outside.
We were in the center of the inn, but the storm was a strong one… and the wind was loud here, anyway.
It was dark. Noisy. People were hiding in their homes.
The perfect time to kill someone.
If there were more enemies here, they’d show themselves tonight.
“Krift, what is this?”
Mintmorency brought her cup over to me, with an odd look on her face.
Taking the cup, I looked inside and saw the pale liquid.
I smelled it, and then took a small sip. “A berry. It’s fine,” I said.
“A berry? It’s good,” she said, taking the drink back.
“I think it’s pine berry, but you can verify it with the woman once she gets back,” I said.
“Hm. I really like it,” she said happily, taking a drink.
Watching her go back to her chair, to sit on it, I watched her happily savor her drink. She wasn’t just slowly drinking it, but smelling it too.
So happy over mere juice.
No one would believe she was the same girl, who had curled up on her bed last night all the while shivering as if freezing.
Long-Blades wasn’t the greatest at his job… but he was good enough that even I had heard of him.
A man paid to hunt. To kill. To do what others couldn’t stomach.
Yet… He hadn’t targeted her.
He had waited until she was out of the way, before launching his attack.
And men like him didn’t care for bystanders. Innocents dying meant nothing to people like that.
Which meant he had wanted her alive.
So had those other men.
The others hadn’t been anyone I recognized, but that didn’t mean they weren’t notable names themselves.
I didn’t know everyone after all. Especially since so many came and went, so quickly.
Why?
Was it her uncle?
But she had made it clear her uncle had benefited from the sale of their lands.
Granted, something had happened to upset him… but…
She couldn’t of gotten more than a few square coins for the land she sold. Even if he had taken most of that from her, it wouldn’t have been enough to hire someone like Long-Blades.
At least… not enough for him to face me.
The earlier men, the ones who had ambushed us upon entering the cliffs, hadn’t expected me.
They hadn’t known I was the Riftborn.
So they were at the very least understandable. I had overlooked them, after the battle, because of how they acted. Because of how shocked they were that it had been me.
But Long-Blades had known.
And had still tried.
The odds of her uncle being able to afford such a man, afford such a task, was…
Impossible.
And I couldn’t imagine Momma trying it. Especially when she could have tried something when we had dropped the stone off. I had been exhausted, and it had been visible. It would have been the perfect moment to attempt something like that. Plus why would she try to kill me off? To people like her, especially she who was about to become entwined in politics and wars… I was invaluable. Worth far more alive than dead.
Just who was hunting her? And why?
Even though a power, there was a limit to her value. Hiring human brigands was one thing, but those like Long-Blades? One could only hire so many of them before they’d end up spending more than she was worth. Even to the weirdest eccentrics.
Did she know who was after her? She acted as if she didn’t.
Her fear, her worry… seemed natural. She trembled in her bed last night, not because she comprehended it but simply because she had witnessed a death.
She was simply afraid of things that were scary. Like the cliffs and heights she seemed to be so terrified of.
At least, that’s what I saw.
Was I mistaken?
I blinked, and realized how upset I was getting. With a sigh I shook my head, and hoped that the old lady would arrive soon. I needed a distraction.
Or at least, I needed to stop beating around the bush.
Was I afraid if I asked, I’d not like the answer?
So what if she was being targeted?
All I needed to do was kill anyone who came for her.
Just like any other job.
No…
Glancing at the one causing me so much discord, I noticed the way she was sitting in the chair already. Excited. Staring at the door, hoping it’d open soon.
“Mintmorency,” I got her attention, and she smiled at me.
“Yeah?”
“What’s a gold coin worth?” I asked her.
She blinked, and her smile died down. But only so she could ponder my question.
“Uhm… one is worth a thousand copper ones, roughly, right? About what our farm made a month, averaged out,” she said.
A single gold a month? Twelve a year?
She really was poor.
“So, mind telling me how many copper coins you just paid?” I asked her.
For a moment I watched her blink, then frown. “Three thousand coppers? He said three coins, didn’t he?” she asked.
Before I corrected her, I realized something else. “What did you get for your farm?” I asked.
“Five hundred gold coins. But we had debts. After all the debts were paid, the baron gave me two hundred and thirty coins,” she said.
“Circle coins, you mean,” I said.
Mintmorency blinked again, and nodded. “Yeah? Where are these square ones from? I’ve never seen them,” she said, glancing to the pouch still wrapped to her waist.
I sighed. That was my fault then.
She had been so poor she hadn’t even known such coins existed.
“What? What’s wrong?” she asked, worried.
“Those square coins are worth more than the circle ones. One of them is worth fifty of the circle ones,” I said.
“What…?” she went wide eyed.
“For reference, no shop will deal in square coins. At least not for such products. Magical ones, maybe, but nothing like that,” I said, pointing to the pack.
Mintmorency rubbed her forehead as she groaned, and I was glad that she seemed to comprehend what she just had done.
“I… we can go get them back?” she asked.
“We could. But we’d have to kill the man. You willing to let me do that?” I asked.
Studying her expression closely, I was glad to see her sudden fear and worry.
“No!” she said.
“Good. Then let’s just look at this as a lesson. An expensive one,” I said.
Mintmorency groaned again, and I wondered how much longer the old woman was going to take. The night was quickly approaching, and I knew Mintmorency wanted to soak in the bath.
“I feel sick now…” she said softly.
“You’ll get over it. I let it happen, so you can blame me if you want,” I said.
“Why did you?” she asked, looking at me.
Smiling at her, I kept my mouth shut.
Mintmorency sighed, and shook her head. As she did her hat slid off, falling to her lap.
“This hat cost almost as much as my farm,” she whispered.
“Can’t wear a farm,” I said.
“Can’t even eat a hat,” she said to me.
“Actually we can. That hat can be boiled and eaten. It’s made from a fish,” I said.
“Really?”
Her earlier depressed tone disappeared as she lifted her hat. To stare at it, with an interested look.
“Really. Don’t try though, who knows where that’s been,” I warned. Before she could say anything, I noticed a floorboard creak.
I stood from my bed, since I heard the approach of footsteps. Heavier, yet more sure than the haphazard ones of the young girl.
The older woman was here.
Going to the door, I smiled to Mintmorency as she frowned back. Then she suddenly smiled, realizing what I was doing. She once again looked happy to be alive, at this moment.
Opening the door before the older woman could knock, I watched as the pair of scissors fell.
“Oh my! I’m sorry, you startled me,” she said, worriedly.
Bending down to pick up the fallen scissors, I noticed that they were a little rusty. Old.
Probably haven’t been used in some time.
“She’s ready for you,” I said, stepping out of her way.
“A haircut is it? I did notice it was looking a little messy,” the older woman said, entering the room.
Mintmorency laughed but I could faintly hear her embarrassment within it.
Before I closed the door, I glanced down the hallway. No one else was here.
“Thank you for this, Ma’am,” Mintmorency said, as she stood to put her cup of juice down. As well as her hat.
“It’s not a problem! Won’t take us long at all,” the older woman happily played her part, as I walked over and placed the scissors down on the table near them.
She had the large towel in her arms, alongside what looked to be brushes. Why the younger woman hadn’t helped her carry stuff was unknown to me.
Maybe they had other guests.
“Well… Um… I just want it a little cleaned up. I think,” Mintmorency said, sitting back down in her chair.
The way she sat stiffly told me she was unsure of herself. Maybe she was worried the old woman wouldn’t do a good job.
“Just trim it up. Her bangs, especially,” I said.
“Of course, Riftborn,” the old woman agreed, and went to covering Mintmorency with the towel.
It didn’t take long for the cutting to begin. And for a few minutes, only the sound of brushing hair, snipping of scissors, and the roar of the wind outside existed.
Keeping a close eye on the old woman’s movements, I was pleased to see that she both was decent at the task… and also had no plans to hurt Mintmorency.
“I must admit, this is the first time I’ve ever cut a power’s hair,” the old woman started her small talk.
“Can’t be that much different, is it?” Mintmorency asked.
“Not at all. Though…” she hesitated, tapping Mintmorency’s left horn with a fingertip.
“Those make it hard to brush, I admit,” she said.
“You can brush over them. It won’t hurt,” I said.
“Ah… that had been a worry, thank you,” the older woman said, then went to brushing over them as if they weren’t there.
Mintmorency smiled, enjoying the moment.
“And your hair also parts at the same spot as my daughter’s,” the older woman said lightly.
For a few minutes, the two women chatted lightly. About the weather. Family. The juice.
Watching the pair of scissors intently, I decided to just confront that which was really bothering me.
If anything, for my own satisfaction.
Stepping towards them, the older woman re-brushed the same spot, since she was now staring at me.
“Mintmorency… why are you being targeted?” I asked.
The old woman paused in her brushing, going still.
“Uhm… Krift?” Mintmorency asked, and was obviously worried, yet still remained seated.
Walking around the two, I ignored the bundles of hair I stepped on as I went in front of Mintmorency.
Staring down at her, she wasn’t able to look upward since her hair blocked her sight.
Kneeling, I glared at her narrowed eyes. She was unsure of herself.
“He was there for you. He wanted you, not me. I was just an obstacle,” I said.
She gulped, and so did the older woman.
Though worried, the human woman returned to cutting Mintmorency’s hair. Her older age had told her she wasn’t my concern. That I wasn’t a danger.
Or maybe she was just hoping to finish fast enough, as to escape.
“I thought so too,” Mintmorency then said, softly.
“Hm. Lena thought your uncle was behind your first kidnapping. Would he be behind the next two attempts?” I asked.
“I… I don’t know how. Or why. What purpose would there be?” she asked, and even the older human noticed her sad tone.
“Wealth. Power. Debts. He could gain something valuable, or be giving you up in exchange for his own life,” I said, offering ideas.
“He… he’s a drunk. A real one. To the point that he’s almost useless,” Mintmorency said as if to defend him.
The older woman paused in her brushing of hair, as if she too noticed.
“Then all the more reason for him to try something so stupid. Humans and their spirits often become lethal combinations.”
“That’s the truth,” the older woman whispered, nodding her head.
Mintmorency heard her, which made her frown. In sadness.
“I also… I also think he hates me. He blames me for a lot of stuff. Like the wars,” she said.
“The wars?”
For a tiny moment she went to nod, but the old woman had firmed her grip on her head as to stop her. Showcasing she was used to children.
“Yes. He suffered badly during the war. So I think he hates all powers, and well… I think he also blames me for his brother’s death,” she said.
“So there’s motive. Cause and reason, don’t matter,” I said, standing.
Though, it could be something else now.
It may have started as something… simpler.
Her uncle, paying a group of broke soldiers, to kidnap her. Or beat and kill her.
One of those he hires goes on to tell his buddies. Then rumors began to spread.
Until certain things, inevitably, reach certain ears.
Then, others hear of the Riftborn… guiding a suspiciously similar woman.
Once that rumor spreads, it won’t matter. Her uncle won’t matter.
All that will matter is getting to her.
They’ll want her, just because she’s next to me.
“You really think they’re after me, don’t you?” Mintmorency asked.
A tiny snip.
“I know for a fact they are. But such things won’t matter after tonight,” I said. Turning a little, I stared at the wooden wall. My eyes wandered towards the roof… A little before the corner.
There was nothing there… and I knew from memory, that there was just another room beyond the wall. Then tents, and then the cliffs, and the large canyon beyond that.
But what I stared at was far beyond even the town. And the canyons around it.
“Why’s that?”
Another snip.
“Because we’ll be entering the Rift,” I said.