“Well, well. What do we have here?” one of them grined. His voice was rough and unkind and it gave Madie shivers. Not the good ones.
“Please, just let me through.” She said quietly with her gaze locked on the ground.
“Maybe you want to tell us from which kingdom you come from?” another man asked and put his fat hand across the door to block it.
“As noble men you would let me go and have rest. We can continue this conversation tomorrow.” She whispered quietly, trying not to shake visibly.
“Look kid, just make it easy for both of us. ” The fat man hissed impatiently.
“But I have no money or valuable items with me, they are upstairs in the room! Take all of them, just please let me be!” she almost cried.
“Hush, or we will have to shut you up! You are definitely a spoiled whiny brat raised on fancy court. And If you can’t give us helpful information, we would need to get money otherwise...” the third man stepped out of shadow, holding something shiny in his right hand. A short dagger, dangerously pointing at Madie’s chest. She stood frozen in that moment, unable to think clearly.
She couldn’t run into the forest, she couldn’t get inside nor call for help. She couldn’t fight and have no weapons. But as her father used to say, a true warrior has always one weapon up his sleeve. The thought of her father gave her courage to look up and say:
“Very well, my good men.” She started with raised chin and false confidence, voice still trembling. “I was caring a document for the royal court of great ruler Karol. It is a very important strategic plan from northern kingdom and I am sure you can get a lot of money for it.”
She could see some movement, but their faces were still in shadow and blade kept pointing at her. The fat man looked at his companion and murmured:
“Is it true?”
The tall man turned his face towards him and went silent for few seconds, thinking.
“I haven’t heard everything because of the music, but Adam mentioned this girl being from the northern court, saying something about valuable information and money.” He said slowly.
Madie frowned. On one side, she was glad they couldn’t see through her lie, on the other side she felt anger for Adam blabbering around without thinking about consequences. But now, he was her best bet and it was too late to pull back.
Finally, the man holding the dagger, lowered it down and barked:
“And where is that document?”
“I’ve already given it to Adam, and paid him to pass it to the right people. I don’t mind If you would take the money and document from him, my job is already done.”
The tall man looked at her suspiciously. Maybe he saw through her lies?
“All right then, but you’re coming with us.” He murmured, grabbing her by hand and pushing forward. The fat man holding the door step aside and hissed in low voice:
“And don’t you try anything stupid.”
Madie gulped and hoped that Adam would cooperate. For the sake of both of them.
The air in the hall was warm and heavy, with musicians playing a slow melody. The tall man quickly scanned the room, undoubtedly looking for Adam. Other two men stood so close to Madie, that she could smell the mixture of sweat and overdue wine. Fortunately, Emma noticed her desperate facial expression and swiftly moved towards them.
“My good fellows, I need to speak with this beautiful flower. Will you excuse us for a moment?” she smiled widely, grabbing Madie’s arm.
“Stay out of it, Emma. We have some dealing with her, you’ll get her once we’re finished. Isn’t it right?” he finished, turning his gaze to terrified Madie.
“Yes, that is true.“ she smiled back.
Emma nodded and turned around, pretending to collect empty cups from the table. Seated at the table was a drunk man snoring, with a ragged cape pulled over his messy brown hair. The innkeeper quietly approached him and whispered:
“Time to pay back for the money that girl gave you.”
“Hm? Emma, is that you? Just leave me alone! I’ve paid for the wine and nigh, haven’t I?” he mumbled from underneath the cover.
“You selfish boy! The girl that gave you all those coins is in trouble. Jahn and his gang has her for some reason. You have to help her.” She hissed to his ear and smashed one of the cups just few inches from his face.
“I don’t have to do anything. She has that old grumpy man to do the job.” He murmured and pull the cover further over his head.
“No way, honey. First you persuade me to give him a strong sleeping medicine and now you do this? You are a soldier for hire and that girl paid you. Now I want to see you stand up and earn that money!” she finished and slapped him at the back of his head. Adam immediately jumped up and frowned at her with red, puffy eyes.
“No. I have enough for a year, maybe two. And now let me be!” he shouted angrily and smashed hand on the table. The musicians stopped and looked their way. And so did everyone else in the room.
“Adam, just the man we were looking for.” A sharp voice cut the silence. Adam frowned at three men surrounding a terrified girl with two braids of puffy blond hair. Emma gloomed and slowly moved aside, closer to the fireplace.
“What now, Jahn? I’ve already settled all my debts to you and your monkey helpers.” He grinned. The fat man took a step forward and meddled his hands.
“What did you call us? Shall we hang you upside down on a tree like the last time, you little filth?” Dangerously advancing forward, the tall man put his hand on his shoulder and pulled him back.
“Not now. First, give us the document and money this girl gave you.”
Adam first frowned at them, and then started to laugh.
“Come on, since when do you make deals with little girls?”
“I can ask you the same question. She gave you the coins, hasn’t she? Emma can confirm that.”
Emma, carefully observing the scene, stepped between them and frowned at Adam. Then slowly nodded. Hardly anyone paid attention to a jar she was holding.
“That is true, darling. If you’ll give me a small cut, I can point you to the document.”
Madie’s eyes widened. What on earth is she doing? These men are not very bright, but neither completely stupid. Or maybe she is their accomplice? Berno was right about dangerous world and greedy people. She observed the innkeeper walking towards Adam and whispering something to his right ear while pretending to search for a non-existing document. Adam didn’t seem to be particularly fond of what he’d heard, but nodded.
And at that moment, the innkeeper smiled widely at her and winked, making sure nobody else noticed it.
“Jahn, honey, he doesn’t have it with him. Maybe you want to go and check his room? It’s the second chamber to your right, just walk upstairs. And let the music play! This night is still young and I don’t pay you three to stand and gaze at pretty girls and strong men.” Clapping a fast rhythm with her hands, musicians took their instruments and started to play the melody. Most of people left standing slowly moved to the centre and started to dance and giggle. Apart from Madie, still trapped between two men.
The fat one, griping her right shoulder, turned to his boss for instructions.
“All right then. I will go and search for it, since I’m actually the only one from us able to read. You two guard the girl and that weasel, just in case. She may come handy in the future.” And with that he quickly walked upstairs and disappeared behind massive door leading to the dormitories. Emma moved aside, gabbed the jar from the fireplace and put a cover on it. Adam stood up, but one of Madie’s guardians shouted at him to sit down. Ignoring him, he picked up the cloak from the floor and fastened a small messenger bag over it. Both men were confused, obviously lost without their leader. The tall one stepped forward and pushed Adam back to the bench. Hardly anyone noticed Emma sneaking behind Madie and grabbing her free hand.
“Now!” she shouted with a surprising strength and flushed the boiling water into fat’s man face and on his hand. Adam grinned and grabbed the tall guy firmly around his unguarded waist area and with all his body strength smashed him to the floor. Madie finally felt the release on her shoulder and ducked, prepared to run towards her room and wake up Berno. But another, gentler hand, stopped her.
“Don’t be a fool, girl. You need to leave now, Adam will go with you as your protector.” She waved towards two men still fighting on the floor, with Adam clearly winning.
“No! You don’t underst...” Madie started to object.
“Do you want to be in trouble?! I’ll take care of everything. And now get out!” Emma hissed and pushed her towards the door. The fat man, still holding his burned face, was dangerously approaching Adam, now standing victorious above the unconscious tall man. In an instant Emma grabbed a ceramic plate with remains of some stew and smashed it over fat man’s head. He grunted angrily and turned around, which was a moment for Adam to quickly sneak behind and grab Madie by hand, pulling her towards the door. The shock from the whole situation caused her to feel like she was in a bad dream, but vanishing screams and cold air in her face were real enough to remind her the opposite. They passed the fire pyre she noticed earlier that evening, but no one was around it. With short breath and pain in her chest, she held tightly to the hand of the despicable stranger that forced her to dance peasant dance and wished for her father’s death. And now he was leading her to the black forest with a band of thugs on their track and Berno left behind with no idea what happened. This couldn’t get any worse, she thought.
But she was wrong.
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