It's almost time to say goodbye.
The old herald Milcah called her granddaughter and gave her some instructions. Such tasks should keep the child from coming home until noon.
"Take your stuffs with you and wait for me at the riverbanks. I will meet you there."
"Grandma, are we going back to our village?" the innocent girl expectantly asks.
"Ehm." The old woman nodded as she lies.
"Yes! I will be able to see my friends again!" Sarah jumped excitedly. Unknown to her, this day will be her last day to see her grandmother.
"But remember, you must wait for me at the riverbanks after you help that old man gather these medicinal herbs. Don't forget to give him the paper I handed you so he'll know what medicine to prepare, okay?"
"I will grandma. Then I'm going now." she was about to get out from the small house when her grandma called out.
"Aren't you going to kiss your grandmother?"
"Grandma, why are you acting weird these past few days? Are you going to leave me again for a long time just like before?" the lady pouted.
"You! why are you asking a lot of questions? Come here." She went close and hug the lady. "Take good care of yourself, okay?"
"I will, grandma… I love you. bye!" Sarah smiled at the old herald before dashing to the other side of the mountain.
The old herald watches her until she couldn't see her granddaughter's shadow any longer. "I'm sorry, sweetheart." She murmurs within.
Now, she's ready to face the fate she chose. "In order for the light to shine, a blood sacrifice must be made."
********
Victory!
Finally, Liam was able to persuade the Sulanite Chief through the daughter. Now he has contracted five clans in his list, seven more to go. Maybe they can start the G12 (government of 12) system while working on the others? Well, he'll try.
Happiness is painted all over his face. He was so excited to share the good news to Asher, however, the perplexity on the man's face troubled him.
"Liam, Bad news!" Asher cried as soon as he saw Liam.
"What is it?"
"Miss Diana… they took her!"
"Who took who?" Liam was surprise. He couldn't believe his ears.
"Someone abducted her last night. The fire… it was the lodge where the women stayed!" he reported as he handed him the letter that Cole sent.
Liam was deeply bothered as soon as he read the letter. How could it be? Who in his right mind would set a house on fire and abduct an innocent woman?! it doesn't make sense! He curled his fist in anger.
Asher must have known what's on Liam's mind so he prepared their horses. Then they quickly race back to Sul-an Village.
Meanwhile, Cole and the others start searching for the woman. But first, they need to gather information about the men who possibly took her, thus they went back to the restaurant. As for Grace, they decided to leave her to the old man's care along with two of their men.
"Do you remember the five men who were sitting at that table yesterday at noon?" Cole asks the guy helper.
"Yes sir. they are a regular costumer here. Why'd you ask? did they cause you any trouble?"
"Something like that." Cole answered. "Do you know what they do? where do they work and where they stay?"
The bartender is smart. He recognized something was wrong just by hearing Cole's questions.
"Sorry I don't know much about them. but if you can wait, my master might have the answers you're looking for." Then the young man went to see his master. After a few minutes, a man in his fifties came forth.
"My servant says you're looking for the L-gang, is that right?" the master asked.
"Yes sir."
"If I may ask, why are you looking for them?"
"They abducted one of our companion." Cole was direct.
The Restaurant master exhaled deeply but not surprised. Does he already know?
"Your companion that was abducted, Is it the foreigner woman?
"How did you know?" Cole surprisingly stood up from his seat.
"They are called the L-gang. They do all nasty jobs… literally all nasty jobs one could ever think off. But they don't simply touch a person without getting paid for a high price."
Cole got a little confuse. "So you mean someone is behind the abduction besides those group?"
"Yes. So someone must have paid them to take your friend. If you want to save the woman then you must find who wants to harm her first. That person surely knows where your friend is."
"What do you mean by that?"
"The employer surely has the complete details about the abduction."
Cole paused for a while. Someone who wants to harm the young miss? He couldn't think of anyone. Besides, the woman is a foreigner! If ever someone really wants to harm her then it should have come from the team… but it was way too impossible!
"They don't have a permanent place but I heard they have a secret station somewhere. They have a lot of members everywhere. Try to find their logo, it may lead you to where they are."
"What's their logo?"
"it's the letter L tattooed on their left wrist."
"Thank you so much, sir." Cole was about to exit when the aged man called out.
"You must hurry because once they marked the woman, there's no way for you to save nor claim her anymore. everything comes with a price."
"So there are still some gangs using the old trick huh." Cole snorted before leaving the restaurant.
Cole relayed what the restaurant owner said about the L-gang. And as soon as they heard all the information, they dispersed in two in search for the members. Cole and Gideon decided to separate ways to make the search a bit faster.
They've been searching the whole village for an hour now yet they haven't found a single member. Cole was already at the intersection road and was looking at the road leading to the next village. What if he will be able to spot one there? yeah, it's definitely a great idea.
Cole was about to set off when he saw two horses rushing to his side. That stance… it's surely Shadows! Liam! he suddenly felt overjoyed and nervous at the same time.
"Liam! Asher!" he went to meet the two.
"Cole! How is the search? Did you find her?" they can see how worried Liam is at the moment.
"We are still looking for them." Cole bowed his head in guilt.
Liam cursed. The two can feel his tension. He's absolutely upset. Cole then relayed the information he received from the restaurant master about the possible suspects.
The L-gang! He curled his fist. Of course he knew what they are capable of. So he instructed Cole and Asher to gather everyone and meet him at the next village. They must find her at all cost.
"I'll set out to the next village. I'll see you there." then Liam left in a hurry while Asher and Cole went back to Sul-an Village.
***
"Please… someone… help me…" a woman hidden in a human size casket is shuddering in fear as she listens to the crisp laughs of some men on horses.
"She'll definitely cost a fortune! Ha-ha-ha!" one of the men yelp.
"Are we really going to sell her right away?" another guy spoke. "Can't we play with her for just a little time?"
"Are you crazy?!" the other guy hit the man beside him. "Play with her? We signed the contract. What if that person learnt about your stupidity? Do you want your head to be cut off?!" the other guy yelp.
"You should have not signed that damn contract! That person wanted to get rid of her instantly. This is not just a simple threat… that person's eyes wanted to kill this woman!"
As soon as they heard their buddy, they fell silent for a few minutes. "Would it really be okay?" the other guy smirk.
Diana, on the other hand, had been listening intently at their conversation.
"Please… someone… help me…." she's desperately praying for help.
"God, I can die if you want me to... but please, don't let me die ugly. At least let me die as a beauty with dignity." she bargained.
Though she is not afraid to die but she definitely doesn't want to die an unpleasant death. tsk tsk.