Chereads / The Assassin's Blessing / Chapter 14 - Brother's Reunion.

Chapter 14 - Brother's Reunion.

BRETVER 24TH YEAR 548 ASMERIAN CALENDAR

Miller woke up as Ruby clung tightly to him as she did the nights before, her face buried into his side. He slowly got up and without waking her and made his way to the kitchen. This time Audrey was still asleep and he made a small breakfast for himself. He sat down in his armchair and ate while reading an old Gregorian novel. He heard a set of galloping horses approach and he jumped to his feet.

He looked out the window and saw Sir Hughes and Fritz riding at a breakneck pace to his front porch. Miller ran back to his room with haste. "Wake up girls!" He shouted. "Wake up, and get out of bed." Ruby came out of his room still half asleep and Audrey came down the stairs with her pillow still in her arms. "Audrey, your uncle is back with Sir Hughes and he's going to take you back home now."

"Really? I better get dressed then." Audrey said as she rushed back upstairs.

"What does she mean by getting dressed, she already had clothes on."

"Well, she was in a nightgown, that type of clothing you're only supposed to wear when you're asleep."

"Am I in a nightgown?" Ruby asked as she looked down at the dress that she'd been wearing since Miller freed her.

"No, but we did get you other clothes the day before yesterday. How about you change into something new so I can wash those." It was at that moment Miller heard the front door open. "Hello?" Fritz barked "Is anyone here?"

Miller rounded the corner and saw Fritz and Sir Hughes standing just past the doorway. "Erik!" Miller exclaimed with glee. "How have you been?" Fritz was wearing the same clothes as the night Miller called on him. Sir Hughes was, on the other hand, ready for war. He was dressed head to toe with plate armor and riveted chainmail. He had dark red lines painted on his armor and his longsword was carefully secured to his side.

"I've been well, my old and trusted friend." He said with a deep voice that demanded respect and authority as it made one's very bones vibrate. "I heard that a friend was in need and rushed to his side."

"You have my thanks, how was it coming here from Concord?" Miller asked as he embraced Sir Hughes like a long lost brother.

"It was slower than I had hoped," Hughes said as he returned the embrace.

"Why was that?"

"Your man, this Fritz Barker, is not cut out for this nor would I recommend him again for your use." Sir Hughes said as he glared straight at Fritz. "I've not seen any Gregorian laze around as much as this man when the fate of our country as he described it was at stake."

"What do you mean by laze around?"

"Every time it came to us switching horses he would always make small talk or try to get a bite to eat when he had already eaten at the previous stop. If you were an Asmerian, I would have cut you down to save my time."

"I'm so sorry Sir Hughes," Fritz said as his voice cracked.

"Ya better be, I don't care who the fuck ya are. You best never slow me down again. Now your niece is here isn't she?"

"Yes, sir."

"Get her and go, you are relieved of duty."

"She's upstairs getting changed into proper clothes." Miller said as he pointed to the staircase. Fritz ran upstairs to meet her. "So, I see he caused trouble."

"That's an understatement, my friend. He almost ratted us out to the Asmerians at the border."

"I knew he was stupid but never that foolish." Miller said as he watched him sprint up the stairs.

"Useless describes him best my friend." Hughes said as he took a seat on Miller's sofa. "Now, where are these men you want me to smuggle across into Gregoria at?"

"They're at a creek not far from here. It won't take but thirty minutes to reach them."

It was then that Fritz had returned with Audrey in hand. "I'll be off Sir Hughes." He said as he made his way to the door. "Aye, get going man, I'd like to not see your face for a while."

Audrey waved goodbye to Miller and left with Fritz through the door. Ruby had just finished getting dressed and made her way to the living room. Mister Miller and Hughes were talking to each other over a large map laid out over the coffee table as she rounded the corner. "Mister Miller, I'm dressed." She said.

Miller looked up from his map and saw her in the beautiful red and white dress he had bought her on the second day of taking her into his custody. Her red hair matched the dress and there was a hole for her tail that he had quickly cut for her. "Who's this?" Hughes asked.

"This is Ruby, she's a guest of mine."

"Nice to meet you," Ruby said shyly as she approached Miller's side.

"Nice to meet you as-" Hughes paused as he looked up. He fell silent and turned his gaze to Miller as he finally took notice of the young Varin. "I did not take ya as a slave owner my friend." He muttered so as not to be heard by Ruby.

"She's no slave Erik, she is a guest," Miller replied as he brought Ruby closer. "I came across her while dealing with a Luccian Slaver at the gate of the town three days ago."

"I'm sorry my friend, I should've thought as much. My deepest apologies miss Ruby, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"You're fine, let's get back to business though," Miller said as he pointed back down onto the map. "This path would work best for protection. Travel along the Zander range and across the River Hansen, up to Concord."

"I agree, but that area is heavily patrolled by orcs and goblins among other monsters that I'd rather not contend with."

"I know how you feel, I carry many scars from those foul creatures." Miller said as he sat back in his chair.

"Orcs and goblins exist?" Ruby asked as she sat down next to Miller. "I thought that they were only tales that our masters used to scare us from running away."

"Yes, but these days they've been keeping to the Bowing Woods and away from mankind."

"Are they as scary as the stories?"

"Aye, the orcs are the worst, they strip you down to your bearskin and will do one of two things to ya. If you're a man they'd eat ya alive. But, if you have the misfortune of being a girl they'll still strip ya down to your skin but they won't be eating ya. They'll turn you into an orc mother and make you have their children." Erik said with a grim tone of voice.

"But that rarely happens anymore." Miller said as he patted her on the head. "They may be savages but they won't go far out of their way just to get us, lass. The Bowing Woods is their only sanctuary so we let the elves deal with them. They say that the orc king submitted to the elves not long ago, though I doubt that."

"Enough about the monsters of the woods. I believe I have everything I need to get these men back across to Gregoria in four days' time. From there I expect only two additional days of travel to get to Clearwater."

"Very well my friend, shall I go then?" Miller said as he stood up.

"Aye, it'll be now or never. Do you have any Grear meat that I could borrow, I'm famished."

"Sure, I'll grab you my best cuts."

Miller entered the kitchen and butchered a large slab of Grear meat and ribs. He then added a large amount of salt to keep it from going bad and wrapped it in parchment. He also grabbed a water bladder and headed outside with Erik in tow to fill it. Miller said his goodbyes to Ruby as he headed off into the woods with Erik.

Ruby sat out on the front porch waiting, she watched as the birds flew freely against the blue backdrop of the sky and she watched as men walked the road into Greendale. Some were farmers off to make a sale of produce, others were traveling merchants with all sorts of banners marking where they were from and there were even Asmerian Soldiers marching in formation towards the town. But what caught her eye the most was a slaver leading ten or so slaves into the town to be sold. She noticed that four of them were a family about to be broken apart.

She turned her gaze away from the slaves after she noticed the little girl crying. It seemed that she had just been whipped and was being carried by her father. Ruby suddenly started to weep as she remembered her mother's embrace. She then remembered that she now had a home to call her own with MIster Miller. She was able to cheer herself up and stop her weeping. She headed inside for the rest of the day awaiting Mister MIller's return.

Miller and Erik ran through the forest to the creek where Sir Otis and Conrad were waiting. It wasn't long before they crossed over the final hill and saw the group of men below waiting next to the water's edge. Miller took the lead as they approached down the hill. "Hello!" Miller announced as he passed under an alarm that Sir Otis had set.

"Ah, welcome Sir Miller, we were expecting you to show up. Just not as suddenly as you did." Sir Conrad said as he went to greet the two Ritter's making their way towards him. "Is that you SIr Hughes?" He asked as he saw the second man in tow behind MIller.

"Aye, I see my friend has already taken the liberty of introducing me." He said as he extended his arm to SIr Conrad. The two shook hands. "Yes he did, I'm honored to make your acquaintance. I've heard many stories about you, Sir Hughes."

"All of them good I hope," Hughes said as he looked around at the supplies at his disposal.

"Aye, so, when will we be leaving Sir Hughes?"

"Right now, we have little time. I have to get you to the Prime Minister with haste." He said with eagerness.

"But we've not had breakfast yet. You expect us to run on empty stomachs?" Lady Quillian asked.

"Who are you miss?" Hughes asked.

"I am Catherine Quillian, I was part of the King's court."

"I see if you've not had any breakfast hurry up and make a quick meal. I'm not here to be your friend, I'm here to get ya to Gregoria." Hughes announced.

"I understand Sir Hughes," Quillian said as she grabbed a pot and some eggs from her bag. It wasn't long before she had fried eggs and Grear bacon cooked and ready to eat. Everyone except Miller and Erik sat down around the campfire and started to eat. Miller pulled Erik aside and away from the others. "I must say that I do not completely trust everyone here. That Xaiver Lawerence is too quiet for my liking." Miller whispered.

"I thank you for the advice, I'll keep my eyes on him. However, I doubt that he is working for the King of Asmeria. There may be another force at play since they've made it this far." Erik said as he turned his gaze towards the others.

"Do ya think that you'll make it in time?" Miller asked out of concern.

"Aye, we can make it. You better be off my friend, ya have a child under your care now and ya better get back to her."

"I will, I wish these were better times so that you and I could spend more time together instead of like it is now. All of this trading of secrets and knowledge is going to get me someday." Miller said as he started back to his house.

"Aye, it shall be a wonderful day when our services are no longer needed by our fatherland."

"Here's to that my friend, and goodbye."

"Hey, get rid of Fritz Barker. He'll only lead ya to more trouble than ya fuckin need!" Erik shouted as Miller walked out of earshot. Miller turned back and gave a thumbs up.

Miller started the long walk home as he crested over the hill and out of sight from everyone else. He felt confident leaving SIr Otis and his group in the care of Erik Hughes. There wasn't much that he couldn't do in Miller's eyes and as he walked home all he could think about was Ruby. It felt nice having someone living with him again as it had been almost a year since he had last seen his wife.

Miller crested over the last hill before the fields of Greendale smoothed out to his home. The foothills of the Zander mountain range were easily traversed as they were gentle in their slopes and soft in terrain. The sun shined bright as noon came and passed. The cool brisk air blew throughout the valley and fields. Miller watched as his wheat fields waved like water in a rough sea. And he saw his home sitting alone and still like an island waiting for his return.

The golden fields were soon covered by the shade of the clouds overhead and Miller, despite everything that was about to or could happen, felt at ease. He walked through his field of wheat and entered through the back door of his house. "Ruby, I'm home!" He exclaimed.

"Welcome home Mister Miller!" She shouted as she rounded the corner at a breakneck pace.

"I guess you missed ay lass?" Miller said as he caught her as she jumped up into his arms.

"Yes, I did. I- I have something I want to tell you, Mister Miller."

"Oh, what is it, did something happen while I was away?" Miller asked with concern.

"Nothing bad."

"That's a relief, so what is it, lass?"

"I wanted to say thank you," Ruby said as she looked towards the floor. "I know that you could've left me behind when you freed me from my last master so I just wanted to say thank you."

"You're welcome lass, there's no need for ya to thank me. I'm just doing what I think is right and actually, I've been thinking."

"About what?" Ruby interrupted.

"That it's about time that you met my wife. I plan on returning to Gregoria within a month or so and I'd like ya to come with me."

"I'd like to go with you, Mister Miller!" Ruby exclaimed.

"Alright, calm down we've got some preparing to do before we go to Gregoria. First I've gotta get you some warmer clothes. It's cold up in Concord and I'd hate for ya to be stuck inside the entire time." Miller said as he started for his room. "We've also got to ready some food as I don't like hunting when I'm traveling."

"Why's that Mister Miller?"

"Simply because I normally have to leave parts of the animal behind or unused. I prefer to not be wasteful when it comes to taking life." Miller said as he grabbed a purse of coin out of a cupboard in his bedroom. "So, shall we be off lass?" He asked as he tossed the purse to Ruby.

"We shall!" She said as she caught the purse. With that, they headed into Greendale and bought supplies for the trip to Gregoria. Ruby got new clothes and her own bar of soap. The day ended with Miller pulling a cart of supplies back to his house as Ruby rode in the cart.