Up the hill came a racket of hoves clattering on the stone, horses panting and men yelping driving on the horses. When the troup had all come together in the front yard of a little home the raised hand by the rider in front was enough instruction to tell everyone to dismount. Having each tied their horses to the hitchrack they all gathered around a man dressed in black. His outfit was made for war. Leather straps were sown in over thick cotton materials. Chain mail hung strategically over parts of his body that might be more susceptible a lunge from sabre or a swing from short sword.
"Where is Mia?" he asked himself outloud.
"Master Yomashi our men are searching the house as we speak." Saunwom the loyal servent said bowing down in from of him as he spoke.
They both walked around the grounds of the small home.
"I have wanted her from the day her father brought her into the wood shop. A more beautiful woman I have never seen in my life. Her lips dark red like the warm blood of a freshly slaughters deer. Her eyes blue like pure topaz. The sun itself seemed to exist for the sole purpose of bouncing off the brown curls on her in her hair."
"Most poetic Master Yomashi" grovelled Saunwom again. Just then a soilder walked out of the house and addressed them.
"Master Yomashi! The girl is not inside!"
"Is there any hint of where she might have gone Lieutenant Rassic?" asked Yomashi as he entered the main room in the home. Inside a few soilders were lifting up pillows, opening doors, looking behind furniture looking for anything that might give any clue as to what might have happened.
"There is no sign of the Chain of Desire or of the girl Master, but we have evidance that someone was here." Lieutenant Rassic snapped his finger and another soilder jogged forward and handed him the soiled clothing that Fred was wearing and that he had taken off before stepping into the bath.
"Might these belong to her father Master Yung?" Yomashi ponder to himself, again out loud. All the soilders knew that the question was not for them. If anyone were to reply it would be Saunwom.
Another soilder marched forward and stood to attention.
"Yes..." said Saunwom expectantly.
"Masters, I have found evidence of struggle in the kitchen. Sugar spilt on the table. A broken cup on the floor. And if you would please Masters... follow me to the bedroom." he said bowing as he finished his sentence and turned and began walking to Mia's bedroom.
Inside the bedroom it was clear to see someone had been here. There were various items of clothing on the floor. The bed was tidy but a used panty lay on a pillow. The soilder that showed them in stood back and said nothing but pointed at the mirror. Yomashi stepped forward and looked at the mirror and read out loud...
"Daddy please help... save me from Yomashi"
The atmosphere in the room grew thick with tension. The wind itself seemed not to blow or whistle around outside. No birds could be heard. Not a muscle moved. Every man in the building held their breath.
"... save me from Yomashi..." Yomashi repeated again.
Not moving a muscle on his body, the soilder that was point at the mirror began to feel that at any moment, his life was about to end. He could feel beads of sweat form on his forehead.
"Well," Yomashi said quietly, breaking what seemed to be an eternal silence but not breaking his gaze from the words written on the mirror in lipstick. "we know two things. One, she believes her father is alive and therefore so should we at least entertain the idea. And two, that she thinks I was going to take her."
Quietness again. Yomashi turned around to Lieutenant Rassic and address him.
"No sign of course of the Chain of Desire?"
"No sign Master Yomashi!" he replied clearly and sharp.
"Saddle up your men. Our search parameters have expanded. We now seek Mia, Master Yung, the Chain of Desire and of course... whoever kidnapped Mia."
Having commanded his men, Yomashi left the building and headed outside to his horse. When he stepped outside, all the tension disappated.
"Good job Rassic! Well done. Well done to your men too." Saunwom said to the Lieutenant Rassic and with this he reached into his pocket and handed Rassic a bag of coins.
"Master Saunwom my men are honoured to serve - there is no need..."
"Your men have are all leaving here in one piece because they carried themselves exactly how they should have - and that is down to you!" Saunwom said looking Rassic in the eyes. "Now lets not keep him waiting!" he finished and they all headed out to the horses and followed Yomashi back into town again.