"No, no," Row shook her head. "It's just, you know, you left two years ago and even if we're friends, a lot has changed since then."
"It's just two years," Jarek pointed out, "how much can really change in such a small amount of time."
Willem, who had lain on the grass at some point, interjected. "She's right, Jah, a lot can change in two years. I mean, two years ago she was as flat as a board."
Immediately Rowena turned to face Willem, mock rage clearly written on her face. "What did you just say?"
Sensing danger, Willem sat up and raised his hands in the air. "I didn't mean anything, it was just a factual observation."
"Well," Rowena spoke slowly, "I don't appreciate your factual observations."
Willem was quiet for a moment, then he lowered his hands and said apologetically. "Sorry, Row. Really." He made a zipping motion across his mouth. "I'll never mention that again."
"Good." Row spoke the word forcefully, and the tension dissolved as they continued their conversation, now with a lighter atmosphere.
"So Jah," Willem said, a mischievous glint in his eyes, "I heard some rumors about girls in the city and wanted to confirm them. I heard that the girls there are really loose, is that true?"
Rowena shook her head slightly, as though she had predicted what his question would be like.
"Not really," Jarek shook his head. "It's only noble girls that are really... open, and even then it's not all of them. As for girls not from noble families, they don't dare. Not unless they never want to get married."
Rowena said. "Let me guess, even if they are free as silk in the wind, men are still willing to marry noble girls because of money and power."
"Pretty much."
"Can you blame them?" Willem argued, deciding to play devil's advocate. "I mean, marry one and you're set for life. That's a pretty tempting offer."
"Sure," Jarek said, his voice thick with sarcasm, "it's a tempting offer, if you're comfortable with half the city having seen your wife in various states of undress. I mean once, the youngest daughter of Duke Gervaise snuck out of her house to go drink in one of the largest taverns, The Light Place. After she got drunk, she stripped down to her chemise and gave the patrons there a rather 'unique' dance performance."
"I wish I could have seen that," Willem mused.
"No," Jarek corrected, "you don't, because after her father got word of what was happening, he sent his guards to the tavern and locked it up. Then, everyone in there without powerful backing, the normal people, got their eyes plucked out."
Rowena recoiled in disgust. "That's too far. Is he just allowed to misuse his authority like that?"
Jarek nodded, while Willem squinted, deep in thought. Finally, Willem said in a solemn voice. "There's a price to pay for everything, so who am I to complain? If that's the cost, so be it."
"You pervert," Rowena declared as she threw an apple at Willem's head, which he easily dodged. "May the gods save you."
Willem clasped his hands together. "Let it be so, as long as it's the goddess of beauty."
Jarek said while fighting a smile. "I swear, women will be the death of you, Will." Willem didn't seem to care, however.
They finished their lunch and continued speaking when Willem suddenly became alert, cocking his head as though listening to something. "Do you guys hear that?"
"Hear what?" Rowena asked.
"Sounds like horses."
They all exchanged puzzled glances. Out of the three, Willem had impeccable hearing, and similar situations had occurred many times in the past. As one, they stood up, and far in the distance, they noticed a rather large group of horsemen riding toward the village.
Willem smiled. "Seems like something interesting is going to happen in the village today. Let's go check it out."
Just as he was about to move, Jarek grabbed his arm with an iron grip, stopping him. Willem turned to see that Jarek's expression had turned to one of utmost seriousness, the levity that had just previously been there gone.
Meanwhile, Jarek was struggling to control his beating heart as he watched the horsemen in the distance. Is that what Reynard was warning them about? Why he wanted them to leave their house? Jarek didn't have the answers, but at the moment his instincts were screaming at him to proceed with utmost caution, and he chose to believe them.
"Don't go there," he said, as his eyes followed the horsemen. "Let's watch first and see what they want."
Rowena, sensing something was wrong, asked, "Is there a problem, Jah?"
"Maybe," he answered honestly. "I'm not completely certain yet."
"Let me go and warn my family ab-" Rowena started to move when Jarek also grabbed her.
"No!" he said, "I don't think the danger is targeting the village. Just my family."
"What do you mean?" Willem asked.
Hoping that his mother and sisters had long since left the house, Jarek said, "Ok, let me explain."
* * * * *
Avar
Avar woke up to find herself surrounded by darkness, her head throbbing. She attempted to stand up but soon fell, her hands tied behind her.
"Mom?" a soft, scared voice spoke. Avar instantly recognized it.
"Alisa, is that you?" Avar asked, straining to make out anything in the darkness. She could see nothing.
"Yes, mom."
A wave of relief washed over her as she realized her daughters had not been taken away from her. "Are you alright? Are you hurt? Where is Esme?"
"I'm here, mommy," Esme's voice, close to tears, replied from somewhere near Alisa.
"We're fine, he didn't do anything to us," Alisa replied.
Avar silently thanked the gods before pondering her next move. Just because Reynard had not hurt them yet didn't mean he did not plan to. He had broken into their house, knocked them all unconscious, and then brought them here for unknown reasons.
Thinking about that, Avar also couldn't help but ponder the strangeness of how he caught them. Somehow, in the space of a few minutes, he had gotten into the house, and knocked her daughters unconscious without making a sound. Then he had done the same to her with just a single command: sleep.
What did he use? Drugs? Poison? Or something else. Was he even really a man?
Pushing those questions out of her mind, Avar struggled to sit up. In the dark, she heard shuffling, most likely her daughters trying to make their way to her. Soon, she felt something warm touch her, but she couldn't make out its appearance. In the darkness, she could only see vague shifting shadows moving around her.
After managing to sit up, she asked, "Alisa, are you also tied up?"
"No," her daughter's voice replied from beside her.
Taking some deep breaths, Avar made a request. "Alisa, my hands are currently tied behind my back. Please, help me untie myself."
She felt a small hand move over her body before settling on the ropes restraining her. Over the next few minutes, while adjusting her position, Avar gave her daughter instructions to help free her hands. They had to be very careful, though, since they could not see, and it would be very easy to make a mistake that would tighten the bond instead of loosening it.
At the same time, Avar tried her best to pay attention to their surroundings. The air was dry, and there was a familiar scent, but Avar couldn't place how such darkness could feel so strangely familiar. Something about the darkness felt artificial, unnatural.
At some point, Esme curled up in front of her mother, crying softly. She was scared, and not just of the dark. That much Avar could tell.
Deep voices started to reach them, distant but growing nearer. Avar strained to make out some of what they were saying.
"Everyone... get out of your houses now!"
"...want to die?"
"Do… test my patience!"
"...answer me!"
Snippets of conversation were all she was able to hear. The sound of horses galloping echoed.
All of a sudden, the ropes fell free from her hands. Immediately, she burst into action, ordering her daughters to cling to her clothes and stay close. She began feeling around the room, desperate to find a door.
The darkness was beginning to take its toll. She started seeing flashes of light, fleeting shapes that disappeared when she tried to focus on them. However, she didn't let that deter her.
Soon, she felt a familiar shape—a door. She located the handle and tried to open it, expecting it to be locked shut, but no. It swung wide open, dispelling the unnatural darkness and revealing the room beyond.
A frown appeared on her face as she recognized her location—Mrs. Tamsy's home. Reynard, she couldn't help but think, what exactly are you planning?
Free of the darkness, Avar began to inspect her daughters. Apart from their dirty clothes and scared expressions, they appeared unharmed. Just as Avar was about to stop, she discovered a faint symbol on the back of both their hands, slowly fading away. She checked her hand and found the exact same symbol. At this point, she was convinced that Reynard was no ordinary man.