by Sher Dillard
An awkward silence fell between them for a moment. As if neither knew what to say. Thad wondered if he should raise the subject of the coin again. Maybe her father had said something. Maybe he could find some clue.
“I was thinking,” Rachel said, interrupting his thoughts, “I could approach some of the other booksellers, and the curator at the University. About the coin. Maybe they know something. If there are five of these coins. They could be anywhere. Surely, there is mention of them somewhere.”
Thad was shocked at her offer to help. Why was she going out of her way to help him? Surely, it couldn’t be just because of the Velenciter book.
“Are you sure?” he asked. “That would be of great assistance. Perhaps I could come with you?”
“No,” she said quickly. “I mean, I don’t think that would be wise. These men guard their secrets like they are treasure troves. I know them. They were each good friends with my father. They owe him. If I approach them alone, I might very well learn something that they would never reveal to a stranger. Especially a stranger from a far land.”
“Very well, if you say so. And how do you know I am from a far land?” he asked, his eyebrow lifting in question.
Now it was Rachel’s turn to laugh. “That is simple. No man from Carster carries such a large sword and knows the value of a Velenciter volume. Believe me. You, sir, are unique.”
Thad warmed internally, it sounded like the woman had just given him a compliment.
Smiling, he nodded, “Very well. I accept your offer to help. But, you must allow me to return the favor. Perhaps there is something I could do for you. An enemy eliminated, a prized treasure retrieved. Oh, I know, a jilted lover that needs to be dispatched.”
Rachel smiled and shook her head. “No, thank you anyway, but there is nothing like that. I live a rather boring life here, surrounded by these books.”
Thad remained quiet for a long moment as he studied this woman. Was that a hint of sadness behind those eyes? What must it be like? Learning about all of these stories, but never being able to experience her own adventure?
“Oh well, anytime Miss Rachel Hopson, I am available.”
The woman smiled as her cheeks turned a faint pink. This woman blushed easily, he thought. Or at least around him, she did.
“Is that what you do, Thad? Rescue damsels in distress.”
He laughed. “That, and search for lost medallions.”
They smiled at each other, their eyes locked, and a dozen thoughts passed back and forth between them. Thoughts of longing, hope, and passionate nights.
Thad found himself thinking of home and how he would like to show this woman his valley. There was so much he would like to show her. But, no. He could not return until he had found a medallion. His mother had been rather adamant on that.
His brothers had set the bar high. He must reach their heights.
Swallowing regret, he pulled his eyes away from hers and returned to studying the book before him.
Rachel coughed gently and retrieved the now empty platter.
Thad looked up as she walked away. Her hips gently swinging with each step. He swallowed hard and tried to remember his mission. The coin. He must find the coin. He didn’t have time to spend wooing this young lady. Besides, this was not the type of woman that a man used, then cast aside. No, not Miss Rachel Hopson. This was a woman who deserved a lifetime of happiness. The type of woman that a man put before everything else in his world.
And right now, nothing could be put before finding the damn medallion.
.o0o.
Rachel slipped off her cloak and entered the shop. She glanced back over her shoulder to the chair where Thad had spent the day reading.
Occasionally, he would look up from his book and ask her a question. Or, laugh and tell her something funny he had discovered.
She shivered. In some ways, it reminded her of a thousand days spent with her father. The quiet comfort of just being together. Sharing information and discoveries.
Hanging her cloak up, she thought about what she had learned. Her father’s friends had little knowledge of the coin. Only rumors and myths. Nothing of any substance. No one knew of the promises attached to the coin, nor its history.
The reaction of Old Sanderson had been very startling. The man had turned white when she asked him about the medallion. His wet eyes had immediately scanned the surrounding area, as if searching for anyone who might have overheard.
“Be careful,” he had said. “Don’t ask of this coin.”
“Why?” she asked. How could it be dangerous? she had worn just such a coin around her neck her entire life.
“A man, an evil man, he too searches for this coin.”
“Who?” she gasped, automatically thinking that Old Sanderson was referring to Thad. He couldn’t be. Under no circumstances could Thad be thought as evil.
“A man. A gray man. That is all that I know.” And with that, Old Sanderson had turned and scurried away.
The rest of the evening had been fruitless. Either people didn’t know anything, or they refused to talk to her once they learned what she wanted.
Her hand came up to grasp the coin around her neck. She had thought of removing it and hiding it in her rooms, but couldn’t tolerate the idea of being separated from it. She had worn it since she was a little girl and her father had told her that a distant king would grant her wish if she ever presented it to him.
At first, she had thought it a magical story. The tale of her family’s heroism earning a boon to be held through the ages. Only as she had grown, had she come to believe the truth behind the story. Her father’s assurance. His detailed knowledge. It had to be true.
The coin had come to represent her lost family. The brothers and sisters she never had. The uncles and aunts that were not to be. She the last member. The coin and its promise would probably die with her. She would never marry, never have children of her own. She would die alone, here in this dusty library. Probably falling face first into a book.
The thought saddened her as a tear began to form in the corner of her eye.
No, she thought to herself. She would not allow herself to become maudlin about this. She would learn what she could. If possible, help Thad find one of the other coins, then move on with her life and he with his.
But, where? she wondered. When Thad left, what then?
Suddenly, the books didn’t seem to be enough. What was it? she wondered. His accent, those wide shoulders. That hint of leather and sandalwood that surrounded him. The suggestion of distant mountains and new sunsets. Faraway places and strange, wondrous lands.
For the first time, she realized how much she had missed by relying only on books. There was a world out there. A world that needed to be experienced, not just read about.
Sighing to herself, she made her way up the stairs to her rooms. It would be a long night. In fact, she could almost promise herself it would be a night filled with dreams about a certain, rather large man, and what she would like him to be doing to her.
Blushing at the thought, she prepared herself for bed. She almost couldn’t wait to get to sleep and start dreaming about him.
Chapter Three
For the hundredth time, Rachel glanced up at the window in hope that Thad had returned. He had promised to come back today and continue his reading.
What if he had found a clue somewhere else? What if he never returned? He was under no obligation to her. He could simply walk out of her life, and she would never know what had happened. The thought sent a cold chill throughout her body. She might never see him again.
A noise outside her front door made her jump and quickly arrange her hands in a casual pose. But, it was nothing. The wind rattling the door. Sighing, she returned to studying the book before her.
Did he really believe in dragons? He didn’t seem to be the foolish type. If anything, he seemed an intelligent, stable, powerful man. Sure of himself. Why did he need to believe in dragons?
Or, was it s
imply that the coin had a two-headed dragon on it? He had never actually said he believed in them. Only that he was looking for the coin.
But, why? she wondered. What was it about the coin? He must know of its secret. A king’s favor. Surely, that made the coin valuable. Perhaps, extremely valuable. But, only if you believed the myth.
Again the door moved, and she jumped. This time the door swung slowly open. Her heart fell. It wasn’t Thad.
Two men. One tall, slim, older, with a look of shiftiness about him. The other was large, muscular, but starting to run too fat around the middle. He looked at her, and Rachel’s insides tightened into a ball. This was a dangerous man. She could see the evil in his eyes.
Both men wore swords, and looked as if they knew how to use them. What was going on in her life? Dangerous men kept coming into her store. Where were all the shallow chested men she was used to?
“Can I help you?” she was able to croak out. Do not let them see that she was afraid, she told herself.
The tall one smiled, revealing a broken tooth. He looked at her as if she were a meat pie to be devoured. His eyes raking over her.
“Miss Hopson?” he asked. His voice had a hint of hiss, reminding her of a snake.
Rachel nodded her head, unable to speak at the moment.
“I understand that you are looking for a coin. A two-headed Dragon medallion. Is that correct?”
She gulped. How had these men found out so quickly? Who of her father’s friends had shared the news? And, why?
Rachel didn’t grab the coin around her throat, and didn’t look away from the man.
“Who are you?” she asked, purposely not answering his question.
The big man stepped around his friend, his eyes glaring into her, and said, “You don’t need to know our names. Just tell us what we want to know, and this will go so much easier for you.”
Rachel stepped back in shock. People did not talk to her this way. The man had actually threatened her. Her heart began to race as her palms grew wet with fear.
Pulling herself together she straightened her back and glared back at them. “I don’t discuss things with people I don’t know. Now, if you will excuse me, I have things to do. Please leave.”
Both men stared back at her, drawing out the long silence. At last the tall one laughed and shook his head.
“Miss Hopson, we want that coin. And, what we want, we take,” the tall man said.
The fat one smiled and cracked his knuckles. “Yes, whatever we want.”
Rachel swallowed hard. He was definitely talking about more than the coin. This could not be happening. Not here. Not now.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” she said, desperately searching for some way to end this.
The tall one laughed and shook his head. “Miss Hopson, you talked to a dozen people last night about the coin. What is more, you knew quite a bit about this coin. Maybe you have even seen one. All we ask is that you tell us where you learned about it. And, if you know where one is. Tell us. I assure you, our employer will be more than generous.”
Rachel’s stomach churned. How could she have been such a fool? What had been a family secret had become common knowledge. Now, here she was, facing two evil men with more than simple robbery on their minds.
“I assure you, I don’t know what you are talking about,” she said, trying to brazen it out. Maybe if she kept with the same story they would leave her alone.
The fat one grabbed her arm and pulled her off her stool. “Give me ten minutes in the back room with her, and she’ll tell us about anything and everything. I assure you.”
Rachel’s guts tightened into an even tighter ball of pure fear. The man’s grip on her arm felt like a vice. She couldn’t have pulled free no matter how hard she tried. The pain of his fingers squeezing into her arm sent another alarm to her mind. This man could hurt her, correction, would hurt her.
Her mind scrambled for some kind of escape. If she screamed, would it only make them act quicker?
Suddenly, she realized as she glanced at the fat man holding her, even if she gave them what they wanted, they wouldn’t let her alone. This one would rape her and then kill her. All because he liked it.
Taking a deep breath, she prepared to scream when the front door opened.
Thad stood there, taking in the scene in front of him. His eyes found hers and quietly asked if she was all right.
The fat man let her go, pushing her back onto the stool.
Tall man appraised Thad, his eyes taking in the sword and the newcomer’s large size.
“This doesn’t concern you,” the tall man said. “The shop is closed. I suggest you leave.”
Thad nodded as he stepped towards them. “I have just a quick question for Miss Hopson,” he said. Then, before anyone could react, Thad’s fist shot out and caught the fat man square in the nose.
Tall man reached for his sword. Thad didn’t turn. Instead, he simply brought his elbow back into the man’s throat, and then brought his fist forward again, once more into the fat man’s nose. A shower of crimson blood exploded into the room.
Rachel felt the blood specks hit her on the cheek. But, before she could react, Thad swept her up and out of the way, as he once again stepped in and hit the tall man in the stomach so hard, he lifted the man off his feet, pushing every last bit of air from his lungs.
The tall man dropped to the ground, gasping for breath.
Fat man was shaking his head, as if trying to clear the cobwebs.
Thad laughed, shook his head in disbelief, then grabbed the man by the back of the neck and slammed his head into the counter.
A mighty crack vibrated throughout the room as the wooden counter split in two from the force of the blow. The man slithered to the floor into a puddle of useless human flesh.
Rachel gasped and brought both hands to her mouth to stop the scream threatening to escape. The blood, the violence, the sheer quickness. All of it tore at her belief in what was real. What was right? A second ago she was in danger. Now, two men lay hurt and humiliated on the floor.
She looked at Thad, unable to believe what she had just seen.
Thad glanced at her, a small regret passed behind his eyes, as he stepped over to the tall man and placed his boot on the man’s throat.
“Who sent you?” he asked the man on the ground, as his boot applied pressure.
The man reached up to grab Thad’s ankle, but he couldn’t move his tormenter.
“Thad!” Rachel screamed. Was he going to kill the man?
He ignored her and looked down at the tall man under his foot. “Think what you would do if you were in my situation. You have one chance to live. Tell me the truth, and tell it now, or die.”
Rachel held her breath, as she watched the man looking up at Thad. At last, he seemed to slump in on himself and nodded his head.
Thad slightly lifted his foot so that the man could talk.
“I don’t know his name,” he said with a raspy voice.
“What does he look like? Where did he come from?”
Tall man hesitated until Thad slightly moved his foot once more.
“A gray man,” he said quickly.
Rachel gasped. It was the man Old Sanderson had talked about.
“He dresses in all gray,” the skinny man on the floor said. “Has a nasty scar on his neck. I don’t know where he’s from. Never seen him before. He paid us to come here and find out about the coin.”
“Where are you to meet him?” Thad asked. Rachel noticed a frown cross his face as he heard about this man dressed in gray.
“He said he would find us. Already paid us. Not the kind of man you cross. You know what I mean?”
Thad nodded. He stepped back away from the man, then looked over at Rachel for a moment. She stared back at him, afraid of what he might do next. Who was this man that he could be so violent, so monstrous, yet look at her with tender eyes?
“Grab your friend,” Thad said to the tall man, “and g
et out. I suggest you disappear. The gray man will not be so forgiving about your failure. I hear Quaster is a nice city. I’d suggest you get lost in the slums of Fifth Point. You’ll find it to your liking.”
The tall man never took his eyes off of Thad, as he slowly rose, then grabbed the collar of his friend’s jacket and began to drag him out of the library.
Rachel watched them leave a long trail of blood across the floor.
“You were going to kill him,” she said to Thad.
“If necessary,” Thad said, shrugging his shoulders, as if he had been contemplating killing a rabbit for dinner.
Rachel felt a vast cauldron of trouble and disbelief open in front of her. A blackness. This man was not what she had thought he was. Her silly girlish dreams of some romantic figure had been shattered on the rock of reality.
This man was a violent beast. Just as dangerous and vile as the men he had attacked.
She could feel him looking at her, studying her. She knew if she looked up she would see his head cocked to one side, as he tried to understand her.
“Are you all right?” he asked. As if he really cared.
Rachel didn’t know what to say. All she could think about was the shower of blood that had landed on her. The way that man’s head had sounded when he was slammed into the counter. The thought made her sick to her stomach. She actually thought she might be sick, right there in front of Thad.
“Get out,” she said quietly. “Please, just leave.”
She finally looked up at him to make sure he saw that she was serious.
He slowly nodded, his head then turned to the door. When his hand touched the door handle, he looked back at her.
“Remember, Rachel. There is a difference,” he said.
“What?” she demanded. “From what I saw, the only difference was that you were better at being violent than them. Other than that, there was no difference.”
Thad hesitated for a moment. “The difference, Rachel, they wanted to rob and rape. I wanted to stop them from hurting you. The difference is in the why.”
He stepped out of her library, and Rachel felt her world come crashing down around her as she slumped to the floor and began to cry.