Page 126 of New Storm Rising
“I shall do my utmost, Señor. But before sat, should I attempt to free you? It will probably be difficult, but I might…”
“No. No, wait.” There was a momentary pause from inside the jail. “Do you know what se osser side’s next moves are?”
“I listened in on seir plans, Señor. Sey plan to…”
The black shadow hesitated.
“Plan towhat?”
“Plan to transport you eastward to…stand trial and be incarcerated.”
Another flood of curses erupted from the interior of the cell. The dark shadow outside made the wise decision not to mention anything about communal wash rooms and sex-deprived career criminals.
“…bastardos! Sey will die! Sey will all die a death sat shall make torture seem like a pleasure cruise!”
“Yes, Señor. So…do you wish me to attack sem?”
A moment of contemplation. Then…
“No. Oh no. I have somesing different in mind for sem.”
“What can we do?” another, much weaker voice came from beyond the iron bars. It sounded like the voice of a man who had been broken by life’s heavy burdens—or the voice of a man who had nearly been shot earlier today and was still busy pissing his pants. Either would be an apt description. “We have already used every single legal mesod we could possibly get away wis.”
“Exactly.” De Ravera sneered. “Everylegalmesod.” Heavy breathing came from within the cell, then, slowly, as if from the very depths of hell, came the voice again. “Hear my orders: tell Sanchez to call in se…’special reinforcements’. It’s time to get serious.”
The Special Reinforcements
The week passed in the blink of an eye. It’s really amazing how quickly time can fly when you spend said time in the company of a stunningly handsome man who suddenly seems to have an inexhaustible supply of your favourite treats. The fact that, from one day to another, these “favourite treats” switched from mustard and ice cream toast to boiled broccoli or roasted acorns marinaded in goose fat, should probably have been a bit concerning. But…
I just couldn’t bring myself to! After all, it wasn’tthatstrange to crave shoelace spaghetti, right? And I was sure that roasted grasshoppers dipped in maple syrup were a delicacy insomepart of the world.
Probably.
Under the marshal’s instructions, the Spaniards’ carriages were stripped of all superfluous bits and pieces such as upholstery or window glass and instead were furnished with luxuries such as iron bars, metal reinforcements and handy rings on the walls to which chains could be attached. At the same time, under the instruction of Mr Rikkard Ambrose, the Spaniards’ mansion was stripped of anything and everything valuable. The fact that he neglected to mention this to the marshal was surely purely coincidental.
Finally, the day of departure came. All the townspeople (who, by the way, had all started working at Mr Rikkard Ambrose’s mine for half the wages in gratitude for their rescue) had assembled to send us off. Together with the freed slaves, they had assembled under a banner that read “Godspeed to our Honoured Savior and Benefactor” and were waving and cheering for their heroes.
God bless their innocent little hearts.
“Thank you!” Nelly grabbed me by the hand and shook it. “Thank you, thank you! I don’t know what Jack and I would have done without you and your husband!”
Maybe gotten the chance to work for a full wage one day?
“Ehem, you’re welcome. It was no trouble.”
“And he’s even willing to sell us houses so we can get out of those infernal tents!” Jack enthused, beaming.
You mean the houses that were stolen from you by the Spaniards, the deeds to which then disappeared from their manor, only to mysteriously reappear in the possession of Mr Rikkard Ambrose?
“Yes, he’s reallyincrediblygenerous, isn’t he?” I felt my eyebrows twitch. I decided then and there that I was going to have a little chat with Mr Rikkard Ambrose. And it wasn’t going to be about roasted grasshoppers dipped in maple syrup!
“You’re such a lucky woman!” Nelly beamed at me, her eyes travelling up and down my body. “Especially considering…you know.”
I blinked. “What?”
“Exactly, that.” Nelly nodded, as if that explained everything. “And since we’re on such a subject…I thought you might appreciate a little gift from a more experienced married woman. Here.” And, with a beaming smile, she handed me a pile of brand-new, hand-crafted linens. I stared. She was giving me…handkerchiefs?
A lot of handkerchiefs. I reached up to the protrusion in the middle of my face. Did my nose have that much resemblance to a faucet?
