Ildri had to admit that in spite of everything it really was a beautiful day, at least when one was sitting at leisure in a shaded spot.  It was a busy time and many people where moving about after one task or another.  Ildri watched them but they paid little mind to her.

Ildri began to wonder what was taking Ty so long.  She was almost ready to get back on the horse in spite of her still aching muscles.  She supposed that it was a good thing.  Muscle pain lent a stiffness to her movements that was probably befitting of an old person.

How long would Ty make her wait?  She was starting to wonder when she heard the sound of horse hooves moving through the town.

Ildri looked up and saw the last person that she ever wanted to see again.

She instantly recognized the soldier who had been ordered to kill her even though he wore plain clothing now.  His face was imprinted upon her memory and she would know him anywhere.

He was not alone.  There were four other soldiers with him, although they were all dressed as if to blend in.  It was not particularly effective.  The busy street had become nearly deserted.

She did not look like herself, she knew.  Surely they would not know who she was, but her heart still rattled in her chest and she could feel sweat that had nothing to do with the hot day trickling down her back.  Don't look at me, she thought and at the same time she hoped that Ty would stay well out of sight.

The men split up and moved around, entering buildings and talking with the few people left on the street.  And then Ildri felt the soldier's eyes fasten upon her.  She pretended not to see and tried to look as if she belonged in the very spot where she sat.

"Good day," he said loudly as he came over to where Ildri sat.  She forced herself to look at him.

"Good day.  Can I help you, good sir?" she croaked out, trying to obscure her voice in case he recognized it.  How could he not?  Her screams were probably still ringing in his ears. 

"Perhaps you can.  We are looking for two people, an old man and a young woman.  Have you seen anyone like that?"  It seemed as if the man assumed she could not hear.

"I am just an old woman, good sir," she said slowly.

"An old woman still has eyes.  Have you seen any such people?"

She did not know what to say.  "Not very good eyes, I'm afraid.  Why are you looking for them?" she asked, not sure what to do.  Her mouth felt dry and she swallowed.

"The girl was stolen and must be rescued.  If you have information..." he said, and held up a coin.

Rescued?  Ildri was suddenly angry that they would make Ty seem like the villain in the situation.  Whatever he was, he was not the one who ordered her killed.  She decided that she would help them.

She nodded slowly.  "Well, I did remark something odd this morning."

"What is that?" he asked, clearly sceptical.

"I have travelled from the area near Waldwick with my dear grandson.  We're off to visit my newest great grandchild.  He's off buying supplies as we speak.  But you understand, good sir; that travelling is hard on a woman my age and we had to stop and rest frequently.  We only recently arrived in Valence.  We camped on the road last night and only came to this town this morning."

"What is it that you saw, old woman?" he prodded impatiently.

"Please forgive me, good sir.  My mind is not what it used to be I fear.  I also do not sleep as I used to, and there are many interruptions.  I was woken late last night where we had camped by the sound of horse hooves striking the ground.  It seemed odd that someone was travelling so late, so I looked to see what it was."

"And?"

"And there was a large horse bearing two riders.  I could hardly see, as you understand it was still quite dark at that time.  But it is possible that they could have been those who you seek.  They caused no trouble so I did not think of them again until you explained your situation, sir.  I had no idea that they might be miscreants."

Ildri hoped that he would believe her and cursed herself for her recklessness.  She should simply have pled ignorance.  Surely they would not have hurt an innocent old woman.  Yet these were the same men who had been happy enough to try to kill her.  She would put nothing past them.

"What say you?" the one who had nearly killed her asked a red haired soldier who had also been listening.

"I don't know, James.  It may be them, or it may be folly to go that way.  Why would they go towards Waldwick?  Surely he is making his way to the capital," he spoke in a hushed tone, but Ildri could still hear every word.

"Or could he be returning the girl to Wildwood?" the one who would have killed her asked quietly.

"Surely he considers time is of the essence."

"But he also knows that if he does not arrive the message dies with him."

"Does he even realize the import?"

"I'm sure he does.  It's not the first time he's interfered."

"We don't know that he is the same man."

"But—"

It seemed that both men suddenly realized that Ildri was sitting near to them.  She tried to look innocent as if she had not heard the entire whispered conversation, like a deaf old woman might not have.

The one who had tried to have her killed that she now knew as James spoke carefully to her.  She forced herself to look at his face as if she had not heard anything.

"Here, old woman," he said as he flicked the coin to her.

She caught it quite without meaning to.  Thankfully he did not seem to think it odd.  Ildri searched for words.  "Thank you, good sir.  Good luck rescuing that poor girl you are searching for."

The two exchanged a rather insidious look and James nodded towards her as though acknowledging her words.  She was a bit annoyed at his highhandedness.  Who was he to act as if he were higher than she?  She was the household servant of a marquis; he was just a lowly rebel soldier.

Of course he did not know who she was and that was a good thing.

Ildri watched as the soldiers split up into two groups.  James and another soldier travelled in the direction of Waldwick.  She breathed a deep sigh of relief once he was out of sight.  The other three continued talking to people in the town for a couple of minutes before they finally travelled down the road towards the capital.

Ty appeared from behind a building.  "We should get out of town.  Are you quite alright?  What did they say to you?"

Ildri nodded.  "They were asking about us, saying that they were trying to rescue a young woman who had been kidnapped by an old man or something.  I lied.  Let's go now.  They are ahead of us, but..."

Ty shook his head.  "We'll divert our route on the way and confound them more."  Without further adieu he helped her onto the horse and swung up behind her and they rode through the town.

"Wouldn't it seem odd that an old lady like me is riding a horse?" she asked.

"We're not going to let them see, and you've been doing it since you were young, so it's not that surprising," he said with a chuckle.

They soon reached the opposite side of the town.

"Tell me more about your conversation with the guards," he suggested.

Ildri spoke.  "I told them that we had come from the lands around Waldwick and had camped near the road last night.  I told them that I saw a horse with two riders pass us by, although I could not be certain of their identity."

"Did they believe you?"

"They spoke as if they did, although they didn't know if it was us.  I think they thought I was hard of hearing.  They thought you were going to the capital, but also thought that you might return me to Wildwood.  And they wondered if you knew what you saw and something about 'time was of the essence'.  But they thought you might be trying to lead them off on the wrong track.  And something about interfering."

He grinned at that.  "I may be indeed the one that they suspected that I am.  It seems that they split up.  Three will be far easier than five to deal with."

"Do you have some sort of magic to stop them?"

"I have any number of tools at my disposal."

"Oh.  Well, then, I guess there is nothing to worry about," Ildri said.

"Exactly.  And while talking to them was a risk, it seems you did well," he said.

"Uh, thank you," she said, feeling embarrassed by the comment.

"But why did you feel the need to terrify poor Rene?" he asked.

Ildri felt horribly self conscious but she replied in her haughtiest tone of voice.  "I was doing her a favour."

"When they sing of great deeds no doubt they will remember this day."

Ildri glared at him.  "Laugh if you want, but you're exactly the sort of person a girl like her should avoid.  She wouldn't be a good match for you, either.  I'm surprised that you could not see it."

"Oh?"

"Just look at how easily she was scared away by a few words," Ildri said.  "And I was barely trying."

"That's a fair point.  After all, my true appearance is practically that of a monster," he said in a very neutral tone.

Ildri turned and glared at him.  "That's not what I meant and you know it.  I don't even know what you really look like.  I mean, look at your behaviour.  She was far too sweet for you.  The first time you stole a horse or stabbed someone she would probably faint from sheer terror."

"I did not technically steal this horse and any stabbing I did was self defence.  Furthermore you were pretty afraid of me as I recall," he pointed out in a too reasonable tone.

"I didn't faint.  It was perfectly natural, and you had just killed Saul.  And I'm hardly afraid of you now."

"Really?  After everything you've seen?"

"Of course not," she snapped back.  Oddly enough, she actually felt safer when he was there.

"You're very brave then."

"No, I'm not.  I've always been terrified to leave Wildwood," she confessed, and then immediately regretted it.  "But that's not what we were talking about!  The point is; that you should not be pursuing weak hearted girls like Rene!"

"I don't know why you're trying so hard to convince me of that.  I was not pursuing her so there was no reason for you to frighten her."

"I don't believe that for a moment.  You were acting all charming," Ildri accused.

Ty smiled a bit at that.  "I don't act charming, I am charming.  And it's commonly called being polite.  You might try it instead of hurling accusations at me."

"You're never charming or polite around me."  Ildri narrowed her eyes.

"Well, we hardly met under normal circumstances," he agreed.

"So if we met under normal circumstances I might actually like you?" she asked sarcastically but immediately regretted her words.  She hoped he would not become angry.

"Quite possibly," he said very neutrally.  She almost would prefer anger to his indifference thought, and then she realized what she was thinking.  She did not care what he thought!  Not at all.  Not even the slightest bit.

She went through a list of his multitude of faults in her head, without a redeeming quality besides.  He was a murderer, a spy and a thief, not to mention that he was not nice to her at all.  She would go with him to the capital and then she would happily return home to Wildwood.  Everything would be as it should be, and she would not miss him in the slightest.