Shadow in the Windmill
“If you ever find yourself in Tolley again, please come see us.” Lida said to Faux and the other two as they left the “Bloody Tip”.
“Oh, I assure you, we shall.” the rogue promised as he began to walk away.
“The lass has a thing for you.” Ezekiel said quietly so only Faux could hear.
“What do you mean?” Faux asked.
“Look at her eyes, she has come to like you in that short time.” the weary man said with a chuckle.
Faux thought for a moment and merely shrugged. “What can I say? All the girls fall for me!” He said with a smirk, pretending to sound cocky.
“I wouldn’t be so sure about that…” Kara said with a grin of her own. “I look to you more of a brother than someone I’d find attractive. Besides, your peoples’ style just isn’t for me.” She pointed at his unusual clothing and choice of hair.
“Hey! This is fashionable stuff in the Abocke Lake region.” the rogue countered, tugging at his cloak.
Kara only laughed in return.
“I must apologize for all the trouble I caused. I promise, it shall not happen again.” Ezekiel said somberly later as they walked the trail heading west from Tolley.
“Do not worry yourself over it. That Maeltryst nobleman couldn’t have gotten too far ahead of us, anyway.” Kara said calmly.
“Yeah, but don’t you ever get me caught up in a situation like that again!” Faux convicted. “I’m not for bar fights, I’m for sneaking. There’s no sneaking in a brawl like that.”
Ezekiel gave a weak smile and stood a little straighter. “I will make it up to the two of you, I promise. No more shall I fall into my bad drinking habit anymore.”
“That’s good to hear. Now, let’s just hurry our way. We’ll need all speed if we’re to keep up with Thalys.” Kara said, speeding up her mount a bit. The other two equally sped up their pace.
**********
Completely unaware that he was being tailed, Thalys took an easy pace across the hilly landscape that would lead to Gale-Town, a common name for the town that resided in the windswept Yul Valley. Two day’s travel, including rest time, gave him the first signs of his destination, a massive windmill peaking up from the valley bottom. In no time, Thalys made his way to the town, which had no guards or walls to protect it.
He found the place to be a common one, self-sustaining farms and the like scattered across the land. There seemed to be no commerce in this place, no money to be seen. People simply made what they needed, or bartered for that which they didn’t have. Everyone got along, and no one tried to take advantage of others. This brought a warm smile to Thalys’ face. The nobleman soon found himself greeted by a crowd of people.
“Aye, welcome to ye there!” one woman said happily, bowing.
“Not too often we find visitors. You lost or something’?” a young man asked.
“Oh, hello to you all. No, I’m not lost, just passing through. My name is Thalys Ol’Calien of Maeltryst.” the nobleman introduced himself, bowing low and swiping one arm wide.
“Oh, a fancy one, aye?” an old woman said with a cackle, which brought laughs from many others.
“Uh, yes well…” Thalys began to say, somewhat embarrassed by the statement. “I’m not like most nobility, for I am not afraid to do work.”
That brought some more laughs from the crowd. One man, probably the mayor, stepped forth and introduced himself. “It is good to see you, Thalys of Maeltryst. My name is Penn Gale IV, descendant of Penn Gale, the founder of this fair town. Come, let me show you to a place to rest.” Penn was dressed just as the others, in a simple fitting tunic and breaches with worn in boots and working gloves. One thing that made him different from others, however, was the finely trimmed beard he wore, showing he was well kept.
“Oh, thank you, but I am just looking for a place to rest my feet and maybe restock my supplies.” Thalys said.
Just then, a loud scream came from the windmill, drawing everyone’s attention. A young boy came running out of the windmill and down the path to the crowd, waving his arms frantically.
“What is it, Claude?” Penn asked, grabbing the boy by the shoulders to calm him.
“I…I was tendin’ to the mill like always…and when I looked up in the rafters..” Claude began to explain, but kept choking up on his words.
“Yes, what was up in the rafters?” Penn asked.
“I saw him! Some feller was up in the rafters, he was. All black and shady like. I shouted up at him, but he didn’t respond. Finally after calling up to him a few times, he looked down at me. I couldn’t see too well, but I saw them eyes! He had eyes as white as snow…and it felt like he was lookin’ right through me with em’!” Claude shouted excitedly, shaking from fear.
“Someone is messing with the windmill? Why would they do that? It hasn’t been working in years…” Penn said, thinking for a moment. “Well, whatever the reason, we can’t be having someone causing trouble anywhere. Grab your pitchfork boys! Meet me at the windmill!” the man shook his fist in the air and began to run off towards the windmill when Thalys caught him by the shoulder.
“Please, sir, allow me to take a look at this first,” He said, tapping one of his sheathed sabers, “I’m well trained in the use of a blade.”
Penn looked at him and shrugged. “Alright. Do whatever you must to get whoever that is out of there.”
Thalys was the first to the windmill, rushing inside before the other men could gather together. He found himself in a lower level of the massive mill, which was a room with a single large cylinder pole in the center, probably guarding the mechanics within. This was Claude’s room, obviously, for it had everything to sustain someone, including a bed, cooking tools, and a bathing area. Thalys found the stairs and went to the second level. This is where everything was at.