The next store was occupied by a young man, tall and lean, a salesman of swords and daggers, among other items. He stood behind a light table. “Ah, hallo!” he said, in his own language. “You two certainly are not from around here. If you need a weapon for your travels, we have quite a selection.”
“Actually,” said Sam, “We were hoping you could tell us if Leabelle Ling lives in this village?”
The man reacted, at first, quite like the old woman; his friendly eyes turned cold and he went silent.
“Oh, not again,” Victor grimaced.
Suddenly the man kicked the table at them and bolted towards the back door.
“How rude!” cried Sam.
“Follow him!” said Victor. He vaulted the upturned table and went in pursuit of the mysterious man. But why did he run? Victor figured he’d find out soon enough, given that he was agile enough to catch this assailant, who was as fast and flexible as a cat. The runner smashed through the back door of the shop and ran into the street. There was a flat sandy area with a well under a wooden sunshade. Victor caught the man there and they engaged in combat, but his opponent was too fast and powerful. He knocked Victor down and then took up a wooden beam, with which he attacked Sam, but before he could deliver a blow Victor rose up and defended her.
Battered under the wrath of the pole, Victor glanced at Hansel running full speed across the street. He tackled the assailant with a heavy thud and they crashed through the fence and rolled over an edge. In a tangled mass of arms and legs they dropped onto a flimsy roof below, which then collapsed and sent them into the home of a frightened old couple. Covered in dust, Hansel groaned and tried to scurry out of the debris. The assailant rolled over and kicked him in the chest before climbing again to his feet and dashing off into the alley.
Hansel was quick to pursue but soon realised the other man was too fast; that is, until a broomstick swung out from behind a corner and knocked the fugitive on the forehead, or perhaps he ran into it, or more likely it was that both occurred. The fact remained that Gretel, hiding around the corner and armed with her broomstick, had knocked the man right out.
“Couldn’t handle him?” she jested, leaning on her broomstick.
A sudden voice came from behind. “You shouldn’t be so cocky that you wouldn’t consider where he was running to.” A woman with dark hair and sleek eyes came upon Gretel. Somehow Gretel’s feet had sunk into the ground and she couldn’t move them, and when she lost her balance and leaned against the wall, the wood transformed and grabbed her hand. Hansel rushed to her aid but the mysterious woman struck him once in the chest and he found himself embedded slightly in the stone wall on his right. The woman leaned over her fallen comrade and placed a gentle hand on his forehead. “You knocked out my shopkeeper!”
“Well, he was a little bit frantic,” said Gretel. “What have you done? Why can’t I move? Who are you?”
“Aren’t you inquisitive!” she replied. “Tell me your name, young lady, and I’ll tell you mine.”
Hansel struggled against the rock. “There’s no need,” he said. “You’re Ling, or at least, I hope you are. You have that same look as Rodrick and Caesar.”
“Hmm… Based on the fact that you didn’t call him Mr. Branner I’ll assume that you’re the new initiates they sent word about. Where are the other three?”
A few moments later Victor and Sam strode hastily through the alleyway; Sam was unscathed but Victor was bent and bruised from his fight.
Miss Ling observed them carefully. “Huh, the girl seems bright enough, but I’m not sure about the other one. Looks like Shi gave you quite a beating.”
Victor tried to smile. “Please tell me you’re Miss Ling. I don’t think I can take much more of this asking around.”
“Don’t fret. I am Miss Ling. Oh!” With a light touch the bonds that kept Gretel and Hansel disappeared. “So, Silver chose you, huh? Well, let’s get back to my shop. We have much to discuss!”
ns 172.69.59.183da2