lighting
affected what you think you saw."
Ben
saw a wounded concern on Kyla's face, so he quickly elbowed Mason to
stop laughing. He thought it best to end the conversation before he
tread too heavily on emotions. He offered a half-lie to Vincent,
"I've enjoyed some of your views, Sir. I'm sorry, but the morning
is getting late, and we have things to do. It was a pleasure meeting
both of you."
Vincent
managed a congenial smile. "Will you be staying in town long? Maybe
we can talk again sometime."
Kyla
said, "Father and I have enjoyed your company this morning."
Ben
said, "I'm sure we'll speak again at length. If things go well,
Mason and I will be in town for quite some time. In fact, you might
be able to help us."
"Anything
at all," Vincent offered. "Just ask."
"Would
you happen to know where we might find a man by the name of Tad
Haddaway?"
Vincent
took a visible step backward. He looked confused, as if it was the
last thing he expected to hear. "That one has made no friends
around here. You'd be better off keeping your distance."
"Why?"
Mason asked sternly.
"Don't
you know?" he said showing genuine concern.
"Know
what?" Ben asked.
Kyla
moved forward and said, "Everyone around him eventually ends up
dead. Things seem to have gotten worse since his arrival."
Mason
welled up defensively. "Captain Haddaway is trying to help! He will
make these roads safe again. You should be thankful that someone has
stepped forward to try!"
Vincent
reprimanded Mason, "There is no need to raise your voice to my
daughter, she speaks the truth. Death surrounds that man. I know
nothing of Mr. Haddaway or what you say he is trying to do. If it is
true that he is attempting to make the roads safer, then I applaud
him for the effort."
Then
under his breath, he mumbled, "but I don't see how he can help,
hiding away like he is."
He
met Mason's disapproving glare and rebounded, "I only know what
others say."
Kyla
silenced her father with a light hand on his arm. "I need to get to
my studies, it was nice meeting both of you. Haddaway stays in a
cottage against a small grove on the edge of town, just a few minutes
walk past Babbitt's temple. Please be careful, he might not be as you
remember him."
"Heed
my warnings, Ben. In time you'll thank me." Vincent took his
daughter's arm and hurried off down the street.
Ben's
eyes followed the girl until she vanished around the corner. "Have
you ever seen more beauty all in one face?"
"She
may be a rare flower, but her father is a weed that steals her
sunshine." Mason sat down and put his feet up. "I told you he was
crazy."
"Aside
from Mr. Woodlock, when was the last time you heard someone talk
about the Murg?"
"Those
old campfire stories?" Mason scoffed, "Not since I was a kid. My
mother told me those stories to frighten me into eating carrots."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You know, I still can't stand the
taste of them."
Mason
was right, it was ridiculous to entertain such thoughts, but
something in the sincerity of Vincent Woodlock's observations
bothered Ben. "I hope Tad can explain what's going on around here."
He
bent down for the sack of clothing Mason had procured and paused when
he saw the faintest hint of a grin breaking over the old soldier's
face.
"What
did you do?"
"I'll
not stand by and watch you be disrespected by these people. So far,
blending in hasn't worked out so well, so I thought that maybe it was
time you made a statement instead."
CHAPTER SIX
After
changing his clothes, Ben had to admit that he looked impressive,
though he would never admit as much in public. He wore a white linen
shirt with brushed suede long-cuffs laced high to the elbows to allow
free movement of the arms; Mason was well aware that billowy fabrics
were not a swordsman's best friend. On top of that, he wore a soft
leather vest, light brown and studded on the chest and shoulders with
shiny rivets. The armored studs were mostly for decoration, but
protective to some degree. His
affected what you think you saw."
Ben
saw a wounded concern on Kyla's face, so he quickly elbowed Mason to
stop laughing. He thought it best to end the conversation before he
tread too heavily on emotions. He offered a half-lie to Vincent,
"I've enjoyed some of your views, Sir. I'm sorry, but the morning
is getting late, and we have things to do. It was a pleasure meeting
both of you."
Vincent
managed a congenial smile. "Will you be staying in town long? Maybe
we can talk again sometime."
Kyla
said, "Father and I have enjoyed your company this morning."
Ben
said, "I'm sure we'll speak again at length. If things go well,
Mason and I will be in town for quite some time. In fact, you might
be able to help us."
"Anything
at all," Vincent offered. "Just ask."
"Would
you happen to know where we might find a man by the name of Tad
Haddaway?"
Vincent
took a visible step backward. He looked confused, as if it was the
last thing he expected to hear. "That one has made no friends
around here. You'd be better off keeping your distance."
"Why?"
Mason asked sternly.
"Don't
you know?" he said showing genuine concern.
"Know
what?" Ben asked.
Kyla
moved forward and said, "Everyone around him eventually ends up
dead. Things seem to have gotten worse since his arrival."
Mason
welled up defensively. "Captain Haddaway is trying to help! He will
make these roads safe again. You should be thankful that someone has
stepped forward to try!"
Vincent
reprimanded Mason, "There is no need to raise your voice to my
daughter, she speaks the truth. Death surrounds that man. I know
nothing of Mr. Haddaway or what you say he is trying to do. If it is
true that he is attempting to make the roads safer, then I applaud
him for the effort."
Then
under his breath, he mumbled, "but I don't see how he can help,
hiding away like he is."
He
met Mason's disapproving glare and rebounded, "I only know what
others say."
Kyla
silenced her father with a light hand on his arm. "I need to get to
my studies, it was nice meeting both of you. Haddaway stays in a
cottage against a small grove on the edge of town, just a few minutes
walk past Babbitt's temple. Please be careful, he might not be as you
remember him."
"Heed
my warnings, Ben. In time you'll thank me." Vincent took his
daughter's arm and hurried off down the street.
Ben's
eyes followed the girl until she vanished around the corner. "Have
you ever seen more beauty all in one face?"
"She
may be a rare flower, but her father is a weed that steals her
sunshine." Mason sat down and put his feet up. "I told you he was
crazy."
"Aside
from Mr. Woodlock, when was the last time you heard someone talk
about the Murg?"
"Those
old campfire stories?" Mason scoffed, "Not since I was a kid. My
mother told me those stories to frighten me into eating carrots."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "You know, I still can't stand the
taste of them."
Mason
was right, it was ridiculous to entertain such thoughts, but
something in the sincerity of Vincent Woodlock's observations
bothered Ben. "I hope Tad can explain what's going on around here."
He
bent down for the sack of clothing Mason had procured and paused when
he saw the faintest hint of a grin breaking over the old soldier's
face.
"What
did you do?"
"I'll
not stand by and watch you be disrespected by these people. So far,
blending in hasn't worked out so well, so I thought that maybe it was
time you made a statement instead."
CHAPTER SIX
After
changing his clothes, Ben had to admit that he looked impressive,
though he would never admit as much in public. He wore a white linen
shirt with brushed suede long-cuffs laced high to the elbows to allow
free movement of the arms; Mason was well aware that billowy fabrics
were not a swordsman's best friend. On top of that, he wore a soft
leather vest, light brown and studded on the chest and shoulders with
shiny rivets. The armored studs were mostly for decoration, but
protective to some degree. His
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