the fields, heading toward town. The orange of sunset had left Marianna behind. Stars speckled the sky around a bright half-moon. He rested the lantern's base upon his thigh as the darkness engulfed them. It was peaceful in these empty fields. No lies or secrets chased him here, only the hidden mysteries of the darkness.
Something stirred in the grass ahead. He reined Nan in and lifted the lantern. Sweeping the light back and forth, he almost missed a silent figure waiting feet away from him. Seth kept the pony's head steady, soothing her with his voice until Nan stopped trying to bolt. Raising the lantern a little higher, he shifted the light until it struck the stranger. A face, completely covered with a tight black mask, stared back at him. The image of a white dagger ran down the very center of his featureless countenance.
Seth gulped in a shallow breath and held it. Tales of islander boys snatched by smugglers were often told in the common room at Paddy’s Inn. Enslaved and forced to work aboard smuggler ships, they were never heard from again. He made ready to spur the pony into a gallop.
"Identify yourself. I warn you. I'm expected at home. Any delay and the constabulary will come looking for me."
"We both know you tell a half-truth."
His harsh accent marked the stranger as a Tslavian from the mainland. A deep hood encased the stranger’s head in rich midnight. His cloak swept from his shoulders to his black boots. Dark leather gloves held the fabric firmly closed, hiding secrets in the shadow of the garment. Quick hands grabbed Nan's reins, ruining Seth’s chance for an easy escape.
"What is it you want?" Seth yanked at the reins, but the stranger's grip stayed firm.
"How strange you must seem to these bumpkins."
He shook his hooded head, moving a little closer. The smell of rotting flower petals and sweat emanated from the dark man’s body. Seth slowly forced his feet from the stirrups. A hard kick might loosen his grip upon the reins. Then he'd show this stranger the meaning of haste as he hurried to warn the militia.
"You may adorn yourself with sheep dung and farmer’s boots, but nothing can hide the amber fire of your eyes. How they burn with your anger! In another setting that fiery look may have frozen my heart still, but here upon this speck in the ocean, I can only laugh."
"You've confused me with someone else. My deepest pity goes to the young man you seek."
"Have pity for yourself first. He is here. Hurry!"
Two Amity Island Raiders rose slowly out of the grass behind their leader. Their shaved heads were painted black with red markings swirled in angry circles. Dark brown tunics covered their bodies, from the shoulder to below their knees. Mud-colored cloaks served to hide them in the night. The Amity Raiders stood fast in the tall meadow grass, clearly not frightened of the dagger-faced man.
A girl struggled between them. Her honey blonde hair whipped wildly against her captors. Seth recognized her. It was Alice! Her home was one of the neighboring farms to the north. How had the raiders reached so far inland without the militia spotting them?
"Fools! I’ve paid you enough for the boy. You’ll draw attention to us."
"We require additional payment." The shorter raider grinned at the girl as Seth’s mind raced to translate the ancient Islic language. "She’ll fetch a good price in the Azure Isles. Besides, I’ve been watching this boy. He fancies her. I don’t doubt these simple-minded dung farmers will believe the two of them ran off together."
"Very well. Take her if you must, but make certain you dispose of the boy’s body before you leave. I don’t want any awkward questions."
The masked man dropped Nan's reins and turned away as if Seth were no longer of any consequence. His hired men stepped back as he passed. The dislike upon their faces needed no translation.
"You have the wrong person!" Seth called after him.
"I have exactly the right person. I know who you are, Seth
Something stirred in the grass ahead. He reined Nan in and lifted the lantern. Sweeping the light back and forth, he almost missed a silent figure waiting feet away from him. Seth kept the pony's head steady, soothing her with his voice until Nan stopped trying to bolt. Raising the lantern a little higher, he shifted the light until it struck the stranger. A face, completely covered with a tight black mask, stared back at him. The image of a white dagger ran down the very center of his featureless countenance.
Seth gulped in a shallow breath and held it. Tales of islander boys snatched by smugglers were often told in the common room at Paddy’s Inn. Enslaved and forced to work aboard smuggler ships, they were never heard from again. He made ready to spur the pony into a gallop.
"Identify yourself. I warn you. I'm expected at home. Any delay and the constabulary will come looking for me."
"We both know you tell a half-truth."
His harsh accent marked the stranger as a Tslavian from the mainland. A deep hood encased the stranger’s head in rich midnight. His cloak swept from his shoulders to his black boots. Dark leather gloves held the fabric firmly closed, hiding secrets in the shadow of the garment. Quick hands grabbed Nan's reins, ruining Seth’s chance for an easy escape.
"What is it you want?" Seth yanked at the reins, but the stranger's grip stayed firm.
"How strange you must seem to these bumpkins."
He shook his hooded head, moving a little closer. The smell of rotting flower petals and sweat emanated from the dark man’s body. Seth slowly forced his feet from the stirrups. A hard kick might loosen his grip upon the reins. Then he'd show this stranger the meaning of haste as he hurried to warn the militia.
"You may adorn yourself with sheep dung and farmer’s boots, but nothing can hide the amber fire of your eyes. How they burn with your anger! In another setting that fiery look may have frozen my heart still, but here upon this speck in the ocean, I can only laugh."
"You've confused me with someone else. My deepest pity goes to the young man you seek."
"Have pity for yourself first. He is here. Hurry!"
Two Amity Island Raiders rose slowly out of the grass behind their leader. Their shaved heads were painted black with red markings swirled in angry circles. Dark brown tunics covered their bodies, from the shoulder to below their knees. Mud-colored cloaks served to hide them in the night. The Amity Raiders stood fast in the tall meadow grass, clearly not frightened of the dagger-faced man.
A girl struggled between them. Her honey blonde hair whipped wildly against her captors. Seth recognized her. It was Alice! Her home was one of the neighboring farms to the north. How had the raiders reached so far inland without the militia spotting them?
"Fools! I’ve paid you enough for the boy. You’ll draw attention to us."
"We require additional payment." The shorter raider grinned at the girl as Seth’s mind raced to translate the ancient Islic language. "She’ll fetch a good price in the Azure Isles. Besides, I’ve been watching this boy. He fancies her. I don’t doubt these simple-minded dung farmers will believe the two of them ran off together."
"Very well. Take her if you must, but make certain you dispose of the boy’s body before you leave. I don’t want any awkward questions."
The masked man dropped Nan's reins and turned away as if Seth were no longer of any consequence. His hired men stepped back as he passed. The dislike upon their faces needed no translation.
"You have the wrong person!" Seth called after him.
"I have exactly the right person. I know who you are, Seth
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