Chapter 4 - A Breath in the Night

Butcher raced around the perimeter again barking, booming like a king before battle. If there was any fear in his noble soul, the mortal eyes of men could not see it; he pranced and tromped like true royalty.

His legs stood wide and gripped the earth as his chest swelled with confidence like a man who is free, not merely from the hand of the mortal tyrant, but truly free from the immortal chains of licentious powers. In those moments, the dog was more the glorious ruler of his domain than any man Edwin had ever seen.

“Sounds like we haven’t scared them enough yet,” said Edwin. “Butcher is really something else though.”

“Nah. Don’ seem much skeared, n’yeah, he’s a good’un.”

“And this has never happened before?”

“Nevah happen. I ain’t skeared neither doh.”

“Yeah? I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous.”

“Nah nerves now. Gotta be col’ like stone.”

“Oh yeah? How do you do that?” asked Edwin. He felt like he was beginning to get the hang of Froggy’s accent and dialect. At least the short bits.

“I tell myself duh truf,” he said. “I tell myself how it be: dey not gonna git ma farm.”

Edwin watched the man’s jaw tighten along with his grip around his pike.

“Not ma farm. Dey not gonna trash her.” Tears started to well up in his eyes. “Dey not gonna trash her. She’s ma farm, ‘n der not gonna touch her. Don’t let’em touch her, misser Edwin.”

“I won’t,” said Edwin. That was too much thought Edwin. Too many words to get what he was saying but too much heart to not get what the man meant.

Edwin understood the fear in Froggy’s voice, a fear that almost choked the small man. I watched fear tighten the man’s hand and jaw, but it was love that put the tear in his eye. Love fighting against fear.

I wonder what it’s like to be so powerless thought Edwin, becoming almost callous in a moment. Froggy is a strong man to live out here, but he has no power. Everything could be taken from him in a moment. I suppose that’s why some people pray to God.

“You go and get some rest now, Mr Froggy. I’ll take care of things out here. And thank you. Thank you for your hospitality.”

“Thank you! Thank you, suh! I thank Gawd fer yuh, suh!”

Froggy walked away. Edwin watched the halfling wipe those tears from his eyes. If there is a God, maybe He’s using me to protect this man right now. Well, I only have one thing to say to Him…

“...Why don’t you come down and do it Yourself, old man!” yelled Edwin up toward the sky.

“Who are you yelling at, Edwin?”

Startled, the man turned to see Emiko had returned from what he was pretty sure was her trip to the outhouse.

“No one in particular,” he said quickly. “But I’m glad you’re back. Could you keep an eye on things? Thanks! I’ll be right back!”

He had shouted the last part over his shoulder as he ran off to find the outhouse. He had just remembered the rumbling and tension of his own stomach. It had fallen over him again like a bucket of cold water.

Emiko stared at Edwin as he ran behind Froggy’s house. The men of this country are so strange to me. I can’t wait to make my way back home to you, mom and dad.

She bent down and began to unpack her bedroll. The wolves were still howling. Butcher was still barking back at them. I don’t think we will be able to sleep at all tonight. It’s so bright and loud. But, I’ll at least lay these out so I can get a little rest.

I will go ahead and lay out Edwin’s too. As momma taught me: a woman’s second greatest gift is her kindness to others. She took Edwin’s bedroll off the top of his pack and unfurled it on the other side of the bonfire, at the edge of the heat radius as she had with her own.

“There! Plenty of room for each of us,” she said to herself. “My! I’m saying more and more in this language. I wonder if I’ll even remember how to speak my own language when I go home. Or, will I forget this language? What will my memories of here be like?”

A deep sense of loneliness struck her. She sat down on her bedroll and tucked her knees into her chest.

There’s no sense in being sad, Emiko she thought. Being sad will only make this harder. You are almost to the keep, and when you get there, you’ll find plenty of work using your fists. You’ll get there. You’ll make a living using your martial arts. You’ll save some money. You’ll go home. You’ll buy your sisters’ freedom. You can do it, Emiko. Believe in yourself.

“If I can do it, why does it feel like I can’t,” she said with all of the weight on her shoulders. She fell over with her back to the bonfire. She was both hot and cold at the same time, but it felt nice; despite feeling tired, alone, and even defeated, she at least felt safe, even with the roaring of Butcher and the howling of the wild wolves.

I’ll never be able to get to sleep, but at least I can close my eyes and rest. That was the last thing she remembered before she drifted off in slumber.