Lyfrid burst into the manor, stomped her way to her room. There she tore off her dirty gown, though it was still in perfect shape other than the street dirt, it was ruined in her mind. She balled the cream baldaquin dress and threw it into the fireplace in her room. The fabric immediately burst into a hot flame, a lot like the woman's temper earlier that day in Bree.
The tempest, fueled by Lyfrid's temper, had been boiling for a few days. Fire was lit under the woman from Rohan a few evenings ago by the hitching post at the Pony. Brulk was waiting for her there with his questions, accusations and threats, which had become their regular form of communications.
The one eyed man wanted to know what the amulet was for and why she'd sent it. At first, as a defense, she denied any knowledge of the item and implied it probably came from the Witch. She could have used a persuasive argument that it wasn't her who sent it when he mentioned the note that came with it. The Cook could have admitted then she could neither read nor write, had him completely fooled, but she didn't do it. Not because she didn't want to fool him, it was that damned pride again. Hiding her inability to read or write was primary.
Once the amulet discussion had ceased he pressed further with more dangerous questions. Brulk wanted to know if Lyfrid had anything to do with Balisan's ransoming. The seer made a decision. She could easily continue to deny any involvement or knowledge of the kidnapping of the knight, there was no proof, except for the snake skin Patch mentioned the Order had in their possession. He'd not told anyone at the Order he knew of that snake nor its owner. Besides, a snake skin was not enough proof for a hanging. Lyfrid rarely did anything for a sole reason and this would be no exception.
The fact that Brulk had not told the Order about the snake was to her advantage. Now if she told the Man about her involvement and he said nothing still to the Witch, then she knew two things. He valued her in some way so didn't want to see her in irons or hung and he put himself in jeopardy if he withheld what he knew. The second reason was the real advantage. Unless he ran back to Arrowhaven with the information right then and there, Brulk could never say anything about it to anyone. If he admitted he knew and said nothing, then he was then involved in the cover up of the crime.
So she told him, taking a huge chance, sticking her neck out, her real neck. It could mean she would be hung but her gut told her to do it. It told her Patch wouldn't betray her and she was right, as usual. Just as she felt things were going along swimmingly, Brulk suggested she return to Amon Raith and her friends there. Lyfrid, who hates pity and sees any form of help as such, welled up angry, caustic words. Brulk met her poisonous assaults with toxins of his own, cursing at her and telling her to return to Rohan. Oh that set her blood to boiling point. Without another word, she mounted her spotted pony, gave the poor beast a ferocious kick to his ribs and disappeared into the night.
~*~
