Blake kindly offered to stop by my folks and hand over the money on behalf of me and see how they were doing. He was going to Archet anyway, looking for some information on two missing farmhands that old Bauman had talked about. That’s Blake, he never sits still for long, always looking for information and knowledge. I wonder how he keeps all that wisdom in his head sometimes, perhaps some of it is hiding in that beard he has grown.
By the time he returned it was early morning. Toby was still asleep, but as I wandered down to the common room Blake was sitting there, looking like he just finished breakfast. I joined him and was rather ready to dig into the food whilst he was telling me that he had levelled with my folks regarding what we had been doing. I was terrified, but I tried not to show… I am now more scared that my dad will show up and kill me than that any bandit will. My dad loves Blake, and he would always be polite and grateful that Toby and Blake are looking after me, but I have no doubt he is not well pleased that his little girl is out shooting bandits, even if she does have two skilled boys to protect her.
Once, when I was… 10, I think… I told my dad that I planned to marry both Toby and Blake (a girl can dream, of course!) and my dad said to leave my silly notions aside, I would never be a Blackthorn as that would mean marrying above my station. The Blackthorns are wealthier than us, and my dad said that whilst a boy like Toby might be my friend, he would certainly never be my husband. Ah well, I could still marry Blake… or so I thought. My dad said no to that as well. He said; “That boy is smarter than most, but a life with him means a life on the road and that is not for you”. Funny isn’t it, how I always thought that sounded like the perfect life, even then. I guess now I got the perfect life anyway, and I didn’t even have to marry anyone for it!
I think it was probably good that they found out. My folks know I am out on adventure, and perhaps sometimes a dangerous adventure, but I am surrounded by my two best friends who think of me as their little sister, so they will always protect me. Hopefully I will be able to send more money back to mum and dad soon.
Aside from giving me a heart attack over what he had told my folks, Blake also gave me something else. He had a letter for me. For me! It was from Cadal Caerleone. I know him a little, I’ve seen him around the lodge often enough and spoken to him a number of times. He’s a very handsome young man, the kind you can’t help but look at. His letter was very sweet, stating that he hoped I was safe. His ma had been killed in the attack on Archet, and now him and his brother would have to travel west, they had been taken in by a man named Wehlend. I feel so sad for him, being an orphan now, but at least he seems to have been taken in by a kind man and he will get to go on an adventure of sorts too. I shall reply to him, if I can figure out how to reach him, and thank him for his sweet letter (I have read it many times already!). Maybe all hope of love is not lost for me.
Perhaps there is a boy out there that will look at me as something else than a little sister.
