Consequence
noun
plural noun: Consequences
1: a result or effect, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant
2: Importance or relevance
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The decantery served its purpose. Her act convincing enough, trade discussed, introductions made, in fact, everything was as it should be in her estimation. Yet as she left, she realised she had been tense, holding her breath and could now finally feel her shoulders relax, the cool air upon her burning cheeks. A large figure moved from the wall to be at her side.
"You were longer than expected"
She did not look upon him as she walked the narrow streets leading toward the towns South Gate. She did not linger at stalls, did not meet the temptation to part with her coin. She did however make small conversation, not that she expected much to come of it.
"You should have joined me"
"No"
It was his only response. He did not disappoint, a good foot taller than her and then some, making no effort to disguise the fact that he served one purpose and one alone, that being to protect. His blade remained visible, his armour, although not impractical plate, was sturdy leather, well maintained and reinforced where needed. His hands like ham hocks and his nose broken several times. He did not smile and she did not attempt to coax one from him. Like a shadow at her side, the journey seemed to take longer of late, the trees that once held a pleasant rustle in the branches, like leaves formed of copper and gold, did not bring her relaxation, but more a heightened sense of awareness. Every sound in the woodlands could be something else, someone else. A boar, a wolf, a man.
"I could pay you to talk you know"
Her attempt at light hearted words distracted him enough to be gifted a stern look. Dark of hair and shorn beard, there was nothing gentle about the man.
"Your father pays me, and not to talk"
She muttered, nothing complimentary either, and although the journey was tedious to the mind, she was in time stood before her home. Rather, it was home from home, suitably feminine, with chickens, flowers and all the comforts money could buy.
The door did not need to be opened for her to hear the raised voices from within. Chaos dwelt beyond it, chaos, broken paths, hatred, anger and a thirst for revenge. She was a diversion, a perversion too in the mind of Adrian, and the ideal opportunity to bring about ruin to the business.
Three mines had been struck whilst her father had been distracted. Several supporting beams had been weakened in one, a methane explosion in another. Lives lost, bodies crushed beneath rock, wood and soil. The newly formed opal mine had a more cruder method of disruption in the form of an open attack. These were not mere accidents. This was not common rabble hoping to take their share of gems and ore. This was to hurt a man to his core, to take his wealth, to take his daughter, to damage his reputation, to take what he cherished the most. She could not linger on the step , it was her home, regardless how the men within it might make her feel.
All fell silent as she stepped within.
