Lora of Two Worlds

Whatever Yu Cheng’s self-regard, Roland didn’t care. He pointed at the woman: hair tangled, white dress striped with whip-marks, eyes full of terror.

”My Lord Yu, what’s this? You can’t let servants murder people.

This is a Lohenheim garrison post. Even a prince, if he runs wild at Heyford, the Odenheims will throw him in the military prison to feed the rats.”

”Fine... fine. Lord Roland, you’re tough. Yu Fulke, take the woman. We’ll flay her properly at home.”

Yu Cheng had broken the royal vase himself. He feared his father’s return. A beating was one thing, being confined for ten days, no cockfighting? That would kill him.

And this Dawnfolk woman, fierce. Wouldn’t let him touch her. In his fury, he’d made her the scapegoat. Father comes home, ”a slave stole it. She’s been dealt with.”

He hadn’t expected her to escape. And he’d never expected, at the river, trying to drown her, to run into the Odenheim brothers.

Leave? Where?

Shawn and Keane flanked the servants holding the woman. Two kicks to the wrists, howling, they let go.

Shawn pulled the woman to Lora and Faye. She tried to resist. Faye spoke rapidly in Dawnfolk:

”Don’t be afraid! We’re helping you!”

The woman heard her native tongue, wept with relief: ”You’re Dawnfolk? Please save me, I didn’t steal anything...”

Lora cut in: ”Ask her, did she sign a contract with anyone?”

Faye translated. The woman shook her head: ”I haven’t been here long. I can’t communicate with them. No contract at all.”

Lora nodded to Roland.

Yu Cheng, seeing the Odenheims openly taking the woman, was about to explode. Then he saw a woman on their side chattering with the Dawnfolk in her own tongue. Panic:

”Lord Odenheim, we’re kin, aren’t we? Don’t listen to that foreign woman’s lies.”

Alvin smiled, cool: ”Kin are people. Foreign women are people too. This commotion has delayed the envoy’s journey. The envoy in the carriage summons you and this Dawnfolk woman for questioning.”

Lora saw, Leon was already gone. This Yu Cheng might have met him. Avoidance. Using von Klein’s name, neatly sidestepping the Odenheim family’s involvement.

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Yu Cheng had seen von Klein at the Lohenheim execution. He hadn’t expected this trifling matter to reach the envoy’s ears.

A few days from now, back at court, if this came up casually before the King, his idle father would be fetching his whip.

”My Lord Yu, we meet again. Trouble at your house?”

”Thanks to you, nothing. Just a runaway Dawnfolk woman we’d picked up.”

”Picked up? Registered as a bondmaid?”

”No, no, she doesn’t understand us. Useless anyway. We just chased her to check if she’d stolen anything. She hasn’t. All resolved.”

How clever of me. Better not let Lohenheim matters reach Augustburg.

Yu Cheng bowed: ”Thank you for your concern.”

”Then, everyone disperse. Alvin, let’s go.”

The convoy moved again. Faye brought the Dawnfolk woman into their carriage.

Through a crack in the curtain, they watched Yu Cheng, furious but forcing himself to endure. Both girls covered their mouths, giggling.

The convoy moved again. Faye brought the Dawnfolk woman into their carriage. Through a crack in the curtain, they watched Yu Cheng, furious but forcing himself to endure. Both girls covered their mouths, giggling.

The Dawnfolk woman, seeing them laugh at Yu Cheng, slowly relaxed.

”This is Lady Odenheim. My name is Faye Horn. I’m from Yarnford, Yorvik.”

”Oh, Yorvik has many Dawnfolk people. No wonder you speak the language...”

Lora asked: ”We’re going back to Lohenheim. Do you want to come with us, or should we let you off somewhere Yu Cheng can’t find you?”

The woman hesitated: ”I... my parents died. I couldn’t survive. I trusted a man who said he’d find me work in a great house. I didn’t know, I was being sold to the Empire...”

”If you’ve nowhere to go, stay with us. I can teach you the common tongue.”

Faye, herself a nomad settled among southerners, couldn’t help reaching out.

”Really?” The woman’s face lit up. So far, Faye was the only person who understood her. Being together, she felt safe.

From outside, Lyle’s voice: ”My lady, the lord asks: do you need to stop anywhere? We’re about to cross the Heyford Bridge.”

”No, straight home.”

Lyle: The lord predicted this. He said the young lady had picked up another person.

Inside the carriage, three women were learning how to address each other:

”We’ll call you Danya. The lady says ’Dan’ means ’red stone’ in the common tongue, same as your name.”

”Danya... lady...”

”No, not ’lady.’ That’s her. I’m Lady Horn.”

”Little... lady?”

”No, Horn. My surname. Horn...”

”Horn... lady.”

”Yes! That’s it!” Faye clapped. Danya laughed and clapped too.

Lora was tickled by these two fools. No wonder Faye was good at languages, she taught by association.

With Danya around, Faye wouldn’t be lonely in Lohenheim.

Roland took Chester Horn, Faye, and Danya to a house in Shadye Quarter, Alvin’s own, currently vacant.

Let the Horn siblings stay there temporarily. When Cheney’s own house was ready, they’d move.

The convoy entered Lohenheim and split into three routes.

Roland took Chester Horn, Faye, and Danya to a house in Shadye Quarter, Alvin’s own, currently vacant. Let the Horn siblings stay there temporarily. When Cheney’s own house was ready, they’d move.

Alvin escorted von Klein to the Lord Regent’s office. Handing the envoy over to Lord Regent Legard in person.

Legard, already informed, waited outside with several officials. Seeing Alvin dismount:

”Deputy Commander, well done! This mission’s success, your merit is greatest. I’ll petition the King for your commendation.”

”Only my duty. The envoy is delivered. I’ll return to barracks to report.”

Alvin bowed to Legard and von Klein. Led his guards toward the General’s mansion.

”Lora went home on her own. By now, she should have Mother and Father charmed, right?”