Page 123 of Tiger's Trek
“I’m an old woman. I have no secrets.”
“I think we both know that isn’t true,” Veru said.
“Let’s get this over with,” Yuga said sharply. “I don’t see any wheat, and I think the two of you are stalling.” Closing her eyes, she mumbled a few words and then opened her mouth. They heard the crack of thunder and saw lightning flash just outside the window. There was a banging on the door. The old woman flicked her fingers, and standing outside in the snow was the black knight.
“You called, mistress?” Sumerki said after bowing to Yuga.
“Yes. These two tell me you stored wheat for them. Is this true?”
“No, mistress. I stored the wheat according toyourinstructions,” the knight said very carefully.
“Is that so?” Yuga turned to Danik and Veru and smiled widely. “I wonder, then, why they seem to be under the impression that you were helpingthem?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“It’s very strange, I agree.”
Danik rose from his seat. “You’ve betrayed us,” he accused, his hands clenched at his side.
“Now, now,” Yuga said, still grinning. “I’ll not have my servants tussling with one another. Let bygones be bygones, why don’t you?”
“Predatel’!” Danik shouted. “Negodyay! Posramit’ upon you and your ancestors!”
The black knight simply stood there, taking Danik’s insults without even flinching, but Veru recognized defeat when she saw it. She rose and Max jumped from her lap. Putting a hand on Danik’s arm, she patted it lightly, trying to still the trembling rage she could feel vibrating through him. Truthfully, it wasn’t Sumerki’s fault. She was certain he’d been compelled to do what he’d done. Perhaps there was still a way out for them.
“It would appear that congratulations are in order, then,” Veru said. “Unfortunately, when it comes to the matter of the wheat, seeing is believing, wouldn’t you agree?”
Yuga stopped crowing and narrowed her eyes. “What are you going on about, girl?”
“Well,wedid harvest the wheat, and if Sumerki did gather it for you, then I would need to see it. What if you’re wrong? Perhaps he means to sell it. Perhaps it’s missing.”
“Of course he didn’t steal it. He wouldn’t cross me. And the contract clearly states thatyouare to deliver it to me, not my knight.”
“Oh, I understand. But I also know that those who double-cross are often double-crossed themselves. When it comes to freedom, there isn’t much that most wouldn’t do. Perhaps if I could see the wheat, or at least know its location, then I might believe your story.”
The black knight spoke, “If I may, according to my mistress’s own instructions, the wheat was stored in her granary, not two verts from here. I can show you this myself, if you like.”
Yuga waved a hand. “We believe you.”
“I don’t,” Veru said. “I think I need proof before I can accept eternal servitude. You’d ask the same of us, I’d think.”
“Bah! Very well,” Yuga said huffily. “Come, you stubborn girl.”
“Danik, you stay behind, won’t you? We won’t be too long, I shouldn’t think. Of course, if the wheat somehow magically arrives here while we’re gone, make sure to stack it up properly so Yuga can see we did our part.”
“What are you going on about, girl?” Yuga said as she dragged out her stone bowl and opened the door.
“I’m only saying nothing is proven yet. I still believe the black knight will come through for us.”
“Clearly, he didn’t,” Yuga said, gesturing Veru should climb into the bowl beside her. “He’s loyal to me.”
“If the wheat is where the two of you say it is, then I’ll happily agree with you. But if we return and find it here instead, then it means that we succeeded.”
“You stupid girl. It’s not here. How could it be here when we return?”
“I have faith.”
Yuga shook her head and snapped her fingers.
