Worse Than The Reported News (Part III)

Mikhail led Xander towards Tefflander Village, awkwardly walking ahead of him. It was fine to walk, but Xander had initially insisted on Mikhail riding beside him. Mikhail had immediately refused his offer out of both respect and the awkwardness of the situation.

He had sense a belligerent mood in the air when Xander had instigated an offer. Mikhail had originally felt conflicted, but stood to his conviction. He merely smiled and walked ahead of the soldiers, pointing towards someplace in the horizon.

The village men glared vehemently towards Mikhail who walked freely ahead of the large troop, they grinded their teeth as they cursed beneath their breath. Why was he the only one who wasn't tied up?

The journey back to Tefflander Village felt long and cumbersome, yet, it had only been a few hours. The villagers were groaning as they dragged their feet, bearing a grudge towards Mikhail. It must have been something he said, otherwise, why would he be the only one untied? It was a mistake leaving things up to that kid.

Back in the village, Susie smiled sweetly towards Diane who had been helping her with the winnowing of the rice. She then excused herself, grabbing a bag of flour that had already been packed.

She headed back to her house as she hummed to herself. The stone oven was set to heat as she threw in some firewood, her gaze flickering to the now ignited fire. She grinned to herself as she started dusting the counter. Eggs, flour, sourdough starter and some water.

She melded the ingredients together as she kneaded the dough. Her mood was high and she couldn't feel any better. She then tucked the dough under a damp cloth, leaving it to rest when she suddenly heard a thump. Her lips pulled to a frown as her eyes glowered dangerously. 

"Ah ah... I was so excited earlier... tsk. What a pain." Susie then bent downwards as she looked around for something. Her hand touching a slimy texture as her eyes turned a half moon, her lips pulling to a cunning grin.

Susie glanced towards the living room. The furnitures were spread widely across the room, it seemed a little weird, however it didn't seem to bother her. "This will do. Its probably that time... maybe that's why they're so fussy."

Susie then walked towards the middle of the room, the floorboards creaking beneath her. She grinned as she bent down, prying a loose board as she stared into the hole.

"Hey little brats. Were you hungry~?" Susie asked in a singsong manner. Her eyes gleaming as she held out the bread above the hole. 

Shadowy movements caught her eyes as a small hand grabbed her wrist, catching her off guard. She screeched as the moldy bread slipped out of her hands. Susie's smile faltered as her expression contorted to one of anger. She immediately stood up as she pulled her wrists out of the small hand. 

With an enraged voice, Susie yelled out towards the hole. "You dare touch me?! You are such filth! I won't feed you tomorrow!" 

She headed towards the kitchen counter, grabbing the cold water that she had leftover. She then headed straight to the hole, tossing the whole pail inside, her face now seemingly relieved from her initial anger.

Wails could be heard emanating from the hole as Susie furrowed her brows. They were getting even more annoying. If not for the amount the nobles pay for such children, she would have been more than happy to toss hot oil over them.

She bit her bottom lips as she then shut the loose floorboard back into place. Her lips pulled into a taut position as she grimaced from the annoying wailing. 

"Shut the f*ck up! You should be happy I didn't throw hot water instead! Now keep it down!" 

The wailing died down soon after, earning Susie a brief moment of relief. She sighed gratefully as she pulled the windows open, heading back towards the bread she had left to rest earlier.

As she finally tossed the bread into the oven, she headed over to the butcher's house. Smiling softly as she greeted his wife. A pail of red substance was handed over to her wordlessly as Susie then grinned. She nodded her head and headed towards a densely packed forest. 

The forest was told to be off limits due to dangerous terrain, however, it was only to ward off prying eyes. Her father had chained many exotic wild beasts in the area. She had come to feed them.

Susie then slipped on her thick pair of gloves as she dipped her hand into the red gooey substance. She picked it up and stared at it, her face scrounging into one of disgust. Susie then tossed it as far away as possible, into the forest, the long red meat disappearing into the fog.

She repeated her actions a few times until the pail was empty. Low growling could be heard before the sound of crushing and tearing of meat filled the air. Her unfazed expression slowly let out a low whistle. Susie then up and left, four gleaming eyes of gold trailing after her.

Upon arriving back at the village, Susie was met with a familiar cloak of dark green. She took off her gloves and tossed it inside the pail as she smoothened out her dress. She touched her hair and tucked away any loose strands of hair as she plastered a smile on her face.

"Mikhail~!"

Mikhail glanced towards his right, a girl with long braided ebony hair and gleaming amber coloured eyes filled his vision. Behind her, the dense forestry that was forbidden to access. Mikhail wondered what she was doing there but was pulled out of his thoughts when he felt a tight embrace around his body. His cheeks flushed as he flusteredly pushed Susie off him.

"Mikhail! You're back! What are you doing back here so soon? Has the issue of the roads and ports been resolved?"

"Erm... sort of... and not really..."

Susie cocked her head quizzically as she then turned to look for her father. Her eyes landing on the massive troop standing behind Mikhail.

"M-M-Mikhail? Wh... who are they?"

"There... is an issue... with your father... and the villagers..."

Susie's eyes widened as she thought about the wild animals and the children. She felt anxiety building and tasted iron within her mouth. That's impossible... Father couldn't possibly be found out... Especially since Count Douwell was covering our tracks...

She then pulled her lips to a smile as she sheepishly asked what Mikhail was talking about. They were rebelling, but bringing an army that could easily wipe the whole village was akin to lunacy!

"Search the area. Start with their house." Xander's voice rang across the vast troops as he got off his horse. His feet thumped heavily on the ground as he pulled Mikhail beside him.

"You would do well to keep your bloody hands to yourself."

Susie's eyes widened as she instinctively glanced at her hands. There was a small hint of blood on her left pinky. She gritted her teeth as her eyes shakily glanced towards the gloves. There had been a tear in the glove.

"What... this... I was making dinner... I guess I forgot to wash my hands thoroughly." Susie looked up to Xander with sheepish eyes. 

Upon catching his gaze, her expression stiffened. Susie felt an oppressing aura pressing on her. The gaze Xander had was reminiscent to those of the wild beasts, but fiercer.

"Lead the way to your house."

"... O-of course..."

Mikhail glanced warily at Susie's pale face, her initial smiling expression replaced with one devoid of any. He then stole a glance towards Xander and felt his own body stiffening. No wonder Susie looked so scared. Xander then glanced towards Mikhail, sending shivers down his spine. A smile replaced his initial rigid frown as gentle eyes rested upon his intial stoic expression.

"Mikhail, why don't you follow after the girl and show us the way?"

Sensing a different atmosphere altogether, Mikhail merely nodded as he held his gaze with Xander. "O...kay...."

Mikhail then hurried after Susie, following her as he gesticulated towards Xander to follow after him. His eyes wandered to the pail nearby the house as he stared at the brownish stain, drying beneath the sun. There was a metallic smell in the air.

Noticing Mikhail's wandering eyes, Susie tugged on his cloak, pulling his gaze away from it as she led him back to her house.

"It's here. There is nothing much here. We're also lacking in spices and salt... all because the ports are closed for business..."

Xander kept mum as he stared at the ebony haired girl. Her sentences were laced with innuendos. 

As they neared her house, the smell of freshly baked bread wafted through the air. The soldiers breathed in the aroma as Xander frowned. 

They must have been famished, travelling for such a long journey. However, he couldn't afford to waste anymore time. He notioned his soldiers to search the house.

"Split up! I want one group to investigate the house! One large group search the rest of the village! The others stay here and watch the villagers! Report any suspicious activities!"

With a thunderous roar, the soldiers saluted towards Xander. Their feet stomping the ground as they pulled their back rigidly straight. 

"Yes, with the pride of the soldiers beneath the banner of the Silver Dragon! Atttenttioon! Soldiers! March Out!"

Mikhail gaped in awe at the spectacle as he marvelled at Xander who was commanding the large troop. He was impressive. Nobles were really cool! Or... perhaps it was only Xander who was cool.

Feeling a tug on his sleeve, Mikhail turned towards the direction of the action as his eyes caught Susie's teary ones. "Mikhail, why do you think they are here?" 

"Oh. Um... Like I said... there was an issue... with Count Douwell." Mikhail answered slowly, trying to calm Susie's worries.

Out of the blue, Susie slapped his hand off of hers as her pupils dilated. Mikhail blinked repeatedly as he tried to process what had just happened.

With a sheepish laugh, Susie gesticulated about the bread in her stone oven as she tried to explain her actions. "Ah! That... I think the bread is ready! I'm going to go fetch it from the oven." 

"Oh... um... yeah, sure."

Susie then ran towards her house as she lowered her head, her facial expression seemingly obscured by her fringe. Mikhail however, caught a glimpse of her face, contorted in anger as he felt a shiver down his spine.

He felt a need to search for his mother to confirm her safety, yet, staying nearby Xander felt slightly reassuring. He then glanced far in the distance, thinking about  their house as his thoughts flashed back to the moment he saw Susie earlier.

***

"Your Highness, we've searched the house! There's nothing amiss!" a soldier said as he genuflected. Xander stared at the soldier before he nodded.

He still felt dubious about the situation, so he merely nodded to throw the villagers off. He scanned the face of the village head, smirking when he noticed the relieved expression on his face.

"Search again! I'm joining you this time."

At his phrase, he glanced at the village head from the corner of his eyes. His eyes squinting as his lips pulled to a grin. The village head looked devastated and in deep distraught. It was obvious something was hidden in his house.

Mikhail decided to trail after Xander as he noticed Xander calling for him with a wave of his hand. The soldiers this time, gave way for him and kept their gaze towards the house.

"Xander, Oh. I mean... My Lord... I find the forest pretty suspicious as well..." Mikhail said as he reached Xander's side.

At his phrase, he noticed the soldiers around him placing their hands threateningly against the hilt of their swords. Pulling it slightly before Xander raised his hand. Mikhail shook in his boots as he mentally sighed. This is the second time he was saved by Xander. Even though both times involved Xander's army.

"Why do you say so?" Xander asked, pulling Mikhail from his thought.

"Oh, because... the Village Head had forbade access to the forest... however... earlier... I saw Susie exit the forest. She carried this one pail that seemed to have contained something bloody..."

Xander then nodded his head as he notioned the few soldiers around him to investigate the forest. They looked ready to protest, but from the menacing look in Xander's eyes, they decided to oblige to his command, leaving the two standing beside each other in silence.