The Story Of A Sister – Dagen in trouble

I was doomed.

I was playing absentmindedly with my garnet pendant. The stranger that scared the hell out of me before was in my head and didn't show the slightest inclination to leave it.

Who was he? Why did he scare me so much and why I wasn't able to just stop thinking of him?

The weeks were passing by since Valentine's day, but I hadn't seen him again.

I was disappointed that I hadn't see him anywhere.

I tried not to show it, but the others were noticing, that something had changed.

I got up, it was early in the morning.

Thane and I had left the Hammerhead about two weeks ago, now finding ourselves in the caves outside of the town, where he had lived for a while. Thane told me, that he was in the Hammerhead because of me, but the Hammerhead became too expensive to live there any longer than necessary. Marek, Teela and Dagen were waiting at the caves for us and they told me to make myself comfortable there.

Marek was awake too and smiled as she saw me. "Good morning." she said. I returned her smile and sat down on her left. "How are you Marek?" I wanted to know. Couldn't believe how lucky I was, to live together now with these awesome people.

Marek was always so kind to me it was hard to believe, that she was a deadly necromancer. "I'm fine, thank you Missy. Did you sleep well?" she asked me. She was reaching for a mug to hand over to me. I thanked her and took a sip. It was fresh water.

I looked around the cave. Thane and Teela were on a few furs entwined close to each other. They were looking so peaceful. I was a little jealous of Thane and Teela for their luck they had.

I continued looking around, but saw that Dagen wasn't there.

"Where is Dagen?" I asked Marek curiously. She sighed. "He left this morning. He told me, that he has something important to do." Her voice showed me that she was annoyed by something. I smiled at her nervously.

I raised and walked towards the mouth of the cave. "Where are you going?" Mareks voice was making me stop. Her gaze was curious but I saw a hint of sorrow in her eyes. "I'm going out. I want to go to the city. Get a few things for supper!" I answered her question. Marek started to grin. "You are looking out for HIM again, aren't you?" I stumbled because of her words. "What? NO!" I objected, but to loud because I heard Thane groaning sleepy, and went silent again. Marek's grin was growing wider. "I'm so curious who might have stolen your heart." I know exactly that she wanted to tease me, but I couldn't help myself. "He didn't steal my heart." My voice was lowered as to not waken my brother and Teela. I looked at them, both of them were so adorable together.

But then I left the cave, just to run into Wren. She seemed to be exhausted.

"Wren? What the matter?" I asked her while she tried to catch her breath. "It's Dagen, he is in trouble!" she told me. I froze for a short moment. "What happened?" I wanted to know. Wren's voice was shaky but she replied. "He hadn't pay a debt he had. The guy called Gilian, he caught him and holds him captured. Hoping one of you will pay for him."

I turned around. "Marek!" I ran back into the cave, slipping on the stairs and falling down. The noise I caused, was what awakened my brother and Teela, who came to me immediately. "Are you alright, sister?" he asked me, but Teela was actually looking for my little aliments. Marek was at my side too trying not to chuckle, my action must have looked very funny but tried to look concerned. "I hope you are alright."

Wren followed me. "Uhm are you alright, Missy?" she wanted to know but I nodded and made her talking about the reason she was here.

Marek sighed. "We have to help him." she stated, so we had to come up with a plan. Wren told us where Gilian was and where he might hold Dagen captured.

Thane put on his armor and took his sword and the shield, Teela dressed herself up too and took her staff, as Marek took hers. Wren raised beside me and walked over to the entrance of the cave. As I raised too, Thane grabbed me by the arm. "You will stay here." his words were strict but I shook him off. "No, Dagen is my friend too, and I want to help him!" Thane looked at me concerned.

"No, you won't! It's too dangerous!" His voice was straight but I heard that he was clearly worried because of me. "Stay here and wait. We will be back soon."

With these words my brother left me behind. I was angry. Why was I'm not allowed to help them?

Wren looked at me, like she was sorry about that. But I ignored her. A short time later I felt Teela's hand on my shoulder squeezing it firmly before they all left the cave.

I wanted to tell them that I wouldn't stay here, I wanted to yell and to disagree, but it wouldn't help. So I stayed – for ten minutes longer.

Maybe the man who holds Dagen capture would be distracted by Marek and the others so I could sneak in and free our friend.

But well, that wasn't as easy as it sounds. I was neither a rogue nor a thief. So I had no idea how to help them on my own. I wouldn't be very surprised when I saw that it didn't work as well, as I hoped. I tried to find a way in, as a guy grabbed me by the shoulder. I almost fell as he forced me to turn around. "A little trespasser, aren't you? Huh?" He dragged me with him and pushed me against a brick wall.

My heart beat so hard in my chest, I wondered if my ribs could hold it inside.

"Maybe I should…", before he could finish his sentence, a man was standing behind him. I blinked in wonder, as I saw the man I was searching after for so long. It was him! He took the man in front of me by his neck and pushed him against the wall beside me. He didn't lose a word, but the man in front of him seemed to be afraid before he just collapsed.

I had no idea what happened there.

I was afraid, even more when he turned to me. "Are you alright?" he asked me in a tone I wouldn't suggest that he knocked the man in front of me out, with nothing but his gaze and a hand. I nodded, not knowing what to do. I was trembling. "Everything is alright, he will never touch you again." he told me. I kept silent, unsure what to say. I was looking to the floor as I saw how he was coming closer.

"What are you doing here?" he asked me. "Gillian isn't a man I would want to mess with if I were you." His voice made me look up straight in his face. I gulped before I raised my voice.

"He is holding a friend of mine captured. My friends want to save him and I am trying to help." I explained him. I felt the tears rise in my eyes. I always hated when that happened. But HE was looking at me, sunken deep in his thoughts.

"Your friend is captured by Gillian? So your friend is that rogue from the Red Thorns?" he asked me. I was confused. Did he really know about the Red Thorns? But I nodded. There was no reason to hide it. It was true.

Now the stranger in front of me was thinking even harder. Did I say something wrong? Was it a mistake to tell him, I asked myself? But as he spoke again, I looked at him. "How close are you and the Red Thorns?" His question stunned me for a second. I wasn't sure if I should tell him. I was going to say, they are friends to me, as other words leaved my mouth instead: "Thane, the warrior is my brother." I stuttered.

It seemed to me, that the words left my mouth by themselves.

"Your brother?" he sounded surprised for a moment, but then he smiled. His smile was a little scary and savage. I shuddered and took a step back.

"I will help you."

His words confused me even more. I breathed again as I realized, that I held it for a while. He softly grabbed my shoulder. His voice get a warm tone.

"I know that you are afraid of me. Now more than before. But I promise you, you have nothing to fear from me. I won't hurt you." I gulped even more, but something inside of me wanted to believe it.

He broke the silence between us again, after I didn't say anything for a while. He lifted his hood and was loudly thinking. "I have to get in somehow, without letting him see me." he started to plan. Without that hood I wasn't that scared anymore. He has light blue eyes and brown hair. "What can I do?" I wanted to help, but his gaze fell on me like nothing good. "You will do nothing but wait!" his voice was cold and that makes me tremble even more, but I fought against that feeling. "But he is my friend and I want to help him. That's the reason I am here." I burst out in protest.

A moment he was stunned in confusion. But then I could see how his expressions softened a bit. "Missy." he spoke to me with a soft voice. "I will free your friend, you have my word. But I need you staying safe, so I don't have to be afraid that someone might hurt you."

That was mean. His words were making my heart freak out. It was beating so fast and hard, that I was sure he was able hear it. It worsened as he touched my cheek.

"Promise me to stay safe." he asked me, and I nodded, not able to speak. He smiled at me a moment and turned to walk away as I found my language again. "Wait. I not even know your name!" I started, when he turned back to me. "Heinrich, but you can call me Henry." he told me, then he walked away.

To be continued…