Her heart pounded against her ribcage like a cannon, her eyes wide as if they'd never known how to blink. Had she misheard? Did he just call her "red-haired whore's daughter"? An electric shiver ran down her spine. This voice was unfamiliar - she needed to turn around, maybe confront this stranger. But what could she do? She certainly couldn't kick him away. Screaming? No, she had to run. Find her brothers. No matter how brave or strong she'd become, she knew she couldn't face whoever stood behind her alone.
"Mr. Abrahams! You're early," came Dr. Hans' voice from the stable entrance, snapping Ren from her exhausted thoughts. The stranger's hands still gripped her shoulders.
"Hello Dr. Hans. I finished work early and wanted to visit as soon as possible to meet Aldora and her nurse. She does have strikingly red hair as you told me." Dr. Hans laughed while shaking hands with the man called Mr. Abrahams, whose hand remained on Ren's shoulder. She stood statue-still despite deciding to flee moments earlier.
"Ren, this respectable gentleman owns Aldora and the stable. Seems you've already been welcomed." Ren remained silent, her eyes pleading with Dr. Hans for help. "What's wrong? You look pale," he continued, puzzled. "As if you've seen a ghost - or become one yourself."
"Of course something's wrong! Sending a small, frail girl to carry heavy water!" Abrahams shook her shoulders with each word. Did he feel her trembling?
"Don't be fooled by their size, Mr. Abrahams. These children are stronger than they appear. They'd survive outdoors better than knights."
"So Ren doesn't work alone in the stable?" Stop, please.
"Of course not. She has four extremely protective brothers." Don't tell him more.
"I never imagined she had brothers." Damn!
"Naturally you wouldn't - I've told you little about them. Let's enter and I'll introduce you properly and update you on Aldora's condition."
Abrahams strode forward as the groom rushed to greet him. Ren followed silently, walking like someone headed to the gallows. Abrahams appeared to be in his forties - average height, neatly combed jet-black hair, narrow eyes hiding translucent pupils, and a permanent smile. Not one of genuine pleasure, but the kind that schemes while gathering information.
This was a disaster. This man now knew about her brothers thanks to Dr. Hans, and worse - he knew she was the "red-haired whore's daughter." Maybe he was friends with the tavern owner? Impossible. This man was too refined for that filthy drunk. Then how did he know her old nickname? All their efforts to avoid the tavern would be wasted if this man returned her to that fat bastard. They had to escape. She'd scream for her brothers to run when they entered the stable -
She didn't scream. She remained stone silent as Abrahams scanned the stable while Dr. Hans happily called the boys over. They left their tasks, Sai rising from his rest.
"I'd like to introduce Aldora's owner, Mr. Bill Abrahams - a respectable man interested in talented children." Colin and Dai warily shook Abrahams' hand, their eyes fixed on Ren's distressed face. Sai hesitated behind them, afraid this supposedly respectable man might refuse to shake an Easterner's hand. To his relief, Abrahams shook it without objection. Good. But why was Ren shaking?
Dr. Hans listed their names and skills one by one while Abrahams nodded after thorough inspection. Ren could barely breathe.
Matteo was still washing dirt from his hands - he wouldn't greet Hans' important guest filthy. He heard Hans say cheerfully: "Ah, here comes our little leader! Mr. Abrahams, meet Matteo - clever and one-of-a-kind."
Ren glimpsed Abrahams' face. His narrow eyes flew wide upon seeing Matteo. People often stared at Matteo like that - as if searching his face for something before snapping back to reality. Matteo never noticed. Ren understood somewhat - Matteo always carried an air of difference. But Abrahams' reaction terrified her because he knew who she was and might return her to the tavern owner. And his "interest in talented children"...
"What an interesting group..."
"Family," Matteo corrected firmly, trying to free his hand from Abrahams' strange, lingering grip. He'd noticed Ren biting her lip and clutching her left arm anxiously. What was happening?
"My apologies. Hosting such a unique little family honors my stable." The boys exchanged glances. Flattery? They had nothing valuable to offer. Why this strange welcome?
Colin studied Abrahams' face. Matteo wiped his hands on his shirt defiantly after reclaiming them from the man's rough grasp.
"Dai, explain Aldora's condition to Mr. Abrahams with Ren. Prove my praise wasn't empty."
"Actually Ren isn't feeling well today. I can provide detailed explanations myself." Dai glared at Abrahams while signaling the others to take Ren outside for air. Strangely, Abrahams accepted their coldness casually, as if oblivious to their suspicion. Dr. Hans, likely nervous around his patron, pretended not to notice their behavior. They'd get a lecture about respecting elders later. Colin would receive it too, though he was always the most polite.
Ten minutes after leaving the stable, Dai remained inside rapidly explaining Aldora's condition in technical terms, trying to hurry Abrahams away. Ren still clutched Matteo's sleeve. Colin handed her cool well water, but she just stared at her shaky reflection.
"Ren, what's wrong? Did that man do something?" Colin asked.
"It's okay. He can't hear us here," Matteo assured firmly.
She took a deep breath. "H-He called me 'red-haired whore's daughter' before we entered."
The words hit like thunder. Matteo gripped her hands. "Do you know him?"
"No. First time I've seen him."
"Damn!" Matteo glared at the stable while Colin considered their options. Sai gently patted Ren's back.
"Matteo, we have to leave now," Ren said, calmer now. "That man looked at you all frighteningly. I'm sorry we won't see Aldora's birth, but we can't risk staying."
"Staying isn't an option," Matteo agreed. "But he reeks of trouble. We don't know if he'll send people after us."
"I agree with Matteo. We'll sleep in the stable tonight, take watch shifts, and slip into the forest at dawn when the capital's crowded." Matteo nodded.
Sai added: "I can sneak to the forest now unnoticed, retrieve our money, and head straight south where no one will find us."
Matteo refused: "No need. The eastern forest is hard for capital residents to navigate anyway. And you're still recovering - focus on healing." Sai opened his mouth indignantly. Should he jump off the stable roof to prove he was fine? He wouldn't give up his watch shift - he couldn't rest while Ren suffered.
Ren accepted their plan. Family came first. This man had frightened her enough for one day. No - she wouldn't let her brothers become his hostages. He'd examined them like fabric for new clothes. Living three years with four protective boys had given her false courage. She'd thought she could conquer anything as their sister. Now she was the sister who'd brought disaster threatening their family.
Abrahams left cheerfully in his elegant carriage that evening. Dr. Hans lectured them about manners as promised. They didn't respond, leaving him disappointed for the first time since meeting them.
Dai exploded after hearing Ren's story: "I knew that pervert meant trouble! He looked at us like black-market merchandise!"
Colin sighed: "A 'respectable' pervert. Now we lose a week's pay."
"Money can wait," Matteo said as Ren lay beside him. "Keep knives handy tonight. We don't know if he'll send someone."
Ren stayed silent, hating her helplessness. She was the only one without a knife after cutting herself during Sai's lesson. She wished she were a brother, not a helpless sister. After this crisis, she'd force them to teach her knife skills. She'd surely disappointed Dai - all she'd done was stay silent.
Dai lay staring at the stable ceiling, glancing at Ren occasionally. She'd suffered as much fear today as happiness in their three years together. Damn that pervert!
The small family slept restlessly. Sai took first watch after threatening to jump off the stable roof if they kept treating him like "some pathetic invalid." Dai protested: "You're not a pathetic invalid - you're an invalid fleeing rest like the plague!" They finally gave in, unable to argue.
It would be a long night for everyone.