Chapter 286: The One Who Got Away (1/2)
After serval hours of rest, Zinnia awoke, dragging herself out of the bedroom. Pete turned, scratching his crusty beard, letting out a reinsuring smile. ”You're looking better. I was just making some stew if you were hungry?”
Zinnia walked over, rubbing her eyes, smelling a feast for kings. Starving, she hung over the bowl like a dog waiting for their next meal. ”How did you get all this?”
”Oh, this? The town just a few miles west has a market. It's becoming harder and harder to find a good catch out in this condition. I'm not as young as I use to be, so it's usually Henry here doing the heavy lifting.” He explained, stirring the broth giving it a small taste before glancing at Henry. ”We were actually out hunting when we came across you. Go on eat up; there's plenty for everyone.”
Zinnia sat down, scooping the food down in a hurry moving the food around her mouth to avoid a horrific burn. Looking up, she noticed Pete not eating as she looked concerned. ”Are you not eating?”
”Oh, I'll eat later.”
”I didn't get the chance to thank you. I would be dead if it wasn't for you.”
Pete shook his head, holding his hand up. ”Don't thank me, thank Henry. He was the one adamant about finding you. Besides, I couldn't leave a young girl like you out there all alone now, could I? Which reminds me, why were you out there?”
”I've been out here for a long time…. It was to find myself, I suppose. After finding my family, we were attacked. My village was destroyed, my father…. Killed protecting me.”
”Oh. I'm…. I'm sorry to hear that, Zinnia. Are those people still after you?”
Shaking her head, she placed the bowl down. ”I don't think so. I lost, but she spared me for some reason. I'm just currently trying to get to my friends.”
”Well, take as long as you'd like. You're more than welcome to wait out the harshness of this snow and look for your friends afterwards.” Pete informed, taking her bowl. ”Do you know where your friends are?”
”Last I know, they were in the heart of Rhinefield. They most likely haven't moved far since then. That's my goal.”
Pete glanced at Zinnia rather nervously, putting the bowl down. ”Rhinefield? You mean the capital of Victoria Rhinefield?”
”Yes. Why?”
Pete continued to stare, stepping back, tripping up on his fire stumbling. Zinnia went to help, but Pete held his hand up, shaking his head. ”No. No…. I'm fine. Tell me, Zinnia do you know a man called Marcus Culling?”
”Vanguard?”
”Did he send you here? Is he out there ready to finish what he started?!” Pete cried, looking terrified, which even got Henry worked up. ”Why can't he let me go?! Thirty years. It's been thirty years!”
”Pete…. Please, calm down.”
Pete stood up as a tiny spark of light came from his hand. ”He won't take me; I won't let him!”
”Pete, please. Calm down. Vanguard is gone.”
”What?”
”We took him down and exposed him for who he was.”
Pete's face dropped as he fell into his chair handing shaking. ”You're not pulling my leg here, are you, girl? This isn't some kind of prank?!”
”I promise. We stopped him from hurting any more people. He's locked behind bars for good.”
Pete wiped his eyes, breaking down. ”I've been hiding out here for thirty years, watching my back in hopes he would never find me. I managed to escape with my life after he tried killing me, and you're telling me he finally paid for his crimes?!”
”Who are you?”