The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new
It had been a torrid time for Foxwin, he had bitten off far more than he could chew and looked to the bottom of a bottle for a solution. Finally, he came out with it and confessed about the mess he was in. Taala listened intently, her mind racing with possible solutions even before he got to the end of his story...by then she knew there were very few options.
What, was it about this scrawny, clumsy, foolish man that moved her? There was no time to even contemplate that. Foxwin had outdone himself this time, borrowing gold from Jasper Mudbottom one of the Blackwold leaders without the means to pay him back, the interest he charges was more than tenfold! Even if he paid his debt, the Blackwold's would be back for more.
As if that was not enough, a mysterious note was delivered to Neyaa's house addressed to Taala that turned out to be from a man she later found out was Foxwin's brother Brammy offering his help. Could he be trusted?
More threats were made against Foxwin's life, they burned down his shop, his home, and Brammy, a Blackwold himself had warned Taala that Foxwin would be dead before the sun rose, so they hatched a plan, and that plan would only work if she said naught to Foxwin about Brammy. Was Brammy leading them both into a trap?
Taala swallowed her pride and sought to buy poison from the poisoner to dip the tips of her arrows into, but the poisoner had hated Taala for too long a time for her to agree to such a thing without time to think on it, and that time had ran out. As luck would have it, Nimeway, The Bloody Dawn's former healer was in Breeland for Hardoleth's funeral. There is little that Nimeway does not know about potions...and not only those which cure, but those that kill, Taala now had the deadliest of poison's in her possession.
Brammy instructed Taala to have Foxwin meet with the Blackwolds as arranged and to hide about the walls ready with her bow and wait for his signal.
Later, as they stood outside, Taala could sense the fear in Foxwin, perhaps not only for himself but for her, just as he left he looked upon her and told her he loved her, and such was her worry for him she almost said the words back to him in return until she gave her wits a shake.
Taala took up a safe vantage point where she could see the leader and his guards. Brammy was nowhere to be seen, she had a very uneasy feeling about this, but it was too late. Soon enough Foxwin was led before the leader. Taala had noted there were 5 in total, only one of them was armed with a bow, and he must drop first for he was the only one that could take her down from range, next would be their leader.
Her bow sung, the bowman dropped swiftly, aided by the poisoned tipped arrows, but she would curse herself for not being quick enough to kill their leader before he almost severed Foxwin's right arm. Her arrow plunged into Jaspers eye, killing him instantly. Death was delivered quickly to the others, but not so quick as to prevent one of them plunging a dagger into Foxwin's shoulder. Taala cursed them, but not as much as she cursed herself, though in truth it is unlikely anyone could have done better...where was Brammy?
As she ran towards Foxwin, she heard her name being called and there was Brammy behind a wrought iron door, battered and bloody, yet offering his aid. She bound Foxwin's arm and shoulder tightly by cutting a piece from his cloak or he would have bled to death. She then took the key from the leaders robe and unlocked the door. Taala whistled of Elwyn, so that Brammy may help her get Foxwin onto her mare's back. Brammy followed her to where Foxwin's mount stood and climbed on his back and followed her to her house, where she tended to both of them. Foxwin, thank the Gods would live and she had saved his arm...but would it ever be the same again?
Weeks later, Foxwin was healing well, though his arm weakened. He reached a hard decision, he would leave The Bloody Dawn. His heart was heavy when he told Taala. But it was not all gloomy, he had reconciled with his brother, whom had tried to make amends by giving Foxwin the gold he had stolen from the Blackwolds. Taala had given Foxwin some gold also and he had used it to buy a new house, not far from hers.
Neyaa had spoken to Taala some time ago about a business proposition, and Foxwin could be part of it if he was willing. It was time for Foxwin to stop selling his sword and return to his former trade as a shoemaker...but the pair of them would learn a different trade, that of Saddle making! How hard could it be for an armourer and a shoemaker to turn their hand to that?
Sometimes when things are falling apart, they may actually be falling into place...
