Rannie pat her thigh at the hulking hound as they walked back to Duramarth’s house. The idea of a body guard didn’t suit her but she understood the boss lady’s concern for her safety. Belegander’s actions surprised her. She had never seen him react in such a fashion but then she never really expected him to come back and demand she work for him again. She sat on the steps of the house, petting the large creature becoming rather fond of him already.
She glances around her, the village was fairly quiet and the streets were empty while normally that brought her peace now it only made her nervous and expose. “Ya keep an eye on the place lad, I’m gonna go inside” she told him ruffling his fur. He barked and Rannie grinned at him, petting him yet again. “Ya a good boy” she said then went inside. She closed the door and locked it then turned to see what needed to be done when she saw him.
“Hello again Rannie,” Belegander greeted her as he sat on the edge of the table with that smug condescending smile of his. She clenched her jaw and sent him a smirk as she crossed her arms.
“I thought I told ya if ya bothered me again…I’d make ya regret it,” she told him pointedly, wondering how he had managed to get into Duramarth’s house.
“Now my love, really there is no need for any of that…I just came here to see if you changed your mind since…” he started waving his hand in a small dimostrative circles. “You happen to have misplaced your little grey puppy,” he said with a cruel grin. Rannie gave off a dry laugh and was tempted to tell him about Urses’ escape but instead she shook her head.
“Ya think cause that lad ran off I was gonna change me mind and go back ta workin with ya?” she asked and laughed loudly. “My choice had nothin ta do with him or anything ya can manipulate, pay or make disappear Bel” she explained to him calmly. She could see the muscle in his jaw twitch from the irritation that he didn’t show on his face. “I’m not livin that life any more Bel. I don’t care bout fine clothes, riches, power or any of that…I just wanna have a roof over me head, an ale in me hand, good friends, and a good game where I can get one!”
She could see the anger in his face just below the surface of his charming smile and smug expression. Rannie uncrossed her hands and placed them on her hips, making sure she had ahold of the hilt of her dagger. “No…” he said coldly. “No one walks away. You don’t get to walk away!” Belegander demanded, getting up from the table and walked over towards her. She narrowed her eyes at him but simply smirked at him, gripping the hilt of her dagger.
“No Bel, ya don’t get decide that…I’m not some tool for ya ta drop and pick up when ya want” she told him and took out the dagger. “I told ya I ain’t the same lass ya knew…I actually know how ta use this now” she said, playing with the dagger. “Now ya can leave or I’ll make ya”
“I’d like to see you try Rannie” he said walking closer to her. “I’ve made you into what you are and you still owe me” he snapped and tried to take the dagger from her. Rannie tried to pull back but he was stronger than her but she refused to give in or give up, not this time. This time she wasn’t going to be pushed around.
“I don’t owe ya anything Bel. Now now and not ever! I’m done with you!” she demanded as the struggle intensified and just as she thought she was gaining the upper hand she felt it. It was as if time slowed to a near stop. Belegander backed away from her with a look she was sure mirrored on her own face. Rannie looked down at the dagger that was plunged into her chest, surprised she didn’t feel any pain when suddenly time seemed to speed up again and the pain burned through her. She started to lift up her hand to remove the dagger when she suddenly felt light headed and everything turned to black.
Belegander cursed vividly. His first instinct was to flee but he knew he couldn’t leave her there...it would too easily be linked back to him. He unlocked the door and quickly picked her up, rushing outside leaving nothing but a small pool of blood. A large beast growled at him, causing him nearly to drop Rannie. “Filthy beast,” he muttered and rushed over to his horse. Much to his displeasure the beast continued to follow him growling at him as if it was mad. He cursed some more as he threw Rannie’s body over the horse and mounted up himself.
With a hard kick he rode quickly out of the village as far away from the village as he dared but was dismayed to find the hound was still following him. How did it manage to follow him all the way here? Once he reached a spot that he figured was well out of plain sight he shoved Rannie’s body off the horse. “This was all your fault you stupid girl,” he sneered, swallowing and trying to get the bitter taste out of his mouth. The hound growled louder and snapped at his horse, nearly causing the beast to knock him off.
“I’ll deal with you later,” Belegander sneered and gave his horse another hard kick before ridding off away from the body.
