Chapter 6. Act of Support and the Alley

As I watched Rullia enter the house, I stopped, I turned on my heel and headed for the river's edge to clear my troubled mind.

The feeling of  helplessness still lingering in my chest was like a force pulling me down, making me want to panic and scream. 

 While doing my best to hold onto my sanity, the worried face of Yullia entered the forefront of my mind.

Her face had lost its colour and the whole way home she was stuck in her thoughts.

I need to find out what is down that alley!

But first I must check on Rullia. 

Turning around with this resolute thought in mind I headed back to the house.

Before I can reach the door the smoke from the fire in town reaches high in the sky, the mere sight fills me with worry.

Turning my head away from the sky I look to the door and approach with my hand out, but before I can even lay one finger on the door, it swung open! 

With a start I jumped back still in a daze, I saw Rullia standing in the doorway with a shocked look on her face, but she turned away shortly after, with her hand over her mouth and her shoulders shaking, she was laughing  which is a better state then she was in earlier so for the time being I'll let it be.

With her cheeks red from laughing she smiled and looked up and asked.

"Felix is something  bothering you?"

"Yes, I'm troubled by what happened today and worried about you." She quickly turned away after I said that.

She walked back inside and called out "Thanks." 

I was not too sure what to make of it but Rullia never closed the door so I decided to head inside.

Inside the small front room Rullia sat at the table and she looked at me with a smile.

"It's nice to be worried about sometimes".

She said calmly.

I smiled back and said "Then I'll keep worrying when it's called for but I'll still do my best to cheer you up in whatever small way I can."

Rullia laughed lightly then looked down at the table then paused, then said " We should go down that alley right this moment!"

With that she stood up and headed for the door.

By the time my sense had returned Rullia was out the door coat and hat in hand, she called to me.

"Well come on, clues are fading!" 

With that she turned and headed in the direction of  town.

I was a few steps behind as I got out the door but I had to turn back since I had to close the door, after it was shut I turned around but Rullia was long gone, shaking my head I started to walk in the direction of town with thoughts of what's in that alley on my mind.

Passing through the forest ,looking up I notice the smoke is thinning, becoming lighter in colour, just before I reach the town  under the gateway I catch up to a stopped Rullia, I ask whats wrong?

"You took so long I was wondering  if you had forgotten what we planned!" 

With a laugh I replied. "No no I was just thinking."

"Let's hurry, the clues may be lost if we don't get there sooner." After she said that she turned on her heel  and started walking to the town.

I walked fast to catch up as we entered the town. The first street we reached still had many people  going  about their business  as usual.

We passed on through  heading for the alley that the hooded figure ran down, as we passed the burnt house there  was not much left, just a smouldering mess of burnt wood and smoke.

That sight and what nearly happened there gave me chills as I passed.

We finally reached the alley. The evening light  made the barren alley look more empty.  To our shock the alley opened up into a busy street after one short block, making it easy to disappear, but all was not lost. Near the end of the alley was a torch, not just any either; it seemed to be one bearing the mark of a maker on its steel handle.

Rullia and I looked at each other, but before I could  say anything  I was asked.

"Do you know this mark Felix ?"

"No I don't unfortunately, but I bet I know someone who does, we should head there right away!" 

I started walking out into the busy street. It was a while before I noticed Rullia had not come with me.

I turned around and looked back but I could not see her or the alley. I had walked a modest distance but not enough to be out of sight but then the street was so full of people in my haste I didn't notice that the street was the market street with street vendors and stores.

I decided to head back to the alley but when I arrived Rullia was not there nor was the torch.

Spinning in place I looked around to see if I could see her.

I thought if I looked she would not be hard to find. After all, she was wearing a pointy green hat and  matching  green coat and her beautiful  red hair so eye-catching, I should be able to find her if she is nearby.

My eyes only saw heads free of hats and  no green cloths or red hair and the odd hat I saw was either brown or black. At one point I thought I found her but I was soon disappointed, the green that caught my eye was the of the plumage of a large hat, under which stood a even larger man whose girth could match his height.

He was Burnstrum the merchant whose greed preceded him more than reputation and not someone to stand down wind of.

"Ah good to see you Felix, how are you on this fine day?"

He called out.

"Good day to you, Burnstrum, all is well. I just got seperated from my friend. Now I can't seem to find her, perhaps you have seen her? She is in an all green outfit and  pointed green hat?" I replied in breath.

"Ah, no I have not seen anyone matching your description unfortunately, but I have wanted to speak with you, do you know anything  at all about the fire in the street over that way?" He said while rubbing his chin and pointing down the alley.

I thought  how fortunate since  he is showing interest perhaps going to see him about the torch was the right choice.

I replied.

"I do know what happened. I went to see what was going on after my friend and I  heard a scream!" I told him the story of what we heard and saw and how we had decided to investigate  and  came upon a torch  at the end of the alley.

"I see. That's interesting, seems you  have found a mystery indeed. The culprit behind it might just be the same one that torched a few other small stores a few weeks ago, there was a town guard looking into it if memories serves me correctly, perhaps this was a message  or a threat to back off from those who are behind this, a torch was found at one store, a metal torch handle with a makers mark."

He said this while deep in thought.

"Where is this torch you found?" Burnstrum asked  with his hand out.

"I think  it is with my friend but her location is unknown." The moment  I said that I began  to worry…