Under the shadow of a large tree, Lackey stood silently, his eyes fixed on the distant village below. A few steps behind him stood the maid—nervous, uncertain—the one who had been ordered to guide him around the village.
She shifted hesitantly before speaking. "I can tell you the details of that house… mostly about the girl who lived there. I assume… you came for her, didn't you?"
Her tone wasn't confident, but the glimmer in her eyes hinted that she'd already guessed his purpose. She wasn't a fool.
Lackey turned his head slightly, not looking at her directly. "Name your price," he said flatly, his voice sharp with impatience. Then, with an effortless motion, he lowered Snowflake to the ground.
The snake slithered away swiftly, its white body cutting through the grass like a knife. It vanished into the trees, no doubt going to hunt the local wildlife for a little feast.
