Chapter 7: Paying A Debt
1157 Words
-Liana-
I was stunned when Jonah just got up and left. He wouldn’t help me? I had no one else to turn to! He had to help me—he just had to! I sprang up from my chair, determined not to let him walk away, but as I was about to follow him, I saw a massive, bald man, so tall he nearly reached the ceiling, standing in front of Jonah.
I watched in horror as he grabbed Jonah by the collar of his brown jacket, demanding money and threatening to take his hand for what he owed. No! I needed Jonah. He couldn’t be hurt!
I rushed over, grabbing the big man’s arm and looking at him with pleading eyes.
“Please, what are you doing? Sir, please put him down!” I begged.
“Are you crazy?” Jonah hissed at me.
“Please, put him down!”
I hoped my plea would work. Usually, no one could deny me anything, but once again, I was cruelly reminded that I wasn’t the princess. The big man shoved me aside.
“Mind your own business, filthy pagan!” he spat, as his—presumably—friends grabbed my arms, holding me back.
“Please, don’t hurt him!” I cried out.
“This doesn’t concern you! He owes me money, and I know a thief like him can’t pay!”
“I.I can pay,” Jonah stammered, forcing a smile that betrayed his fear.
“Oh yeah? Even with the interest rates?”
“Sorry?” Jonah looked puzzled, which only widened Ralph’s grin. Clearly, Jonah was in deeper trouble than he realized. I doubted the money he had stolen today would even cover what he owed.
Ralph yanked Jonah over to a table and nodded at one of his friends, who had been standing by my side. The friend released me and moved to join Ralph. Now only one man held me back.
“Hold his arm out,” Ralph ordered.
Jonah struggled against his captors as one of his arms was stretched out. Ralph, holding him down, held up his knife—no, it was more like a small sword. I panicked, trying desperately to break free.
“I can pay! I can pay!” Jonah shouted.
No one in the tavern seemed to care about what was happening. What kind of people were these men? I looked around, hoping someone would intervene, but everyone just minded their own business. I couldn’t even threaten them with the princess’s punishment because I wasn’t the princess anymore. But I did know where the princess kept all her diamonds and ruby necklaces!
“Wait!” I shouted.
Everyone froze. Ralph, with the knife raised halfway, turned his annoyed gaze toward me.
“I can get you the money and pay everything he owes!” I exclaimed.
“How?” Ralph inquired, skepticism in his voice.
I quickly glanced at the friend behind me, who watched my every move, then turned back to Ralph.
“Well… I’m a thief too,” I lied. “I know where we can get the money. I’m sure you don’t care where it comes from, right?”
Ralph nodded once. “But I… I’ll need my partner,” I said.
“Partner?” Ralph inquired. “This one?” He gestured to Jonah.
I nodded.
“You have poor taste,” Ralph retorted, laughing at his own joke as he pulled Jonah back, gripping his shoulder. Jonah looked frightened, caught between us while Ralph weighed my offer.
“You can really get me my money?” Ralph questioned.
“I… have certain skills,” I told him. “Jonah actually works for me.”
Ralph laughed, glancing briefly at Jonah, who didn’t seem pleased by my statement. But it appeared I had managed to lighten the mood enough to make Ralph consider my words seriously. At least, I hoped so.
“Well?” I said.
Ralph thought it over a moment longer, then nodded to his friend holding me. The man’s tight grip on my arm loosened, and I quickly stepped forward. Jonah was thrown toward me, and I barely managed to catch him to prevent him from hitting the ground.
“You’ve got three days,” Ralph informed us.
“Three days?” I asked.
“Is that going to be a problem?”
I glanced at Jonah, who was leaning on me for support. “No. Not at all.”
Ralph nodded to his men, who started to leave the tavern. I turned to Jonah, who was slowly regaining his composure. I could see the relief in his eyes.
“That was close,” he whispered.
I crossed my arms, glaring at him. He looked back at me with confusion, clearly not understanding why I was upset.
“This is what you get for stealing,” I retorted.
“I didn’t steal his money,” Jonah replied.
“Then what did you do?”
“We played cards, and he lost.”
“Did he? Or did you cheat? You’re quite quick with those hands,” I said, grabbing one of them and holding it up.
Jonah quickly pulled his hand back and groaned in frustration. “So what? I still won.”
“You cheated! That’s not winning! And now you have to help me!”
“You don’t see that I have my own problems?”
“Well, we can solve both our problems at the same time. Why do you think I offered to help you?”
Jonah stared at me, his eyes widening as if he couldn’t believe I was actually offering to help him. Had no one ever extended a helping hand to him before?
“How?” he asked.
“You found a way into my room once, remember?” I said.
He nodded.
“Help me get inside, and you can take all the rubies, diamonds, emeralds, and gold I have,” I told him.
“What? But that’s your jewelry.”
“I don’t mind giving it to you to get you out of this mess.”
He looked at me skeptically, so I sighed in frustration. I was tired of not being believed!
“I just need you to help me get inside so I can talk to my brother,” I explained.
“Not this again. You really think he’ll help you?” Jonah inquired.
“Please, Jonah… I need to talk to him, and you know how to get inside. You get all my jewelry, and I’ll go find my brother. It’s a win-win.”
He still didn’t look convinced, so I grabbed his hand and held it in front of his face.
“You want to keep your hand, right?” I asked.
He gulped and nodded.
“That’s what I thought,” I said with a big smile. “Now, how do we do this?”
- Writer
