outlaw

Hi everybody….. Well here I am again… sorry it took so long had a few compy problems and I had to starl ovl over with this chapter……… to all of you that are reading and reviewing this …. Thank you so much.. I appreciate your comments and replies. Oh and, guys, remember this is fan fiction….. Not meant to be politically correct or anything like that ……… and they will most likely be occ…. Oks? And this is AU
Ok standard disclaimers apply……….. You know not mine never will be.

 
 
 
Outlaw

Chapter 10

 
 
 
 
 
The mountain fortress was banked in for the approaching storm. Everything was tied down and put in it’s proper place. The wind had been picking up steadily all day and was almost at it’s peek. Treize Kushrinada pushed back the heavy drapes and stared out into the valley below him. He could see the smoke from the chimneys of the small village below, before the wind whipped it away. His village. He had provided for them and in turn they worked for him. He knew they would warm and safe all winter. His people would be well taken care of. He watched casually as the snow started to blow haphazardly past the window, the wind taking it in a wild dance. He swirled the brown liquid in the bandy glass he held, silently amused by all the events. He could feel the warmth radiating from the fireplace as he stood with his back to it. The room was small it it was softly lit. The light from the only lamp cast soft shadows all around.
He dropped the heavy drape when he heard the soft click of the door opening. He turned to face the person who entered the room. His smile got brighter as seeing who entered.
“Une.” He said , softly.
She smiled at him as she continued toward him, her eyes never living his face. He stepped toward the table and set his glass down. He chedched out and grasped her hands, pulling her close to him.
“How is the search going? “ She asked.
“We know were he is, and we shall have the items soon. I sent my two best to watch him and miss Schibecker. As soon as the y can they will bring them to us. “
She nodded. “That would be excellent. Some one is asking questions and they need to be addressed soon.”
“Of course, I understand. It will only a small matter of time, before we havem alm all.”
She turned to the mantle and looked at the empty places . “Why did he take those particular items? “ She asked, looking back at him, “Did he know what was in them?”
He shrugged. “ I do not believe he knows what they contain, my dear. Even if he did , It will not matter. We shall dispose of him and the girl. They will not be a threat.”
“What of Zechs Marquise?”
“That is being arranged.”
She nodded, “That is good. We must tie up lose ends before we go to Europe.”
“And we shall, my dear, we shall.”
“Will, the opium be dry and safe in it’s container? “ she asked again, worry penetrating her soft voice.
“As long as it is not opened. It shall be fine.”
“And if he finds the gems?”
He shook his head… do not worry, my dear lady. There are more of them.”
She nodded, “I hope the opium is as pure as our contact says it is. It will be worth thousands on the black market.”
He nodded again. “We shall know soon. But enough about business.” He said, pulling on her hand, taking her to the window and the heavy drapery. “Come. Watch the snow with me.”
She smiled , slightly as she leaned against him and watched the snow dance outside the window.

 
 
 
 
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Duo carried a few more herbs over to the diligently working Hilde. He watched her crush the sweet smelling leaves gently but evenly. She ged ued up at him and smiled.
“They have to crushed gently as not to bruise them.”
He watched her for a few more moments , then said, “I’m going to go get those things I stole. Is there a place herwe cwe can hide them? I don’t want to leave them out in the open… in case…… you know.”
She nodded. “I think we can find some where to stash them.”
“I still want to keep them from Treize. He wants them to bad, there is something about them.”
She nodded. “Yeah, I think your right.”
He leaned down and kissed her lips, then went to put on his coat. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”
She nodded and stood. “Be careful, Duo! I don’t want to have to come find you in this storm that’s brewing.”
He turned and grinned at her. Then he was out the door.
Hilde sighed and went to the fire place. She poked the low burning logs and placed two more on them. She went to the other smaller stove and opened it to add more wood to it. She made a quick trip to the bed room and checked that stove . She filled it and watched it blaze up. She knew the room would be comfortably warm by the time they made it to bed.
She made her way back to the main room and shivered slightly, wondering how cold it would really get. She went to the cook stove and filled that it , also. She knew she would have to cook something to eaten en Duo returned. She slipped into the pantry and looked around. She opened the small trap door and slipped down into the cave. She found some onions and potatoes. She sorely wished for some eggs but eggs didn’t keep well in the winter. She wondered if the tribe had a few. She climbed out and carried the items to her small table. She grabbed a small hunk of dried beef, placing it on the table also. Mutt whined softly as sheked ked up from her place in front of the fire place.
“Come on, Mutt, let’s go see our friend the chief and his wife. I want some eggs.” She reached down and scratched the dog between her ears. “I even give you a couple .”
She whined and wagged her tail.
Hilde grabbed her coat and gloves and slipped out into the cold.

 
 
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Duo rode from the warm house and out into the snow covered woods. It had started to snow a little more and the wind was whipping it more as it came down. She shivered and kicked his horse a little harder in the ribs. He wanted to find the bag and get back. He didn’t like leaving Hilde alone at the house. He knew she could handle herself in a situation. She had proven that to him before but Treize was sneaky. He could just come to the house and stick a gun in her face.. Duo wouldn’t put it past him. So he to to hurry. He wanted to get back before the snow came anyway. It was going to be a bad storm. His thoughts left Hilde and went to the items he would be getting out of the hollow tree. They weren’t much, just two jade statues about 10 inches tall, but they were important to Treize. Duo didn’t know why for sure but something rattled in one of them, and he had discovered a false bottom, on them, but he couldn’t pry it up. So he had run away and hid them. He didn’t realize he would fall in love and want to protect this loved one. Now he had to find them. He wanted to make Treize pay for all the pain he had caused him, but when he thought of Hilde being alone with out him, he started to change his mind about revenge. Hilde was all that mattered now. Not these stupid statutes , not Treize, nothing but her.
He shook his head and he pulled his horse up to the hollow tree. He peered down into it but could see nothing. The daylight was fading because of the snow and heavy clouds moving in . He reached down inside the tree and felt with his fingertips. He couldn’t feel anything at all. Could some one else have found this and thought it was something other than these things? He reached deeper, straining a little to reach anything. Suddenly his fingers touched the burlap of the bag and he tightened his grip around it. He pulled it out swiftly and held it up. He sighed a sigh of relief and then dropped it to look inside. They were there, both of them, laying side by side. He reached in and pulled out into the fading day light. He turned it over and looked at the bottom. He dropped it back into the bag with it’s mate and climbed back on his horse. He looked once more to the sky and then nudged the horse forward. It was time to head back to the house.

 
Two riders watch Duo as he left the open clearing and into the woods again.
“So why don’t we get him now?” one of them asked.
“Because Treize wants the woman , too.” The other replied as he lit a cigarette.
“We’ll follow him to the house and go from there.” He paused as he puffed in the smoke. “We’ll get them both and hopefully be back In the fortress in a couple of days…”
“You know that’s wishful thinking. When this storm hits it’s gonna be rough.”
“We’ll see.” He replied smugly to his companion.
They let their horses pick there way down into the woods and followed Duo at a safe distance.

 
 
To be continued……