Chapter 39: Rat.
Lee woke up when it was still dark outside. After opening his eyes, he immediately turned to the other side, intending to fall asleep again, when the feeling of something being off made him get out of the bed.
The house was tranquil and peaceful, but it took only few moments for Lee to realize that it was the lack of Freeda's snoring that was out of place. Pondering what he would do if his grandmother had passed away, he knocked on her door, but there was no answer.
He peaked inside, then tiptoed to her bed, but to his relief she wasn't there.
'Right.' Lee thought to himself, 'It would be weird if something happened to her. She's strong as an ox and healthy as I am. And she doesn't look much older than fifty!'
Guessing that she probably had to take care of their modest livestock, he quickly dressed and went out to lend a hand. During the past couple of years he had done it countless times, except never at night. Nevertheless, Lee proceeded towards the barn that had a weak light coming from the inside, but before he touched the door, a sound of horse nickering made him freeze in his tracks.
While he didn't really have anything to hide, apart from being killer of few noble youths that is, Lee instinctively squatted down and pricked up his ears, staring in the darkness in the direction of the road. Freeda didn't have a horse and he certainly couldn't hear the sounds of hooves of someone passing by.
But he was certain he heard something.
Carefully, still squatting down, he moved closer to the door, but then heard a familiar voice.
"... so the expedition was a fucking failure ..." Freeda said with a soft sigh, "What did the Prophet say?"
Before Lee could relax, the contents of what she said registered in his brain, and what followed made his eyes widen.
"He'll be back only in a month or so. We didn't have a chance to report." Pleasant, even somewhat musical man's voice replied, but Lee held his breath, afraid to get spotted.