Gunfire: The Emblem

Faster than I could react, she pulled something from her apron and pushed it into my hands.

"Please, stay safe. I couldn't... if you..."

This wasn't what I had expected. Still trying to catch up to the present, I looked down at the object she had given me. It was a finely-woven scarf, in a brilliant, rich azure. Bordered in maroon, it bore the Janse-Lomberg coat of arms. It was beautiful, and without a doubt impossibly expensive on a housemaid's salary.

"Grace," I started, but her eyes were already filling with tears. "I can't -"

"You don't have to, sir. Just... for me, sir?"

There were a lot of things I wanted to say, but at that moment there were footsteps in the hallway.

Grace stepped away and I hurriedly slipped the scarf around my neck. My sister opened the door just as I put the last piece of the rifle back in and slid the bolt closed on a new round. Her eyes lingered on the scarf, but she declined to comment.

"Are we ready, Charles?"

"Yes, ma'am. Provisions are in the coach."