Randy's flash back

“Lily…” Randy repeated the name in his mind as he watched (from the doorway) the bounty hunter walk away.
Gray walked down the stairs “you alright?”
Randy smirked "fine, just a old friend.”
“Randy, who is Lily?”
“Always getting serious on me Gray, always serious. Did you send the letter.”
“by pony express ”
“And Tamitha?”
“We’ll find her soon enough-" a little impatient at Randy’s diversion, Vahn reiterated "who is Lily?”

"You remember when I was over at the monastery few years back working on getting money for repairs, well Jasper Chrissy's brother was business partner taking a chance on a monastery trade agreement. His wares being coal."

Vahn leaned against a wall knowing the story would take a while but intent on getting the answer.
Randy wanted Vahn Gray to have a shallow victory and planned to rushed through his story.
“Lily was his niece, died in the mine, its all over now.”
“…That’s it”
“That’s it”
Vahn gave Randy a penetrating stare.

----Flash Back---

A shadowy night over three years ago.
Randy was stumbling through the damp abyss of the cave network, holding a lantern. Randolph smirked as the rats scattered.
Randy heard the sound of a rock skipping on the ground, and peered into the darkness “Lil is that you?” His voice seemed to carry for ages.
“over here, my monkey doodle.” The voice echoed in reply from a small shelf above his head. There were some rocks piled nearby acting as a sloped latter.
Making his way to the top, Randy approached the girl. There was a fire and a small basket.
Embracing and leaning his head on her shoulder, Randy said “what meal do we have for tonight?”
“oh the usual, noodles and vegetable sauce. Randy why don’t you try the steak, it wont hurt ya” she taunted.
“girl you know I can’t do that, Moomow-”
Giving him a peck on the cheek, she replied “and what does Moomow think of these midnight luncheons”
Randy reflected, his vows at the monastery had been troubling him for a while, not even Will knew as he was too distracted playing with the chips. pansy, will he ever learn?
“Give me time. I’ll come to terms with that soon enough, now how about those noodles.”
Then some loud clatter interrupted there pleasant meal. There was mumbling in the distance just outside the cave.

“You asked us here.”
“I know, but absolute destruction of the cave is not what I wanted”
We're doing this as a favor for you Chief, your race is dying you should be happy that we're preventing any others from contaminating this cave."
“but it is still hallowed ground and should not be destroyed."
The shadowy figures got aggressively close, though careful not to actually make contact. “Don’t worry your feathered little head, chief. We will preserve the writings for you.”
"How could you. . .?"
“We have our ways” a malicious grin came across their faces, “Our numbers are growing everyday. If you won't join us then you must die.”
Randy, overhearing their conversation, "I've got to do something.”
In a hushed whisper “Randy wait” and she grabbed tight to his arm.
“Why do you love me?” he looked back at her.
Stunned at the response, she paused “Its because you're a good man. ”
Giving her a firm kiss Randy replied, “I’m good because I’m a monk” then he rushed off in the direction of the conflict.
Putting her hand to her cheek stared at Randolph gallivanting off, “and a monk protects what’s right”

----Back to present---

The tunnel collapsed only a few moments later trapping Lily inside. It took three weeks to reopen the mine, the men got away, after killing my beloved and the chief. The natives blamed the monastery for his death and the destruction. Chrissy blames me. The writings were destroyed, all that's left was what the Order of Peace and Madness had taken… the writings, the medallion… why haven’t I notice the connection before! Vahn, where is the medallion?"
The now timid maid holding up Randy's filthy garments interjected "I may have an idea"