Penelope rested her head on Tyrion’s shoulder during the ride home.
By the time the couple returned home, they were surrounded by darkness as night had fallen upon the town.
Tyrion helped Penelope out of the carriage when it stopped, but he didn’t intend to follow her inside.
"Damien, prepare a horse for me," Tyrion said.
Penelope was puzzled by this since he hadn’t told her of any troubles he had to leave to settle.
"Is it an urgent matter you cannot put off until tomorrow?" Penelope asked, curious if it had anything to do with why his hand was red.
"Yes. If I leave it be, it will grow into something more troublesome. I will tell you when I return," Tyrion promised.
"That is kind of you, but don’t. If the town guards end up at our gates, I will be honest when I respond that I don’t know anything. I assume that the person behind you leaving will not be an issue tomorrow, therefore I don’t need to know about them," said Penelope.
Penelope was curious, but at the same time, she was tired. If Tyrion was going to remove the person’s existence from the town, then she wouldn’t waste what little energy she had thinking about them.
"You must be safe. You should take Damien with you," Penelope said, since then her mind would be at ease.
"Damien is your guard. I will be safe," Tyrion promised, leaving a short peck on Penelope’s temple. "I will be home before you fall asleep. Knowing Damien is at your side to protect you in my place will make this easier for me. You must go inside and not worry."
"You are asking for the impossible," Penelope replied. "What kind of wife would I be if I didn’t worry about you?"
"You must make it back home by midnight or I will personally get a horse and search for you. I have retired from my time running around the town at night, but I still know how to sneak by guards. Return as you are now," Penelope said, tiptoeing to kiss Tyrion goodbye.
Penelope lifted the sides of her dress as she turned around to go up the steps. A warm bath was all that she sought out now.
Damien waited outside with Tyrion after ordering a guard to get a horse.
"Guard her door. She will sneak out if I am late," Tyrion said, believing Penelope’s words were more than a joke.
"Who is the unfortunate soul you are after? Shall I prepare a group of men to join you?"
"No," Tyrion declined the offer. "A big crowd will bring unnecessary attention. You’ll know who it is when I return. I have to leave."
Tyrion plotted with Elijah to meet so they could go after Zane.
Tyrion didn’t know much about Zane, but Elijah learned from a friend where they might be able to find Zane.
Tyrion waited for a horse to be saddled, and when it was done, he took off to meet Elijah.
It was a long ride near a brothel in town where Tyrion waited for Elijah to show. He kept his eyes on the brothel door, waiting for the moment he might spot Zane.
"We’re not going there," Elijah said, unknowingly saving himself. "It’s this way. How could you let me sneak up on you?"
"My hand was on my gun, ready to kill the fool sneaking up on me," Tyrion replied.
Tyrion grabbed the reins of his horse and followed Elijah. "Where is he?"
"You broke his tooth, so instead of coming here to seduce a few ladies, he has gone to his home," Elijah responded.
"You didn’t know where he lived an hour ago."
"Money fixed that. It is the root of evil, but it has its usefulness sometimes," Elijah said, mounting his horse after he spoke. "I found out some other interesting things tonight. Things worth killing him for."
Tyrion didn’t care what else Elijah found out about Zane. Zane speaking on Penelope was a good enough reason to kill him.
It was time men who were so bold to court another man’s wife learned a lesson.
Zane had picked the wrong lady to show some interest in.
Tyrion mounted his horse and followed Elijah out of the market to a home that he was surprised by the size of.
"His mother was the mistress of an earl, and this home was his gift to keep her away from his wife. Now Zane owns it and is said to be a master of seducing ladies. Wealthy ladies," Elijah shared.
Tyrion was surprised this was the first time he was hearing of Zane. Stories of the bastards of noblemen flooded the palace, so they always reached his ears.
A horse running free and the front door wide open was an indication that someone was at home.
After tying their horses, Elijah and Tyrion made their way inside to search for Zane.
Tyrion kept his right hand on his gun, ready to fire should there be any surprises.
"Those bastards," Tyrion heard the familiar voice.
Tyrion was amused to find Zane standing with a mirror in his hands as he examined the state of his mouth.
"Was your tooth so important that you ran home, didn’t tie your horse, and left the door wide open?" Tyrion asked, making their presence known.
Zane looked up to see the man he wanted to kill. His tooth was important.
Zane set his mirror down. "Some of us rely on money, and then there are others who rely on their looks. I must have made you feel threatened for you to come here, little prince. Does Lady Penelope speak about me?"
Zane walked around the small room, searching for something to protect himself with and ultimately use to kill Tyrion with.
Zane always considered himself a lover, not a fighter, but that had to change when his looks were messed with.
"I knew this job was going to be one for the books," said Zane.
Tyrion aimed his gun at Zane. He had a deadline to be back home and didn’t care for the idle chatter. "Close the door, Elijah. Search the home for anyone who might speak of this. You, sit down," he ordered Zane.
Zane did as Tyrion wanted, but he wasn’t finished talking yet.
"You can’t marry one of the most sought-after ladies in town and then get so angry when we ask about her. Penelope Castro is always going to be on the minds of men. Some of them are too cowardly to tell you that they’re undressing her in their mind-"
A high-pitched cry filled the room as a shot went off.
Tyrion aimed for Zane’s right leg to shut him up.
None of this was a joke for Tyrion. Zane had truly picked the wrong lady to speak about, and for all the women Zane spoke about so nastily, Tyrion would get justice for them tonight.
The town would be far better off with one less man like Zane dead.