Chapter 3
Fjøren Raknison
Shuri stared up in awe at him, as she asked him, "Why did you save me?"
"I've been surveying you for quite some time, and I've seen the way he looks at you; it's beastly disgusting."
"I always thought that too, he's in his thirties whereas I'm only sixteen. That's why I have no interest in him."
He grunted, "What are you doing out here anyway? You shouldn't be wandering about at this time of night."
"I was on my way home from the library when I ran into him. My father's in the bar probably drunk out of his mind, on those nights I basically find an alley somewhere or find refuge with a neighbor to sleep."
"How come?"
"He's abusive – he'll give me a good poundin' just for doing nothin' in my room and he'll say awful things like, my mother never loved me, or that I'm a worthless whore like her. And he brings friends sometimes and…well…they…let's just say, on those nights when I don't get out in time, I wish I was dead."
He grunted again and said, "You may sleep here if you'd like, not only this time but if he gets that way again just run here as fast as you can... my gate is always open for you."
She grinned slightly and made herself comfortable on top of a crate as soon as she was calmed down, for she was nervous during their entire conversation she said, "Thank you…for your generosity."
"You're welcome," he grunted.
The next morning as the sun warmed her eyelids, she heard a shouting.
"Shuri! Shuri!" Neil called; it wasn't in a worried father voice, but a raged, intruding voice. She and Fjøren both woke with a start; he then stuffed her into an empty crate and closed the lid. She heard them talking, "You, bear! Have you seen a girl about sixteen, red hair, green eyes?"
Shuri gulped, but Chemoose was as relaxed as a sleeping cat. She then heard Neeramh padding around the alley with Neil by her side. And to Shuri's intense relief, he didn't open the crate. If he found her here, she wouldn't be able to sit for a week.
"No sir I haven't, but I will let you know if I do. Your daughter?"
"What's it to you?"
"You're in my alley aren't you?"
She heard him grunt then kick a stack of crates into the alley. When the coast was clear, Fjøren opened the lid and let Shuri and Chemoose out.
"What is that crate made of?" Chemoose asked.
"Cedar wood, it has a soporific effect on dæmons, that's why your father's dæmon didn't find you."
Shuri's feet were on solid ground, and she had so many questions she wanted to ask so she asked Fjøren if she could spend the day with him and promised that she wouldn't be a burden on his work.
"Don't you have lessons today?" he asked.
"No, we don't have any studying today; it's the weekend so we have off."
He nodded, he was a little hesitant but he said yes and he would hide her again if her father came back again.
"So, how did you come to be here?" Shuri asked.
"The men of this town, Adenon included, they gave me whiskey until I fell asleep. Then they took my armor, you notice I'm an armored bear and I'm armor less."
"Is your armor just for protection? Or does it have more than one purpose?"
"It is for protection and spiritual connection."
"How so?"
"Like your daemon, a bear's armor is a part of you."
