(First off, let me start by saying I am deeply sorry to all those who have been waiting for this next chapter so long. I got a bunch of extra hours at work, and it has left me with either too little time or energy to write up any further chapters. However, I will finally get back to this.)
_
As the small group left the clinic, Flora kept her belly covered both by the cloak Sierra had made for her, as well as her hand paw. Her smile never left her face as she looked up at the clouds. "This is...such a blessing," she said, before looking back to Martin. "I'm...a little scared."
"I am too, Flora, but we'll get through it." Flora's ear soon perked up, hearing someone approaching them.
"Pardon me," the heavily armored guard said, his face invisible behind his masked helmet. "Lord Austin has sent me with orders to bring the tiger to him."
"She's not going anywhere with you," Martin said, stepping forward, his hand by his sword.
"I needn't tell you how powerful the Austin family is. I am taking the tiger with me to Lord Austin. This is not a request," the guard said, drawing up his lance.
"Martin, stand back," Evan said. Against such armor, Martin's sword would stand no chance, but a mage such as Evan would prove quite effective. "You won't take her without a fight. If you are truly that determined, I will be your opponent." The guard swung his heavy lance, Evan blocking it with the same stone hand spell he used against the bandits' swords. The lance proved to be made of a stronger material and was not so easily broken, but was deflected without much difficulty. The stone surrounding his hand shot forth, knocking the guard's helmet off. This did little to deter the guard as he growled and swung his lance with much greater speed. Evan leaped backward, a sword of magic appearing in his hand. With one powerful swing, the magic surged through that heavy armor, yet the guard seemed to be as thick skinned as he was thick skulled. Fighting through the pain, he grabbed Evan, picked him up, and slammed him into the ground. The older man looked, up, coughing hard as the guard lifted his lance. As he brought it down for the finishing blow, it was deflected at the last moment by a strange cloaked man's sword. "The order was to bring the tiger, not murder her companions," he said, his voice exuding great authority.
"Forgive me, sir," the guard said, retreating. The cloaked man helped Evan back to his feet, before turning towards the rest of them, Flora's eyes went wide, seeing what little of his face she could.
"Who are you?" she asked, a bit scared to hear the answer.
"Mind your tongue, Keidran! You stand before the great Lord Austin!"
"Harold! One more word from your mouth and I shall rip your tongue from it and throw it to the wolves!" He looked back towards Flora. "Might your name be Flora?" She felt her heart starting to beat faster. "It has been a long time." As he lowered the hood of his cloak, she found herself stunned. "I am glad you are safe."
"Timothy." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Is it...really you?" He gave her a nod, and she felt a tear roll down her cheek. "You're alive."
"This is the same man who kept you slave?" Martin asked.
"No, no! This...This is Timothy! This is the boy I told you about. The one who risked his life to set me free!" She stepped forward, looking into Timothy's eyes. "How...How is it your father didn't strike you down when he found out you let me go?"
"Oh, he tried, but neither mother nor my faithful butler Aaron would allow him. Mother threw herself in the way of his blade, and Aaron...well I never expected a man of his age to be that strong. With one hand, he grabbed Father's sword arm and crushed his wrist. The deep cut in Mother's back was evidence enough for Father to be imprisoned, and sadly, the same wound ended mother. I was young, but I was the only heir to the title of Lord in the house. Aaron helped guide me until I was old enough to start leading, and he still serves me to this day." He placed a hand gently on Flora's cheek, which had Martin quite wary. "I had all the guards on orders to notify me when a female tiger Keidran with long chestnut hair entered the city, and orders as well to bring any such before me, because I wanted to see you again. I thought I was fooling myself, that you would never come back to this place. Why would you want to? You are here now, though. Please, join me for an afternoon as my guest. Your companions are welcome as well."
She looked to the others. Evan nodded, Sierra currently helping to keep him on his feet after the heavy slam into the ground. She gave a nod as well. Martin seemed most on guard. "Lord Austin, or perhaps I should call you Timothy as Flora does. We will join you for a time, but I want you to know this. Flora is...under my care, and I have no intention of leaving her side."
Timothy raised an eyebrow, but nodded. "Very well. Please follow me. And Harold? Get back to the gate before I lose my patience with you." The armored guard nodded, before putting his helmet back on.
Timothy led the way on the long, elegant path up to the manor. The large door swung open with a loud creaking, the group led inside. "You may use the bath if you desire," Timothy said to Evan and Sierra. "Ask one of the butlers to show you the way. Speaking of butlers..." Before he had time to finish that thought, a tall man, clearly quite senior to them judging from his grey hair and beard stood before them. His beard was neatly trimmed, his black coat pressed, and his white gloves pristine. "This is Aaron, the one who protected me."
"That was a fateful night," the older man said. "Yet I swore my loyalty to Master Timothy. Even if it meant raising my hand against the former Lord Austin, and possibly putting my own life on the line, I was ready to do it."
Martin looked to him. "How did you get that strong? Strong enough to break his wrist with just your grip?"
"Many years of training," he responded simply.
"Aaron, ready my study for my guests. I wish to speak with the tiger, and this gentleman insists on being with us."
"Understood, Master." He headed up the stairs, quite quickly for a man his age. "He'll have it cleaned top to bottom by the time we get up the stairs. He's so fast, many find it hard to believe he's a mortal being."
Flora was understandably nervous as they climbed those stairs. The study down the hall. If it was the same one as when she was a slave, she had nothing but bad memories of it. That was where Timothy's father would bring her to punish her. Slowly, she made her way inside, Martin behind her, Timothy ahead. "Now, you said Flora is in your care, correct? What is your name, sir?" Timothy asked.
"Martin," he replied simply.
"Ah, well it is good to see that Flora has someone looking out for her. What is the nature of your relationship with her?"
"She is precious to me," Martin said. "Like the rarest gemstone. A treasure beyond compare. I gave up nearly all I had to get her, and I have no intention of letting her go."
"Gave up all you had. I'm going to take a guess that you purchased her. Did he, Flora?"
"Well...yes he did, but it's not what you think."
Before she had a chance to go on, Timothy thrust a paper into her hands. She took a moment to look them over. "Those are the papers my father signed when he bought you, saying that you are his, and by extension mine."
She looked up in horror. "Are you...trying to say you still own me?"
"In a way, yes," he said, looking to Martin. The door slammed shut behind them, and standing between them and the door was Aaron, ready to stop either of them if they ran. "Sir, turn her papers over to me at once."
"Timothy, please, don't do this!" Flora shouted. Martin looked around, taking in the situation. Timothy was certainly not going to be an easy target, and even if he got past him, Aaron still greatly frightened him. He couldn't possibly fight his way out.
"Flora...Flora is mine," Martin said, looking Timothy in the eye. "I promised her...I swore on my life that I would protect her, much the was Aaron has sworn to protect you."
"I'm not going to ask again," Timothy said. "Give her papers to me." He looked back to Aaron. "You have 10 seconds before Aaron takes them from you."
Flora let out a loud growl, grabbing Timothy by the collar, a fire burning in her eyes. "Lay a hand on him, and I will make you regret it." Aaron rushed forward to stop her, only to be stopped in his tracks by Timothy's gesture that told him to stand down.
"Flora, why? You're his property. Why do you protect him so?"
"He's my friend, not my master!" she shouted, throwing him back as he landed on his rear. "He paid 120,000 coins to purchase me. The very first thing he did afterwards was take me out of the town, remove my collar, and tell me I was free to go! I chose to travel with him because those papers he has keep anyone else from owning me, but even then I wanted to be with him! I saw in him a kindness I only saw once before in my life. That same kindness I saw in you when we grew up together, when you let me go, knowing it may cost you your life!" She walked over to him. "Tell Aaron to leave. There's something I want to tell you," she whispered. He hesitated, but nodded, giving Aaron a hand sign. With a bow, the butler left the room, closing the large doors behind him.
"There was a night a while back when Martin, Evan, and I were resting on the trail. We were attacked by bandits, and when I saw them hurt Martin, I lost it and started attacking them with magic. Black magic, without even knowing it. What happened after that is a fog to me, but when next I woke up, I was in bed, Martin sitting by my side, holding my hand. Evan explained it all to me. The black magic had damage my soul, my spirit. With the Grand Templar's help, Martin gave me some of his so that I could live again. She said the spell...the spell could only work between two with a strong bond, and we learned earlier today that it had a side effect."
"Flora! Are you sure it's wise to tell him that?!" Martin cried out.
"This is the man who risked his life to save me all those years ago. At least he's in there somewhere, and I'm going to wake him up." She grabbed Timothy's hand, moving it to her belly. "Timothy, Martin is more than just the one who saved me twice now. I love him. I truly love him, and right here, Martin's child is growing."
Timothy looked up at her. "What...what do you mean? You mean like he's going to play father to the baby?"
"No, Timothy! This baby is HIS! The spell that fused our souls also made it possible for him to give me a child!" Tears hung in her eyes. "Neither of us knew it could be so, until it happened. I'm afraid. He's afraid, yet despite that, we're going to face this together. This is love, Timothy. I love Martin. Even if you do claim you still have ownership of me, I will stop at nothing to stay by Martin's side." She was starting to cry, her voice starting to break. "After hearing this...seeing all this...do you truly still intend to take me away from him?"
Martin came up behind her, hugging her gently. She turned and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'm not entirely sure I believe your story about you having a child together...but it is clear you care deeply for him, and he for you." He got back to his feet, looking at the tiger as she clung to her beloved. "Flora, I didn't want those papers so I could take you back. I wanted them so you could be truly free." He took the papers he held out to her, flipping to the back page. "This is essentially a permit, the sort that Keidran shop owners have who live in human towns. With this, you are free. You cannot be taken slave, and any slave owner who tries to will be imprisoned. I have had this ready for you since the day I took up the mantle of Lord Austin, in the hopes you would return." He placed the papers in her hand. "They are yours, Flora, and you are your own. You are free." A smile spread on his face. "I am glad to hear you have found someone you truly love. Tell me, have you been to the town of Nairo?"
"You are part of that group?" Martin asked.
"Yes. I had a feeling that was your destination when I saw Evan in your party. He and I have had some history together. I have been to the Sanctuary, but I knew I could not stay."
"We are going there," Flora said. "It will be our new home, and I am hoping to get there before my child is born."
"I have a ship in the port city two days north of here. It is yours, as is my staff aboard." Timothy looked into Martin's eyes. "You be sure you take care of her. She's like a sister to me."
"I will. She's more than that to me."
