Chapter 10

Evin stood dumbfounded as he stared at his visitor. His insides went cold with anger, and the happiness in his eyes died, leaving them void of any emotions. He became a statue – still and formidable. It was moments such as this that people understood why the easygoing, carefree Evin Larse held respect in so many people's eyes, most notably the King. Evin could be a great ally, but he could also be a terrifying enemy.

Dressed daintily in a pale pink gown, Lady Clara stood at Commander Larse's door with a charming smile playing across her lips. It escaped her notice that this flirtatious manner was not working to her to reclaim what was hers. Her outburst in the mess hall had not advantage, and that her presence was the reason for the silence that hung in the air. She had came followed the plan which she thought would lead Commander Larse to make a serious commitment. If she could reclaim Evin's affection, she would save herself from the annoying rumours that he was indeed linked romantically to that Rider. Such a match was beyond her reasoning. So here she was, standing outside his door, to bridge the divide between them.

"May I come in?"

"Why are you here, Lady Clara?"

Lady Clara was startled that her proposal was not accepted. She had no intention of begging the Commander at his door, where all his inferiors could see her.

She tilted her head and pouted. "Can I not explain while we are sitting down, in your rooms?"

"No."

Another silence grew between them, and Evin could not be bothered to act the polite gentleman in front of this lady anymore. By being here, she was wasting valuable time for Evin, and it was beginning to annoy him.

"Well..."she sputtered. "I came here...today before you leave...because...because I wanted to apolog..."

"Evin! Merciful Mother, when did you last clean you room?" Miri shouted from the bedroom in disgust. There was enough dust to feed a spidren for a month or two. She headed through the connecting door with all the dirty laundry she could hold. "Your mother would have a heart attack if she found out..."Miri voice died as she noticed the open door, though who the visitor was remained a mystery, as Evin's tall figure blocked the view.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were talking to someone. I'll finish up tidying then," muttered a red-faced Miri.

"I should have known!" screeched Lady Clara. "This is why I was not allowed to enter. Her!" Clara lifted a finger and pointed at Miri as if she was a criminal.

Miri stopped in her tracks and turned around at hearing that voice. Miri breathed in and out deeply, and tried not to picture herself hurting Lady Clara for the rude remark. Instead, Miri forced her feet to walk to the door in a steady manner, and reached out her hand towards Lady Clara.

"Hello!" Miri said with a fake smile plastered on her face. "I don't think we've ever been properly introduced. My name is Miri Fisher, second in command of the Rabbits. You are?"

"Lady Clara of Glintfield Mountain."

Lady Clara ignored the hand, and in fact returned to ignoring Miri altogether, which suited Miri perfectly. The staring match between Evin and Lady Clara continued in a tense silence. It was quite amusing to Miri, for Lady Clara's face was rapidly turning from red to purple at Evin's silence.

"I better go," muttered Miri quietly, as if not to disturb the two of them.

"No!" ordered Evin. Then he broke the glaring contest and gave Miri a smile, albeit a small one. "I would like you to stay here with me, Miri, and hear what Lady Clara has to say." And with that, he reached for Miri's hand and held it tightly in his.

With the attention of two people focused on her, Lady Clara tried her best to smooth her anger out of her face, for her mother had always told her that she did not look beautiful when she was angry. However, the sting of her words contained her fury.

"Dear Commander, I was about to apologise for my indecent behaviour yesterday..." Lady Clara took a deep breath of air. "However, I see that my accusation against her..." she nodded in the direction of Miri, "was founded."

Evin's body boiled with rage. How dare she! How dare she come and spread awful lies about a person that she would not spend an hour getting to know even if she were paid!

"I think you should leave, Lady Clara," he said, his words void of any emotions. "Before I change my mind about letting you go without debating this matter further."

"Wait, Evin," interrupted Miri. It had taken a few seconds for Miri to notice that there had been a conversation between them both in which she had been discussed, and not in a friendly way. Though it pleased her that Evin had defended her, it also hurt that he was trying to fight her battles.

"If you have anything to say to me, Lady Clara, anything at all, then please speak to my face, and don't hide behind someone else," Miri said in a calm tone.

"Fine!" screamed Lady Clara, losing all her self-control. "The only reason you have Evin Larse in your dirty, filthy clutches is because you are nothing but a common whore!"

Miri tore her hand from Evin's grasp and, without thinking, slapped Lady Clara across the face, hard and fast. Caught unaware, Lady Clara stumbled backwards and fell with a thump to the floor outside Evin's door. Miri could not believe what she had done. It was wrong, but for once it felt strangely satisfying to see a high and mighty beauty of the courts lying in a heap, with half of her face bright red. Miri stepped forward.

"No bitch of a lady has the right to call me a whore." Miri spoke in a deadly tone to Lady Clara, staring straight into her eyes. With that said, Miri turned and slammed the door shut.

Unfortunately, Evin was outside the locked door with Lady Clara. His hostility to Lady Clara was as clear as day, so clear that a blind man could see it.

"I warned you about the consequences should you ever say another false word against Miri." He glared at Lady Clara. "However, I believe Rider Fisher did a better job than I could have at defending her reputation."

"I'll get her for this," hissed Lady Clara. "By the Black God I will! You can't protect her, not with the law on my side! No commoner has the right to strike a noble..."

Evin stared at Lady Clara, half-amused and half-puzzled. Lady Clara was still ranting on about what she was going to do, but he couldn't hear the words coming out of her mouth. Even Lady Clara stopped as she realised that she was speaking but no sound emerged. Evin's ears pricked up as he heard a chuckle on his right. Evin turned to see barely concealed laughter on Numair's dark-featured face.

"I couldn't listen to any more of her empty threats," Numair explained to Evin. "She was interrupting a sensitive magic procedure with her shouts, but I'm extremely glad she did, or I would not have had the delight of seeing Miri slap the woman." After uttering these last words, Numair burst into the laughter he had been trying to disguise.

Slowly Numair regained his control and walked down the stairs until he halted beside Lady Clara, whom he picked up from the floor.

"I will escort her to her rooms," Numair said, motioning to Lady Clara. "And then I shall contemplate whether or not she deserves to speak again."

Evin grinned at Numair. He, and his Gift, could come in quite handy at times. He was such a good friend to have.

"Is everything still planned for tonight?" asked Evin in reference to the stargazing trip.

"Of course," Numair replied with a twinkle in his dark eyes. "I've done everything you asked, and Daine helped as well. I'll have you know that you owe us."

"I know," said Evin, play-acting a sulky child. "But thanks for the help!"

Numair barked a laugh and saluted Evin before hauling an uncooperative Lady Clara down the Riders' corridor. Evin sighed with relief at the scene, then grinned as he remembered Miri's action. There is no way I will ever survive a row with her...ever!

He turned back to his door and stopped, grinning to himself again. Inside he could hear Miri ranting on about Lady Clara, and the injustice of it all, and how her own conduct was not befitting a second in command, and why in the gods' names did Evin not tell her!

"Evin!" she shouted.

It was a tad amusing that he had to knock on his own door.

Miri needed some air and where in blazing Goddess was Evin! She heard knocking at the door, which left her very confused indeed. Who would be at the door? Surely not Lady Clara again, wanting Miri to slap her other cheek as well?

She pulled the door open quickly and found a lop-sided grin on Evin's face. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest.

"What are you doing out there?" exclaimed Miri.

"Good question." Evin grinned. "You shut the door in my face before I could get back in!"

"Oh! I'm sorry!"

"Don't be," replied Evin, grasping Miri's hands again. "I should have warned you about Lady Clara's jealous nature, but for some reason I thought I could handle her. However, it seems that you are quite capable of taking care of yourself."

Evin tried to hide his smile as Miri's face turned redder and redder at recalling the incident.

"I shouldn't have lost my temper," muttered Miri.

Evin waved his hands to dismiss the current topic. "As I said, it was her fault, not yours, so don't worry about it. Anyway, we have greater things to discuss."

"Like what?" Miri arched her eyebrows at Evin's innocent face.

"Like the star-gazing outing!" exclaimed Evin. "If you would be so kind as to collect me at my rooms at, say, two hours after dinner, then we can leisurely take a stroll down to Balor's Needle."

"Fine," murmured Miri. "You're just lucky that I'm not afraid of heights."

Evin steered Miri to the door and opened it quickly.

"Remember to wear the green dress," Evin said impishly. "It bring out your eyes, and your figure."

Before Miri could retort to Evin's blunt compliment, he captured Miri's lips in a quick, yet passionate, kiss while his arms continued to pass her out of his rooms. When Miri broke away, she noticed both of them were breathing heavily, but Evin had a certain look in his eyes, which revealed nothing to her. He's up to something! Should I be afraid?

"Goodbye! I'll see you tonight!" said Evin, in an all too cheerful manner, and shut the door on Miri, locking it from the inside.

What was that all about? Miri wondered to herself as she walked off down the corridor.

Dear reviewers you must thank Dom's Lover for all the help once again. I might be a little longer updating this due to the fact my brain has gone dead. Sorry but enjoy!!