Maeve cradled her broken arm as close to her as possible. She walked toward the harbor with Dermott resting on her good arm. The two had talked the morning after. Dermott was so afraid that Maeve was going to get killed out here and that it just wasn't worth it if she was dead. But Maeve's stubbornness kept her from agreeing. She kept going on about how it was her fault and how she vowed to free him at whatever cost. Dermott sighed knowing there was nothing he could do to change her mind. He silently vowed to himself that he would not leave her side anymore. As Maeve recalled there heart to heart she walked through the port intent on leaving this horrible place.
As Maeve walked on she remembered the coins she had. She was glad to have them not wanting to barter anything else. Just then Maeve stepped into the shadow of a much taller woman who looked as though she did not belong here. Maeve looked up at the woman. The woman hardly wore anything at all just a small top and small skirt. She had some armor adorning her. She also had beads and trinkets showering her neck. She had tattoos on her arms. The woman looked like a warrior. The woman noticed Maeve staring and turned to face her as she did her eyes caught sight of the sword Maeve had belted to her.
"Where did you get that sword, young one?" The woman's voice was hearty and deep. It was also very stern.
Maeve became frightened since the sword belonged to Axion, the man she killed. Had this woman found out and was now searching for her. Maeve panicked and tore off running with Dermott following after her. She ran down an alley way hoping to lose the tall woman. But as Maeve stumbled down the alley she ran right into the woman. She stood there with her sword drawn.
"Now before I was so rudely interrupted, where did you get the sword, young one?" She walked towards Maeve cornering her in the alley.
Maeve was terrified and knowing she had no where to run to she began to sob as she pleaded with the lady, "Please! I had to kill him! He was trying to force himself onto me! Please I never meant to kill him!"
The woman's hard features softened and she kneeled down to the small red head. "Now, now, why didn't you just say that in the first place? Haven't you got a tongue in that head of yours?"
Maeve stopped crying and tried to speak, "You mean....your not... going to...kill me?" The tall woman broke into a hearty laugh as she place her sword back in its sheath, "Me? Kill you? No, hardly the case. What an imagination, young one."
Maeve stood up and clutched her arm fiercely as she looked up at, "Then what do want?"
The woman stopped laughing, "I wanted to know where you gotten the sword since the bearer of that sword is my sworn enemy. I must say I'm glad he's dead though. You are brave to kill a man of that size."
Maeve scowled at the woman, "I don't understand. Who was he?"
"We call him the Great Thief, Axion because there is no one who is better then him except I come a close second. He has moving in on my territory for a while now. I hated the man. Then when I saw you with his sword I knew something happened. Praise the gods, that he is dead," She stopped and saw Maeve's arm was quite swollen, "Put up a fight I see. Come here."
The woman took Maeve's arm and untied it, "Now I warn you this is going to hurt," She handed Maeve the fabric, "Here put this in your mouth to muffle your cries."
Maeve tossed the fabric aside, "I won't cry. The pain is nothing compared to what I have felt before." Her eyes glittered. The woman smiled as she took Maeve's arm and pulled it hard. Maeve closed her eyes tight as she held in her groans. She breathed quickly through her teeth as the woman set her bones straight. Maeve bit down on her lip so hard it drew blood but she never made more than a whimper. The woman finished and set the splint.
The older woman tied the fabric around Maeve again, "By the way my name is Ademia. Yours, young one?"
"Maeve, and the hawk's name is Dermott," She motioned toward her hawk was perched nearby.
"Maeve, I like the name. It suits you. Queen Maeve was a fierce warrior. You will be too someday. Nice to meet you Dermott," She nodded at the hawk.
Maeve smiled. She finally found someone who was kind to her. Maeve could feel the friendship forming even before another word was spoken.
