- Chapter 5 -

Afiona greeted the dawn from her window seat over looking the garden.  The overcast sky warned of snow to come, the dismal morn seemed right considering she spent much of her night battling old terrors.  Demon was sprawled on her bed, snoring softly with his feet twitching occasionally. 

A knock on her door made her jump and press her back against the wall.  Demon jolted awake and gave one startled bark. 

:I'm big!:  The dog warned.

"Afiona?  Are you in there?"  Medren's voice called through the heavy wood.  "Jervis has a few questions for you."

Afiona padded barefoot across the floor and opened the door.

"You look exhausted, have you slept yet?"  Medren asked, taking in the dark shadows under her eyes.

Afiona shook her head and led the way back to the window seat.

"Not talking again?"  Medren asked

Afiona rested her head against the glass and sighed.  "I am thinking."

"Are you up to talking to my step-father?"

Afiona shook her head.

"He scares you?"

Afiona nodded again and stared out the window.

"Why are you scared of your brother?"  Medren asked softly.

"He tried to kill me because he got into trouble for beating me."  Afiona's voice was so quiet Medren had to strain to hear her.  "The Healer said his beating had caused me to lose my wits and Father said that because I had the potential to become a Healer and he had no potential I was worth more."

"But not worth enough."  Medren guessed.

Afiona nodded.  "I am a bastard; I had no rank, no magic, so no worth."

"I am sorry you had to live through that.  I was born on the wrong side of the blanket but I was never treated like I was worthless."

Afiona stared at him startled.  "You are a bastard too?"

"I dislike that term, but yes."

She stared at him in silence for several minutes.  "You are lucky."

"I like to think so.  I won't say I had a perfect childhood but I had a mother who doted on me, an uncle who watched out for me, a close friend to drag me into scrapes.  It was idyllic compared to what you lived through.  You haven't even had a parent."

Afiona stared back out the window.

"Tashir is sending you to Haven when I leave in a couple of weeks.  After a week or two in Forst Reach we are going on to Haven.  We are hoping the Healers will be able to teach you.  If they can't or if you decide you want to leave, you will be welcome back here."

"Thank you."

"Jervis is waiting for us.  Will you please come tell him everything you know?"

Afiona looked over at Demon who had resumed sleeping.  "Couldn't you talk to him?"

"No.  You are the only one who knows what you saw.  Come on, I'll be right there beside you."  Medren offered her his hand.

She gingerly placed her hand in his and let him lead her out of the room.  Demon awakened and hurried after them with a reproachful bark.

"Don't worry about Jervis, he is a good man, if rather gruff."  Medren assured her with only a thought to his past fears of the man. 

Afiona didn't respond, just staring straight ahead as they passed a few servants.

Her heart was pounding and she tightened her grip on Medren's hand and felt just a little more control over the situation.

"You look ready to run."  Medren commented.

Afiona freed her hand and crossed her arms across her chest defensively.

"I get the hint."  Medren led her back to the library.  Tashir and Jervis were both waiting impatiently.  No one else was present to keep from scaring Afiona even more.  They were arranged so she could have the seat closest to the door, hoping to make her more comfortable.

Afiona paused at the door and then slowly stepped closer to the seated pair. 

"You can talk?"  Jervis asked bluntly.

Afiona nodded.

Unconsciously she took another step backwards towards the door and ran into Medren.

"Don't worry, he doesn't bite."  Medren said lightly.  "Unlike your pet."

Afiona glanced down at Demon who looked even more uncomfortable than her.  :Scared?:

:Not scared.:  Demon assured her and wagged his tale briefly.  :Smell funny.:

:Funny?: 

:Like small and furry but bad smell.:

Afiona glanced around the room.  Demon's voice had carried images of cats and she knew of only one that was sprayed with perfume.  :Cat.:

"Afiona, is something wrong?"  Medren asked as her attention obviously wandered.

:Get small furry?:

:If you want.:  Afiona turned slightly to look up at Medren.  "Giry's cat."

"What-"  Medren was cut off as Demon launched himself with an echoing bark that was answered by a feline yowl.

The cat shot out from under the couch and took off for the shelf.  Demon knocked over one chair as he pursued, his tail up and his eyes bright.

:Don't catch cat.:  Afiona reminded him.

"Someone grab that dog."  Jervis ordered as he ran in pursuit.

"You better call off your protector."  Tashir pointed out calmly as the cat clambered up the shelves, every hair on its perfectly groomed body on end.

:I am big!:  The cat insisted with a hiss.

:Not big.  Little furry.:  Demon barked back.

:Let the cat be.:  Afiona ordered and Demon reluctantly backed away and returned to her side.

:Dumb cat.  Not go to door.  Very dumb cat.:  Demon muttered to himself.  :Tasty cat?:

:Funny smell means funny taste.:  Afiona warned.

Demon wrinkled his lip and growled at the still frightened cat.

Tashir eyed her thoughtfully.  "You are an animal mindspeaker."

Afiona's eyes widened as she turned her attention on him. 

"She's a what?"

"She can talk to animals.  Which explains why the animals are protective of her."  Tashir explained.  "It is a good thing you are going to Haven.  I wouldn't have a clue where to start teaching you."

"Why don't you have a seat and tell us what you saw?"  Medren gestured to a chair.

Afiona gingerly sat on the edge of the chair.  "I was seeing through my brother's eyes.  I could see the scar on his hand from where I bit him.  He said he was going to get me to open the gate."

"Did he say how?"  Jervis asked.

She shook her head. 

"How could he get her to the gate to open it?"  Medren asked.  "She is terrified of him."

"What if he has someone working on the inside?"  Jervis suggested.  "Someone who could get her out there within his grasp, or someone who could make it look like she opened the gate."

Tashir studied her pale drawn face.  "As much as I hate to admit it because she is a Mavelan she will be suspected."

"If she is with someone who is trusted all night then no one can suspect her of being involved."  Medren pointed out.  "They couldn't even say she was an unknowing participant."

"Are you volunteering?"  Tashir asked.  "I doubt she would want to be stuck with anyone else all night."

"It will ruin her reputation."  Jervis pointed out.  "She may be considered a half-wit but she is still a lady."

"We can stay in the great hall until the trap is sprung."  Medren shrugged.  "If that is alright with you, Afiona."

Afiona nodded.  She didn't think she would sleep anyway, not with her brother so close.

"Anything else we should know?"  Tashir prodded.

"There were three other men."  Afiona offered.  "I didn't recognize them."

"Can you describe them?"

"They wore hoods but one had a red and white beard and another a scar on his chin as long as my finger."

"I think I know who one of the conspirators is."  Tashir said contemplatively.  "I recognize the description of the scar.  Was it from the corner of his mouth across his chin and under his jaw?"  Afiona nodded.  "His name is Hathyr, he believes I am condemning us all to the darkest hells by allying with magic workers."

"Even though there are no mages left?"  Medren asked.

"He doesn't distinguish between mind magic and true magic.  If it isn't explainable by his narrow frame of reference it is magic.  I hadn't thought he would take it so far as to try and kill me."

Afiona glanced at the door and wondered if she could leave.

"Child, did they mention a time?"  Jervis caught her attention again.

Afiona turned her startled gaze back on him.  "At night."

"Presumably before they expect her to be in bed and after everyone else has settled down."  Tashir rubbed his forehead.  "Unless they are just going to frame her, then it could be anytime during the night."

Medren patted Afiona's hand to reassure her.  It didn't help.  Afiona jumped at the sudden contact.

"Jumpy little thing."  Jervis commented.  A thread of disgust worked its way into his voice.

"She has every right to be jumpy.  Look at her childhood!  She is accustomed to watching for the next blow, it will take years for her to grow to trust others."  Tashir jumped to her defence, surprising her. 

Medren wondered if Tashir saw echoes of his own past in Afiona.

Afiona stood and practically ran out the door, Demon on her heels.

"I'll go after her."  Medren offered as he quickly followed.

"Now what?"

"I think I scared her when I raised my voice.  Medren said my resemblance to Vedric makes her incredibly nervous."  Tashir admitted.

Medren found her just outside the door leaning against the wall.  "Are you alright?"

"I am a coward."  Afiona said quietly.

"Nonsense.  You are the bravest lady I know.  You just need to take things at your own pace."  Medren assured her.  "What happened?"

"It…it just got to be too much.  I am sorry."

"Don't worry."  Medren waited as she slowly gathered her courage.  "Are you ready to go back in?"

Afiona nodded and let him precede her into the library.  She settled back into her chair and Demon sat, alert, at her side, his worried gaze on his friend.

:He threatened?:  He asked.

:No.:

:Good.  I'm bigger.  Bigger teeth.:

The men were actually shocked when she chuckled softly.

"Demon has bigger teeth."  She said softly.

Medren was stunned at the transformation a simple smile performed.  She was beautiful but a smile revealed a dimple in each cheek and made her look much more approachable.  "Bigger teeth than who?"

"Tashir.  He thought I was being threatened and says he is bigger with bigger teeth."

Tashir glanced at Demon who bared his teeth as proof.  "I agree.  His teeth are certainly bigger."

"Animals are simple."  Afiona said, relaxing now that they were speaking on a subject she was familiar with.  "Horses think in 'we' terms.  Dogs think about 'us' as in predators, and 'them' as is prey."

"Why does Demon attack every handler?"  Tashir asked, familiar with Demon's past.

"He doesn't trust humans.  He thinks you are like his first master and will hurt him if given a chance."  Afiona's voice gained in volume as she gained in confidence.

"Can you tell him we don't hurt animals here?"

"He hasn't bit you yet."  Afiona pointed out.  "He wants to be free too."

"Too?"  Medren repeated curiously.

Afiona started to withdraw again.  "I don't want to go back to a prison."

"When were you in a prison?"  Jervis asked, his harsh voice making her withdraw more.

"In the Lineas Palace."  Tashir answered for her, his own voice barely audible and his eyes distant.

"Your worst nightmare."  Medren said softly.

She glanced between the two friends.

"I was once threatened with being sent to my uncle."  Tashir explained.  "It scared me to death."

Afiona stared at him for several seconds.  "You are lucky.  He would have killed you as easy as breathing."

"I know, he tried and he succeeded with my kin.  Why didn't he kill you if you had no magic?"

"My mother's family would have been upset if I vanished and I might have become a healer."

"What about your mother?"

"Dead."  Afiona turned her attention to Medren.  "For today, we stay together?"

"If you don't mind, then you would have an iron tight alibi."

Afiona nodded.  "Let them wait for Gelird."