- Chapter 6 -

Afiona watched the women as they worked at their various tasks, most involving sewing.  Her back was against the wall, Medren was just a few inches from her tuning his lute, and Demon under their bench with his head between their knees but she was still ready to bolt.

Most of the women ignored her thankfully; she couldn't have borne being the center of attention, especially after her scare last night.

However, Giry didn't ignore her.  Her perfectly painted lip curled in a small sneer when she glanced at Afiona.  Each sneer drew a growl from Demon.

Afiona gave up ignoring her and was returning Giry's stare.

The best word to describe Giry's appearance was perfect.  Giry's long golden hair was tamed into perfect spiralling ringlets.  Her pale skin bore no scars, unlike Afiona's, which was criss-crossed with old scars from fists, whips, falls, and burns.  Her massive blue eyes were alternately guileless and calculating, depending on whom she was looking at, and what she was hiding.  She was slender and petite, like Afiona, with delicate bones and a birdlike quality to her movements.

Afiona shifted slightly closer to Medren and Giry's eyes narrowed again.

Afiona had become something of an expert in the dark emotions of humans. 

There was no doubt Giry was jealous.  Afiona glanced up at Medren.  Was his attention the reason behind Giry's renewed hatred?

"Giry wants you."  She whispered.

Medren glanced down at her.  "Pardon?"

"Giry wants you.  She is jealous of me being here."

Medren glance towards the lady in question she immediately started batting her eyes and acting helpless.  "Oh well."

Afiona scratched Demon's head.

:Threat.:  Demon said succinctly.

:I know.:

:Bite her?:

:No.  Back in the cage if you do.:

Demon snarled at the thought of being locked in his kennel again.

Medren's beautiful voice filled the room as he started to sing a popular ballad, claiming Afiona's full attention.  Only Giry's continued glares detracted from the performance.

Afiona desperately wanted out of the room and away from the women.  She wanted to be outside in the garden enjoying the changing season, preparing her garden for winter, but she wouldn't be here for next year's growing season.

Medren set aside his lute after several songs to rest a bit.  Afiona grabbed his hand in both her small hands earning several knowing smiles from the more observant women.

"How you holding up?  Do you want out of here?"  Medren asked softly.

Afiona shook her head slightly.

Giry's eyes narrowed in suspicion at the gesture.  As far as the rest of the world knew, Afiona was still deaf and mute.

Medren turned his attention to a question asked of him by a lady.  Afiona took strength from knowing that even if they all turned on her, Medren and Demon would defend her. It was an odd experience for her.

She hadn't trusted another human since she stopped speaking.  Worthless people had no defenders.

Eventually Medren had to reclaim his hand and continue his playing.  At the loss of his hand Afiona felt a sharp stab of loss but folded her hands in her lap, and longed for the endless chattering of the women to end.

:Run?  Hunt?  Chase bad smelling fluffy cat?:  Demon asked hopefully.

:Later.:  She promised.

Demon's ears fell at the rejection.  :Not eat stupid fluffy.:

:I know.:  She scratched his ears affectionately.  :We'll run later.:

Demon heaved a sigh and settled his head on his paws.

Afiona glanced at the window.  At least dinner was soon.  How these ladies could stand the idleness was beyond her.

~ * ~

Afiona slumped back against her high backed chair, fast asleep.

Considering it was well after midnight and her and Medren were the only occupants of the Great Hall it was understandable.  Medren hoped the guards would come soon to tell them that her brother had been caught and they could head off to bed.

Suddenly she stiffened, she didn't even breathe.

"Afiona?"  Medren shook her shoulder but received no response.

He was about to yell for a servant when she went limp and started to shake.

"Are you alright?"

Afiona wrapped her arms around her chest and looked around the massive empty room.  "He's here, I Saw him."

"Where?"

"Here."  Afiona huddled further into her chair.  "He sent the others to find Tashir and he is coming here for me."

Medren wished he had thought to arm himself as he searched the heavy shadows for Gelird.  "Where is he now?"

Afiona's eyes fixed on a shadowed hall.  Demon moved from his spot under her chair and sniffed the air.

:Funny smelling cat.:

Afiona stood so quickly her chair tumbled backwards.  Her entire body shaking as she searched for an escape route.

Medren quickly pulled the sword he had worn as a precaution.  "Come out!"

A shadow shifted but no one stepped into the light.

Afiona's frantic eyes locked on to the movement.  :There he is!:

Demon growled and launched himself towards the movement, his formidable teeth bared.

Whoever was in the shadows turned and fled from the threat of the great dog.

:Funny smelling cat.:  Demon commented again as he pursued.  A feminine scream of terror underscored his observation.

"Giry, that is Giry.  Demon, wait!"  Afiona ran after her friend, hiking up her skirt.

Medren watched her, stunned, for several seconds before he chased after her.  She sprinted through the darkness with ease, following the rumbling growl of her pet.

"Afiona, wait."

Suddenly a dark shadow stepped in front of Afiona and grabbed the slender young woman by her throat.

"Get it off me!"  Giry called from down the hall as Demon caught her skirt, pulling her to the ground.

"Shut up."  The shadow roared.  Then the voice softened to a silken threat.  "Hey, little sister."

Afiona trembled as she tried to make out the face of her captor.  Her voice frozen in her throat by fear.

"Let her go."  Medren demanded as he stopped several feet from the pair.  "Demon!  Get off Giry and help Afiona!"

Demon paused and looked over his shoulder at the mistrusted human.  He recognized his friend's name as well as his own in the command. 

Giry used the distraction to escape.

Demon glanced between the two men.  One held a sword, which he knew was used to hurt.  The other was holding Afiona.  Which was more of a threat?

Afiona didn't even struggle as her brother spun her around so her back was against his chest and he held a sharp blade to her throat.  "Put down your weapon!"

Medren hesitated but dropped his sword.

"Wise man-- now--call off that dog."

"Only Afiona can.  He's hers."  Medren said as calmly as possible, praying the dog wouldn't attack now with his mistress in danger.  

"He attacks and she is dead before she hits the ground."  Gelird warned as he started to back away.  Panic colouring his voice.  Afiona could smell his sweat, like a cling stench.

"Demon, come here boy."  Medren tried using his Gift to soothe the dog, praying it would come to him.

Demon growled again.  Obviously it was the man with the sweet voice who was trying to talk to him.  Afiona trusted this man not to harm her and to actually protect her.  That meant the other man was the threat.  Afiona's fear was overwhelming.  A strange feeling of lethargy crept over him and he felt the urge to go to the sweet-voiced man's side.

Medren breathed a sigh of relief as Demon relaxed his stance and took a few steps towards him, leaving enough of the hallway clear for Gelird to drag his sister further away from her protectors.  Medren grabbed Demon's collar as soon as he was close and stroked the ebony head, trying to keep him calm.  "Good boy.  I promise you a massive steak when this is through if you just don't bite off my hand."

Demon looked up at him and bared his teeth once before returning his attention to the retreating figures.  Try as he might, he could reach Afiona, her panic had completely blocked her mind.

Medren waited until they were out of sight before picking up and sheathing his sword.  "Don't worry boy, I won't let him harm her.  You can even have Giry's cat when this is all over, just listen to me."

Demon understood very little of what he was told but he understood the worry in the man's voice.  Man may be his enemy, but this man was a friend of Afiona.  He decided, for now at least, he would allow this man to help him.

Besides, he knew what a steak was.

~ * ~

Afiona's heart was pounding as Gelird reached the entry hall.  Not even the clang of the armoured guards reached her.  Across from them were six guards, Tashir, and Jervis.

"Release her!"  Tashir ordered.

Afiona's panicked mind grasped only his anger and his resemblance to her father.  She quivered so badly her brother's knife caused a thin line of red across her neck.

Gelird crouched behind Afiona, using her as a shield, moving his arm from her throat to holding the knife to her back.  Very little of him was left for the guards arrows to seek.

"Don't fire, you may hit Afiona."  Tashir ordered.

"She must have let him in."  Jervis observed.

Medren finally appeared, dragged by the massive dog. 

Demon's growl echoed through the hall.  He could smell Afiona's blood and it was enough for him to see red.

"Don't let him go!"  Tashir called to him. 

Gelird turned enough to see the enraged dog and blanched completely white.  He quickly calculated his chances for escape.  A hostage was no good against a dog.  He acted swiftly, plunging the knife into the small of her back, hoping it would at least slow the men down, and sprinted for the door.  He managed to reach the safety of the night and slam the door shut behind him before the men reacted.

Once released Demon ran to his mistress side, whining and pacing around her prone body.  Medren was the first to reach her side.

Scarlet was already creeping across her back as blood flowed from around the blade.

"Get the Healer."  Tashir yelled and knelt next his cousin.  "What happened?"

"Giry let him in and then lured Afiona to where he was hiding."  Medren said as he stared helplessly.

Demon paused to lick her face.  His massive golden brown eyes filled with concern.

"Shouldn't you remove the knife, milord?"  One of the men at arms asked.

Jervis leaned forward to examine the wound.  He had experience with similar wounds from his days as a hire sword.  "No, it would cause it to bleed out faster.  Wait for the healer, if she has any chance it is with the Healer.  Send some one to get Giry though.  I want to know exactly what her involvement in this affair is."