And heree's chapter nineteen! Yay! Raine, got anything to say before I let loose the new one?
Raine: Yes, actually, I do...Your friend - RoyalFanatic, was it? - called me "Mrs. Bryant." And, I would like to correct that statement. I am not married to the man--
Not yet, anyway, eh Raine?
Raine: -Glare- -Ahem- Therefore, to you I am "Miss-" or "Professor Sage."
Be nice, Raine. We all know you're in love with him.
Raine: -Blush- I--
Yeah, whatever. Here we go!
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As she came to, the first thing she noticed was the continuous pain in her right leg. Next, came the dull light outside a window somewhere nearby, and finally Regal's face came into focus when she took a weak look around. "Regal?"
He shifted a little closer to her, giving her a slight, nearly invisible smile. "How do you feel?"
"Like I got a bookshelf dropped on me," she said, closing her eyes again. She started to try and sit up, but the movement jarred her leg, and gave a protest such that she could not supress a small cry. Raine allowed him to gently push her back down, while she regained control and chided herself for making a sound at the same time.
"The doctor was here, earlier--Raine, hold still." Regal sighed, pressing a hand to her shoulder to keep her down as she tried once more to sit up. "Yes, the doctor came by. It appears as though you've broken your leg, rather severely, in more than one place. You are not to try to move it for several days - and even after that, he ordered me to keep you off your feet for a while."
She stared at him. Lie still...for so long? She wasn't at all sure she could do it. And what about their journey? "Regal, I can't do that," she said, frowning at him. "I would be delaying our travels."
"I know it isn't your preference, Raine," he said, obviously choosing his words carefully. He knew how dangerous her temper could be, even if she was incapacitated. "But it is for your own good."
"And what about yours?" asked the Half-Elf, trying not to grimace as her leg began its constant reminder of her injury once more. "I don't want to keep you here because of, " she tried to hide a wince, "me."
This got her another, slightly more pronounced smile from him. He took her chin in his strong hand, and shook his head. "I don't mind," he said, amusement present in his voice. "It gives us time to relax, to take a break from travelling for a little while." The smile faded slowly. "And we have bigger problems than a minor setback.
Raine cocked an eyebrow in his direction. "Problems?"
"That shelf did not fall by coicidence, I am quite sure. Only tampering could have loosed it from the wall, enough to bring it down," he explained. "And I find it rather hard to believe that one fell at that time, by accident."
"Someone is trying to..." She trailed off, realization dawning on her features. "Deryn," said Raine, pursing her lips.
Regal nodded. "I believe so," he replied.
"That means she knows where we are." Raine lifted a hand to rub her face. "And if she knew that, she has to know the situation now. Which means...as long as we stay here, we're giving her the perfect opportunity to complete the task she failed at just this morning."
"We cannot risk ever going anywhere alone until all four of them have been arrested and securely put in jail," agreed Regal.
"As long as I can't move," this was said with a touch of bitterness, "I don't think I have to worry." This was the Inn, afterall. No one would get inside without being seen, and Deryn would surely be recognized. "But you, Regal - you need to be careful."
"I know." He gave her a nod. "I will--Raine." He frowned at her, putting an end to her renewed attempts to lift herself. "You'll hurt yourself."
"It's a little late for that," she said on a sigh, nudging his hands away to let herself get up.
He shook his head, firmly pressing her against the matress. "You will make it worse. You must lie still...I am prepared to get another sedative for you. Please, Raine, listen to the doctor. I don't want you to harm yourself further."
The mage regarded him for a moment or so, pausing in her struggles. Finally, she relaxed under his grip, and looked away. "Fine," she murmerred, resignedly, gazing at the window. Not out, just at it.
Regal cupped her cheek, turning her face back toward him. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice soft. "But thank you." He really was glad she'd decided to be reasonable. In the time they had spent travelling together with Lloyd, he's learned just how stubborn she could be. And how intimidating...
This thought made him smile slightly, a smile he knew she wouldn't really understand. And he wasn't about to tell her what he'd been thinking, lest she prove him right. So, as she tilted her head as best she could while lying down, he gave the smallest of shrugs. "I think it would be best if I informed the Research Academy that Deryn and the others are, at the very least, around here somewhere."
Raine gave a silent nod, and he knew she was either still unhappy about his order to remain still, or she didn't trust her voice right then. Of course, it could very well have been a mixture of both, he mused. The smile returning, he took up one of her hands and pressed it to his lips lovingly, in a silent show of how happy he was that she was alive and well - for the most part. This act provoked the tiniest of smiles - and that was enough for him.
Laying her hand back down gently, he stood to leave her to the brooding he knew perfectly well she would start. "Be careful," he heard her say absently as he left the room, and then the Inn altogether. Instinctively, he took a quick glance around for the criminals; but of course, with so many people walking around this evening, how could Deryn do anything? There weren't even any bookshelves out here to drop on him.
Having alerted what he supposed was a Professor of Deryn's close proximity to Sybak, he walked back into the gathering night, figuring he had better go make a "report" to Raine, lest he be scolded later. The woman had claws and fangs, and wasn't afraid to show them when rhiled. But that was part of the fun, wasn't it? He didn't want anyone passive, obediant, like a puppy. He wanted someone with a mind of her own, who wasn't hesitant in her own opinions.
Someone like Raine? No, not someone like Raine. He cherished Raine herself. Shaking his head, he reflected on how glad he was that she'd talked him into letting her this close as he walked toward the inn.
When he got there, the door had been locked. Regal stood there, blinking at it. He supposed it made sense, what with the alerts out on dangerous criminals, but that didn't make it any more pleasant of a thought.
"Out for a midnight stroll, my lord?" purred a very unwelcomed female voice from somewhere beside him. His head snapped in the direction it had come from, and he took up a defensive pose. At least they weren't on a ship this time, at sea with a storm trying to sink them. "But where's our lady friend this evening?" The question was asked with a hint of laughter.
"Inside with a mangled leg, thanks to you," he shot back, glancing around at the oddly empty surroundings. He wasn't about to take the bait she was offering by trying to mock him. Raine could, indeed, be called his "lady friend," whether they had a romantic relationship or not. She was a woman, and certainly his friend either way.
"I wasn't trying to break her leg," said Deryn, feigning innocence. She sighed, stepping out of the shadows. Blonde hair was pulled back into one long braid down her back, and icy blue eyes blinked at him.
"No, you were trying to kill her," growled Regal.
"She wouldn't be in pain at this very moment, now, would she?"
"She wouldn't be aware of anything at this very moment, had you succeeded."
"Just one less half-breed to worry about," sighed Deryn. "I would have fulfilled my promise to Karla, and broken you at the same time. You know, you have horrible taste in women, Bryant. She's not your type." She shook her head, blinking seductively at him. "She doesn't deserve you, she's only half-blooded trash."
"Do not insult Raine," he said, trying to keep his own anger under control.
"I already have." She lunged at him, fury flashing in her eyes. Pure hatred. He knew that he and Raine were the reasons she, David, Matthew, and Eric could not be free. But she had started it, the minute she'd sent David to kidnap the Half-Elf. It was her fault she was wanted, not theirs.
He lashed out quickly, grabbing both wrists and pressing her against the outside of the inn. "Not this time, Deryn," he said calmly. "Not again. You've won too many times, and now it's over. You are going to prison."
"I beg to differ." A new voice, a man's. "You are alone, and Deryn is not."
Regal glanced over his shoulder at the three men revealing themselves, but did not let go of the woman. Finally, her henchmen had shown themselves. But he had their leader...they wouldn't do anything drastic - they couldn't. Tugging Deryn away from the wall, he turned his own back to it instad, holding her in front of him. He hated doing this...but he couldn't let them get away again.
"Coward. You use a woman as your shield?" sneered Matthew, the man who had spoken a moment ago.
"If it means sending all of them to a well deserved cell, then yes," he replied simply. "You hide behind her when you can, I am doing no worse than you."
"We don't hide, Bryant." David stepped forward, away from the others. "And I don't see how you, of all people, could accuse us of the like. You, who hid behind those shackles for seventeen years. You, who were too afraid of what you had done to fight with your hands. Do you remember me, my lord?"
Regal furrowed his brow, eyeing the man before him. Suddenly, his eyes widened. Yes, he did remember now...He remembered all too well. "You..."
David made no move, kept his gaze stoney. "Ahh. I see that it has, finally, come back to you. After so many years, we finally speak again."
"I have no desire to speak with you," replied the Duke immediately.
"Why not? We were, after all, such...good friends, weren't we?"
"You are no friend of mine. You convicted an innocent man, and earned him his early death. That man, he was my friend - not you." Regal's grip tightened on Deryn's wrists. He did not want to discuss it any further. "Enough," he said firmly. "You are the criminals, this time, and I will not rest until every one of you has been locked away. I suggest you go quietly."
"We will not," piped up Deryn, standing perfectly still. "Boys, show Bryant what happens to people who don't accomodate us."
Matthew and Eric flicked out knives, and David held his ground, glowering at Regal.
"Drop them!" shouted yet another voice. It was male, as well, but not recognized. When Regal looked over the shoulders of his attackers, he nearly released Deryn in relief as he saw several armored soldiers belonging to the Royal Guard. The Academy must have sent word to Meltokio, and gotten a small team dispatched to aid them. Not planned, but a very welcome occurance.
All three of Deryn's men spun on heel, and stared at the soldiers, before the blades clattered to the ground. Even the woman had gone tense under Regal's hold. "No!" she cried. "I won't let it end this way...It won't!" She began to struggle, fiercly, but the President's grip never lightened, never faltered. Even as the knives clattered to the ground, and the men were taken into custody, Deryn still pulled against him.
Regal dragged her kicking and screaming, almost literally, over to the guards, and held her out. "Thank you," he said.
"We were happy to help, Master Regal. At long last, these four will be thrown into prison for a very, very long time," said one who looked like the Captain, giving a good natured nod to the Noble as he and someone else took an ever-protesting Deryn by the arms.
He watched them for a while as they exitted Sybak, and a knot in his stomach that he hadn't even realized existed loosed itself. They were safe, again...Deryn Salri was in custody. They no longer had to worry about her - she was gone.
They were free.
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Hurray! Deryn and the Pussycats are off to the Wonderful World of Prison! Go Regal!
Raine: -Sigh- It's about time she was out of our hair.
Ain't it just? Yay! Okay, anyway...You think this is the last chapter, don't you? WRONG! More to come! Stay tuned.
