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CHAPTER SEVEN

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Caliko paced the floor. Walking back and forth, back and forth. She knew what was going to occur tonight. Another raid. It would be her third in two weeks. Her seventh all together.

She agreed to be a willing participant only due to the fact that both Jacobi and Jereth had promised the Gaian's safety and security from the upcoming raids. She had found out through Jereth that the Gaian tribe had been spared from attack, but was scheduled to be raided in the near future. By agreeing to stay and be Tryst's Sorceress she had at least secured her daughter and friend's security.

She had not heard anything of Lynx and/or Fox, a matter that troubled her greatly. She knew Jereth wanted her to forget her 'old life' and move on and become Tryst's true Sorceress, but he took her pleas to spare her tribe with true feeling. She had not mentioned her daughter, as Jereth would not have approved of The Sorceress having given birth to child. Something Natalie apparently would not have been so careless to have happen. Nor would he accepted or approved of Caliko being married and looking for her husband. Another part of life, Natalie would have secluded herself from. Nel gave these little tidbits of advice to her. Who, though secretive and unsociable, took her job of securing Caliko's well being and happiness seriously. Making it her duty to school Caliko in the 'do's' and 'don'ts' of Tryst and what it truly meant to be a Sorceress.

Caliko hated this place, almost as much as she hated the Casino. But at least here, her body was left unharmed and unviolated. She took one last pace around the room before throwing herself down on the bed. She looked at Nel, who was at her customary spot, sitting in a chair beside the fireplace.

"You need to calm yourself. Carry yourself with as much dignity and respect as possible. Show little emotion. It was what Natalie would have done." Nel said over her shoulder, staring into the fire.

"Oh screw Natalie!" Caliko yelled, throwing a pillow at the wall.

Nel jumped up from her chair and ran over and picked up the pillow and then pointed it at Caliko. "Hush your mouth M'Lady!" She set the pillow beside Caliko and looked towards the door, praying inside that the guards hadn't heard her Lady's outburst. She had grown fond of Caliko and knew what the consequences of her outburst could mean if someone overheard. She looked back at Caliko and this time pointed her finger in Caliko's face. "If you value your life and your daughter's life, do not speak that way about Lady Natalie." She whispered. "If Jereth found out, he would kill you and then your tribe and child just spite your memory." She stared hard at Caliko. "Do you understand?"

Caliko nodded her head and letting herself fall back into the soft blankets of her bed.

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Caliko sat upon the mare, watching the horror from the edge of the encampment. It wasn't very big. Just a few dozen travelers. She watched as Jereth rode through the scared, huddled group of survivors and trampled a girl under his horse's heavy hooves. She tried to close her eyes from it. But she could never block out the screams and cries. She watched, hoping Jereth had had his fill of revenge and murder for the night.

He stopped his mount and called out, "For our Lady Caliko!"

His Executioners returned his cry with 'Caliko!'

Jereth rode to Caliko and jumped from his horse and pulled Caliko from hers. He roughly grabbed her arm and pulled her to the girl he had trampled. "Look at her!" He whispered in her ear. "See what we are doing for you? To avenge your death?" He let go of Caliko and turned to the survivors. "Natalie lives! You can tell your King she is back! And she is with her true Kingdom, Tryst! She has taken on a name more appropriate, Caliko!" He turned back to Caliko. "Take her blood and put it on your hands, then put them on your face, it is what Natalie would have done for me!" He whispered.

'But, I'm not—" Caliko started to protest.

"Gaians." Jereth whispered, smiling at her.

Caliko knelt down beside the girl, who was still breathing. She forced her hands to place themselves against the girl's face, letting the blood ooze onto them. Then she stood and placed her bloody hands against her flushed cheeks.

The Executioners filled the night with their cheers.

Jereth walked Caliko back to her black mare and helped her up into the saddle. HE mounted his horse and then called to the survivors one last time. "She is back for revenge on Jameson. He murdered her. I will do everything in my power to make sure her death is repaid in full, by Jameson and all who our loyal to him! Tell that to your King!"

Caliko nodded her head in acknowledgement and then turned her horse to leave. The sun was coming up and Jereth was done.

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They rode across the threshold and into the courtyard. Caliko stopped her black mare. She wiped the sweat mingled with blood off her brow and saw him.

He was pulling a cart heavily burdened with wood. His head was bent, his body looked starved and mistreated. But there he was. Alive. Alive and so close.

She leapt from the mare and ran to him yelling out his name.

Lynx looked up and thought once again, hunger and hard work had brought the ghosts of his past out to play. He looked back down and continued to pull the heavy cart.

"Lynx!"

He stopped. Yes, he had heard her call his name for months now, but somehow, this time it sounded different.

"Lynx!"

Sounded real. He dropped the handles off the cart and looked, forcing his mind and vision to focus and he saw her.

They ran to each other.

They were almost there.

Almost finally home in each other's arms when the others came and grabbed them. Caliko reached her arm out as her attendants grabbed her.

A few guards that were awaiting Caliko's return grabbed Lynx.

He felt his fingertips touch Caliko's outstretched hand.

He tried to grab it and hold tight.

She felt his thumb brush against the top of her hand. Felt the quick warmness of it. And then it was gone. Caliko could no longer feel him.

Lynx could no longer see Caliko after a guard hit him on his skull and he fell, blackness covering his eyes. He couldn't see her, but he could hear her and still feel where his hand had briefly touched hers.