CHAPTER 14
—--Day 54
Sarah and Brie woke up, ate, got Azrael fed, and the horses saddled. Sarah packed up and tied down the baggage.
Sarah walked to the mouth of the cave and said, "I 'wish' the path from the cave cleared wide enough for horses and the trail all the way down the mountain cleared." Instantly all the snow just melted away on the path to the trail. Sarah led her horse out and Brie followed. Sarah boosted her up into the saddle. Sarah mounted her horse and led them all the way down the mountain and southwest to Gabhar as it was lightly snowing.
—--
Jareth decided to check up on Sarah tonight. He saw her and the child on horseback in the light snow coming into a town and pulling up to the inn.
—--
They arrived after dark and it was very cold. Sarah dismounted in front of the inn and took her baggage inside.
The place was busy. She walked up to the innkeeper and said, "Can I have a room for the night, please?"
He eyed her and said, "Seven silver, meals four coppers, drinks two. Room three." Sarah gave him seven silver. She went up to the room and dropped her baggage and pup in the bag off. She locked the door and went to get Brie.
There were four men around her on her horse trying to pull her from the horse but not able to get a hold of her. Brie was screaming for her life in fear. The men were shouting out saying, "This one'll fetch us a good price!"
—--
Jareth sat straight up at attention and alert.
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They grabbed her reins and Sarah said, "I 'wish' these four men were changed into naked human women and being sold at auction to the Centaurs." All of a sudden the four men turned into naked human women and screamed bloody murder. Then they vanished.
—--
Jareth's mouth dropped open in shock.
—--
Sarah ran to Brie's horse as she jumped off the horse into her arms at the same time. Sarah snatched her from mid jump into her arms clutching her to her tightly. Brie was hysterically crying. Sarah shushed her, kissing her face and softly said, "It's ok honey they couldn't get a hold of you so they grabbed the horse. The ring worked. It's ok, my sweet little one. They are gone forever, darling girl." She kissed her face, hugging and holding her tight. There was a crowd gathering from outside the inn. Sarah turned to look at the whispering and mummerings people.
She heard them say, "All four of um' just turn inta naked women an vanished." "They wanted ta sell the lil' un'."
Sarah said, "The same will happen to anyone harming a child or especially my child for that matter!" They whispered again and all applauded. Sarah led the horses to the blacksmith with her arm around Brie sniffling.
She sat Brie down on a barrel and said, "How much to board both horses overnight, please?"
He said, "twelve coppers."
Sarah said, "Her take a gold coin. Can you unsaddle them for me? My child was attacked in front of the inn and I have to get her and our baggage inside the inn. We will be leaving in the morning."
He frowned, "Sure. She be alright?"
Sarah said, "I don't know right now, but she will be." Sarah unloaded all the bags from Brie's horse and Brie took a couple bags. Sarah put her arm around her and they walked back to the inn.
The inn inside was silent. Sarah walked straight up to the room and unlocked the door. Azrael growled, "Grrrr…" from the bed and whimpered, laying flat looking sad. They put the baggage down and Sarah locked the door. She took off Brie's cloak and gloves, then her own. Sarah brought her to the bed, held her in her arms and laid the both of them down across the bed. Sarah leaned over her and looked into her eyes brushing the hair out of her watering eyes and tear stained face.
Sarah said softly, "You know, I would have hunted them down before they could have walked out of this town with you. I would never rest until you were right here, little one, and they were dead. Nobody will ever hurt you like that again, on this I swear. You are my fucking little girl and nobody takes what's mine! I love you, baby girl. I need you."
Brie cried, "I love ye, mama!" Sarah cracked right there. She cried and kissed her cheek and held her so tight, as tears fell from her eyes along with Brie's.
She whispered in Brie's ear. "I love you, my little daughter."
—--
Jareth realized why Sarah was so attached to the child now. The girl must have lived through something terrible. Sarah must have rescued her out of it and has been trying to protect her while healing her wounded soul. His Sarah was incredibly loving. If only she would love him that much. He would accept the human child in his kingdom. He pouted. He had to figure out something to get her to come to him on her own. He popped the crystal. He stared off thinking.
—--
Sarah said, wiping her eyes, "We need to eat. I'll go down and get a couple plates and a couple wines and bring them up here and take them back when we're done. We need a bath and our clothes washed. You put the chair against the door and feed Azrael for me ok, baby girl?" Brie sat up and nodded. She always did that under stress. Sarah kissed her forehead. Sarah got up not bothering to cloak herself and unlocked the door standing outside until the chair was in place. She pulled her braid out of her shirt and went downstairs like a mama bear daring anyone to challenge her.
The room gasped as people turned around and looked. Sarah walked up to the innkeeper and said, "I need two dinners and four wines, please." He went and poured her wine. Sarah put two silver down and said when he brought the plates on a tray. Sarah sat the cups on the tray.
She said, "Keep the change. I'll bring them right down afterwards."
He said, "No need, just bring them down for breakfast." Sarah nodded.
She turned and walked upstairs and knocked on the door and unlocked it saying, "Let me in, honey." Brie moved the chair. Sarah swept in and locked the door. Brie put the chair under it. Sarah sat the tray down on the side table and took off her boots and belt with her stuff on it. Brie had started a fire and Azrael was eating. Sarah sat the tray on the floor in front of the fire on the rug and sat down. Brie did the same. They ate their dinner and Sarah gave a little piece of potato in meat juice to Azrael to lick and chew from her hand.
Brie said, "This be tasty." It was a really good seasoned chicken with potatoes, carrots and kale. Sarah reached out and caressed her cheek. They ate in silence and drank both of their wines.
After they were done, Sarah set the dishes aside on the little side table. She filled the tub with regular water and put on the kettle to boil. Brie was holding Azrael who had his head tucked under her armpit, while sitting on the floor. Sarah put up the rope for hanging up clothes. She had Brie take her bath first and pulled out their dirty clothes. After Brie washed her hair, Sarah dumped the water again and started her own bath. They both got in their long flannel nightshirts and Sarah started washing their clothes. She was wringing them out and hanging them up. She had Brie just lay down on the bed after her hair dried with Azrael. Sarah knew she had a terrifying experience and needed to relax. Once the clothes were hung up, Sarah brushed out her hair and let it dry in front of the fire. It dried quickly. Sarah put a log on the fire and put the screen up in front of it.
Sarah climbed in bed with Brie and Azrael. Brie scooted over and wrapped herself around her. Azrael climbed into position laying by her shoulder and his neck stretched over her neck. They were covered and surrounded with warm blankets. Sarah rubbed Brie's head, until she heard her breathing change. Sara slept hard.
—--Day 55
In the morning, Sarah was woken up with puppy licks on her neck. When she opened her eyes, he started to wiggle and stuck his wet cold nose into her nose. Sarah scratched his head. She softly caressed Brie's cheek. Brie yawned and looked up at Sarah and smiled. Azrael stuck his nose in Brie's ear making her jump and giggle. Brie sat up and Sarah went to the bathroom.
She hurriedly got dressed enough to take Azrael to do his bathroom time. Sarah slung on her cloak and put Azrael on a leash. She told Brie to use the chair. Sarah took him outside and had him potty. When he was done, they hurried back inside and went back into the room. Sarah locked the door and Brie had started folding clothes for each of them. They got dressed in double layers and packed their clothes and stuff away. They had everything but bow and arrows sets and baggage in the room. Sarah and Brie went down with hoods down and gloves in their pockets. Brie carried Azrael on his leash and Sarah carried the tray down.
They sat at the counter and Sarah asked the innkeeper, "Can we have two breakfasts and tea, please?" Brie gave Sarah Azrael to sit on her lap.
He went and got the tea and sat them down. Brie gave Sarah Azrael to sit on her lap. He went to the back and came back with two plates of eggs, mutton steak, potato cakes and toast. The innkeeper paused looking at the black wolf pup.
Sarah said, "No, I didn't buy him. I saved him when a man killed his mother and littermates. She killed him before dying, but left this one alone at one week old. I just happened to be camping real close. This is very good." Sarah continued eating because it was very tasty.
Brie looked at him said, "Dinner be very good too." He smiled at the innocent little girl. He was glad that the four man crew of evil men were gone. They had been terrorizing the town for over two weeks. He wanted to ask.
He looked at Sarah and asked, "Where'd they go?"
Sarah looked at him and said, "They turned into women and were sold to Centaurs."
The guy grinned and said, "Fittin'. Two women be disappearin' in two weeks since they be ere'."
Sarah said, "You all know the High King won't help. I have heard it in every inn and tavern in the Fairy and Unicorn Kingdoms. Someone is going to have to take matters into their own hands and stop the illegal selling by thieving hoarders. I ended three groups already by myself. I just happened to run into them. The new thing they are doing is posing as innkeepers killing the owners or working undercover. They abduct patrons and take their stuff. They sell them if they are female to Centaurs and Ogres if male. Just be careful they work in groups of three or more. The towns are going to have to band together to end it." His eyes got big.
He said, "Thank ye fer tha infermation."
Sarah nodded and gave Azrael a piece of egg with yolk. He smacked his lips and said, "Whoo...Yip." Sarah chuckled at him. Brie smiled at him.
After they ate, Sarah took Brie and went up to the room. She put Azrael's bag on her shoulder and around her head under her cloak. She locked Brie in the room with Azrael. She went down and got the horses saddled and brought them up to the inn. Sarah took her own baggage and Brie took as much of her own baggage as she could carry with her. Sarah put Brie up on her horse and went back for Azrael and the rest while dropping off the key. Sarah mounted Nathrach and they headed south to the city of Loch Criostail to stay for a week.
It took all day and they didn't get in until dusk. Sarah said to Brie, "Honey, pull your knife and wait for me, if anyone approaches you and looks creepy stab them. I will be right back. Remember they can't attack you. I'll leave you untethered to the post." Sarah dismounted and went inside with all her bags.
The place was busy and a band was playing. Sarah approached the innkeeper and said, "Can I get a room for a week, please?" He eyed her and said, "Eight silver a night, meals five coppers and drinks two. Room six." Sarah put six gold in his hand. He gave her four silver. Sarah went up to the room and dropped off the bags on the floor and Azrael on the bed. She locked up and hurried out to get Brie. Brie sheathed her knife seeing Sarah and Sarah reached up and got her down from the horse. She brought Brie and her bags inside and settled in.
—--
Jareth decided to watch Sarah tonight and see how she and the child fared. He produced a crystal and Sarah came into view.
—--
Sarah fed Azrael and took him to go potty, locking Brie in the room. Sarah had him on his leash carrying him. She walked over to the side of the inn between buildings and had him do his business. She covered it with snow and they turned to go back inside.
A human man about forty years old was just at the end of the two buildings and said, "You selling em'?" Azrael growled.
Sarah said, "No.", and tried to brush past him.
He tried to grab her from behind with a knife to her throat, but he couldn't get a good grip. His hands kept slipping. He said, "No need to be unfriendly, boy. I be knowin' a buyer fer the wolf. Maybe Ogres fancy ye."
—--
Jareth sat up in his seat nervous watching Sarah and the man with a knife. He was about to transport.
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She dropped Azrael's leash. In one fluid motion, Sarah grabbed his wrist with the knife both hands and twisted it down away from her. She pivoted on her left leg towards him and ducked under his arm. As she twisted his arm with her she jammed super fast three times into his ribs and lung. She brought the wrist behind his back and pried the knife out of his hand. She slammed him up against the other building's wall face first and broke his arm as he screamed. Sarah said, "Your dead real soon for being a filthy fucking theif."
She sliced his knife across his carotid artery in his neck and dropped him into the snow with his knife and stepped back. He gurgled. Sarah looked for Azrael. He was sitting and watching her little ways off. She scooped him up, put her hood up and went back inside the inn and straight to the room. She thought, 'This fucking world is making me a killer, but these mother fuckers been preying on people for too long.'
—--
Jareth sat back and was absolutely stunned after seeing that. She killed him and knew what to do to get out of the situation. She didn't get scared or upset, but calmly methodically and efficiently ended the thief like a seasoned soldier. His Sarah was no little girl or simpering woman, but a trained warrior. He gained new respect for her and at that moment he knew she was his equal completely. He wanted her even more than he ever did. She had to be his. He would visit her tonight in her dreams. He popped the crystal and sat there remembering what he just saw. It was amazing. He never saw a woman of any kind do what she did, only extremely trained male soldiers. He could never force Sarah to his will. He had to talk to her rationally. He thought, "Until tonight, love."