Thank you to my reviewers. The time you take to review is appreciated.

A little slower this chapter but trust me it is necessary.

Disclaimer: All profits to RJ

Chapter 4: The Riddle of the a'dam

The smashing and slamming sounds of battle still echoed around the little overhang. It was not finished yet. Dirk looked over at the young woman he had risked so much to help. She was not trying to move though her cramps seemed to have subsided. If you sit here, you will die, he thought to himself.

Pulling himself to his feet through sheer will he retrieved his weapons and cleaned them quickly. It was more a ruse to buy him time to think than a proper regard for his blades. What to do with her? He couldn't move her, so she would have to help. Sheathing his weapons, so that he would not be mistaken as an attacker, he moved over to the female who was lying slightly curled on his side. He squatted down anything to reduce his height and potential threat. He made sure he lowered his voice making it as soft as he could.

"I am Dirk Steadysteel. I want to help you. Your…" He had been going to say friends but considering she had been bound in this strange way, were they her friends? "Everyone here is dead, but there is still a battle going on out there. If they find you they will kill you! You must move!"

The woman looked at him wild eyed and he could see panic rising inside of her. He could understand her fear but he was becoming impatient with it. If I was a threat to her she would have felt my steel by now! "Listen to me!" he urged with a patience he did not feel. "You must trust me or you will die. Can we unlock the bracelet or the collar?"

To his surprise she suddenly cried out loudly in anger or, no it was fear. She was afraid he would remove this binding. "I do not understand" he said slowly and clearly. "Do you understand me? I do not understand. You must tell me what to do or I cannot help. Who are you?"

Yes that was right if someone was panicked give them questions to which they certainly know the answers. Then as they get used to answering you can increase the depth of the questions.

She visually hesitated and then stuttered out in slurred accents. "I am Kea. I am a good damane."

"I am sure you are Kea" he replied and summoned up a smile though it was difficult. Those blasts were getting closer. "Kea, can you move with this thing on?"

She would not meet his eyes and seemed to shake though it was barely perceptible, just the slightest brushing of the wind. That was answer enough, though he did not understand her reluctance. "So that is a no then. Kea I am sorry but I will not let you lie here and die. I've done that before and I can't do it again. Either you show me how to take it off or I will cut off that woman's hand."

Kea let out a cry like a wounded animal and tried to grab his wrists, as if she could force him to refrain but even that small act of violence seemed beyond her. Her keening was cut across by another cry and she fell backwards onto her back. Dirk threw himself onto her and covered her mouth. Whispering now he placed his mouth next to her ear.

"Stop Kea! You do not want to die! No one does. If you keep screaming like this that is what will happen and I will die too!" She had stopped now and his green eyes locked into her strangely clear blue ones. He slowly raised himself off her and removed his hand she did not renew her piercing screams. "If you don't let me help you, you are going to kill me" he explained flatly. "I will not leave you. Now can you just trust me? I trust you."

As he said that she smiled for the first time. It was as if he had just given her a treat like a dog that had done its trick. "You must twist it somehow" she explained calmly and still obviously uneasy with the words. She sounded like she was not used to talking. "My sul'dam does not let me see and Kea is a good damane and does not try."

"Okay" replied Dirk his smile natural now. This could still work they might both make it out of this. "So you can't move in this thing? I tried to drag you…"

She was already shaking her head. "When we are incomplete" her lip began to tremble. "Without our sul'dam, we are not allowed…" but she could not finish. Her eyes were on the dead woman beside her and she had begun to cry. Thankfully it was quiet.

So she wasn't a captive, or at least she was but she loved her captors? To Dirk the thing was nonsensical but he had never been one to worry more about logic than results: time to take action. He grabbed hold of the wrist of the dead woman that was enclosed in the silvery bracelet. He searched it. He thought he knew a few things about forging and metal working but this was amazing. The bracelet was of one piece and not only that but the cord or leash attaching it to the collar appeared to be of a piece with it as well. That just could not be done! But he thought as his smile became rueful, whenever you think it can't be done; it only meant you needed the power.

His hands searched the bracelet there was no catch and it had to come off. Sorry Kea he thought and pulled out his sword. "No don't hurt her" Kea said and he had to stop. "I won't do" he assured her. After all she is dead. And he cut down and through the wrist. Kea flinched as if she expected pain and seized her wrist as if she anticipated her own arm to receive the blow. Her surprise when she remained unharmed was almost comical.

Pulling the bracelet into his hands Dirk sat beside Kea and studied it. He could hear the noises of battle dying down and still getting closer. It sounded as if for now someone had 'won' this area. That meant they would be combing it over to pick up their own survivors and take in captives. That meant he did not have much time. Suddenly without thinking he pressed the bracelet inwards and felt something give and it popped open. He considered for a moment putting it on, maybe then she would be able to walk, but the idea of leading this girl around by the neck revolted him, even if it were for her own good.

"It's okay Kea look. If this do work with no catch and I can be opening it. Then I can do the same with the one on your neck." She was trembling again ever so slightly but she raised her head baring her neck and held her long hair out of the way. He felt around the collar and watched her reactions. Her eyes were closed as if she expected some fell punishment to strike at any moment. He kept feeling around the collar until he felt her stiffen between his fingers. He pushed and felt the same kind of give he had with the bracelet on one side but not the other. Keeping his hand there he felt around on the other side. Found the place that gave under his fingers. Kea had said twist. He pushed both sides simultaneously and twisted. Then there was a click and a pop and the collar came free.

Dirk stepped back holding in a bark of joy from freeing this woman and saving her life. It felt as rewarding as he had known it would be. Then her head snapped up and he saw her eyes go from wondering to frightened, to wild in a few moments of blurred emotion. Wind suddenly whipped around him from no where and he was lifted from his feet like a ragged leaf caught in a hurricane. He was hurled around the overhang and slammed into the trees and eventually released with a crunch into the raised side of the overhang itself.

Oh the pain! The cut he had already received blazed in agony and he felt blood soak his shirt. His head was ringing from dizziness and the sudden impact. While his body tried to deal with the physical pain his mind tried to catch up with what was going on. Why was she hurting him? He had helped her? He had saved her life? He had given her the same gift of trust he had been given. He had expected her to return it. Apparently she did not trust him at all. Opening his eyes he saw her still standing in the same place glaring at him fixedly. She consciously held him pressed back against the wall of the overhang. The pressure was so great he could barely breathe. He knew if this kept up he would back out and then… well.

"I can still help" he gasped out. The words were quiet but he could barely breathe. "What do you want?"

Lightning crackled in her eyes and Dirk thought just for a moment he heard a distant rumble of thunder. "What do you want?"