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Disclaimer: I own nothing save characters not appearing in King Arthur, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or Angel. This story is not meant to insult, impugn the dignity of, or otherwise cause difficulty for the reader. Flames will be used to heat my house, constructive comments will be welcomed and used to improve the story.
Author's Note: Thank you so much. And thanks for all the wonderful reviews. Responses to your wonderful comments are at the end of the chapter. And, please, keep those reviews coming. They are inspiring and also help me to keep on target to write more. Thank you.
Italics: Latin in modern times.
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Anywhere's Better Than Cleveland
Chapter Eight: Naked Twister
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Tristan watched Faith. She looked as if someone had walked over her grave. She kept casting nervous glances at him and then touching her throat as if to confirm that it was unmarred. Had she finally heard of his reputation? He doubted that was the reason. It was well-known that Tristan had no compunction in doling out injury or death to his enemies. He sipped his ale, wondering why this girl who hunted monsters looked uncomfortable all of a sudden. What had changed? They'd ridden in just after the midday meal, to the accolades of the fortress's residents.
Vanora and every serving girl in the fortress had been present.
But Faith had not been there.
It had been Lancelot who had commented on it, wondering if the newest barmaid had taken up with one of their Roman overseers in the Sarmatian absence. Any question as to that possibility had been answered by the continued pursuit by the Romans. If one of the Roman dogs had bedded her, the others would defer to the one to whom she would belong.
Lancelot had once again eyed Faith with possibility in his eyes, only to have the dark-eyed girl quirk a brow at him and quickly guide one of the more willing serving girls to his lap.
Tristan wondered if the other knights realized that their evening's entertainment was being orchestrated by the dark-haired girl. She had indeed tried to send several of the girls to entertain himself and those brave enough had been sent away with a quiet dismissal. No, she would not orchestrate the scout.
And that seemed to frustrate the dark-haired girl to no end.
She would likely go hunting this evening just as she always did.
And he would be watching.
Ready to help, if needed.
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Giles glared at the maps that the infernal machine otherwise known as a computer spat out. "There are at least ten cities here."
Willow nodded, rising from the chair in front of the computer and stepping to the watcher. "Yup. Those are the strongest links to the blood you gave me. Of course that doesn't mean that any of the hot spots we picked up on have someone from another dimension." The young witch sighed. "Could just be a close blood relation."
Giles nodded, already spreading the maps on a nearby table, hazel eyes inspecting the maps for something that would stick out. Oddly all of the hotspots were in major cities, though none of them were Cleveland. "We have Chicago, New York, Cincinnati, Boston, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Baltimore, Kansas City, and a few others. Any suggestions on where to start?" He looked up at the witch, who was winding a white lock around her finger.
Willow sighed. "I say we start at the closest one from here. I think that you and Buffy should go."
Giles straightened and pulled off his glasses, wiping the lenses on his sweater. "And what will you lot be doing here?"
Willow nodded towards the sleeping demon on the couch. Lorne had been up all night pulling in a lot of favors talking to associates with connections to the police. "We're hitting the psych wards. If you'd come from another dimension, don't you think someone would think you were crazy?"
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Faith pushed against the leather bag, a smile forming on her lips. Jols was an angel. She would have to do something nice for him. Maybe get him laid. She was sure that one of the sweet merchant's daughters would be more than happy to oblige the squire.
But that would be later, she decided. Now was the time for her to practice her fighting when it didn't have any lives depending on it.
Punch.
Swing.
Kick.
Block.
She struck the bag, seeing in her mind the smirk of Tristan. He'd declined every single girl she'd managed to bribe or cajole into approaching the scout. He'd been polite, sure, but he'd turned away every single damn one of them.
What would it take to get that scout a woman?
That thought bounced around in her brain interminably as she continued her one woman sparring session.
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Ylith looked up at the priest then down at the clothing he was offering.
"It is a boy's."
James sighed, running a hand through his carroty hair. "Yes. But it's a little more…normal than what you're wearing."
Ylith looked down at her clothing then at the jeans and t-shirt that the priest held out to her. "I like what I wear now."
The priest blew out an exasperated breath. "You cannot go around in leather pants and that top. People will think you're a hooker."
Ylith arched an eyebrow. He'd previously explained that particular vocation. "Then they will be educated otherwise."
James sighed again. This was not going well. "Ylith, is it?"
A nod.
"Ylith, while your current appearance is very fetching, let's just say that we're not in the best of neighborhoods and I'd hate for something to happen to you."
Ylith nodded and took the clothing, inspecting it. "Why are you in not the best of neighborhoods? Are not usually priests in luxury?" That was the custom of her priests. They lacked for nothing, though this often led to their corruption.
James gave a short barking laugh. "Not this priest. I didn't comfort to some of the activities of the church and got sent here as punishment." He moved to his desk, sorting through his papers. "I'm a little outspoken," he muttered in English. He made sure to keep his back turned to give the girl a semblance of privacy.
Ylith quickly stripped off her clothes and pulled on the clothes given her by the priest. She had to admit, they were comfortable. The fabric of the pants was blue and was obviously well-worn. The shirt hung off her, baggy and shapeless. "You can turn about now, priest."
James nodded and turned around, eyes widening as he took in the transformation. She looked like a normal twenty-something girl. "An improvement."
Ylith shrugged. "May I ask a question?"
James nodded.
"Why are you helping me?"
The priest sighed. "I used to take in strays. Cats, dogs. Injured birds. Call it force of habit."
Ylith nodded. It was as good an answer as any.
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Vanora tugged on the strings of her apron, releasing the now stained garment from her waist. Sighing, she glanced at the devastation that had been wrought by two of her sons. "When I get ahold of you two, you'll be scrubbing until the end of time!" she cried to the empty air, knowing that her children were somewhere nearby.
"Talking to yourself? People might talk."
Vanora looked at the dark-haired girl. She looked better than she had the past few days. Vanora'd been certain that something had spooked Faith and that she would find the spare room vacant one morning. Instead Faith seemed to have put whatever demons haunting her behind her and was once again the picture of happiness. Well, calmness at any rate, amended the redhead. "They already do. And what are you doing awake so early?" It had become well known that Faith rarely woke before the noonday meal.
Faith shrugged. "Couldn't sleep. Got a question for ya."
Vanora raised an eyebrow. Faith was not known for asking questions. Doing, yes. Questioning, no. "If I know the answer, I'll tell you."
Faith nodded, snagging an apple from the table and polishing it on the wool of her gown. "What's the deal with Tristan?"
Vanora gasped. Of all of the men, Tristan had been the last that she'd have thought Faith to ask about. "Why do you ask?"
Faith shrugged again. "He didn't like any of the girls I sent his way," she answered.
Vanora shook her head. The redhead had learned her lesson about matchmaking when it came to the scout long ago. "I wouldn't try setting him with anyone, Faith. He's got a reputation for a reason."
Faith chuckled. "Yeah, well, I'd know about reputations. I ain't some lily-white maiden in need of rescuing. And I don't see a monster when I look at him. He does a job. Hell, if he didn't do it as well as he did, he'd have ended up in that cemetery with that fine piece of hardware sticking out of the ground." She took a bite of the apple, mulling over her comments as she chewed. Swallowing, she grinned at her employer. "And damned if that wouldn't have been a loss of prime grade a beef."
Vanora gaped at Faith. "You find him…attractive?"
That earned another chuckle. "I'm not saying that I'm going to throw him down and play naked twister with him any time soon, but I'll admit that, different time, different place, wouldn't mind getting to know him a little better."
"Naked twister?" wondered Gilly as he crept away from where he'd been eavesdropping on his mother and the serving girl.
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TBC...
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To My Wonderful Reviewers:
BleedingTwilight: You're not kidding. Release might not be the only thing that Faith needs, but it's pretty high on the list. So glad you liked Jols's little moment of ill humor. And, yes, that sex addiction had to come from somewhere. And with lots of relatives, makes Willow's job just a little harder. See, ask and ye shall receive. Glad that you like the fact that Tristan is watching her from afar. And, again, you're right. He would be far more approachable if he weren't the Sarmatian wallflower. However, with Faith focused on him, he can't hide in the shadows for long.
Samantha/Anime Princess: If you were going to have prophetic dreams, having Tristan giving you a hickey ain't a bad one. And, yes, it should be interesting since she's got her slayer senses on high alert. And, yes, poor priest is now dealing with the realization that he's taken in a violent madwoman or time traveler. Neither option is very good, is it? As requested, here's more. And don't worry, more is coming. It has to with all of your great comments, doesn't it.
BornWithAFever: So glad that you enjoyed the last two chapters. I admit that I'm having fun with this story. It's definitely different than my other stories, which is a good thing. Here's hoping that you continue to enjoy.
Opera 14: Thank you but I can't take credit for the idea of this story. It was actually a challenge I stumbled upon and I couldn't resist the idea of seeing how Faith would react in another time and reality. So glad that you're enjoying and I promise that more is coming. I'm having fun writing this story and thankfully it's coming relatively quickly. Don't worry, more is coming.
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