A/N: Here we are back with Sandry--- enjoy!
Disclaimer: I'm to tired to think of a clever disclaimer at the moment: I do not own Circle of Magic.
Do something! Sandry yelled at herself. It was infuriating and terrifying, the thought that this… man could do whatever he wanted to her.
Suddenly, the back door banged open and light flooded the yard. Ben stood in the doorway, a long knife in his hand. The drunk wheeled away from Sandry, and without him to hold her up against the wall, she crumpled into a half-sitting position, feeling numb relief.
"Step away from my serving girl, Rogers." Ben's grey eyes, normally shining with mischief and good humor, were cold steel, his jaw set with anger. The drunk spit haphazardly, half of it landing on himself, while he struggled to stay upright.
"Now this be none of yer business. You has your tavern wench ter play wi', and now I got mine," he concluded, beaming with his good logic, and turned back to Sandry. Ben growled at this crude mention of Kellen and launched himself at Rogers, grabbing him by the collar and slamming him against the wall. Sandry whimpered and scooted farther down the wall. Knife to throat, Ben lifted Rogers slightly.
"If you ever come near my tavern again, if you ever hurt my serving maids, or any woman for that matter, I'll beat you so hard you'll wish I'd kill ya." Ben didn't shout; it wasn't necessary. His low dangerous tones got the message across easily enough. Rogers nodded his grizzled head up-down-up-down so fast he nearly banged his head on the wall behind him.
Disgusted, Ben thrust him away, the drunk scrambled up and out of the yard, mumbling 'yes sir' over and over again.
Sandry shuddered and hugged herself tighter. Rubbing the back of his neck, Ben peered at her.
"You need to learn proper defense. I won't be around every time a bastard like Rogers comes around. You'll learn with the rest tomorrow morning." With that he held out his hand for her. Sandry hesitated a moment, then accepted it, and he hauled her to her feet. "You gonna be okay?" Sandry turned these words over in her head a moment. What terrified her most was not Rogers' drunken advances, but the fact that she couldn't seem to do anything against it. If she learned defense, maybe…. Sandry nodded.
"I will be. I hope." Ben smiled crookedly at her and she returned it weakly. Then he threw a comforting arm over her shoulders.
"Then come, m'dear. I'm sure my delightful little wife will grace us with one of her delicious meals." Sandry grimaced and Ben chuckled. While amazing when it came to drinks, Kellen was a miserable cook. They entered the main room to find Kellen sleeping at one of the tables. "Ah well," Ben said shamefaced, "one can dream." And with that, Sandry erupted into giggles that woke slumbering Kellen.
A/N: sigh. I love my characters. Do you? (short I know, but more exciting in chapters to come!)
