73. A Nighttime Visitor

Between the lingering song of the archdemon and a persistent ache where Kazar had inadvertently zapped him, Percival had difficulty going back to sleep. He sat in the darkness of his tent, running a hand idly through Hugo's ruff.

Outside, there was a shriek and a blast of fire, and Percy just rubbed his eyes in exasperation as he heard Marnan come bursting out her tent again, firing off questions. Kazar's voice was too soft to hear the words, but his tone sounded sheepish. It was going to be a long night for them all, it seemed.

Hugo shifted, his body tensing as something small and furry squeezed through the still-open tent flaps. A moment later, Hugo's tail thumped into Percy's knee in greeting, and a familiar silhouette peeked outside through the flap.

"My," Morrigan said, sounding amused as she dusted herself off, "but he is rather jumpy tonight. I've never seen someone leap so high at the sight of a harmless little mouse."

"Morrigan," Percy growled. "What are you doing here?"

That piercing gaze turned to him, glittering in the dark. "By such a question, I assume you do not pertain to the meaning of life, or something so existential as that?"

"In my tent, Morrigan. What are you doing in my tent?"

"I do believe this is the communal tent of multiple Wardens, and is therefore not yours at all. Gnash your teeth all you like; I am not leaving until I wish it."

This was bad… already, her scent was wafting over to him, enticing him. "If you think you can just crawl into my bedroll—"

"Oh do get over yourself. I am hardly some lovestruck schoolgirl who is blinded by a pretty face and a bit of troubled moping. Believe it or not, I am not here to throw myself upon you."

That surprised him so much that the rage that had begun to bubble evaporated. His next statement did not come out with any of the menace he'd intended. "I seem to recall you having no trouble doing that last time."

Morrigan's smirk was shadowed in the dark. "Worried that I am so easily capable of dismissing your entertainments after sampling them, are you?"

To Percy's silent horror, he very much was. He had once had sex down to an art… an experience that had women young and old clamoring for his talents, and rarely just once. It was Percival who decided whether he might bed a particular woman a second time. Never was it the woman to turn him down.

"I find your silence to be quite telling…" Morrigan sang softly, that wicked smile on her face. Percy once again had to fight the dual sensation of wanting to grab her and shake her and wanting to pull her close against himself.

More of the former at the moment, though.

"Get out," Percival growled, the rage returning.

Hugo whined in protest.

"Hugo, no. Earlier today, she paralyzed you. People who paralyze you can not stay in our tent."

Hugo whined again, licking Percy's hand.

"I believe the true alpha has spoken," Morrigan said smoothly. "Perhaps he is not the dumb, mangy beast he seems."

Hugo's tail wagged, but his whine sounded confused.

"You still haven't answered my question," Percival said sharply.

"And I have no intention of doing so. Am I not allowed to sit where I please? This is as much my camp as it is yours, you know."

Percy sighed and threw himself back on the bedroll. "Maker, you're impossible," he groaned, rubbing his eyes.

"If you truly find my presence so repulsive, perhaps you should have picked the elf instead."

And just like that, Percival's exasperation fled. He froze, one hand still over his eyes, trying to get his mind started again. "What… what do you mean?"

She scoffed. "Do not pretend that either of us is stupid; it demeans us both. I saw the way you looked at him today… like a badger cornered by a wolf."

Percival snorted a laugh, and lowered his hand to his side. "A badger isn't bad. Better than a bird or a hare."

"Only because badgers are exceedingly vicious. I should know, as I have been the wolf before."

Percival turned toward her in the darkness. All the fight had gone out of him. "Is that what this is about? I chose you over him?"

"I was merely wondering if you had come to your senses."

"Regarding…?"

"Not being such a frightened little boy over a subject we both know you are quite knowledgeable about."

Percival sighed and closed his eyes. "Get out."

"I've already told you-"

"Yes, yes. This isn't my tent, and I can't order you about. I don't care. Get out, or I'll drag you out myself."

There was a moment of silence. Then, she huffed. "So be it. Continue denying yourself that which should really be very simple. 'Tis no business of mine."

"Damn straight it's not."

She harrumphed and fell silent. When Percival opened his eyes a moment later, she was already gone.