Chapter 18

Pherein was a mixture of frustration and peace as he watched the two soldiers of the Guard checking around the park with swords drawn, looking for other threats. The seasoned warrior knew there would be none. This was a lone assassin. The crowd grew as students and townspeople gathered to see what the commotion was about. An excited buzz of conversation filled the air since the dead body still lay in the open and the lethal dagger remained in the hard looking man's hand. Pherein was angry with himself for letting his guard down. If it had not been for Lauren, it likely would have been him lying there.

Lauren.

The woman had yelled a warning and then gotten in the way of the blade. She had taken a wound to her shoulder which he was now holding closed. Though in pain her deep hazel eyes were fixed on his and she had a look of contentment on her face. She lay on the bench they had been sitting on and he held her gently but protectively. Though chiding himself he also felt a strange warmth holding the attractive woman. He noticed the scent she wore for the first time. Unable to place it. nonetheless he found it almost intoxicating.

"What's going on here?" Sheriff Rosk demanded, pushing his way through the crowd to stand before the body.

"Altercation it seems," the lead Town Guard answered. "Looks like he killed that one," the soldier explained, gesturing first to Pherein and then the dead would-be killer.

The sheriff looked from the body and then to the Delorgan, recognizing him. "What say you, Pherein? What happened here?"

"He came out of the bushes bent on killing me," the warrior declared bluntly. "For not this lady lying here wounded I would be lying there and not him."

"Assassination attempt?"

"Seems to be."

"And this lady saved you?" the sheriff asked skeptically.

"Aye. She warned me just in time," Pherein countered, pride in her action evident which caused Lauren to smile widely. "Took a cut for it too."

Hmmm…interesting," Rosk responded. The law man then knelt down to more closely examine the body. "I know this man," the sheriff declared standing back up. "And you are right, he is a cutthroat for hire." Then moving in closely added so only Pherein could hear, "he often works in the service of Amon Sul, I understand."

Amol Sul, Pherein thought to himself. Why would he want me dead? As the Delorgan pondered it he then connected the dots. The attack had likely originated with the son.

"What's this one doing in the city?" One of the Guards demanded angrily. "I thought he had been banished."

"Must have been let in by someone," Rosk answered, the weight of all that had been going on in Grantsbend weighing him down. "Have the body moved to the mortuary," the sheriff ordered the two guards. Then to Pherein he added, "I will need you to come with me to the office to make a statement."

"Not until I have looked after the lady to make sure she is well," the fighter retorted hotly.

"Not a problem, Delorgan," the sheriff replied with a chuckle. "And no rush. You know where to find me. At your leisure."

Pherein nodded to the man his appreciation then gently lifted Lauren up. Leading her protectively through the crowd the pair broke free and headed towards the dormitory area of the university where she lived, students parting the way but openly chattering about the exciting event which had just taken place.

"He did what?" Amon Sul exploded, throwing the crystal glass of wine he was holding against the wall at his headquarters.

The crime boss had just been told of the assassination attempt on the Delorgan by one of his lieutenants who wisely stayed out of striking distance of his dangerous employer.

"And he used Dicken to do it? And he is dead?"

"Yes sir."

"He was one of my best assets," the man bellowed. "Where is my son now?"

"I don't know, sir, but I have sent out word to find him."

"Everything stops until this mindless idiot is before me," Amon Sul ordered.

Everyone in the room scurried away to get out of the way of their volatile boss.

Lily had a smile on her face and a spring to her step as she moved through the city. The radiance of the happy woman's countenance made others smile spontaneously in her wake. Pherein had been on her mind. She had decided she would seek to build a relationship with him despite the presence of the annoying dark-haired student. She would trust the divine to guide her through this confusing time. A loaf of fresh bread was under her arm, a gift for the Delorgan and an excuse to see him. Molly had helped and was excited to hear her mother was going to visit her 'big friend'. The woman headed for the Sorrowful Ranger not knowing if Pherein would be there or not. It did not matter since she knew her friend was working so even if the object of her affection was not there, she could leave it and a note she had carefully penned for such an occasion with her to give to him. Regardless of what happened, it would be progress.

Entering into the familiar establishment the perceptive woman was struck by the realization there was a buzz of excited conversation going on. Obviously something important had happened to cause such a stir.

"Lily!" Her friend came over and gave her a hug.

"Hello Ellie," Lily replied. "What's going on to cause all the excitement?" she asked curiously.

The server looked around and led Lily over to a quiet alcove. "Someone tried to kill your friend Pherein," she declared quietly.

"What? Is he okay?" Lily exclaimed in shock.

"He's fine. But there's more to the story."

"What are you saying?" Lily asked, seeing the look of concern on her friend's face.

"He was not alone," Ellie declared. "He was with the dark-haired girl with glasses who has been here to see him."

Lily's hand involuntarily went up to her mouth in shock.

"That is not all. Apparently she saved his life and was wounded in the process. He has taken her away to tend to her. It's all anybody is talking about right now."

Lily's heart skipped a beat and then began to pound as if it would burst. What would she do now? The smell of fresh bread now was almost putrid to her.

Pherein led Lauren to her room as the student shakily guided him. The pair entered the tastefully decorated suite and Pherein led her to a comfortable, overstuffed couch. Starting to push the woman's blouse to the side to get at the wound the man hesitated as that revealed the beginning of her ample breasts. The fighter caught himself breathing involuntarily, pausing, unsure what to do. The wound opened again, and blood began to run down her shoulder, staining the blouse and the warrior instinct took over. He found a clean linen towel over by her wash stand.

"May I?" Pherein asked gently.

"Excuse me?" Lauren asked, a bit light-headed but not sure of the man's intent.

"May I use this to create a bandage for you?" the warrior explained.

"Oh…sure…," the student answered with a disappointed tone as his intent to dress the wound became evident.

Pherein hesitated for a moment, pondering the attitude but again went into healing mode. While he did not know his way around women of this social standing, he did know his way around wounds. Taking a small jar of salve out of his leather sporran Pherein took some and gently rubbed it in to and around the cut.

Lauren winced at first, tensing, then relaxed as the healing properties kicked in and the gentleness of the touch seemed to soothe her even more.

The observant warrior noticed this and even how she shifted to lean into his chest. He stayed focused on dressing the wound with strips of the linen cloth he'd torn up and then wrapped it around her to bind it, deftly tying off the cloth.

"You have done this before," Lauren declared with a contented sigh, leaning more heavily on him as the pair sat on the couch.

"Aye," Pherein said with a chuckle. "I have had practice on myself and others of my clan over the years. Seen lots of cuts before."

"You looked after me," the woman said barely above a whisper, looking up at him through her glasses.

"And you saved my life," Pherein answered softly, getting lost in the woman's deep, hazel eyes.

The pair stared into each others' eyes for a length of time neither remembered. Faces close, Lauren licked her lips, staring more intensely. Pherein felt himself moving down towards them but paused as he remembered her wound. Though she seemed open and receptive she held her position, not moving, waiting for him. For a move he could not make.

Lauren sighed audibly, a slight look of disappointment coming over her which quickly evaporated. "Tell me about Delorgan," she requested with a strange sense of urgency in her voice.

"It is nothing special, just an island in the North Sea," Pherein responded, a bit detached.

"It is special to me," the woman replied, her hazel eyes imploring. "I have never been anywhere but Latrellus my whole life…and it is where you come from."

Pherein was touched by her interest and motivation so gave her an overview of the geography and history of his homeland which enraptured the woman.

"Tell me of your family; of the Clan MacDiarmid," the woman asked.

Pherein paused for a moment since now it was becoming personal. The woman wisely held her tongue as she could see the man struggling with the request. He didn't want to share more intimate details of who he was but then part of him did. Looking out the bay window of the woman's suite he decided to take a chance.

"I am the son of MacDhiarmid Halvardson, Jarl of Lothian and Askal Valisdotter," the man announced simply.

"Jarl?" Lauren asked, unfamiliar with the term.

"A Jarl is a clan chief or leader. He would be that and like the mayor of Grantsbend," Pherein explained. I am a follower of Latrell which was my grandmother's influence since she was from Latrellus. Lothian is one of the bigger towns in Delorgan, and MacDhiarmid one of the bigger clans."

"Then why are you here, Pherein, and not home?" Lauren asked genuinely, with no malice or judgment.

Pherein wondered himself, not for the first time. He knew the answer but was not prepared to share it with this woman, no matter how charming. "That is a story for another time perhaps but not now."

Lauren nodded her head deferentially to a man she now knew was someone with some degree of importance and authority, not just a mere fighter though that idea itself excited her. Now there was something more, something she could hold on to.

Pherein caught the reaction and looked anew at the cultured woman who seemed out of place in this environment. "Tell me your story, Lauren."

"It is not very interesting," the woman stated, fidgeting.

"I want to hear it."

"I…I am afraid you will think differently of me if you the know the fullness of who I really am," Lauren confessed with a slight shudder, shocked at the emotion she was beginning to feel. Never had the idea of telling a man of her family name and wealth bothered her so. Pherein knew her in one way and suddenly she did not want that to change.

"Nothing you say, or anything about you will alter how I see you," Pherein declared, "on my honor."

"Truly?" Lauren asked, fear and anticipation evident on her expressive face.

"Absolutely," Pherein answered.

"Absolutely," Lauren whispered back.

Pherein liked how the word sounded rolling off her tongue and the assurance on her face. He leaned in closer…

Knock knock knock.

The magic of the moment was broken by the loud knocking on her door.

"Great timing," Lauren huffed in frustration. "Hold that thought," she implored.

Pherein sat with a look of contentment on his face and the woman went and opened the door in exasperation.

"Gigi!"

"Father? Mother?" Lauren declared in stunned surprise.

Her parents were standing on the threshold of the door.