FOREVER KNIGHTS: #15 Insatiable Beasts

Wilhelm Castle, Dread Country

MARDICHI

Mardichi’s roar sent the King’s Guard into motion to retrieve her.

Apparently, The Raven had put up such a fight several Guards were injured. It took a huge number to get control of her.

She’s a fighter. Mardichi could hear one of them talking to the King in the hallway.

“I’ve never seeing anything like it, My Liege. She’s-she’s…”

A hellcat.

“She’s what?” Jonis asked.

Too strong.

“I can’t-you’d have to see…We need more men.”

I bet you do. Mardichi chuckled in his chamber.

“Then get them!” The king ordered.

“I want her bathed and scrubbed to go meet my good friend the RedBayne.”

Touching. Mardichi groaned and stared at the ceiling. Apparently, my frustration won’t be assuaged until servants manage that task. Could be awhile.

If there is enough of them.

It was late evening before they brought her in bucking and kicking. They’d bound her as best as they could. Bringing her in they, tossed her on his bed.

Like some squealing gift. Though Mardichi would never admit it aloud, he found the sound of a screaming woman, painfully unsettling. As it makes me fear what my sisters may’ve sounded like when they were killed.

He swallowed hard. Trying not to immediately react to her distressed sounds.

“Now she’s your problem!” The head guard huffed. “I’m quite done with the heathen.”

“Good. Get out.” He barked.

Heathen…That’s a good word.

Once the door closed behind them, he walked over and drew the huge dagger from his belt.

Making her green eyes widen as she attempted to worm up the bed.

Out of my reach. He snorted. Hooking the blade under the ropes at her wrists and slitting them.

She ripped the gag free and leaned up, glaring at him as she tore at the bindings running up her legs. Holding her as tight as a cocoon. Revealing a gold dress that’d been shredded during the tussle and now hung on her in strips. Tiny flowers and beads which had been woven into her hair, now hung limply. Nearly tumbling from the curls surrounding her face.

“They did not use enough rope the first time?” Amusement tinged his voice.

Rope would not be enough unless so much of it was used to restrain her from gaining any momentum.

“Not nearly enough.” She seethed. Green eyes locked on him.

This isn’t my fault. He lifted his hands in surrender.

“Care fer a conversation?”

“Like I’d care to be burned alive.”

Not much then.

“Then ye want ta get right ta it then?” He lowered his hands and asked severely.

“Whatever you think you’re going to do, you will not!”

Don’t have much choice.

“I will.” His jaw hardened. “If it assuages yer pride, it’s no more favored by me than ye. So me prefer to just get it over with.”

Let’s be done with this idiocy.

“I’ll never let you strike me!” She finished untying herself and swung her legs over the opposite side of the bed. Putting it between them and posing to flee.

His teeth gritted, and eyes flashed red as they narrowed. “I’ve ne’er hit ye. Why woul’ ye say such ta me?”

“You’re my enemy now.”

I’ve never been your enemy. He shook his head in confusion.

Taking a moment to breathe, he twisted away to pull his long red hair into a tether that was perhaps a little too tight. He focused on his quarry.

“Oh, no.” She put up a staying palm. Knowing he prepared for battle when his hair was yanked back.

I rarely do it.

“How am I yer enemy?” His voice rose. “Fill me in. I’m very, very confused. No’ jus’ ‘bout wha’ happened three years ago bu’ ‘bout wha’ is happenin’ now.” He gestured to her looking so alarmed across from him as he approached the side of the bed.

“You brought me here. And you cannot tell me that you didn’t know what the king intended with me.”

“I knew nothing of his intentions. Only that he was paying me to find you.”

Her look was accusatory.

“I’ve ne’er lied ta ye, Lass. Why are ye actin’ like this?” He gestured helplessly. “Ye act as though me not even human.”

“You’re not!”

“Ouch.” He reared back as though she’d slapped him.

Immediately angry that she’d still enough power over him to hurt him. Shaking away his emotion his eyes returned pale blue. “Why did ye run from me?”

Back then.

Why did I grieve alone!

“You’d never have forgiven me.” She shook her head adamantly.

For what? There was nothing to forgive.

Wasn’t your fault.

He barely heard the soft words. “I’d ne’er ’ave blamed ye.”

“You would’ve! I was his mother.” She pointed to her chest. Face awash with pain. “I was supposed to protect him, and I failed!”

“Ye did no wrong, Lass.” He shook his head sadly. “Ye knew me better than this. How coul’ ye assume me would turn agains’ ye fer his death?”