Now in a fit of rage, Aliana summoned up the last of her power and shoved Sam with everything she had. Samas arms windmilled as she flew backwards through the air. Arcing down, she hit the floor on her back. The impact took her breath away. She gasped for air as she struggled up to her hands and knees. Casting a look towards the altar, she saw her mother picking up the ceremonial dagger.

aYou will be sacrificed,a Aliana growled as she started towards her. aAnd it will not be a clean death!a The arm of the room Sam backed into had no exit. Once again, she summoned her strength and lashed out with her mind at Aliana. Her mother was ready, and countered just enough to keep her pace.

Aliana started past the spot where Thump lay. He quietly crawled to his feet and swung his sword into the back of her knee. She stumbled and turned to see what had hit her. Growling, he leapt and drove his axe into her leg. Her agonized scream filled the chamber as she hit the floor. He struck again, this time driving his sword into her other leg.

Aliana pushed herself away, only to run into the wall. The lower part of one leg lay on the floor, the other was bleeding furiously. Eyes wide in terror, she cried, aPlease donat kill me! Iall be your slave,a Turning her head to look at Sam, she cried, aLucifer will eat my soul if I go back. Please donat let him kill me!a Seeing her own mother helpless and bleeding was something Sam had not prepared herself for. There was no evil in the demonas eyes now, only the fear of death. Sam knew what it was to be afraid. She watched her motheras pleading eyes as Thump lined himself up to take her head. Her mind raced to think of a way they could trust her and let her live. From everything Sam knew about her mother, there just wasnat one. Sooner or later, she would find a way to wiggle or twist out of any pact she made.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Thump lifted his axe high. Her own face melted into an emotionless mask. aGoodbye, Mother.a Thump swung hard. Alianaas head spun as it flew away from her body. Her limbs twitched then her body fell limp. A terrible wail rang out all through the room, fading away as the soul of Aliana was sucked back into the abyss.

Silence once again filled the chamber. Sam got up and started towards the lone man as he looked down on the corpse. Stopping across from it, she waited nervously until he looked up. aDid you hear what she said?a Blank-faced, he focused on her. aWhat?a aShe threatened to tear me apart, remember?a He gazed at her for a few seconds. aUmm, you mean she was talking about...you?a Sam nodded, not knowing whether to cry or jump with joy. She began to ramble, spitting out everything she thought. aLong ago, she seduced you. When I was young I wished that you would come and save me. Iave always wanted to meet you, and even if you go now and I never see you again, I will be happy. We are free, and we did it together.a aYouare my kid?a he asked in disbelief.

Sam nodded as she wrung her hands. aI think so. I hope so.a Gaping at her, he swallowed. He again heard the thing tell him it was going to rip apart his child, and Sam was the only one left, besides him. He remembered it had tried to seduce him. By what he saw, it had succeeded at least once. aWell, I, uhh, never back out on family. It ainat right.a A smile lit her face. aThank you, Father.a Many things about her bothered him. He wasnat fond of her horns, or those wings; but there was one he could change. aAnd it ainat right, you having a manas name. How about if I call you...Samantha? That okay?a She mouthed the word then smiled broadly. aThatas great. I like it.a A moan got their attention. Shilo was holding his head as he lay propped up on one arm. Sam looked at him then turned to Odif lying on the floor. She still felt a trace of life in the druid, but it was very dim.

aQuick! Wake up Frieda--Odif is dying!a She ran to Odif as Thump ran to Frieda. She fell to her knees and cradled her friendas head. aPlease, stay with us!a she begged.

Odif was very weak. Sam could feel the last bits of energy slipping away from her body. Thump was shaking Friedaas shoulder and calling to her. With a desperate blast of mind energy, she snapped, aFrieda, wake up!a Frieda groaned. Shilo stumbled up, holding his head. aWe won?a he asked.

aShilo, help Dad with Mother Frieda before itas too late!a aDad? Wow, I must have missed something,a he huffed. He groaned again as he went to help Thump.

Thump and Shilo helped Frieda to her feet and steered her over to where Odif lay. Frieda, still groggy, laid her hands on the druid and started to pray. Sam kept contact with Odifas mind, trying to keep her away from the brink. It was beginning to work--she felt energy coming back into the shattered body.

Odifas eyes flew open, and she sucked in a long breath. Shaking, she struggled briefly until she noticed who was around her. aWhat happened?a she asked weakly.

Sam looked at Thump and smiled. aWe sent her back to the abyss. Itas over.a Thump returned Samas smile. aWe did,a he agreed. Looking down on Odif, he patted her hair. aYou all right?a Odif winced as she tried to move. aI feel like Iave been beaten by a dozen hoarcs,a she groaned. She was still heavily bruised, and one eye was swollen partway shut.

aYou were,a Sam told her.

Frieda looked at the others lying on the floor. aLetas go see who else is still alive.a Scorpio came around, and they were able to wake Jo-Jo and Theo. Helping Frieda heal everyone so they could walk and fight tapped all of Odif's energy. They said a prayer for Gloredaniel, Entaurus, Hutch and the remaining elf. They found Lura was still alive; and despite Mother Friedaas opinion, they didnat kill her.

Mother Frieda said a prayer as she poured holy water over the altar then Alianaas remains. Except some rising wisps of vapor, the altar didnat look any different. The body melted away with a hiss, leaving nothing but a skeleton.

The door they had used to enter was jammed shut. Sam knew of the stairs that went directly from the temple up into the palace above. Straining her memory, she led them down one of the arms and found the stone to push that opened up the stairwell.

Thump led with Shilo as Scorpio and Sam helped Odif along. Mother Frieda stayed beside Theo as he shed tears for his lifelong friend.

They emerged into an underground storeroom where guards milled about. Thump ran ahead with Shilo, killing the few who didnat flee. They got to the steps the remaining guards had fled up and stopped.

Shilo waved his sword at the fleeing men. aWhy would guards be down here?a Shrugging, Thump said, aDonat know. Maybe they were coming to help the demon.a Looking at the tattered man, Shilo gave him a pat on the back. aThat was good work down there, Thump. You saved our asses.a aNameas Eric,a he said, not appreciating Shiloas form of affection.

Shilo grinned. aEric, as in Eric Redman?a aSome people called me that. What of it?a By the look on his face, Shilo concluded that Eric didnat have a very good sense of humor. Looking back at Odif, Shilo had to bite his lip to keep from laughing. aWow,a he croaked.

aThatas funny?a Eric asked, scowling at him.

Shilo shook his head and started up the stairs. aBetter scout ahead,a he said tightly.

He took the stairs in twos and threes. Wait until Zit found out about this!

The tunnel of light Tayan was floating in opened up suddenly. Seeing who was waiting for him, his soul cried with glee. In the bright woodland, his mother stood beside Lucinthia. Willy, his best friend until a pilgyn axe killed him, stood behind them, as did many others he recognized. Ellie smiled brightly at him, waving to him with the hand she had lost in life. He opened his arms and hugged his mother and his dead wife. Never had he felt so much joy and peace.

aIave missed you so much,a he sighed.

aWeave missed you, too,a Lucinthia said lovingly. The essence of her soul caressed him softly.

His mother pulled back and smiled. aI am so proud of you. And I am sorry, but you have to go back.a aI canat go back,a he said firmly. aI belong here with you.a aHelena is right, my love,a Lucinthia moved away, her face more beautiful than he ever remembered. aI know you will always love me, as I will always love you. We will be here waiting for you.a He shook his head. This was his reward; all his battles were over. aI want to stay with you.a Helena touched his face with the gentleness only a mother could manage. aYour work is not done yet, my son. Know that we love you, and will always be with you.a Lucinthia touched her soul to his. aUntil you return, I donat want you to be alone.a He wanted to tell her no, he wasnat leaving. Then, as quickly as he had come up the tunnel, he was racing backwards down it. The last vision he saw was Lucinthiaas face. Her thought echoed in his mind. I donat want you to be alone.

Tayan gasped for breath as he woke up; his chest felt like fire. He was cradled by Amber, who was crying as she prayed. When he moved, she opened her eyes and hugged him, still sobbing.

They were in the command shack, or what was left of it. Partially buckled, it held loose planks and stones that had once been a building. His arms went around her automatically. He remembered the wagon ramming into the buildings and reaching for the door. Everything after that seemed fuzzy.

aIad thought I lost you,a she sobbed.

Holding her close, he felt like something had just happened to him. He didnat know what it was, but a latent feeling of joy stayed with him. It was with complete conviction he told her, aItas going to be all right.a He didnat worry about where they were, or what was going on around them. He just enjoyed the feel of her in his arms.

On an impulse, he started kissing her ear. She shifted around and brought her lips to his in a long deep kiss. Their embraced tightened as they tasted each otheras breath, savoring the moment.

When their lips finally parted, Amber blushed. aI canat...do this.a Combing his fingers through her tangled hair, he said, aYes, you can. Well, youall be able to once weare married.a She shook her head. aNo, I...a She stopped as it dawned on her what he had just said.

Holding her face in his hands, he asked, aAmber, will you do me the honor of being my wife?a The squeak of glee and how hard she hugged gave him his answer. Even though he ached, he still laughed. It was like he had finally been freed of something he never realized was holding him. In his happiness, he felt passion for her rise within.

aWe better get married fast,a he chuckled.

The door by their heads squealed open and Zit appeared. aTayan, Amber!a he cried merrily then his smiled dimmed. aAm I interrupting something?a aUm, no,a Tayan said quickly. Amber helped him to his feet, her face flushed with joy. He helped her out then climbed down the ladder, ducking past the roofing timbers. Exiting the rubble, he saw Sylvanari elves packing the side street and moving along close to the buildings. aHowad you get here?a he asked Zit.

Zit frowned at him. aYou think you were the only one that went to get help? We want it to be known we were here, too!a Tayan had seen the manned walls, and he had charged in quickly with the wagon. There was no way they could have followed him in. aHowad you get into the city?a aWeave been sneaking in on hay wagons for the past three days,a Zit said proudly. aIam awful glad you showed up--I was beginning to think wead have to do it alone.a Amber pointed towards the palace. aWe have to get in there.a A large explosion sounded, and the ground shook as part of the city ahead lit up in a blinding bluish light. Tayan ducked with Amber behind a pile of rubble, shielding her as a powerful blast of wind toppled buildings and filled the air with debris. A large ball of orange fire rose up, trailing thick smoke behind it. As it climbed, the fireball turned into dark smoke, making the plume look like a giant mushroom.

Once the explosion was over, they got up. Across the street, brown-clad elves were helping their injured fellows. The streets were filled with pieces of timber and rock. Moans and cries for help came from all around them.

Zit looked up at the ascending cloud. aNow that was a big bang.a The palace wall facing the explosion had crumbled. Both towers had lost their tops, looking like giant broken bottles. Tayan pointed to the breech. aThere is how we get in.a Waving his bow at the mangled wagon, Zit asked, aHow many of those things do you have here?a The second wagon had taken another street. By his guess it was just about where the explosion was. aOnly two. I think the other one was over there, in the middle of the big bang.a aSo much for that idea,a Zit remarked then ran over to his friends.

The side door of the wrecked wagon was forced partway open and a boilerman squeezed out. Seeing Tayan and Amber, he pointed back inside. aMalord, both engines are broken and weare out of water.a The wagon was buried so deep in the rubble he didnat see how they would free it, even if it had been working. aGet everyone out, and bring all the weapons you have.a Tayan led the collection of Sylvanari and a half-dozen wagon men towards the palace. On the way, they found more wounded peasants than soldiers. The few soldiers they met either surrendered or dropped their weapons and ran.

Amber insisted on helping each peasant. He would have been more upset over her delaying them, but by the time the elves had checked the area clear and tied up the captives she was finished, or close to.

Halfway down the street, they ran into nothing but wounded as they got closer to the blast site. Not one building was intact, and the streets were so littered they had to wind their way through the larger piles of debris. Amber put up a fuss, but he made her move along with them. He reasoned that the longer they delayed, the more time the enemy had to recover from the shock of the blast. Pain for the people was on her face, but she didnat argue with him.

They had gotten within a hundred yards of the palace wall when they had to take cover from weak arrow fire. Cover was plentiful, and with return fire from the elves they quickly made the top of the breach. The defenders put up a counterattack; but being inside the courtyard and unprotected, most died before they got even partway up the rubble. The survivors who didnat throw up their hands in surrender escaped into the palace.

The palace doors and windows were shuttered and barred, keeping the elves out but also allowing them to freely take the courtyard without being fired on. By the time they had control of the courtyard, chugging noises came from down the street. Tayan looked to see a line of five tractors approaching, followed by a battlewagon. Behind them rode knights flying banners for Tolina and Paladnia. He had the gates opened and ran out with Amber to keep them from shooting the elves by accident.

Zodiac was in the lead tractor. Tayan told him the situation then went back to the courtyard with the knights as Zodiac passed word back to send up the battlewagon. The elves, although expert bowmen, wore no armor nor were they as good at hand-to-hand fighting as the knights were. They needed the knights for an assault into the palace.

Sir Parson knelt at the base of the steps with his men as the battlewagon and two tractors leveled their cannons at the doors and windows. Between the machines, Sir Tartan stood ready with a company of Paladnian knights to join the rush once a breach was made. Tayan stood to one side, holding his sword aloft. Before he could drop it, commanding the cannons to fire, the palace doors burst open.

The defenders ran out, arms over their heads, screaming that they surrendered. The knights began to funnel them to an empty area of the courtyard that still had the walls intact. Hoarcs came out also pleading for mercy, then Slavonic men and women and other servants emerged. The courtyard was filled to overflowing with prisoners.

At first, Tayan had thought they had seen the battlewagon and that was why they had given up, but the palace had no slots in the shuttered windows and the doors were also quite solid. They hadnat seen anything outside that could have caused them to give up. As the last few servants ran out, he went up to the doors.

The next one to appear wasnat a guard. Eric stepped out into the sunlight, battleaxe in one hand, sword in the other. Behind him was Shilo then a woman with stubs of horns on her forehead and small leathery wings on her back. The remainder of the group with them came out and faced the assembled armies.

The only one Tayan saw was Eric. He had come, and he was just as ragged and bloodied as he had even been. Beside him, Sir Parson was yelling for everyone to hold their positions. He barely heard him. Eric watched as he walked towards him.

Odif, covered in bruises and sporting purpled eyes, saw him. aTayan!a she cried happily. Pulling loose from Scorpio and Jo-Jo, she limped over and flung her arms around him. aI thought you were dead,a she sighed.

To the side, Shilo waved Zit over and put an arm around him. Grinning broadly, he said, aBuddy, youare gonna love this!a Zit grinned anxiously. aWhat?a Shilo patted him on the chest. aLetas just stay back and listen.a Tayan hugged Odif, but he and Eric had fixed their eyes on each other. Sensing the battle was over, the others formed a loose circle as the two men continued to stare. For a few moments, they just stood silently.

aI know you,a Eric said softly. aI though it killed you.a aLots of people thought that,a Tayan replied flatly. aDid you kill it?a aYeah.a Tipping his head to the woman with wings, he said, aMe and Samantha finished it.a aSamantha?a Jo-Jo asked.

Eric turned to give him a hard gaze. aI gave her a proper name. You got a problem with that?a aNo problem, I like it,a Jo-Jo assured him.

Odif pulled back and stood before her brother. aTayan, before anything else happens, there is something I need to tell you.a aThat youare my sister?a he asked.

She nodded and gave him a half-grin. aWeave been bad. Please donat hate me.a Grasping her shoulder, he was sincere when he said, aI donat.a Not wanting to talk about it further, he nodded towards Eric. aWhere did you find him?a She looked back. aThump? We found him chained to a wall in the caves below. If it wasnat for him and Sam--I mean, Samantha--wead all be dead.a Tayan raised an eyebrow. aYou call him Thump?a aWell, do you know his name?a she asked defensively.

Tayan cleared his throat. This was something that before this moment he would never have done. Eric had saved Odif and his other friends. The least he could do was admit who he was. He did keep his voice low. aOdif, that man is Eric, heas our father.a Odif gaped at him for a few seconds then turned to do the same at Eric. Looking back at Tayan, she smirked. aIave been real bad.a It only took Tayan a second to realize what she meant. aYou didnat,a he breathed.

Seeing his stern look, Odif tried not to smile. aWell, yes.a He flung an arm at Eric. aYou did that with your own father?a he cried. aIs there any man you will not bed?a Amber scowled at Odif. aApparently not,a she snorted.

Ericas face turned white. aWhat did you say?a he breathed.

Odif shrugged. aI guess Iam your daughter.a Ericas weapons clattered to the ground. Sam helped him sit down, or rather she controlled his fall as he sat to hold his head in his hands with a loud moan. Trying to comfort him, she said, aDad, you didnat know!a aYou, too?a Tayan and Odif cried together.

Sam looked up at them. aYes,a she said in a small voice.

A peal of laughter rolled out from Zit. He held onto Shilo as he laughed so hard he cried. Shilo was chuckling but kept a close eye on Eric. He held Zit up as the elf doubled over, holding his sides. One foot kicked the ground in his mirth.

aIt ainat funny,a Eric growled as he looked up at Shilo and Zit. Louder, he said, aIt ainat funny!a When he grabbed for his axe and shot to his feet, Shilo took off with Zit, who was still laughing hysterically. Shilo banked around and flew behind the palace. Just before he disappeared from sight, he yelled, aIt is too!a Eric gripped his axe hard. aIall kill both of them!a aNo, you wonat!a Tayan snapped. aItas not their fault, itas hers!a he said, jabbing a finger at Odif.

aHey!a Odif yelled back at him. aHe needed it! You should have seen the shape he was in when we found him.a aSo you had to go and..,a Not wanting to finish his sentence, he gave her a shove. aKeep your damn legs shut!a She shoved him back. aDonat you push me!a aDonat be such a slut!a he barked.

Odifas face reddened as she jabbed a finger at him. aYou know how the ritual is done, so quit calling me names!a aItas a name you deserve!a aYouare a snob, but I donat go telling that to everyone, do I?a They continued to yell at each other as Zodiac walked around them. He shook his head and faced Eric. aAnything left in there to fight?a Still reeling from what head just learned, he mumbled, aNo.a Tayan and Odif were now yelling at the same time with an occasional flail of an arm or a smack on each otheras shoulder. aThey gonna kill each other?a aNo, this is normal,a Zodiac assured him. aTheyall scream at each other for a while then one will walk away. Itas nothing to be worried about.a Extending his hand, he introduced himself. aI am Lord Zodiac.a Eric shook his hand. aIam Eric, and this here is my other daughter, Samantha. You know the rest of them?a aWeare all in that same Company,a Zodiac told him. aWe could really use you, if you would like to join us.a Loudly, Tayan announced, aThatas it!a as he threw up his arms. aI want nothing more to do with you!a aFine by me!a Odif yelled. aI donat need your shit-assed attitude!a aMy attitude?a Tayan wailed. aYou are the one who has to piss off everyone you know! Go back to the woods where you belong!a aGreat!a she spat, aIam outta here!a Odif turned to leave. Eric walked over and grabbed her arm. She stiffened and cocked back to punch him, hesitating long enough to see it wasnat Tayan holding her. He waited until he was sure she wasnat going to hit him then asked, aBefore you go, could you tell me where to find my wife?a aSure,a she squeaked, her voice hoarse from yelling.

aDo you remember Lady Salinthiaas estate, in Tolina?a Tayan asked him.

Eric thought hard. aThink so. Real big house, with white stone columns in front.a aRight. Sheas still there waiting for you,a Odif told him.

Amber moved towards them, eyeing Odif and Tayan in case they started in again.

aNo, sheas not. Belenaris Tolham took her to his estate. If she didnat go, he was going to send Erica to an orphanage,a she explained.

Odif whipped her head around to stare at her. aHe did what?a Eric frowned at them. aWhoas Erica?a Amber explained everything as well as she could. As she did, she noticed his eyes become harder. Although she knew she wasnat in any danger, his penetrating gaze was enough to make her back off a few steps.

When she was finished, Eric was breathing heavily and quaking in rage. His voice was dead calm, though, when he shifted his eyes from Odif to Tayan. aIf you two are done, could we go get my wife and daughter?a

Chapter 25.

The after-dinner wine was spectacular. Aged properly, it was a delight to his pallet. The fragrance was as smooth as its taste and the color was a bright, clear burgundy. Heady with the superb drink, Belenaris tipped his head back and closed his eyes. If only everything were as perfect as his wine.

aStephan, fill it again.a aYes, Malord.a Belenaris lazily raised his head and looked at Jeni, sitting in the upholstered armchair beside him. She sat bolt upright, not paying him any attention, as usual. Her radiant blonde hair was put up in wide, flat braids, each tied off with silver ribbon threaded loosely enough that they swayed gently when she moved her head. Her emerald-green gown was laced with silver, and her bracelets were the most expensive wrought silver money could buy. He bet that each of the stones on her ruby-encrusted wrists would go for five gold. With all that, her angelic face and her perfectly shaped elven ears, she should be the most beautiful creature in the world.

She wasnat. The picture was ruined every time he glanced down and saw those large mounds that seemed to grow every day. The locket around her neck didnat even lie flat on her chest. The gown cinched her breasts tightly, causing a deep cleavage the locket balanced on. It was beginning to look like she had her backside on her chest, which was not at all becoming for a lady of nobility.

aHow can you stand to look like that?a he asked harshly. He waved his goblet so the liquid threatened to jump out. Stephan had learned to fill it only a third of the way full, or he would have splashed wine over himself and Jeni.

aLook like what?a she asked vacantly as she stared into the fire.

aThose things are horrid!a he said, poking a finger into her chest.

The instant he made contact, she raised an arm and knocked his hand away. She glared at him for a few seconds then returned her gaze to the fire. aI need to feed Erica. How I look is none of your concern.a The entire first month since becoming her consort he had taken pains to be decent to her. He didnat send her half-breed daughter away, and he had put up with the occasional sight of her feeding the mongrel just as an animal would. She still ran a good portion of his coach line as well as the stone quarries. She was even allowed out of the palace from time to time, with the appropriate guard. He tried, and yet she refused to even be polite to him, let alone show any gratitude.

He settled back and lifted his goblet, taking a deep breath as he savored the bouquet of the wine before gulping half the contents down. He decided right then he would make her look like the lady she was supposed to be. Fine women, like a fine wine, had to be molded.

aLady Jenesalinthia,a he slurred, a I have decided that tomorrow we will seek the services of a wizard. I donat care if he can shrink those things or removes them completely, but you will look like a lady and not some human beast.a She was looking at him now, and her voice was as cold as her stare. aNo.a aNo?a he repeated, amused that she was defying him.

Jeni stiffened. aNot before Erica is weaned,a she told him firmly.

He chuckled at her. She really meant it! He sobered as he remembered that anoa was one of her favorite words, especially when it came time to turn in at night. She kept her room locked up tight as a fortress. She even put a chair against the door handle. He was her consort, and bedding her was one of his rights.

Not that he was insanely attracted to her, but she did have a nice form, from the back. It was too bad she insisted on behaving like an animal. Then again, if she wanted to act and look like an animal, maybe he should mount her as one.

A sly grin came to his face as he slid up on the edge of his seat. He set the goblet down and envisioned taking her the only way she would understand.

aStephan, that will be all tonight.a aYes, Malord,a the footman said and walked out.

Jeni saw the look on his face and swallowed nervously. aIt is getting late, I should get to bed,a she said formally.

When she stood up, he grabbed her arm and yanked her back down. aI think we need to be alone for a while,a he said, grinning broadly.

Shying back in her chair, Jeni cast him a hard look. aYou are not my husband.a He looked around the sitting room to be sure they were alone. The servants were all gone. They were on the second floor, so no one would be listening at the window. Leaning towards her, he asked, aWould you like to know what I know?a She didnat respond, so he took delight in telling her. aYour husband is imprisoned. He cannot escape, and there is only one thing that will free him.a He raised a finger to stress his point. aI know what that thing is, and I will keep it from ever happening.a Leaning close enough that she shrank from his breath, he grinned. aYou will give yourself to me, or your precious Erica will find herself on the steps of a slave trader before dawn breaks.a Jeni opened her mouth in shock. aYou wouldnat!a aIave been looking for a reason. Defy me, and she will live her life with a collar around her neck,a he said as resolutely as he could with the slur in his voice.

Her face turned pale. She began to shiver and a tear rolled down her cheek. aYou are a monster,a she whispered.

aYou are a freak,a he stated, aand I shall take you as one.a He grabbed her and tried to twist her around to face the back of the chair. She slipped down, and somehow forced him to lean over the back as she ducked out and away.

aDo you have no decency?a she cried. aAt least force yourself on me in private!a aIt is my right!a he said, struggling up. He wavered a bit, but did stand on his own two feet. He walked over and tried to slap her. She pulled her head back and he missed. He tried again and she ducked. Enraged, he balled a fist. Thinking before he swung, he feinted, aiming a punch at where her head was. She ducked again, and he snatched a handful of hair. She cried out and grabbed his wrist as he hauled her around then threw her onto the couch.

The elaborate braids were now pulled out on one side. She started to get up, using the back of the couch for support. He planted a hand on her back and shoved her into it. aThis is a much better view,a he sneered. Holding her in place, he tore at the fine lace belt that gathered her gown. Ripping it lose, he flung it to the side. She started sobbing as he began shoving her gown up towards her waist.

aIam glad Iam not you.a He froze and looked toward the window. On the windowsill, a tattered, bruised woman squatted, watching him. Mostly naked, she looked like she had just crawled through the dirt. She looked familiar, and as he thought about it he did remember seeing her before.

aI know you!a he announced. He eased his grip on Jeni, who turned back around to sit, pushing her gown back in place. aYou are that druid woman. Get out of my home, you have no right to be here!a aYou have no right trying to rape my stepmother,a Odif replied evenly. She looked over at Jeni. aAre you hurt?a Jeni gave a weak shake of her head as she smoothed her hair back with shaking hands.