Ecowyn

I’d found a possum in the woods, she’d been killed by something. In her pouch were babies, all but one of them passed. Holding it close, I fed it what I had with me, a bit of water and some things from my lunch. Snuggling it close in my hands, I laid down and whispered to it, keeping it warm and trying to think of a way to sneak it into my house and raise it without my papa finding out. He’d forbidden me to save another animal and bring it in our home, but I seemed to be drawn to animals in need. I wanted to help them all!

Jerking slightly, I opened my eyes and the light in the forest was dim now. I’d fallen asleep keeping my little charge warm. Opening my hands, I slumped, looking at it. Carefully and sadly, I returned him to his family in his mother’s pouch, then hugged my knees and tried not to cry. It always hit me too hard when I couldn’t save an animal, though I knew it was far too young and too far starved and thirsty to be brought out of it. Still, it crushed me every time.

A snap, then leaves crunching and another snap made me look up.

A man, incredibly tall and slender stopped, looking down at me in confusion. He was wearing a noble’s military uniform, one of an honorary title and decorative rather than utilitarian. I’d heard about them, but never seen them until now. It was a crisp white with golden trim and braids and pins. Across the front, a long splatter of blood, and another across his cheek and in his pristine white hair. He was a young man, but his hair a pure white that looked unnatural.

“What are you doing here?” he demanded in a whisper, glancing behind him into the woods.

“I… fell asleep. This is my papa’s land! I was looking for onions and found her,” I told him fearfully, motioning towards the mother possum. “She had babies in her pouch and one was still alive…”

“Quiet,” he whispered, turning again. Turning back, he started to walk again, then after several steps, he looked back at me. “You cannot stay here,” he told me almost angrily. “Stay close or I will leave you behind.”

“I can just go home?”

“No, it’s too late for that. Hurry,” he half whispered, then ducked under a branch and hurried away.

Torn, I looked back towards my home, then turned back and ran to catch up with the strange man. He was easy to spot in his bright white uniform.

It was dark and I was tired before we broke free of the woods and onto the path that led into the town from my village.

The man let out a shrill whistle back the way we had come, then turned and started up the road.

“Can I go back to my village now? My home?”

“Do you know what this day is?”

“Saintsday?”

“That too, but other than that, it is the striggae sabbath. Samhain. Do you know what that is?”

“No!”

“Did you not wonder why that animal’s entrails had been pulled out, yet it was not eaten or chewed open by an animal? A clean cut with a knife and entrails pulled out. It is how striggae read omens and obscura. If any are left in your village, hope they are not found this night.”

I looked back again, fearful now as we walked. Soon, a white shape seemed to form and move closer rapidly. “What is that?” I asked in a whisper, running up to the man’s side.

“Niveus. Do not fear him, he comes for me.”

I looked back and realized now that it was a horse. Pure white and pristine like the man. He came to a halt when he came abreast of the man and pranced slightly. The man vaulted onto him, then reigned in slightly.

“Find a place to hide, you might live this night.”

“You aren’t taking me with you?” I asked, terrified.

“Why should I? You are nothing to me, child. Go and hide.”

“What if they find me?!?”

“Then you will die, so I would hurry if I were you.”

“Why can you not take me with you?”

“I have no way to care for a child and you would hinder me if a striggae were to find me. Go hide, then go home tomorrow. See if anything can be salvaged.”

“Please! I’ll not be a hindrance! I’m afraid!”

He growled, his horse making a restless circle around me as the man looked down at me in irritation. He looked back down the road suddenly, then growled and reached down to yank me up by my dress. Tossing me over the horse in front of him, he took off at a run and I tried to hold on as best I could, watching the ground speed by beneath me. My hair was brushing dirt as I hung there, gripping the stirrup. It was an eternity before he slowed enough to pull me up to sit on the saddle in front of him properly. He moved up to a quick trot, looking behind us constantly. I didn’t ask questions, I didn’t want to distract him or make myself a nuisance. I was worried about my papa though, and hoped that he’d made it into the cellar to hide somehow. What was a striggae? Why was this man covered in blood?

Finally, the man slowed to a normal trot as he veered off the road and to a huge, dark, manorhouse made with stone so dark it blended with the night. He rode in as if he could see in the dark, though I could see nothing at all.

Reigning in suddenly, he vaulted off, then yanked me off as well. Dragging me along behind him by the arm, he opened a huge door and closed it, then called out.

“Usiah! Usiah, call to arms, now! There is an entire coven in the village south!”

A tall man in a servants uniform had stepped out, then ran as soon as the man had stopped speaking. Turning the other direction, the man turned and hurried to another room with a huge round table on it. On the table was what looked like a map, but there were actually little tiny trees and hills and tiny houses like it was an exact replica of the city and the outlying villages. It was a huge map and there were long sticks around the map that looked to be used to reach across the map.

The man in white looked over it a moment as he waited, then seemed to remember me. Turning to look down, he let me go and motioned to a chair. “Sit there and be quiet! I do not have time for you right now,” he told me with a scowl as I regained my footing and turned back to him. His expression turned confused as he looked me over, then over again more carefully. “What age do I put to you, child?”

“20?”

“Not a child then, just small. I should have left you to fend for yourself,” he scowled, then turned back to the map. He moved around it until he could glance up over it and see me, his look unsure.

Soon, a man all in black came in with the same sort of military uniform, but in black instead of white. His hair was also black, and longer and very curly. The man who followed him was in red, with short red hair. Moments later it was a man in yellow, his hair very blonde and yellow looking. What sort of men were these? A man in brown came next, with curly brown hair and smiling eyes. The only one so far that didn’t have a serious expression. The last to come in was an older man with long, silver hair so straight and smooth it looked unreal. His uniform was also silver, though it was hard to see as his hair came down past his bottom.

“You are certain, Rhys?” the man in silver asked, looking at the man in white.

“Absolutely certain. I saw at least eleven with my own eyes and I am sure the other two were close. I dispatched four before they gathered to hunt me.”

“What is this little imp, then?” the man in brown asked, looking over at me.

“A girl I came across in the forest, a halfling and she is blind to it. Her affinity is animals,” Rhys answered.

What? I was what? “What’s a striggae?” I demanded, standing up.

“Creatures, usually, women who take on the dark arts and transform into evil creatures that feed on humans and strife. This is their sabbath,” the man in brown answered. “Yours too, I suppose, though yours would be very different. The enchantresses are the light to the darkness of the striggae. Your gift is light, not dark.”

“I told you to sit and not interrupt!” Rhys admonished. He turned back to the silver man. “Alastor, we must signal! We can go after them while they are together! Take out the entire coven!”

“Are you certain they are still there?”

“They thought me alone and the spell keeps our fortress hidden. They cannot know how close we are! They assume they ran me off and they are feeding on an entire village!”

“Then we have little time!” the man in red spoke up. “Sound the call!”

Alastor nodded to the man in yellow and he hurried to the wall and an archway that was covered by odd, white stones. Tracing runes on the archway, chimes sounded with each one he traced, then the white stones began to glow, then a bright flash and they were gone. In their place was a dark hallway.

In moments, more men were pouring into the room from the hallway, all of them like the ones already here. Men in white, yellow, black, brown, silver and red. So many I began to feel claustrophobic, even in my chair.

There was shouting and I could Alastor speak over everyone. “We have mounts at the ready, Rhys will lead the way! We go now!”

The room slowly emptied into the main hall until I was left alone. I sat there in stunned silence, wondering what I should do.

The tall servant stepped in and gestured for me to follow him. I stood and hurried to catch up to him and he led me to a cheerful kitchen and women talking happily.

“What’s this wee little blossom then?” a larger woman asked, looking me over with a pleasant smile.

“Foundling,” the man told her.

“Well you sit her right down and we’ll feed her!” the woman grinned, clasping her hands together joyfully.

The man took her literally and picked me up by my waist to put me up on a tall stool. I squeaked in shock and embarrassment, but the man said nothing as he left.

“I’m Jenny,” the large woman told me, setting a cup of milk in front of me. How’d you come to find the fortress, then? Were ya led by your gift?”

“Ahh… no. No, I live in the village just south of here.”

“That close then?!? And you never felt the pull?”

“I… don’t know. I was always drawn to the woods this side of my village, but it was the animals that called to me.”

“Oh, that’s a lovely gift, that is! So how’d you end here then?”

“My village is being attacked by… a coven?”

“Striggae is it?” she asked sadly. “Well and good then that they didn’t get hands on you to drain your gift. What’s your name then, girl?”

“Ecowyn?”

“Lovely name isn’t it? Tell me then, who found ya?”

“Rhys I think his name is? All in white?”

“Ahh, it would be him, wouldn’t it?” she chuckled. “Lucky for you then, he wouldn’t normally take the time to take in a stray, he is all duty, that one.”

“What’s going to happen to me?” I asked, hugging myself.

“Here now, eat up,” she told me, setting a plate with bread and butter and jam on it. “It will be up to Venator Rhys, and that means you’d likely be sent on to a coven of light. Likely the one in Miovia. The one in Mareshomese is full and Lucana too far away.”

“Likely but not certainly?” I asked, confused.

“You’d be a halfling, yes? Else you’d be in a coven already. That means you’d have ta stay here if he chose it. It’d be here or a coven for ya. Some mighta chose for you to stay, but not Rhys. He has no want for a companion.”

“Companion?”

“Female companion? Forgive me, but you are of age, yes? Small, not young?”

“Yes, I’m 20.”

“Surprised some village boy hasn’t snatched you up!” she laughed. “Lovely little morsel you are!”

“One or two have come round, but papa didn’t like them so well. He’d not just hand me over to anyone he says. You think they’re alright? Most the villagers? They’d fight, wouldn’t they? And the men, the men with all the colors, they’ll get there quick to help, right?”

“The men are Venator. Striggae hunters. Stationed all around in fortresses hidden with light magic.”

“Rhys said he killed four of them?”

“Not surprising. He’s dedicated, he is. He’ll have ya sent on to a good coven soon enough! You’ll like it there and you’ll learn to use your gift as well! Unless Gwideon asks after you… he might allow you to stay with Venator Gwideon.”

“Who is that?”

“He’s the brown Venator. A hunter of food and tracker of men. Each color has a meaning. Silver is the leader. White is dedication to eradication of Striggae and vamphyr. Black are assassins, yellow are diplomats. Red are spies and infiltrators.”

“What’s vamphyr?”

“Killers, creatures who kill both animal and man to feed on blood. They live in the darkness and ride the shadows on wings of death. Not a great many here, they stay mostly near the Barathrum and in Mjennic. Here now, try’n eat something, little morsel. You’re half starved! You ain’t eaten since breakfast!”

“How do you know that?” I asked uncertainly.

“My own gift is food, of course! Gerard kept me not as a companion, but as a cook. I don’t mind it, in fact I love it! Always had a gift for it and drive to do it.”

“Which is he?”

“Yellow,” she answered, gesturing to her yellow dress. “He found me in the capital baking bread for my fathers shop. Snapped me up quick and I been here since! They can feel the halflings ya know, when they’re close. Just like we can feel each other. You’ll get a feel for it soon enough. Eat now!” she laughed, then went back to cooking.

I ate, but all I could do was worry. Was papa alright? Were the men going to be alright? What were the things they were fighting and what could they do? Was there really magic in the world? And evil creatures? Why had no one heard of this and spoke of it? I remember stories when I was a child about Chosen from a long time ago, people who could use magic and were trained, but that was just a story, wasn’t it? And if it wasn’t, what had happened?

“Jenny?” I asked after eating half a piece of bread slathered in jam. “How long has magic been real?”

“Always I guess?” she answered with a shrug.

“What about men like Rhys?”

“Venator?”

“Yes.”

“A long time, I think. They’re made though, from men dedicated to the cause. Venator are immortal as far as getting sick or even grave wounds, but they can die if beheaded or burned to death. They never age, never get sick. They’re just… men dedicated to saving the world. Their gift in return is immortality until they no longer wish to serve. Some few retire and some few even take their own lives. That is when a new one is made. Men who train for it their entire life and choose a path. When a new one is needed for that path, the next in line is chosen. They are transformed when they are made as well.”

“To their color?”

“Yes,” Jenny chuckled. “It’s easy to see it that way, isn’t it? If you don’t know their true titles? For now we’ll leave that since it’s not likely it will matter for you.”

“Because I’m going to a coven?”

“Exactly.”

“What’s that like?”

“I don’t know, actually, I never went. The covens hold their secrets well, but I’ve never known a light enchantress to be grumpy or mean, they are all happy. Some say it’s a lights nature to be happy. Here now, you’re going to eat more’n that, aren’t you?”

“I’m worried about my papa,” I told her softly. “How long till the men will be back?”

“Whenever they are done. Don’t worry over them, they’ve had a lot of training and there are a great many of them going. Do not fear for them, it’s very rare that any are even wounded, let alone killed. And if they are wounded, they heal quickly. Like as naught they’ll be healed before they even get back! All that’ll need doin is Cera, the halfling who works with fabrics, will have to mend and clean a few uniforms.”

“Are all striggae and enchantresses women?”

“Yes, just like only men can be Venator. It takes an inborn spark for both. Magic if you will.”

“Does the dark have it’s own Venator?”

“That’s what the Vamphyr are. They hunt enchantresses for their mistresses to drain their power and Venator as well.”

“It all seems a bit terrifying. What role do halflings play in all of this?”

“Oh, usually like what me and Cera do. They find places for us, or they stay at the covens to work there. Your gift’ll be very useful when it comes to the horses they ride into battle, won’t it? Once you learn to use it proper. Come now, try’n eat a bit more. Anyone who wasn’t gone when the Venator arrived is saved now. Likely it’s all over now and they’re on their way back.”

“Will they come in the front door? Like Rhys did with me?”

“Yes.”

“Can I wait there for them?”

“If you wish it,” Jenny smiled. “He is a handsome one, our Rhys,” she chuckled.

I was confused for a moment, then realized what she meant. “I want news of my father straight away! And to go back and see him if I can.”

“Yes, of course,” Jenny smiled. “Do you know the way you came here or should I have Angela walk you back?”

“I know the way!” I told her breathlessly, hopping down from the stool and running back to the main hall to wait. I climbed up several stairs and sat down, holding on to the bannister as I watched the door. I wanted to be able to see when they came in and pick out Rhys. Ask him about my papa.

When they did come in, it seemed like mayhem, so loud and raucous. I had to stand to try and see, looking over all of them in white.

Rhys was one of the last in and his eyes went to me on the stairs, his look confused. Turning away, he followed the others into the room with the map. As they all filed in, I followed. I could see many of them going back into the hallway in the arch, still talking and yelling. When the noise died down and the hallway flashed and closed, it was suddenly very quiet.

“Did you see my papa?” I asked Rhys quickly before anyone else could speak.

“You should be in bed or something!” Rhys snapped.

“Did you?!?”

“I’d have no way to know if I did, I don’t know what your father looks like. Go sit down until I have time for you.”

“A short man, slender, gray hair and whiskers this long?” I told him, holding my hand to my collarbone. “He’d be wearing a leather apron?”

“I said go sit down!” Rhys yelled angrily.

I flinched back, then went and sat down.

“Easy on her, she’s just afraid for her father,” Gwideon admonished Rhys softly. “She’s a tender hearted little thing, it comes with her gift.”

“Shut up, we must speak of the one who managed to flee. If she reaches another coven, the will know we have a fortress close to that village. There’s no other way we could have arrived so quickly.”

“She took an arrow, brother,” the man in red spoke up. “It looked to’ve nicked her heart. She may be dead if the poison took.”

“We cannot count on that! We need to hunt her down come daylight! Gwideon, Eliphas, we ride out first thing come daylight. Be ready!”

“If that’s all, then I intend to sleep,” the man in black spoke up.

“Me too,” Gwideon sighed. “Though there isn’t much sleep left to be had before first light.”

Alastor turned to Rhys. “Either you will find her or you will not, do not focus on her so hard that you do not see a trap, yes? She will know you hunt and if she is well enough, she will have a coven back to take you.”

“Do not worry over me, I know how to be careful. I need to prepare,” he snapped, then turned to leave.

“Brother,” Gerard called. “Are you forgetting something?”

Rhys stopped, then looked at me with barely disguised irritation. “Come!” he snapped.

I followed quickly, trying to catch up to him. “Is any of that blood yours?” I asked breathlessly as he led me up a second flight of stairs.

“No.”

“Are you hurt at all?”

“No.”

“And you didn’t see my father?”

“I saw next to no one, any who were alive were hiding. We didn’t wait around to tell them it was clear, they will find out come morning. Our duty is not to coddle villagers, it is to eradicate monsters,” he growled, then turned to go down a hall.

Pushing a door open, he went in and waited for me before slamming it shut. Lights came on all around the room, orbs of light that had to be magic. The room was large, but there was hardly anything in it. A wardrobe of white uniforms with no doors on it, a bed, a small table and chair and a washbasin. That was all. There was also no fire in the fireplace, though the room was absolutely frigid.

He yanked off his jacket and tossed it next to the wardrobe on the floor, then turned as he sat to pull his boots off. His eyes stopped on me and he froze for a moment, looking me over again, confusion on his face. Finally, he turned and went to the wall where there was a small frame of white blocks. Using a black rod, he wrote on the wall, though no letters appeared. I wondered what he was writing and wished I could read.

Setting the rod down, he paced a moment, then went back to the chair and pulled his boots off.

“What’s the coven like?” I asked softly.

“Never been to one.”

“Can I go see my papa before you send me away?”

“If he isn’t dead, it’s best he thinks you are.”

“Why?”

“You will never be able to see him again.”

“Even after I learn? I can never go see him?”

“It will take a century for you to learn your gift,” he scowled. “Your father will be long dead.”

“A century?!? How does anyone live long enough to learn anything?”

He looked over at me again, his gaze hard and penetrating as he took me in a third time. “You’re a halfling, you’ll live longer than most. Not as long as an enchantress, but a long time. Centuries if you were outside. In a fortress or a coven, much longer.”

“Is that why I stopped growing?” I asked, standing up straight in excitement. “Will I get taller? Bigger?”

“No,” he answered, his face red as he looked down. “You don’t slow until You’re around eighteen or so. You are as big as you will ever be. What is your name, halfling?”

“Ecowyn.”

“I’m Rhys.”

“I heard them call you that earlier and Jenny told me too.”

“You met Jenny?”

“She made me eat.”

“Naturally,” he sighed, then stood to pace again as if waiting for something. It seemed he was as there was a knock at the door and he quickly answered, “Enter!”

A woman came in with white fabric in her arms, smiling at Rhys and then me. “Oh, she’s a lovely little thing, isn’t she?” the woman smiled, looking me over. “And I’m so pleased to see she’ll look beautiful in white! It will set off your coloring beautifully, little one! Here now, a gown for tonight and a dress for tomorrow. He said only very small, but now that I’ve had a look at you, I’ll be able to fit you much better, won’t I? There you are now, I will see you tomorrow!” the woman smiled, then left as I looked over the gown and dress.

“The gown,” Rhys spoke, his face red. “Put it on. You may wash there if you need to, I will be outside.”

He stepped out and I turned back to the gown, a little confused. It wasn’t a REAL gown, it looked like a doll’s gown. No sleeves, only a frilly strap and fabric hanging down that MIGHT reach my thighs. Perhaps she misunderstood when he’d said very small?

I stepped to the door and opened it. “Rhys?”

“Why are you not dressed yet?” he demanded, his arms uncrossing and his hands going to his hips.

“The gown… it’s too small by far. It’s not a gown at all, it’s…”

“It’s exactly as it should be! Go put it on! Hurry up, I don’t have much time to sleep!”

I hurried back in, closing the door. He didn’t understand! Tears in my eyes at the humiliation, I pulled the gown on, then looked around. Was I expected to sleep in that bed? Where was he going to sleep?!? I didn’t care, I got into the bed and covered up with the blankets quickly.

After another moment, the door opened slightly. “Are you dressed?”

“Yes,” I answered, humiliated.

He came in, then scowled at me in the bed. “Get up!” he commanded.

“I cannot! This isn’t a gown, it’s a… veil! It’s tiny!”

“Get UP!”

I jumped, then looked away, closing my eyes as I got up, getting off the bed to stand in the tiny gown that I could feel brushing my bottom with the hem.

“Turn,” he commanded.

“Must I?”

“Now!”

I turned, my face burning with shame and keeping my eyes closed.

“All the way around. Again. I will send for a brush tomorrow.”

I stood there trembling and I could hear him moving around. From the sounds, he was getting ready for bed himself. I heard the splashing of water and I dared peek out to see if I would be able to hide in the blankets soon.

He was looking right at me as I turned and… he was wearing absolutely nothing at all. He was standing there completely nude as he washed blood off of his hands, his eyes watching me.

My mouth opened in shock as I stared in frozen horror.

He canted his head slightly, an eyebrow raising.

I realized then that I was staring and spun away with a whimpering shocked noise. The sloshing continued as I stood there shaking. “May I get in the blankets, please?” I asked him loudly.

“Not yet.”

“I’m cold!”

“A little cold won’t hurt you.”

“Why must I wait?”

“Stop complaining. I cannot abide whining.”

“Good that you’ll be rid of me soon, then,” I muttered grumpily.

The sloshing finally stopped and I heard him moving around the room, then stopping close behind me. “Turn,” he commanded.

I turned, then looked up quickly, blushing again.

He looked down at me, looking me over again as he canted his head slightly. A gesture I was starting to think he made often. Leaning over passed me, he pulled the blankets on the bed back, then picked me up under my arms and laid me on the bed, looking me over again as he stood up.

“May I have the blankets, please?” I asked fearfully, not liking the look in his eyes.

“No.”

“I thought you wished to sleep, should you not be going to your bed?”

“This is my bed. Roll to your stomach,” he commanded.

I rolled away, my heart beating hard in my chest as I felt him get into the bed next to me. Closing my eyes, I began shivering from more than the cold.

His warm hand on my shoulder made me jump and squeak, then I went still as his fingers glided over my shoulders and back. Sliding my hair out of the way, he moved closer, his warm body pressed to my side now. His fingers trailed down the gown to where it ended on my backside, then played over the part that was exposed. It gave me goosebumps as I shivered and I squeezed my eyes shut more tightly, too afraid to move. They trailed down further, sliding over my thighs and the backs of my knees, making me shiver again before they trailed back up. He put his entire hand flat on my thigh, then slid it into my inner thigh and pulled my legs apart.

“Please! I do not wish this! I do not wish you to do this!”

“You are mine to do with as I please,” he told me. “I found you, halfling, you belong to me.”

“But you are sending me away! To a coven!”

“I never said I was. Do not fight or struggle, I forbid it.”

“Please?” I whispered, terrified.

“I mean it, Ecowyn, you will not struggle or fight me, ever.”

I went still again, gripping the blankets near my face now as I cried silently into the bed.

His hands pushed my legs apart, then he moved, rolling up to his knees between my legs. I felt him lower himself, going to his elbows, then spread my backside apart with his hands. He was looking at me! At my most private places!

“You cannot!” I wailed, but didn’t struggle. “Please! Do not do this!”

“You will not complain or speak against anything I wish to do. I wish to see your body, explore. I’ve never… done that before,” he spoke distractedly.

I gripped the blankets more tightly, all my limbs rigid though he had my legs forced wide with his elbows.

His hand moved down and slid over my nether lips, touching lightly as I let out a shrieking whimper. Using his thumb and forefinger, he spread them open and I broke down sobbing loudly

“I’m not harming you,” he admonished. “Do not act like a child.”

“Please! You musn’t! Only my husband may ever touch those places!”

“And what do you imagine I am now?” he asked, still distracted as he ran a finger along my slit, all the way down to my bud. “You belong to me, my companion. Forever. Is that not a husband?”

“I didn’t say yes! I didn’t agree!”

“I do not need your permission, I found you. It is my right to claim you.”

“You didn’t even want to save me at first!”

“In the dark I thought you a child.”

“Please, Rhys! I…” my breath caught and I went still as his finger rolled over my bud again, a bit harder this time. The sharp pleasure that sprang up made me lose my train of thought completely.

“Did that hurt? You jerked and went quiet.”

“No,” I breathed, still astonished.

He did it again, then again as I closed my eyes and all the rigidity left me.

“You like that,” he stated, a little surprised. “You’re beginning to glisten for me,” he breathed, leaning in closer. “This is what you enjoy,” he spoke more loudly, sitting up and moving to watch my face as he continued to move his finger back and forth. “Tell me,” he commanded.

“I… I do… it feels… divine,” I breathed, my hands working the sheets as he worked me.

“I will bring you to fruition,” he promised, moving his hand and stopping. “It is my wish for you to explore me now, find what pleases me.”

“Must I?” I whispered, embarrassed now.

“Yes. Then I will finish you and you will finish me.”

Sitting up, I took an unsteady breath and looked over at his shoulders as he watched me look at him. I stared for a moment. “What’s this?” I asked, tracing a white shimmering pattern on his skin, around his shoulder and around his chest, all the way to his belly with stripes then ran up under his chin, almost to his lips. It seemed to shimmer in the light, but couldn’t be seen in the dark.

“It is called a dragon.”

“But what is it? I’ve never seen a painting on a body before?”

“It’s a tattoo. It was part of my transformation. That feels good, for you to trace your fingers over it that way, I like it.”

Hearing that thrilled me a bit. That simply touching him was nice for him. It made me a bit more bold. Moving closer, I trailed my lips over it, and my tongue, tracing lightly as he let out a sigh of pleasure.

“I like that very much,” he breathed.

I looked over him and the curve of his neck looked beautiful, I leaned close, my body on his now as I kissed and sucked and licked along his neck and collarbone, up and around to just under his ear as his breathing quickened. I bit lightly on his earlobe and he made a small noise of appreciation as his lips almost smiled.

I felt a tiny thrill at that smile, knowing he didn’t smile often, if ever.

His hands went to my hips and slid up to my waist and then my ribs. “Do not stop,” he whispered.

I felt myself smile as I kissed another trail to his other ear and nipped lightly. His hands slid higher, his hands moving to cup my breasts. When I shifted, I could feel his manhood against my knee and I froze in shock at the size and weight of it as it moved and bounced back against me.

“Mmmm,” he purred, letting another shuddering breath out. “I need you now,” he whispered. “We will explore later!” he whispered urgently, rolling me to my back and shoving my legs open roughly with his knee. “Open your legs!” he demanded as I stiffened fearfully.

“Rhys?”

“NOW!”

I jerked and let him part my legs, but I was terrified.

“Rhys!” I cried out in horror as he reached down and took hold of his thick cock, raising up enough to see what he was doing and rolling the head of it along my slit. “Rhys!” I cried more loudly, my voice higher now. “Please don’t!”

He didn’t listen as he growled and tried to shove in. He tried again and again and his cock kept slipping up between my nether lips and pointing up.

His finger searched for my entrance, found it, then he pressed his cock there and tried again, but it slid up and I whimpered in pain.

“Why isn’t it working?” he demanded angrily. “Open yourself to me!”

“I don’t know how!” I wailed, sobbing.

He roared in rage, then got up and stormed out of his room.

I sat up and pulled the blankets up, shaking and fearful as I watched the door.

He came back moments later, looking angry and determined, his cock still hard and ready.

He said nothing as he jerked the blankets back, then grabbed my ankle and yanked me down on the bed to lay down. I yelped, then clenched my teeth as he climbed in between my legs, looking down at my sex. His hand delved in, his fingers searching until he found my entrance, then he shoved his finger in roughly.

I let out a cry of pain and shock, trying to arch away from the pain.

“Be still!” he demanded, shoving his finger in and out several times. After a moment, he pulled it out, then tried to force two in. I screamed and struggled, trying to escape him as he snarled and gripped my thigh. “You will not struggle or fight me on this!”

“It HURTS!”

“Then BEAR it!” he growled, pinning my legs apart and holding me down as he forced his way in.

I screamed at the pain and gripped the arm he was using to hold me down.

He rammed roughly, then pulled back and rammed again and again.

Finally, he pulled them out and moved, rolling over me as I sobbed and shook my head miserably. “Stop crying,” he commanded and I clenched my teeth to keep quiet. Moving lower, he took hold of his cock again and positioned it, then thrust in.

My eyes widened as I sucked in a breath, then screamed a piercing scream as I begged for him to stop, to take it out.

He didn’t listen as he let out a growling breath, pushing into me as deeply as he could. “You will be quiet!” he yelled. Immediately I clenched my teeth again and shivered with pain as I tried not to whimper. “Do not fight me! Let your legs fall open!”

With another whimper, I forced my legs to relax. As soon as I did, he eased back, pulling it almost out of me. As soon as I thought it was about to be over, the thrust in again, slamming his long, thick cock into me. I couldn’t help the keening wail it brought out, but I tried to suppress it and stay quiet.

My brain registered then, that I was unable to disobey him. He told me to do something, and I had to do it. Shaking my head in horror, I could only squeeze my eyes shut and pray this would be over soon.

He thrust in again and again as if he were trying to make me scream, then finally, he began to slow and move less violently. Leaning over me, he moved his hips more slowly, looking down at my face in a euphoric sort of bliss.

“I had not imagined it would be this way,” he whispered. “This is more than I imagined it could be! Oh… gods! Shhh now, stop crying. Gwideon said it would hurt you only the first time, perhaps the second then it would be gone. There now, no more crying. That’s good! Mmmm, he is going to tell me how to bring you to fruition as well. Gods! This is beautiful! You are beautiful, Ecowyn. I never imagined I might want a partner, but you are exceptionally beautiful and lovely to look at. Oh… I think I am close! Oh GODS!” he cried, then gasped and went still as his thick member swelled inside of me, then filled me with hot fluid. He let out a small whimpering sigh when it stopped, then dropped down half on top of me as he panted and tried to catch his breath.

“Please take it out now,” I begged.

He let out another sigh of frustration, but eased out of me and rolled to his back next to me. “Go to the basin and clean up, then bring the cloth and clean me as well.”

I jumped up to do as he told me, then hesitated as I was coming back with the wet cloth. “Why do I do as you ask when you tell me? Without a choice?”

“Because you are mine,” he murmured as I climbed up to wash him. “I found you and kept you as my own. You are my companion and you are compelled to do as I ask. It is that way with all halflings when found. You are compelled to obey the one who claims you and whoever found you has first rights to the claiming. If they decline, you go to a coven to be claimed.”

“Claimed? That is barbaric! I’m a person, not a slave?”

“Companion,” he corrected. “Good, now put that away and come to bed, I must get what little sleep I can.”

I hurried and climbed into bed quickly. As soon as I did, the lights went out. “Will it be dangerous?” I asked him fearfully.

“I will be careful.”

“Promise?”

“Mmm.”

“I’m afraid.”

“Don’t be,” he sighed, rolling to his side and putting a hand on my ribs.

I felt more calm immediately, my body relaxing. “How did you do that?”

“You are mine. Go to sleep, Ecowyn.”

I turned to my side and curled up to sleep, then realized he had done it again. I didn’t really care, I was exhausted.

I woke up and sat up, blinking as Rhys came in the door in his white uniform. “Are you about to leave?” I asked him worriedly.

“Just returned. I made you sleep while I was gone so you’d not worry. Your dress is there, get dressed and we will go down for lunch.”

“What happened?” I asked, getting up and hurrying to the dress hanging on the wardrobe.

“Nothing, she escaped and was gone. There was evidence of a teleport and we left the moment we found it.”

I went to him and turned, moving my hair so he could button me up. He hesitated, then did it slowly.

“I forgot a brush, I will see to one after lunch,” he murmured, stroking my hair to the side and running fingers over my neck just above the dress. “I never imagined seeing a small line of skin on a back could be so… moving. I find… I like to see you dressed just as well as I like to see you undressed.”

I blushed and looked down, smiling and trying not to let him see.

“Come,” he spoke gently, taking my arm and leading me out the door. He kept looking over at me as he walked me, my hand on his arm. I felt my face heating more and more as he watched me and it took everything in me not to look at him as well.

When we reached the smaller, informal dining room, everyone there stood as we came in.

“Rhys! Wasn’t sure you would join us,” Gwideon grinned. “It’s good to see you both!”

“It is nice that you’ve finally taken a companion,” Alastor agreed with a nod of his head.

Rhys held a chair out for me, then sat down next to me as I looked around at everyone. I was the only female there and I felt very out of place. The man in red was next to me, holding hands with the man in yellow next to him. Gerard. The way Gerard smiled at him, they were obviously lovers. Gerard looked past the man in red to me, then sat up.

“Brother! You have her so far gone she is hardly herself! You cannot compel her so and so often, she’ll have no personality or anything of herself left at all!”

“I do not like her personality,” Rhys scowled.

“The why claim her?” the man in red asked incredulously.

“I like the way she looks, her face, her body, her size, her hair. Everything.”

“You cannot just make her into a doll, that is cruel!” Gwideon admonished.

“She whines and cries and fights and struggles when I try to take her to my bed.

“You compelled her to allow you to take her?” Alastar demanded, sitting up. “That is the same as force!”

“Rape, even!” the man in red snarled.

“She is mine to do with as I please! I don’t like the whining and crying and complaining.”

“She just lost her village and maybe her family and was taken from all she knows to be dropped into our world!” Gwideon cried. “You must have patience with her! You cannot just FORCE her to act as you wish by compelling her! Especially not as hard as you have been having to compel her to go against her nature! You will do lasting harm!”

“Good! I don’t want her to fight me or beg me to stop, I don’t like it!”

“Did it even occur to you to stop?!?” Gerard asked incredulously. “To give her time and maybe even woo her a bit before forcing yourself on her?”

“She is mine to take!”

“Rhys…” Gwideon sighed. “Had I known what you were doing, I would not have told you the how of it. This is unfair to her! You have no patience for a companion, Rhys, you should send her away or let another have her.”

“Like you?” Rhys demanded, his face red.

“I would care for her and see her happy,” Gwydion nodded.

“She is mine!” Rhys snarled. “I claimed her! I found her and it’s MY right!”

The man in red put a hand on my shoulder. “Rhys, you’re not thinking clearly. I realize you’ve never had these sorts of feelings before, but you are going about it the wrong…”

“Remove your hand from my companion, Fastion!”

Fastion pulled his hand away, but stood up. After he did, the others stood as well.

Alastor raised a hand towards Rhys. “If you cannot treat your companion as you should, then you do not deserve her, Rhys. Listen to the counsel of your brothers. Each in turn will have an hour with you this day to share with you their thoughts and ways for you to deal with her without using compulsion or force or threats. If you cannot conform to our standards for the treatment of your companion, she will be taken from you. Your brothers will have the opportunity to claim her, or draw if more than one wishes her. If none wish her, she will go to a coven. This is my proclamation! Ecowyn, Usiah will see you to the library to wait.”

“No,” Rhys scowled. “Take her to Cera and find her a brush. She cannot read. Girl…,” he growled, taking my arm as I stood. “None other shall have you!” he promised, his face full of fury, but his tone more soft. Pulling me close, he kissed me and held me close, his mouth lingering until the tension went out of me and I kissed him back, my hands going to his arms. Finally, he pulled back breathlessly, his eyes hooded. “You ARE mine,” he whispered.

Unsteadily, I gave a single nod as I blushed.

Usiah started to lead me away, but I paused and turned to Alastor. “Might I bring my food with me, please?”

“Of course, child,” he told me gently. “Sit and eat.”

I sat back down to eat and reached over under the table to pat Rhys’s hand comfortingly. I had no want to go into Gwideons hands. Rhys was forthright and blunt with what he wanted. There was no secret or hidden agendas. I didn’t feel the same about Gwideon. He was a manipulator, the sort to twist words and make you think something was what it wasn’t. He would trick and fib to get his way. That wasn’t Rhys’s way. He said outright what he wanted. I preferred that over someone who would manipulate me. Especially if Rhys would change and be more gentle and less demanding. Less angry. He was simply uncouth and not used to being around females.

Even if he did think I was annoying. That I didn’t care for so much, but he also didn’t know the real me. Neither did Gwideon or the others, yet they would try and take me even though all they knew of me was how I looked. The same thing they admonished him for. I felt that was unfair of them.

Rhys moved his hand and placed it over mine, holding on to it, though it meant eating with his off hand. I let him, imagining he needed the reassurance. He didn’t want to release me, he just didn’t know how to treat me.

As soon as I finished eating, listening to the others talk more normally, I began to stand, but Rhys clutched my hand as if he didn’t want me to go yet. I squeezed his hand with both of mine, then tugged my hand away and left with Usiah.

The day was incredibly long sitting with Cera and listening to her talk, but mostly I was worried. Less about Rhys and more about Papa. How was I going to convince Rhys to let me check on him? I needed to know, and he needed to know I wasn’t dead either!

Jenny came and got me when it was time for dinner, taking me into the kitchen again and feeding me, talking to me about everything and everyone.

At one point, I interjected. “You said you were Gerards companion, right?”

“Yes and no. He claimed me, but not really as a companion. He and Fastion are together like that, so any halfling either of them claimed, it wouldn’t be as a true companion. It would be like me, serving in the kitchen. And he wouldn’t mind if I took a lover for myself either. And now then, since we’re on that subject… How happy are you that Rhys claimed you? Such a handsome man! And it was thought by all that he’d never take a companion! He’d never shown a single interest before, not even in the most comely of servants. Something about you must’ve caught his eye though, didn’t it? I told you that you were a sweet little morsel! Here now, tell me what he’s like?”

“He’s very… demanding. A bit uncouth… and impatient. He is very handsome, though he is a bit tall for my taste. He’d… never been with a woman before last night and he was incredibly impatient with the need for it, though he did wish to explore some, and that bit was nice.”

“So soon?!? Well, you’re not a shy one, are ya? I can’t remember another companion bein’ so quick as to fall in bed the first night!”

I blushed, looking away. “As to that… I didn’t have much say in the matter at all. When I tried to say no or even if I cried, he… compelled? Compelled me. Forced me to do it though I had no wish to. That is something for my husband alone.”

“Oh,” Jenny sighed sadly. “I’d not imagined it might be that way, so sorry little miss. It is not usual for compulsion to be used unless it is important or for her good. Gerard had to compel me to cross a long bridge, terrified as I am of heights. He had to compel me to not be afraid, to be brave. That was the only time he’d ever done it to me. It’s not heavily used, it can change a girl’s nature if used too much. I’m sorry he took you the way he did, he probably didn’t think he was doing wrong. He’s never had a girl before and he’d not know the way of it. Only what he wanted. Is that why you’re here then? The others take you from him and they’re deciding who gets you?”

“No, they are all talking to him. If he cannot change, then they will take me. I… actually don’t really want that. Gwideon scares me a bit.”

“Oh, he’s a sweetheart! Eliphas is nice enough too, if you like his quiet nature. I cannot think Fastion would put in for you, he and Gerard would only claim a halfling who they’d need here, like me. Gwideon and Eiliphas as the only two without a companion besides him.”

“Not Alastor?”

“Cera is his companion. Has been going on 5 centuries now.”

“Why doesn’t Gwideon have a companion, he seems more keen on them than the others.”

“Oh he is! His Bonilla passed more’n a decade or so back now. She loved to go up to the tower and look out at the sunrise and sunsets, her gift of light drew her to it. One evening, she did not come to bed and Gwideon got home and went to find her… she had tumbled down all of those stairs and snapped her neck. That was a sad time! It took him a long while to get over it and even consider taking another companion. This passed year though, he’s been searching one out. She was a pretty girl, Bonilla. Curves a plenty, luscious and easy to smile. They adored each other! Gwideon had the door to the tower blocked over so no one could ever go up again. Here now, let us talk of lovelier things! Tell me about your gift!”

“I know little of it, only that it involves animals and perhaps healing them someday? I’m not completely sure. I’ve always had a love for animals and always seemed to have a knack for finding them. Papa pretended to be grumpy about always having animals about, but really he didn’t mind so much I think.”

A loud gong reverberated throughout the fortress, making me jump.

“What was that?”

“Emergency, a call to the portal room,” Jenny breathed worriedly.

Jumping down from my stool, I took off running for the map room. Was it Rhys? Was he alright?

He wasn’t there when I ran in, only Eliphas and Gwideon, both looked out of breath. I moved back to the wall, wanting to stay out of the way, but also wanting to know what was going on.

Alastor came in followed by Gerard. Fastion and Rhys came in last, together as if they had been together when the emergency was called.

“What is it?” Alastor demanded.

“Jalebra! He stumbled through moments ago and we sounded the call as we sent him on to the healers! Last night was a trap, all of it a ruse! They sent their weakest striggae here, not even a coven! Just 13 in training who were weak! The others! They know the location of the Fortresses and they infiltrated while the brothers were here! They know of this one too, and knew their decoy would be discovered quickly and lead them right back here to mark it! Alastor, a great many fortresses were wiped out! Claimed by them! Jalebra only just managed to open the portal and get himself here. They attacked while all were asleep! We do not know how many or who, but a call on the librilio gets an answer from no one! If any broke free, they are on their way here on foot. This was the only fortress not hit, as we were all here and closeby.”

“We must send people out!” Eliphas cried angrily. “We must scout and look for survivors! Take out all of the striggae and their pets!”

“That is what they want us to do!” Gwideon scowled. “Separate us and take us out one by one. We stay and let them come to us, they will be drawn to the Fortresses that are still under our command. We wait, they’ll not hunt them, thinking we will come for our own.”

“They are using them as bait, trying to draw us out,” Rhys snarled. “I say we do the same! Go to them and use them to find those who track them!”

“No one leaves,” Alastor proclaimed. “We stay here and keep guard! Gerard, you and I will take turns on the summoning beacon. Eliphas, you and Fastion on the parapets. Rhys and Gwideon, on the perimeter. Usiah! I need you and Sendafil to take shifts in here and watch the portal in case anymore come through here. Tell the healers to be ready! There may be servants or brothers coming if any can escape! Alert all of the staff and have everyone at the ready! I will summon our covens.”

I slipped up next to Rhys and took his hand in both of mine. He looked down at me in surprise, then hugged me to him. “You should not be here, little one.”

“Must you go out into danger? Can you not stay inside with me? Where I can be with you?”

“My skills are most suited for where I will be, have no fears. I will be well and no one will harm you.”

“Are you certain you’ll not be harmed?”

“You have my word, little one. Go on now, go up to my room and wait for me.”

“I do not wish to, can I not stay here and watch the portal as well? Help if someone comes through?”

“As it pleases you,” he smiled slightly.

I knew what it was. He was pleased I asked to stay and not go and hide. That I wanted to help.

“We go now!” Alastor announced. “Stay linked, all of you!”

Rhys bent quickly and kissed the top of my head, then he was gone, hurrying out the front with Gwideon.

As the others dispersed, I began pacing, watching both the front hall and the portal.

It occurred to me suddenly, that if I were going to try to get away from here, away from all of this, now was the time. No one was watching for me or paying attention, I could slip out and get to my village! No one was looking there anymore, no one would be hunting for me! The witches wouldn’t even be looking for me, they didn’t even know about me! They were hunting the men.

The men…

Rhys…

I didn’t want him harmed, but I didn’t want to stay here either. Not with him or anyone else, or even one of the covens. I wanted to go home and try to find my papa.

It was now or never!

I started including the large front hall in my pacing, taking more and more time out there and only popping in to the portal room.

Usiah was hardly paying any attention to me at all.

The next turn out of the room, I hurried to the front door and barely opened it, slipping out quietly and shutting the door. I could see no one at all as I looked both ways and I darted out to the stables and looked again. When it was still clear, I hurried to the gate and slipped out, looking around and hurrying behind the wall where no one could see me. I peeked, looking up at the parapets as well, but I saw no one.

Staying low, I headed towards the woods where I knew my way better than anyone.

I was a bit surprised, and even a bit scared when I made it to the forest with no one stopping me. The Striggae wouldn’t be in the forest though, would they? Not when they had a perfectly good road? I hurried, but stayed careful and quiet as I paid attention to everything around me. As much as I tried to hurry, I was moving too slow with as careful as I was being. The more it stayed quiet around me, the more bold I got and less careful I was. I was moving in favor of speed and less about making noise or staying low.

I knew I was getting close when things began getting super familiar to me. I was less than half an hour away!

I began moving even more quickly, smiling and excited. I hoped my papa was home! I hoped he was alive mostly, I hoped many of the villagers were, but I hoped him most of all. We were on the very edge of the woods, his little cobbers hut. Hopefully he had plenty of time and warning.

A hand suddenly closed over my mouth and I was born to the ground by a heavy body.

I let out a fearful squeak and closed my eyes in fear, hoping it wasn’t one of the Striggae.

“Are you out of your MIND?” Gwideon hissed in my ear. “Didn’t you hear us SAY this area would be crawling with their kind?!? Come on!” he whispered, getting up and staying low. He tossed a brown cloak around my white dress, then started leading me back into the woods.

“Wait! We are so close, can’t I just see if my papa is alright?”

“No! That village is crawling with Striggae and their minions! Feasting on any villagers that managed to escape last night! Stay quiet!”

I felt sick, looking back behind me in horror. “We have to go help him!”

“There is no one left alive back there! No one! Now stay quiet and let’s go!”

I followed him numbly, him holding my wrist and practically dragging me. I felt horrible and numb and empty.

“What the seven hells are you doing?” Gwideon demanded.

I blinked at him, then looked where he was looking. There were several deer moving close to us, moving along next to us as if guarding us. Directly behind us, a bear was following as if taking up the rear and guarding us from behind.

I turned back around, still numb and lost. “They’re protecting us,” I told him sadly.

“You’re doing that?”

“Can we just go?”

He sighed, then started pulling me along again.

A little more than halfway back, Rhys came through the woods and froze, looking down at me in fury.

I looked up at him, still numb and lost.

The bear let out a roar and charged Rhys and Rhys immediately drew his sword.

“Don’t you DARE hurt him!” I screamed, not knowing which one I was talking to.

The bear slowed and stopped, but put himself between Rhys and I. Rhys sheathed his sword and his eyes went back to me. “You’re a selfish little bitch!” he hissed angrily. “We had to weaken our defenses to come and find you! To save you! We shouldn’t have! We should have let you put yourself in their hands! You put us ALL in danger, not just those of us who left the Fortress to find you! What right do you have? Do you know…”

“Enough!” Gwideon whispered. “She is found, let’s get back now!”

Rhys snarled, then spun and left. Gwideon began pulling me along again and this time the bear stayed close enough for me to touch. The deer moved in closer too, the two largest bucks leading the way. When I looked back, there was a bobcat following us now, his new position taking up the rear.

“How the seven hells are you doing this?” Gwideon asked wondrously.

“I don’t know,” I whispered back. Rhys had hurried ahead, too angry to stay and wait.

Gwideon looked over at me a few times. “Do you want free of him, Ecowyn?”

“I do,” I whispered sadly.

“If you go to Alastor and tell him, he will take you from him. You could be mine instead… if you wished it. I would be good to you, take care of you and see you happy. I would never hurt you or compel you. I’d be a good husband to you.”

“You misunderstood me,” I told him harshly. “I want free of ALL of you. All of this! I just… want my papa! I want to go back to my life, and…” I broke down sobbing, my knees giving way.

Gwideon caught me and lifted me, moving more quickly now as he carried me. Seconds later, Rhys was taking me from him, holding me as I sobbed brokenly. “You must be quiet!” he growled, moving even more swiftly through the trees now.

As I lay in his arms and I could see up, I noticed several ravens flying above us, watching us, and two owls as well. Watching the skies. Keeping an eye on me.

They were all guarding me.

Turning, I hid my face in Rhys’s chest and held on to him, heartbroken.

When we broke free of the trees, I could see that it was starting to get dark. All of the animals stayed with us and in the clearing I could see that there were more of them now. Small animals. Badgers, mongoose, rabbits, snakes, squirrels and out of the shadows moving stealthily around all of us, even all of the animals, was a pack of wolves. At least 20 of them.

“Fucking hell,” Rhys breathed, looking around as he sprinted to the fortress. They stayed with us, all of them. Gwideon looked spooked as well when they all came in the gates and spread out inside the large enclosure inside the gates. Most slowed once they were in the gates and circled the wall as if they were taking up stations around the fortress. The wolves stayed outside the gate and kept watch from the outside and the birds all circled above.

The bear followed us all the way to the door and in, making Usiah a little wild eyed as we all came in.

“He’s with her,” Gwideon breathed, giving the bear a wide berth.

Rhys started to set me down, but I hugged his neck and held on tightly, not ready for him to let me go yet.

“Little one,” he whispered, hugging me slightly. “I must go back out and keep watch!”

“The wolves are keeping watch outside the walls, and the rest of them on the inside. The birds will see anything coming from a long ways off. You can stay for a bit?”

“And how are they supposed to let us know that they see something?!?”

“They’ll tell me,” I told him.

“You can… speak to them?” Alastor asked from so close that I jumped and turned to look at him.

“I… not really? But I can sort of sense them? Like, they are all wary right now, on guard. Out there, they were protecting me, forming up around me to keep me safe.”

Eliphas slipped in the door, his face pale. “There are a great many…” he paused, looking at the giant bear who was looking him over to ascertain whether he was friend or foe. “Ahhh… there are a great many animals out there…”

“Her new friends,” Alastor spoke up, sounding amused. “Ecowyn, is there a way to let them know not to hurt our brothers?”

“They know what the bad ones smell like, the killers of all and readers of death. Anyone else, it depends on if they mean me harm or not.”

“That’s… very handy, isn’t it?” Eliphas asked, surprised. “How come you didn’t tell us of this gift?”

“It was stress induced,” Gwydion spoke up. “She’d just found out her father and entire village were all surely dead, the Vamphyr would have found everything living in the night. She was upset and she was shutting down… they all felt it and came to her, forcing her gift to surface.”

“I’m sorry for your loss,” Eliphas told me gently, looking down. “You there, bear! Make sure she doesn’t go haring off again!”

“He says his name is Henry,” I told Eliphas.

“Can you truly speak to them now?” Alastor asked excitedly.

“No,” I smiled wanly. “I was joking. But now his name is Henry.”

Rhys let out a half snort of amusement and I hugged him harder, hoping he wasn’t about to put me down. “Ecowyn, I can’t…”

“Southeast! Two riders on horseback! Men!” I cried out, not even realizing it or understanding why. I did know then, when I could see the men in a birdseye view briefly. “Black and Red!”

“Eliphas! Gwydion! Ride out but only halfway in case it’s a trap!” Alastor yelled. “I will call in the others! Rhys, stay with her in case she has another epiphany!”

Everyone took off and Rhys quickly went to the map room and sat down with me in his lap. I realized as he looked me over worriedly that I was panting and a little terrified. Henry was nudging me with his nose, making a rumbling noise that sounded pleading.

I let my head fall to Rhys’s chest, trembling now as I reached over to scratch Henry behind the ear. “Henry is a Henrietta,” I told Rhys softly.

He snorted again. “Good to know. Ecow…”

“Four Striggae coming from the woods in pursuit!” I cried out, then saw the image chase the words. Four women all in black, seemingly flying out of the woods after the men on horseback. “They will not reach them before they reach us,” I finished, wilting as I started panting again.

“Usiah! Usiah, get Alastor, now! Henrietta, stay with her, I need to go out with my brothers!”

I was too tired to argue as Rhys set me in the chair and took off. Henrietta acted as if she had understood Rhys and took up a position in the doorway where no one could get in.

I was asleep when Alastor woke me up, Henrietta right there with him, her face in mine like she wasn’t going to let him bother me too much. Overprotective Mama.

“Ecowyn? Ecowyn, where is Rhys? What happened?”

“Striggae. Four of them following the men.”

“Was it a trap?”

“I haven’t heard from anyone else,” I sighed sleepily.

“The rest of us are here! Closeby. Do you have the strength to allow more communication with them?”

“I don’t know if I will wake up if… The Striggae are all dead. The men come,” I spoke, then saw the image of the five riders coming to the Fortress. They had all run out to meet the striggae and kill them rather than get to safety! I was angry for a moment before I passed out.

I was jostled seconds later and opened my eyes enough to see Rhys picking me up to hold me in his lap as he sat down with me. I heard strange voices and Henrietta was hovering close, making worried and grumpy noises at Rhys. The bobcat was up on the back of the large chair, looking over Rhys’s shoulder down at me. I smiled at him, then went right back to sleep.

It seemed like seconds later, I sat up with a gasp. “Group of humans! On foot coming from large light and noise! Many humans male and female!” As the words left my mouth, I got the image in my head. A large group of people huddled together and trying to hurry, coming from the town. “The town,” I mumbled. “They’re all coming. There’s one white and one silver with them, the rest are servants and…” I yawned, then fell back to sleep.

When I woke again it was to arguing.

“…can’t keep this up much longer! We have to wake her long enough to tell her to sever her link so we can keep a watch and save her from using herself to death!” Gwydion was yelling.

“She’s strong!” Rhys countered, “and she sleeps between bouts of using her link!”

“She needs to eat too, a way to get energy into her! She can’t run on nothing!” Alastor spoke up. “You need to get her to eat something!”

“I’m fine,” I whispered to Rhys. “I’ll eat now. Ask Jenny if I can have more toast with butter and jam and milk…”

“Gerard!” Rhys snapped.

“I heard her, I’m on my way,” Gerard answered.

“Ecowyn? Did you see something? Is that why you woke up?” Rhys asked.

“No, all of you yelling woke me up. I don’t see anything, they… use me to speak, then I see a brief image. I think it’s the seeing through them that makes me so tired. And I’m so tired…”

“You can go back to sleep as soon as you eat,” Rhys promised. “My strong, beautiful little halfling. Do you see how amazing you are doing? Animals are out there flocking to the Fortress, leading people in. They are helping us, Ecowyn! Our horses! They are taking off and leaving, then coming back with brothers! Halflings and servants! We have a full dozen horses out right now!”

“That is what I feel…” I whispered. “I feel it all flowing out of me and I don’t know what it is, or where it’s going. I don’t know how to stop it. I don’t want to stop it, not right now… but I want to know how to stop it.”

“The Enchantresses are on their way,” Alastor spoke up, moving close.

The bobcat made a low yowling noise like a threat.

“He won’t let anyone near you but me,” Rhys told me, a shining and amused pride in his eyes.

“Will they be able to tell me how to control this?” I asked Alastor softly.

“They will, though it usually takes a long time. Stress, emotion and need forced your gift to be pulled from you. You called to them without knowing what you were doing and they pushed that small opening open wide, forcing their way in as well. They will be here soon and they’ll be able to teach you how to close yourself off right away,” Alastor told me gently.

“Hopefully before it kills you,” Gwideon snarled. “I still say we put her in the cell so she can really rest! Before she is drained dry!”

“She’s strong,” Rhys told him again. “I can feel it in her. She’s small and weak as a human, but as a halfling, she’s powerful. I’ve met Enchantress’s with less power shining in them than she has in her right now.”

“Her shine is bright, but maybe that just means she will burn out more quickly!” Gwideon argued. “Please, brother, think of her! Don’t let her use herself up because you’re so focused on using her gift!”

“Shut up Gwideon! I’d never put her in danger!”

“We all know you would! To get what you want? To save as many as you could, you would sacrifice her and think it an even trade,” Gwideon yelled.

“Enough!” Alastor growled. “Ecowyn, how do you feel? Do you feel like you could go on a bit longer, or do you want to sleep in a nulling cell until you are recovered?”

“I can go on,” I told him softly, rubbing Rhys’s arm. “He’d never let me go past my limit and risk losing me. He thinks I’m too pretty to lose.”

Alastor chuckled and Rhys turned red. “It’s not JUST that,” he hissed.

“He says as he plays with my curls he loves so much,” I smiled as I closed my eyes and leaned against him.

He snatched his fingers out of my curls and I giggled sleepily.

“You’re more to me than just your looks!”

“Annoying?”

“Hush,” he whispered.

“Oh, yes. Annoying. Talk too much.”

“I liked sleeping close to you as well,” he grumped irritably.

“Oh, that’s nice to know. You like my size, you did say that. My looks, my size, my hair, my body. I’m guessing you also like using me as you did. Exploring? Isn’t that what you called it?”

“Ecowyn! Stop!” Rhys hissed, his cheeks red.

“She’s sleep drunk,” Eliphas huffed. “She needs more rest.”

“After she eats, you need to let her sleep!” Gwideon demanded.

“All of you mind yourselves!” Rhys snapped. “And move so he can bring her food over. Sit up a bit, Little One, and eat,” he told me gently, helping me sit up.

He was so solicitous helping me eat that I almost felt like he did like me for more than my looks. I realized then what it was. I was an asset to the Fortress in a big way. I was valuable and strong as far as my ability. I was strong and I was his. He was proud of owning me, a powerful tool.

That realization made me sad as I finished eating, then finished my milk.

I tried to lay my head down, but I no longer felt comfortable on him, or safe. He didn’t have my best interest at heart at all, he had his own. He WOULD use me up without a second thought and that made my heart ache.

“May I curl up on the chair on my own? I feel cramped like this,” I lied.

“Are you sure? I can move you?” he offered quickly. “Hold you the other way and stretch out a bit and…”

“No, thank you, I just want to curl up on the chair. Have someone stay close in case something wakes me, everyone else should start getting some rest. You have brothers here now who can help, right? Go get some rest.”

“I will bring you with me then, you can sleep in our bed.”

“I’d rather be down here, close in case it’s urgent. I’ll be fine, just keep someone in here to warn the others.”

“Ecowyn…”

“It’s fine, please?”

He huffed angrily, glaring at Alastor, but stood and put me on the chair a little roughly. “I’ll stand first watch,” he growled.

“You’ve been up a long time,” I told him. “You should sleep,” I yawned. Now that Rhys was gone, the bobcat moved down and laid next to me, curled up with his head on my hip. He started purring loud enough that everyone looked at him in surprise and I giggled. “You realize I can’t sleep with you doing that on me, right?” I asked him teasingly.

He lifted his head and blinked at me, then sighed as he laid his head back down. He didn’t start purring this time.

“He understood you?” Alastor asked quickly.

“It was less understanding my words and more my intentions and want. They can’t understand our words anymore than I can understand their growls and snarls or whatever. It’s about what we feel and see. Like earlier when I said the place with lights and noise. That’s how they see the city.” I yawned again and turned away from all of them. Cuddling the bobcat close, I fell back to sleep.

I didn’t know what time it was when I woke, but Alastor was at the doorway speaking softly to a tall, regal woman in silver.

“… should be given to our care regardless! She is not a typical halfling, she’s as powerful as any full enchantress! More powerful than some. It is unprecedented for her to have her power yanked out so hard that it punched such a huge hole into her wall. She needs guidance! Training.”

“You’ll not talk Rhys around, he is determined to have her. Rhys is not the sort to let something go, not ever. He will fight and he won’t stop fighting, losing is not in his nature.”

“Then you will step in! Intervene! Tell him he must give her up!”

“You don’t understand… Rhys has never once taken a companion, his focus has only ever been on his cause. This girl made him look twice and twice again… you could SEE the way it twisted him to not understand how he felt for her. To be so at odds with himself over it. Now that he has decided to keep her, there will be no talking him around, no matter who says it. He cares for her… and he tries to explain it away in terms he knows and understand, but it’s only because he’s never had those feelings before and doesn’t know how to express them. He had genuine worry when we found she had slipped out. I told him it was too dangerous to go after her and he ignored me utterly. His brother joined him, tracked her and they brought her back. AFTER I had forbidden it. I should have set him down for it, but with everything happening and her bringing all of these creatures back with her… it isn’t the right time. He is so volatile right now anyway over not understanding why he cares for her more than he cares for the rules and his brothers now. It is something new to him and he doesn’t like it or understand it, yet it’s there. I told him this morning that I would take her from him and send her away if he didn’t change how he was treating her… he told me later when I mentioned it that he’d kill me if I tried. He threatened me, Cansanita. He said he’d change even if it took a year and I would just have to have patience because he wouldn’t let her go.”

“Then he will just have to come with her. She needs training.”

“He is Venatoradiantes. You know he will not, him more than anyone. He is the most dedicated Radiantes I have ever met, it is his only drive. Until this girl. He won’t leave his brothers and he will not allow her to be taken. She will have to be trained here. It doesn’t matter anyway, she is not why you are all here. We will not speak of her again until the summit and I swore to Rhys I would allow none in to see her until he was with her.”

“Then send for him! I wish to see her now!”

“She needs her rest!”

“I’m awake,” I told Alastor softly.

He turned quickly and came in, kneeling next to my chair. The bobcat growled, then stood and screamed, that was the only word that came to mind, when the woman came close. The woman paused, looking at the cat wide eyed, then stepped back when Henrietta got up and growled as well, going up on her hind legs as she warned the woman back.

“They sense she means me harm,” I told Alastor.

“I told you that you could not come in here without Rhys!” Alastor spat, standing and turning to the woman. “You would make me break my word over your curiosity and stupid stubborn pride?!? I will call a hearing at the summit! Tell them of your demands and missteps here tonight!”

“You will do no such thing!” the woman hissed. “I have every right to see her and lay hands on her! She will be MY charge when I bring her up to the summit that she should be removed and taken into MY care! My gift is the closest to hers and no one will be able to teach her as I will!”

“Usiah! Wake Rhys please, and then the others. Quickly please!”

The bear backed the woman out of the room, then stood blocking the door, snorting and huffing at her. When Henrietta stopped and sat down in the door, I assumed the woman had left.

“She can’t really make me leave, can she? Jenny said the enchantresses are all nice, but she didn’t seem very nice.”

“There are always the odd ones out. Venator are all serious and cold, yet you have met Gwideon. His good nature is an anomaly, just as her bad nature is. As for what she can do, I’m not sure. This is unprecedented that they would demand a halfling that has been claimed. It will be wading into uncharted waters. I do know that Rhys will cut down any who think to take you from him. Fastion claims it’s because he was so driven and single minded that he was more animal than man, that’s why he connected with you. You tamed him with your gift. It isn’t so of course. Every man has that one right person in their life who comes along, the one who will turn his head no matter how set against it they are. You are his one person. For anyone else, he wouldn’t have even stopped, even if you had really been a child like he thought at first glance in the dark. If he hadn’t…”

“Ecowyn?” Rhys called from the other side of Henrietta.

“Step around her, she won’t bother you!” I called. “She’ll let you pass, but not that woman who was here.”

“Incotanitargenti Cansanita,” Alastor told Rhys as Rhys pushed past Henrietta and hurried to me.

“Little One? How do you feel? Do you need more rest? What’s wrong? Did you have a vision? You still need sleep! Are you hungry? Do you need a blanket? Something to drink? Usiah! Get her some water! And a blanket!”

I managed to smile at him and pat his hand that was holding mine. The bobcat stretched and sniffed at Rhys’s hand, then yawned and stood, turning a circle and laying back down. He went back to purring with his head on my ribs. I giggled again, the vibration sort of tickling. “I need nothing, Rhys,” I told him softly. “I woke on my own. I’m a bit sore and weak, but not as tired as I was.”

“Do you need the privy? Do you wish to wash up? Do you want more food? Feronwyd! Bring her some soup, please! Do you hurt anywhere? Do you need some tea for your aches? Oh! We have a healer here at the moment, do you need healing?”

I giggled again. “Are you going to let me answer a question or just keep asking more and more questions?”

“Sorry. Do you need healing?”

“No, I ache but it isn’t that bad. I’m not really hungry, but I do need a drink and I probably need to eat even if I don’t feel like it. I do want to wash up before I eat, though. I smell like… animals. No offence Bob. His name is Bob, by the way. Like, Bobcat? Bob.”

He gave me a rueful twist of his mouth that I guessed was supposed to be a smile. “It’s nighttime now, Little One. DId you know that wolves have a tremendous hate for Vamphyrs? We didn’t know until tonight. The trackers have all talked about all of the wolves and how many packs there must be here. They warn of the Striggae with howls, but they go after every single Vamphyr like it’s personal. I’ve never seen such a thing.”

“It must be why they gather in Mjennic as they do,” Alastor spoke up. “No wolves there.”

Usiah stepped around Henrietta like he’d been doing it for decades, like he didn’t even notice he was there as he squeezed around her. Handing Rhys a tray, it had a crock of water, a bowl of soup and a chunk of bread, along with a lemon tart. He also had a blanket draped over his arm that he laid over me as soon as Rhys took the tray.

“She wishes to wash up first,” Rhys told him, pulling the blanket back and setting the tray on the edge of the map table.

“Thank you,” I told Usiah and he gave me a nod and a tight smile as he moved back.

Rhys had to help me stand, but I waved him off when he went to pick me up. Bob and Henrietta both came with me and when I went into the main hall, a crow cawed from the chandelier. I looked up and it took flight swooping down on us. Rhys flung an arm up over me like he was blocking me from an attack and the Raven landed on his arm, flapping its wings for balance. When Rhys moved his arm out wide, the raven adjusted its footing and flapped some more, then cawed again at Rhys.

“That’s Ray,” I told Rhys.

“Ray like Raven?” he asked, smirking as he walked me with his free arm. “Does he imagine I am going to just carry him around?”

“I believe he does. There isn’t much room for him to fly, so he has to be carried to be with me. I don’t have any sleeves on my dress and he’s too heavy for me to hold aloft like that. That means you, since you are with me.”

“And if I just lower my arm?”

“He’ll flap and caw until you raise it back up. Peck at you a bit.”

He sighed as if put upon, but I could see the pride in his eyes. The animals all trusted him and he liked that. “No animals in our bedroom,” he told me.

“I don’t think they’ll be staying past this emergency. Once I feel safe again.”

“Good. The bear makes everyone nervous.”

“Not Usiah, not anymore.”

“Nothing phases him for long. He was a bit discombobulated for a moment, but then it was just another obstacle for him to get around. Here you are. Do you need my help? I can…”

“I have it from here,” I smiled tightly.

As soon as he stepped out and closed the door, I heard the raven start cawing loudly and flapping his wings irritably. I only smiled.

When I came out, he finally settled down, but his feathers were all ruffled like he was offended. Henrietta and Bob were both just waiting patiently. Rhys looked irritated as he looked down at me, his arm held out far away and his head leaning away. “For you, I will not wring this thing’s neck,” he growled. “But tell him I won’t be his mule.”

I laughed and took Rhys’s other arm and he seemed mollified by that as he walked me back to the map room. When we got there, a man in brown was speaking to Alastor and he eyed me curiously as Rhys led me to the chair and covered my lap. Ray hopped up and flapped over to the map and landed on the highest hill on it, looking around the room imperiously.

“That’s Ray,” I told Alastor.

Rhys set the tray on my lap and I ate as I listened to the man in brown. “As I was saying, the wolves are doing a superb job of killing the Vamphyrs, we keep finding more and more bodies. We think some of the others are helping them, we found antler marks in some of them, and some have deep scratches like large cat marks,” he told Alastor, eyed Bob warily.

“This is Bob,” I told him, petting Bob.

The man nodded, then turned back to Alastor. “The Striggae they leave to us, howling and circling them, staying out of sight, but leading us right to them. They are actually very clever creatures! Also, three times now a fox has come to me and one time I followed him right to a group of three Striggae who were casting some sort of location spell in a copse of trees near the forest edge. The others were single ones hiding and watching, easily dispatched. I could get used to this hunting with animals, they make it very easy on us.”

“Thank the girl,” Alastor smiled. “Ecowyn, I’m about to go to bed. Another Vinatorargenti will be here to take my place momentarily. Rhys, I have forbidden Cansanita entrance and access to Ecowyn. If she comes, remind her of the cost of defying me.”

Rhys gave a single nod, then turned back to me. “Try to eat it all, Little One, you need your strength.

“So this is her, the beast queen,” the man in brown smiled thinly, stepping closer and looking down at me. “Your gift is truly remarkable, I can see why the covens are already fighting over you and who should have you. I’ve also heard there is a question as to whether Venatorcandidas will be allowed to keep you. Some say Gwideon will win you from him. Is that so? Do you have feelings for Venatorbrunus Gwideon? Do you dislike the cold, uncaring and violent Rhys?” he asked, his eyes burning into Rhys as if there was anger there.

“I don’t know what you mean? Why would I choose Gwideon? Rhys claimed me and we have already bonded as husband and wife… he is not cold or uncaring to me.”

“I notice you left out violent,” the man sneered.

“Oh, he is violent. Violent to any who might think to take me from him or harm me or his brothers. That I do not dispute. What I do dispute is all of you assuming that I do not care for him as he cares for me, as if he is some sort of unlovable monster. You call me the queen of beasts and perhaps I am. Rhys is my beast and I adore him. Go now and try to plant your dissent elsewhere.”

The man raised an eyebrow, then looked at Rhys with a slight smirk. “She cares not for you, brother, but she will defend you to her dying breath. A bit sweet. Sort of like our mother, I suppose,” he laughed as he left.

Rhys’s face was red as he looked down.

“Is he your trueborn brother?” I asked him softly.

“He is.”

“Why does he hate you so?”

“He doesn’t… but we do have a rivalry of sorts. When we were much younger, too young to dedicate ourselves, before our family was killed by Striggae… there was a girl. He adored her and would have done anything she asked no matter what it was. He wanted to grant her heart’s desire. It so happened her heart’s desire was me. She was not my heart’s desire, I had no feelings for her at all. She was my younger brother’s little friend. I didn’t take it seriously, but he did. He told me I was callous and cruel to dismiss her as I did, and I told him if he was so worried he could give her HIS heart. He’d done it already, but she pretended not to notice and treated him as only a friend. He did go to her and tell her that I wasn’t good enough for her and he would love her. She laughed at him and told him she could not love him, he was as a brother to her. When I came to this cause, it was because our family was killed. He followed me into it because she was. He says he has forgiven me and doesn’t hold it against me… but it must gall him now to see me with a girl when I’ve never had a care for one before. Especially not the girl he once worshipped. He also has never taken a companion. His heart is still hers though she is centuries dead. I think perhaps he begrudges me a bit of happiness now, even after so long.”

“That’s sad for him… what did he mean about your mother?”

His face reddened even more and he looked away. “Finish eating as best you can, Little One. You likely need more rest as well. I think I will take you up to our room to rest, lay down in an actual bed.”

I only nodded and ate as much as I could.

A man in silver came in, watching Henrietta warily as he skirted around her. “Hello, Ecowyn I’ve been told much about you,” the man smiled gently, but his smile didn’t touch his eyes. “I’m Tovian. Your gift is manifesting quite remarkably. Tell me, can you feel it now, what’s it like? Can you sense anything from them?”

I looked up at Rhys warily, then handed him the tray. As soon as he took it and set it down, I held my arms up to him and he picked me up. Laying my head on his shoulder, I hugged his neck and sighed.

“Excuse us,” Rhys half snarled at Tovian.

Tovian quickly moved, looking confused as Rhys left with me. Henrietta and Bob followed and Ray followed quickly and lighted on Rhys’s other shoulder.

“Infernal creature,” Rhys muttered, but his eyes were shining.

“A moment,” came a female voice.

I recognized it and I was guessing Rhys did as well since he kept walking, going up the stairs quickly. He glanced at Usiah coming down the stairs. “Let Alastor and the others know she is sleeping in our room now and I will send if anything happens.”

“I will post someone on your door,” Usuah nodded as he kept going.

“A moment!” Cansanita called again.

Henrietta let out a savage roar and Bob screamed again, which made me jump. Rhys chuckled darkly as he kept walking all the way to his room.

Sitting me on the bed, he turned me and began undoing my dress in the back, then sliding it off my shoulders gently, his fingers trailed along the skin all the way down my arms. Shivering, I sucked in a breath as goosebumps raised all along my arms. His hot mouth on my neck made me go still as he nuzzled in and kissed below my ear. Closing my eyes, I let his soft caresses feel as lovely as they were, trying not to be afraid of what they might lead to. Even when his hands moved back up my arms and around me, gently fondling my breasts, I only lay back on his shoulder and let it feel sublime. His left hand slid over to my right breast as his right hand slipped down under the dress that was now pooled around my waist, then into my underclothes as his fingertips explored. His mouth kissed trails along my neck and shoulder as he bit gently and sucked as well, making me squirm as I held onto his arm that was holding me.

When his fingertips found my bud, I twitched and gasped, then let out a small sigh of bliss as I melted against him completely.

“Do you really think this is wise, brother?” Gwideon demanded from just a few feet away.

My eyes snapped open and Gwideon was looking down at me, at my exposed chest and all the skin Rhys had exposed sliding his hand down.

“What are you doing here?” Rhys demanded, covering me quickly.

As soon as I was covered, Gwideon looked at Rhys instead of me. “I was told to stand on your door in case she has further news.”

“Outside,” Rhys snarled.

“What good would that do? I’d hear nothing out there.”

“You will give us a moment! I will retrieve you when she lays down to sleep!” Rhys demanded.

“She needs rest now, not more of your… harm. Have you compelled her? Is that why she is so agreeable?”

“Get out!”

“I think not. Let her rest. Put your own needs aside and think of her and what she needs.”

“Get out!” Rhys raged.

To my shock, it was Rhys Henrietta growled at, then Bob. Even Ray cawed from his perch on the headboard.

“You have compelled her to be languid and not resist you, haven’t you?” Gwideon asked angrily. “After we all told you not to compel her anymore!”

“I didn’t compel her to do anything! I’m not forcing anything on her!”

“Compelling her not to care is just as bad! It will still cause lasting harm!”

“GET OUT!”

“I will not! You will leave her here to rest alone, or I will summon all of our brothers and tell them what you have done! Go now, or I will take her to a private room!”

“You will not touch her,” Rhys hissed.

Henrietta roared again, going up on her hind legs and threatening Rhys. Rhys yanked his sword from its sheethe as he stood and Bob screamed at him.

“If you harm them, I will never forgive you!” I cried out, yanking my dress up in confusion.

Rhys grimaced, then turned away, flinging his sword across the room with a scream of rage.

Gwideon quickly stepped in and tossed a blanket around me before picking me up and leaving with me, the animals following behind more slowly.

“Usiah! Get Fastion and Gerard! Have them come immediately to the night bay blue room. Tell no one else where she is! Unless Alastor wakes, you may tell him. Hurry!”

Gwideon practically sprinted, turning corners and going down more stairs than Rhys had taken me up. We were in some sort of deep underground part of the fortress and it was dark and cool.

“What happened?” I asked softly.

“He was compelling you again. To be languid and uncaring. To let him do as he pleased. It wasn’t the same as compelling you not to fight, but it is along the same vein. Still wrong. Here now, here we are,” he spoke softly, quickly pushing into a room. When the lights came on, I knew why he’d called it the blue room. It was done completely in dark blue and it was much more lush and lavish than Rhys’s room was. Henrietta and Bob came in, both stalking in an irritated way. Ray was definitely grumpy at being so far underground and away from the open sky.

Going to the wardrobe, Gwideon pulled out a dark blue robe and handed it to me while looking away.

“You had no issues looking a moment ago,” I scolded.

“I was bearing witness then, to his use of compulsion. It is very different. As strong as the compulsion was, I would not have thought you’d even remember it… it must be very much against your nature, the things he was forcing you to do… to allow. To say. You may change, i will not look. Then you may rest and I will stay over here by the door to see that you are not disturbed.”

I hesitated then. “I had thoughts that you were a manipulator and a liar… not a good person at all… those were never my thoughts, were they?”

“As to that, I cannot say, but I can say I am who I am. I am not a manipulator. If I say a thing, I mean a thing. I do not lie, not even a hard truth. It was once a bone between Bonilla and I. She thought I was sometimes too honest and said a small lie so as not to hurt others feelings was fine. We compromised and I said nothing at all.”

“She sounds like she was a lovely person,” I told him softly. “I am covered now.”

He turned and looked at Bob curled up on my lap and Henrietta in the bed next to me, then grinned. “Do you think they will be your constant companions from now on?”

“I’m not sure… but I do think that more want in to me now. I can feel a… pull. Like they are trying to get to me and they are being clocked somehow.”

“I will see they are let in,” he nodded. “As soon as the others arrive, I will do it myself and lead them down here.”

“Thank you… Gwideon? Why do I feel so heartbroken instead of angry? I should be angry that he’s been manipulating my feelings and thoughts, right?”

“It is for that reason that you are sad. He made you think you cared for him, so you are hurt now. It is a natural response and one of the reasons compelling another is so frowned upon. You can change a person’s thoughts, their very nature. It is unfair.”

There was a knock on the door, immediately followed by Fastion and Gerard.

“Gerard, stay here and guard her please, Fastion, with me! Gerard, do not let anyone in, especially Rhys if he finds his way down here.”

He left with Fastion and I looked at Gerard sadly.

He gave me a soothing smile that looked very awkward, like he didn’t know what to do. “Are you well, Little One?” he asked finally.

“I prefer to not be called that,” I told him quickly. “Rhys calls me that.”

“I see. Ecowyn then.”

“Wyn is fine, it’s what papa calls me. Called me. I’m… I don’t know really. Physically I am well. A bit tired and achy, but not bad considering. Inside I am not well at all.”

“I know,” he called gently, his face full of understanding. “Rhys is a hard man to understand, and he approaches every problem with a hammer. He knows no other way. He does care in his own way… but not…”

“About me? Just about what he wants from me and what he wants me to be?”

Gerard blushed and looked at the wall. “I’m sure he does feel for you in his own way… he is just very hard to put into words. He is unlike anyone I have ever known. When Eliphas, the newest of us, came here, he told the cooks he loved lamb stew. Rhys told him he should try this venison soup his mother had made and he’d taught the cook to make. Jenny wasn’t here then. Eliphas said no, he preferred lamb. Rhys was determined to make him try the venison… so, very slowly, he began changing the lamb stew on the days it was being made. Taking out an herb, putting in another, small changes, little things. Finally, after a year of this, he asked Eliphas how his meal was. Eliphas smiled and told him it was wonderful as usual. Rhys laughed and told him he was eating the venison soup. Eliphas only smiled and said, no brother. I noticed the first time you took out the cloves and I began making my own lamb stew for myself and let you put all of your effort into trying to fool me. I watched you and laughed to myself every time you gave me a smug smile as I would eat my delicious stew. The joke was on you, though, brother. The others told me how much they disliked the odd stew and how they always only ate a few bites before eating extra desert. I can only imagine you had to endure the unpleasant taste between the transition and it warmed my heart to know you were getting your just deserts. This did not sit well with Rhys at all. He was livid! So upset in fact, that he gave Eliphas wrong information and sent him alone into a coven instead of to the lone spy. He claims it was a mistake with the way it had been written, but none of us believed that. The very next week… they were out together with Gwideon and set upon and he saved Eliphas’s life. It was as if HE could punish Eliphas, but no one else could. We do not understand his way of thinking, but that is how he is. He cares, but he does not. You understand?”

“I think so. He cares about owning me and having me as he wants me, but not me. He also cares about all of you not taking me from him. He wouldn’t allow it… not for me, but because you are taking something from HIM that he wants.”

“Yes.”

“Do I have any choice in the matter?”

“Moreso now than you did now that it’s obvious he has been compelling you again, despite being told not to. You could probably choose another if you wished it, or another could choose you. You might even be able to choose the coven.”

“And if I wish none of them?”

“That is not possible, Wyn. You are a halfling and you are very powerful. Valuable. You will have to make a choice.”

“I could choose no one here, he wouldn’t let it stand and even so, I would not torment him that way. I suppose I must go to a coven, then. Will I have a choice? I do not wish to go to the one that Cansanita is in.”

“If you choose to go to a coven, you mayn’t have a choice on which one… but you may speak that you’d prefer any besides hers and they will listen. Understand even, as they know her temperment.”

The door opened and Gwideon came in, followed by two wolves, a buck, a badger and the Fastion with an owl on his wrist.

I grinned and sat up as they all came in and shut the door.

“Gwideon apprised me of the situation,” Fastion told me quickly. “He is right to keep you out of Rhys’s reach for now. He may decide killing you is the better option than allowing another to have you. Alastor will know soon as well and we will keep you here until the Summit is called after the fighting and attack is over and all who can be saved are saved.”

“Thank you,” I told him from the floor, down playing with the two wolves who were basking in the attention and ear scratches.

“Thank you both,” Gwideon told Gerard and Fastion. “I will leave it to you to fill Gerard in and if you wouldn’t mind staying across the hall just for now, I would appreciate it.”

“Of course brother,” Fastion smiled. “Come, my Gerard, let’s finish our… rest.”

Gerard laughed wickedly as they left and I sighed sadly and let the wolves curl up around me.

Gwydion sat down in a chair near me and leaned on his knees. “Do you not feel like you could rest just now?”

“My heart is sad and my mind unquiet. I feel as though something is coming.”

“Do you mean with the attack? Or within, like with Rhys?”

“I’m not sure, I only know there is a disquiet and it’s making me nervous.”

“I know a way of making you relax, but it would involve putting hands on you. On your head, anyway. Nowhere else.”

“Do you think it will truly work?”

“Bonilla used to have me do it all the time when she was too long away from the sun.”

I sat up and turned and he slid down to the floor until his legs were on either side of me. Sliding his fingers into my hair, he began placing his fingers in very deliberate spots, finding them one at a time and then pressing lightly until all of his fingers were in place. Once they were, he began a rolling pressure with each finger and it was almost as if each wave was chasing the stress and tension away. I let myself relax with a deep sigh as all the stress left me with an incredibly peaceful and very tired feeling.

I woke with a jerk as the door opened and Alastor strode in. He paused, looking me over and as he did, I realized I had slumped back against Gwideon to fall asleep. He had not moved a muscle once I had, allowing me to sleep.

“Fastion let me know what happened,” Alastor spoke gently, looking around the room at all of the new additions. “Seems you are creating yourself a little menagerie. We might have to put you in the Kings suite to allow all the room.”

“Queens suite. She is the Queen of Beasts now, so I’ve heard,” Gwideon teased, stroking my hair back.

I sat up quickly, stretching my sore muscles.

“Usiah is bringing a tray with meals on it… Rhys has gone outside to fight alongside the wolves. His anger is… at a peak level. He’s asked more than once where you are from everyone he comes across. When he asked me, I did not have to lie when I said I did not know, but Usiah told me only a moment later. He had no issues lying smoothly to Rhys. That man would not be rattled if the Fortress were crumbling around him! He would calmly see everyone out and follow along behind once everyone was done. Tell me, Ecowyn, how are you feeling?”

“Very rested and good, thank you.”

“It’s almost morning and most of the attacks have stopped. Your birds… there are a great many now, are circling wider and wider. Soon they will be all the way to the city in their circuits. They are speaking of calling the Summit sooner rather than later as opposed to waiting for all to make it here. If they could have used the hidden portals, they would have by now and made it here.”

“Unless they are waiting for daylight,” Gwideon spoke up, standing up now. “More will come!”

“All of the horses are back,” Alastor told him sadly.

“That doesn’t mean anything! Some of our brothers are leagues away! They will use the portals to get closer and then come here! The beacon is still being manned, isn’t it?”

“Of course, Gwideon, do not fear. We will man it for a month if we need to. We will leave no one behind that can be saved. Ecowyn, do you feel as if you might be able to come and answer some small questions from a few of us in charge? Your coterie can come as well, of course, if it will make you feel more safe. And I will be there.”

“I can come as well if you wish it,” Gwideon spoke softly.

I glanced at him a moment, but turned away quickly. “If you think Rhys will try and find me,” I told him, then went to Alastor and took his arm.

“Thank you, child,” Alastor told me gently, opening the door.

All of the animals hurriedly following me, Bob and the owl moving ahead as if to scout the way. It was odd being in the narrow halls with so many animals, a bit crowded and tense.

Once we reached the top and Alastor led me up to a large hall with a huge archway at the end, Rhys stepped out in our path. His sword was drawn and he looked furious. His eyes went to me, then behind me to Gwideon. “Do you think to take her from me, brother?” he spat the last word like a curse.