The Savage

Part 1: Chapter Three: Brenn

It was the loud warble of a bird that woke Brenn. For a single brief moment, Brenn forgot. Forgot what had happened and where she was. But as her memories awoke just as she had and the pain returned. Light filled the room; the sun high in the eastern sky. Propping herself up onto her elbows, Brenn looked around the beautiful room.

The night before Brenn had been too exhausted to notice or care how lavish it was. Floor to ceiling was pale polished granite. Across the walls were decorative murals painted in vibrant colors. The four poster bed where she lay, held detailed carvings of blodyns, the state flower and royal sigil of Daear. On the bed were different coverlets, of red and gold, Daearian state colors. Everything in the room was either red or gold. Laying over a chair was her navy linen dress, seemingly freshly laundered.

Shifting, Brenn groaned in pain. Her entire body ached horribly. She considered herself an avid rider but nothing could've prepared her for the physical toll of traversing nearly two hundred miles in two days. Pulling back the quilt, blood had soaked through the night dress between her thighs. Brenn frowned. Lifting the cotton chemise up, she saw that her thighs were chafed and bleeding from the saddle.

"Well fuck." she grimaced.

Rory's head suddenly popped up at the foot board of the bed. "Good, you're awake." he croaked sleepily. 

"Are you sleeping on the floor?"

"I had them make up a little bed down here. They wanted to send me off to another chamber, but I objected." Rory said, stiffly getting to his feet. "You alright?" he asked nodding towards her bloody legs.

Brenn pulled the coverlet back over her, "I'm fine. I just need a poultice."

Rory shook his head, "Duthaichi medicine is forbidden here."

Brenn sighed. She'd forgotten. "And I suppose we should abide by their rules as we are guests."

"It is what I would advise." Rory replied dutifully with a nod.

Brenn flopped back onto the feather bed, "Why did mother send me here?" she asked exasperated, more to herself than to Rory.

"We must get word to Commander Syros." Rory replied calmly.

"They are going to think I am here to marry one of their insufferable looking sons. Did you see how they stared? How they all stared." Brenn paused and frowned, remembering the embarrassment of the night before, "Its like they've never seen a Faun."

"The only other Fauns that have ever been at a Daearian court were your grandfather and your mother. And marry one of the Princes isn't out of the question. We are here to create an alliances."

Brenn rolled her eyes. "I should be home. With my people, with my Clan. They need me."

"How much help are you if you're on the run just like them and ignoring the Seer?" Rory pointed out.

"The Seer who tells me nothing?" Brenn snapped.

Rory folded his arms, "I understand that it is easier to be anger than to face your fear for her safety, but don't take it out on me." He replied saltily.

Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes.

Rory moved to the side of the bed and wrapped his arms around her. "There was nothing you could do but run." He comforted.

"I just left her there."

"At her orders."

"The orders of a Seer not a mother." Brenn replied bitterly.