The Taming

Angering the Bird

"They're coming!" Lucien shouted from behind the cottage.

Mardichi stood up clutching his stomach as he moved shoulder to shoulder with Deragan again. Groaning in dread as he looked at the well-built wall.

Bast caught the boy's arm.

"No!" The woman jumped up from the corner. "I wasn't done with him!" She tried to lunge at them weakly, but Bast palmed her face with his hurt arm and shoved her back with as much force as he could muster in that side of his body.

He dragged the running boy behind him. Reminding himself to slow enough he could keep up. He shifted the boy to hang onto his hurt arm so he could clutch the wound closed with his other hand. Trying to stem the bleeding.

"Ye're wounded!" The boy cried.

"Hang onto me." Bast barked as the two men before them splintered the back wall. Making an opening Bast and the boy jumped through. Running behind them. Rhyers and Lucien fell back to flank the boy, keeping him in the middle. They reached the NetherRunnel and hid in the trees while Rhyers backtracked to cover their trail.

In a few hours Deragan said the scent had died. "They're gone."

"We didn't kill her." Bast grunted. He lay on his side, clutching his shoulder.

"Ye're bleeding bad." The boy said.

"We'll take him to WaterRose." Deragan added.

Mardichi threw Bast over his shoulder. Making Bast groan in pain.

"His bird isn't going to like this." Lucien grimaced. Fearing for all of them.

"Somebody needs to take the boy to the FireStar in LandingTown." Bast said weakly.

"Me!" Lucien volunteered. Grabbing the boy's arm. "That's me. We're going to the FireStar, Lad." He said cheerfully. "You all can explain to the bird why he's wounded. I'll have no part of that." He waved them away as he quickly turned in the opposite direction.

"I really want back on the FireStar." The boy murmured.

"Me too, Lad. We'll wait out the storm there."

***

WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier Country

RHYERS

"What'd you do to him?" Elsabet emerged just after Mardichi deposited Bast on the settee in the parlor.

Mardichi heard the shouting and crept out the door without looking back. Never even seeing the woman. He'd successfully managed to dodge her since her arrival. Having no desire to listen to a woman railing about whatever inconveniences she found.

"Mardichi!" Rhyers called to his retreating back.

But the barbarian was gone.

Coward. Rhyers thought.

Leaving Deragan and Rhyers under the valkyrie's narrowed gaze. Deragan tilted his head at her. "Have you grown fond of him?"

She flushed.

Rhyers nudged The Alpha.

The Alpha's head slowly turned to stare at him. And the air tightened with Deragan's irritation.

Shouldn't have done that. Rhyers instantly regretted touching him but knew not how else to get him to pause.

The Alpha always saw straight into the heart of a matter.

But has little skill in using decorum rather than raw truth.

"We did nothing but help him. We're much of the reason he was able to come back." Rhyers defended.

"He didn't come back." She said acidly. "You carried him in."

Fair point.

"Actually," Rhyers tucked his hands behind his back thoughtfully. Willing to disperse the blame. "That was Mardichi."

She'll remember his name now, if she ever sees him again.

"What were you doing?" She demanded.

He wouldn't want me to tell you.

But her stormy blue gaze was permeating. Rending at his soul.

"We were rescuing his boy." He admitted.

"He has a son!" She exclaimed accusingly.

Not what I meant.

Deragan astutely turned on his heel and went into the parlor to tend their brethren.

Don't leave me here! Rhyers sent his back a betrayed look. Traitor.

The valkyrie closed in on Rhyers, expecting an answer.

Rhyers immediately remembered the many times he'd reprimanded her and was fair certain, perhaps he was due this tangent she was preparing. Though he shifted uneasily and considered ways to avoid it. At least she now shows feeling for him. He told himself as she began a loud tirade.

"He is not his son." He did manage to interject.

"Then who is 'his boy'?"

"A cabin boy."

"From what cabin!" She shouted.

"A ship cabin."

"The FireStar." Her eyes narrowed.

"Well, yes." Rhyers admitted. Wondering if he was giving something away.

Should I have confirmed that?

Probably not.

"Tell her I got the strawberries." Bast called from the parlor.

Strawberries? What do bloody strawberries have to do with a damn thing?

To Bast's credit, that did end the woman's verbal attack. She hissed through her teeth, gave a squeal of outrage, and fled up the stairs.

"Run Harpie, run!" Bast called weakly from the parlor.

Making her pause at the top of the stairs. "I was worried about you!"

And suddenly it was her turn to silence the great Protector. For not another word emerged from the Parlor.

Well done, valkyrie. Rhyers looked after her as she disappeared down the hall toward her chamber.

***

WaterRose, Meadow Mountain, Grier Country

Sebastian woke blearily. Fading in and out of consciousness from the pain in his shoulder.

He could barely focus enough to note Elsabet was leaned over her. Sopping cool rags to his forehead.

"What are you doing?" He caught her wrist.

"Making sure you're fool tail doesn't die."

"Has my magic faded?" He asked worriedly. Wondering if she could leave the castle with his barriers dropping.

"Not yet." She said coolly. Dipping the rag again and slipping it over his forehead. "But it will."

She'll be free to go.

I won't be able to stop her.

This wasn't the first time this had happened. And he doubted she'd be as inclined to remain as she was last time.

She lifted the bowl and tossed over her shoulder. "Rest."

Deragan.

Sebastian willed the Alpha. Hearing the rumbling response that said the barbarian was listening. Come keep her here. Please

Deragan was the only one large and aggressive enough to do it.

The only one who doesn't seem to fear her.

Sebastian felt the wave of his alpha's disapproval and knew he didn't care for the idea.

Please.

That was Sebastian's last thought before he faded into the darkness. His shoulder pulsing painfully.