The Taming

Who Stabbed Bast

Rhyers smiled and nodded turning to go back to the library, but Bast caught his arm. Rhyers' brows lifted.

Bast nodded upstairs and put a finger over his lips. He dragged Rhyers into the Parlor.

He doesn't want Elsabet to know.

"What's wrong, Brother?" Rhyers noted the severity of whatever was going on.

Bast never looks this tense.

"Do you remember," Bast's voice was lowered to just above a whisper. He listened attentively to the floor above them. "when I was stabbed in Mane Country?"

"Back in the early 1600's?"

"Late 1500's actually." Bast agreed. "When I heard that voice telling someone to protect me and a woman's scream?"

Rhyers' brows lowered. He frowned. Bast looks almost afraid.

"Yes..."

"The man that stabbed me in Moira's hut...was Lord Demaron. Moira's lover."

"The same man?" Rhyers' green eyes grew huge.

An unlikely coincidence.

We've learned over the years to be cautious of coincidences.

Very few things are connected without someone's doing.

"I couldn't find a photo of him to tell. But I think it possible."

"Ask her."

"I'm not bringing him up to her!" Bast grimaced. "It'd hurt her to talk about it. And she'd know I was reading her thoughts again."

"That's true." Rhyers said thoughtfully. "That'd probably displease her."

"Oh, it most certainly would. Then I'd just be asking her tormenting questions to no purpose. I don't want to hurt her, Rhyers."

"I know..." Rhyers put a hand to his shoulder.

"Whose voice did I hear, Rhye?"

"I have no idea." Rhyers shook his head.

I couldn't even begin to guess...

"I felt certain someone sent a woman to protect me."

"Who?"

"I don't know." Bast shoved a hand through his waving gold hair. Shaking his head in puzzlement.

"It doesn't make sense. He tried to kill me, and he tortured her." Bast gritted his teeth and made a hand clenching gesture. "After seeing what he did to her, I wanted nothing so much as to rip him apart with my bare hands."

"I know."

And he would have.

"What do you want me to say, Bast?" Rhyers queried softly. Arms slumped to his side. Feeling very unsure how to offer reassurance.

"Just," Bast huffed. "When you're here and I'm not...Watch over her...She needs people to care for her."

Rhyers gave him a solemn study and slowly nodded. Feeling Bast's desperation. For you, My Friend. Anything you'd ask.

***

Meadowbrook, Grier Country

SEBASTIAN

Sebastian accompanied Deragan from his rental. "What's your name this time?"

"Derrick."

Uck. Horrendous! Bast eyed him askance.