Labyrinth: A Darker Season

Chapter 11

Sarah said, “I 'wish' that these two men talking about killing me would freeze in place, not move, their horses would stop and stand there until I lead them away.” She led Shadow out of the forest, and they went up to the thieves.

Sarah said, “You two are a couple of murdering bastards. I'll just be relieving you of everything and turning you into human women, sending you away to another place, broke and stupid as you are. I'm not letting you continue killing and robbing people anymore.”

Sarah cut off their purse's and pushed them out of the saddle on the ground. She searched their pockets and took everything.

Sarah said, “I 'wish' that these two men could never commit a crime again, were turned into human women, freed to move and sent to the town of Práis. She was tossing useless things and taking the horses with empty saddlebags. The robbers had a bag of jewelry and other odds and ends.

Sarah tied one horse behind the other and took them with her to the town of Mhaisiúil (fancy). She stopped and fed all the horses an apple and a handful of feed. She fed a bottle to the kittens, had them go to the bathroom and kissed their heads.

Sarah made it to the town of Mhaisiúil at night. She went to the fae blacksmith and sold him the two horses and tack, and boarded Shadow for two days.

Sarah went into the inn with her gear and asked, “Can I get a room for the next two nights?”

The fae innkeeper was very handsome, he had green vivid eyes and dark blonde hair in a ponytail. Sarah was surprised because most fae looked good, but some were especially attractive to her. He looked her up and down critically and said, “Seven silver a night, meals five and drinks three. Room eight.” Sarah gave him fourteen silver to get some coins out of her purse.

Sarah went up to her room, got settled in, setting up the kittens and feeding them. She wanted a good bath. That port town made her feel dirty. She got out everything for bathing, put the kittens in the pouch and went downstairs to get dinner.

Sarah sat down at the only seat at the counter and asked the fae innkeeper, “Can I get dinner and wine, please?” The fae looked at her funny and went and got her wine. He handed it to her and went back and brought her a roast mutton dinner with potatoes and spinach. As soon as he put it down, the kittens both popped up out of the pouch, mewing.

The fae innkeeper looked at them and laughed. Sarah started laughing too. She said, chastising them both, “You two had your dinner. This is my dinner.”

The innkeeper said, “Are those little cathwyllt kittens?”

Sarah said, “Yes, starving little kittens tonight. I found them at a week old in the woods while camping. Some animal killed their mother.” She cut tiny pieces of mutton for each of them, and they purred like crazy. Sarah took a bite of her dinner and it was delicious.

The fae bent down and looked down under her hood. He said, “You don't have to hide under there. My name is Keynan.”

Sarah said, “My name is Ash. I travel in disguise for security.”

He said, “I can understand that, Ash, but you're safe here. I'll watch out for you.” Sarah moved her hood back a bit and looked up at him. He gasped.

Keynan said, “I understand now. You're not just a regular looking fae. Where are you from, Ash?”

Sarah said quietly and moved her hood forward, “I'm from very far away.”

Keynan said, “Your people have dark hair?” Sarah nodded. The kittens mewed again. Sarah scratched their ears and gave them little pieces of potatoes with meat juice on it. They licked it off her finger, as she ate.