The King's Justice

Part 1 Chapter 11

"I'll tell Maisie on you." Aydra murmured sleepily, watching the direbeast as he was trying to sneak off the bed. She smiled when he froze, then snickered when he let out what sounded like a distinctly pouting grumble.

"Or ... you could bring me something to keep me quiet." She shifted slightly on the pillow and had the satisfaction of seeing him whip around to face her, his lip curling up.

"What? It's not like I'm the one trying to get up after Maisie said to stay put and rest." Aydra said quietly, glancing furtively at the door. She was convinced that Maisie was going to pop up at any time now and catch him in the act of getting up. More grumbling. Then a clear sigh was huffed and ears cocked towards her.

"I'd like a treat, please. And not a slimy rodent because that's EW and humans don't eat those! I want something fit for a human. Maybe a ..." Aydra paused, her face scrunching up as the beast slowly and deliberately swiped his tongue along her face.

"GROSS!!" She hissed in instant disgust and attempted to scrub off any drool left behind. His jaw fell open and his tongue hung out. Aydra watched in bemusement as his body shook slightly with his panting and made a face at him.

"Go on, laugh. We'll see who has the last laugh when I shout for Maisie. Again. I mean, I do need a bit of a drink and I could do with getting up to stretch a bit..." She bit her lip, eyeing the beast from under lowered lashes. His teeth clicked shut and then his lips curled back again, a deliberate threat.

"Oh, get on with it, then! You don't fool me anymore. Besides, you're scared of Maisie too! Also, we both know she would be disappointed in you for even threatening eating a guest under her roof!" Aydra would have turned her nose up if she'd been able to shift that far. The direbeast tilted his head to one side and let out a little growl.

Aydra rolled her eyes and gave a disdainful sniff.

He growled again, a trifle louder.

Aydra yawned.

"EW EW EW EW EEEWWWWW!!! GROSS!!" She shrieked, shaking her head and spitting. She didn't even register the pain shimmering down her back from her movements as she reacted.

"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!" She blurted out. Spluttering, she rubbed her mouth on the pillow in an attempt at trying to erase the feeling of the beast's tongue swiping across her lips.

This time she knew the direbeast was laughing at her as he slid off the bed and padded over to the door. One last glance over his shoulder at her and then HIS nose went into the air as he slid out of the room with a jaunty flip of his tail.

"Cheeky beast! I should tell on him! That'll teach him to lick me!" Aydra grumbled. She was so irritated by the beast slobber that it completely took her mind off the pain that sparked from her movements.

By the time Maisie bustled in, muttering dour things about stubborn beasts with wool for brains, Aydra was ready to get up. In fact, she had already tossed the sheet covering her aside and had gotten as far as shifting her feet over towards the edge. Maise stopped at the side of the bed, hands on her hips and casting a sharp gaze over Aydra.

"So, you think you can get out of bed, do you?" Maisie scolded gently. Aydra bit her lip and blinked hesitantly up at the other woman.

"Yes?" She murmured, carefully shifting her arm underneath her chest and lifting a tiny bit. She looked down at herself, dismayed at the realization that without the sheet she was still stark naked!

"Good thing I'm here to help you! Now then, up you get!" Maisie smiled, reaching for a length of material draped over the headboard. The material turned out to be a large shirt which Maisie tugged over Aydra's head. Then, she helped Aydra shift bit by bit until Aydra was at the edge of the bed and ready to try sitting up. The world spun around her, causing her to gasp. A moment more and her feet were down on the floor and she was leaning on Maisie as black spots flickered in her vision.