Iron

6

Aune leapt up, Zahra right behind her.

"I'm going to run." Aune said, her voice strained.

"Don't tell anyone your plans, just GO!" Zahra whispered back. Aune took off, weaving in and out of annoyed tavern-goers.

"Is there a back door?" Aune called back to Zahra.

"You're heading towards it."

Aune caught a glimpse of Plato rushing towards her. She grabbed the doorknob and wrenched it open. It opened into a dark alley, which both Zahra and Aune flung themselves into. Zahra took the lead now, sprinting off into the night, with Aune hot on her heels.

"We're going back to the inn!" Zahra shouted. "Hopefully he'll be too drunk to notice and think it was a bad dream!" She seemed to be able to run all day, judging by her breathing. Aune panted and did her best to keep up. It was hard going for a girl who had never run like this in her life.

Suddenly something slammed into her head. She cried out and sank to the cobbled ground, clutching it.

Zahra was there in an instant. "Are you alright? What happened?" Aune was no fool. She knew instantly that Plato had gotten into a fight in order to hurt her. Again an invisible force slammed into her gut and she groaned. "He's using our connection..." Aune broke off again as her shoulder was wrenched ferociously backwards. She felt it crack and shrieked.

Zahra stood up, flames dancing in her eyes. "Follow me as best you can. I'm going to go stop him." In an instant, Zahra had disappeared. Aune stood up slowly and tottered after her, shoulder flaming with pain. Her knee was knocked out from under her with what could only have been a kick. Aune fell, hitting her bad shoulder. She screamed. She wouldn't make it back like this. Zahra! Hurry! Aune didn't move any more. She was in too much pain. Blows kept landing on her face and torso. Her nose cracked. Her head was punched again. Buffet after buffet. Then, suddenly, they stopped. Aune took a deep, painful breath. Her head swam, then suddenly there was nothing.

Aune opened her eyes in a brightly lit room on a soft bed. Someone was standing not too far away, but Aune couldn't see who it was. It hurt her head to think. Then the room swam into focus, painfully sharp, and Aune groaned. The figure turned around. It was a nurse, and she smiled when she saw Aune.

"Master Plato's been wondering when you'd wake up. He says he wants to get a move on. But you won't be traveling for a few days yet." Aune sighed in relief. The last thing she wanted to do was to ride a horse for a full day. Suddenly the nurse lurched forward and grabbed Aune's hands.

"It's me, Zahra. I know I don't look like how you know me. You need to watch your back. Tell Plato I forced you to come along with me." She shoved a small black pouch into her hand. "Don't let Plato see this. Look at it when it's the right time. You'll know when it is. Good luck." She stood up and walked out, leaving Aune flabbergasted and struggling to tuck the bag into her shirt. It made her head spin.

The door slammed open, and Plato stalked inside. "You filthy little wretch. As soon as you've recovered, you'll get a beating from me. You've caused me to lose my best client."

Aune simply stared at him. He glared at her. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Aune winced. "Please, sir, don't blame me. I refused to move, but the lady threatened me. She said she wouldn't hurt either of us if I followed her. I didn't want you to get hurt, sir." Mentally, Aune kicked herself. What had she been thinking? Of course he couldn't get hurt!

"You slow-witted little... I couldn't get hurt in the first place! Do you have any brains?"

Aune bent her head as if ashamed. It wasn't hard. She felt that way anyway. "I'm sorry, sir. I'm still not used to it. It's all new, you know."