Blood Ward

Chapter 11

In the week it took to reachCoranthine, Stefan would not relent. I chose to keep my distance fromhim, buying my own tent and blankets in the next village. I would notlower myself to pine over him. When Anders asked if I wanted to talkabout it, I shot him down with a bitter "No."

Coranthine was a large coastalcity heavy in trade. There were several inns located by the docks andwe chose one called Deadly Nightshade. "How cheery," Anderscommented as we stepped inside.

"It smells of un-bathedhuman." Beri wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"We don't all smell likethat, luv," Anders pointed out.

"You do to me," shesighed. "Let us just find lodgings and turn in."

"What?!" Anders said inmock horror. "No wine! No ale! No games of chance!"

"Don't you already owegambling debts?" I asked only half scolding him.

"How do you think you makemoney to pay off debts?" He winked.

"Certainly not by makingmore debts," I mused.

"Ye of little faith,"he scolded.

Stefan brushed past us and towardthe innkeeper. While he negotiated our stay, Anders and I found atable. "I feel like getting sloshed. Maybe tonight I will drinkyou under the table." I challenged him.

"You're on, little warrior."He grinned.

"I'll join that if you don'tmind," Daeron said, dropping next to Anders.

"The more the merrier,"I said as Beriima scowled at me.

The longer we sat there, thelouder we got. Stefan and Beri had long since vanished and I wascurrently in the lead. We were having a lot of fun until I saidsomething that made Anders say, "Okay! Time for bed, littlewarrior."

"But I'm not finished."I pouted, looking down at my mug.

"Oh yes, you are." Hestood and pulled me with him.

The room spun and I vaguelycaught glimpses of the other patrons as Anders drug me, stumbling upthe stairs. He dropped me on a soft bed and I said, "Do you wantto join me?" proving just how drunk I was.

Anders laughed. "Littlewarrior, you would not be saying that if you were sober. Goodnight."

I remember fading intounconsciousness until I heard my door open. "Stefan!" Iguessed hopefully, bolting up.

"Guess again, pet." Ihad to be dreaming. There was no way thatvoice could be here. I blinked, trying to focus. Sure enough, my eyesbetrayed the truth.

"Compton," I snarled,reaching for my weapons and finding them absent.

"Ah, ah, ah," hescolded jumping at me and pinning my hands. "Try to fight backand your hands will be the first things I chop off."

"I should have killed youwhen I had the chance," I spat angrily.

"Ah, yes. When that soddingknight knocked me out... Don't worry. He won't be coming this time.He's been arrested for treason," Compton teased.

"How did you find us?"I asked, trying not to think about Stefan.

"Why you walked right intomy favorite get away and made quite a spectacle," he pointedout. "Now, I'm going to finish what I started and take what'srightfully mine."

When he started to reach for hispants, I struggled and cried out angrily. No way was I allowing thisto happen. Suddenly his grip on my wrists loosened and he fell limplyon top of me. I looked up in surprise at Beriima standing in mydoorway, her bow in her hands and an arrow protruding from Compton'sback. "Filthy human," she mumbled, walking over and pushinghis body off me. "Come, we need to get the others and fleebefore his body is discovered." She held a hand out to help meup.