The Sapphire Tiger

Chapter 4: Meet the Songvalers

The fuss started immediately as Dusty led Leif and Max into the orchard, where the festive feast was still underway as people of all sizes and species came to look at the new additions to the castle's residents, a few gasps of wonderment emanating at the sight of the human.
"Is that a human?"
"It's covered in blood..."
"I've never seen one that big before."
"Wow, it's almost as ugly as the last one."
"It smells funny, mommy!"

Leif felt just as uneasy as he looked.
"Max, I ain't used to being the center of attention like this." Max giggled mischievously.
"A good-looking human like you? That surprises me." He replied. "Mind you, maybe most people aren't really into humans."
"What tipped you off, Max," Leif replied. "The fact that most of us have been hunted down and burned at the stake as heretics?"
"Oh come on, Leif. You're not about to blame me for that, are you?" Max said and Leif shook his head.
"Of course not. I was just trying to play it off as a joke." Max laughed at the human's attempt at humor.
"Well, you need to work on it, mate."

Lady Moss was fetched immediately by one of the castle's many guards. She stared in astonishment at the rare creature.
"Oh my, Dusty was serious about you." She commented.
"Aren't I always? I never joke around, m'lady." The she bat replied.
"No, you're right. My apologies, Dusty." The good Lady said as she handed her another bag of coins and turned her attention back to Leif and Max, the former having taken notice of the money changing hands. The she bat's sudden helpful nature now made sens to him. He shook his head at the thought. Lady Moss began talking to them as if they were lost children who had just been found wandering around on their own. "So where did you poor dears come from? Are you hurt?" She asked, looking at Leif as she observed the splatters of blood that stained his body and hair. Leif responded by telling Lady Moss and everyone who stood and listened everything that had happened to himself and Max, even admitting that he was once a bandit until a life-changing event set him straight, leaving out the part that his life had been saved from a fatal wound by a magic armlet which then gave him unholy powers. He didn't want to risk them thinking he was some kind of sorcerer but he wanted to demonstrate complete honesty with them rather than hide his criminal past, hoping they would see him for who he had become and not who he once was. The uncomfortable silence that ensued was brief as Lady Moss stepped closer to Max and Leif, the few armoured guards who were outside watching the human carefully, a firm grip on their sheathed swords.
"But your banditry all lies in the past, I trust?" She asked.
"Yes, m'lady," Leif replied. "I've promised myself to do right by people from now on and do whatever I can to help others. Nothing can take back the things that I've done but I swear to the almighty that I'm a changed man and can prove it, if I'm only given a chance." Lady Moss smiled warmly.
"Oh but of course, my dear. There's no excusing the things you did in the past but I've taken in far worse. But do be warned, my guards are very cautious and will be keeping a watchful eye on you. But don't get me wrong, I'm sure you're a lovely person but some of the other residents of the castle may take some time to warm up to you." She then turned to Max and embraced him in a warm welcome hug, excluding Leif for the purpose of not getting blood all over her beautiful green dress. You are both more than welcome here at Castle Songvale. You poor dears need not worry about food or shelter anymore.
"That's really kind of ya, ma'am. Thank you." Max said and the lady turned her attention to a nearby guard.
"Be a dear and fetch the girls for me would you, Varl?"
"Yes, Ma'am." The lizard said with a respectful bow and went inside, soon returning with ten young girls of varying species who looked to be in their mid teenage years, all very well dressed, almost as much so as Lady Moss, who addressed the girls.
"Girls, would you kindly take these two and get them bathed and re-clothed please? And once you've done that, bring them back out here with the rest of us."
"A bath? I'm glad to hear you say that, m'lady." Dusty said with a chuckle, joking at Leif's expense and the girls complied and Max was taken away within seconds by five of the girls but the remaining five looked very nervous as they approached Leif. He was a very strange creature to them and stood almost twice as tall as they did. It bothered Leif, though not much. Was this attitude something he was going to have to deal with every day as long as he lived in the castle?
"Girls please," Lady Moss said. "Leif is not going to hurt you. I trust him as much as I do the five of you." Reassured, the girls took the human by the hands and arms and ushered him inside the castle.
"Thank you for doing that, my dear." She said to Dusty who bowed politely.
"Oh the pleasure was all mine, your ladyship." She said and fluttered off, having gotten what she came for.