Teague wasn’t sure what to think about anything, but he knew he wanted to talk to someone and that someone was waiting back in his room, in the bed Sahriel used to sleep in, when he could be bothered sleeping at the Inn at all. Usually he just disappeared, apparently to be with Connor James and that just sort of broke his brain. Sahriel didn’t seem the type to fall for someone like James, and James didn’t seem the type to fall for anyone at all, but Sahriel was persistent so it wasn’t that strange, really.

(more…)

Akhenti had slept for a long time, and Miriam had eyed her warily now and then, but made no attempt to wake her, moving softly and quietly when she had to go near. She was undeniably curious about the strange girl, but still found her rather intimidating. Akhenti was loud, bold, combative and a little bit wild – way beyond the normal bounds of Miriam’s relatively conventional world.

Eventually, however, even Akhenti had had enough sleep, and sat up yawning and blinking, cringing from the sun. “Owww ow ow ow,” she complained, hopping up and pulling the blanket over her head like a shelter as she dashed for the bedroom.

(more…)

It seemed like forever until the storm finally started to fade, and by that time the room was thoroughly chilled. Jack was huddling under the few blankets they had left, curling up in his lap like a child or the hamster Teague had called him, burrowing into him for warmth.

“Is it over?” he asked finally, softly, when the lightning had stopped and all they could hear was the quiet steady dripping of the rain.

(more…)

Teague ran back to town but saw no sign of Sahriel. He hurried toward the Inn and was just about to open the doors when they were flung open in his face and a body stormed out, grabbing hold of him and tossing him aside, striding off without any further notice of him. Teague stared after Nefertem and wondered if Sahriel was really going to be alright, because for all that Sahriel said the guy was okay he seemed downright violent to Teague. But he wasn’t about to go calling any more attention to himself and instead got up and scurried upstairs, hurrying to his rooms and rushing in, locking the door and hurrying over to lock the window before searching for a blanket to put over the glass.

(more…)

Someone knocked at the door. Teague frowned, almost certain that Sahriel wouldn’t knock even if Jack was there. He got up slowly and went to answer, opening it curiously and then just staring, feeling like the air was being sucked out of his lungs and he had only just enough time to think he looked eerily like Sahriel before a hand slammed around his throat and he was being lifted off the floor like he weighed nothing, the door slamming shut as the stranger walked in. No wonder Jack hadn’t known how to explain anything…there was no way that creature was human, which made Teague have some very strange thoughts about Sahriel.

(more…)

Teague wasn’t concerned at all until he got back from work to discover Sahriel still hadn’t returned. He looked around the Inn but could find no trace of him and so decided to expand his search circle, a feeling of unease heavy in his gut. He noticed a light on in the stables and thought that odd, heading down and just staring in a stunned sort of stupor at the unconcious body on the ground. Immediately he thought the worst; that the fool had tried to hit on someone less understanding after being turned down.

(more…)

It was when Jack heard Sahriel was going out for the night that an idea began to occur to him, and if Sahriel was even a little late, it seemed to him that it might be enough time to take advantage of. He hurried a little with his work, getting done as quickly as possible and sneaking up to the room that Teague and Sahriel shared, waiting there.

(more…)

Jack was not an important person, by anyone’s measure. He was merely a stableboy, and as such generally overlooked by all and sundry. He knew when to keep his mouth shut, which was how he got by as well as he did – he saw a lot, many things he was never supposed to know and things that people would never have guessed that he knew; which was fortunate, as he well knew that some of them could get himself and others in a great deal of trouble.

For instance, the fact that he had seen Sahriel kissing Master Teague, and he knew well enough that no matter how much Sahriel looked like a girl, he definitely wasn’t one. Jack didn’t know, specifically, that it was against the law, but he did know that such things were just not done, and certainly not to be talked about. In this case, however, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut.

(more…)