The Princess and the Blade

[Soran Nightblade]

He shook his head. "In that case, absolutely not. From now on, you can keep those sensations to yourself. I realize it's just fun to you, but it's not for me, and I'm not one of your whores from the Indigo Room."

[Emora Deen]

His words were a knife. She blinked at them, not quite certain she’d heard him. “What?” He thought… He thought she was making him feel those things on purpose? That it was fun for her? That he was…

Tenara shook her head, suddenly wanting to be out of the cave, and away from him. She clamored over his lap, disregarding the pain in her hand as she dragged herself out into the daylight, though she did favor it with a cry as she pushed up to her feet. It wasn’t until she was out that she realized she’d left the sword behind.

She paced, hating the idea of going back after it, especially while she was on the verge of tears. “Sure! Next time you’re bleeding yourself to death or you’re a sword, I’ll keep my ‘sensations’ to myself!”

She stormed off, dragging air into her lungs to cool the fire of hurt in her chest.

[Soran Nightblade]

"Have a good night's sleep?" A familiar voice asked. Jace stepped out from behind a tree and crossed her arms, grinning at her. "Princess?"

[Emora Deen]

Tenara was so into her own head that she hadn’t noticed the woman until she spoke. She skidded to a stop just short of running into her, eyes going wide. No. No no no. Not only had they found her but they knew.

She lifted her hands, a warning and a way to keep them at bay. “If you know who I am, then you know what you’ll bring on yourself if you do this. I sent my family word. They know where I am. They’re coming.”

She hoped it was true.

[Soran Nightblade]

Jace leaned against the tree behind her and sighed. "You're not wrong. I never start a hunt I'm not prepared for, and we're underequipped to net such big game at the moment. That sword of yours, on the other hand," she smiled. "Looks like it could fetch a nice price. You won't mind if we take it, will you? It's only fair, since you killed our other merchandise."

More figures moved in the trees nearby.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara hesitated, thinking of Havitharon still inside the cave. Thinking of him reminded her of his words, and the ache in her chest. No matter his hatred of her, he couldn’t be taken by them. He didn’t deserve that, and… they hadn’t tested to see how far she could get away from the sword, if the wounds she gave herself would still open.

And Sinead had told her not to let it fall into the wrong hands.

Did they know where it was? Where he was?

“The sword is useless to you,” she said. “It won’t work for just anyone.” Tenara parted the ruins of dress to show the woman the shimmering scar on her chest. “We’re bound. So ask yourself if you want the wrath of a kingdom and two very angry demons on your heads over a sword that only works for one person.”

[Soran Nightblade]

Jace pushed off the tree. "Fascinating... You speak as if your sword has free will. How do you know it won't for anyone else? Have you tested it?"

***

Back in the cave, Havitharon cast a disparaging look at the abandoned sword on the ground. He reached out and touched it, but it spat his hand away like an electric shock. Damned thing. His lifeline, and his prison.

He'd known Tenara would not like his words, but he hadn't expected her to be personally hurt by them. He had the feeling he was missing something important. This world was so alien; he had no idea how people thought here. He looked down at his zapped hand, flexing it a few times to work the shock out of it. Had his words been wrong? She hadn't denied them...

He shimmied his way back out of the cave, leaving the sword for now. When he finally got outside, he stood and brushed himself off while staring at the opening of the cave. It was impressive they'd both managed to fit in there. Now, he should find her. Regardless of what terms they were on, there could still be people looking for them.

He turned to look for her, only to come face to face with a smiling hunter. "Morning, champ," he smirked. Havi reflexively skipped back, only to crash into another man. Both men were shorter, but had quite a few pounds on him. His arms were pinned before he could regain his balance.

"You were waiting," Havitharon noted sourly.

"We were waiting. Sorry about your little fight with the missus. I'm sure she'll come around once you apologize." The man holding him kicked behind his knees, forcing him to kneel. The one in front of him drew his bow, locked on his chest. "Now, we know that one's a princess. The question is, what the heck are you?" He nodded to more men who were waiting in the wings. Two of them investigated the cave and were back a minute later with the sword in hand.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara stiffened. "Because I called him into the world," she said, trying to sound confident in her answer. She had to make this woman believe Havitharon was not anyone else's to command. "He obeys only me." She hated the words even as they left her lips. She didn't want Havitharon as a slave, the very thought of someone using him as such made her furious.

[Soran Nightblade]

"He?" Jace asked. A wicked smile was growing on her face. "Weren't we talking about a sword? Oh, perfect timing." She nodded for Tenara to look behind her, where her men were marching Havitharon out towards them in chains. One man still had a bow drawn on him for good measure. When they were a few yards away, Havi's legs were kicked out from under him yet again.

"Found this," one called out, and tossed the sword to her.

Jace caught it with an admiring look and gave it a playful swing. "So, princess, which is it that obeys only you? This," she brandished the sword, "or that," she pointed the blade at Havitharon. "On second thought, never mind. I think I'll take both."

[Emora Deen]

"You're taking nothing." Despite what Havitharon thought, Tenara wanted what was best for him. This woman was exactly like the type of women who'd hurt him. She wouldn't let her have him.

The sword in her hand was terrifying and infuriating and Tenara was overcome with helpless rage. She flexed the fingers of her bandaged hand, wondering if she could manage it. Last night she'd called the power without needing to cut herself. She'd done it for him, because of her rage and fear of losing him. Couldn't she do it again?

Tenara drew on it, feeding on the fear of him being taken and the hurt tangling around her chest. They had him bound. A weapon pointed at him. They saw him as the bigger threat. Poor things.

She could level cities. Burn forests to the ground with her anger. Couldn't she do this? Couldn't she save him?

The pain in her hand roared, the holy wound screaming at her to back down and when she didn't its raging fire spread up her arm. She wasn't sure how long she could hold it or what, exactly, she could do. But they didn't need to know that. Red light flickered in her eyes. "Look, let's just get to the part where you're screaming?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"Whatever you think you're doing, I hope you can do it faster than my man's arrow," Jace smiled. "Or are you okay with my man using your freak servant for target practice?"

Havitharon glared at them, running scenarios in his head to think of a way through the skirmish this seemed destined to turn into. It felt very strange to be used as a bargaining chip against Tenara, but he wasn't worried about her falling for it. After all, she didn't need him to survive, and she wasn't responsible for his safety. He was sure she would make the smart choice. He tensed his body, ready to move. Maybe he couldn't dodge an arrow, but if he took the shot in the right place, he'd have the strength to at least try to fight his way out before her power burned them all to dust.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara hesitated. Her magic was emotional and chaotic and she had not yet practiced enough to be certain she could burn an arrow and not a world. And if she didn't, if she attacked and he was struck, he wouldn't want her to heal him. He wouldn't want her touch, and likely sooner die than have her magic woven into him again.

Her jaw tightened. She held the magic, black threads of rot spreading up her arm from the holy wound. It was like molten metal searing her veins. She hissed and grabbed her arm, wrapping her hand tight around it before she growled and relinquished her hold on what power she had. They would escape again, she thought. They would find another way. As long as she didn't get left behind... The light faded out of her eyes. She snarled at the woman. "And what about me?"

[Soran Nightblade]

"Like I said," Jace said with a shrug, "I don't have that kind of manpower at the moment." She glanced at Havitharon. "Or, do I? Maybe I should test a little theory. You," she pointed the sword at the horned being, "Tell me your name."

Havi almost gagged as the order forced him to speak. "Havitharon."

She smiled. "Havitharon, take that man's hand, and kiss it."

He glared at the man beside him, who looked confused. He had to. He had to. The effort not to move made him shake.

"Maybe all the pressure's making him shy. Dan, drop your bow. Mack, let him move." The arrow pointed at his head lowered, and the hands restraining him released.

Havi shivered. Why couldn't he resist it? He was wide open. He could knock both men out and reach Tenara's side in a matter of moments, but it was all he could do just to stay still and avoid her commend. He felt his neck twist, his hand lift to take the stranger's. The shock showed in his eyes as he realized he was obeying Jace.

[Emora Deen]

Tenara's face paled at the sight of Havitharon obeying, without protest. The bounty hunter commanded, and he did. Tenara had never done that to him. At least, not consciously. Her gaze darkened on Jace. She rushed the woman, eyes flaring with red light. "Let him go!"

[Soran Nightblade]

"Stop her," Jace shouted.

All of her men sprung into action, but Havitharon's legs carried him like a deer. He grabbed for her wrist and twisted it behind her, pulling her backward. His grip on her injured hand was erratic, shaking with the effort not to squeeze it. But it was the logical way to stop her, and he couldn't resist the command. *T-tenara?* he ground out the thought, unsure if their connection would remain while the sword was under Jace's control. What if it was gone? What if it was that easy to dissolve any connection to her? Blood dripped from his nose as he struggled to let go of her hand. *Tenara...*