[maikafanawen]

“Filth?” she drawled. The woman stepped back, shaking her fiery hair out of her face. “I don’t remember ever being told to take orders from you elf!” she spat. Her words seemed to hit a slight nerve and he swung around again with his sword. She parried his first to thrusts and side stepped his third, trapping his blade with her sword’s hilt.

“Now,” she drawled, “why don’t you be a good little boy and run back to the king. I’m sure he has some measly chores for you. It wouldn’t do you any good to kill me. That would just make him angry with you. Don’t want to risk losing your precious--” She didn’t finish what she was saying. His eyes had become dark with hatred and his lips were trembling with rage. Gita cursed under her breath; she hadn’t meant to make him cross. Before he had come she had just been thinking that she wouldn’t get anywhere if she continued to offend and affront him. Sending her sword ringing home in its scabbard, she turned quickly on her heel, and walked briskly away.

“Here!” he yelled, fury in his voice. “Where are ye going? I am not thru with ye!” Gita smiled as she turned to face him over her shoulder.

“Yes you are Cuor.” Her tone of voice was gentle, taking the elf aback. “Ye always have been.” Not understanding her meaning, he rushed at her taking a dagger out of some hidden place and pressing it against her throat grabbing the back of her head with his other hand.

“Don’t tempt me!!”

“Tsk tsk. Why change your ways now. Wouldn’t you prefer that I turn my back first,” she chided. Cuor snarled.

“Get out!” The moment he let go she disappeared on her way to the village. Looking back she saw him trudge through the woods back towards the House.

“Damn.” Gita had always known that he would never think of her the way he thought of his Swan Lady, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t think of him.

The village was recovering from the attack when she arrived in her regular peasant clothes. She entered one of the inns where tables had been pushed together to hold the wounded. Not wanting to get caught up in the nursing, she snuck out the back and continued wandering. Gita wasn’t sure when the king would issue his next attack. But she had a gut feeling that Swan Wood would be more than ready for it, and they would fall drastically. The wild woman wasn’t sure where would be the safest place for her to be when that time came.