Without another word Hybrin stepped out of the tent, leaving the women to the task of bathing, and dressing the newly liberated feline. Night had already begun to fall and the temperature was rapidly dropping. Hybrin could feel the cold wisps of wind blow through his pristine white coat. The cooler air being more to his liking. He breathed it in, catching the scent of a meal being roasted on an open fire.
Silently he made his way through the small line of tents, joining the rest of the guild members in the large community tent where they had a fire pit going. Carefully he weaved through the small crowd coming to Zamier's side where the most food was placed.
Zamier nodded to Hybrin in acknowledgment. “I take it the girl is awake?”
Hybrin took his place, the designated guest of honor seat, next to Zamier. “She is. Your sister members are seeing to her care now.”
“They'll see to it that she does not escape.” Zamier tore a piece of meat from the day's kill, sucking it and his fingers into his mouth.
Hybrin too began to pick at the foods splayed on the table in front of them. “They better not kill her if she tries to. I would rather they bring her to me first.”
The painted dog laughed around his mouthful of food. “You men of the north, so concerned about your honor.”
“Honor has little to do with it.” Hybrin chuckled. “We both know that.”
“So you are ready to remedy the problem if one arises?” Zamier observed. “It is good to see that you are willing to do what is needed to protect my band.”
“We all do what we must in order to protect our guild and it's secrecy. I will always treat your chapter and it's people as if it were my own. You are my brothers and sisters.”
Zamier swallowed. “I can see why the northern guild leaders sent you. Your way with words is quite compelling, when you choose to speak.” His face turned dark, all humor long since gone from his voice as he spoke. “However, we find that actions speak louder then words here in the south. I like you Hybrin, and I do not like many of our kind.” Zamier paused for a moment allowing his words to sink in. “Regrettably, your recent decisions have left me to question your sanity much less your loyalty to the guild.”
For the first time Hybrin feared that he might have done something wrong by saving the feline's life. He wondered if the action made him appear weak to the southern clan leader. His mind raced to come up with something that would prove otherwise. After all he was one of the northern chapter's highest ranked members, and far from a coward.“I offer you my skills and the aid of the northern chapter. You only need to ask. Zamier, allow me to earn your trust.”
“It is not you I am worried about, as much as it is the slave girl whom you rescued.” The southern clan leader tossed back a goblet of water to wash down his meal. Smacking his lips he continued. “We do not know who she is or what she is capable of.”
“Believe me, I have already thought of that.” Hybrin's mind raced to quell Zamier's concerns. He had thought about it but even he did not know what to do with the outsider. “She will remain bound until my business here is done. Then I will take her to the northern elder and see what they wish to do with her.” He said, trying to convince himself as much as he was trying to convince Zamier. Taking the girl to the elder would be the wisest idea, and in his best interest. At least then she would be taken off his hands... Hybrin took a moment and thought of the possible implications of the elder taking Preza away from him. The girl would be killed for sure if she figured things out before he got her to the elder. Even then it wasn't certain that the elder would allow her to live even after they get to the northern territory.
A long moment passed before Zamier spoke up. “I encourage your decision to bring the girl to the elder. They will know what to do with her up there... None the less, while the two of you are amongst my people I will have two guards placed outside your tent... Just as a precaution.” He added before Hybrin could protest.
Hybrin nodded in understanding. While he did not like to be watched he knew that Zamier would do anything for the safety of the guild and his people.
On the way back to his tent Hybrin's mind was full of questions, to which he could find no answers. The outcome to every scenario ended with the death of the violet haired feline, whether it be by his hand or some other. He began to wonder if saving her was truly worth it. Coming up to his tent he saw that Zamier wasted no time in posting guards outside his quarters. Politely he nodded to the two men before sliding between the tent flaps.
Once inside he shut away the weight of the world. Taking a deep breath he allowed himself to relax. Opening his eyes to find the slave girl, Preza, watching him. Her hair was cropped short, the matted nest no longer at the nape of her neck. Now her violet locks feathered outward a few wisps framing her face. She was no longer nude, instead she wore the leggings and wraps most women of the guild appeared to wear. Only a simple scrap of cloth was draped over her shoulder, and tied in place with a thong of leather wrapped around her ribs to hide her nudity. It was clear that the women had followed his instructions, and worked around the feline's bound hands.
The silence in the room was deafening. The space between the two of them was heavy with unasked questions.
It was Preza who broke the silence. “Where did you go?”
Hybrin suddenly felt the weight fall back onto his shoulders as he stared down the length of his muzzle at the feline. He had often held other people's lives in his hands. He was responsible for taking many lives, but to save a life- It made everything much more complicated. He could feel invisible eyes watching his every move.
Giving a heavy sigh he came to a decision with himself. It was time for him to stop playing games with her, to stop avoiding the inevitable. He would accept what came next no matter what the future may hold for the two of them. “I went to meet and talk with the head of the chapter here. We discussed what I should do with you.” Sauntering over to the cat's side he took her shoulder and guided her to a rug at the foot of his bed. “You don't know the people you've gotten yourself involved with. We are more then a traveling caravan.”
“I gathered as much.” Preza stated as she naturally took a spot on the rug while Hybrin sat on the bed, looking down at her. “So who are you people?”
Casually Hybrin reached under the mattress pulling out a long crimson sheath. He rested his sword across his lap, displaying it to her as he spoke. “We are a band of assassins.”
Preza stared at the strange sword. It was slightly curved like that of a scimitar, but the blade did not widen or taper near the tip, and the handle was much different. This sword was unlike anything she had ever seen before. “Even you?” She peered up through her bangs at the wolf.
He nodded, “even me.” He watched as the realization of her situation sank into the felines head.
Preza opened and closed her mouth as questions raced through her mind. Eventually, she settled on the one that seemed to be the most frequent. “Am I going to die?”
“I cannot promise you anything. Just know that I am trying to avoid that at all costs.” He placed his sword back beside the mattress.
Preza could see it in his eyes, Hybrin's words were sincere and honest. “Is there anything I can do to convince you to let me go?”
“No,” Hybrin stated bluntly. “There are guards outside this tent who will kill you on the spot if you were to leave alone.”
She gulped and her gaze fell to the closed tent flaps. “So take me out of here and let me go outside of the camp.”
He shook his head, he too had thought of every way to let the woman escape. Every option would end in her death, and he knew it. “...The only thing you can do is listen to me, and do as I tell you.” He stood and walked to the head of his bed, turning down the thin sheets. “Use the skills you were'e taught as a slave. Follow my commands, and you may yet survive.”
Hybrin then began to undress, pealing off the layers of cloth that the southern tribe gave to him for this journey. He folded and set each garment on the chair sitting next to his desk. In nothing but his under garments he slid into bed peering down at the feline who was looking back at him with the most serious of expressions. The look confused him for a moment, he was so sure that she was near tears a moment ago, and there she was looking as if she could kill him with her piercing stare.
“I will not die here,” she said in a flat voice.
Hybrin could do nothing but nod. “Then do what you need in order to stay alive.”
Preza nodded, and lowered herself into a sleeping position at the foot of Hybrin's bed. It wasn't easy, and took quite a bit of shifting and maneuvering, but finally the feline found a comfortable enough spot where she could rest.
After a while Hybrin could hear the soft rhythmic breathing that told him Preza had fallen asleep. He sank between the covers and murmured, “I picked one hell of a time to start trying to redeem myself...”
