“Thank you, Sir,” she said, forcing a smile. “Now, my map, if you please, gentlemen?” The others scurried off with several less than clandestine winks in Josiah’s direction. Gin took a seat at the table to wait, sitting at the end so that he could not easily slide into a chair next to her, and he noticed. Grumbling, he took a seat to her left.
“I have something weighing on my mind, a concern for a friend who may be in grave danger. This concern keeps me awake at night, working to find a way that I may rescue my friend from what I am certain to be a most perilous situation,” Josiah said, lacing his fingers and leaning on them with his chin as he locked eyes with Gin. “My Lady, the beast you travel with means you harm, I am almost positive.”
“Sath?” Gin chuckled. “Quite the contrary. Do not forget that he is a ruler who is a skilled diplomat and military leader—and he has been the most efficient bodyguard I have ever had, as you well found out when you tried to enter our room without my permission.” She smoothed her tunic and removed his cloak, leaving it across the back of her chair. “Sathlir is no beast. You have nothing to fear as far as my safety is concerned,” she said.
“I am afraid that is not true, my Lady,” he replied. “He was quite clear about its intentions as far as you are concerned.” He scooted his chair a bit closer to hers, and she glared at him. Sath perked up in the bond, listening to as much as Gin would let him hear.
“I am not sure where you are going with this, Josiah, but I trust Sathlir with my life. If he shared any ‘intentions’ with you, I am assured that they were naught but in my own best interest.” Gin swore inwardly as she realized she’d left the knife lifted from Josiah in the room she shared with Sath.
Why do you need that knife? Do you need me?
No. Stay put, I’m fine—and stop spying on me.
Sorry, but you know that isn’t going to happen. I want to know if you need me.
“You have a pure and loving heart, my lady, and of course you want to see only the best in the Rajah, but I cannot allow you to continue to travel with such a monster all alone. If he suddenly turned on you…”
“I have heard enough,” Gin said curtly. “If you will excuse me, Josiah, I will be off to find your friends that seem to be taking far too long to secure the maps I requested. I wish you a pleasant rest.” She stood, but Josiah was on his feet far faster than she would have thought possible. After pulling his cloak off her chair and replacing it roughly around her shoulders, he clamped an arm around her and held her fast.
“NOW!” he called out, and several of the others appeared from stations around the room, making their way rapidly back the way Gin had come.
“What are you doing?” she yelled at Josiah as she struggled to free herself from his grip on her collarbone.
Gin—what is wrong? I am on my - His voice stopped abruptly and Gin had to stop herself from looking around for him until Josiah’s voice broke the silence.
“I am thinking of your safety, my Lady,” he said, beaming a smile down at her that made her scowl. Sath was blocking her from seeing what he was doing, but she could feel what he felt—anger, rage, fear for her…? A ruckus was soon heard from floors above them, followed by screams from the group that had gone after Sath and loud roaring. She lunged forward toward the stairs, but Josiah was strong.
“Sath…oh, no, don’t,” she whispered as she continued to struggle against Josiah. “You have no quarter here, don’t fight them -”
“What did you just say?” Josiah stared down at her. Gin had not realized that she had spoken in Qatunari until the words came out of her mouth.
“Nothing. What will you do with Sath?” Gin asked hastily, hoping that she could distract Josiah from her slip.
“That depends on how willingly he comes with them. The first stop will be the dungeon, but after that, I’m not sure,” he replied. “It does sound like they are having an awful time of it -” He stopped speaking and merely stared at the doorway where the others had disappeared only moments before. Gin followed his gaze, and her knees grew weak at what she saw. Sath completely filled the arch that led to the stairs. Streaked from head to clawed toes with blood, he was dragging a chain that the men must have used as a weapon. Bits of the bedpost from their room were lodged in its substantial links along with bits of gore that Gin had no interest to linger over. His teal eyes burned with bloodlust as he leveled his gaze on Josiah. The Qatu threw his head back and let out a blood-curdling roar before taking a carefully placed step toward the human male.
“Take…your…hands…off…of…her,” he said, barely able to pronounce the words clearly above the warning growl that rose from his chest and curled around each syllable. “NOW.” He took two more steps toward Josiah, each punctuated with another roar.
“Sath, stop!” Gin yelled in Qatunari. “I’m fine, he’s not hurting me.”
Sath continued his agonizingly slow walk, and the closer he got, the more Gin was able
