"I do not know! Please have mercy." The strange woman squealed.

  "I would kill you woman if you do not tell me where your husband heads," I gripped firmer. "...your death would mean nothing to me. I promised him already, brutal vengeance on he and his household and..."
She cowered at my threats.

  "Am not his wife!" her snap broke me off from completing my curse.
My eyes were dark. She could see the confusion in my disposition. Bewilderment hung my face like a veil, and then quickly she further elucidated.

  "He took me. I have been his prisoner and not his wife." she pouted.
  I froze with complete disappointment, as I let the poor woman free of my hold.
  The Farmer and his wife came soon enough to join the drama.

  "Oh, my child." Darah rushed for the poor woman.
  She was a beauty, howbeit unkempt and emaciated. It explained what sufferings that maniac had subjected her to.

 "Give me a horse or anything I can ride. I am ready to pay in full." I turned to the blankly gazing farmer. I was desperate...it was evident. Dakor could still be caught.

"A horse!" But the farmer exclaimed. "Sadly son, my horses have I lent stewards for business, and there is nothing you can ride. It would take weeks, perhaps months, before they come back home."

  "But I need to chase him now. He is wounded, weak and nigh fainting. He wouldn't ride for long." I snapped.

"He is a gone son. That is all that matters. Let the man go." Darah looked me with a concerned gaze.

"No. No." I insisted on a growl. Rounded the chat with them and began the trek.

"Where are you going?" They called in a bizarre symphony.

"You can't beat his beast with the foot." Rodar called.

"I'll take my chances." I sparred them no gaze.

"Please wait," Darah bellowed. "...let the man go, stranger, please."
I was insistent. I would listen to none of them -- Dakor was the price.

"You would die brave man..."
The sudden tone of indignation halted me. It was a strange voice from that which had been persuading me a while ago. I turned around to see the strange woman gazing nonchalantly with arms crossed around her chest. Her eyes bore fair resentment. She held me with a little merit -- I seemed nothing in her eyes.

"You would get stranded. Outside this fields is nothing but drylands. How long would you walk to get to the next settlement? It's logical you stay back and wait a few days for the steward's return. But I still invite you to take your chances outside this residence."

Her voice did spark a memory -- a deep one. Keiya. It was soft, and graceful.
Albeit, this was more. It was daunting and daring. Keiya was not so -- she was loving and nothing less. She was tender and would never debate with me. She wouldn't dare me. She wouldn't raise her voice nor insult me. She would give me my respect -- honor deserving of a true Iron Wolf.

Save the voice, this woman held everything in contrast with my Keiya.
Strangely, it was intriguing...

  "Please," she stuck out her hands dramatically -- mockingly.
"...champion, spare your life and remain. If the drylands don't kill you, then the mad man you seek will."
  She was insulting me. She was undermining my proficiency. She was in fact daring my patience. Our host's even now understood her games. Darah tried to halt her.

  "It's growing late," Darah intervened. "...the roads are dangerous. You would surely be stranded. Stay back, rest in our place and eat. By good fortune, travelers would be on this road tomorrow. Besides, who knows where the mad man might be. He may be somewhere around, lurking and waiting for you to chase at his ghost. If the mad man returns, someone would need to help us. You could even set a snare against him."

The elderly woman's words were true -- her soothing voice sealed the whole work. Before her words, my heart melted.

  "He never comes back." I sighed distressingly.
  "I am doing this for your kindness and nothing more," I frowned. The strange woman scoffed.
"A cup of ale would be due to drowning my distress." I turned to the cabin with heavy strides.

  "Of course it would." the she flouted.

  "Come along child." Darah drew her along, cautioning her be careful with her words, while ensuring she met up my long strides.

I clenched my jaws completing my strides. I was furious...my lucid self cautioned me yet. The woman had a great part to it -- the strange woman, Dakors supposed captive. She was defiant and stubborn and annoying.

 As I rested my weight upon the wooden chair, my frustration doubled. Series of thoughts slammed into my mind. What was I doing, sitting calm and letting my arch enemy to the run?

My mind was clouded, my temper no better. In a moment, Darah raced back with a jar of ale. I poured off a cup fill and took a long gulp, eyes not leaving the visitor on my table.

The strange woman was no more trembling. Beside her, Darah settled, dabbing her face and dried lips with warm water.

 I was angry with this woman. In my eyes, she was nothing but the means to Dakors escape. Her sudden revolved disposition wouldn't make me think any lesser.
 But she was exhausted. Shivering, as soon as the food was brought, she held not her voracious appetite.

  "Too much eating for the person who deprived you good food Darah, don't you think." I clapped the cup on the wooden table. I made sure she received the sarcasm in my tone.

  "Who would have an appetite, laying beside that dog." She frowned.

  I admired her disgust for Dakor. It did in fact fan to deeper flame mine.

  "So what were you to him...a tool to ease up his stress," I smirked.

 "Heavens," Darah boomed. "Would you at least allow the poor woman with her food."

"Its fine Dada, the chatter of children does amuse me in presence of a good meal."
I laughed. She was insulting, and humorous at the same time...more than I imagined. I could still play this game.

  "At least children do handle their toys well. Am surprised the acclaimed adult seeks to be with a man who treats her less than a toy."

"I didn't choose the maniac, soldier." she boomed.

"It didn't seem so. Weeks were enough for you to come up with a brilliant sneaking strategy. Instead you choose romance in a barn and with innocent peoples food." I picked my fingers, while my boorish tone did the rest.

"Then you know nothing of the mad man Dakor."

  "O I do...far more than you can comprehend." I scowled.

  "You believe yourself a hero. You are not." her words were almost as a curse.

"Aye. Hero...not the perfect candidate. I will not be limited by the shallow thoughts of a girl. I am what I am at last. And I am what I say I am."

"I do not like you young man," I laughed humorlessly at the word she choose to qualify me -- young man.
"...you have a high opinion of yourself. " she said.

"I know what I am. Woman." I laid emphasis on the word woman , so she did in fact know her place.

"You can tell yourself that. Boy. And prove it to the swine's." Her words were dark and venomous.

"Perhaps I should prove it to you first." I darted for my strapped Poniard, and in a breath nailed it to the wooden table with a strong slam.

"That's enough." Rodar yelled.
My fury melted a bit -- not ultimately though. Nothing could put my heart to absolute peace at that moment, than proving my competence.

"I think I would take my rest now, Dada." She glared at me, before turning to Darah. She sprung from her chair without a second of delay, while Darah guided her on the staircase.

  "A bath first would be appropriate," I smirked with sarcasm. She spared me no gaze and held up the pace by Darah's leading.

  As soon as she was gone, Rodar as well departed the room, leaving me to my thoughts, and a fresher frustration.

It wasn't fair taking my annoyance on the poor thing. But I was bitter. I kept telling myself she was the reason I'd lost Dakor, but I knew it was my cheap lie. Dakor had slipped away as always,and i had carelessly allowed him.

 My misjudgment cost me Dakor, and my refusal to chase him was not by their persuasion...it was my heart' choice. But why?

  I took a deep breath as I reminded myself of my current situation. I was camped in a house with strangers, and too stranded to hit the roads again...and my mission, long ridden away.

What was I doing in this strangers home?  How long was I to stay with them? And yet, the strange woman...what was this preposterous intrigue I derived from her defiance and insult?

  O by heavens she was a beauty. Her dark forest green eyes made her exceptional. But this shouldn't be it. Life itself had thought me too many times, that beauty didn't always count.

  But the utter truth behind my resolve was clearer now. It was not absolutely for the farmer and his wife's sake. A greater portion was for the sake of this woman I knew nothing of.

Something struck me in that moment. The lady hadn't flinched when I stabbed the table. What guts. Amusing. My interest to unravel this ladies mystery was even the more cooking.

But how could my will be this shallow at the presence of a stranger, even after cruel experience with Keiya?

I thought I knew better than allowing my heart instead of my head rule my being. For in all my adventures of life I found clear reasoning more profitable than flimsy passion. Yet it was obvious, each time I was faced in a contest of both choices as reasoning and passion, the later always got the rule.

This was another rising passion threatening to tear me from clear reasoning, and my former resolve.
In any case, I would have to wait and see what fate has for me this time.

I rested my weight on the double-armed chair, and with another deep sip of the pale ale, I allowed my thoughts to the dance in my head.