Crabb wasted no time but strode straight over to the demi shae, sweeping her up in his flabby but strong arms. He crushed her to him, pinning her arms to her sides and gave her a smothering kiss which she endured stoically as she waited for her chance to come. His tongue slipped between her teeth, and she shuddered with disgust as he filled her mouth with the taste of beer and rancid meat, while the taste of sweet shayen saliva drove the soldier on to even greater passion.

     A moment later he pulled his face back from hers for a moment and stared with undisguised lust and desire at her radiant face. She locked eyes with him and began the chanting of the spell, but her heart froze in ultimate horror as the big soldier suddenly pulled her forward and kissed her again, interrupting the spell which faltered and died with a crackle and a flicker of rosy light above her head. The reality of her situation suddenly came home to her in all its sickening horror and she struggled in near panic, but it was useless and he took both her wrists in one hand, holding them behind her back with only the smallest part of his massive strength.

     “That’s better,” he leered. “I like a girl with a bit of spirit. Now let’s see what you look like.”

      He yanked at the dress, snapping the brooch’s pin, and let it fall at her feet. She tried to catch his eye so she could try the spell again, but he only had eyes for her body. He ripped off her underwear and held her away from him while he ran his eyes and his free hand up and down her naked body. “Nice,” he said, and began to pull at his belt.

     Sounds of thumping began to come from the door, the others having figured out that something was wrong, but Crabb ignored them. He was having difficulty undoing his belt with one hand, though, and threw her away from him against the wall so he could use both hands.

     “No, please!” begged Lirenna in real fear. “Please!”

     “Don’t worry,” replied Crabb, grinning evilly as his belt finally came free and he started to undress. “I’m not going to hurt you. Who knows, you might even enjoy it.”

     “Please, I’m begging you!” pleaded Lirenna, trembling, tears running from her eyes. She stared at his face. All she needed was for his eyes to meet hers for one moment, but his eyes were on every part of her body except her eyes. “In the name of all the Gods!” she pleaded. “Please let me go!”

     “There’s no need to beg,” grinned Crabb as he pulled at his underpants, stepping out of them and stepping over to her. He didn’t bother to remove the rest of his clothing. “I’m not going to hurt you.” He reached out, eager to take hold of her again.

     Lirenna pointed a finger, spoke a word and shot two firebolts into him. The man cried out in pain, clutching his burning chest. He staggered a couple of paces and then fell like a ton of lard, his massive stomach bouncing like a pink, hairy jelly. “I wasn’t begging for my own life,” whispered the demi shae, staring with sick horror at what had been a living man a mere moment before. “I was begging for yours.”

     She was trembling so hard that it took her several minutes to pull her dress back on and unlock the door. Her hands were shaking so much that she could hardly hold the key, let alone turn it. Eventually she succeeded, though, the door flew open and Thomas flew into her arms, his face twisted in terrible fear as he hugged her and looked past her at the dead soldier. “Are you alright?”

     She nodded, not trusting herself to speak yet in case she started babbling and sobbing. She was recovering rapidly, though, the colour coming back to her pale face, and Thomas relaxed in relief, allowing his anger to show through.

     “No way do you ever do that again!” he said, holding her at arms length. “No way!”

     Lirenna was in no fit state to argue at the time and could only nod her head as they all came in through the door and closed it behind them. People were beginning to wonder what was going on. Freddy went off to get the other enchanted soldiers to figure out how to dispose of the body and Diana took the demi shae into the kitchen to make sure she was really all right.

     Thomas began to calm down again, but then he saw Lirenna’s torn underwear lying discarded next to Crabb’s body and flew into a fresh rage, and the others had to hold him down to stop him from attacking the corpse. “No way is she ever going to do that again!” he repeated over and over again. “It’s too dangerous!”

     Eventually, though, the body was removed, carried away wrapped in a blanket by the enchanted soldiers. Hardly anyone in the corridor-street gave them a second glance as they passed by, which chilled them almost as much as Lirenna’s close escape. The demi shae was soon back to her old self, passing off the incident with a laugh and a joking comment, but Thomas was glowering and looked deeply unhappy. Lirenna sat down next to him, taking one of his hands in both of hers. She could feel his hands shaking, but she couldn't tell whether it was from anger or fear. Most likely both, she thought.

     “It’s all right,” she said, feeling a warm glow inside at his concern for her. “I’m fine now. We’ve had closer escapes. Think of the arachnaurs.”

     “You’re not enchanting anyone else and that’s final,” declared the wizard, snatching back his hand. “Next time you might not be so lucky.”

     “I’ve got to,” replied Lirenna, as softly and calmly as she could. “We still need someone who can go into the Konnen mansion.”

     “Silverby can do that. We can steal a Konnen officer’s uniform and...”

     “It wouldn’t work,” pointed out Shaun. “Remember this is a small city, with armies of only a few hundred men and less than a dozen officers each. Few enough that they all recognise each other by sight. He’d be spotted straight away.”

     “So you want her to risk getting raped just to steal back a few bloody necklaces?” roared Thomas furiously. “You can’t care very much for her if you...”

     “Tom!” snapped Lirenna, her eyes blazing with anger. “How dare you say such a thing!” She turned to the soldier, whose face was also colouring with anger. “You know he didn’t mean that!” she said.

     Thomas was also looking stunned, as if he’d had no idea what he was saying until it was out. “Shaun, I’m sorry,” he said, looking agonised with shame. “I know you love her as much as I do. I know you’d never see her go into danger if you could possibly help it.”

     The soldier nodded, accepting the apology, and everyone relaxed as the two men shook hands. “Nevertheless, she’s not enchanting anyone else and that’s final," the wizard repeated. "We’ll just have to do it with the men we’ve got.”

     “We can’t,” repeated Shaun. “I just told you.”

     “We’ll find a way,” repeated the wizard. “Somehow we’ll find a way.”

     “We just need a couple more,” insisted Lirenna. “I’m willing to take the risk.”

     “Well I’m not,” stated Thomas with flat finality. “The subject is closed.”

     “Oh it is, is it?” said Lirenna, feeling an anger of her own to match his. “It’s my risk, so it’s my decision, and I’m saying that I’m going to enchant a couple of Konnens.”

     “You’ll do as you’re bloody well told!” snapped Thomas, his voice rising again.

     “I’ll what?” Lirenna couldn't believe what she was hearing. Surely she must have misheard. “What did you say to me?” She was shocked, as much as if he'd slapped her face. She hadn't misheard, she knew. He really had said it. Something inside her was suddenly hard and cold. Around her the others were staring at the two of them, their eyes wide. Matthew was actually looking scared as he looked at her and part of Lirenna wondered what her face was looking like right now.

     “I think this would be a good time to apologise…” began Shaun to Thomas, but Lirenna's eyes flashed to him, silencing him as if his mouth had suddenly sealed shut. Then she turned back to Thomas, challenging him to repeat what he'd said, if he dared.

     “I just want what’s best for you, you know that,” said Thomas, trying to sound reasonable. “There's a reason so few wizards use that spell, as you just found out. It's just too dangerous. I shouldn't have sounded as if I was trying to give you orders…”

     “No, you shouldn't,” said the demi shae.

     “We're equals. Neither of us can give orders to the other, but I know you can see now why we can't take such a risk again. It's just plain common sense…”

     “Plain common sense,” said Lirenna. Her eyes never moved from his. Not for a moment. Not even to blink. Thomas began to shuffle awkwardly. “That's what I'm lacking then, is it?” The demi shae continued. “Plain common sense?”

     “That's not what I meant and you know it. I know you want to do your part, to get us all home to Tharia, and you have, but we've rolled the die as many times as we dare…”

     “We? We've rolled the die?”

     “You have. You're the one taking the risk, that’s what I meant, but enough is enough. You’re not taking the risk again. You know for yourself now how dangerous it is. With a little thought and careful planning we'll manage with the men we've already got…”

     His voice trailed off as the anger in Lirenna's eyes intensified. He shrank back a little as if he was beginning to understand just how much trouble he was in.

     “You don't give me orders,” she hissed, bringing her face closer to his. “Just who in the name of hell do you think you are to order me about like that?”

     “I just...” began Thomas, staring in astonishment, but the furious demi shae was just beginning. “What gives you the right to presume that you know better than me? That you know best what I can and can’t do? Am I some foolish child being corrected by someone older and wiser? Have you forgotten that I am three times your age? If someone's the child It’s you! I was travelling and exploring out on my own when you were still tucked up in your mother’s belly!”

     “Travelling and exploring in Haven,” Thomas ventured to point out. “Sheltered, protected from the real world…”

     “My parents always knew that I would be going to Lexandria,” countered Lirenna. “They taught me how to look after myself.”

     “Maybe, but you have no more experience in the real world than I do. On top of that you’re smaller, physically weaker…”

     “I can kill you with a single word.”

     “In think you both need to calm down,” said Diana in alarm, taking a step forward. “Take a moment, think about what you’re saying…”

     Lirenna rounded furiously on the cleric. “You try that soothing voice drass on me and I'll slap your stupid human face sideways!”

     Diana recoiled in shock and Lirenna turned back to Thomas. “As you say, we have the same real world experience. You're no wiser than me. You don’t know better than me.”

     She hit him in the chest with the heel of her hand, making him stagger back. “I’m not one of your useless human females. I don’t faint at the first sign of danger. I’ve been everywhere you’ve been, done everything you’ve done, and I’ve pulled your worthless hide out of the fire once or twice as well. I’m as good a wizard as you are. Better! If it ever came to a duel between us I’d nail your hide to the wall with the first spell.” She grabbed him by the collar and spat her fury straight into his face. “If you ever, ever, try ordering me about again, I’ll rip your scabby human arm off and beat you to death with it! Do you understand?”

     Thomas could only nod dumbly, and Lirenna strode out of the room, slamming the door behind her. Back in the living room she collapsed into one of the armchairs and began crying until Diana followed her out, pulled her back to her feet and gathered her in for a hug.

     "Oh Gods!" sobbed the demi shae. "What did I say to him?"

     "What you needed to," the cleric replied. "What he needed to hear. You know he loves you, right? And that he's afraid. Terrified, in fact. That's no excuse, of course, but as far as explanations go it's not a bad one."

     "Oh, Gods, the things I said to him. Do you think he'll ever forgive me?"

     "He's the one who needs forgiveness," Diana replied. "He needs to get down on his knees and beg you for your forgiveness. And if he doesn't then I'll be the next one to give him a piece of my mind."

     Lirenna managed a weary smile. "I'm sorry for what I said to you..."

     "Already forgotten," Diana replied, and the two women continued to talk and hug while muffled male voices drifted through from the next room.

☆☆☆

     The others stared at each other in stunned silence for a few moments before Jerry spoke. “Congratulations,” he said, reaching up to put a hand on the other wizard's shoulder. “It took you long enough, but you’ve finally had your first argument.”

     Thomas ignored him and went to chase after the demi shae, but Shaun moved to block his way. “I think you should give her a bit of time to cool off first. Apologise later, when she's ready for it.”

     “She can't be on her own,” said Thomas, though. “It's too dangerous. She needs someone with her.”

     "Di's with her," the woodsman reminded him. "Best to leave the two of them to talk for a while. And then, later, I expect Di's going to want to have a word with you."

     “I just don't want her hurt!” cried Thomas in anguish. “Every time she uses that bloody spell…”

     “I know, and I'm sure she knows it as well. It'll be okay, I'm sure. Just give her time."

     Thomas nodded, and collapsed into one of the chairs in misery.