Shep nudged the tent opening. Once he determined that Rosemonde was fast asleep he padded back to Ben and shifted.

"Well, what have you learnt?" Ben asked.

A lanky young man wearing a dog collar stood where Shep had been seconds earlier. A cotton shoulder bag was slung around his torso. He retrieved clothing and a mobile phone from within it and proceeded to dress while talking. "We have a problem," he said. "Du Malum has gone to the media and presented a case that puts considerable doubt on Rosemonde's actions being self-defence."

"Surely they don't have anything incriminating against the girl?"

The man searched something on the phone before he handed it to Ben. "See for yourself. They've fabricated it obviously, but even if that could be proven, it doesn't matter. You know his master. The serpent is a skilled manipulator. The media are lapping it up. A sex game gone wrong is far more newsworthy than self-defence. Suddenly that weird recluse she stabbed is 'Mr Popular'. All sorts of people are coming forward and talking about how he shared stories about what he and Rosemonde got up to behind closed doors. It's all pretty sordid."

"But who does that? I mean seriously? This is explicit stuff. Who discusses their sex life that graphically with that many people? Why isn't the media asking those questions? I mean it's just people's opinions, or at best second-hand information. It's not factual."

"It doesn't have to be. The damage is done. Public perception is that Rosemonde is practically a lump of meat with a hole in it."

Ben winced. "Must you be so crude Liam?"

"Hey, I'm not the one saying it!"

"All right, you've made your point. So, what can we do then? Given her now very public profile, how can we protect her until we get her to Tweldor?"

"The Domina wants her immediately. We're no longer easing her into it. We're to leave as soon as possible, once she wakes up."

"Liam, there's no way she'd cope. After what she's been through, she is probably terrified of all things magical."

"Yeah, I said the same thing. We're meant to force the memories."

"That could damage her beyond repair. How could the Domina suggest such a thing? I've never known Libuse to be cruel before."

"Dreamwalking."

"But she's human, isn't she?"

"As far as we know, but you know humans have managed to dreamwalk before."

"The witches' flying ointment? Mate, I have no idea what's in that concoction. I can't make it."

Liam grinned and pulled out a decorative jar from his cotton bag. "Ta-da!" he said with a flourish.

Ben groaned, "But so much can go wrong!"

"I don't think we have another option. We must get her to the citadel for her own safety and the only way she can take the journey is if she has completely healed, emotionally. Retrieving her memories is the only way to do that. The quickest method for a human to dreamwalk is via the flying ointment, which the Domina has prepared."

A primal scream interrupted the serenity of their camp. It came from within the tent. Without thinking Liam raced to Rosemonde. Ben called after him. "LIAM COME BACK. SHE DOESN'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE. YOU'LL SCARE HER!"

Too late. Liam entered the tent followed closely by Ben. Rosemonde had obviously had a nightmare. She was clearly terrified, rocking back and forward. Strained vocalisations that were nothing like speech came from her throat. Liam held her and tried to calm her.

"It's okay. You're okay. There's no one here who will hurt you."

She was petrified, staring at whatever phantoms haunted her. She was not even aware of his presence. Liam waved his hand in front of her face. She didn't even blink.

"Shit! You better slap her," Ben said.

"Are you daft? I'm not hitting a woman!" Liam alternated between gently shaking and then hugging Rosemonde. She was unresponsive.

"What would you do if it was me? What would you want me to do if it was you?" Ben persisted.

Liam exhaled sharply. He nodded, gritted his teeth and tapped Rosemonde lightly on the cheek with the palm of his hand. Nothing.

"Oh, for fuck's sake, move over!" Ben slapped Rosemonde hard across the face.

She blinked at him and inhaled like a drowned person come back to life. "So much b-blood. Blood. Blood everywhere. No-not my blood. S-so m-much blood."

"He can't hurt you, Rosemonde. He's dead," Ben held her shoulders willing her to make eye contact with him. She did.

"Rosemonde? Who is Rosemonde?" she asked.

"That's your name lass. You're Rosemonde Durand."

"My name? My name is Rosemonde?"

"That's right."

"Car, vois-tu, chaque jour je t'aime davantage, aujourd'hui plus qu'hier et bien moins que demain."

"You might need to slap her again," Liam said.

"No, it's French. It's a famous quote from Rosemonde Gérard to her husband Edmond Rostand. He was the bloke who wrote Cyrano de Bergerac."

"What does it mean?" Liam asked.

Rosemonde noticed him for the first time. "Are you an undercover cop? Have you come to arrest me?" She sounded like a frightened child.

Liam thought his heart would break for her. He looked at Ben. How could he tell her, that whilst he wasn't a policeman, he had been undercover? She wasn't ready to know what he was.

Ben answered for him. "No love, this is a good friend of mine, Liam Shepherd. We're going to protect you. Take you somewhere safe."

"Why would you do that?" Rosemonde was confused. "I think I killed someone. I think you know that...don't you? So, why would you help me?"

This time Liam answered. "We're going to help you because we know you killed him in self-defence. We know who he was and what he was trying to do to you. We'll protect you, Rosemonde, I promise."

Her brows knitted as she shifted her gaze between Liam and Ben. After a moment, a smile graced her lips, and she replied, "For, you see, each day I love you more, today more than yesterday and less than tomorrow."

"Er, okay...um...thank you," Liam replied.

"No," Rosemonde giggled and Ben snorted.

"What?" Liam was totally oblivious.

"She wasn't declaring her love for you; she just told you what the quote meant." Ben laughed.

"Oh! I knew that" Liam blushed. "Things are much easier to understand as a dog," he mumbled.

"What do you mean?" Rosemonde asked.

"You need to eat, get some strength back. I have some herbs that will help. Once you've done that, I'll show you um...my er, translation. Deal?" Liam smiled.

"Deal," Rosemonde said.