3 Chapter 3: A Knight in Shining Scales

“I noticed that I was suddenly able to do things that the other children couldn’t do. I could run faster, jump higher, that kind of thing. The first time I shifted, I thought I was dying,” he said with a laugh.

“That would be very frightening,” Saffron agreed, desperately wishing to sketch this in her journal. She kept the thick book with her. She used it to document and press herbs and flowers and their medicinal properties. She also had a section for creatures she encountered. She was heavily interested in natural history, despite it being forbidden for women to learn. She learned in secret instead, borrowing books from her father’s library late at night.

“Do you know how you came about these abilities?” she asked, her earlier trepidation gone in light of her fascination. His face looked pained.

“That part of the story I do not wish to tell,” he said, almost apologetically. She understood even though she was brimming with questions.

“What about you? How did you come to be a…Mender is it?” he asked, his eyes bright. Her eyes checked him over quickly. He didn’t look feverish, but it would be hard to tell without touching him. If he were a typical patient, she wouldn’t hesitate. But they were alone, outside of town and most of her patients weren’t nearly so attractive…or naked.

“I have always had a knack for it since I was a girl. My grandmother is the one that taught me everything I know. After she passed, I took on her practice.” Saffron wasn’t used to talking this much or for anyone showing any interest in her. The townspeople whispered that she was a witch. She ignored them, happily living her life on her own until it came to a crashing halt when she found that she had been engaged to Abbington Holt.

“Fascinating. I have no medical talents to speak of, but I am rather handy with a sword,” he quipped, smiling widely at her. She gave him a quick smile back and glanced out of the cave’s entrance. It was fully dark now. She needed to head back. She couldn’t stay the night here despite enjoying having a conversation, even an incredibly strange one with a strange man. It wasn’t often that men paid her attention that wasn’t leering or mocking.

He watched her eyes flick towards the darkening gloom.

“You have to go?” he asked, clearly wanting to ask her to stay. She nodded, but hesitated as she walked towards the entrance.

“Will you be here tomorrow?” she asked boldly, a blush coloring her cheeks.

“Perhaps, why?” he asked coyly, looking up at her.

“I’ll need to check your bandages. The wound was rather deep. I want to make sure that it isn’t infected. I can also bring you something to help with the pain,” she said quickly.

“Here, take this as a token of my thanks,” he said, tugging a ring off of the last finger on his right hand. It was a simple gold band with a large ruby set in the center.

“I can’t accept this, it was nothing.” She stammered. He pushed it into her hand.

“It was my life you saved, judging by the size of the wound and the incredible pain it is causing,” he replied smoothly. She nodded once after a moment and shoved the ring into her apron pocket.

“Goodbye, Saffron. Until we meet again,” he said and lay back, his arm underneath his head.

####

Dark eyes watched the blonde girl hurry from the cave. The two men watched as the man inside the cave, unclothed, leaned back, and stared at the ceiling of the cavern, a smile on his face. They turned to look at each other.

“He needs to know,” one said to the other. He replied with a nod and they melted back into the darkness.

####

Saffron hurried through her morning chores. She wanted to get back to the cave and put her mind at rest. She was torn between worry and fascination. She knew better than to be interested in this dangerous man, but he intrigued her.

She took care in dressing once she was done sweeping the floor. She chose one of her better dresses; it was deep blue with gold stitching. She brushed her hair until it shone and plaited into a simple braid that hung down her back. After a moment of hesitation, she slipped the ruby ring onto her finger.

Saffron packed a bag full of fresh bandages and more salve. She added some dried meat and fruits as well as an old pair of trousers that were her father’s. She locked the shop’s door and walked slowly through the town. She hoped she appeared casual as she walked determinedly towards the Wood.

With a glance behind her shoulder, she stepped into the trees. The trail back to the cave was easy enough for her find, after traveling it twice now. She felt her heart race as she drew closer. She hoped he was feeling better. The wound had been grisly, but she was confident in her abilities.

Her feet stopped as the cave came into view. It had the air of abandonment about it. She took a few tentative steps closer. The cave was dark. She supposed the fire could have gone out at some point throughout the evening, but she didn’t think that was the case. It felt…empty.

“Hello?” she called out, her voice wavering.

“Hello, Saffron,” a gruff voice replied behind her. She whirled around and large hands clamped around her upper arms. “You’ve been a bit naughty, girl. The Baron is none too pleased,” he grinned widely, and she could see a multitude of missing teeth, his gums blackened. He was one of Abbington Holt’s men that he kept doing his dirty work.

“Let go of me. I have done nothing,” she said and squirmed in his grasp. He tsked at her, his foul breath washing over her.

“Consorting alone with a naked man? I wouldn’t say that isn’t nothing. Errol!” he barked and another one of Holt’s henchman stepped from the cave, a menacing grin on his face. “Grab her other arm. She’s fighting like a wildcat!” Errol grasped her arm.

“Easy now, we don’t want to bruise her for his highness,” William, she remembered his name, sneered. She threw a frightened glance back at the dark cave.

They dragged her through the Wood, taking the back way to the Baron’s large manor that sat on the edge of town. She was surprised when they didn’t walk to the front door but instead pushed her towards the large barn near the back of the property.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked, her lips quivering. She struggled against their hands that felt like manacles, but it was to no avail.

“The Baron is not happy with you. He thinks that you should be held accountable for your whoring. He wants you here, so you don’t embarrass him in front of the entire village,” William spat, enjoying the fear that spread across her face.

“No, no!” she pulled against them, but they continued to propel her towards the large doors which creaked open at their approach. She paled when she saw the whipping post. The Baron was known for his creative methods of punishment.

His beady eyes watched as his thugs dragged her into the barn and up onto the stockade. William lashed her hands together and tied them to the large iron ring at the top of the post. Her arms strained in their sockets and tears leaked from the corner of her eyes.

“Please, no,” she begged as the Baron walked around to face her.

“Oh, my dear,” he purred as he ran the tip of his leather whip down the side of her face. “I never thought you would be the type to whore around but hey, everyone has the potential for dark secrets. We should have married earlier, perhaps it would have saved you from this. Pity,” he said. She felt him tear open the back of her dress and she cried out, sagging against the pole.

She heard his dark chuckle of laughter as he whipped the last against the floorboards near her, causing her to flinch.

“Now gentleman, that is no way to treat my future wife,” she heard a smooth voice say. She twisted and looked over her shoulder. Elric was staring darkly at them, his arms crossed.