Daphne had never before been so relieved to see the Forsaken Inn. Its dismal walls were now a landmark which told her they'd made it out. She looked behind her shoulder as she released Furley's arm; whether to make sure they weren't being followed or that she wasn't carrying a detached arm, she wasn't entirely sure. But it caused a sigh of relief to see him there behind her.
He was still clearly raging angry, and his mind was locked. "It would be the same for me if I didn't realize how important getting back right away is." She couldn't even allow herself to feel too relieved when she saw the only remaining members of the Company, including Anastasiar, had made it this far alive. She whistled for her horse and told Furley to get his.
She turned when she heard a voice behind her as she watched to make sure Furley did as she'd commanded.
"You must really love him, don't you?" It was Aranoll, the one who called himself "Beast-master". She didn't know him. She didn't trust him. And at that moment she really didn't like him. "Does nobody understand the weight of these situations? Why is it always THIS they come to?" Needless to say, it was bad timing, especially for a lass who already lacked what most consider common manners. She never pretended to like someone.
"You know nothing and you've earned no right to talk of such things. Especially right now, " she'd hissed. "Settle down. NO! We aren't safe yet! Nobody. Trust none of them. No one." Her mind argued with itself as she mounted.
Furley rode up to her and they made for the headquarters with haste just after he placed the helmet on his head again as she instructed. She did not want some sudden, planned arrow going through his head. With what these men seemed to know, she wouldn't have been surprised if they knew every route the Company would take.
After what seemed like days to her, they made it. She saw the familiar sight of the headquarters attic roof and chimney. She almost cried.
The moment they made it to the stable, Furley had dismounted and yanked her helmet off of his head. He stormed out of the stable and she heard the clang of her helmet being thrown forcefully on the ground as she dismounted. As she fumbled to get the saddle off, she noticed how strongly she was trembling. Her knees kept nearly giving out beneath her as she forced herself to breathe deeply.
They made it. "We all made it out alive. None of that was your fault. Yes it was! I could have prevented it!! I KNEW!" Her mind swirled with thoughts; some of which she couldn't even begun to make sense of. But one thing she did know. She had to find him and make sure he was alright. "You know he needs time. Shut up, you need to see him. No, this is selfish..this is for you. Maybe it is!! I don't care, I need to!"
Somehow, her feet had already taken their shaky steps to where she knew he was and her arms had picked up her helmet. She went to him and dropped the helmet on the ground, unable to hold it any longer for the shaking in her fingers. She saw now he was uninjured, and finally allowed relief to flood her. But with relief came also the understanding that it could have so easily gone a different way.
Her lungs felt as though they were being squeezed from the guilt and fear, and even the sudden relief, as she stood there. She saw Furley was also struggling with the previous circumstance. "What can I do? What does he need? ...I don't even know what I need. I need...I need.." Her mind flopped around in search of an answer, as though a person drowning. She was overwhelmed. But he was safe.
Suddenly she simply stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him, embracing him tightly, though every bit of her still trembled. "Stop it. You're supposed to be strong, but you're shaking like a frightened lamb." She almost continued kicking herself, until Furley wrapped his arms around her as well and she felt that he, too, was shaking.
He'd stood beside her as they both faced the likeliness of death. Not only that, but he had been willing to act on her behalf when she had a blade to her neck. Though it didn't really surprise her, she had never had someone stand for her before. Especially not in the face of such grave danger.
She didn't know what he thought of her behaviour right now and she didn't really care. As she rested her forehead against his chest and felt his arms around her, she not only felt safe, but felt that he was too.
But it so easily could have gone differently. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," she had said quietly, trying not to cry and unable to say much else just then. Somehow, he became even more gentle and his voice, as he reassured her, told her that the fire that had been there before, had calmed.
They stayed like this for a little while, talking through what they'd both just been through. Until they were interrupted by a snide comment from behind them. Daphne had turned, releasing him from her embrace, and scowled at the smirking faces she beheld. Their thoughts were clear, even without the comment.
"Why do they all seem to focus on this one thing? Can't they see this isn't some embrace in the moonlight, whispering sweet nothings in each other's ears?" And with each comment and each grin and smirk, she found her fury mounting. They had nearly been killed. And here they were being treated like schoolchildren found in a hayloft together! Fortunately, Furley did most of the talking.
When that woman smiled at his furious outburst at the men who ambushed them, and spoke in such a patronizing tone to him, it merely made Daphne more angry. She spoke of them as "honest highwaymen". But she had not been the one on the receiving end of those words. Hearing a man speak of killing both father and son, as if it delighted him to end a bloodline...
Which led her back to what she'd thought. Perhaps she shouldn't have said it out loud...but someone in the Company had given away too much information. Suddenly a lifetime of distrust seemed more warranted than ever.
