Champion

Chapter 58

David lay back, staring at the top of the tent and listening to the sounds of the night. Both of the women in his arms had lived through traumatic experiences in their past (although Laurena's were a little more recent). He was also certain that tonight had probably been one of the scariest nights of their lives. Sapphire had suffered more in her past, and was stronger than the acolyte, but she was still unaccustomed to violence. She had also been forced to kill in her own defense tonight, and he imagined that it would affect her quite a bit differently than what she had done to Octavius in Wolfsvale. He just hoped that his presence and his comforting touch would be enough for them both.

***

Shadowmaster Whisper has failed, came the voice in Cassius' head. The Shadow Lord felt abject terror at these words. He knew that he had done everything asked of him by the Night Lord, but he also knew his leader cared about results not excuses.

"I apologize for this failure Night Lord, and beg your forgiveness," he whispered into the darkness of his home. He had been sleeping comfortably in his bed before the Night Lord's message had woken him. Now he rolled to look at his wife sleeping next to him, and wondered if this would be the last time he would see her.

The fault is not yours. It was Whisper's failure to plan accordingly, and he has paid for that mistake. Those three are now beyond our reach, but warn Shadowmaster Hood that they are traveling the western road. They are too powerful for him, and are to be avoided unless no other option is available to his people, the Night Lord replied.

The Shadow Lord breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed he would live to see the morning. "Is there anything else I can do for you my Lord?" he inquired quietly.

I need a new Shadowmaster Whisper. The last fool cost us thirteen destroyers, so we will need to recruit more men to replace our losses as well. Start with one score, but prepare to increase our numbers by four score more if necessary.

Cassius was shocked at this request. Another one hundred men?! That would more than double the size of their current organization. But, considering their heavy losses and failure that night, he couldn't really argue with the Night Lord, even if he had had the courage to try.

"It will be done my Lord."

***

Laurena awoke with a start. She had been having a terrible nightmare, and feared the slinking horrors in her mind had followed her into the waking world. She gasped when she felt an arm tighten around her, but relaxed quickly when she realized it was David holding her. Tilting her head up, she looked into his eyes in the near darkness.

He was alert - apparently he had been awake - and was looking at her with a mixture of compassion and concern. The feel of his strong body pressed against hers and the gentle arm holding her close was comforting. For some reason she felt that the demons which had haunted her dreams would not dare to follow her into this world with him here to protect her. Looking to the side, she checked to see if her sudden movement had disturbed Sapphire. She noted that the Dracian was still asleep, and appeared to be in a battle against her own nightmare hordes. She considered waking Sapphire, certain that if the sorceress's dreams were as bad as hers, then the woman would appreciate the gesture. As she moved her hand to do so, David's whispered voice stopped her.

"Don't," he instructed. "I already woke her once, and it didn't help. Whatever battles she fights now will only wait for her return. Please just let her sleep. Maybe if she faces her fears now, they won't follow her later." He tried to project confidence about this idea, but he knew from personal experience that was not the case. Yet, he needed them both as rested as possible. Tomorrow would be a long day, and they needed to be alert if their enemies followed them.

Laurena was uncertain that his request was the best course of action, but she finally nodded in agreement. He loved Sapphire - which was pretty obvious - so the decision of how to support her was his to make. Relaxing, Laurena lay her head back down on his chest and thought about everything that had happened the last two days.

She had finally Blessed the Champion, and it was the absolute best s*x she had ever had, better than she could have even imagined. Then she had seen him with Sapphire, and realized that what she had felt from him was only a shadow of his full potential. At first it left her wanting more, but after everything he had done to protect her that night, she wondered if she deserved that.

Over the last week she had paid close attention to him, and had come to understand why her earlier attempts to sway his feelings had failed. He did not think like any of the men she had ever known. He did have a very strict sense of right and wrong, but his moral code did not fit with Erosian society. He did not agree with sharing love between multiple partners. He seemed to wish for a single partner only, one that he could devote all his care and attention to. While that had initially seemed odd to the acolyte, her time during the service changed that opinion. She had only experienced a portion of his attentions, and after witnessing him with Sapphire she could hardly argue with the results.

She had been taught to love everyone, even someone who intended her harm. He did not think that way. He made a very clear distinction between those who were deserving of his protection, and the people whom they needed to be protected from. As soon as someone became a threat, they were rendered beyond his consideration and compassion. He had not hesitated to protect Sapphire and herself, because the only lives he valued in those fights were theirs. She had been taught that love was not finite, and that a person could love all others equally. David seemed to reserve his love for those he deemed worthy, and guarded that love fiercely. He was willing to sacrifice everything to protect those he cared about, while she had only ever cared about herself.