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It was decided. Athias cleared my heavy conscious by saying we had successfully cleared out the worst of the vileness in their basement. Why I cared so much, I know not. Then I remembered the fleeting way I glanced upon Allendra. Surely I have not fallen in to the black oblivion, have I? A painful buzzing sounded in my ear. No, wait. Tis just the annoying elf whining about his precious ruins and the missing elves. I'm sure we will find out the reason behind why the elves do as elves do. Tuck their heads between their legs and hide. It is all too much for me and I go to make preparations to leave.

First I make a brief stop to say my good-byes to Allendra. She is the woman I've always dreamed of having. Short and to the point. At first I felt a pang at the way we are parting until the sane part of my head chides me for feeling that way. I have always lived free of any chains lacing around me by a woman and I will remain so even after this encounter. Her invitation to someday come back to see her was not lost in meaning to me. I plan to do the very thing after I complete the task I was being paid to do.

I keep it in my head that bedding her was a bonus and not to dwell upon it but as I talk to Castillo, my mind wonders that dangerous path again. As if the horse knows my thoughts, he snorts loudly. My thoughts are cleared soon enough when the others join me in the stables. It seems we are not heading out as planned.

True enough are Genis' words of it being too dark for our plans but I would not give him the benefit of letting him know I agree. Instead I suggest we leave before the sun rises the following day. The tower is a good six hours away and it is best to get an early start. There is grumbling and I decide to seek solace in the arms of Allendra. The mere thought earns a nip from Castillo as I exit the stables. So be it, we will head out in the morning but tonight I shall sleep with a broad smile on my face.

As if I know the lass's routine, I spot her going for her favorite place and easily slip in behind her. Deciding to be discreet, lest her father find out, I follow her from a distance. The thought of beating her there crosses my mind and I start up to get ahead of her but something washes over me. Impeding doom and despair. There is a foul wind in the air and I like it not.

Hovering back, I scan the woods around me. I am not the only one out here this evening tracking fair Allendra for it is not the wind I hear but something much more sinister. She senses it too and before I can call out to her, she bolts like a frightened deer from a hunter. She could not be more right with her actions as I see what pursues her. Shrieking and hollering they bound after her. They are muscular and small but neither human or gnome. They could only want one thing from her and it is not pleasant.

My stride quickens and I feel sweat forming on the back of my neck. My scimitar pulls free of its sheath and I pull a dagger out as well. Many of these creatures are pursuing her and I want to have every advantage I can. The path she has chosen will bring us to the well. I can only hope to defend her there.

Allendra collapses by the well and I see more of the creatures, almost like they were toying with her the whole time. Part of me warns of a trap akin those many years back in Castillo when James' friends converged on me. It only takes one look at Allendra to see that she's visibly shaken and quite frightened. Nay, tis not a trap and to make matters more uncomfortable, I see at least twelve of the creatures surrounding her. More of a challenge presents itself when a larger figure looms into view wearing dark leathers. Too big to be a human. He strikes a rod to a tree and it flares to life. Sunrod perhaps, but it does give me a better view of the surroundings.

The time for hiding is over and I charge through the creatures, straddling Allendra in a protective stance. The creatures seem surprised to see me but not the big one. A malignantly coy grin spreads across his face and I reply with a haughty look from my former days of a merchant's spoiled son. Allendra's jerk at my feet shows she was unaware of my presence as well and I kick her lightly, the hilt of one of my boot daggers staring her in the face. The tug of my boot lets me know she has taken one. In this situation, no matter what I believe, I would hope Allendra would get a few licks in if I should go down. Highly unlikely with one of my skill but one must be prepared.

I like not being surrounded as such but they say kill the leader and the rest will fall. He smiles evilly at me, the rod of light held idly in his hand.

"Well, I originally lit this so that Allendra could see, but I'm glad you could join us as well, Santiago."

That voice! It sounds like...Blast! It is! It's that upstart dung-brained ogre from the stables. He's the one who most likely harmed Castillo and now he has intentions towards Allendra. His skin is not like the ogres Pethmen spoke of but a light blue and his size is lacking unlike the beasts we met on the trip to the temple. He almost looks nothing like his race but yet...

"I suggest you explain your point and purpose here." I demand.

"Why, Santiago. I'm most likely here for the same reason. It would seem that Allendra is in some danger..." He sounds gentlemanly but so did those lack-wits that cast me out of my home port. He's toying with me and for one of his kind to do such a thing sends the blood boiling in my very veins.

"I hardly think she wants you to protect her." I snort.

"I take it that you think yourself better suited for the task? Besides, who said anything about protecting her?" The evil surges from his eyes. Ill intentions indeed.

"I'll wager I'm better at wielding a sword than you are any day. No matter," I lower my eyes to ogre's nether regions, a clear sign I like he is lesser than I in more ways than one, "how small the sword. Nonetheless, I will not allow you to have her in any way. Things such as yourself deserve only one thing. A quick end to your miserable existence."

He scoffs at me then. My, my. Does he actually think he is above me?

"Again, you presume ever so much. Who said that I wanted her?"

My eyes narrow at him. His tone I like not and I decide I have grown very bored of this conversation.

"Well, then you won't mind if I take her back to her room then now that your fun has ended." I retort.

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. I think that I very well may have been offended by that comment on my 'miserable existence'"

"Well, then my work here is also complete."

"Did anyone ever tell you that you have terrible manners? I have half a mind to let the Bakemono have the both of you."

A smirk comes to my lips. Half a mind indeed. He's lucky if he has that.

"I see no reason to use proper manners for the likes of you." My tone is cold and uncaring. Then he says something that makes me want to leap for his throat right then and there.

"Instead of just her."

"I won't allow it." The thought crosses my mind to tell Allendra to jump into the well so I would not have to worry with her being in direct harm's way but I remember the well from my trips here. There is not but a drop left in it and the Bakemono could easily jump in after her.

"But they are ever so worked up. It wouldn't be good to let them go away unsatisfied..." His cruelty knows no bounds and I wonder briefly how this will all end when he makes a simple request. "What could I do to convince you to leave?"

"Not without her." The words are out of my mouth without hesitation and I gaze briefly down at Allendra. "I will not see an innocent woman slaughtered for mere sport."

The ogre strides to me with words that are music to my ears.

"First blood. I hit, you leave. You hit, I'll let Allendra go."

I give him a curt nod of acknowledgment and take my stance. It was time to test Pethmen's teachings of the weak points of giant kind. Before he has time to react, my scimitar hisses in like a striking serpent and I see blood welling to the surface. My cocksure grin spreads across my face but almost fades when I see the wound unceremoniously close up. I expect a return strike but none comes.


"Your sword is pitiful," he remarks, "but, I'll let Allendra go."

He begins to turn around and walk away, but looks back for a moment.

"I guess that I'll let you go too." I bite back a curse at his words. Never once did we agree nothing would come of me after the fight and the blasted thing knew it! I look at him hard and direct my next words to Allendra as I put away my dagger. Her hand comes to my free one and she shakily rises to her feet.

"Let's go, Allendra." I direct my sword to the ogre once again. "We'll met again."

He whistles loudly and his precious little pets grumble but eventually stand aside after he glares at them. I start to lead Allendra away and one tries to nip on our heels. This earns him a boot to his skull from his master.

"Oh, I'm sure that we will," the ogre replies. "And, unlike Avatar J, I have no intention of recruiting you."

He waves us to leave as if we were servants in his house and I stand firm for a moment, spitting my next words out venomously.

"I have no intention of joining you." Or anyone else for that matter, I think to myself. I hear more voices drifting out of the forest as the Bakemono and their owner finally leave. I pluck the dagger from Allendra's hand and tuck it away.

"No more well trips for you, milady. Tis a dangerous world, aye?" My words are meant to calm her but I believe they sound more harsh than kind. No matter. Someone else is coming through the woods and I have had enough interruptions for one night. To my surprise it is Valya and Genis. I did not know they cared. I show myself and offer little explanation of why I was here except for what had happened. Nothing else need be said and we all head back to the compound.

As I wonder about what tomorrow holds for us, the wamness of the body next to me calls. No matter what our nighttime activities will bring, I must find out from Allendra what she knows of the encounter by the well.

Santiago had felt fear waft off of foes when they realized they were out matched and death could possibly claim them. He had seen cruel intentions done to others and needless blood shed to prove a meaningless point. All of this is the arrogance of the world he grew up in. The treachery of his own kind was something he'd come to accept as part of who they were, right or wrong.

All in all, there was one thing that tore him to the core, that made his blood boil into a frenzy. The mistreatment of a woman. True enough was the fact that he had, in the past, taken and used a woman for sexual gratification. Pleasures of the flesh, debauchery and the like, but never once had he treated those women like they were objects for him to use as he saw fit.

Allendra visibly trembled as he led her back to the temple inner grounds. She clung to him and his free hand was draped around her in a protective manner. Let Val and the others think what they may, he cared not. A waterfall worth of questions swirled in his head but getting Allendra safely to her room was his priority.

Surprisingly, the ogre was true to his words and nothing disturbed their walk back. Santiago gently slid his scimitar back in its sheath while still keeping Allendra close. It was then that Athias made his appearance. Santiago felt the slight twitch of flight, something akin to a fox being caught in the chicken coop by the farmer. It was clear to him the state of his daughter's being.

"What has happened?" Athias gave Santiago a look of knowing but held his tongue about the manner in which Santiago held her close. As much as Santiago would have liked to avoid seeing her father, the fates had other plans.

"She was chased by Bakemono. I happened to be outside when I heard the noise. When I came to origin of the sounds, Allendra was surrounded." Santiago paused. He thought about leaving the part of the ogre out but Athias' eyes held too much suspicion.

"Near the well I found her to be and not alone. There was an ogre but he was different than any I have seen. What exactly he wanted with her I know not but I was not about to let the beast harm her in anyway." He squeezed her shoulder gently as she buried her face into his shoulder. He told him of the challenge but left out one thing- The fact that the ogre knew Santiago by name. The fact that it was the same ogre from the stables did nothing to ease Santiagos mind.

Athias took it all in stride but Santiago noticed the unspoken words the man had by the deep look in his eyes. He would not pry as to the real reason Santiago was out and about but he knew all too well. With a word of thanks, he proceeded on his way.

"You should get some rest, Allendra." Santiago tried in vain to gently peel her from his person.

"Please stay, Santiago." Her eyes still showed the terror she had endured this night and Santiago complied to her words. Keeping her ever so close, he walked her back to her room and let her keep the pace for them. It did not take but a moment for her to collapse on the bed when they reached her room. His gaze firmly on her shuddering body, Santiago stripped most of his gear off and laid it neatly by the bed and within easy reach. Whether her father approved or not, he was going to spend the night with her.

Moving to the other side of the bed, he sat down and brushed back her hair from her face. Wet with tears, her cheeks were a ruddy color and she met his eyes. He only needed to make the simple gesture of opening his arms wide for her to embrace him. Her soft skin felt good and his hands kneaded her back, begging her to relax.

"Tis all right, Allendra. I am here for you, my sweet." He kissed her lightly on the forehead and her own fingers laced through his hair, her body pressing closer. Santiago felt the questions again forming in his head, as often happened when he felt at a disadvantage when facing an opponent, and he raised Allendra's chin up. His lips met her in an innocent kiss and she pressed in further but it was Santiago who broke the moment this time.

"Allendra, have you ever seen these Bakemono about the grounds before?" He coaxed, wiping the fresh tears from her face. His finger ran across her pouting lips and he smiled softly at her. She nodded her head slowly.

"Only from a distance." Her voice cracked with emotion. "When I was traveling to one of the neighboring towns. Never were they so close to the temple."

"Odd, I wonder. What, if anything, would make you a target? What did that abomination have to gain by harming you?"

"I don't know, Santiago. Perhaps because I traveled there alone so many times. How did that ogre know my name and yours?" Her breath shuddered. "I never thought it would be so dangerous to sit by the well. I never thought the unrest would reach..."

Tears flowed again and Santiago drew her in, speaking soft reassuring words to her. She openly wept in his arms and he let her soak his shirt through to the core. Her eyes sparkled with tears and her nose was now bright as a cherry as she pulled away from him. He looked upon her lovingly and moved the tangled mess that was once her finely brushed hair back out of her face. His fingers once again glided over her full lips and flicked the remains of a tear from her cheek. He could only imagine the ogre knew his name from listening at the stables but he could not recall if he told Avatar J his name. He decided it wasnt worth worrying about. Best they knew his name so they knew who to curse when his blade struck true.

Her breathing steadied and she brushed a hand along his cheek. He clasped that hand gently in his own, turning it over to lay a kiss on it. She drew her knees beneath her and stretched out to him, laying a deep kiss on his lips. Santiago became a slave to her emotions and kissed her back fiercely. She tore at his shirt as his own hands moved her dress up to her thigh. Her breathing quickened and he laid her back, towering over her as he gently kissed her neck. She succeeded in taking his shirt off he stared down at her half naked body, never realizing his deft hands had disrobed her so quickly. Part of him screamed at him to take his fill but then the smallest of voices cried for him to stop.

"No, Allendra. We should not tonight." He sighed as he slipped off the bed. Taking the shift she wore to bed off a hook on the wall, he went to her and put it over her head. He kissed her on the forehead as she stared at him in bewilderment. Taking leave of everything but his undergarments, he climbed back into bed with her. Pulling her into his arms, he whispered to her.

"This night was traumatic for you and I shall not let your emotions make you do something rash." His kissed her on the cheek, working his way down her neck and she moaned. "Not that I mind touching you in such a manner but I cannot allow myself. It would be a low act even if you offer yourself freely. I will stay with you tonight but only in this fashion. Rest, sweet Allendra. I will let no harm come to you this night."

He drew her in close and she turned to face him, her head snuggling against his chest. Santiago laid there and before long, Allendra's breasts rose and fell in a steady rhythm. Only then did he take his rest.