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The sudden pounding on the prison's door interrupted Reuben's vigorous sword practice. He glanced to the window and saw the first hints of dawn creeping between the bars. Slowly, he relaxed the viciously taunt contracture of his sweating shoulder muscles. Reuben allowed himself a moment to step back from the calculated fight his drills prepared him to wage. Now was not the time for war and here was not the place. Today was just another typical sunrise over the valley. Still, there was the persistent banging on the door which was out of the ordinary. Most people didn't try to get into jail. Whoever or whatever was on the other side was most anxious to gain entry.

"I'm here. Yes, I'm still here in this filthy country, gods' damn it!" He mumbled with a sad head shake. "Give me a chance to get the door unlocked. Get a grip, will you? Try to calm yourself!" Reuben commanded as he released the door latches and lifted the solid wood mid bar securing the prison from unwelcome intrusion.

A small figure pushed the door open once the locks were free. The force almost knocked Reuben over. The intruder bounded across the room to the cell door. She grasped the bars and called out the occupant's name in the most heart wrenching of cries.

"Dayne! Dayne! Please, Dayne don't be dead. My life is over if you die. Dayne, please, answer me. Please don't be dead. I have to tell you. You need to know. I lov…,"

"Girl, stand back! If you move aside, I'll open the cell for you," Reuben recovered enough from his near tumble to interrupt with an offer of a helping hand to the panicked young woman. He assumed from her distress she was a family member.

"Why?" Becca turned on him. Her pent up fury was unleashed in an unstoppable tirade directed at the only one available, "Why would an Elosian soldier, or even better, an Elosian officer such at you offer assistance to poor, desperate villagers like us? Do you think I'd service your manly needs for the favor? Or, maybe you thought both of us would see to your pleasure? Look at her! Look at how you left her! She's broken and bleeding and what have you done about that? NOTHING! You selfish bastard!"

"Now, wait a moment, young woman," Reuben gave a shy grin. "You are most definitely wrong about me and my intentions. To start with, my parents were legally married. In fact, a high ranking monk of Waur presided over the festivities."

"You son of a …" Becca was about to launch herself at the smug soldier when a hoarse voice stopped her cold.

"No! Becca, don't. He's a friend," Dayne coughed hard and spit out a gob of blood before she could continue. "A friend of sorts, anyway. He took good care of me. Guarded me against Milos. He's a soldier but that doesn't mean he's our enemy."

Reuben's smile faded with the strength in his prisoner's voice. He crossed to the cell and opened the door. Before Becca could make her way in, Reuben was at Dayne's side.

"Blood but no fever. That's a good sign. Be still, you could have broken a rib or two. You might have punctured a lung. Hence the blood." He felt the soft skin at the back of Dayne's neck for fever.

"No," Dayne tried to pull away from his concerned touch but he held on firmly. "Blood's from the throat and coughing so hard. Trust me, I've punctured a lung before. I know how it feels," she gave him a brilliant smile and he reluctantly released his tender hold on her. "Becca?"

Dayne turned to find her friend on the opposite side. Just like their childhood days. The two faced every one of their misadventures side by side. Best friends.

"Look at you! Look what they did to you. My fault, all my fault," Becca began to sob at the sight of her beaten friend.

"No, no, stop now, no, no crying," Dayne raised her broken hand to wipe the tears away from Becca's cheeks. "Not fair, Becca. I'm hurt and you get to cry. No fair."

Reuben let out a chuckle but was quickly silenced with a nasty look from Becca.

"Dayne, tell me where it hurts. Let me help you," Becca gently cradled the bruised hand and showered it with soft kisses.

"It hurts everywhere," Dayne whispered, "and it hurts nowhere now that you're with me."

"Is she well?" Senecos had entered the prison quietly and startled the occupants with his presence.

"Sir, the prisoner had a restful night, Sir," Reuben went to full attention out of respect for a member of the Council of Elders. "She was unable to eat because of her pain but did drink some, Sir. As for this other woman, I, have…, I've…no explanation…, Sir." Reuben's shoulders drooped a bit at his lapse in duty.

"Lineman, I'm the prisoner's father," Senecos gave a small, sad smile. "The young woman, Becca, came with me this morning to check on Dayne. She was merely worried about an old friend. But now, Becca, it would be best if you were on your way. Your father must be extremely worried about you failing to return home last night."

Becca was about to protest her sudden dismissal when the Magistrate stormed into the prison. He was still in his rumpled sleeping garments. His bare feet blued as they crossed the cold stone floor. However, his visible shaking had nothing to do with the cold.

"Senecos, you've no right to disturb my household at this hour of the morning. Official village business is discussed by reasonable men, at reasonable times of day, and in anyplace other than a dungeon."

"The very place you confined my daughter," Senecos snarled as he grabbed the Magistrate by his nightshirt and shook him. "How dare you? Would you shame me over a brawl? You should have sent her home! Curfew be damned! She could have made it home in spite of her injuries. She's smart enough not to get caught by the Elosians in her own woods."

The Magistrate broke free of Senecos' grasp, "I didn't jail her because of the late hour. Believe me, time was in her favor! If there was more than half a candle wick to sundown then I would've had her flogged in the square. She was lucky this time. But, next time there will be no reprieve."

The prison fell into a deathly silence at the Magistrate's pronouncement. Senecos threw a cautionary look over his shoulder to Dayne and Becca. His tight features warned them to stay quiet.

"Spit it out, man. What do you mean by that? Why would you have the victim punished?" Senecos snorted.

"Victim, ha! Dayne attacked Offan. Ripped the man's tunic and scratched his shoulder. Offan, a fine citizen of the village. No arrest history or family disgrace to sully his name," the Magistrate glared at Dayne. "If it weren't for our brave, young village men racing to the rescue then who knows what she would have done to Becca. Offan has cautioned his daughter time and again about the volatile nature of this lustful, half blood you've raised amongst us, as if she were your own." The Magistrate let out a frustrated sigh, "Senecos, I've warned you this would turn out poorly for all of us. She is not your daughter. She is a beast in need of strict discipline. If you wish to keep her as a slave then so be it but don't continue with this charade that she is any way an equal to our citizens. It does us no good and her no good to pretend that she's some form of a human being."

Reuben stalked out the cell. He grabbed the Magistrate by the throat and brought him eye to eye, "Be careful your rhetoric doesn't cross the line. The half of her blood that doesn't flow in your veins flows in mine! You might enslave her, it's your right, but, make no mistakes, she is a human, not an animal, got that?"

"Officer," Senecos placed his hand on the soldier's and squeezed. It was gentle contact at first but grew to be painful, "this discussion is for villagers. You're command of our language must be somewhat limited. I certainly heard nothing in the Magistrate's words to demean Elos or her people. Please let us resolve our own legal matters as General Felix promised we could. It is the art of diplomacy that wins the day, young man."

Reuben studied the older man's features. There was a kindness on the surface but beneath lay something more practical. Senecos was a politician, threw and through. The soldier released the Magistrate and Senecos released the soldier. Reuben turned his back on the group and went to collect his few belongings.

The Magistrate rubbed his sore throat and began again but in a much softer tone of voice, "My decision is so; Senecos, you are take Dayne to your home. She is not to be allowed in the village unless you are with her and have her properly restrained. If she steps outside our laws in anyway then I will order she be sold to the Elosians."

"You can't do that! She didn't do anything wrong. There should be a trial. My father…," Becca was livid.

"Under our laws, Becca, you wouldn't be allowed a court trial," the Magistrate shouted back. "A village woman is suspected if one man lays a claim against her. Her father or husband or brother would stand proxy for her before the council for an evidentiary hearing. But, if two or more men agree to the facts of the claim then there is no need for a trial. The woman must be guilty. Twenty men agreed to the facts of the claim against Dayne. She attacked Offan with no provocation." The Magistrate turned his attention to Senecos, "Seeing as she's a half blood, I could have ordered her sale immediately with the price going to Offan. I didn't do that, Senecos, because we are friends. You should be the one to make the decision and," the Magistrate stepped closer and lowered his voice, "to collect the profits."

Senecos dropped his eyes to the floor before giving a knowing nod, "Thank you, my friend, for wise advise. For now, I'll take her back home to heal."

"Guard, collect the prisoner and make her ready for travel," the Magistrate called over his shoulder. "Senecos, one last piece of advice. Don't let her back in your house while you decide her fate. The less you see of her the better you will feel about your choice in the end."

"Yes, very profound suggestions my friend," Senecos grasped the Magistrates hand is a crushing shake.

"What are you doing? Stop that. Her father is here now there's no need for those," Becca placed herself between a staggering but standing Dayne and Reuben with an arm load of shackles.

"Young Woman! I'm losing my patience with you," the Magistrate wagged his finger at Becca. "Get out of the way so First lineman Reuben can chain the half blood."

"You're done here. Go tend your own home now, Girl!" Senecos growled at the blonde.

"Becca, please, go home," Dayne leaned heavily against the cell bars as she struggled to talk. "My father will take care of this."

Becca, in total frustration, half turned to Dayne to ask, "Do you want me to leave you alone with them?"

"No," Dayne smiled and whispered so only Becca could hear, "but you have to go home and be safe. Let my father clear things up. It's only for a little while more."

"But, there's so much I need to tell you," Becca's tears could not be stopped this time. "You need to know…,"

"I do know," Dayne held out her wrists for Reuben to bind. "Please go home before you get into trouble too."

Becca couldn't look while Dayne spoke. She could not watch her friend treated so cruelly. She reluctantly nodded agreement and left the prison without a backward glance.

They had kept a steady pace even after leaving the village center. Senecos lead Dayne with a short chain connected to the shackles at her wrists. He had not spoken one word to her the entire time. The silence was weighing heavy on the battered young woman. It became unbearable while they were still half way from home.

"Papa…,"

Dayne saw only a blur of movement before the backhanded blow dropped her to her knees. Cowering in the dirt with a mouthful of blood, she managed a side wards glance at Senecos. In one hand he held the her chained wrists tightly to prevent any blocking of further strikes while he pointed at her accusingly with the other. His face was red with rage.

"You are never to call me that again! You are not my child. After all I've done for you, you attack my friends and neighbors. You would shame me before the village? No, not my child! Not Varna's child. I shouldn't have rescued you," Senecos screamed.

After a few deep breaths, Senecos yanked Dayne along as he continued toward their home. Her mind was reeling. Her father never hit her before. Now, Senecos not only struck her but disowned her at the same time.

"What did you mean?" Dayne flinched when Senecos stopped abruptly. The blow didn't come so she continued her question, "What did you mean by rescued?"

"I found you. Hours after your birth. In a field beyond the Forest of Lost Soldiers. You are The Ridded," Senecos spoke without emotion and did not turn around to face Dayne.

"No, no," Dayne was desperate for it not to be true. "You're just mad at me. You're trying to hurt me 'cause you're angry. I'm Varna's…,"

Dayne was unable to finish her thoughts before Senecos whirled around to grab her by the throat. He squeezed tight and silenced her voice.

"Now, listen good!" He spoke in a menacing voice. "You are a throw away from the occupying army. The mark is here," he tapped her head twice. "I saved you from Waur's hounds. Took you into my home and raised you as my own child. And what is my reward for years and years of care and nurturing? You repay me by behaving like an Elosian in front of the entire village! NEVER AGAIN! You shamed me as a daughter. Now, let's see if I can keep you under control as a slave," Senecos snarled.

He shoved her away from him and she fell in the dirt. Dayne gasped for breath. Between the physical beating from the day before and the emotional assault of today, Dayne was struggling to remain conscious. She was vaguely aware of Senecos pulling her to her feet and starting back toward his house. She followed along without a word. Mindless of the pain her body felt, Dayne forced herself to remain upright.

Instead of taking her into the house on their arrival, Senecos brought Dayne to the barn. There was a small, unfinished storm cellar beyond the last stall. When he flung the trap door open, Dayne didn't need to ask what he wanted. She jumped into the filthy space and ducked. Senecos slammed the trap door closed and latched it shut.

There was room enough to sit if she hunched her shoulders. But, her nagging injuries won out, Dayne stretched out full length in the muddy dirt. Her eyes fluttered as she fought sleep. Exhaustion had taken a toll on her, though. As she fell asleep, Dayne's uninjured hand crept up to cover her head. Curious fingers traced the scars she long knew were there but never wanted to ask about; R I D

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