Maric was waiting by the lake with the golden dragon. He was pacing and had steamy coming from his ears. When Samantha got closes enough to the far side of the lake, she could understand his bellowing.<br/><br/>"Where have you been young lady?" The knight scolded. "I've been waiting half the day for you so we could go and find Faren. You wished to help, did you not? I've wasted a lot of time I could have spent searching just to make sure you were included as you wished."<br/><br/>Samantha paid the ferryman and rewarded him with a pretty kiss on his grizzly bearded cheek and then turned to Maric,<br/><br/>“Did you expect me to leave Maisie all alone? No, I know, you expected me to sit home and dig in the dirt while all the brave people saved the love of my life. I’m not staying behind, Maric. Now, take me to Faren.”<br/><br/>Samantha climbed daintily on Layla’s back and arranged her skirts modestly, but not before the knife that was strapped to her leg was evident.<br/><br/>“I’m not leaving without Faren and if I have to kill someone who is in my way, then so be it. I’m done sitting back and letting someone else run my life. I am done with waiting for life to happen for me. I am taking what I want from now on. Now, let’s go.”<br/><br/>Already her tone was taking on the power and authority that could sometimes be heard in Nimue’s voice. Even the set of her shoulders bespoke of a changed woman.<br/>Maric leaped onto Layla and with a mighty thrust of her scaly legs, they were airborne.