And they were at it tooth and claw, swords drawn and hacking away at each other, Nimue thought with a grimace. She was confident that Maric could take Laana and with Faren’s help could probably do it with his eyes closed, but she was getting mad. Stupid cow, she thought and whirled on her heel.<br/><br/>Nimue stomped into the house, grabbed a bucket and stormed to the lake where she filled the bucket. Carrying it with both hands, just a little water sloshing out as she ran, Nimue positioned herself to the best advantage and heaved the contents on Goldilocks, drenching her in mid parry.<br/><br/>The action halted and three pair of eyes turned on her. Nimue was raging furious now and put her hands on her hips, leaning into her words,<br/><br/>“You come here and we showed you hospitality. You were insulting and degrading and we were gentle with you. You brought your horse here, road weary and we have fed and watered him. And now you,” Nimue waded into the taller woman, disregarding her sword. She poked her finger square in the middle of her chest, “You want to kill Layla. Maric came to kill a monster and he found a peaceful creature that guards me at night.  You,” she poked her again, “climb,” she poked Laana again, pushing her back a step,” back”, poke, “On,” poke,” your” poke, “Horse.” Poke. Laana backed up again, but not in retreat but in an attempt to put some sword length between then. Swords were poor weapons in close.<br/><br/>“If I wanted,” Nimue was now gritting the words between her teeth, “I could signal Layla to burn you to a crisp, instead of resting quietly with the other mounts.” And Laana knocked her down with the flat of her sword.