Nimue smiled as she slowly opened her eyes. There were stars spinning in a ring around her head but she was in awe of Maric.<br/><br/>“Maric, you are so desirable when you go all paladin on the situation. You do not hesitate, but you become masterful. You take charge and this time, your voice when all mystical. Where is Mistress Grouchy Arse?” Nimue wiped at her forehead and grimaced at the sight of her own blood. “The Lady always did tell me that one did not poke a stick in a hornet’s nest. Help me up.”<br/><br/>Once she was on her feet, Nimue found that she was fine, if still a little unsteady.<br/><br/>“Oh, Laana will need her horse. Faren, can you catch him up and take it to her?” Nimue asked, without looking at him. She found that he reminded her of a younger brother and she addressed him absently as such. She missed the look of abject agony on his face and the looks that passed between him and Maric.<br/><br/>“Or, Maybe, I will have Layla carry it to her and drop that horse on top of her head from a high distance. No, that would damage the horse, who has done no harm.”<br/><br/>“Our supper is growing cold.” Nimue turned for the house, putting her hand out to steady herself as the world did spin a little. “can you let her leave? Won’t she go back to the others and say you are now heretic? Will they send out a posse against you? Will they make you stand trial? Will they simply remove your name from their annuals? “<br/>Suddenly she found her mind going in a million different directions. Nimue cringed to think of the high price Maric was paying for loving her.<br/><br/>“No, Maric, go after her and bring her back. I will feed her poison and we can hide the body in the bog.”