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Callista was furious with herself and sad because she had to say it now. "You're just making it harder for me now! I promised I wouldn't and then you come over and hug me and...it's so hard." She rested her head on his bare chest and breathed deeply, calming herself. He was comfortingly familiar in that unfamiliar way that you always seem to welcome despite it's unknowingness. ((If that makes sense.)) She looked up at him from her spot and smiled crookedly. "If only my father could see me now."

She laughed weakly. "I guess I should take my own advice then hmm? But I also failed to mention to not live in the future because you'll miss what's in the present," Callista said and then laughed harder. "It's not my father that's making me...like this. I just promised myself that I wouldn't create a bond between us that was more than...business companionship. It's probably just that, but considering what we're doing right now, it's more than that. I don't know how much, but it is." She took a deep breath. Wow, I can talk alot! she thought to herself.

"Hmmm," Callista said thoughtfully. She didn't want to break the perfect silence for fear of shattering the glass, so to speak. "It's getting late. We should probably get to sleep. You can sleep on the bed if you'd like." She climbed out from his arms and stripped down to her tunic and her leggings and climbed into the small bed.

Callista was shocked by his bold action, but made no movement to pull his arms away. She fell asleep, dreamless.
The next morning...
Callista awoke to the sound of drums on the rooftop. Rain. Great. Like that's what we need now, she thought to herself. She got up, not looking at the bed, and got dressed quickly. She stood by the window, and dismally watched the rain.

"Well, we're going to travel to Ala'dorma which is north of here, where I need to talk to the Council and get information from there. Hopefully, we don't get bombarded this time. It should take us at least four days to get there, not including crossing the Streak River," Callista said and sighed heavily. "Damn rain. Okay, I'm going downstairs to get supplies." She got up and went down the stairs, and when she got to the bottom, there were four large men, clad in black robes staring at her. Raykine. Please come downstairs, please come downstairs, she chanted to herself.

Callista only had one moment to be surprised that Raykine was downstairs with her, when the four men simultaneously jumped forward towards Callista. One man threw her aside and charged Ray, while the other three made a head-long descent towards him.
One of the men began to chant softly as he attacked Ray, sending images into his head. Gruesome images of death, pain, and torture of the woman that had died in his arms and of Callista.
Callista jumped from the ground and drew her scimitars, attacking one of the black-robed men, who drew a mace and began to attack back.
The innkeeper at this time was hiding behind the bar and the man in the kitchen was also cowering. The only thing Callista could think of was Ray.

Callista was quickly disarmed for the man proved the stronger and grabbed her by the wrist. "Watch," he commanded firmly. The only thing she could do was stare as her companion screamed in torment. Tears flowed down from her cheeks.
"Stop! What do you want? Just stop it!" she yelled at them. The one chanting looked at her from the corner of his eyes but continued the chanting, throwing harsher images into Ray's head; him killing the woman with his own hands, him killing Callista with his own hands, him burning a village using the blood of children etc.
The one holding her wrist lifted her to look her in the eyes. "You killed some of my men. Why?"
"The Dead Men? Because they ambused us and tried to rape me!" she screamed. The man's face contorted and his grip loosened, as he fell to the ground, Callista saw the kitchen man had driven a knife into his back, and handed her her swords. He nodded to her and charged the other two, sending them reeling back. Callista, aimed for the chanter and thrust her sword into his back, the chanting ceased, and she only looked at Ray, not kowing what he would do.

((Sorry for that. Had to throw my heroism in there biggrin ))