-1Chapter 1: Fire's Warmth: Look but do not touch.

"She's over hear!"

Linda wakes up to the sound of men bustling through the forest. Morning is just beyond ripe as the dawning forest light is mid way through transition. The bed long since cold, is now devoid of fire's hearth.

She lays there, still of flesh bare, one arm crossed her chest while her other stretches out across her companions void. And under her delicate stretched arm lies a simple yet eloquent blue dress made of silk like water, both in its smooth feel and shimmering color. It is not of clear but a color so vivid it is as deep as a raging river. With a value she could never dream of, it is but her last gift of a man she shall never again see, or the finale piece to a puzzling trap a demon has completed.

But for whom is this trap meant?

With men so near she swiftly slips into the dress and finds it far too flattering . Despite her hast it flows with her body's form and accentuates beyond her naked bodies ability. Yet it covers all and maintains an appearance of highest decency.

As the men gather around her clearing at a distant, unwilling to be the first to breach the safety of the tree line, she looks for the man of fire even though she knows he is long gone. With their numbers now in the double digits they muster the courage and walk over.

" Are… you alright miss." The youngest and thinnest man is the first to talk and reminds her of youth not yet tainted. He had black hair that falls down to his blue eyes. He wasn't tall nor short.

"Where is the Fire Demon?" An older man she knows far to well, acting tough but its out of fear. He had a thick brown beard, was muscular and a few inches over six feet but was built more like a teddy bear than a grizzly.

She speaks up looking now steadily at the young man. "Gone Marty, I suppose."

The man who asked fidgets at the sound of his name and attempts to fade back behind the group. They are caring swords and axes but it would be more appropriate for them if they had shovels and pitchforks. In their dirty brown cloth farm cloths they are more than lucky that he is long since gone, her lover of night of yore.

"Listen whore! You better corroperate if yus knows whats good for yus." A man named Grover spoke up as he shoved his way to the front. He was a large stout and husky man. The biggest man in size and height with a weight he tossed around ,with untamed force, as he walked. His red unkempt hair was balding and matched his shaggy and gristly stubble.

He had been right, they were treating her differently from the others. The other had been the "Fire Demon's victims" but to them she was just a whore. But just because she was a whore gave them no right, and for all of their good she would have to change their minds.

"Listen John, I am. My name is Linda and you have no right.."

"Names Grover!"

"I know. And you know I know. But just because 'We Know each other' gives you no right to treat me this way."

The mans face scrunches to the side as he finally notices the reference of John meaning he was one of her clients. Grover eyed her with a malice look Linda knew all to well. As she avoided eye contact with him she glanced around and saw similar aspiration on the faces of the rest. Not malice, but a similar open lust all the same. Linda began to feel the tension and moved hesitantly back away from the men.

As she moved to the footer of the bed Grover made his move but before he could get to close the youngest man moved in his way. "What are doing Grover?" At this Linda managed to place the large strange bed in-between her and the dozen men.

"Out of da way Shane." With a voice of anger purely targeted at Linda Grover spoke.

It was now that her mind darted as fast as her eyes, both in search for escape. Her mind flashed to images of the boy who had been the sole person to avert his eyes from her, but her hope of his protection quickly faded as he hesitated between moving out of the way and staying. He was clearly a boy use to doing what he was told to do.

"No. I mean…calm down Grover, can't you see your scarring the poor woman."

"Out of the way boy, or she won't be the only.. Or else!"

As Grover attempted to round the bed Shane stayed in front of him. "Marty…" A scared quiet voice came from Linda. Marty was the captain of the locale guard if you could call them that. Militia would be a better term but either way this was not a group of men who would follow law alone. She knew if the other men showed no signs of stopping Grover neither would Marty.

"Yeah Marty. Your captain. Do your job for gods sake. Grover's gone crazy." But as Shane said this, there was no sign of Marty and Grover faked one way and then dove half way over the bed. Linda darted back but Grover had hold of one of her wrists. His grip was of iron and the only thing stopping him from reeling her in was a beyond less then half Grover's size thin boy named Shane.

Shane had a grip on Grover's belt and strained his loose arm trying to control Grover's. Despite Linda's fear she was amazed at Shane's failing attempt. He was constantly loosing and being half way flung off but his speed, determination, and unbound energy never faltered.

But Linda was distracted from all, even struggling to free her self. As she watched the man's grip sucking the life out of her hand, blue from lack of blood, she saw blister bursting on the back of his hand. As more blisters started appearing up his arm his skin began to peal, like from the worst of sunburns.

Horses. She could hear thunderous houses headed her way through the forest but she did not lose her constant gaze of Grover's hand. It wasn't until a more thunderous elbow burst into Shane's face spraying blood( Like a mule kicking a bucket of water.) that she came back to the world.

Grover smiled back at Shane. Shane quickly rebound to his feet holding his hand over his face and drawing a knife with the other as he mumbled. "Dats it Gover! Or else!"

But the other men grabbed Shane from behind. "Settle Down boy." In a fury he strained against them but he was weak and they had him disarmed and restrain. Grover's smile grew wild as he turned to face Linda. Their eyes met and Linda with her mouth closed feigned a smile as best she could. Grover began to pull her into his grasp as he straitened up on the large wooden bed. The fear was gone for she knew it was all over.

--

" Unhand that woman!"

The cavalry had arrived and they were no ragtag group of misfits. They were professional Guard. In thick leather armor with immaculate sections of bronze chain mail. They road sturdy small horses made for forest travel. There in a flash, seven, all with swords drawn out. Four of the guard dismounted in smooth practiced leaps. All seven swords steadily pointed straight out at the large man now staring blankly back at the sharp metal threats.

As the four men each took a single step towards Grover he released his grip from Linda's wrist and placed his hands above his head, but it did not last. Suddenly he yelled. Grover swiftly brought his hands down in front of him. He was not angry but in pain and it was now that all noticed what Linda had seen.

The palm of Grover's hand was chard black and blood oozed out of the cracks in his chard flesh. Grover rolled off the bed in onto the ground as the crowd watched in surprise.

"So he's at it again is he. Your lucky your already injured, other wise you'd be getting far worse for laying hands on a maiden."

Linda looked up to see two more men on horses, but the one who had spoken was different. In a full suit of solid bronze plate armor he road a monstrous armored black horse that towered over the others. The man's bronze armor was embellished with copper decorations of lions and a large griffon across the cuirass. The symbol meant he was the captain and a small dove placed on his helm, with a leash that strung down around the griffons neck, proclaimed he was directly commanded by the king. He would have none but the King to answer to.

" Shackles! Well, well. It seems only one of you had the common since to try and stop this man." The captain said as he looked the local mob over. He road up next to Shane and looked down at him.

"It seems, we have a new local captain of the guard. I am Leo Validus Marmor."

"Names Shane Sir… Shane Stoe"

"Call me Captain Marmor." But as he said this another cavalry office road bustling through the forest and over to him.

"Captain Leo. We have a err. Problem. Some kind of crazy mage…."

"Humm.. Is he working with, never mind, Shane get your people back to town. Keep the tyrant in a cell I will be back in Northriver shortly. Oh, And Miss I will be wanting to speak with you upon my arrival, so make your self available. Shane make sure it all goes as I ask. Here." Leo tossed a small bronze griffon medallion to Shane. The medallion was the official sign of a captain of guard.

Leo Whipped his horse and he was off, following the officer who had brought the news of the crazy mage. With Grover's legs shackled the rest of the cavalry followed there dusty trail.