"Sophie." Sophie's eyes snapped open and she sat up. Zarathustra was before her, watching with kind, small eyes.

"Zarathustra." She said with a gasp, looking around and trying to calm down.

The servent smiled. "My apologies for startling you."

Sophie attempted her own smile. "It's unavoidable." Zarathustra gave her a sympathetic look, and she waved that off. "Don't worry about it." She was distracted by the King's innocent sleeping form next to her. He looked so much younger asleep...she could stare at him forever. She reached out before she could stop herself and moved his hair away from his scar.

"We shall attempt to wake up his majesty as well."

Sophie smiled, "He's a heavy sleeper?" Zarathustra nodded. "Hey! Wake up!" Sophie said loudly, shaking his shoulder.

"Ah, Miss Sophie..." Zarathustra said nervously. The King moved suddenly without opening his eyes, grabbing Sophie and hugging her to him. His arms like iron around her.

"Zarathustra!"

"Um, I tried to warn you. He's very hard to wake up and does things in his sleep."

Sophie weakly slapped at the King, hardly able to move her arms. "Wake up! Wake up you stupid King!" She finally gave up. After laying there for a long time, and having Zarathustra also give up and finish laying cloths out for both of them and refreshments, Sophie closed her eyes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When she woke up she was completely alone. Sighing, she changed into the splended cloths Zarathustra had left out for her. It was a white underdress with long flowing sleeves and a ruffled bodice, with a black, sleevless overdress that attached along the torso with a long black string. There was a thin silver coker collar with chains and gems dangling, the middle one a heart. It was a beautiful stone, Sophie ran her hand over the smooth, cool surface. It was pink on the right, fading to white which faded to green on the left. She put on the jewelry, which sat a little too close to where her old collar had been for comfort. She waited a bit, but no one came... Finally she peeked outside. She hadn't had so much freedom before and wondered if it would be okay for her to go in search of them...

She traveled the nearly empty halls, passing a servent every now and then. She was either stared at or paid little attention to. Sophie was passing some beautiful, huge balconies when both she and the person she was coming across stopped dead. The Prince stood before her, long, thick black hair down his back. Dark eyes in an innocent looking tan face, wearing pitch black shirt, pants, and cloak. "You..." He stepped forward and she was frozen by his presence. He ran his hand through her hair and tightened when she pulled away. "I hear you sold your soul to Drakon." She reached up and grabbed his wrist, but was unable to pull his hand out of her hair. His eyes flashed at the contact and he began to raise his other hand.

"I ask that you let her go Prince Theophanes." Both slave and Prince looked to see a young man with straight black hair that fell into his eyes. He had black K-9 ears ontop his head, dressed in a short-cropped jacket over a light grey tunic. A black cloth belt and two more, one thin, supple black holding two long daggers on either hip, the other a decoration of beads. The long necklace he wore matching his belt also held the same stones Sophie now wore around her neck. A hood was around his shoulders, the hood down. Black pants and supple shoes that came up his shins. Light brown eyes in a dainty face.

"Are you a Partial?" Theophanes had released his hold on Sophie's hair. "The Bloodthirsty King has a Partial as an attendent? You must idolize your king for such an honor, am I right? Are your ears that of a dog?" The Prince laughed. "Perhaps you suit the King of Drakon very well-" The Prince was cut off as the K-9 man was suddenly before him, two large knives around his throat. Everyone held their breath.

"Prince Theophanes!" Guards seemed to materialize around them.

One of the men was Advisor to the King of Godor. "You're foolish, aren't you? If you were to slay Prince Theophanes within this place, it would also mean the death penalty for you...no, I could slay you now for endangering royalty."

The K-9 man glanced at the Advisor out the corner of his eye, then returned his sharp gaze to the Prince. "Excuse me, but I can't forgive someone for insulting my Master."

"Huh." The Prince said after collecting himself, smiling. "You're a dog that hasn't been disciplined, aren't you? Or is it that you're quick to die?" Everyone watched on baited breath. Tension filled the air, so thick it was almost suffocating. Finally it was Sophie that moved, stepping forward. She laid a hand on the K-9 man's arm. He hesitated, then stepped back, sheathing his blades with a glance at the slave.

"You are either very brave, or very stupid to insult one such as the King of Drakon even minutely." She told her former Prince.

The Prince smirked, "As always the outspoken slave. It'll be interesting to see how long you last in the Drakon Court." He turned to his guards and Advisor. "Let's go." He led the way away much to the slave's surprise.

"I've never seen them spare anyone before." She looked at the tall servent.

"They will not admit it, but they are afraid of the King." The man smiled at her. "You can call me Loki, Sophie." He said, shaking her hand gently. His palm was warm and welcoming, making Sophie smile.

"I wasn't sure Partials actually existed." She said, eyeing his ears and fluffy K-9, black tail.

The man pursed his lips before saying, "They do but are rare. However I am not a Partial. I simply have some distant werewolf blood in my veins."

Sophie blinked. "Werewolves are real as well? So cool." She smiled, shocking Loki. "How amazing."

"You like werewolves?"

"Of course, they amaze me. I greatly respect wolves, and to share in some of their abilities is just...well, I wonder what it is like?" Sophie became lost in her thoughts.

Suddenly the man laughed. "I've never heard that before." Sophie frowned, but didn't know what to say to that. "May I ask where you were headed Miss Sophie?"

Sophie's frown deepened, "Zarathustra was like that too, why are you guys so polite to a slave?"

Loki raised an eyebrow, "It is good manners."

Sophie shook her head, "Not to a slave."

Loki only responded with a shrug. "Does it bother you Miss Sophie?"

Sophie shrugged. "I'm just not used to it at all. It is strange to me...it seems unnatural."

"Hmm."

Sophie shook her head to clear it. "Anyway, the King told me to stay with him, and I was getting bored in the room...I-I...thought it would be okay to find him."

Loki nodded, "Although it was dangerous to leave on your own, it is understandable. Fear not for I was tasked by His Majesty with your safety. I shall take you to him."

Sophie frowned, "Why care for a slave's safety?" Loki did not answer and started leading Sophie down the hallway, lost in thought.

Finally he said, looking back at her with his arms clasped behind his back, "We have more the view that a person's value is quite high, no matter who they are."

Sophie smiled, "I like that answer, though I never expected royalty to have such."

Loki inclined his head, "Nor I until His Majesty found me."

There was silence for awhile until Sophie said, "His Majesty seems different from the rumors."

Loki didn't look at her while he replied. "Rumors are rumors, but in time you will come to see where they come from." Sophie wondered about that as they walked the halls. "Ah," Loki said suddenly, "I have something good, would you like some?"

"Something good?"

Loki held up a small square in between his thumb and forefinger. "Here." Sophie held out her hand and he dropped it into her palm.

"What is it?" She asked, inspecting it while he watched in amusement.

"Nougat."

She jerked her head to stare at him, "Nougat?" Nougat was very good. Far back in her childhood it was an ingredient in one of her favorite desserts. "How'd you get this?"

Loki laughed, "I bought it in town before we left Drakon."

Sophie nibbled on the sweet food happily, trying to make it last. ~So good!~

"Is it good?" Loki asked with an amused twinkle in his light brown gaze.

"Yes!" Sophie exclaimed halfway through the Nougat.

"I see." Loki smiled whole-heartedly, exposing an elongated eye-tooth. "Good."

After another nibble, Sophie looked up at the man. "Thank you for the dessert...um...are you alright?" Loki glanced at her. "About the insults the Prince said..."

Loki smiled, "Fret not. I'm used to them." He fluttered his ears. "Even in Drakon, my kind is not looked kindly upon."

Sophie frowned. "Just because you are used to it doesn't mean it does not hurt."

"Kind girl. Try not to worry." He smiled, "I did not take that prince's words to heart."

"Good." Sophie said, more upbeat. "I am glad you are here Loki. You are kind to me."

"Miss Sophie. I am also glad the King found you and we could meet." Loki stopped in front of a pillar, and turned to look at the slave. "The Royalty are dinning. We shall enter through the servants door and stand behind His Majesty, then eat later." Sophie nodded. Behind the pillar was a small servant door. It led behind one of the walls of ths dinning hall. Just their luck, it opened among the pillars behind King Gabriels of Drakon where they stood in the shadows. The King wore a rare orange hooded jacket, expensive blue pants similar to those from yesterday, and black boots that came up his shins. His hair as perfectly styled, longish bangs framing his face and spikey in the back, same as yesterday.

Unfortunately, Sophie and Loki's arrival did not go wholely unnoticed. "A slave dares enter in on this feast?" The Queen of Godor scowled at Sophie.

"Queen Tahira, it is I who asked them here." The King of Drakon said.

"You." The King of Godor stood, making Sophie want to shrink back, remembering all her dealings with him. "Why are you free from your shackles?" He walked toward her, his presence overbearing. Before anyone could say anything, he swung his heavy scepter. Loki yanked Sophie back and the heavy blow hit him in the chest.

"Loki!" Sophie shouted in dismay. The King of Drakon shot up so fast his chair fell over backwards with a loud clatter. The room fell deathly silent. Loki hissed in a breath and fell to his knees.

"Your Majesty?"

"What the..." The Princes and Princesses were augusted and hid from the violence.

"Did that excite you...Your Majesty, The King?" Loki labored to say.

Sophie fell to her knees next to Loki, for the first time looking up at the King pleadingly, "Y-Your Majesty, I was bought by King Drakon."

The King of Godor didn't react to this, simply saying, "Kill the Partial." Sucking in a breath of fear Sophie hugged Loki's head to her protectively and closed her eyes.

"You dare lay a hand on one of my people?" Sophie hardly recognized his hardened voice as she opened them to see the Drakon King before them, three guards with spears surrounding them. "Do you care so little for your country that you dare bring down my wrath?" The King bared fangs. There was a gasp throughout the crowd and the guards took a fearful step back.

"A Partial..." The King whispered.

The Drakon King laughed darkly, causing goosebumps to raise on Sophie's skin and she shuddered. "Nay, you folks think everything different are Partials. I am far more dangerous."

The Godor King's eyes widened fearfully as he took a step back. "Then what are you?"

Instead of answering, the Drakon King said, "I'll give you one night. If, come morning, I am still in a bad mood," he eyed the other king sharply, "it will be war." There was another gasp from the crowd. "Zarathustra, Sophie, help Loki, we are leaving."

"Yes Your Majesty." Zarathustra was suddenly by Sophie and Loki's side, hefting Loki's uninjured arm over his shoulder. Sophie didn't want to lift Loki's arm close to his injured side, so she helped him up by wrapping an arm around him and guiding him up that way. Loki winced but stood up with their help and they followed the King of Drakon out of thr hall, everyone watching them leave with bated breath. Once the doors shut behind them, the Drakon King pulled his hood up and donned tan gloves before leading them all the way back to his own room. Sophie followed Zarathustra's lead and guided Loki to the King's bed, setting him down where Sophie herself had slept what seemed like a long time ago but was really only a little while. The King and Zarathusta clustered close and carefully took off Loki's necklace, jacket and tunic, revealing the nasty, large bruise already starting to form. The King winced and Zarathustra looked away.

"Zarathustra, fetch the healer."

Loki's ears drooped. "Do we have too?"

The King smiled and laughed. "I cannot heal a wound such as this, and want it looked at. Even if it means sharing a room with that no good healer-"

"That hurts Drakon." Sophie jumped and everyone turned in surprise to see and man with medium length blond hair and blue-green eyes. He chuckled, eyeing Sophie and turned to the King. "In truth you just missed me."

"You wish." The King grumbled. It's the first time Sophie had seen the King glower and be in such a bad mood.

The man in the white shirt, tan pants, black boots, long white jacket, and light blue scarf around his shoulders turned toward Sophie politely, hands clasped behind his back. "This is my first time seeing this cute girl!"

"I'm Sophie." She said with a smile and curtsied.

"Oh, Sophie. I'm a specialist of the human body, just call me Healer."

"Healer?" Sophie jumped when the Healer suddenly grabbed her shoulders.

"Such a melodious sound...such a pretty figure and looks...it's too magnificent!" He laughed a little and slid a hand along her cheek, his face invading her personal space, getting closer. His eyes seemed to be eagerly analyzing her. "Your internal organs are probably also very beautiful, right?"

~In-Internal organs?~

The King snatched his hand off of her, "Stop joking around! You perverted internal organ lover!"

~Internal Organ Lover?~

"Oh ho ho...the 'Calm And Composed King' Drakon actually turned hostile, what a rare sight to see."

"Shut up. You should know the real reason you're here."

"Yes, yes. Alright Loki. Let me see." The Healer bent over Loki who was clenching his side, looking pale. "Not that you are uninteresting Loki. You are very pretty in your own right."

Loki was sweating quite a bit in pain. "I don't want to hear that Healer." Sophie crossed her arms to hug herself as the Healer and Loki bickered back and forth, the King joining in. She hadn't felt as strong a dislike at contact with the Healer as she usually would have, but she still did not like it. However, she had felt more fear and helplessness then she ever had chained. Was it because she was no longer retaliating like she was before?

"Are you okay Sophie?" Sophie looked up at Zarathustra, there was something about his voice that didn't startle her.

She looked away, "Ah huh." Zarathustra also looked away at the guys still bickering. The King helped the Healer wrap Loki's injured side as the Healer continued to tease them.

"Healer Amias can be a bit weird, but besides ruffling feathers, he means well." Sophie looked at him, trying not to smile or laugh at his attempt at a compliment. He smiled and winked. Once done patching Loki up, the Healer and King stepped aside and Sophie and Zarathustra took their place.

"Because of you I have been saved from a beating twice. Thank you." Tears threatened her eyes. "I only wish you had not gotten hurt."

Loki didn't look up at her and asked darkly, "Have they hit you like that often?"

"Uh..." Sophie didn't want to reply, she didn't want to upset him. "I'm a slave." She answered simply.

"That's no excuse." Loki finally met her gaze and he was livid.

Sophie smiled, touched he would get so angry for her. "I hope my services here will be different, that's the only reason I am staying."

Loki looked down once more. "No one shall ever hit you again." He vowed. Sophie felt so touched she felt tears in her eyes once more. She hugged him carefully, much to Loki's surprise and a flush flew across his cheeks.

"I've never had anyone care for me before, Loki. Thank you." He cleared his throat and she retreated shyly. "Sorry."

"N-No, it's alright."

"We should get going, that lunatic is percurring us a carriage." Drakon interrupted them. He and Zarathustra helped Loki up and they made their way through the halls with Sophie following. Finally they broke free of the castle and into the main courtyard where a slightly longer than usual carriage awaited them with a four horse team. Sophie dawdled behind them, not knowing what they expected her to do. She stayed behind them when they helped Loki into the carriage, Healer holding the door open for them. She stood up on tip-toes and leaned around them to peer in, curious. Along the far wall was a bed, on either side of the door was a seat. She jumped, yelping when Healer chuckled in her ear and she slapped a hand over it, while he slid his arm around her waist, pulling her to him.

"Is this your first time seeing a carriage?" There was a knot of fear in her throat, inhibiting her from speaking. Even if her vocal cords were relaxed, her brain was frozen in panic and she doubted she could work it enough to speak.

A scowling King ripped the Healers arm away from her and pulled Sophie protectively towards himself. "Don't touch her."

Healer studied them amusedly. "Interresting. Is that an order Drakon?"

The King glared at the Healer in return to the question. "Just get in front you Organ Pervert." Sophie tried not to smile at how weird that sounded, and coming from a King no less. With a jeering smirk the Healer did as told and slowly walked toward the driver's seat. Zarathustra backed up and bowed to them, both he and the King gesturing for her to enter the carriage. Blushing a little at the attention, she clumbered in, tentatively taking the seat to her right. She looked around in wonder, but she was tense at the thought of making a wrong move as the King climbed in as well and sat on the other side of the door that Zarathustra then closed. They traveled for a long time in silence, Sophie on pins and needles. Loki was sleeping, the King staring boredly out the window across from them, looking like he was about to fall asleep comfortably right there in his chair. "You don't have to be so tense Sophie." Sophie jumped as the King suddenly spoke.

"Yes My Lord."

He closed those light brown eyes of his and leaned his head back against the carriage. "Gabriels Drakon. You may call me by my name. Either Gabriels or Drakon, I care not which. But I get sick of everyone using a title for me."

"Alright....Drakon." He graced her with a smile before seeming to go back to sleep. She was still antsy as the carriage rocked and jarred along. She fiddled with the ties of her dress. She gasped and jumped when Drakon suddenly spoke, again without opening his eyes.

"What's on your mind?"

"Um..." Fear paralyzed her. Should she really say? Or lie? "I-I have other talents besides-besides being a personal slave."

Drakon peaked at her out of one eye. "Have I not made it clear that you will not be doing the job of a...'personal' slave any longer?" Sophie stared at him with wide blue eyes. She shook her head, obviously not catching onto that. She'd been a slave for a very long time, and couldn't imagine someone freeing her. The only way she thought she'd be able to obtain freedoms was through escape, so she was still weary. Drakon sighed and looked at her fully now, crossing his arms. For a moment she was distracted by the way the fabric of his jacket pulled over the muscles underneath, and how broad his shoulders were. She caught herself zoning out with a silent gasp and immediately looked away. Drakon raised an eyebrow at her, but continued what he had been about to say, "Okay, skills will come in handy finding you a job and getting you on your feet. Tell me, what are you good at?"

"Swordmanship." Loki's ears twitched, Drakon stared at her.

"Swordmanship...how in tarnation do you know swordmanship? And how can a little girl like you be good at it?"

Sophie frowned, starting to feel like her old self again as she got fired up. She crossed her own arms, tiny in comparison to his. "I'm good." She insisted.

He studied her. "Very well then...Sophie." He caught her gaze. "How would you feel being my personal guard?" Loki's ears pricked.

Sophie stared at the King. "But you haven't even seen me spar yet."

"You said you were good right?"

"Yeah but-"

"I trust you. You don't have to give an answer right away or even in the near future, take your time. Think it over." Sophie bowed her head, again blown away and not knowing what to do or what to think. Drakon closed his eyes once again, appearing to go to sleep, but said, "So tell me, how did you happen to learn swordmanship?"

Sophie wasn't willing to tell him how she learned the basics, but she would tell him how she got to be at the level she was now. "I was skilled at escaping." She halted, wondering if she had just made a vital mistake. Drakon simply waited for her to continue, slouched comfortably in the chair with his eyes closed. He looked so...innocent, not at all like the rumored blood-thirsty king of Drakon. Sophie bit her cheek as she made a quick decision to ignore her mistake and hope for the best. "On one such occasion, a man who wandered Godor took me under his wing. He himself was very skilled, just by traveling with him, I learned a lot. Eventually, after much debate, he conceded in teaching me some. I am still a far cry from his level, but am very confident in my skills non-the-less."

"It's good you've had such a friend."

Sophie nodded, looking away, "Yes." She agreed. Drakon knocked on the wall near the drivers. They traveled a little longer, then pulled off the road and stopped. Zarathustra opened the door, his blue and white hood up.

"Let's stop for brunch. Alternate hunting and cooking with the Organ Lover. I'm fine and rather stay in the carriage anyway."

Zarathustra bowed, then turned his small blue eyes on me. "Would you like to stretch your legs a bit Miss Sophie?" Indeed she felt a bit stiffled in the carriage and nodded, accepting the white gloved hand Zarathustra offered and let him guide her down the steps of the carriage, careful not to trip on her long dress. It was good to be outside and on solid ground. The air was a bit fridged, but it wasn't too bad.

"I can help set up a fire."

Zarathustra looked at her in surprise. "No, please Miss Sophie, that is unnecessary, you do not have to."

Sophie pouted. "But I want to do something, I will get bored just standing here."

Zarathustra looked around, seeming nervous. "Um..."

Wearing a blue hood and white gloves, Healer appeared next to him with a mischievous grin and clapped his shoulder. "It should be fine, right? Let the lady do as she pleases."

Sophie brightened, "Thank you!" She gathered rocks to frame the firepit while Zarathustra took care of the horses and Healer hunted. Once she had collected enough rocks, she went insearch of firewood while Zarathustra dug the firepit and set up the rocks. Healer came back empty handed and Zarathustra went out hunting.

"Hmm. Are you cold Princess?"

Sophie immediately flinched away from Healer from where she sat near the fire. "No, I'm ok." She said quickly to try and keep the blond man away. "And don't call me Princess."

"Hmm, but you're as elegant as one."

"Please don't."

The door to the carriage snapped open and a scowling Drakon marched out. "If you have time to tease her, you have time to cook, so get to it." He ordered grumpily.

~These two really don't get along...or it's more like Healer eagerly gets under Drakon's skin.~ Drakon plopped himself down next to Sophie and glared after Healer as he started to get out a pot and, whistling, left to find water. "Amias Stolfi." Drakon said, draping his arms around his knees as he watched Healer disappear into the woods. "That man is too forward. Don't be afraid to smack him if he annoys you." That formed an amusing picture for Sophie. She could imagine Healer eagerly annoying Drakon even after getting hit. "What's with the smile?"

Sophie glanced at him. "You two are like quarreling siblings is all." Sophie was unsure because of the hood, but he thought he paled some.

He grabbed her close and gave her a noogie. "Get that disgusting thought out of your head!"

"Wah!" Sophie couldn't help it, she laughed. In the first time in a long time. She laughed.

"It's not funny." Drakon pouted, causing Sophie to continue laughing. They finally noticed everyone had joined them in the clearing. Healer was handing Loki something to drink and Zarathustra was standing on the edge of the clearing, watching the king and slave warmly. He came over and started cooking a meal for Loki and Sophie. The other three stated they weren't hungry, though Zarathustra seemed to be a little worried for his liege. As soon as Sophie and Loki had eaten, everything was packed up, the horses, chestnuts with white blazes and 4 knee-high socks and flaxen manes and tails, were re-hitched, and they continued traveling.

Suddenly Zarathustra shouted, "Your Majesty!"

Healer shouted, "Look out!" And a second later horses shouted in panic as the carriage was violently slammed down on it's side, horses legs shattering the glass window, their screams filling the air as the three in the carriage tried to avoid the stomping hooves. The door side of the carriage was against the ground, a horse's front legs through the window. They were trapped. Just as suddenly as the accident occurred, the horse managed to pull itself free of the window with a panicked scream. Chaos sounded from outside. Sophie quickly made her way through the broken window.

"Sophie." Loki warned.

"Sophie!" Drakon shouted after her, "Wait!"

"Sophie." Healer said in shock.

"Look out!" Zarathustra warned.

Sophie stumbled back as 2 horses and riders almost ran her over. ~What the hell's going on?~ The men dismounted, forming up. A knight and 3 soldiers armed with spears. Drakon scrambled out of the carriage, holding a sword and handing Sophie another. Sophie was surprised before quickly taking the offered blade, trying to adjust to the weight. It had been too long since she was in any kind of swordfight. Her muscles were extremely weak. The knight raised a crossbow and fired as Drakon and Sophie seperated and dodged. Sophie immediately used the discharge to attack while the King went for the cover of the woods. Sophie guided a spear thrust down with her unseathed blade and swung up at his unprotected chest, though she couldn't put much power behind the swing. It still cut him shallowly. The sholdiers eyes widened and he bared fangs, making her blood run cold and sweat start to form. ~A Partial, or something like Drakon or Loki. Regardless I am in much deeper trouble now.~ The soldier swung his spear up and she jumped back, blocking and using his swing to give her more distance. He thrusted and she dodged, rushing him. He veered and tried to retreat quickly. Sophie swung at him but he was too fast. She felt air movement behind her and gasped, spinning around to meet the Knight's blade. The blow numbing her arm all the way to the shoulder, but she held fast to her sword, even as her wrist shrieked in protest. Starting to breath more heavily, she traded blows with the Knight while keeping an eye on the soldier stalking behind her. She dodged and the spear thrust pierced the Knight's side instead, causing him to yell out angrily, also exposing fangs. Sophie used the opportunity, grabbing her sword firmly with both hands and bracing herself. She rushed the soldier and gave him a gapping stomach wound as she passed. He cried out, clutching at the wound as his knees buckled. Drakon had surprised one of the soldiers, quickly cutting him down, dodging a spear thrust almost faster than Sophie could see and cutting down the second one as the soldier screamed.

"Sophie!" Drakon called out. Time seemed to slow as she stretched her senses out around her and barely dodged the worst of a spear thrust behind her. The sharp, barbed end slashing her back open with a hot flash of pain, which Sophie ignored. She turned and attacked, but what little strength she had, was failing her. Her slash barely wounded him, even if it was along his stomach. He smashed her away with his spear shaft and she tumbled, her legs tangled up in her skirt, to the ground painfully, her back screaming at her. Her muscles trembled in exhaustion, her breathing ragged as she put her blade in between her and her attacker, trying to untangle herself from her dress. With a shriek, she barely thrusted the spearhead coming down at her to the side.

Then Loki was behind him, holding one of his daggers to his throat, causing the man to hault, sweating in fear. "Give me the order to kill My King."

"As much as I want to, it would be more advantageous to play with him for information."

Loki was silent for a long time, the look in his brown eyes feral. "As you wish." He finally replied back, still not taking his dagger away from the man's throat. Suddenly he was staring behind Sophie, "No! Stop!" Metal bit into Sophie's back as she instinctively responded, jumping away and parrying with her blade and sheath. The wound in her side was deep and she immediately felt dizzy from blood loss. She swayed on her feet, barely staying standing.

"Sophie!" Healer and Zarathustra yelled, rushing for her. The man with long black hair lunged for her again, but Drakon was by her side, already in mid-swing. The long-haired man with a scar under his left eye dodged back, free from harm. They both shouted and the long-haired man attacked. Drakon braced himself and was faster. He cleaved the man almost clear through, blood splurting everywhere. As soon as Sophie was sure the danger had passed, she fainted.