�Yes, but�I don�t know what the hateful creature was, or what its face looked like. All I saw was a tall figure dressed in black, with a heavy black cape,� she muttered darkly. �It had a mask over its face, and burning red eyes�.and it knew my name.� One slender hand raked long cornsilk hair back from her face, revealing the dark smudges upon the slender column of her neck. Kalamar shook his head in amazement, leaning closer to view the undeniably digit formed bruises.
�What are you going to do? Have Suras and Palthion placed any protective wards on the cabin yet?� said the acolyte, rubbing his chin thoughtfully as he leaned back. He watched the young women with concern, one brow slowly arching as she hurriedly ducked her head, slender fingers suddenly fumbling at her cloak fastening. He groaned out loud and reached over to gently tilt her chin up so his dark eyes could search her blushing face. �You haven�t told them, have you,� he said admonishingly.
�No, and I�m not going to�yet,� came the quiet reply as Lashette rose gracefully to her feet. �They know that I fell down the stairs, and until I can find out what�s going on�They have enough to worry about without my telling them that my �angel of death has come to collect me.� She watched Kalamar levelly, her rosy lips curving into a rueful smile. �I didn�t lie�I just didn�t say that I was thrown down the stairs rather than slipped and fell. And you, my friend, are not going to tell either of them differently.�
She leaned forward to give the acolyte a warm, gentle hug before pulling the black hood of her cloak up, hiding all but a glimpse of her face. �Thank you for listening, Kala� If you find anything in the library that can shed any light upon what this creature could be, let me know?� With a final wave of one slender hand the young woman drifted silently out the door and began to hurry along the path to home.
What she hadn�t told him
was that she was scared to death. The fear the creature had instilled within
her was deep, mingling with anger that he had dared to enter her home.
Dared to threaten her life, dared to throw both Sephyr and Palthion in
her face, had dared� As she would dare now, and woe to the creature if
she should prevail.
