[maikafanawen]

Gita pressed the daggers against her prisoner and waited until his sword clanked to the floor.

“Good,” she whispered. “Now what to do with you?” Wild men where filing into the hall, fighting as they went, without mercy slaying any of the house. Gita whistled and they turned towards her. “Taralphiel,” she said, “is that way.” She pointed towards the doors just before her. They grinned and moved towards the hall, weapons raised. “Don’t kill her you fools!” she spat. “The king will be wanting her.”

Then the memory of the Swan Lady Cuor fancied crossed her mind. Where was she? She gestured to two of the men to grab each of Cartil’s arms and hold him firmly.

“Don’t let him go! Take him to the king!” With that she dissolved back into the shadows of the house, moving as quickly as she could along the walls, searching for Cuor’s prize.

* * *

Annanoldowen heard the men shortly after Taralphiel. She reached down for her sword only to remember she had left it in her room. Silent as a wraith, she left the hall and disappeared up to her room. The wild men had only swarmed in upon the first floor and the upstairs were still clear. She buckled on her sword and went to help Rudhchamion, Ohtaredan, and Herebrand protect the children.

On her way she caught sight of a slender she-figure sliding through the shadows, a terrible look on her face. Sheathing her sword, Annanoldowen followed, her elf feet making no noise on the cool marble. The first ray of sunlight that broke through to reveal the woman she followed showed her to be a maid of the swan house—or by the way she was moving and looking, and imposter.

There was barely anything Annanoldowen could do when Laurel came rushing down the hall and the opposite end. The woman leapt to the side, a slender dagger suddenly in her hand. The elf sprinted towards her and with a silent slice of her sword, knocked the weapon from her hand and grabbed her around the neck, threatening her with her blade. The woman was stronger though than Annanoldwen and struggled fiercely. Laurel was almost upon them by the time she got free. She sank her fist violently into Annanoldowen’s stomach and wrenched out of her grasp and back into the shadows down the hall, slipping out of view.

“Who was it?” demanded Laurel, she was sweating freely, a look of anger upon her face.

“An imposter. Come, the children—” Annanoldowen held her sword again before her and followed Laurel, who crossed in front of her, back again towards the wild men.

* * *

Gita ran until she was out of sight of the elf lady and ... the Swan Lady. So, she thought, massaging the place where the elf had grabbed her. That’s what Cuor wants. Grinning wickedly, she made her way out of the house. Drawing a second dagger from her guise, she crept around the side of the house to the front. The guards had been killed and wild men were entering freely.