"I don't think you're weak." He added eying me.

I'm not.

I glared at him impudently. Still trying to conceive a plan to get the key and out while I had clothes and before he put me back on that chain.

But to call him a formidable foe would be like saying that about a bear.

He's not formidable. He's an impassable wall.

He sucked in his cheeks as though he knew precisely what I was thinking. "Why did your mum name ye, Raven?"

He strolled over to me, and I reflexively tensed. My shoulders and arms hardening in-case I had a need to strike him if he tried to toss me over that table again. But he gave me a slight unworried glance before reaching for my hair before he even stopped. Catching a lock and curving it around his large finger.

"Ye're hair isn't particularly black. Yer eyes are the brightest green I ever saw. Far from the dark of the birds. It makes little sense. Unless she was so senseless as to simply like the name?"

I growled in my throat. My mother wasn't senseless!

"She has more sense than you!" I snapped.

"Oh, does she?" He tilted his head to look down at me. And I realized he'd effectively gotten me talking again.

Was that his goal?

"And how much sense do ye think I have, lil Bird?"

"Not much!"

He tilted his head with a grin. Large dimples carving into his cheeks. "On this whole damned Isle, I think perhaps ye're the only gel with spirit. Interesting to think ye're mine."

"I'm not!"

"Aren't ye?" He said in the high coaxing voice and accompanying grin. "Ye dunnot think I could throw ye down and have ye here on the floor if I so desired?"

***

He absolutely could. He's far too big to fight off. I was looking quickly from him to the floor.

He chuckled. "Cease ye're fretting. Ye goin' to answer me 'bout yer name?"

"Name isn't Raven. That's what they called me."

He gave me a curious look. "Why?"

"Because there always seemed to be one following me about."

"A raven?"

"Well one bird or another really. But raven's most commonly..." My gaze dropped entirely to the floor to avoid his keen blue study.

I missed mom and my friends.

I instantly pictured laughing with them near the pond back home. Then rushing home and smelling my mom's cooking before I even entered the tiny hut we'd called 'home'.

"My mom once told me that ravens can sense otherworldly spirits and they'll come to them as a welcoming."

He was frowning.

"What?"

"Were ye born the night of a droppin' star?"

I felt the confusion written over my face. "Yes, how'd you know."

"Some things..." He murmured. "I just know."

He was massaging his chin thoughtfully as he gave me a long look. Deciding, apparently to confide in me, he drew a long breath and slapped the counter next to him.

It was a loud enough sound that I reflexively jumped, not even realizing how tense I was.

***

"Let's go." He barked. Walking bare chested across the room, wearing only the bit of leather over his most private parts he walked to the door and tossed it open.

I was on his heels, eager to be outside looking for an escape. I was struck by the sudden mist assaulting my senses. So different from the drier country back home and from the village where he'd purchased me which had been hot and sandy.

This place is altogether different. I knew the river where I'd washed was just down the hill some and the scatter of trees there grew more thick. I considered bolting into them, wondering if I could outmaneuver him long enough to hide. It looked dense enough out there that there had to be all manner of places to conceal myself.

"Hiding from me will only incite my predator instinct." He tossed over his shoulder.

Making that thought immediately dissipate. That's the last thing I want.

I followed him on numbed feet trying to decide what I could do then. Up a tree?

I looked up at the high peeks but saw that the trunks were so tall before the first branches that I was sure I couldn't scramble up them before he got ahold of me.

There has to be some way to escape him? He can't be that infallible.

I found we'd walked far enough down the river that there was a barely visible land bridge breaking the fog.

His feet sure-footedly found their way across the narrow, rocky outcropping. His long strides nearly leaving me behind.

I skittered over it gracelessly, leaping the last few feet to escape it spanning so precariously over the water. I landed in a crouch and looked around. Trying to spot his broad back.

But I couldn't find him. I scanned in both directions. Trying to decide if I was relieved or terrified.

***

I was tempted to call his name but decided against it. I heard the crunch of branches and saw something charging through the trees at me. I instinctively jumped aside and caught the ducked head of a brown animal.

A small bear?

When it charged back at me I got a better look at the yellow yes.

A wolf.

"Mardichi?" I whispered.

"Change." He directed.

"I don't know how!"

The wolf rushed me again but this time I wasn't quite fast enough to escape it and its teeth scraped along my forearm.

I drew it against me, clutching at the bloodied scratch.

"Ouch!" I screeched in objection. My voice rising so shrilly that it sounded inhuman.

I could feel my heart pounding in my ears. Hear the wild thrumming vibrating my body. Feel the spasmic flexing of my muscles as I scanned the fog, on high alert for any more threat. I suddenly felt I could hear better. I felt lighter and for a moment I felt like I could leap into one of the trees. I eyed one near by. Suddenly feeling like my feet were nearly weightless.

I heard a caw in the distance.

Then another. Soon there was a great flock screeching all around the gray haze.

"Now that..." I heard Mardichi drawl. "is interesting..."