His gloved hands gripped the top of the ladder poles, his breath reeked of something fetid. His presence smothered her, like a bell jar encasing a candle and withering the flame. It was the Medium, and it was awful. She saw the thin gleaming chain around his throat.

Like a kitten struggling to survive in a raging river, she clawed at it. Her fingers tightened around the chain, and then she yanked as hard as she could. The medallion slipped loose from his shirt front and the sight of it nearly made her vomit. The chain snapped.

“Little…!”

With the chain still in her fist, Lia shoved him hard, his weight sending the ladder backwards. He was quick, so cruel and quick, and grabbed a fistful of her curly hair as the ladder tottered backwards. He dragged both of them down, and she fell, landed atop the ladder – on him – and he flinched with pain and grunted as they slammed on the floor.

Lia was breathless, stunned, but the gloom had left. The feelings were gone. She clawed her nails into his face, then yanked her hair free. He shoved the ladder off, and she ran for the door. Already he was struggling to his feet, wasting no words on curses or threats. She raised the crossbar, yanked hard on the door, and fled into the night, only to run into one of his soldiers outside.

In a fury, she tried to rake his face with her nails, and only after he caught her wrist did his familiar leathery smell, his scruffy beard, his tangled hair come together in her mind in recognition. It was Jon Hunter, gladius in his hand.

She had never felt more grateful to him than at that moment. The door opened again as the sheriff followed her out. Lia cringed, but Jon thrust her behind him. Looking up, she saw the Aldermaston closing the distance with a glowing orb in his hand. She recognized having seen the orb in his chambers, but had never witnessed it glow with the Medium’s power.

The sheriff’s eyes blazed. Blood dripped from a scratch-mark on his forehead, and he seethed silently, his hands opening and clenching. Jon’s blade was up, the point aiming at the intruder’s heart. His expression said, draw your blade man, and I will run you through, sheriff or not.

When the Aldermaston reached them, Lia felt another surge of relief and started to cry. He bent over her, taking her chin and forcing her face up. He looked ferocious and concerned. “Did he hurt you, Lia?”

Unable to speak, she shook her head no.

His gaze lingered on her face for several moments as the storm of fury built even further across his countenance. He was known for his fierce temper. The rage mounted like a storm. Patting her cheek, he raised to his full height and faced the sheriff.

“Almaguer, you violated my hospitality. How dare you.”

The light from the orb in his hand made the sheriff wince as it flashed brighter. “I was seeking answers from her, Aldermaston. Nothing more. That is my duty to our king.”

“My duty is to protect the inhabitants of Muirwood Abbey. I cannot tolerate anyone polluting the protection these grounds provide. They shield every pilgrim soul from any kingdom. The king will learn how you have abrogated your duties. You will be sharply punished.”

“You may tell him yourself when he arrives!” the sheriff said with a snarl. “It will not be long. The traitors are festering nearby. You can smell it in the air like a kill rotting in the sun. Anyone who has supported them in any fashion will feel the fullness of the king’s wrath. Even you, Aldermaston. Even this ancient place.”

“We have survived many wars and many storms and many such threats. I care only for the proper instruction of the learners here and to preserve this place from the peevish intrigues you waggle at me. Be gone, Almaguer. Be gone at once! Your men with you. Either you or I will die before any unfortunate reunion between us must occur. I revoke your welcome. Jon, escort the sheriff to the gates. I warn you, sheriff, that he has been well trained. Defy him at your peril. Prestwich will evict the rest of your men. Then lock the gates.”

“Yes, Aldermaston,” Jon said, never lowering his blade until the Aldermaston motioned him to.

As Lia watched the sheriff go, he looked back at her one final time. But his eyes were no longer glowing. She could see him looking at the thin thread of chain clutched in her hand.

* * *

There was a loose tile in the kitchen floor where Lia hid all her treasures. So, she hid the sheriff’s medallion and chain there during one of Pasqua’s garderobe visits the next morning. Thankfully for her, she learned, Jon had prowled around the kitchen all through the night and had seen the sheriff intrude. He had rushed to warn the Aldermaston and arrived back at the moment of Lia’s escape. She was so grateful for his timely rescue that she kissed his bearded cheek, which embarrassed him crimson and made Pasqua gasp and rush for a broom to shoo him out, but his exit was hasty.