True Justice

((OOC: Chloe, you might have used the same text color for Elle that I have for Shay, but I'm not 100% positive. Just so you know. ))

Shay frowned as Terence pointed out the spots she'd missed. "Thanks. Your feedback is appreciated." Her tone was laced with sarcasm.

She watched as a girl with long red hair climbed the stairs, and listened with mild interest to Terence's and Elle's exchange. It was obvious that the girl didn't like her. Shay sighed and paused sweeping long enough to acknowledge Elle's greeting. Her manner was straightforward and business-like. "Hello. You must be the Elle I heard so much about. I'd say it was a pleasure, but you might not agree."

True Justice

"You're right. I wouldn't." Elle said, sniffing haughtily.

Terence lifted his head. "Elle, a woman named Rejinna Longham spoke to me today, about a little girl named Gracie, her daughter. What do you know about that?"

Elle's eyes widened and she turned pale. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Walter and you witnessed a kidnapping, am I right?" Terence asked, his voice patient.

"No." Elle said in an even voice.

"You're lying, Elle. Tell me what you know, or I will tell the authorities everything I know." Terence threatened.

"No!" Elle said, standing from her chair. It tipped behind her, sending wood shavings into the air. "Don't."

"I'll be forced, too, Elle, if you don't speak." Terence continued working on the wheel.

"I won't say anything if she is here." Elle glanced at Shay with that narrowed gaze of hers.

"Shay isn't going anywhere until she wants to leave. Tell me what you know." Terence looked at Shay and nodded, letting her know that she could stay.

Elle hmphed. "Walter and I saw it. We were too afraid to say anything, but Walter wrote a note. I won't tell you anything more, but I'll tell Rejinna."

"I know he did." Terence stood and walked toward Elle, his huge frame hulking over the young woman. "Rejinna needs to hear what you know. She owns a cabin by the dock. If you do not go to her and tell her what you know, I will be forced to turn you in. Do you hear me, Elle?"

"Yes." Elle ground out, refusing to make eye contact.

"Good, you may go to her now." Terence watched as Elle left, the redheaded girl refusing to look at either of them. Terence set the chair upright again and returned to his stool. "Do you need help with the sacks? Or can you handle it by yourself?" Terence asked Shay, breaking the awkward silence.

True Justice

Shay swept in silence as Elle and Terence talked, trying to stay as much out of the way as possible. It was slightly difficult though, as the loft was small and their voices were loud.

Finally, Elle left, and Shay breathed a sigh of relief. She already had Terence to argue with. Having Elle too didn't help things.

Shay had one sack full already, and she tied it shut with a piece of string. "I can handle it," she said confidently in response to Terence. "Again, I'm perfectly capable of this work. I'm not completely helpless." She rolled her eyes.

True Justice

"I didn't say you were helpless." Terence looked at her. "I only offered to help, because I figured I at least owe you one gentlemanly action."

He wiped off the section of wheel he was carving and asked, "Did you grow up in Griande?"

True Justice

"I'm her brother!" Zachary snapped, for a moment his brown eyes turning hard with anger. "And my sister wasn't a traitor. She had know idea that I was working for King Bruce...." he trailed off, suddenly realizing he was giving himself completely away. He was a spy in a foreign land and had just let that information slip. He had left his weapon behind, and was faced with a Tierrian and a knife. His only choice would be to run.

~~~~

"So you want to fight!?" Captain Seranoy laughed, heartily, throwing back his head. "Then we shall fight, and you shall fall." he pulled out his knife and short sword. "This is an awfully small playing field, are you sure you can manage!?" he asked sarcastically, his eye glittering hard. Jean's actions had surprised him, and his perfectly poised stance which announced skill had struck apprehension in his heart, but he forced such feelings down.

Aeryn gasped at the scene, and backed away. She feared the ending would be in Jean's death. Folding her hands she sent up a quick prayer, then took a breath and waited to her steel clash against steel.

True Justice

"Well, I don't need any gentlemanly actions, thank you very much." Shay hefted the bag up into her arms. "I'm just fine--"

Shay tripped on an uneven piece of wood in the floor, and the bag of shavings went airborne, scattering all over the floor. She started to blush but hid it by grabbing the broom and sweeping furiously.

"Yes, I did grow up in Griande," she growled. Annoyance was in her tone no matter how much she tried to hide it. "Did you?"

True Justice

Terence rolled his eyes at her, chuckling to himself. He came up behind her as she swept furiously and said, "Yes, I did. Been here all my life."

He placed one hand on her shoulder and the other on the top of the broom handle, stopping her from sweeping. "Are you alright? It looked like your ankle twisted..."

True Justice

Shay winced as pain shot through her ankle. Terence was right. It had twisted. Hard.

"No. I'm fine. Really." She took her hand and moved his off her shoulder. His gaze trapped her. "I'm fine," she repeated, more for herself than for him.

True Justice

"Don't be ridiculous. Take a seat." He motioned to the chair that Elle had been sitting in. "With 5 younger siblings, I know what a twisted ankle looks like."

True Justice

"Are you crazy? I'm here to work." Shay refused to move. "So work is what I'm going to do." She gritted her teeth as more pain stabbed through her foot. "Regardless of whether I twisted my ankle or not."

True Justice

Terence rubbed his chin. "There are two ways we can do this. I can carry you to the chair, or you can walk there yourself. Take your pick."

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"You wouldn't dare." Shay glared at him and stood her ground, even when the pain began to intensify. "I'm not moving. I am going to sweep. And you will not carry me." She set her jaw. I'd die before I let him do that, she thought. She snatched the broom out of his hand and began to sweep vigorously, trying to keep off her injured ankle as much as possible. That was proving to be difficult, but she swept anyway, trying to ignore the fact that Terence might indeed mean what he said.

True Justice

Terence just watched her for a few minutes, shaking his head, a slight smile on his face. She's more stubborn than I am...

Taking a step forward, he scooped her up in one quick motion and cradled her in his arms as he made his way toward the chair. "I gave you a choice, Miss O'Teale."

~~~

Elle wrung her hands together, her heart pounding. She visibly shook as she lifted a hand and knocked on the door to the Longham residence.

Everything in her wanted to turn away and run, but she knew the consequences if she did. She had run the whole way, from the shipyard to the cabin. For her, the outside world was a dangerous place, especially during the time when the town was in an uproar about a criminal.

True Justice

Jinna had just put the pan of gingerbread on the hearth when a knock sounded at the door. She wiped her hands off on a towel and hurried to answer it. Suddenly, her usual calmness had vanished and she had to steady her hand in order to turn the doorknob. The door creaked open and she saw a very frightened young woman standing outside, with reddish hair and green eyes. Instantly Jinna forgot about herself.

"Come inside, dear." she cooed, her motherly instincts coming out as she motioned the girl into her home. She put a hand on the girl's shoulder and led her into the house. Already the smell of gingerbread was beginning to fill the small cabin.

True Justice

Elle shied away as Jinna touched her shoulder, a slight gasp coming from her mouth. She stepped inside and said, "Terence Rowland sent me."