Free A Price for a Princess by R.E. Butler

brown striped male named Jalar, twirled a fork between his fingers, "You'll need to watch out for Raiders between Netic Springs and Lorence."
    "What are Raiders?"  I asked.  I knew that Lorence was the name of the next town.  It was a good 15 hour trek there and we wouldn't reach it before dark tomorrow evening.
    "Raiders, princess," Jandor said thoughtfully, "are the most depraved form of bounty hunters in our realm.  And now that we know your story, that they're on the path to the palace makes sense."
    Perseus frowned.  "How so?"
    Rysk's frown was even deeper.  "Because Urijah would use any means necessary to find Daeton.  Any along our route could have alerted him to our travels."
    "Can't we go some other way and not go to Lorence?"  I asked.  My heart thudded a little irregularly in my chest.  I had known that there would be a price on my head by the wizard, but bounty hunters was something I hadn't thought of.
    Jandor shook his head.  "Unfortunately not.  Lorence itself would be safe haven, but the route there is treacherous.  There are many slaver camps along the way."
    "Slavers we could handle, but Raiders are an entirely different thing."  Perseus said.  "They're brutal.  If Daeton fell into their hands," he stopped speaking, his grip tightening on me. 
    Jalar said, "Jandor, the pride could help escort them to Lorence.  With so many to help, the Raiders wouldn't dare try anything."
    "But who will see you safely home?"  I asked, reaching across the table and squeezing Jalar's fur topped hand.
    Jalar grinned broadly.  "They don't mess with our kind.  We're not considered worth the trouble of selling into slavery."  His free hand flexed and sharp claws appeared.
    I laughed.  "That is good to know."
    "We'll welcome the assistance to get to Lorence."  Perseus said and Rysk and Tyrant agreed.  The little tangle of fear in my belly eased.  If they weren't worried, then I wasn't going to worry, either.
    After our meal, we walked out to the market to explore and replenish our supplies for the next day's trip.
    As we wandered from stall to stall, Perseus chatting easily with everyone, I began to feel antsy again, as if my bear were pacing in my mind.  Since it was how I'd felt in the market in Cholas, I closed my eyes while Perseus chatted with a young man who was sharpening a knife.
    I turned my head slightly, opening my senses, and the antsy feeling eased.  I opened my eyes and was staring down the long street where the market stalls edged both sides and felt for sure I was supposed to walk down that way.  I took a step away from Perseus, dropping his hand, and moved to take another step when I felt the lightest brush of fingers against my wrist.
    I looked down to see that the bracelet Rion had given me was gone and a golden furred youth was darting away through the crowd.
    "Hey you little shit!  Come back here!"  I yelled and took off after him, darting between people and keeping my eye on his swishing blonde tail.
    He broke through the crowd and I surged after him, ignoring the people who were calling my name.  I snagged the little cat-kid's tail and pulled and he yowled loudly.
    "Get your hands off my brother!"  A large hand reached in front of me and pulled me away, sharp claws digging into my shoulder, pain and then numbness following in their wake.
    My vision went dim immediately and I slipped to the ground with a groan, and in the last moments of consciousness I felt warm, furred arms lift me up from the ground and cradle me close, and my bear growled in contentment.
     

 
     
     
     
    Chapter 8
     
     
    The fog lifted from the edges of my mind and I had the distinct feeling I was being licked.  It felt good, but strange.
    "Shouldn't she be up by now?"  Perseus hissed.
    "Ananda said she'd just cleaned the dart fish, so the poison was fresh.  Hopefully she'll wake up soon.  I think I caught most of it."  A voice I didn't recognize said.
    "It's a good thing you were so close."