Catalin sat in his dank cell. Amid the stale biscuits and the perpetual drip of the rain through the window he found solace in one thought: hopefully Kiln's journey to Skara Brae had not met the same chaos that he found upon arrival to Trinsic. Who would have thought that the simple rescue of a Lady would be such a bloody hassle? He was starting to wonder if the stranger who had left LaFayne in their care had somehow come out on the better end of this bargain - the stranger receives the compassion and adoration of the Lady, while Catalin paid for it in a prison. He knew he should have postponed the whole trip when Sir Orrin had relayed the ominous dream he had, "I saw her Catalin, I knew it was her the way her enchanted dress hung from her perfect figure - The spirit of Sapphire Pond. She saw me too, but she was wary of something. For some reason she couldn't talk to me. She looked vexed as though she watching for some unknown danger. She could not speak, she only motioned that I stay silent and observe as she drew a vision within a vision." Sir Orrin went on to describe in his dream how the Oracle had waved her hand and within the water of the pond revealed to him the figure of a horrific bear-like creature with unholy eyes; it was wandering in circles about the village. The only thing that prevented it from venturing beyond the outer borders was a strange barrier. Sir Orrin was convinced that the barrier was the work of his Sapphire Maiden; that was how he had come to call her. Catalin shook his head as if to try and toss out the doubt. He wasn't yet convinced a spirit truly inhabited the pond the strange knight had built; but no thanks to his conviction, Sir Orrin had refused to leave the village - and his Sapphire Maiden - alone. And although he hadn't fully believed him, he had found it best not to ignore an omen. So they had made their plan: the dwarf would head west to Skara shortly after Catalin and Lafayne departed. Except for the dank prison cot, the plan had worked out as anticipated; if there was indeed something tracking them it would be held at bay by the Trinsic Paladins. Catalin rose as he heard the outer door to the prison hall open. He heard the unmistakable sounds of clanking armor - the guards - followed by the curious click-clack of high heels. The steps came to a halt outside his barred door and he saw her - the Lady LaFayne. "Father, that is him," she spoke pointing at Catalin, "That's the man who rescued your daughter from the vicious Orc's near Yew. He slew every last one with a single arrow!" She looked at Catalin and winked. The first kind gesture he believed she'd given him since they had first encountered one another. Catalin heard a solid clunk of metal-clad feet approach and the figure of a husky and indisputably strong force of a man barricade the entire door-frame. His eyes appeared somewhat distant, as if in a trance, "And how my sweet daughter, are we certain that this man did not arrange for the whole debacle? I can tell with one glance that this man is no marksman. He may be capable with the bow, but no man would be able to slay an entire company with naught but an arrow." Catalin saw now where LaFayne had become so versed in the art of protest as she stamped her foot, "Father I demand you release him at once! You must believe me. This man brought no harm to me; In fact, he is the only reason we arrived in Trinsic ahead of that nasty beast!" Her father dismissed the protests haughtily, "yes, yes, the non-sense story of some bear," he waved his hand, "Not only do you claim this man a master of the bow, yet at the same time a coward who fleeves from a harmless bear?" Catalin was impressed with the Lady's ability to overhear his conversation. He was certain there had been at least 30 yards between them when, in whispered hushes, Sir Orrin had conveyed his apprehension. Not once during their journey had he revealed to her just what it was exactly that they were clearly trying to outrun. Whatever that beast was, it had nearly overcome them the night they arrived at the city gates; it was only thanks to the fact that the guard recognized LaFayne's face that they were permitted entrance amid the torrid downpour during the second watch of the night. The creature had enough sense of self preservation not to take on 20 armed Paladins. But Catalin's ordeal had only just begun at that moment. He barely had a chance to exchange a smiling glance with LaFayne, when he felt the powerful jerk of his arm and the unmistakable clasp of shackles on his hands. "Take the Lady to the Constable's quarters; we'll tend to this brigand!" those were the last words he had heard before this even more discouraging encounter. Catalin met the man's unflinching stare, "You sir, best hope my hunters find this creature. Otherwise you'll soon have a date with a knot and rope. And you can bet I'll be sending a regiment of the Golden Guard to investigate this brigand camp of yours," he scoffed and leaned into the bars, "we recognize your Southern Settlement for what it is; a cesspit for brigands."
