Blaire, Where Have You Been?

Khaat was feeling only deep relief. She was deliberately not looking at any of the damage Barker had done. Physically or otherwise. She was safe now. Being here felt, to her, like being back in her father's capable hands. It felt safe. Well, mostly safe. His bandages covered her wounds, his spells and splints worked to heal the fractures. And his pain spell dulled the pain enough for her to cope with it all.

She wasn't looking at how she had gotten into this, nor out of it. Her pillow and clean sheets were so much better than the clod damp dungeon she and Eli had been in and certainly was more comfortable. Her staff had decided to pamper her at least by keeping the French Roast coming, as much as she wanted, although with broken fingers, she needed help with it. What she really wanted now, despite how weird it sounded, was a really good steak.

Blaire. That was fresh air for Khaat. It brought a smile to her face. She was delighted to see him.

"You do know how to show up just when I need you the most, don't you?" she said. "So, shall I presume that you're part of the 'Let's-Get-Barker' club? There seem to be a lot of us. I am glad you're here and not on the manhunt. The ministry has a lot of aurors, but I am glad to have you here with me. Sit. Please. Hannah just went to get me a proper pot of my father's Christmas spice tea. She has apparently decided that I have had enough coffee for a bit. She has snatched my cup of French Roast from me and decided that I needed something else. I think you'll like it."

Then she looked at him a bit deeper, getting beyond the introductions. Somehow that never took her or Blaire long to get to the point. "Besides," she told him, "I really could use the company today."

"My father has good taste in bodyguards, then," she said. "Thank you. You know, I learned some things about myself while I was gone. This is the second time Barker had me. The first time, Barker really tried to spend more time unravelling my brain. He was wearing the same exact cologne that my uncle Remus used to wear. I don't know if that was on purpose or by accident. But he surely capitalized on it and tried to unwind me. That was far worse than anything physical he could do.

"This time, well, I don't know. I think I learned how to think differently. I learned a lot better mind control. I had two obstacles this time, though. First, Barker took my ward, Eli Krum and held Eli there with me. If I can only get Barker for one thing, I want to get him for that. The second piece that I really should have had more under control is that my father says I was off my weight by a few pounds. That put me at a physical disadvantage for dealing with him. That was my own fault. I won't let that ever be a disadvantage again, though.

"I'm a fighter, Blaire. It was what I was trained to be from the time I could walk and talk. I should have held out. Somehow I should have been able to protect Eli. I can't let that ever happen again."