She had overheard Wilhelm speaking of how his brother, the Queen's husband, had been killed. The Queen's brother, who ruled as king at her side, had left to search but already Wilhelm plotted the man's demise. It was apparent that he did not plan for Raven to ever leave this room alive or he would not speak thus in front of her.

She had come to speak with the Queen, to tell Ona of the whispers the wind carried of a great evil that threatened all. Instead she had met the evil head on and alone. There were six of them who approached while she was bathing in the stream. But she had not shown any fear. She was native and her weapons were always available to her.

Rising from the water, she had broadened her stance and held her hands to the side.

"You are trespassing," one of them stated but she could scent the lust on them in the air.

"I thought that the land belonged to any and all," was her soft reply. In all honesty the land belonged more to her and her people than to any other. They were the natives, the ones who had been here since the beginning and would remain here always.

"Trespassing is a very serious and punishable offence," one of the others said and licked his lips. Goddess spare her from men who thought themselves gods among men.

"Then I will just dress and be on my way," she said softly and sighed as snickers filled the air. This would not be pleasant, at least not for them.

"Out of the water now," was the only reply she received.

Slowly she moved forward her mind already planning what course she would take once aground. She could feel the shift of the dragon under her skin, the protector of those of native royalty. Did these men have no idea of the power she could wield?

For a native, weapons were always within reach lying just under their skin. If you glanced at her back you would see her sword. The hilt descended from the back of her neck and squared off so that it spread out to her shoulder blades before stopping just beneath them. The long blade trailed down her spine ending in a sharp point at the small of her back where a small dragon curled around the tip. Both dragon and sword could be pulled from her skin and used in defence unless she was rendered unconscious. Then both would return to the skin until called forth once more.

She stepped from the water and slipped her hand high then lowered it behind her neck. One more chance was all they would get before she drew it from her skin and prepared for battle. One of the group stepped forward and his leer was like a psychic caress over her flesh.

One meaty paw reached out and his filthy fingers pinched her nipple and tugged at it. "Perhaps we should punish you ourselves," he breathed, stepping closer to her.

And Raven kicked into fight mode. Her knee lifted into the hardened flesh of his cock while one palm flashed out and connected with his nose sending his body in two different directions. The knee made him want to curl forward while the palm sent his head snapping back. The result was him at her feet, fingers hugging his knees to his chest while his nose gushed blood.

She stood at the ready, one hand returning to hover behind her neck though she had yet to call forth the blade or the dragon. A tingle under the skin, like a premonition cautioned her to wait, to be careful in revealing all she held.

The men paused around her as if her actions had given them pause in their plans. Then there was a tremble in the air and everything seemed to still. Her hand hovered and fell as a scream was ripped from her lips and she landed in a heap on the ground. Her hands slapped at her flesh that suddenly felt as if it were afire with flames. She tried in vain to use her hands to put the flames out and rolled about fighting what she could not see. Then the pain overtook her and mercifully she passed out.

When she awoke, she was tied down and unable to move or access her weapons. A man stood before her and she knew beyond a shadow of doubt that this was the Wilhelm that had been spoken of and that he was the great evil. He stood over her taking in the shape of her body, the curves and dips, but she could not feel lust on him. A shadow moved and her glance was pulled towards another.

A woman. Danuja and obviously the source of the flames she had felt before. She stood behind Wilhelm and said nothing.

"So you are finally awake," he said, grabbing her attention back. "I was wondering how long you would deny me."