Melani had been sitting on the ledge for what seemed like days. Below her the Brayer lay on its stomach, twitching occasionally and making moaning noises less often. She had sat here, waiting, fearing it was some kind of ploy on the beast's part. She knew that made no sense, the creature was much stronger and faster than she and could have easily caught her before she ever made it to the ledge. Something must be wrong with it. Now was her chance.
She crept from the ledge and approached the Brayer warily. The beast's fingers grasped at the cavern floor as if grabbing something and holding it tight. It made odd noises deep in its throat and settling in its chest, but it made no attempt to rise.
Melani felt the anger rising in her over what the beast had done. This creature had taken her without her permission, as she had been taken so many times before by the emperor and his men. The anger seared through her as she lashed out at the Brayer, kicking it in the ribs and pummeling its back with her fists, tears no longer flowing from her eyes, just the venom of the abuse she had suffered.
When the rage subsided she rose and walked toward the newly discovered passage. As she reached the entrance she saw the bundle the Brayer had brought in with it, dropping it before collapsing in a heap.
"Raven berries," She thought, staring at the branches bundled near the Brayer, "It gathered up raven berry branches." Ravenberries were rare in these parts, among the sweetest of the berries in the land. Praised for their sweetness and how filling they were and in the highest of demands at peak season, this was still many months away. How the creature had come across these was beyond her. It must have known she would not eat the meat it had left and gone to get the berries for her.
Her hands rested on each side of the opening that could lead to her freedom. Melani's head dropped between her shoulders as she sighed. She turned to the beast.
Over the next hour Melani worked to turn the Brayer over. At first she was afraid to touch him; Afraid he would rise and take her again as he had the day before. She touched him and jumped back. Nothing. Burying her fear deep within herself she grabbed the shoulder of the creature and pulled. It took all her strength to turn the Brayer over on its back.
The Brayer's face was covered in a sheen of sweat and its lips moved but no sound came out. His large hands opened and closed and his fingers trembled.
Melani rushed back to the pool she had soaked in the day before and pulled a kerchief from the coachman's coat she wore. She soaked it in the warm water and placed it in her pocket as she went to the deerskins on the floor. She pulled the skins forward with her into the room where the Brayer lie.
Melani sat on her knees gazing down at the Brayer. She was out of breath from moving the deerskins. She had forgotten how far she had traveled in the short time, from that first cavern to this, almost to freedom. She took the handkerchief out of her breast pocket and rang it out over the Brayer's forehead and cheeks. The water trickled over his flesh and he made grunting sounds, but other than that he did not stir.
After regaining her breath Melani made several trips to the first cavern to fetch more water. She continued to wash the Brayer's face, cheeks, and hair. It seemed to her that the Brayer was a puzzle within a puzzle. The more she studied him the more confused she became.
For instance, his hair, which hung in rows like corn flower plants that had received the blessings of all-father sun for too many days were intricately braided with small beads every so often, carved with runes like none she had ever seen.
When she had washed his face she had allowed some of the water to trickle into his mouth to satisfy his thirst. His head twisted in search of the source, greedily lapping it up. During her first encounter with this beast she had thought his mouth was filled with fangs, or teeth decayed to the gums, but his teeth were sound, solid, and without defect. They had been covered with grime, perhaps that caused her confusion.
She had begun to cleanse the rest of his body, starting with his chest, but he was so caked with mud and debris, and his body seemed so solid, so hard to her touch, that she stopped. She just wanted to make sure it would survive, nothing more. As soon as she was sure it would recover she would be on her way.
Melani's stomach growled. The last time she had eaten was more than a day ago. No wonder she felt so weak. She pulled the raven berries over and began to pluck at the branches. The berries burst on her tongue as she began to chew, filling her with their warmth and sweet flavor. As the juice ran down her throat she sighed with satisfaction. They were better than she remembered.
