Table for Three

Ashe remember why you started.    As expected, his answer took time to come forth. Ashe let him think in silence, tearing into the hindquarters of the deer. She pulled free another strip of flesh and meat, tossing it once more to the zealous griffin. It was a beautiful creature, snowy and white and small, not anything like the griffins she read about back in Northwind. Then again, many of the things she had read in all those books she loved were quite different from this fantastical place.    She sat back again, drawing tongue over her bloody shoulder before he spoke again. Her eyes widened briefly, ears perking forward as she looked back at Jigano. She didn't think she should have been surprised, but she supposed it always caught her off guard when someone thought her worth their time or efforts. Her family -- they were the exception to the rule. She had fought with them, laughed with them, loved with them, suffered with them. She had found parts of herself she never knew existed with them. That was different. Jigano only knew the ego she wore like armor.    Ashe furrowed her brow in the way only canines could, and she dropped her troubled gaze to the ground. She wasn't sure if she was willing to discard it for him. She didn't owe him anything, she didn't need him to like her or see anything beyond her defenses of feral smiles and flashing steel. Did she?    You know what I am, she said without looking up. Her ears turned back, a betrayal of her true feelings. Some twisted, broken part of her she wasn't sure could ever be repaired still puffed up in pride at her skill, at her infamy. Most of her just hated it now. Hated herself. I understand your hatred. Slowly, her eyes lifted again. But this feels more personal, Jigano. Have I done something to you?