Crocodile on the Sand Bank

[visualspice]

Evelyn scoffed, although it was obvious she was nervous.

"You can search me all you want but that item you hold fell from that book."

Really! What kind of argument was that?

"I wasn't here to steal. You were a terrible host and I was bored."
Although it was likely unwise to push him, she was angry and well.. even a little scared.

[GoblinFae]

"And now you insult me in my own home after I fed you and gave you shelter from the storm instead of sending you on your way? My you are brazen.

"Do you think because you are passably pretty in your own country that you can get away with whatever you want here? This is not your home, this is not your land. You are not Essyrni, and you are not a man."

[visualspice]

Oh how she wanted to scream at him for his own insolence! But she couldn't argue that part of his statements weren't true.

"You're right," came her sharp reply., eyes twinkling with anger.  "But I will not stand here being accused falsely. Connlaothians enjoy scholarly things.. civilized things such as reading from books! "

Seriously, what man would dare through a woman into a dungeon for reading!

"What could I have possibly done to harm you in a library!"

[GoblinFae]

"So you admit to your theft then." Emyr immediately looked to one of his slaves and ordered commandingly, "fetch the city guards. Inform them I've caught a thief. They can carry out punishment in my courtyard or the city square, I have no care. And do not waste time dilly-dallying."

Only once one of the men took off did the Essyrni drag his eyes back to her. "It is not a library but my private study. I am a business man who deals in the same business as you. I invite you into my home and you come here to steal? This is how you treat the hospitality of your betters? You look through my ledgers, touch my artifacts, and gather information to ruin my business and steal my clients? Do you think me so stupid as to take this laying down? I am no fool, Evelyn Gray. But you certainly seem to be. How many of our other competitors have you done away from the business in the manner? How many other secrets and business ventures have you snaked your way into and stolen?"

[visualspice]

Evelyn couldn't believe this.
"How was I even to know this was your study and not simply a library?" She argued, growing more flustered, more agitated. "And that's quite an imagination you've got. Why would I even want to touch your things? If anyone here ought to be offended, it's me. Accusing me of wanting to marry you, then Accusing me of trying to ruin you? What's even your game here, Emyr? Are you just trying to prove the rumors that you're a snake? Or do you have something I've stumbled across that's illegal and you're trying to cover it up?" She shook her head. Honestly.. what was his game? 

[GoblinFae]

"Because," he replied icily, "it is in my home and not a public place. And it is your game I am refusing to play. I invite you into my home as a guest, you insult me, you disrespect me, you make demands of me, and then I find you going through my things and caught in the act of trying to take things that  most certainly do. Not. Belong. To. You.

"Save your sob story for the guards. I have no further interest in your lies, pig-skin," Emyr sneered before turning his back on her in disgust. 

[visualspice]

Oh how she wanted to strike at the man. He struck a nerve so very deep within her and the blood inside her boiled. The heat was evident in her eyes, hands clenching into fists.

"And I have not stolen a thing!" she snapped. "An item falling from a book hardly is grounds for stealing! And I will not continue to take on this accusations. You can search me all you like. But I haven't stolen a thing!"

She should have taken her chances in the rain, in the flash flood. She knew this was a mistake- and now Emyr was set to condemn her.

Damn him. 

She felt herself begin to shake, and it took every ounce of control in attempts to subdue it. She would not give him the satisfaction to know she was terrified. Stealing was a grave offense... and she wasn't even sure what she could do in her defense. It was her words against his own- and they were on his property...

No, no no..
She had to remain calm.. had to...
But her blood was absolutely boiling- and she feared were she a man-
she would have struck him across the face.

[GoblinFae]

The city guards arrived swiftly, taking in the sight of a furious and stormcloud faced Emyr and recognizing the dangerous, quiet anger of the man before them. Their shoulders tensed and they stood a little straighter as he stepped aside to reveal Evelyn. "I caught this thief in my study going through my personal documents trying to steal items off my desk in her book after I dared to invite her into my home. Clearly a mistake I won't make again."