Hello,

I am sorry that this chapter is so late.  I was on vacation last week and couldn't get a connection to my laptop in time to post last week.  Thank you for your patience.

- Rachel Rossano

http://rachel-rossano.blogspot.com

http://www.freewebs.com/anavrea

Chapter Eighteen - Larkaria

            “Land!”

            The cry of the watchman above their heads made most of the women look up, but Cecily scanned the horizon to the north.  After five days aboard ship, she was anxious to be home.  This was the first time the female passengers had been allowed on deck the whole trip.  Cecily had felt like dancing at the sight of the open sea and sky surrounding their vessel.  After looking at four grimy walls by the light of a lantern and the same people for more than four days, it was pure bliss to see the sun.

            She tried to keep her eyes under control, but she could not help occasionally scanning the men working around them.  She had not seen Ehren since right after they had boarded and she was missing him terribly.

            “I see it!”  The child that had been frequently sharing her bunk space bounced excitedly.  “Look!”  Pulling on Cecily's skirt, Ana craned her small frame to draw Cecily's attention to the dark shadow slowly growing on the northern horizon.  Cecily smiled a response and ruffled the child's feathery hair.  They had become great friends over the past long hours.  She would miss the minx's simple stories about everything imaginable.  The tales and her company had made every moment a little brighter.  She was constantly thanking the Lord for the small one's open acceptance of Cecily's silence and the unusual effect it had had on the other passengers.  She was left alone, but not ignored.  All of them assumed that she talked to the child when no one was noticing.

            “Is that Larkaria?”  Ana's clear voice traveled well in the crisp air.

            “Yes,” a male voice answered from the back of the group.  His presence caused a stir among the women, but it was small to the turmoil in Cecily's heart.  She recognized Ehren's voice immediately; it took all the control she could muster not to turn and look at him.  Instead she looked to Karolin, who was scrutinizing the intruder.

            “You must be my son's new navigator.”  The matron announced the information as if it made him worthy of some consideration, but not necessarily acceptance.

            “Only for this trip, madam.”  Ehren smiled.  “I am just working my way home.”

            “Ah, a Larkarian then.”  Karolin nodded knowledgably and then drew him into conversation.  The captain came over a minute later and introduced himself to the group.  During the following flurry of questions about the timing of their arrival and other details, Cecily risked a glance in the direction of Ehren.

            He was watching her and instantly caught her eyes with his.  Daring to hold eye contact for only a moment, Cecily moved her gaze to the ropes above his head.  The change was timely because Captain Howner was just turning to Ehren and saying, “Trace, how far off course do you recon we were blown?”  The next time that Cecily was able to safely glance Ehren's way he was explaining something to Herna.  It was obvious Herna was more interested in Ehren than the topic: she smiled extra wide, looked up at him with adoring eyes, and was using every excuse to step closer and touch him.  Cecily thought she was over doing it, but she also supposed she was also biased.  She did not have much time to mull it over, though.  Ana was soon tugging at her sleeve again and demanding that she look at some new sight.  And then, before she knew it, Karolin was directing them to head below and start packing for their arrival in an hour.

            She ended up being one of the last women to climb down.  As she waited in line, Ehren slipped up behind her and whispered in her ear, “Act like your boot lace needs tying.”  Obediently she squatted and smoothly slipped one of the loops free.  The time it took for her to retie it made a significant gap between her and the group.  Ehren made a show of helping her onto the ladder to the hold.  The moment she was seeking the next step, he whispered, “Wait for me on the dock.”  Her boot found the step, but he did not release her hand.  “Stay in sight of the ship.”  She nodded her head without looking up.  After a firm squeeze, he released her and turned away.  Carefully, Cecily continued to lower herself into the darkness below.

            Ehren concentrated on the rope in his hands as he coiled it neatly on the deck.  Cecily was among the women and luggage waiting for the gangplank to be lowered.  He could feel her position and frequently checked visually for her presence.  Wisely she had chosen to be last in the line and was perched comfortably on a trunk and watching the scene before her.

            “Trace.”  The captain's voice interrupted Ehren's thoughts.  “Help with the unloading,” the Captain Howner ordered.  Nodding at the command, Ehren placed the last coil onto the stack and made his way toward the men unloading the hold.  He spared another quick glance in Cecily's direction, but did not spot her among the women before he had to turn away again.

            Cecily's fingers were losing their feeling.  She rubbed her hands together briskly to warm them.  Nervously she looked at the ship's gangplank for any sign of Ehren.  It was difficult to see in the red light of sunset, but she was sure there was no one disembarking.  If he does not appear soon, Cecily shuddered at the thought.

            “Cold?”  A familiar voice asked from behind her.

            Instinctively, Cecily found herself reaching for her hidden dagger and her fingers wrapping around the hilt.  Shaking her head, she slipped the weapon from its sheath.  Only then, did she look toward the man behind her.

            “Could have sworn you just shivered just...” the man's voice dwindled off when she faced him fully.  “Cecily.”  The sound was barely a whisper.

            Kenneth!  It took all of her restraint not to drop the dagger and embrace the man.  Instead she smiled.

            “Man, am I glad to see you.”  Kenneth smiled back and moved to touch her shoulder.  “I just arrived and was afraid I missed you.”  He looked around, taking in the two bags at her feet.  When his eyes returned to her, they took in the worn look of her clothing and the leanness of her face.  “Where is Ehren?”  His voice was again almost below hearing volume.

            The sun was dipping even lower and Cecily had to peer to make out the gangplank in the shadow of the ship.  Carefully she pointed in the direction of the ship with her chin as she slipped her knife back into its cover.

            “His is still on board?”  Cecily nodded.  Kenneth's brow lowered and he looked concerned.  “Is he in trouble?”

            Swiftly shaking her head no, Cecily kept her hands down near her sides.  She still did not feel safe for some reason.  Signing would still could be a deadly give away.  It was better to be cautious and safe than the alternative.  Especially considering all the trouble Ehren and others had gone through to get her safely home.  They were so close.  She did not want to risk it now.

            “I have a wagon and horse boarded at the livery in town.”  Kenneth crossed his arms and eyed the ship as he spoke.  “We got word you were coming and I was sent to meet you.”  After a brief silence, he asked.  “Are you sure I don't need to go after him?”

            Cecily did not blame him.  She wanted to go after Ehren herself, but she was also afraid of exploring the ship herself.  The deserted dock seemed safer than the dark recesses of the ship.  With Kenneth with her, though, it might turn out alright.  She was about to indicate they board the ship when Kenneth suddenly straightened and looked more closely at the gang plank.

            “Someone is coming.”

            Cecily looked for herself.  A dark shadow seemed to be moving down the gangway.  The moment it reached the end it looked toward them, Cecily knew it was Ehren.  Picking up her bags, she started forward.

            “You don't know...” Kenneth caught her elbow.

            “Hey!” Ehren's started to trot toward them.  “Leave her alone.”  He wasted no time in covering the distance.  He immediately stepped between them, breaking Kenneth's grip and bodily blocking Kenneth's access to her.

            “We were waiting for you.”  Kenneth stepped back and spread his hands to show his lack of weapon.

            “Kenneth?”  Ehren examined Kenneth's face briefly before smiling.  “Kenneth!”

            “In the flesh.”  Stepping forward again, he offered Ehren his hand.

            Taking it, Ehren greeted him warmly.  “We heard you made it in one piece.  Did you lose any of your party on the way over?”  Turning to Cecily, he proceeded to relieve her of the larger bag, leaving her with the scribe's satchel.  Kenneth began to head toward the main road and Cecily and Ehren followed.

            “The princess and Dafney made the trip with little fuss.  I was impressed with their strength of spirit.  The princess reminds me of you sometimes, Cecily.”

            Cecily saw a flash of white that must have been a smile.  It was getting harder for them to see in the growing darkness.  Even the light spilling onto their path from the buildings on either side of the street did not help much.  They were walking three abreast, but Ehren seemed to be closing the space between him and Kenneth with each step.  Since she was walking between the men, Cecily found herself rapidly losing personal space.

            “Ronald is doing an excellent job and David has been improving daily.”  Kenneth eyed a straggling group of young men as they passed in the opposite direction.  “The inn coming up on the left is decent.  Do you think we should spend the night in town?  Considering...” he broke off when he realized he could not think of a polite way to say what he was thinking.

            Cecily knew him well enough to understand the issue.  He was being protective.  If it had been only Ehren and himself, they would be leaving town.  Getting his attention by catching his sleeve, she shook her head.  They came to a stop in the street.  I want to go home!  We are so close.  Oh, how she wished she could speak.

            “How far are we?”  Ehren asked.

            Kenneth shrugged.  “If we left now and traveled all night, we might be able to reach Fairean by early morning tomorrow.”  He looked over Cecily's head at Ehren.  She could feel his indecision.

            Ehren finally broke the silence.  “I say we should see how far we can get.”  He laid his hand on Cecily's shoulder and asked, “What do you say?”

            Cecily took three steps away from the inn and toward the edge of town.  Looking back, she waited.

            “I see I am out voted.”  Kenneth laughed.  “Onward.”  Taking the lead he strode out into the night.

            The wagon creaked and Ehren started.  Blinking his eyes he fought the fog threatening his senses.  Moving his legs for the third time in as many minutes, he willed his eyelids to stay up.  The horse wandered to the left slightly. Momentarily jumping out of the rut, the wagon wheels returned with a bone jarring thud.  Ehren bit his tongue and the lumpy form across the wagon bed from him stirred.

            Nursing the offended muscle, Ehren watched as Cecily shifted into a more comfortable position before relaxing again with a sigh.  The moon came out from behind a cloud and briefly lit the night scene.  Cecily's face stood out palely from the heavy, dark wool framing it.  With eyes closed and tussled hair falling about, she looked very soft and vulnerable.

            It is probably because she is.  Ehren leaned back against the wooden boards and tried to block the image.  I am already going to have a difficult time saying goodbye.  He reminded himself.   I don't need to get any more sentimental.  He stared unseeingly at the sky. 

            The fact he was going to have to make a decision soon refused to stop bugging him.  His eyes had found their way back to Cecily as he thought.  And before he consciously realized it, he was considering what it would be like to admit the love he felt and marry her.  Of course, to do so properly, he would have to ask her father for permission first.  No.  Stop!  He impatiently ran his fingers through his hair and repeated to himself the reasons he could not do just that.

            I have a job to do for Braulyn, Anavrea and Larkaria.  I have sworn to do all I can to win this war.  Right now, getting her to safety is my assignment.  As soon as I have returned her safely to her family and informed the nobles of the most recent news, I will be heading back across the channel.  Even if I was able to stay, I have nothing to offer her that her father has not given me.  She needs someone who can protect and provide for her.  I am not a man worthy and capable enough to raise her children and prepare them for their destinies.

            Deciding the thought had taken up enough of his attention already, Ehren firmly put it from his mind.  It was decided and he would leave it at that.  He was going to finish his job and then be gone.  She would be better off without his presence clouding her judgment.

            “Here we are,” Kenneth announced from the wagon seat.  Ehren pulled himself to his knees to look over the bench.  Dawn was about to break.  Already the rising sun was chasing the deep blue of night toward the eastern horizon.  From across the next valley from them sat the sprawling estate of Lord Lanalind, Fairean Manor.  Looking peaceful and welcoming in the pale warm light, it meant the end of their journey was near.  Ehren was surprised at the sadness the sight produced in his heart.

            “You should probably wake Cecily,” Kenneth suggested.  “She would want to see this.”

            Mutely nodding, Ehren turned back to her sleeping form.  He paused for a brief moment to memorize her face.  Then sighing softly, he gently nudged her shoulder and called her name.  “Cecily, you are almost home.”

            Cecily awoke instantly.  The sadness in Ehren's voice directly contrasted the words he was saying.  Home?  Fairean!  She sat up and scrambled to look over the wagon seat.

            Home!  O thank you, Father!  Home!

            “We should be there in less than ten minutes,” Kenneth informed her.  “You should probably make sure all the baggage is ready for unloading.”

            Cecily agreed and turned to refold her bed.  Ehren did the same with his blanket and silently stashed it in his sack.  But instead of closing the bag up and turning to the other gear, Ehren pulled out the Manuscript that she had given him to read.  Cecily did not notice he was sitting there holding it until he said her name.

            “Cecily.”  His voice was low enough that Kenneth would not have heard it over the horses.  She turned and looked at him over her shoulder.  He was not looking at her.  “I thank you for letting me read this.”  Carefully, he offered it to her.

            Cecily shook her head; he needed it now more than she did.  “I want you to have it.”  She signed.  “It is my gift to you.”

            “No.”  Ehren was on his knees and had crossed the space between them before Cecily had time to react.  “It is too precious for you to give to me.”  He held it out again, this time firmly, “Take it,” he ordered.  His hands were shaking, but Cecily shook her head.

            “I have it in here.”  She placed her finger tips against her forehead. “…and here…” And then, she moved her hand to her heart.  “I want you to have it.”

            Still avoiding her eyes, he opened his mouth to protest, but Cecily covered it with her hand.  Finally, he looked up at her.  She had to struggle not to reach out and react to the turmoil that was obvious in his face.  Instead, she mouthed slowly, “No.”  Then she smiled sympathetically and after brushing his cheek with a kiss, she turned back to her baggage.  The next time she glimpsed his face, it was masked and his eyes vacant.

            The moment that the wagon came to a halt, Cecily jumped down and started toward the front terrace.  There was no one in sight, but that was normal for the time of day.  Ehren caught up with her at the large front gate.  She did not hesitate to pull the chain that rang a bell in the front hall.

            “Cecily,” Ehren said.  She turned to him, but the opening of the door interrupted him.

            “Cecilia,” the doorman exclaimed, using her nickname.  “You are home.”  Instantly she was enclosed in a warm hug smelling of lemon and fresh bread.  Timoty, she smiled and hugged back.  After she managed to extract herself from the servant's embrace, she introduced Ehren.

            “Timoty.”  She used his sign name.  “This is my friend, Ehren Blythe.”

            Stepping back so they might enter, Timoty bowed slightly, “Pleased to see you again, sir.”

            “Thank you, Timoty.”  Ehren smiled and bowed slightly in return.

            “Where are mother and Aurora?”  Cecily signed as Timoty ushered them in and welcomed Kenneth who was on Ehren's heels.

            “Your mother is having breakfast in her rooms, but Aurora is....”   He never got to finish his sentence for Aurora appeared at that moment coming from the kitchen.

            At the sight of Cecily, she broke into a run.  “Cecily.”  she reached her and hugged Cecily harder than Timoty had.  “Thank the Lord you are home safe.”  She drew back and smiled broadly.  “Have you heard the news?  David and I are getting married in two days.  I have been so worried about you making it, but now everything will be perfect.  Father is due to arrive any day now and Arthur is already here.  We were only going to be missing you.  And now you are here and everything will be perfect.”  With that final statement, Cecily found herself being whisked toward the library.  Surprised that her brother had arrived before her, she only listened to Aurora with half an ear.  Arthur had still been outside Blairdark last time they had heard.  She had missed seeing him there only by a few hours.  Of course, she and Ehren had spent part of their trip avoiding the roads.  That must have cut into their travel time more than she had realized.

            Aurora did not stop chattering until she planted Cecily on the rug in the center of the library.  Cecily looked across the desk to find David standing in her father's usual place.  He had risen when Aurora had opened the door and now he was regarding her with a warm smile in his eyes.  Cecily felt Aurora stepping off to the side and withdrawing a short distance.

            “Hello, Cecily.”  David's smile shook slightly, but remained.

            “David,” she signed thinking of Ehren's amusement whenever she had used David's sign name.

            Reaching down beside the chair in which he had been seated, David brought out a cane.  Using it and the desk edge, he moved slowly around the end and approached her.  A hard lump formed in the back of Cecily's throat and she had to concentrate to keep the tears from her eyes.  She thought she had them under control until he turned and looked at her again.  Opening his arms, he asked, “Don't I get a hug?”

            Welcoming the opportunity, Cecily stepped into his arms.  The tears came then, silently.

            Ehren did not enter the library.  Instead he stood in the doorway to one side.  He was not letting her out of his sight.  Something was not right.  He could not put his finger on it, and until he knew, she was not leaving his sight.

Whew!  What a week.  I have been very busy with making Trailers for my two published books.  If you are interested in seeing them, pop over my other blog (http://rachel-rossano.blogspot.com) and have a look.  I would love to hear what you think.  With that and being sick (a four day stomach bug followed closely by a cold  ), I haven't been doing much writing.  After I post this, I am going to settle down to write more in Ethan and Mariah's story.

I hope you enjoy the chapter. 

- Rachel Rossano

http://rachel-rossano.blogspot.com

http://www.freewebs.com/anavrea

Chapter Sixteen – Supplies

            Three hours later, they spotted a promising looking farm on the outskirts of a town called Harpter.  The town was not directly on the merchant road, instead it was about five miles west, closer to the mountains that marked the border between Anavrea and Braulyn.  The farm was on the southern side of the town. Ehren figured that was safer because if anything went wrong, whoever fetched reinforcements from town had to travel north before pursuing them to the south.  They would get a head start.

            Before approaching, they went over their roles.  Ehren, or rather Marcus, and Oran Trace were brothers, merchants from Lydon, a small village outside of the port of Jumare.  They were returning from their yearly trading journey to Blairdark and back.  Cecily, as Lilt, was Marcus’ new bride.  They had lost their pack horse to thieves and so they were running low on provisions and clothing.  After the brief review, the threesome approached the farmhouse from the direction of the merchant road. 

            The fencing on both sides of the long drive looked well tended.  The cows that munched in the long grass on the right side appeared well fed.  Ehren found himself encouraged in his choice.  A farmer with plenty would be easier to persuade to part with supplies in exchange for money.  The house was perched on the top of a slight rise above the surrounding fields.  Chickens strutted across the yard and a large dog announced their arrival from his stake next to the barn.

            The front door of the house opened and a young boy stuck his head out.  Seeing them, his eyes widened and called something back into the house.  At the same moment a tall, lean man emerged from the barn wiping his hands on the front of his tunic.  “Greetings,” he called.

            Ehren slowed his horse’s already easy walk and returned the greeting.  A woman emerged from the house and made her way toward them.  The child remained behind to watch from the partially open door.  “We are travelers seeking provisions.  We hoped that you might be able to help us.”

            The farmer nodded slowly.  There was a calm measuring look in his eyes that made Ehren nervous.  This man thinks more than the average farmer.   I am not sure that is particularly good.  ”We will pay for food and some clothing for my wife.  Our pack horse was stolen and she has no appropriate clothing.”

            The farmer and his wife exchanged a look Ehren could not read.  Ehren was not sure this was going to work.  He was about to give the signal for Cecily and Oran to turn and leave while he made their apologies when the man spoke.

            “My wife has just finished her baking.  Come in and eat some bread.  I will water your horses.”  The man stepped forward and took the bridle of Cecily’s horse.  She shot Ehren a questioning look.  He nodded to indicate that she should dismount.

            Within moments, Ehren and Cecily were following the woman into the house and Oran was helping the farmer with the horses.

            The smell of freshly baked bread brought tears to Cecily’s eyes as memories of home came to mind.  With little fuss, the farmer’s wife, who introduced her self as Lotty, seated them at the large kitchen table.  The small boy that they spotted before was only one of the four children that appeared at different times during their meal.  Cecily guessed the oldest to be about twelve.  All of them had their mother’s hair and eyes.  Not one looked like the lean fair haired farmer.

            Cecily was content in her role as shy young woman.  Letting Ehren field Lotty’s constant flow of chatter peppered with questions, she turned her attention to the soft, fragrant, warm bread she had served them in thick slices.  Butter to melt on the bread and frothy milk completed the simple feast, but Cecily found she was more than satisfied.  Oran appeared a moment later with the farmer, and he was served the same fare.

            As soon as Cecily finished her food, Lotty insisted on taking her into their storage areas in the basement.  There she loaded two large sacks with potatoes, carrots, and other various vegetables that would travel well.  After adding three loaves of fresh bread from that day’s baking, Lotty ushered Cecily upstairs to try on one of the dresses that she insisted she would never wear again.  Digging into the back of the large chest in the master bedroom, the farmer’s wife produced a simple, but well-made brown shift and a full length homespun gray skirt.  In her younger days, Lotty informed Cecily, she had been slender like Cecily, but that was before the four children.  She laughed happily after the declaration.  Cecily was certain the woman would not change a single part of her life now for those former days.  Leaving Cecily to change, Lotty went down to wait on the men.

            Sighing into the sudden silence, Cecily found herself smiling.  Lotty certainly liked to talk.  As she changed, Cecily looked about the room.  Simplicity and love seemed to fill ever corner of this humble house.  Dark curtains hung at the windows and a braided rug covered the rough floor boards.  Homemade bedding covered the lumpy straw mattress and sturdy stand with lamp stood in the far corner.  A stack of books were lying on top of another table in the opposite corner.  Cecily frowned at the sight.  None of them looked like a ledger for keeping the farm’s accounts.  That was the only book she would expect to see in a farmer’s house.  Instead some of them looked vaguely familiar.  As she finished lacing the front of the shift, she walked over for a closer look.  Suddenly someone downstairs called her fake name, she jumped guiltily.  Deciding to just leave, she grabbed her old clothing and hurried out, closing the door behind her.

            By six, they were on their way again and thanks to the generosity of the farmer and his family, they had more supplies than they had requested.  The farmer, who had said his name was Ketran, would have insisted they spend the night too, but Ehren had won out by saying they were in a hurry.

            Twilight was falling fast and Cecily could not help feeling a little more relaxed than she usually would.  Maybe it was the feeling of a stomach full of good food, or even the comfort of having a good story to play for the voyage home, but she was feeling like a good laugh.  Just as she was about to try for Ehren's attention, he spoke.

            “That was too easy.”  Tugging on the reigns to guide his horse closer to hers, he said, “I am not sure what to do about it, but that was too easy for my comfort.  What do you think?”  He glanced over at her.  She could barely see his face in the falling darkness, but it looked worried.  Oran’s horse nickered from behind reminding them that he was there.

            Shrugging, she ran through the last few hours in her head.  All she had seen was a kind family in their home welcoming strangers as friends.  Suddenly, she remembered the books she had seen.

            “He refused payment,” Ehren commented in his musing.  “I finally hid the money in the kitchen so they can find it later.”

            Pieces were falling into place quite quickly now in Cecily's head.  Reaching into the saddle bags behind her, Cecily searched for her scribe bag.  Pulling it from its hiding place beneath the largest bag, she slung it across the front of the saddle.  She made quick work of the ties and dug out her journal in a matter of minutes.  There, on the third page from the back, she found her list.  Ehren had stopped his horse alongside hers and watched this whole process with interest.  When she looked up, Cecily found him regarding her with a puzzled expression.

            “What was the farmer's full name?” she signed.

            “Ketran Hiel was how he introduced himself.  Why?”

            Ignoring the question, Cecily peered at her list and then smiled.  That explains everything.  But no, the children are too old.

            “Cecily.”  Ehren tried to catch her attention.  When she finally looked up, he asked again.  “Why did you want to know his name?”

            Cecily balanced the pile carefully on the saddle before raising her hands to sign.  “I thought he was an ex-Servant.”  Seeing that the statement had cleared up nothing for Ehren, she elaborated.  “Some years before Lisbrith Andris died, he sent a group of Servants out to travel and teach.  He believed that the message of the manuscripts was for all people, not just the men of the order.  Many of the Servants who were not sent had disagreed with the action.  They could not do anything about it though, until Lisbrith Andris died.”

            “Lisbrith Marus decreed that every one of those men who had left were no longer Servants.  They title and privileges were evoked.  Ketran Hiel was one of those men.  But it can’t be the same Ketran Hiel.  The children are too old.  The Servants were sent out less than ten years ago and that farmer’s oldest boy was at least twelve, eleven at the least.”  The pile started to slide, so Cecily dropped her hands to steady it.  As she was repacking the satchel, Ehren thought.

            “Maybe the children are not all his.  I seem to remember him mentioning that marriage was a new experience for him too.  Why is it so important to know?”  Ehren commented as soon as her hands were free again.

            “Andris wanted me to find the men and check up on them.”  Cecily gathered her reigns before continuing.  “It was part of the instructions he left me in the journal.  I was supposed to find all the names of the men who had left during the last ten years and trace their locations.”  Slinging the satchel back into place, Cecily urged her horse forward.

            “He was one that I could not find in the Vargar records.”  Cecily signed quickly, but did not know if Ehren had caught the sentence.  A fog was rising and coating everything in a hazy cloud.  Oran moved up to travel on Cecily’s opposite side.  They traveled in silence of a while, but Cecily quickly surmised that they could not press on for long.  Their visibility was significantly shrinking by the minute and the horses were tiring.

            Ehren glared at the misty clouds that were slowly suffocating the three of them.  He could no longer see the sky and stars to keep in the right direction.  If they kept on much longer, they could wander off the edge of a cliff or stumble onto an encampment or farm.  That was the problem with not following a trail or road.  Once their celestial and man-made guide posts were out of sight, they were lost.  On the other hand, they were in extreme danger if they did not continue to travel tonight.  The nearest port was still four days away and the deadline was only ten hours away.  Frustration was clouding his thoughts when Cecily interrupted them.

            She was pointing to a stand of trees about ten feet to their right.  At least it looked like a group of trees towering black and dense even in the haze fog surrounding them.  When Ehren looked to Cecily's face she nodded toward them with her head and a questioning look in her eyes.  She has a point, he finally admitted.  We need to stop and there are always other ways to get out of a country without detection.  Giving in, he guided his horse to follow Cecily's.  Oran did likewise.

            To Ehren's surprise, Cecily seemed to know exactly what she was looking for.  In a matter of moments she was pointing out a large rock next to a convenient tree.  The two were surrounded by underbrush.  All that was needed was another roof contraption like the one he and Oran had built the many nights before and they would have a nice shelter.

            Working in silence, they set up camp and Cecily worked on preparing a cold dinner of baked potatoes, bread, and water from their reserve.  Ehren and Oran had just settled themselves under their makeshift roof and taken the first bite of his bread, when suddenly it began to pour.  Ehren could not help smiling.  “Perfect timing.”

            Oran grunted and turned his attention to his meal.

            “Thank Kurios,” Cecily signed before taking a drink out of the water bag. 

            Without thought, Ehren found himself asking, “Why?”

            Oran looked up and glanced between them with interest.

            Cecily set down her bread and leaned forward so she could see his face.  Ehren did not move.  They were sitting with their backs against the boulder and the light from the lantern between them created a small circle of light around their tent.  Oran had his back against the tree that formed the other support for their little shelter.  Beyond him the rainfall intensified.

            Leaning back again, she asked, “Do you really want to know?”

            Nodding Ehren took a mouthful of jerky and began the long process of chewing it into a swallow.

            “I thank the Lord because every event in our lives is under His control.  In this case.”  She gestured toward the rain falling loudly around them.  “He gave us time to set up camp before this.”

            Carefully speaking around his mouthful, Ehren asked, “Why did He send it in the first place?  What about the fog?  He must not know we are trying to reach the port by tomorrow morning.”  He also knows we are not going to make it for another few days.  Why doesn’t He do something about that too?  The thought made him eager to move on, but the rain made that option foolish.

            Oran silent turned toward Cecily and waited for her answer.  If Ehren did not know better, he would have thought Oran was truly interested.  Odd. Since he could only follow one side of the conversation.

            Cecily nodded thoughtfully, “He knows, but for some reason has stopped us.”  Catching the look on Ehren's face, she immediately continued.  “I know that everything He does is for a purpose.  It is a promise I have clung to throughout my life.  Maybe it is not always for my immediate benefit, but He always has a reason and a plan.  I trust Him to know best.”

            Ehren watched the rain in silence for awhile.  Oran announced he was going to sleep pulling over his bed roll he used it as a pillow.  Laying down with his back to them, he fell silent.  Ehren watched him for a while without actually seeing him.  Suddenly he asked, “Why do you trust Him with so much?”

            Another period of quiet passed, Ehren watched her face as she thought.  Finally she signed, “I believe it all comes down to the fact that I have no choice.  He is control whether or not I believe.  Everything He has said has been true.  Every promise He has made, He has fulfilled.  I am His to do with as He chooses.  I am thankful He was gracious enough to open my eyes and let me see Him.  Even better, He gave me the opportunity to walk with Him and the joy to be an active part of His work.”

            “It is hard to explain, but since Lisbrith Andris first introduced me to the Lord and I accepted His gift, He has been an active part of my life.  Whenever I need Him he is there and holding me in His care.”

            “Because of the prophecy?” Ehren asked.

            Cecily shook her head, “No, because He loves me so much His son died so that he and I could be together.”  Finally, Cecily raised her eyes to Ehren's face.  “He has done the same for you.  All you have to do is ask Him to cleanse you from sin and He will do the rest.  I don't know any other way to describe it.”  As she looked into his eyes with a peace and joy that Ehren envied, he began to realize he needed to think about this some more.  “Maybe the prophecy makes it all the more important and real to me than most,” she admitted.

            Cecily pulled her scribe's satchel out from under her bedding.  Digging into it, she produced a dark brown leather bound book.  After placing it in her lap with obvious care, Cecily signed, “This is a special copy of the manuscripts.  Many years ago…”  She paused a moment to recall the time.  “About five Lisbriths before Andris, the Lisbrith that currently oversaw the study and preservation of manuscripts was a devote man.  He wished to have a copy of the larger texts in a portable form.”  Catching Ehren's confused look, Cecily quickly explained that the originals were kept on long scrolls of waterproof parchment and stored in deep cases with many compartments.  Each compartment was seven inches high, seven inches wide, and four feet deep.  The Lisbrith wished to read the texts without having to drag out the heavy scrolls and roll to the correct place.  “Instead he had twenty of these made.”  With great care Cecily opened the cover and handed it to Ehren.

            The leather was smooth and surprisingly soft as the book slid into his hands.  Turning so the lantern's glow fell on the page, Ehren read:  The Word of the Almighty God through the hands and mouths of his prophets.  Copied in smaller form for the spreading of the Gospel throughout the five kingdoms.  The edges of the pages were slightly worn from obviously careful, but frequent use.

            “Is it yours?”  Ehren asked.  He glanced up to see tears in Cecily's eyes.

            She nodded.  “Andris gave it to me the day he left.”  Swiping quickly at her eyes, she continued.  “It is one of the three known surviving copies.  One is passed from Lisbrith to Lisbrith and is the property of the office.  One was a gift to the king of Anavrea and is a part of the royal library.”  She paused.

            Ehren looked down at the copy in his hands.  The glow of the lantern was not strong enough for a careful examination, but his eyes caught on something at the top of the title page.  Leaning closer and maneuvering the book so that the light fell fully on the yellowed page, Ehren peered at the spidery script.  “Discovered by Xerxes Tacitus Andris on his fifteenth birthday in the depths of Liven Vargar,” it read.   Ehren swallowed slowly.  “Lisbrith Andris was of  Ratharian descent?”  Tacitus was a distinctly Ratharian name.

            Cecily nodded.  “The Lord saves all kinds of men.  Andris gave it to me right before he left Larkaria,” she smiled.  “One of the most precious gifts anyone has ever given to me.  I want you to read it.”

            Ehren stared at her for a moment before shaking his head.  “I cannot take such a valuable gift from you.”

            Raising her hand, Cecily interrupted him with a shake of her head.  “Borrow it.  Give it back when you have finished reading it from cover to cover.”  Without waiting for him to respond, Cecily handed him a soft leather bag that gathered at the top with a thong.  “This is to cover and protect it.  Good night.”  Gathering her cloak over her, Cecily tucked her feet close, lay down on her bedding, and closed her eyes.

            Since she obviously was not going to listen to his protests, Ehren readjusted himself and settled in for a long read.  It had better be interesting; he needed to be awake to watch for intruders.

            The two days later, someone appeared on the road behind them.  They had rejoined the merchant’s road because they made better time and they were approaching their destination.  Jumare was only a day and a half journey away.  Oran had noticed them first about two miles back, but they were not close enough for them to do much more than count the four men on horses.  They were traveling light and moving at a good speed.  In keeping with their story, they had kept their pace slow while on the road.  Neither Ehren nor Oran mentioned the men to Cecily.  The meeting was inevitable.  They could not leave the road without being suspicious and pretty soon it was only going to be a matter of a few minutes before they were overtaken.

            Oran rode closer to Cecily’s right side while Ehren was on her left.  “Do not sign anything,” Ehren hissed.  In his peripheral vision, he saw her head rise abruptly, but she smoothly turned the movement into a glance at the ground as if she had spotted something.  “We have a shadow and they have us in their sights.”  Turning in his saddle as if Cecily had called to him, he looked over at her as she drew her beast closer along side his.  Her eyes were dark with fear.  “Do not worry,” he reassured her.  “Your God is with us and we have an alibi.”  He smiled as he spoke, “None of Drackett's men could have located us this fast.  They are not going to be certain we are the ones they want.  Oran makes three and they are looking for two.  All we have to do is convince them we could not possibly be us.”  Ignoring the way her eyebrows came together, Ehren pulled the reigns to the right and started toward the side of the road.  Cecily obediently followed; Oran was close behind.

            Help, Father, Cecily's heart was already racing and their unwanted traveling companions were not even in hearing range.  Father, I do not know what to do, she unseeingly watched Ehren dismount and then approach her horse.  Behind her the leather creaked as Oran dismounted.  Give me strength.  Ehren reached up for her and she willingly allowed him to lift her from the horse.

            As soon as her feet touched the ground, Cecily found herself enveloped in his warm embrace.  While she was still in shock at being so close and fighting with the urge to want to get closer to him, Ehren spoke against her hair. 

            “We have to convince them that we are newlyweds.”  His breath was warm.  Brushing his lips against her forehead, he continued whispering.  “Do not sign for as long as we are in their sight.  It will be a dead give away.”  Cecily was having a hard time thinking as Ehren's lips brushed her forehead again.  With a great deal of effort, she managed a slight nod right before he kissed her lips.

            His lips were soft and warm.  Help us, she prayed as she slipped her arms around Ehren's waist and hugged him closer.  He smelled of pine, campfire smoke, and a unique essence she finally identified as his own scent.  He withdrew his lips for a moment, long enough to whisper, “They are almost here.”  Then he reclaimed her mouth a little more strongly than before.  Cecily answered by pulling him closer.

            “Ho there.”  A strange voice greeted them.  Cecily was dimly aware of the sound of horses and shifting gear, but even after Ehren released her and turned to greet the new arrivals, she felt a bit hazy.  Smoothly, as if he had done it a thousand times before, Ehren tucked her under his arm and pinned her close to his side with his left arm.  He held her so close that Cecily could feel his heart pounding and the cold steel of his sword hilt pressed against her waist.  The hard length of metal and leather ran the length of the minute space between them.  Cecily quickly realized he was using her to block it from view.  They had no reason to believe he was armed.

            “Greetings, sirs.”  Ehren grinned broadly at the men.  “Where are you heading on this bright morn?”  Glancing down at Cecily with a loving look, he caught her left hand and trapped it beneath his own against his chest.  Cecily slipped the right one around his waist beneath his cloak and leather jerkin to grasp the hilt of his dagger hidden there.  The body warmed hilt fit into the center of her hand and brushed the healing skin of her palm.

            Oran stood silent and still, but Cecily realized he was also trying to disguise the fact he was armed.  Three against four were not terrible odds; but desperately Cecily prayed it would not come down to a fight.

            “Jumare,” the oldest of the travelers replied.  Jumare had been one of their own possible destinations and the closest port to their current position.  “We are looking for some outlaws.”  One of the young men shifted slightly, and the leader shot him a glaring look.  Turning back to them, he smiled in a mild way.  “Have you met anyone on this road in the past few days?”

            “We saw some travelers yesterday,” Ehren offered.  “Didn't we, Lilt?”  He glanced down at Cecily's face again.  She nodded and peeked shyly out from his embrace and smiled meekly at the nearest stranger.  Surprised, the young man took a moment to manage an answering smile.

            “They did not look much like outlaws though,” Oran commented.

             Ehren tightened his arm.  Cecily did not know if it was to encourage or deter her behavior, she did not worry about it though.  Taking advantage of the moment, she nuzzled closer into Ehren's shoulder, pressed her cheek against him, and closed her eyes in contentment.  “I can't say we have noticed much,” Ehren was saying.  “We have only been married for a few days now and I've been distracted.”  Cecily almost laughed at the sheepish tone he used.  It was so unlike his usual confident manner.  “My brother would know the most.”  He jutted his chin toward Oran.

            “How many did you see yesterday?”  The leader asked impatiently.  “What did they look like?”

            Squinting his eyes, Oran looked into nowhere as if it would give him the answer.  “There were three yesterday.”  He glanced at Ehren, who nodded his agreement.  “A peddler passed us yesterday morning and then two men passed us in the early evening.”  Looking back to the strangers, Oran shrugged.  “All of them looked pretty normal to me, except one of the men was unusually short for his age.  Maybe it was a boy.”

            Cecily watched the faces of the men and tried to gage their reception. Please let them believe, she prayed silently.  She must have communicated some of her tension to Ehren; he started stroking his thumb across the back of her captured hand.  When she looked up at him though, he was looking at the leader.

            “Let us go, Conan.”  The kindest looking one of the bunch prodded.  “These people need to be left alone.”  When the leader shot him a dark look, the man replied, “they obviously are not the ones we are looking for and they are on their honeymoon.  They did not stop to greet us and we are intruding.”  The leader snorted, but after looking them over just once more, he nodded and turned his horse back onto the trail.  “You would think he had never been a newlywed.”  One of the men commented to the other as the rest followed his lead.

            Ehren watched them until Cecily reached up and touched his face.  Jumping as if startled, he then said, “That was close.”  Cecily nodded and turned his face toward her.  Catching his dark blue eyes she smiled and shook her head toward the disappearing strangers.  Catching her meaning, Ehren smiled and Cecily though her heart was going to climb her throat.  “Just in case,” he said and then leaned down to kiss her again.

            Oran cleared his throat pointedly.  “We should be going,” he announced.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

© 2007 Rachel Rossano  All rights reserved.  Please do not copy, quote, or reuse this material without the writer's express permission.  Thank you.

Hello everyone,

Hey, I am posting early for once.    I know I given you two cliffhangers in a row so I decided to give you a bit of a break.  :) 

I hope you enjoy the chapter.   Please let me know what you think.

- Rachel Rossano

PS If you want, you can stop over my other blog (rachel-rossano.blogspot.com) and comment on the teaser blurbs and excerpts for the Theodoric novels I am working on preparing for publishing.

Chapter Fourteen - Escape

            Ehren felt the now familiar tug in the region of his heart as he looked down on Cecily's sleeping form.  How she managed to get me tangled around those fingers of hers, I will never know.  Smiling internally at the thought, he ran a hand through his hair before leaning wearily against the left wall of the enclosure.  Maybe the lack of sleep for the last five nights was finally catching up with him and making him admit things he did not want to yet.  All I know is that my heart is irrevocably tied to her and I am beyond hope.  Too bad she does not want me.  He grimaced at his sentimentality.  Glancing down again at the auburn head below, he tried to think about how to wake her without making noise.

            While his exhaustion-hampered brain struggled to process, Cecily solved his problem by waking herself.  She immediately looked up and signed something.  Ehren tried to squint in the darkened room, but could not make out the words.  Instead, he caught her right hand and pulled her to her feet.  Then crowding her into the back corner, he brought his mouth within inches of her ear.

            “Six doors down on the right and, after that, four to your right are the stairs down to the first floor.”  Feeling rather than seeing her confusion, he quickly explained.  “I don't remember going up a flight of stairs either.  It was not until I remembered that the castle is built on the side, not the top, of a hill.  The ground floor on the eastern side is the second floor on the western side.  Our escape is going to be out a first floor window on the western side on the castle.”  Cecily nodded her understanding and Ehren continued.

            “Go down the stairs and at the bottom we are going to turn left.  The fifth room on the left has an outside first floor window that is hidden from sight by a huge bush.”  This was going to be risky and both of them knew it.  Just because they were going to make it out of the building did not mean they were going to be able to make it much farther.  “Are you ready?”

            Suddenly, Ehren felt her hand on his chest.  Trying desperately to subdue the pounding of his heart, he reached up and claimed her hand where it lay.  Then bringing it to his lips, he brushed the fingertips before letting their joined hands fall between them.  “We need to go.  On my signal...one, two...go.”

            Cautiously moving the tapestry aside, he led them out into the hall.  Trying to count doors and watch for the enemy appeared to be too much for his mind to handle.  Cecily had to guide him to the correct doors instead of vice versa.  They safely navigated the stairwell in absolute quiet and reached the window without mishap.  Cecily immediately unlatched the shudders and drew them back into their respective places inside the window well.

            Ehren watched Cecily as she cautiously leaned out the opening to judge the distance to the ground.  Even though his eyes were open, they started to glaze as sleep started to claim his body.  With extreme effort, he fought the temptation to release control.  The struggle was so difficult that when Cecily tugged on his arm, he nearly jumped at her.

            After shaking his head to clear it, Ehren focused on Cecily's worried face only inches from his own.  Tentatively she reached up and touched his forehead.  Shaking his head no, he whispered, “Not sick.”  Her eyebrows drew together in confusion.  “Too tired,” Ehren answered her eyes.  The light of understanding flickered across them a moment before she turned away.

            Taking his arm, she guided him toward the window.  She wanted him to go first.

            Cecily watched with concern as Ehren mounted the sill and then dropped out of sight below the window.  Giving him a moment to gain his feet and move aside, she followed.  Thankful for all the times she had climbed about the roofs at home, Cecily landed gently and only had to roll few feet.  Immediately, she scrambled to her to her feet and looked around.

            Ehren had assessed the situation correctly.  They were on the western side of the castle and they only needed to make it to the fringe of the dense wood to be safely hidden from sight.  The open space between the greenery and the castle was only couple hundred feet and it was a moonless night because of the heavy clouds in the sky.  Cecily turned to look at her companion just in time to see him waver slightly.

            Oh no, you don't.  Cecily quickly stepped over and slipping his left arm over her shoulders she gripped him with her right and steadied them both.  Leaning into her strength, Ehren tipped his head so that he could speak.

            “Thank you.”  He sighed softly.  “How does it look?”

            She reached over and grabbed his right hand; squeezing it gently, she smiled.  He must have seen it, for he smiled back weakly.  “Is it clear?”  His voice was low, but she caught the question.  Squeezing a yes, she dropped his hand to point toward their destination.  Nodding his understanding, Ehren started forward cautiously across the uneven ground.

            With Ehren paying attention to the ground at their feet, Cecily took the opportunity to look around and try to spot any stranger before they were noticed.  At three hundred feet from the castle, the length of the grasses changed dramatically.  Instead of walking on ground cover with plants that rarely poked above the ankle, they were wading through weeds as high as their waist and frequently higher.

            With each step, Cecily noticed he was relying progressively more on her assistance to stay on his feet.  Glancing ahead she could see that they had about two hundred feet before they gained the coverage of the grove.  She no longer thought of it as a wood.  Once they had gotten far enough away from the castle wall, Cecily had spotted the ends of the tree line to both sides and beyond them a high, fortified stone wall.  Feeling discouraged, Cecily realized they had forgotten about both the castle and the city's exterior walls.

            While she was preoccupied with this new problem, Ehren had spotted something.  Suddenly, he knocked them both to the ground and not a second later a male voice cried out a warning.  Cecily's heart jumped into her throat.

            Ehren lay perfectly still.  The smells of moist earth, early morning dew, and crushed grass filled his senses.  He was aware of Cecily lying motionless also.  She lay where he had pushed her on his own way down.  He strained his ears, but except for the first warning cry, he was only able to pick out typical night sounds.  Silently he prayed that the warning was not about them.  I can barely walk, how am I going to manage a run?  Grimacing at the night sky, he almost groaned.  His body was so exhausted that he was not sure he would make it onto his feet again.  Even if Mavin Drackett and all his forces were barreling down upon us at any moment, he smiled weakly at the picture.  Gradually his eyes closed.  The grass was so soft compared to the uncovered ground he had been sleeping on for weeks.  If only he could just stay here a few moments and rest.  He would feel so much better then.

            Movement!  He heard movement.  As his fogged brain slowly registered that somewhere in the close vicinity of his hiding place something had shifted, Ehren became aware of Cecily's hand on his face.  The effort that it would take to open his eyes to look at her was too great.  He tried to move his hand, but it made the same complaint as he eyes.

            Someone was coming.  Cecily reached over and touched Ehren's arm.  When he did not respond, she rolled up on her side and reached over to his face.  Her fingers brushed the surface of his forehead.  Lightly trailing her fingers down his nose, over his mouth and chin, she found his jaw line through his beard and was able to finally find his pulse.  She found it steady, but slow.  The evenness of his breathing confirmed her concern.  In the few moments of stationary waiting, his body had won the fight for sleep.

            The sounds of someone plowing through the grass in their direction drew Cecily's attention back to the situation at hand.  She had to do something quickly or they were both going to be discovered, and Ehren most likely would never get a chance to awaken from his sleep.

            Getting onto all fours, she immediately started to crawl away from her companion.  She was too valuable for any of those seeking them to kill her outright.  If captured, she would have time to find a way to escape or something.  She would have a chance of surviving and escaping.  Time would be a luxury Ehren would never be given.  Scrambling madly until she estimated she was far enough to not endanger Ehren, Cecily prayed that her idea would work.

            She was just thinking that now would be a good time to stop, when she ran head long into a very solid pair of legs.  The collision was followed by a surprised “Oof.”  Suddenly Cecily found herself face to face with a man as he fell on his seat in her path.

            Stunned for a moment they both looked at each other.  Then he spoke.  “We have been looking for you for a good five hours now.”  Carefully swallowing, Cecily tried to refocus her eyes on the shadowed face.  Quidar?  Forgetting the darkness, she signed, “What are you doing looking for me?”

            Leaning back Quidar said in a strained whisper, “Jaose!”  A faint crash was the reply.  Pushing himself to his feet, Quidar reached down for Cecily.  Catching her under the arm, he pulled her up beside him.  Looking around, again he called, “Jaose, where are you boy?”

            A soft thud came from the underbrush back in the direction Cecily had come from.  “Here, sir,” Jaose replied faintly.

            Quidar shook his head in amusement and started to wade toward the boy.  “Come girl.”  He motioned for her to follow.  “We need to get you to a safe place before we can talk.  I take it that Jaose has found your companion.”  Without another word the hunchback led the way through the weeds leaving a wavering path behind him.  Numbly Cecily followed.

            The moment they reached Jaose, the boy rose out of the grass and caught Cecily in a brief hug.  “Good to see you safe, Vidar.”  He smiled and his teeth shone palely in the dark.

            Cecily immediately focused on Ehren who was slowly sitting up.  “He is going to need help.”  Quidar observed blandly.  “Here, help me get him to his feet, Vidar.  We are going to need Jaose to lead us back to camp.”  Eagerly stepping forward, Cecily took the burden of one of Ehren's shoulders and fell into step with the hunchback.  As they followed Jaose's thrashing tread, she tried to figure out what she needed to do next.  The noise the boy was making was distracting.  He must be spending too much time with Ipish and is picking up his noisy walk.

            Ehren and Cecily were quickly ushered into a camp.  Cecily tried to look around and get her bearings, but Ehren was quickly approaching collapse and complete shut down.  Finally, she gave up concentrating on anything but the ground before her and how quickly Ehren was putting one foot in front of the other.  She was so consumed with the task that she had taken two steps ahead of Quidar and before she realized that he had stopped moving.  Looking up she discovered that he had stopped for a good reason.  They were inside a tent and a standard army issue cot was blocking their path.

            “Jaose.”  Quidar began easing Ehren into sitting position on the cot as he spoke.

            “Aye, sir,” Jaose replied immediately.

            “Find Brayn and let him know we need his assistance.”  Ehren collapsed to the pallet leaving his feet still hanging.  Cecily knelt at his feet and began to working his boots off.  It was a hard task since the laces had become tangled and caked with mud during their journey.  Quidar began to unravel the prone Ehren out of his cloak and over tunic.  One boot was off by the time Quidar had finished.  He turned to check her progress just as she tried to stifle the third yawn in so many minutes.  Waving her hands away with a muttered “Let me,” Quidar took over.  Cecily found herself sitting on the dirt floor with her back against the main support watching an increasingly blurry Quidar finish her job.

            She was almost asleep by the time he turned back to her.  With what she guessed was an affectionate smile, he pulled her up and led her to a small pallet opposite Ehren's cot.  She removed her cloak and using it like a blanket she lay down and promptly slept.

            Everything hurt.  Ehren had not opened his eyes or even moved an inch, yet his first coherent thought was wrapped around the pain that was flooding his senses.  Maybe the fact that I have not moved in a while is the problem?  He tried to shift and discovered his hypothesis was correct.  All the muscles in his neck protested both the movement and the rest that had come before.  Ah, there is nothing I can to please them.  The thought caused him to smile slightly.

            “It is good to see that you have not lost your sense of humor.”  A vaguely familiar voice commented from somewhere above him.

            “I am glad you are glad,” Ehren finally croaked as he struggled to open his eyes.  “Where is Cecily?”  Peering around the bright interior of the tent, he quickly came to the important conclusion that she was not within it.

            “If you are referring to the lovely traveling companion you have acquired since we last met, she is fine.”

            Ehren fastened his gaze on the dark countenance of the head healer, Brayn.  “Who is she with?  Where is she?  Is Mavin Drackett in the camp?  I need....”  With the last question, Ehren pushed himself up into sitting position.  He wanted to gain his feet and continue his questions, but his painful head and the healer's restraining hand stopped his progress.

            “Just take your time, young man.”

            “But I don't have time.”  Ehren cradled his spinning head in his shaking hands and willed it to settle.  “Cecily is still in danger.  I cannot let her out of my sight.”

            “Considering your sight is consumed with the dirt at your feet, it is a good thing she is not in it.”  Ehren brought up his head and struggled to his feet and would have taken a step toward the tent opening, but the healer stepped solidly in his path.  “Sit.”  Ehren blinked once at the command in his voice and then meekly obeyed.

            “You are going to be absolutely no use to the girl in your current state, Blythe.”  The healer set a hand on Ehren's shoulder.  “She is in Rovern's capable hands and should be returning at any moment with food and drink for you.”  Brayn calmly caught Ehren's head with his free hand and began examining his eye reflexes.  “Rarely have I seen anyone recover so quickly from acute exhaustion.  Open your mouth.”  Ehren found he had no choice in the matter.  By pressing the insides of his cheeks against his teeth, Brayn practically forced Ehren's compliance.  After peering inside Ehren's mouth, he released his head and smiled slightly. 

            “By the way you have good taste.”  The older man's black eyes glinted and Ehren could vaguely hear the sound of Rovern's voice among the normal sounds of a military camp.  As Brayn had said, they were returning with food for him.

            “Thank you,” he managed finally.  “But you seem to have judged our relationship as more than it is.”

            A dark eyebrow inched up over the healer's right eye as he pinned Ehren with an inquiring look.  As twin shadows of Rovern and Cecily darkened the doorway, Brayn asked “Are you sure?” 

            He is pale.  Cecily did not like the look of desperation in Ehren's eyes as he immediately sought out her own the moment she entered the tent.  Except for that and the fact his beard and hair were sticking out around his head, he looked almost his normal self again.  “We brought food,” Rovern announced as he ducked into the dimness of the canvas structure.  “Uther promised me it will make you as good as new, but only if you eat every last drop.”

            “Oh good, Rovern,” Brayn broke in.  “I am going to need your help over in the supply tent.  This way please.”

            Within seconds, Cecily found herself alone in the tent with Ehren, who was perched on the edge of his cot cradling a steaming bowl of stew.  Without speaking, Ehren slowly began to eat.  His movements were drawn out.  Cecily was not sure if that was because he was stalling, recovering, or just enjoying the food.  Walking over to the cot, Cecily set down the heavy mug of moracca next to his feet.  She had prepared it especially for him.  She, then, settled on the ground with her knees drawn up to her chest and watched Ehren eat.

            The more food Ehren managed to swallow the less his hands shook.  Black marks of exhaustion beneath his eyes made his face seem older that it really was.  His beard also helped with the illusion.  Sorting through her memory, Cecily tried to remember how he had looked clean shaven.  Suddenly realizing how long she had been on this quest and away from home, Cecily hugged her knees closer.  She missed so many things from there, but at the same time....

            Letting her eyes return to the now familiar presence of the man sitting across from her, Cecily tried to imagine life before she had made all these new friends: Quidar, Uther, Ipish, Jaose, and, of course, Ehren.  She had become attached to Ehren, especially in the course of the past few weeks.   So attached, I will find it hard when he is gone.  Unbidden, a slight shiver went down her spine.  Gathering her legs closer, she tried to resist the urge to hide.

            “I am almost afraid to ask about your thoughts.”  Ehren had finished his stew and set the empty bowl beside him on the cot.  He smiled warmly into her eyes when she looked up.  “I will stick to a safe topic.”  Gesturing toward the heavy tankard at his feet, he asked, “Is that for me?”  Cecily nodded.

            Instead of leaning down and taking it as she expected him too, Ehren edged off the cot and sat opposite her, next to the beverage.  Taking it between his hands, he took a swallow; the whole time watching her from over the rim.  Then wiping at the moisture it left on his lips, he paused and studied her.  She waited for a while before finally asking, “Is something wrong?”

            Ehren smiled at the question and Cecily felt something pull or, flip, or maybe even clench in her stomach.  She was so surprised that she could not evaluate the sensation before it was gone.  “Nothing is wrong.  I just have not really looked at you in a long time.”  Taking another swallow without dropping his eyes, Cecily watched the gears working in his head.  It was disconcerting watching his mind work, but not being able to even guess what it was working on.  Especially since it had something to do with how she looked.

            Finally she broke the pause with a question, “What is next?”

            Ehren dropped his eyes to his half full mug.  “If I can manage to get a hold of Quidar or Rovern's ear, I want to ask about traveling conditions between here and the channel.”  He glanced up for a moment before continuing.  “I promised your father I would get you out of Braulyn and, as you already know, I endeavor to keep the promises I make.”  Again raising his eyes from his hands, he caught hers and said, “I now have sworn to three men that I am going to deliver you safely home.”

            “It is a good thing then.”  Cecily dropped her eyes before finishing.  “I want to go home.”  As her hands stopped, Rovern entered their tent carrying two bundles and some parchment.  Cecily immediately recognized one of the bundles as her satchel. 

            “I see everyone is awake and coherent.”  Rovern observed as he crossed the space between them.  He slung the two bags onto the cot before turning back to face them.  “It definitely helps with what I am going to say.”  Holding out what looked like a packet of papers to Ehren he said, “You both have to leave now.”

            Cecily scrambled quickly to her feet and asked why before she offered her hand to Ehren.  Rovern guessed at her question and explained.  “Mavin Drackett has greater power than we anticipated and he knows where you are.”  Once Ehren was on his feet, Cecily fetched her Seeker's cloak from her pallet and immediately started unpacking her black one from the scribe's bag Rovern had recovered.  Meanwhile, Rovern rattled off essential information for Ehren.

            “All the main roads are most likely being watched, but I suspect the ports are too distant from the capital for Drackett's influence to be strong.  His son is running his men now and he has put a price on her capture.”

            “Has Drackett been sentenced yet?”  Ehren asked while securing all of his gear.

            “The kings have decided that he is to die by means of hanging in three days.  You have that long to get a good head start at making it onto a ship.  The ‘new’ rebels.”  He emphasized the ‘new’, “are going to give up on saving their commander when he is dead and will realign their energies to capturing you, Cecily, before you make it out of the country.”

            Cecily, having just finished strapping on her pack, asked, “Is there a possibility of retaliation?”

            Rovern looked to Ehren questioningly and waited for translation.

            “Undoubtedly,” Ehren answered her question.  “His men are still at large and strong.”  He turned to Rovern.  “I need to speak to Quidar.”

            “Money, maps, legal papers.”  Rovern counted them off on his fingers as they walked.  Soldiers in battle garb were everywhere.  It appeared they were in the center of the Anavrean camp.  “Just about all I could get together on such short notice.”  He flashed Ehren a grin.  “Just don't read them until you are a safe distance from here.  This is the General’s tent up on the left.”  Ehren followed Rovern’s gesture.  A slightly larger maroon tent stood in the center of an empty space.  All the brown canvas structures around it were at least ten feet away on all sides.  The Anavrean army standard flapped in the wind before the door.  “I will wait with Cecily,” Rovern offered.

            Ehren nodded and approached the tent entrance.  Addressing the guard the blocked his path, he announced loudly, “I am Ehren Blythe and I am seeking Quidar Lucano.”

            A slightly surprised look glimmered in the man’s eyes despite his impassive face.  “One moment,” he said.  Signaling a nearby soldier to stand guard while he inquired, he disappeared between the flaps.  It was not a minute before he reappeared and snapped a salute before escorting Ehren inside.

            The interior was dimmer and it took a moment for his eyes to focus.  When they did, he instantly recognized Quidar’s twisted form among the tall, straight figures.

            “I understood you were leaving with the prophesied one,” a bulky man stated flatly.

            “I will be sir, but I came to obtain an escort.”  Addressing the dark haired man he assumed was the general, Ehren skimmed the others with his gaze.  He did not recognize the men’s insignia, but they carried themselves with confident authority.  He nodded respectfully in their direction.  “I have been assigned the task of getting her safely out of Braulyn.  I have come to speak with Quidar about an undercover escort.  I would feel better with back up.  One man is all I want, just enough to make our twosome a threesome and less recognizable.”

            “I think we could spare a soldier,” the General agreed.

            “I did not come to request it of you sir,” Ehren protested.

            “Nevertheless, you shall accept my offer,” the man declared.  “We have as much interest in the safe completion of your mission as any other nation.”  Turning to one of the others, he said, “Choose your best man and have him report to Blythe at the stables immediately.”  The man saluted and then left.  Turning back to Ehren, the General clarified, “You have his services until you reach the Braulian border.  After that, you are on you own.”

            “Many thanks, General.”

            “It is a pleasure to return a small part of the debt our country owes you, Shadow.”  The man suddenly smiled.  “I have never been so well informed throughout a campaign as this one.”

            “I am only one of many who made it possible, sir.”  Ehren pointed out.

            The General nodded.  “I have already instructed Quidar to express my thanks to the rest of your men.”

            Ehren saluted and exited the tent.

            Rovern and Cecily were waiting outside.  “Ready?” Rovern asked.  Ehren nodded.  Rovern offered his hand to Ehren with a smile and said, “I wish you a safe journey.”

            Taking the offered hand, Ehren returned the smile.  “It has been a pleasure working together, Shadow.”

            “I will take care of the men.”  Rovern accepted the title with a solemn nod before turning to Cecily.  “It has also been a pleasure knowing the prophesied one.  If you ever are in need of help, send word to me.”  Cecily bowed her head slightly in acceptance of his generous offer.

            “Which way should we leave?”  Ehren asked when Rovern turned to leave.

            Rovern paused briefly.  "The stables are that way.”  He motioned to the left.  “Head north from camp, then circle around the city on at least a ten mile radius.  Only then, would I recommend turning south.  Whatever you do, though, do it as quickly and secretly as you possibly can."  He left them immediately with a hasty salute.

            "Let's move," Ehren said as he slung his burden onto his back.

            Cecily settled her satchel on her shoulder and calmly faced him.  "Ready," she signed in answer to his questioning look.

            He nodded, gathered her hand, and strode to the left with Cecily on his heels.

            “Vidar!” Ehren made no indication he had heard the voice.  Cecily, who had been responding to the name for months now, immediately turned and searched the milling troops for the source.  Ehren suddenly found himself meeting resistance as he guided her by her hand and was in the process of changing his focus when the voice called again.  “Vidar, over here.”  He must have spotted the lad the moment Cecily had, because he found her moving in the same direction as he was, toward the boy.

            As they drew closer to the boy, Ehren recognized him as the one Rovern and he had caught the night they joined Quidar’s group.  The shorter redheaded boy next to the first was not familiar.  He stood only slightly above five feet and did not look like he was going to grow much more.  Both were all arms and legs in the gangly way of teenage boys.

            “Hurry,” the smaller one hissed as soon as they were close.  “This way.”  Both boys disappeared into the darkness of the large roughly constructed shed behind them.  Ehren and Cecily picked up their pace and quickly followed.  Before they entered falling down structure, Ehren noticed the row of open wagons parked along the side of the building.  This must be where they keep the horses.

            When his eyes had adjusted to the shade of the barn, Ehren found that his guess had been correct.  About twenty horses were contained in wooden compartments on both sides of the main aisle.  Farther back, against the back wall, he could see the dim outline of more stalls, some feed sacks and other supplies.

            “So you can hear like Quidar said!”   The statement was made by the shorter boy as he regarded Cecily with a mixture of amazement and surprise.

            “Shadow, sir.”  The blonde older boy addressed Ehren in a tone that bordered on worship.

            “Yes.”  Ehren glanced toward Cecily.  He could not remember the boy’s name.

            “Ipish.”  Cecily spelled so quickly that Ehren almost did not catch the word.

            “Ipish, right?” he asked and was rewarded with a bright smile and an eager nod.

            “My name is Jaose, sir.”  The redhead volunteered.  Ehren vaguely remembered him as part of the rescue party from the night before.

            “Nice to meet both of you,” Ehren replied hurriedly.  “But, we are in a rush.”

            Both boys nodded.  “We were told to show you two horses that you can take.  Rovern said you needed to travel quickly and that he needed us to send you off.”

            “We got them ready for you.”  The older boy started toward the back of the barn.  “The mare’s saddle bags have food and other supplies that you are going to need.  Both have been watered and fed.  They should be ready to leave immediately.”  As the boy spoke they moved as a group deeper into the barn.

            “Rovern said you were going to be leaving because they cannot identify the enemy from the ally.”  The younger boy announced while watching Ehren and Cecily’s faces.  “We swore that we would tell no one about you leaving on horseback.  Vidar knows we are good at keeping secrets.”  Images of pinning Ipish to the ground came to Ehren’s mind.  He did not doubt that the boy would have died before releasing information.

            Meanwhile, Ipish had opened one of the stalls on the right side and entered it.  Only then did Ehren realize that the horse inside was saddled and only lacked the bit and harness.  Ipish began fixing that problem right away.  Forcing the metal bit into the chestnut’s mouth, he slid the attached bridle over his head.  After adjusting all the straps and double checking the saddle’s security, he led the horse out into the main aisle.

            Ehren had refused to release Cecily’s hand up to this point, but he had to drop it to take the reigns.  As soon as he had transferred the animal to Ehren, Ipish turned back and walked back toward the front.

            “That one is for you,” he said over his shoulder.  Then opening the door of a stall halfway down, he entered it and began the process again on a horse with a slightly darker coat.  “Rovern said these two would be best suited for your needs, they being ordinary colors and all.”

            “He also said you should not worry about getting rid of them when you are done.”  The red haired boy explained while he took the reigns from Ehren.  “Just sell them and give him the money later.”

            Ehren threw his baggage over the chestnut’s rump.  “Thank you for your help.”  Placing his left foot into the stirrup, Ehren gracefully swung his right leg up and over the horse’s tail.  The stallion sidestepped slightly as it adjusted to its rider’s weight.

            While Ehren had been loading and mounting, Ipish had led out the second horse and Cecily quickly loaded her gear onto its back.  Ehren had barely enough time to wonder if she would be able to ride before she was on the stallion’s back and taking back the reigns.  She glanced over at him and caught his gaze.  Flashing him an amused smile, she indicated the door with her head and raised her eyebrows.  Understanding the question, Ehren moved his horse forward.

            “Have a safe journey,” Ipish murmured as the horses passed him.  Ducking to clear the low door frame, Ehren led the way out into the sunlight.  He glanced back to make sure Cecily had also made it through.  Drawing to a halt a short distance away, Ehren scanned the sea of tents for the soldier he had been promised.  While he looked, Cecily drew her horse up beside his and signed something.  He glanced down at her hands in time to see the word ‘waiting.’

            “We are waiting for the last member of our party,” he explained and then returned to scanning.  After a moment, he spotted mounted man approaching them in civilian clothing.  The disguise was almost useless because he sat on his horse like a soldier.  Ehren found himself frowning as he approached.

            “Blythe, I presume,” the stranger greeted Ehren as he gazed with curiosity at Cecily.  A flicker of interest may have passed behind his eyes, but Ehren was not sure.

            “I am Ehren Blythe,” he acknowledged, “And you are…”

            “Lieutenant Oran Ruct, sir.”  The Lieutenant saluted.

            “Pleased to meet you, Oran.”  Ehren welcomed him.  “This is Seeker Cecily Lanalind.”

            Oran dipped his head and gave the impression that if he had a hat he would have lifted it to her, “pleased to meet you.”

            “I’ll lead,” Ehren informed him.  “You take up the rear and watch out for trouble.  If we run into anything, protect her, not me.  Understood?”

            Oran nodded.

            “Good,” Ehren smiled.  “It was wise to wear appropriate clothing, but please try not to ride like a soldier.  It will be a dead give away.”

            Oran nodded again.

            Turning to Cecily he asked, “Are you ready?”

            “Yes,” she signed.

            “Good.”  Ehren urged his horse into a brisk trot down the main through fare heading north.  In moments, they were leaving the outskirts of the camp.  Ehren immediately brought the horse up into a gallop and then glanced back.  Cecily was still with him keeping to his right but not quite parallel and Oran tailed marginally.  They were free.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

© 2007 Rachel Rossano  All rights reserved.  Please do not copy, quote, or reuse this material without the writer's express permission.  Thank you.