Thursday, 04 June 2009

• Cecily's Quest - Chapter Fourteen

  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.

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