Friday, 12 June 2009

• Cecily's Quest - Chapter Fifteen

  Whew!  For a bit there, I didn't think I was going to manage getting this up today.  I have too much to do and too little time to do it in.  I have a wedding shower to go to this Saturday, plus giving my sister a ride home from a sleepover an hour away on Sunday, and the usual activities that come with Sunday.  Overall, it promises to be a busy weekend.

  For those of you who are following Wren Romany's tale, I have half of a new chapter written.  I am hoping to complete it early next week.  Ethan and Mariah should have another chapter next week too.  I have some good ideas, but they are going to have to simmer for a bit before I have time to write them down.  Meanwhile, enjoy Cecily's story and let me know what you think. 

  - Rachel Rossano

  http://rachel-rossano.blogspot.com

  www.freewebs.com/anavrea

   

   

  Chapter Fifteen - Homeward

   

   

              Hours later, Cecily caught herself nodding off and immediately tensed in the saddle.  Her horse snuffed a complaint at the abrupt change in her position.  Night had not fallen yet and she was all ready beginning to have trouble with fatigue.  She looked over at Ehren.  He does not look good.  Gradually his dark head sank against his chest and then, as if jerked by a string, he sat bolt upright.  He blinked against the fog in his eyes.  She had been watching him struggle to keep a hold on reality for a good hour.  If they did not stop for a rest soon one of them would probably fall and injure themselves and Oran would have more than he bargained for.

              Squeezing her knees, she urged her horse up so she was riding closely by Ehren’s right side.  She wrapped the reigns around the horn and asked, “Where are you planning to camp?”

              Blinking at her like a sleepy owl, Ehren responded, “Could you repeat that?  I did not catch it.”

              Smiling slightly at his vulnerability, Cecily asked, “How far to the nearest village?”

              Ehren definitely caught her signs that time.  He immediately began shaking his head.  “We can not risk being seen by anyone, even in a village.”

              “You are in no shape to stand watch and I am not much better.  Are you planning to ask Oran to watch the whole first night?”  She asked, but Ehren turned away so he could not see her hands.  Cecily felt frustration flare, but tried to hold it in check.  Since he suddenly demanded to see Quidar, he had quit telling her his plans.  It was beginning to annoy her.  Instead of doing what she was feeling, she unwound her reigns and drew her stallion to an abrupt halt.  He nickered in protest   Feeling ashamed of her treatment, Cecily started to run her hands along the horse’s silky shoulder in soothing strokes and waited.  Oran halted a few feet behind her, but said nothing.  She could feel his confusion without even looking.

              “Cecily, we need to keep moving.”  Ehren’s voice sounded a few feet ahead.  Cecily did not look up or acknowledge she had heard him.

              How are you going to like some of your own medicine?  She smiled slightly in the shadow cast by her hood.

              “Cecily, we do not have time for this.”  Anger sang clearly in his voice.  He was coming back to her just like she expected.

              How can he be so infuriating and so endearing at the same time?  His eyes would have darkened by now.  She wanted to apologize and give in, but for her sake she could not.  Instead she waited and listened.  Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the head of his steed come along side of her own and then Ehren’s booted calf filled half her vision.

              “I do not like being ignored.”  His voice was calm, but Cecily sensed he was hurt and angry still.  Slowly she lifted her head and looked up at him.  Even on horseback he sat higher than her, forcing her to look up to see his eyes.  They were dark with emotion just like she knew they would be.  For some reason, she kind of liked them this way.

              “I know,” she signed slowly, “Neither do I.”  Raising an eyebrow, she watched his face.  Realization was quickly followed by shame and sorrow as he put the pieces together.  When his eyes finally focused on her face again, Cecily had to clutch her reigns tighter to resist touching him.  His eyes were speaking for him again.

              “I am sorry.”  He dropped his gaze to his hands.  “I was wrong to turn away.  What did you say?”

              “Who is going to stand watch tonight?” she asked pointedly.  “We are falling asleep as we sit.  We should stop and set up camp.  Besides we need to look at Rovern’s papers?”  She waved toward his chest where he had tucked the bundle beneath his outer tunic.

              He nodded his agreement, “but first we should not remain here in the middle of an empty field.  It is not safe.”

              Cecily glanced around in surprise.  She had been concentrating on their conversation and had not noticed the terrain.  Without hesitation, she took up her reigns and directed the horse’s head toward the nearest trees.  By now, the sun was setting and the trees were casting long grotesque shadows across the grass.  They would only have the light for less than an hour now.

              Just inside the shelter of the tree line, Cecily spotted a small creek.  Directing the horse toward it, she tried to draw it to a halt at the edge.  The animal ignored her directions and waded straight into the middle and began to drink.  Cecily was still trying to urge the horse to move when she heard laughter.  Craning around to look over her shoulder, she finally spotted Ehren.  He was sitting on his horse, watching her, and laughing.  She smiled in return.  “Are you going to help me?”

              He finally dismounted his own beast and began removing his boots.  Then after leading his own horse into the water, he approached hers.  The water was very shallow, but it would do a great deal of harm to her footwear if she got them soaked.  For a moment, he looked up at her with a glimmer in his eye she had never seen before.

              Ehren reached up and grabbing her around the waist he slung her over his shoulder like a sack of wheat.  He wrapped his arms around the back of her calves and started toward the opposite side of the creek.  “We will camp here for tonight,” he called back to Oran as he climbed the opposite bank.  “We will go find some firewood.”

              Cecily had no idea where they were headed until tall stalks of corn started to pass by her head.  Ehren proceeded to walk into the center of the field.  Abruptly coming to a stop, he carefully set her down and then efficiently started to retrieve the packet of papers that Rovern had handed them moments before their departure.  She immediately looked up into his face, but he had replaced his mask.  “I think we will have just enough light, but it will not wait for long.”

              Reluctantly, Cecily dropped her eyes to watch his long fingers work at the twine that bound the bundle.  She did not have much time to wonder at his thoughts before Ehren was shuffling through the packet.  She was vaguely aware of him muttering.  “Money, a few maps, a ship schedule for all the major ports in Braulyn...just a minute...Cecily, look at this,” he commanded as he shoved a stiff parchment into her hands. 

              Cecily blinked and tried to focus in the dimming light.  She was holding a marriage license.  It informed her that Marcus Trace and Lilt Jarna became man and wife on a date six days before.  Looking up at Ehren for explanation, she wrinkled her brow.

              He softly said, “Hello, Lilt.”  Amusement was written all over his face and his eyes danced with laughter and the something else she had not noticed before.  “Rovern gave us the identities of a newly married couple.  I never knew he could be such a troublemaker.”  He retrieved the paper from her stunned grasp with a smile and swiftly tucked it back in among the rest.  While retying the twine, he started to turn back toward their horses.  Cecily started to follow, but when she took her first step, her knees gave out and she found herself falling.  The next thing she knew, Ehren had caught her.  His right hand with the packet in it was pressing her firmly against him in an effort to keep her up.

   

              “You are not going to faint on me?”  Ehren watched her face intently in the fading light.  She was extremely pale.  Her eyes were closed, but she was responding by shaking her head to the negative.  “Good.”  He readjusted his grip so he was supporting her more with his left arm than the right.  Slowly and carefully, without letting his eyes leave her face, he turned her so he could more easily pick her up.  “Going up,” he warned her.  The moment his right arm dropped away from her, Cecily opened her eyes.  She slipped her arm around his neck so that it would be easier to carry her.  Catching her legs behind the knees with his right arm, Ehren swung her up and settled her against his chest.

              Smiling weakly, she plucked the packet out of his hand and set it in her lap.  “Thanks,” Ehren whispered as he carefully began to walk back toward the trees.  “We would not want to lose that.”  After a moment of silence interrupted only by his heavy breathing and footsteps, he stole a glance at his passenger.  She was looking thoughtfully into nowhere, but he had an inkling that she would soon be lapsing into sleep.  He smiled in amusement when a second later her head settled against his shoulder and the arm around his neck loosened.  The sun had fallen out of sight beyond the horizon by the time Ehren reentered the closely planted trees.

              Oran was clearing a spot for the fire.  Already he had the horses hobbled and happily munching the nearest grass.  The trees were close enough together that they would block any easy view and the thickness of the brush would make it easy for them to bed down in secret.  Cecily’s breath brushed his cheek as she sighed in her sleep.  Finding a clear patch of grass, Ehren lay Cecily down as smoothly as he could, but she awoke any way.  “Are we home?”  Ehren looked down into a sleepy pair of rich green eyes.  Their vulnerability made them seem even more irresistible than usual and he had a powerful urge to kiss her.

              “Not yet, but almost.”  He pushed away his unruly thoughts and turned to fetch the firewood he had promised Oran.

              Two hours later he and Oran had built a small shelter in the center of the heaviest undergrowth.  It would be just big enough for the three of them.  A heavy, well-oiled tarp that had been in one of the saddle bags was stretched across a frame of dead branches.  A covering of living branches and some of the thick moss from the side of the creek camouflaged it from the outside.  They had mounted this water-tight roof, by wedging it at an angle between two trees.

              Getting all their gear under this shelter was an even longer task.  Ehren had to be careful to not crush the foliage and ruin the natural cover.  The whole process took him another hour of labor in increasing darkness.  Although every joint ached and his head was pounding, he kept pushing.  Oran seemed to be having less trouble moving, but Ehren insisted on being the one to move Cecily in for the night.

              It was another half hour before he finally collapsed in exhaustion on his own folded blankets.  Oran was taking the first two watches so he could sleep enough to take the last.  Moving enough to lift a blanket over himself was only a vague thought flickering across his brain and it was quickly squelched by a sweet warm wave of dreamless sleep.

   

              Waking from habit at Oran’s first prodding, Ehren reluctantly pulled himself from his spot and crawled into the predawn morning.  He was surprised when the soldier moved back in the direction of their small fire.  Joining him beside the glowing embers, Ehren asked, “Not going to sleep?”

              The man shook his head.  “No, I slept all yesterday morning and afternoon.”  He glanced over at Ehren.  “I just got back from a scouting run two days ago.  I was still recovering.  By tonight though, I will have to take the last watch.”

              Ehren nodded his understanding.  He could not remember the last time he had caught up on his sleep.  The thought was inebriating.

              “So what is our story?”  Oran asked breaking into Ehren’s thoughts.  “I am sure you two have some false identities planned.”

              “Yes.”  Ehren stifled a yawn.  “We are Lilt and Marcus Trace.  I have our marriage certificate from seven days ago.  Past that I have not reasoned.  Do you have any suggestions?”

              “Well, we are traveling too light for merchants or tinkers.”  Reaching over to stir the embers with a stick, he frowned.  “I have no flamboyance, so I don’t think we could pass for entertainers.”

              “What about merchants returning from a yearly trek to Blairdark.”  Ehren asked. 

              The soldier looked at him measuringly.  “But why the girl?” he asked.

              “I wooed her a year ago and returned this year to wed her.  I have heard of similar arrangements before.  A craftsman plies his trade all winter and in the spring travels to the capital city with his wares.  In the fall, he returns with nothing but the money he has made to bring him through the next winter to do it all again.”

              “Then what do we make?  How do we happen to be traveling together?  I highly doubt a newly wedded couple would desire their party to be a threesome.”

              Ehren thought for a moment.  Glancing over the man’s tanned complexion and brown hair, he had an idea.  “We are brothers and partners.”

              “Brothers?” Oran’s eyes widened at the thought and then he suddenly laughed.  “I suppose anything is possible.  Very well, Marcus Trace, I shall be your brother, Oran; the more truth the easier for us to convince others of the lie.”  Jovially, Oran offered Ehren his hand which Ehren took.  Abruptly he asked, “Who is older?”

              Ehren smiled.  “Which ever you wish, brother.”

              “Then you shall be older and I shall be the younger.  At least then, I will be able to pick on you about your age.”

              Ehren agreed.  He was beginning to appreciate the general’s choice.  Oran was going to be a good fellow conspirator.

   

              “Cecily?  It is time to wake up.” 

              Savoring the warm peacefulness of sleep, Cecily reluctantly stirred under the heavy covering that embraced her.

              “Cecily.”

              Someone was pushing her shoulder gently and calling her name.  Groggily searching her mind for the name that went with the voice, Cecily tried to open her eyes.   After a long moment, she finally managed to crack them and focus blurrily on the face above her.  At almost the same instant her sleepy brain provided a name.  Ehren?  Her body refused to react to his prodding's, but she did not care.  A pair of blue-green eyes was roughly four inches from her own.

              “Good morning.”  Ehren's warm voice was followed by a smile that slowly spread across his face.  “Did you sleep well?”  The way he was watching her face gave Cecily the impression he was thinking of kissing her.

              Slowly she nodded.

              “I started breakfast,” Ehren said as he pushed himself up from his knees to the balls of his feet.  Above his head, Cecily could see the roof of what appeared to be a tent.  Looking more closely, she identified the oiled tarp she had seen in their luggage the day before.  Ehren and Oran must have made a shelter out of it the night before.  Now the early morning sunlight was painting everything with golden-red highlights including the bushes surrounding their shelter.

              Ehren shifted in preparation to push back out through the bushes.  “I will take down our roof after you are up.”  He paused in his turning to look back at her over his shoulder.  “Would you mind folding and packing up the bedding?  I still have to help Oran feed and saddle the horses.”

              Again, Cecily nodded and Ehren disappeared into the brush.  Cecily immediately started to sit up and push off the blankets that covered her.  Ignoring the brisk coolness of the morning air, she started fishing for her shoes.  Figuring Ehren had discarded them somewhere near her feet the night before, she started looking there.  Only after she had pulled back the top blanket did she realize what Ehren had covered her with.  Both her cloak and his were beneath the top blanket.  Oran’s bedding was no where in sight.  She wondered if he had slept at all the night before.  Glancing toward where Ehren had slept on the opposite side of the space with the supplies between them, Cecily could only find one blanket.

              By the time she had finished folding and packing all but their cloaks, the men had finished with the horses.  She crawled out from under their shelter to find Oran dishing out the last of the cornmeal porridge into a bowl for her.  “You eat,” Ehren said as she passed him on her way to the fireside.  “I will take care of the tarp.”  Oran handed her the bowl and gestured for her to sit a nearby stone.  Gathering the water bucket he disappeared in the direction of the stream they had discovered the night before.  When she looked around, she noticed Ehren disassembling the shelter from the night before.

              Obediently Cecily perched on the rock and concentrated on eating.  She was halfway done when Oran reappeared carrying a full bucket.  He promptly dumped it on the fire.  Then gathering up the dirty pot and her bowl he disappeared again.

              Standing up slowly, Cecily stretched her muscles and looked over to see how Ehren was doing.  Their equipment and supplies were piled together and ready to be packed onto the horses.  Ehren was already strapping on his saddlebags.   He turned to pick up his bedding and spotted her.  “The sooner we are loaded the sooner we can leave.”

              Cecily nodded even though Ehren had already turned back toward their gear.  The sooner they got moving the better.

   

              The sun was just slightly too warm for comfort as it hung in the blue sky.  Ehren was thankful when a drifting cloud would block the golden heat for a few minutes.  He and Cecily were casually leading Oran by a few feet.  Both men had agreed that not traveling on the road was wise.  Whenever Ehren glanced in her direction she was gazing out over the farmland that they passed at intervals or looking intently ahead.  At first Ehren had found the silence between them a perfect opportunity.  He had not thought out some issues.  But he quickly became restless.

              “How did you learn to fight with the staff?”  Ehren asked into the silence.  Oran was hanging back far enough that he would not be offended that he could only understand half the conversation. Glancing across at his traveling companion, Ehren watched as she slowly acknowledged his question.

              “David,” she signed.

              After another moment of awkward silence broken only by the sounds of the horses and creaking of the saddles and gear, Ehren tried again.  “How did he learn?” he asked.

              Winding her reigns around the horn on the saddle, Cecily replied, “He was born in Braulyn on the Northern border.  His father was a Northerner and thought it was part of the normal training for a young man.”

              Surprised Ehren tried to remember what he knew about the Northern wilds and the peoples that braved them.  “That must be where he got his fair skin.”  Picturing his friend, he could now see the resemblance between him and the other northerners he had met.  David's blonde hair and blue eyes should have been a dead give away, but for some reason Ehren had never made the connection.

              “I hope he is well,” Cecily signed.

              “I also hope so,” Ehren agreed.  “I forgot to ask Rovern if he had heard any news.”  He had other more important things on his mind at the time, but still...

              “Rovern said that the General had heard news through his son Ron.”  Cecily signed.  “David made it home alive, but they do not know how long he will live.”  For the first time that day Cecily looked up and met Ehren's eyes.  Seeing the sorrow there made Ehren jealous.  She cared for David as a sister and a friend, he reminded himself.  Besides, I have no right to be jealous, right?

              Dropping his own eyes, Ehren withdrew into his own thoughts.  He had been feeling strangely toward Cecily for some time now.  Ever since the skirmish with the Lisbrith’s forces and his bungled proposal, thoughts he had no business thinking were constantly coming to the surface.  What if she had said yes to the idea of marriage to him?  What if he allowed himself to love her?  Mentally shaking himself, he firmly straightened his back and tried to realign his mind to the task at hand.  He was bound to her for now, but as soon as he delivered her safely to her family in Larkaria, he would have to let go.  He had sworn his service to the kings and they had to release him from his oath before he could swear another.

              Even if he had been free, Ehren was not sure he could ask for her hand.  She deserved more that a scarred soldier of fortune.  She had enemies, but he had enemies too.  More that just those he had made in this war.  He had enemies who would haunt him for the rest of his life.  He cared too much to put her in such a dangerous position.  If he ever declared her value to him, his opponents would see her as a tool to get to him.

              “Cecily.”  Ehren savored the sound even as he looked over at her.  She met his gaze and raised her eyebrows.  “What was it like growing up with a prophecy foretelling your future?”

              She smiled.  “Wonderful,” she signed and laughed silently at his expression.  “I am sorry, that does not answer your question, does it?”  The laughter faded and she dropped her eyes.  “Looking back now, I realize I was treated differently than other daughters of great lords.  While my sister did learn to read, write and work with numbers, I was pushed harder to master the skills.  The tutor quit teaching Aurora when she turned sixteen.  Instead she started spending more time working with the housekeeper and mother.  I did not finish my studies with the tutor until I was eighteen.  I would have continued with the tutor if he had not declared he had nothing more to teach me.  After that, I spent my time working with David on the manor’s accounts and kept the records.  Father tried to find me a new tutor, but he stopped trying when the problems started surfacing in Braulyn.”  She paused and Ehren studied her face.  “I guess he was trying to put off my leaving.”

              Glancing over at him she signed, “He was never happy with the thought of me going to Liven Vargar for my training.  He knew it was necessary, but he dreaded my departure.”

              “And you didn’t?” Ehren asked.  It was hard perceive the world as a highborn young woman, but his exposure to women in general had led him to expect fear.  The eyes that met his held no fear.  The green was the cool rich color of moss.

              “No.”  She tilted her head thoughtfully.  “No, I did not.  I was not eager to go, but I was not afraid.”

              “Why?” Ehren could not help asking.

              “Because the Kurios had ordained it, His will is perfect and He will take care of me.  The Manuscripts say that He will work all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.”

              “You mean those He has chosen for special tasks?” he asked.

              “No, everyone who has accepted the gift of His Son’s death and resurrection are called to glorify and serve Him.”

              “So, if I accept His Son, I am also taking an oath to serve Him?”  Ehren frowned.  He had sworn service to many over the years, but never for the rest of his life.  He was not sure he would be comfortable with doing that ever.

              “Yes, but the service is a joy,” she declared with a smile and a light to her eyes that intrigued him.  “Never am I alone.  He is always there and always taking care of me.  I might falter and I might get injured, but it is always for a purpose.  He is sovereign.”

              Ehren found himself frowning.  It sounded too good to be true.  “What if you don’t like His choice, like who you marry?  Your children are going to carry or fulfill the prophecy.  What if he wants you to marry a complete stranger or a man who will beat you?  What then?”

              Cecily lowered her head and for a brief instant, Ehren was afraid he had done something to offend her.  Moving his horse closer, he reached across the space between them and touched her shoulder.  The words of apology were on his lips, but they were never spoken.  A blush tinged her tan cheeks a delicate rose.  “I have already made a request, but He has not chosen to honor it, yet.”

              Ehren was not sure what to say, so, he said nothing.  Dropping his hand, he let his horse step away from hers.  They continued on in silence for a few minutes before he asked, “Then why didn’t you say yes when I asked you?”

              “Because you are not a follower of Kurios and He has commanded a believer should not marry a nonbeliever.”  Her hands were steady, but her eyes faltered.

              “Is there a betrothed or someone else waiting for you back in Larkaria?”  He asked.  She shook her head.  “Then who will you marry?”  Considering she turned him down there was no harm in asking.  In fact, it might help him to envision her with someone else.  It would make it easier for him to see her as unattainable.

              “I don't know. “  She paused, “I never thought much about the future beyond this journey.  I guess I always trusted that the Kurios would provide the man He wished me to marry when the time came.”  She smiled weakly.  “When I realized my...attachment to you, I thought you might be the one, but now...I don't know.”

              “You mean you loved me and now you don’t?”  Ehren asked.

              Cecily immediately signed, “No, I love you and always will, but….”  Ehren watched a peace settle into her eyes.  “I love my Lord more.”  Her hands were confident as she continued.  “He revealed my future and prepared each step I must take to fulfill his purpose.  He knows how I will get there and who will travel the path with me.  My duty is to trust Him and follow by doing what he has prepared for now.”  She looked over at him.  “I see only the time that is now and that which has been, but I know the one who holds the future.  He will provide in His perfect time.”

              “What if I am not the one He provides?”  Ehren watched as sadness dimmed Cecily's green eyes.

              “His will is best.”  Blinking back the tears that had risen in her eyes, Cecily smiled.  “I will never forget.”

              Ehren's heart ached in his chest.  With every part of him he wanted to accept the love that was in Cecily's eyes, but his duty held strong.  Unless her God preformed another miracle, he was duty bound not to accept her love and she to follow His revelation.  There was no way a holy God would give Cecily an unbelieving husband.

   

              “You are going to need different clothing,” Ehren pointed out to Cecily as they sat around the small fire and ate lunch a few days later.  Oran looked up and joined him in assessing Cecily’s appearance.

              “You are right, she does not look very much like a young wife,” he agreed.

              Looking down at her loose leggings and tunic, Cecily had to admit they were right.  They were cast offs that Uther had found for her when she had escaped the Lisbrith's camp.  Used, but clean then, they had seen almost three weeks of hard wear since then.  Now, they were not even worth trying to clean.  “I have another tunic in my baggage,” Cecily offered before taking the last of the bread.  They were also getting low on provisions.  She was pretty sure that they had enough for only one more meal, a small one.

              Ehren wiped the last of the stew from the bottom of his bowl with his portion of the stale bread.  “You are still going to need a skirt then,” he said and put the bit in his mouth.  After swallowing, he continued, “Rovern did well if that was the only thing he forgot.  Of course, he might have just not made the connection.  He has been living with all men for a long time now.”

              Oran set down his own empty bowl and asked, “what about food?”

              Ehren nodded.  “I had forgotten about that.”  Turning in his seat, he pulled the one bag they had unloaded to his side.

              Cecily gathered up the dirty bowls, the extra eating knife, and the empty pot in which she had been keeping the stew.  After scraping them as clean as she could, she packed them back into the sack Ehren had just finished with.  As she banked the fire, Ehren spread out their map of Braulyn.

              Squatting down opposite him, Oran asked “Where are we?”

              Cecily knelt between them.

              “Here.”  A long brown finger pointed to the farmland roughly Southeast of Liven Vargar.  The location seemed right considering the mountains they had been paralleling for most of the day.  “I was planning on avoiding all the villages along the main road.”  Ehren circled a scattering of settlements that branched out around the main merchant's road.  The merchant's road traveled almost directly from Blairdark to the sea coast.  “But if we travel closer to the villages, we might be able to spot an outlying farm.  There we can purchase clothing for Cecily and me and some provisions.”

              “Are we going to make the coast line in time?”  Cecily eyed the distance they had traveled so far and the distance yet to go.  They were going to have to speed up.

              “Don't worry.”  Ehren looked over to catch her eyes.  Once he had her attention, he smiled.  “I promise we will make it somehow.”  Nodding her understanding, Cecily immediately broke the gaze.  His eyes had been affecting her stomach a great deal lately.

              “Then let us go.”  Oran declared once he sensed their conversation had ended.  He rose to his feet and they followed.

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

   

  © 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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