Thursday, 25 June 2009

• Cecily's Quest - Chapter Seventeen

  Hello dear readers,

  I believe I am suffering from word burnout.  I have been working franticly for weeks now, turning out chapters like crazy.  Now, suddenly, the well seems to have run dry.    Don't worry, I will keep pumping.  It is part of a writer's lot in life to be constantly pumping at the well, making do with what comes up.  However, expect a bit of a lull.  I am feeling slightly burned out (partially from a five day bug followed by a nasty cold) and not inclined to pump too furiously.    I shall not be lazy though.  I have plenty of editing to keep my "little gray cells" busy. 

  Well, here is another chapter.  I am glad this story at least is written.    I hope you enjoy it.

  - Rachel Rossano

  http://rachel-rossano.blogspot.com

  http://www.freewebs.com/anavrea

   

  Chapter Seventeen - Jumare

   

   

              They reached Jumare by late afternoon.  Oran left them a mile outside of the city.  He shook Ehren’s hand warmly and bowed to Cecily.  Ehren thanked him for them both and wished him a safe and speedy journey back to Blairdark.  Then he was gone.

              A sharp wind had risen over the past day causing even the horses to shiver with cold.  At the first livery stables they came upon on the outskirts of town, Ehren turned into the stable yard.  No one came out to greet them, but Ehren did not blame them.  The wind was icy out in the open and the sky was darkening quickly.  A storm was rising, but the wind was so strong, it was very possible the clouds would pass farther inland before they broke into rain or sleet.

              Firmly tying his beast to the nearest railing, Ehren turned expecting that Cecily was in the process of doing the same.  She was still on the horse, but had managed to come along side him.  Reaching up for the reigns, Ehren unwound them from her frozen fingers and proceeded to fasten them to the pole.  Then he reached up for her and encountered her apologetic eyes.

              “It is alright.”  He smiled encouragingly as best he could with the wind biting his face.  “You can warm up inside while I sell the horses.”  Reaching up, he found her waist and with her arms braced on his shoulders, set her on the ground.  Wrapping one arm securely around her shoulders, he unfastened the scribe's satchel from the bags and headed toward the door marked 'office.'

              Inside a roaring fire was laid in the hearth by which he promptly set Cecily.  Dropping the sack against her feet, he turned to find a tall thin man regarding him with curiosity.

              “My customers usually arrive on foot or with fatigued horses.”  He jutted his chin toward the horses outside.  “Besides cold, I see nothing wrong with your beasts.”  Raising his eyebrows meaningfully, he regarded Ehren.

              “Do not fear.”  Ehren smiled.  “I wish to do business.  My beasts, as you have said, are in good condition and are worth many more years of frequent use.  I wish to sell them to a business man who is willing to offer the right amount.”

              “Yes.”  the man came around the counter and peered through the clouded glass at the horses.  “They are good looking animals, but they are worth no more than 15 each.”  And so the bargaining began.

   

              Cecily could not remember being so cold, but the rational part of her brain told her it was quite possible.  She stretched her hands closer to the flames as she listened to Ehren bargain with the stables owner.  The process took less time than she expected.  Her sister used to argue with the sellers in the weekly market for a half hour each to work out a reasonable price.  Wondering if the brevity had been caused by Ehren's concern for time, Cecily watched as he went out to unload their belongings.  They were going to be late to the port, but Cecily was sure that no ships would be leaving today with this wind and a storm rising.

              “We will have to carry everything until we spot a merchant that will buy what we do not require.”  Ehren said as he dropped their baggage at her feet.  The merchant was outside taking care of his horses.  “I was able to sell all the gear too.”  Cecily looked up to find him distributing some of the coin along the waistband of his woolen leggings.  He did not look up until he had redone his belt and adjusted it on his hips.  Then he held out a small money sack to her.  “Hide it.”  She must have looked stunned because he shook it impatiently.  “The man is going to be back any minute and I do not want you to be without money should we lose each other,” he explained and then dropped it into her lap where she automatically caught it with her legs.

              Without glancing to see where she hid it, Ehren squatted down and started redistributing their goods.  Reaching into the slit that she had cut in her skirt so she could reach her dagger, strapped beneath, Cecily tied the bag securely into the underskirt.  It was going to have to do until she could find a sash that she could use to bind them to her waist.  She was just finishing with the rearranging of her skirts and tunic to hide the bulk when the man came back.

              “Where is the nearest merchant that would be interested in buying or trading goods,” Ehren immediately asked.

              “Five streets down and the third shop on your left,” the man answered with a curious gleam in his eye when he caught sight of Cecily's face.  “Keep an eye on your wife,” he said suddenly, “Many men like red haired women in this city and would have no regrets about killing for yours.”  Then he abruptly turned and returned to the log book he had been leaning over when they had entered.

              Cold fingers stole around Cecily's stomach.  They were much colder than her toes and much more painful.  Please Father.  She mentally cried, I do not even know what to pray.  Help?  Keep us in Your loving care, Father God, All powerful King.

   

              Ehren carefully lifted the heaviest of the three bundles.  He had sorted out all the items they could sell and gathered them into the largest bag they had.  After balancing it carefully on his shoulder, he turned to find Cecily had managed the remaining luggage.  With her scribe's satchel slung across her and one of the saddle bags hanging from her shoulder by the straps, she was able carry the last with her left hand.  Ehren wondered briefly what she was going to do with her right, but found out the moment he lead them out the door and onto the street.  Her small hand latched onto his belt; firmly anchoring her to him.  When he managed to glance at her, Ehren noticed that no wisps of hair were visible around her tightly drawn hood and she was studiously watching the rough cobbles beneath her feet.  Knowing that she had heeded the man's warning should have made Ehren feel better about the situation, but it did not.  We are not home free yet, he reminded himself.  Not until she is safe and protected from men like Mavin Drackett, then my duty is done.   Again his heart did not respond with confidence.  Would she ever be safe from men like Drackett?

              The looming façade of the merchant's storefront demanded Ehren's attention and once again he had to leave the questions roaming his head for a time when he could think carefully.

   

              Absentmindedly stroking the length of flannel before her, Cecily listened as Ehren bargained with the merchant behind the counter.  It had taken most of a half hour for Ehren to sell all of their items.  Now the men were going through the process of Ehren buying something.  Cecily, who had been looking around the shop for most of the dealing, now started to wander back to Ehren's side.

              “It is a deal,” the merchant declared.  He set a straight razor and a small mirror on the pile on the counter before Ehren.  “That will be a total of five.”  The man moved toward the safe box bolted to the counter.  “I will take it out of your sales.”  The man pulled out a small intricate key and opened the lock with a deft twist.  “I believe that makes the total twenty.”

              “The total is thirty,” Ehren immediately contradicted him.  Then going down the list of things they had sold, he stated each amount.  They totaled to thirty-five.  “Less the five we owe for these.”  He waved at the pile before him.  “I believe that is a new total of thirty.”

              “So it does,” the merchant mumbled as he fished out the correct amount and reluctantly handed it over to Ehren.

              “Thank you.”  Ehren smoothly scooped their bundles together and hurriedly guided Cecily out the door.  She cringed as the cold wind cut through her cloak and tugged at her hood.  He immediately bunched the bags all into one hand and slipped an arm protectively around her shoulders.  They hurried down the cobbled street toward the smell of salt water.  They covered a good distance this way before Ehren finally spoke.  “I think someone is following us.”

              Who?  Cecily asked silently.

              Suddenly, Ehren dodged a very full cart and immediately ducked behind an even slower moving one.  Matching its lumbering pace, he started rotating the bags in his grip.  Abruptly he dropped his arm and caught her hand instead.  With a sharp tug, they practically fell into a side nook beside a corner bakery.  Cecily only had time to put out her hands to catch herself against the rough wall as her knees gave out.  Sinking to the ground, she gasped for breath.

              Ehren caught her the moment before her seat touched the frozen mud.  “Are you alright?”  Cecily looked up to encounter his eyes, dark with concern.  She nodded.

              “Here.”  He pulled a sash of dark brown material from one of the sacks.  “Bind the coins around your waist.”  He whispered, “I will block the opening.”

              Risking a sign, Cecily asked, “Follower?”

              Frowning, Ehren caught her hands and shook his head, “No.  We lost him.  Hurry,” he said and turned his back and pulled his cloak so that it blocked more of the space.

              With minimal struggling, Cecily managed to extract the small sack from her underskirt.  She gritted her teeth against the cold air.  The sash was very wide, perfect for folding over a row of coins. Folding it in length the circumference of her waist, she managed to line up the coins and secure it around her waist.  She tucked the ends so they lay flat against her and pulled her tunic down to cover the whole.  Gathering her cloak around her and tucking her hair beneath the hood, she touched Ehren's back through the heavy layers of cloak and tunics.

              He turned and looked her up and down before speaking, “Good.  Now, we might not get another chance to talk on the ship.”  Cecily felt her eyes widen and her chest tighten at the thought of not speaking to him for so long.  It was a three to four day journey across the channel.

              Ehren's hand touched her forehead to brush aside a strand of hair that had escaped.  When she looked up, he smiled encouragingly.  “I will do my best.”

              “The ship is scheduled to leave sometime today or tomorrow and I am carrying enough to pay for our passage.  Once on board, we will be separated.  Men stay with men and women with women and children.  I will see what I can do, but it will be difficult to see each other much until we arrive in Larkaria.”  He paused and Cecily looked up again inquiringly.  He was looking at her in a way that made her stomach flip flop.  After a moment, he smiled.  “Wait for me.”

              Before she could even manage a facial plea for explanation, he had thrust the scribe's bag and one of the other two into her hands.  Clutching them to her, Cecily found herself being propelled into the street and on toward the docks.

              Wait for him when?  Where?  The question was going to nag her now for the whole trip.  She seriously doubted that there would be a place on a crowded ship for her to safely sign.  The question was going to have to wait with her.

              The ticket master was a thin man who looked like the wind was going to blow him into the frothing foam behind him.

              “My wife and I would like to buy passage on the Hermes.”  Ehren informed the man upon reaching the head of the line.

              “It leaves in two hours,” the man informed them.  “There is only one place left and it is in the women's quarters for twenty in gold.”  Fear and urgency gripped Cecily's stomach.  Ehren however appeared completely calm and in control.

              “Are there any openings for a sailor to work his way across?”  He asked.

              “You will have to speak with the captain about that,” the man replied.  “Do you or don't you want the place for your wife?  I am sure many others would take it.”  He jutted his chin at the meager line behind them.

              “We will take it,” Ehren said and began counting out the fee.  As soon as the transaction had finished, the man turned to the next in line.  “Where is the captain of the Hermes?”  Ehren asked before turning away.

              The man gestured vaguely in the direction of the ship behind them, and muttered, “Aboard.”

              Not bothering to thank the man, Ehren collected his burden and claimed Cecily's elbow.  Guiding her toward the ship, he leaned over and whispered in her ear.  “I will settle you and then speak to the captain.”  They boarded the ship.

   

              The ship was in adequate condition.  Ehren glanced at the sky and tried to quickly calculate the speed of the clouds on the horizon.  Their movement was unclear, but Ehren was pretty sure they could outrun the storm by heading the opposite way, toward sea.  Questioning a nearby sailor, he obtained directions to the women's quarters below deck.  Guiding Cecily, he headed in the indicated direction.

              Stepping through the wooden hatchway door, he preceded Cecily down the ladder to the hold below.  The dank darkness smelled of stale air and mold.  It took him a moment to adjust to the darkness.  A skinny passageway headed off in two directions: one toward the bow and one toward the stern.  Cecily dropped down the baggage.  The first hit his head, but he managed to catch the other two and watch for her booted feet at the ladder top.  After she had safely placed both feet on the rough wooden floor, Ehren handed her the two bags she had been carrying before.  “This way,” he said and struck out toward the bow.

              Locating the third door on the right, he waited for her to catch up.  “This should be it.”  He looked for her face, but she was occupied with untangling her cloak and a nail.  “Lilt,” he whispered.  She hesitated, but looked up at him questioningly.  “I will come back if I cannot get passage, okay?”  She slowly nodded and he realized she probably had a thousand questions for him right now.  Before she started debating whether to sign again or not, Ehren sought and found her free hand.  The fingers were freezing and Ehren found himself massaging them.  “If I am hired, I will be too busy to come back and tell you.”  He looked down at his hands holding hers.  “Trust me.”  He glanced at her face to be sure she was listening.  “I will not let you go alone.  I promise.”  Bending down to kiss her cheek, he turned and headed back toward the ladder.

   

              Cecily waited until Ehren's feet disappeared into the ceiling before she knocked on the rough dark wood of the door.  “Come in.”  The reply came immediately.  Cecily obeyed.

              The room beyond was rather small.  Along the inside walls were four bunks of three beds.  They looked more like shelves than beds to Cecily.  On the outer face, the shelves were covered with a heavy looking material.  In the center of the room, bolted to the floor were a table and three chairs.  A heavy lantern with glass panes hung from a ring in the center of the ceiling.  Along the curved hull side of the room was a narrow bench occupied by a small group of children huddled together and watching her warily.

              “Welcome to the women's quarters,” an elderly woman greeted her over the thin back of the woman tucking her quilt.  She was perched on the top most bed on the far right bunk.  “Karolin, we have another.”  She proclaimed.

              “So I see Lady Ferrier.”  A sturdy woman replied as she handed a wooden bowl to the young looking woman sitting near the children.  “Make sure they eat just what they want and no more.  I do not want to be sleeping with the smell of vomit tonight,” she briskly instructed the girl.  “Now what might your name be?”  The question was simple enough, but too direct for Cecily to answer with a facial expression or simple gesture.  She had to avoid the woman's eyes as if she had not heard and hunch her shoulders defensively.  “Very well,” the woman responded.  “I will find out soon enough from the captain.  My name is Karolin.  I am the ship cook and the captain is my son.  He lets me have my way with the women's quarters and I have set guidelines.”  She paused and regarded Cecily with a steady gaze which Cecily avoided while still looking like she was listening.

              “You stay in the cabin unless you are escorted on deck by myself or a male relative.  Otherwise, you stay below ship and keep your nose clean.  Understood?”  She paused and Cecily nodded.  “No sailors or any other men in this cabin.  Understood?”  Again, Cecily nodded.  “Good.  Now put your stuff on the empty bunk on end and stay out of my way.”  She gestured toward the bottom most bunk on the far left side of the room.  Thankfully, Cecily pushed her baggage to the back corner and curled up facing the room.  Father, thank you for bring us this far.  Please continue to provide for us and protect us.

   

              She must have fallen asleep, Cecily realized when she opened her eyes to discover all the occupants of the cabin sitting at different points around the room eating.  The ship was moving and the smell of strong ale and spicy stew filled the stale air, almost making it pleasant.  Carefully she uncurled herself and crawled out of the bunk.  Two bowls still stood on the center table waiting for someone to claim them.  Taking the smaller of the two, Cecily gathered a spoon from nearby and retreated again.  This time she chose the far corner where she could eat and watch the others at the same time.

              The children were traveling with their father.  She realized this by listening to them talk among themselves.  At least once the eldest, a young girl of about seventeen, had to comfort the younger ones and reassure them their new mother would surely love them as much as their deceased one had.

              Lady Ferrier and her companion, a tall thin middle aged woman, were heading home from a trip to the healing mineral waters near Tyron in Braulyn.  She was the widower of the Lord Ferrier of Defront.  They had no children.  Cecily remembering hearing that the King was waiting until her death to give the title to another family.  She was cheerful woman and took a strong interest in the young ones.

              Two of the women were going to Larkaria as brides.  Their families could not afford to care for them any longer.  The parents had arranged with family in Larkaria to find husbands for the girls that would pay for the passage.  Farla and Herna were both young and strong women about the same age as Cecily.  They were both comely and full of promise.  Cecily silently wished them well.

              Cecily was in the midst of watching them when there was a tapping at the door.  Karolin looked up from the kitting she was showing to an interested matron and called, “Who is there?”

              “I have come to speak with my wife,” a muffled male voice answered.

              Karolin handed the yarn to her companion and laboriously rose to her feet.  By now, all the cabin's inhabitants were curiously watching the door.  Cecily prayed it was Ehren.  She had been trying to distract herself but it was not going to work much longer.

              “What is your name?”  Karolin asked right before she opened the door.

              The voice was clear this time as the man announced, “I am Marcus Trace.  My wife's name is Lilt and I wish to speak with her.”  Recognizing Ehren's voice before she recognized the names, Cecily was halfway across the room by the time Karolin said, “I don't know if there is Lilt here.”

              She reached the door as Ehren said, “She has to be.  I left her here ...ah Lilt.”  He caught sight of her beyond the cook's heavy shoulder.  “She is right there behind you.”

              Reluctantly, Karolin released the door so Cecily could slip through.  “Don't stay out there long.”  She frowned, “I do not usually allow nighttime visits, but just this once.”  Then she closed the door solidly with a thump.

              Ehren guided Cecily silently down the narrow hall and then to the left into one of the storage rooms for the food supplies.  Closing the door behind him, Ehren engulfed them in pitch darkness.  A moment later Cecily found herself being crushed against him.  “Cecily,” he whispered inches from her ear.  Sinking against him, Cecily savored the sweetness of his arms.

   

              It feels so good to hold her again.  Ehren gave in for the moment and indulged his desire to just press her close.  She was soft and small, but so perfect and right.  Resting his cheek against her hair, he breathed deeply, filling his senses with her.

              “The captain needed a navigator.”  He finally managed after a few moments of silence.  “I was praying that he would need someone.”  Rubbing his hands over her narrow back, he continued.  “I really do not know what I would have done if he had said no.”  Cecily snuggled closer to his heart and it was beating so hard it was almost coming out to greet her.  “I told your God that and He must have understood and come through.”  He felt her reaction before she drew away.  Even in the dark, he sensed the melting of urgency into frustration as she realized she could not say what she wanted.  “Not now,” Ehren said, interrupting her thoughts.  “I will not be able to slip away again until we land.  The storm is turning and we need to take the fastest route to Larkaria and land before it overtakes us.”

              She caught his right hand and brought the fingers to her lips.  She mouthed something against them, but Ehren could not make it out.  “Sorry,” he said drawing her close again.  “I don't understand and I am needed above.  If you need to find me, I will be in the Captain's quarters.”  Reluctantly he drew back.  He wanted to keep her always close to him, but his desires were not the most important priority right now.  Getting her home safely was.  “Do you understand me?”  He felt her nod.  Leaning down, he kissed her.  Then, before he lost his determination, he opened the door and disappeared down the hall and up the ladder.

   

              Cecily rested her head against the door jamb and closed her eyes.  The ship creaked and somewhere farther down the walkway a door closed.  Why does he say one thing and do another.  She sighed and tried to carefully tuck away these memories for the time when he would leave for good.

              She made her way back to the women's quarters.  Pushing open the door, she discovered the room full of the sights and sounds of the occupants preparing for bed.  Thankful for the distraction, she slipped through the chaos to her bunk.  Making short work of settling in for sleep, she curled up with her back to the wall and watched the rest of the travelers.

              The storm caught up with them a few hours after the last light had been extinguished.  Cecily woke to the hysterical cries of the youngest child cutting through the pitch black of the room.  Fumbling and shuffling followed as well as the hushed pleas of the oldest girl trying to quiet the child.  Around them the ship creaked and groaned as it pitched to and fro.  Cecily had been on the sea before, but never in a storm.  She was pleased that she did not seem to be affected as negatively as she had expected.

              One of the inhabitants of a bunk across the room was sick and Cecily half expected others to join her in losing their dinner.  Instead muffled whispers and crying came from that direction.  And a few minutes later, the movement and voices came staggering along the line of bunks.  The young girl with all the children was trying to find a sleeping place for her little sister.  None of the others seemed interested in sharing.  By the time the two reached Cecily, the elder girl was on the verge of tears.

              “Pardon me Ma'am,” she said, “There isn't room for all of us in our bunk.  Could you please let Ana sleep with you.”  In spite of the pitch darkness of the cabin, Cecily could hear the girl's panic.  “She will be quiet and still.  Won't ya, Ana?”

              “Yes,” a second voice promised.

              Cecily reached toward the second voice.  Catching the girl's hand, Cecily gently pulled.  As she expected, the child accepted the motion as a reply and began climbing up.  At the same time, the sound of crying across the room grew in volume.  By the time the child had managed to climb completely up, the older sister had fled back to care for her sibling.

              True to her promise, Ana curled up into her blanket and lay still.  Cecily prayed for the children on the other side of the room.  After only a few moments, Ana's breathing became slow and steady.  Cecily carefully checked that her charge was not going to fall off and then settled in for sleep herself.  Surprisingly, considering the noise of the storm, rest was not long in coming.

   

              On their first full day at sea, Ehren did not have a chance to look for Cecily until about mid afternoon.  Early morning had brought relief from the storm.  They had missed the worst by a few miles by his guess.

              Mid morning had brought another ship.  He was still on deck when it was spotted.  For a few breathless minutes the whole crew waited for the vessel to get close enough for identification.  Ehren found himself praying as he strained his eyes.

              Again Cecily's God must have heard him, because the ship was The Adriana.  The captain ordered the ship's flag be raised and The Adriana signaled it wanted to come along side.  Knowing that someone he knew might be aboard, Ehren tried to melt into the crew.  To retire below at this point would have drawn attention to himself.  They still had a few days before they reached land.  The storm had blown them a bit off course.

              The man in the crow's nest yelled down that he had something for one of the sailors on the other ship.  Ehren disappeared below to fetch it.  This way he could discreetly stay out of sight for a bit.  Finding the parcel his crewmate had indicated, Ehren lingered below as long as he dared.  Finally, he remounted the ladder and again joined those on deck.

              Weaving through the crowd to deliver his burden, Ehren thought he had managed to stay below recognition until he spotted the captains.

              While he had been below, The Adriana's captain had boarded and was speaking in low tones with the Hermes’ Captain on the other end of the deck.  Crossing to the far side of the deck from the friendly ship, he tried to look busy coiling some rope.

              “Trace!”  Hermes'  captain called, beckoning Ehren.

              Reluctantly, Ehren obeyed.  As he neared her heard his captain saying, “...and guess where I found him?  Jumare!”  Ehren joined them.

              “Sir?” he kept his face blank and looked between his captain and then, for the first time on the face of the other man.  It was his brother.  Ehren almost bit his tongue when the captain slapped him on his back.  “Admiral Blythe, this man is the best navigator that I have ever had the pleasure of sailing with.”  Ehren felt his ears redden at the unexpected praise.  Good.  Anyone watching would think I was being embarrassed.  Don't acknowledge me, Warrick.  He dared to look at his brother again.  Thankfully, Warrick extended his hand as if they were meeting for the first time.

              “That is high praise indeed, Trace.”  Warrick nodded to the Captain.   “Captain Howner does not offer praise of any kind lightly.”

              Ehren nodded managed a small “thank you, sir.”

              “Where are you headed?”  Warrick turned to the captain.

              Ehren allowed himself to feel some relief.

              “Defront Defense seems the best port in these conditions.  Besides I have Lady Ferrier aboard.”  The Admiral started toward the crossing point between the ships as the Captain answered his question.  Ehren followed a respectful distance behind.  “She wants to be home and cannot handle the journey on land as well as the sea.”

              The Admiral nodded and then bid the Captain goodbye.  He returned to The Adriana and the ships parted ways.

              As they drew away, Ehren asked, “Sir, where are they bound?”

              “I do not know.”  The Captain frowned.  “Only Admiral Blythe knows for sure the movements of his fleet.  It is better that way, I think.”  He smiled slightly, “Makes it harder to pin us down.”

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

   

  © 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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