SciFi and Fantasy Stories: Near to Dreams Part VII

True to his word, it was less than an hour after midday when the vague shadowy outline of a city became visible on the horizon of the rolling hills. Waving grass tickled the underbellies of their horses as they dismounted next to a small lake almost completely concealed from view by a copse of evergreens.

“We can wash up a bit here and make ourselves a bit more presentable.”

When Rayne continued to stare at him, Ronan gave an exasperated sigh and herded her toward the water.

“Morningtide is a good deal larger than Mirwell and Cobblebay. We’ll want to look presentable if we don’t want to be asked too many questions or draw too much unwanted attention. You bathe here and I’ll go over that way. Yell if you need anything.”

“Soap?” Rayne asked as he made to move away.

“Right.”

Reaching into his saddlebag, he drew out a large lumpy mass and handed it to her.

“It’s not anything like what you can find at the markets and it isn’t perfumed, but it’ll get you clean just the same.”

With a quick glance at her hands, he moved to the spot he indicated.

Rayne was quick to shuck her clothes, humming in contentment as she waded into the cool water, soap in hand. Submersing herself, she came up spluttering and set to work attacking her grimy hair with vigor. She was starting to feel better than she had in days as she washed away the sand and grit from the river. Lathering up her face, she bent over to wash it off but a flash in the water caught her attention and she froze, watching as a scene rippled into life in front of her.

A tall broad-shouldered man in expensively crafted garments stood with his back to her. He had golden curls cropped close to his head that bobbed as he gave it a sharp shake. He was gesturing violently to something out of her vision and the soldier he was talking to gave a curt nod and disappeared. Her view panned out as the blond man strode from the room and she traveled down several corridors, past large room and several people milling about until she came to a grand chamber, a line of people leading out of the double doors to the hallway beyond. She was able to catch a glimpse of brilliantly colored tapestries before her sight was focused on a middle-aged man seated on a large chair at the head of the room. The first impression Rayne had of him was that he seemed very tired. Deep lines situated at the corners of his eyes and mouth hinted at heavy burdens; and though he smiled to each of his subjects as they approached, he didn’t look happy. If Rayne had to, she would guess he was ailing from some sickness. His graying hair looked lackluster under the golden crown and his skin too pale.

Rayne was just wishing she could get a better look at this man who people thought was her father when he twitched as if jolted and his eyes flew up, directly to where she watched from. His gray-green eyes looked exactly like her own. He could see her.

Crying out, Rayne stumbled backward in astonishment, the throne room vanishing under an assault of ripples.

“Rayne? Are you about done?”

Trying to gather her wits, she splashed water onto her face to rinse off the soap lather and waded to where she had left her clothes.

“Give me a few more minutes.”

Pulling on her clothes, she sat in the grass, staring at her swollen ankle with its black and blue bruises, contemplating. She had never attempted using her magic on herself and she couldn’t help feeling a bit apprehensive. Most of what she had learned was strictly through trial and error, with the emphasis heavily weighing on the error. Was there a possibility that something might go wrong if she tried it on herself? She had only tried to heal twice, the first time with Kair being the accident that had enlightened her to that particular ability in the first place. Both times had resulted in a personal manifestation of the pain the victim had suffered. So if she healed herself, would she still have to grit her teeth and beat with the pain? She decided to find out.

A gentle breeze ruffled her hair and larks sand from the bushes as she tentatively reached out a hand. Holding it motionless over her ankle, she concentrated on her breathing, letting all other sounds fade. Even her heart, which had thrummed in her ears moments before, faded into the background.

Reaching deep inside herself, she drew a silver thread of magic, feeding and coaxing it until it flared, sparking with unused energy. Drawing it along until it reached her ankle, she nudged it toward the injured tissues, holding her breath and praying. It seemed to sputter with a sound like hissing as it touched the damaged tissue before burrowing in.

Rayne could feel herself smiling as the pain lessened and disappeared, the swelling gone. Crooking a magical wisp of a finger, she beckoned the wayward strand to rejoin its brethren before opening her eyes.

“That must have been some trip.”

Rayne yelped. Ronan stood leaning against a tree a few yards away. His face shiny from the bath, wet hair brushing the top of his tunic.

“Where did you go?”

“How long have you been standing there?”

“I came to investigate when I heard you yell – but that doesn’t sound like an answer to my question.”

“I was just thinking.”

“Over your ankle?”

“No.”

“What were you thinking about?”

“Why does it matter to you? It doesn’t even involve you.”

“Really? I could have sworn that a little detail like healing would have been on the list of useful things to know about you.”

“Healing?” she tried to look astonished.

“You must think I’m blind and an idiot. You sit there, silently meditating over your sprained ankle and magically the bruises fade away and the swelling shrinks into nonexistence.”

Rayne blanched at the mention of magic and cleared her suddenly dry throat. “There’s no such thing.”

“Now who led you to believe such a crazy amount of nonsense?”

“Everyone knows it.”

“Well obviously you don’t fit into the category of everyone or else you wouldn’t have been able to do what you just did.” Ronan shook his head, mounting back up and waiting for her to follow suit.

“When we enter Morningtide, whatever you do, let me do the talking. You have a strange way of pronouncing some of your vowels and people might begin to ask questions.”

“I can understand not wanting them to ask too many questions, but why should you care?”

“It’s a long story. And besides, if they ask you questions, it’ll slow me down as well,” he stated flatly, clearly reluctant to talk about it.

Shrugging, Rayne fell silent. If he didn’t want to share his secret, she wouldn’t make him, but that didn’t mean that she had to like the fact.

As they rode closer, it became obvious that Ronan was right. Morningtide seemed positively huge compared to Mirwell and even the small glimpse of Cobblebay she’d had was nothing like this. It was a fortress. Stone walls encased it on every side with only a small drawbridge leading from the road inside. She could see heavily armed men patrolling the battlements but with the distance she couldn’t be sure of who they were.

“Ronan – the soldiers –”

“Are the town’s guard. They have nothing to do with the King’s men.”

“But what if –”

“Don’t worry, we’ll only be staying for one night. We need to replenish our meager food supplies and see if we can’t get a replacement strap for the one that snapped on Panza’s bridle.”

“One broke?”

“When we were chased by the creature, yes. I knew the piece had to be replaced but I procrastinated.”

It became apparent when they were riding through the main gate that these weren’t the same men who had abducted her. These uniforms were black and silver, with an owl crest on the chest. Even so, Rayne felt incredibly uncomfortable under their scrutiny, as if all of her secrets were written across her forehead.

A broad man with fiery red hair stopped them as they entered, his calculating gray eyes going from their mounts, to their packs, to Rayne.

“What is your purpose here?”

His left eyebrow twitched as he spoke and Rayne watched, fascinated. It was as though it kept tempo to his thoughts.

“What sort of greeting is this for weary travelers? “

Rayne gave Ronan a startled glance at his deepened voice and heavy accent. What was he playing at? She glanced at the guard, but he didn’t seem too suspicious.

“These are dangerous times. Word has it that some strange beasts are stalking the villages of the Gladheon Mountains. They say they are searching for something, or someone.”

He gave their packs a pointed glance.

“Surely those are just bedtime stories told to frighten poor children into obeying their parents. I bet they say the creatures will attack the children who don’t sleep during the night, am I right?”

“I assure you, these rumors have at least some truth to them. We have almost an entire village holed up here, afraid to go home for fear the creatures will come again.” “All the more reason to let us in. We seek shelter from the elements and a warm bed during a night of our wanderings.”

“We have nothing available. All rooms have already been let out to the villagers of Cobblebay.”

“We are willing to take whatever lodgings might be available. My sister would be ever so grateful. She has spent the morning complaining in my ear about how hard the ground is and how cold her bed. She would love nothing more than a warm soft bed.” Ronan winked at the man, elbowing him in the side. Rayne was horrified to see a lecherous gleam in the guard’s eyes.

“I’m sure we can find something. Wait here while I find out.”

As he trotted off, Rayne rounded on Ronan, eyes shooting sparks as her cheeks flamed.

“How dare you insinuate that I would tender him an invitation into my bed! Whom I share it with is entirely up to me and you have no right to try and barter me around as if I were Venn or one of your other unwanted possessions.”

The laughter crinkling the corners of his eyes did nothing to soothe her fury as he opened his mouth to speak.

“No! What right do you have to try and sell my favor? You’re no better than that slimy Captain Guilford!”

She tried to shoot past him but he anticipated her flight and caught Cadoc’s bridle, preventing her from escaping.

“You’re not playing your part of grateful sister very convincingly. Calm down Rayne!” he ground out when she tried to kick her way free. “It’s just a ruse. I have no intention of letting that scum anywhere near you.”

Rayne paused in her struggles, studying Ronan’s face to see if what he said was true of if he was just trying to pacify her into submission.

“But you said –”

“I know what I said. It was merely a way to get us a room.”

“But he thinks that I will sleep with him. How do you expect to explain that to him when he comes calling? He will, after all, know where we are.”

“That guard won’t be off of duty until well into the morning hours, and we’ll be gone by then.”

“We will?”

“I hope to at least.”

“For your sake, we had better be. There is no way I am letting that man anywhere near me.”

“You don’t have to. But just remember, when he gets back you must play your part convincingly.”

Rayne ground her teeth at his indulgent smirk and vowed to get even. When the guard returned, she played her part convincingly and then some. Flirting with shameless ease, she batted her eyelashes, giggling as she brushed his arm and proclaimed how handsome she found a man in uniform to be. She was pleased to see anger flare in Ronan’s eyes as he scowled. It served him right. Feeling a bit reckless, she pushed decorum in the hopes of infuriating him. Inside she seethed.

When they reached the apartments situated above the smithy and said goodbye to the guard, Ronan took her arm in a painfully tight grasp and hauled her upstairs, his body rigid. As the door slammed shut he turned to her, eyes spitting rage.

“I told you to act the part, not throw yourself at him like a common whore,” he growled from between clenched teeth.

Rayne shrugged, struggling to appear indifferent when inside she was trembling. He had never gotten himself this worked up before. She tried to quash the small part of hope that flared as she looked into his eyes. She had nothing to hope for. She didn’t like him and he didn’t like her. He was just helping her to the capital.

“Ronan, I was wondering if you could teach me.”

“Teach you? What?” His eyes narrowed suspiciously as he moved to the small table at the center of the room and poured himself a glass of amber liquid.

“How to use a weapon properly.”

“What!” He coughed and spluttered, choking on the gulp of liquid he had been in the process of swallowing.

Wincing, Rayne moved so the table stood between them as added protection. Fiddling with the end of her tunic nervously, she waited for Ronan to regain his composure.

“Why in the world would you wish to learn how to use a weapon?”

“To defend myself. Back in the woods with those creatures chasing me, I was helpless.”

“That was an accident. I won’t let it happen again.”

Rayne froze, stunned. He sounded as if he thought she was accusing him for not taking better care of her.

“What happened in the woods wasn’t your fault Ronan. You don’t always have to take care of me. You won’t be there to save me when I go home; I need to be able to take care of myself.”

Rayne realized as soon as the words escaped her lips that they were a mistake. The burning anger in Ronan’s gaze evaporated as his eyes took on a hard, glittering countenance and his mouth thinned to a tight line.

“Have it your way. We start tonight.”

His clipped words rang through the air as the door slammed behind him. Rayne hurried to the window as his footsteps stormed down the stairs and she watched as he strode in the direction of the tanners.

Rayne decided to enjoy her first real town experience despite Ronan’s anger with her. Leaving a message with the smith of her whereabouts for the day, she set off.

The first conclusion she came to upon walking a few blocks from the smithy was that towns weren’t nearly as pleasant smelling as her own village. In some parts, the smell of human excrement and unwashed flesh was downright foul. After the first enlightening experience she had no desire to repeat it and took precautions to avoid those areas further on.

Rayne had never dreamed that so many people of varying size, shape, and color could exist and was delighted when a few of them stopped to speak with her. A particularly jolly middle-aged woman couldn’t get over the shine of Rayne’s hair and complimented her on its beauty. Rayne admitted her secret of a high fish diet and when the woman wandered away to start cooking the evening meal, it was with a gleam in her eye. Another woman stopped to ask her where she had purchased the fabric for her clothes. When Rayne mentioned Mirwell the woman sighed with a wistful smile.

“I’ve begged my husband to take me there but he says he can’t be bothered to leave his land and crops for that long with no one to tend them, even if Mirwell does produce the finest cloth. Do you have plans for supper?”

“I think I do,” Rayne apologized, a bit taken aback.

“That’s too bad. I make a wonderful chicken roast, even if I do say so myself. I would have loved the opportunity to chat with you more.”

“We’re most likely heading out in the morning, but I might be able to stop for a quick visit on my trip back out.”

“Where are you headed, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“The capital. I’m hopefully only going to be there for a short time before going back out to the coast.”

“What brings you to the capital at this time of year? Most caravans don’t head out until mid to late summer.”

“Family matters.”

“Ah,” the woman nodded. “Well, if you are ever back in town, stop by. My name is Anna and I live across the street from the best bakery in town. My husband works at the mill, he can point you in our direction if you get lost.”

Rayne thanked her and continued on her stroll. Stopping at a little stall selling baubles and other jewelry, Rayne’s attention was drawn to a small group of women giggling at the next stall over. They had their backs to her, heads bent together. She could just make out bits of their conversation.

“Oh, what a lucky woman she is,” one said in a nasal voice.

“I wouldn’t mind being rescued by him, he’s gorgeous,” another giggled.

Intrigued, Rayne moved a bit closer.

“How romantic, to be rescued from a mad man by a handsome Captain with blue eyes like that. I bet he has muscles as hard as a rock,” another added.

“Who, the kidnapper?” the nasal one asked and the giggler groaned.

“No, you dolt! She meant the Captain! The man every woman – married or single – would love to get her hands on.”

Rayne’s gasp drowned out whatever anyone else said as she hastily put down the beaded bracelet and stumbled in the direction of the tanners. If what those women said was true then the Captain had already stopped at Morningtide and might be waiting for them just outside its gates.

Uncaring if she drew attention or not, Rayne broke into a run. By the time she burst into the shop she was panting for breath, her cheeks flushed. A dark man, his face covered in a beard, looked up from his work at her abrupt entrance.

“May I help you?”

“Ronan?” she puffed out, looking about the room hopefully.

“He left miss, ‘bout twenty minutes or so ago.”

“Do you know where he went?” Rayne marshaled her thoughts as the tanner shook his head. Leaving the shop, she headed back toward the smithy, hoping she would find him there.

A hand reaching out from a doorway halted her and Rayne turned startled eyes on a beggar in rags as he stepped form the shadows. His eyes cloudy with age, he smiled at her, revealing rotten teeth and foul breath.

“The road, don’t take the road.”

Halting in mid-flight as a chill shivered down her spine, Rayne glanced back.

“What road? Why?”

“The road you are going to take. Don’t travel on it, it’s not the right season.”

“Season? What does that have to do with it?”

“The sea is angry.”

She stood staring, but the old man said nothing else. He shrugged as his eyes cleared and shuffled off. Pushing questions of him aside, Rayne focused on her original objective and continued toward their temporary residence.

Throwing open the door, she was disappointed to find the room empty. Clambering down the stairs, she entered the shop. But when she asked the blacksmith, he shook his head and said he hadn’t seen Ronan since he had left earlier.

Climbing back up the stairs, Rayne fretted. What if the Captain hadn’t left the town and happened to see Ronan? He could be holding him prisoner and Rayne would have no idea. But the Captain didn’t know she was traveling with anyone. Or did he? Those women had mentioned a mad man. Did they mean Ronan? What if those guards in the forest had seen them, they would be sure to report it. Rayne paced. She continued to pace as the sun sank and a candle had to be lit. She started chewing on her nails as the shadows lengthened across the floorboards. It was full dark outside and she was just contemplating going out looking for him when she heard the thumping of boots on the stairs outside the door. Grabbing the poker from the fire she waited, tense, as the doorknob rattled and opened. She let her breath out in a whoosh as she caught sight of a tired looking Ronan. He staggered into the room, leaving the door wide open. The fear that had died down moments ago was rekindled and she rushed over to help him to a chair.

“Are you hurt? Were the Captain’s men after you?”

She waited what seemed eons for his head to slowly turn until he stared her in the eye.

“You ‘ave lovely eyes.”

His s’s slurred together and Rayne jerked backward as if slapped.

“You’re drunk!”

“I do believe I am.” He hiccoughed.

Grabbing the packs she had assembled while waiting, Rayne towed them to the door angrily.

“Drunk or no, we have to get out of here.”

“What for?”

“I heard some women in the village talking. They said the Captain was looking for us.”

“It’s just rumors. Women always gossip. They didn’t say he was here right now did they?”

“Well, no. But –”

“Then what’s to worry about?” Catching her about the waist, he pulled her onto his lap, where she squirmed, outraged. “I know a good cure for drunks. Very good.”

He leaned forward, kissing her neck and Rayne began to fight in earnest. There was no way she would let a drunken man touch her, especially if that drunken man were Ronan. How dare he! She had been out finding information and saving their hides and he was at the local tavern, getting drunk. Grabbing the glass he had used earlier, she brought it swiftly down on his bent head. He sat up, startled, and stared at her in surprise for a moment before his eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped in the chair. Climbing from his limp arms, Rayne glared down at him. She was severely tempted to let him spend the night there and let him deal with the stiff neck that would result. But then a better idea of revenge popped into her head and she set about dragging him over onto the bed with a smile on her face.

Sunlight streaming through the window woke Rayne – that, and the moaning coming from beside her in the bed. As the grogginess receded, a smile blossomed on her face. His head probably felt like it would split open. Rayne snorted.

“Don’t breathe so loud,” Ronan moaned out from under the covers.

“Why ever not?” Rayne asked sweetly.

“You know bloody well why!” he snarled, coming up clutching his head. His wide gaze froze as he focused on her, taking in the nightdress and the fact that she was in the same bed. His eyes widened further as panic blossomed in them. Rayne could barely contain her glee. This was so much better than leaving him in the chair. She could just guess what must be running through his head at that moment.

“Did –” he croaked and cleared his throat. “Did anything happen last night?”

“What do you mean?” she asked innocently, determined to draw out his torture.

He cleared his throat again, swallowing nervously. “We didn’t do–uhm–anything–together, did we?”

“We shared a bed.”

His eyes bulged a bit and he fidgeted as a blush bloomed across his cheeks. If Rayne hadn’t wanted him to suffer, she would have kissed him. He looked quite cute when he was flustered.

“Did anything other than sleeping happen in the bed?”

“You mean you don’t remember?” She smiled smugly at the look of stark terror in Ronan’s eyes and couldn’t hold back the laughter. “You were unconscious before your head hit the pillow.”

Giving him a slap on the back that earned a glare, she sprung up from the bed and raced behind the screen she had the blacksmith’s wife lend her. Shimmying out of her nightgown, she changed to her newly cleaned clothes. Now that the fun was over they needed to get moving fast.

“Is it necessary for you to make all that noise?” Ronan asked acidly from the bed.

“We’re leaving. Right now.” Fully dressed, she stepped from behind the screen and tossed his clothes at the lump under the sheets.

“Why?” he moaned.

“Because that’s what we agreed on. Actually, it was what you dictated. Just because you’re feeling the effects of a heavy night of drinking doesn’t mean we aren’t going to leave.”

Carefully nodding his head, Ronan slid his feet from beneath the covers and attempted a sitting position.

“Side question, why does my head feel as if a ten pound anvil were bashing down on it?”

Rayne nearly spilled the pitcher of water she was pouring. Keeping her back carefully turned toward the bed, she smiled as she bent over to scoop water onto her face.

“I have no idea. Maybe you forgot to duck through the low doorway out of the tavern. I’ll go and see if I can scrounge us up something quick to eat.”

Ten minutes later she was back up with a tray full of food from the day before.

“Marla recommended this to help with the hangover.” Rayne handed over a cup of steaming liquid that Ronan gratefully sipped.

“I’m going to bring these packs down to the stables. You need to get dressed.”

Startled, he looked up from his cup. “Aren’t you going to eat anything?”

Rayne shook her head. “I’ll grab something downstairs while I wait, so hurry up.”

She closed the door behind her with a thump and hurried down the stairs, a smile on her face. Marla was more than happy to serve her as a bowl of oatmeal and as she finished it, Ronan walked into the room, bloodshot eyes coming to rest on her seated figure.

“Ready to go?” Rayne asked and he gave a slight nod. Thanking Marla, she cleaned her dishes in the tepid water from earlier that morning and headed for the stable.

“I don’t suppose you remembered to pick up the bridle while you were at the tanners yesterday?”

Ronan looked smug. “It’s in the barn along with the rest of the tack.”

“Good. One less stop we have to make.”

Rounding the smithy, she led the way down the lane at a ground eating pace, the ring of hammer striking metal fading in the distance. They headed past the vendor’s stalls Rayne had admired the day before and were about to cross toward the tanners on the other side of the street when some premonitory sense sent a frisson of warning down Rayne’s neck. Grabbing Ronan’s arm, she yanked him behind the corner of a dilapidated looking dress shop.

“What in the world,” Ronan yanked his abused limb free, “do you think you’re doing?”

“Keep your voice down,” Rayne chided, peering cautiously around the corner. It took her eyes a few seconds to find the reason for her alarm. Men in the royal blue uniform of the King’s Guard, with the shield and double sword over their hearts, had just stepped out of the tavern’s door. Heart pounding, Rayne bit her lip as she counted twelve of them. She was only slightly relieved that there was no sign of the Captain. That didn’t mean that he wasn’t somewhere else in the town. She should have listened to her instincts the night before.

Rayne glowered at Ronan as he took a peek, a sheepish cast to his features.

“It was all just rumors?”

“I was drunk! I don’t know how you could expect me to be rational when I’m sloshed out of my mind.”

“You can be sure I won’t make that mistake again.” She looked around the corner. “Oh gods, they’re coming this way.” Frantically glancing about, her body temperature rose as she realized there wasn’t anywhere they could hide that they might not be discovered.

“They’re probably retracing our steps. The tanners will be their next stop. Here, walk back this way with me and be sure to keep your head down.”

Rayne followed Ronan’s lead, hunching her back so the pack she carried sat higher and partially hid her head. They received a few odd looks from passersby, but most were too busy to pay them any heed. Rayne’s pulse throbbed in her temples as she heard the telltale methodical beat of footsteps and her muscles tensed. Ronan’s hand grasping hers elicited a squeak from her tight lungs but she dared not glance behind her to see if the soldiers had heard. He pulled her over toward a vendor selling flowers and tossed the woman a coin as he picked out a bright yellow fluted one and pressed it into her sweaty hands.

The footsteps slowed as they neared and Rayne clutched at the flower, the stem crushing between her fingers. Ronan was politely thanking the woman as the soldiers reluctantly passed, his accent back in full force. The vendor smiled graciously, showing yellowed teeth and a few of them missing entirely. Rayne cringed as a whiff of the woman’s putrid breath reached her sensitive nose. She was rotting from the inside out.

Ronan waited until the coast was clear before quickly bustling Rayne off in the direction of the stables. He stopped her as she moved to enter, turning her to face him.

“I want you to go in and saddle both horses. I’ll stay here and keep watch for soldiers.”

Rayne nodded, hurrying inside. Panza and Cadoc whickered at her approach, thrusting their heads eagerly over the stall door. Panza stood patiently while she saddled him and buckled up his repaired bridle. Cadoc was all nerves, prancing about as she tried to slip the saddle on and sucking in air when she tightened the girth.

“Oh no you don’t,” she slapped him and he let out the air in a defeated whoosh. “You’d get quite the kick out of me sliding off you back, wouldn’t you. Well, not today. We’re in a hurry.”

With a hand on each of their reins she led them to the front of the stable. Ronan stopped her there.

“I think it best if we aren’t seen riding out of town together with all of those soldiers lurking about asking questions. With the entire town of Cobblebay camped here it’s unlikely anyone will think to look at us twice unless we remind them. I want you to go out first. Head north into the forest and wait for me there. I’ll take another route and watch near the entrance to make sure you make it out alright.”

Rayne nodded before mounting up. Settled in the saddle, she pulled the deep hood of her cloak up so it shadowed her face and squeezed Cadoc forward.

It was slow going through the busier streets with the large amount of people milling about. Cadoc, muscles taught in response to her own nerves, shied at the strangers, snorting and drawing unwanted attention. Try though she did, Rayne couldn’t calm him.

They had almost reached the main gate when a group of soldiers in blue with their swords belted at their sides came marching down the street toward her. A frantic glance about revealed no hiding places and her grip unconsciously tightened on the reins. Cadoc, feeling the tension radiating down the leather directly to his sensitive mouth, reared at the perceived threat, screaming a challenge.

Rayne gasped, clutching at his neck as he flung himself upward, praying that he didn’t topple over. He managed to keep his balance but as his front hooves hit the dirt he launched up again and Rayne could do nothing but cling to him as people scattered away from his dangerously flailing hooves.

“Hold on milady!” the shout came from amongst the group of soldiers and Rayne felt sick at having drawn their attention.

Cadoc landed with a jarring thud she felt throughout her body and danced sideways as one of the men reached for his bridle. Throwing his head back, his eyes rolled in fear, the whites showing.

“I wouldn’t try that James, he looks as if he’s about ready to bolt.”

Rayne’s gaze darted from soldier to soldier as terror threatened to rear its ugly head within her breast and cut off all air. The soldier, James, again reached for the bridle and this time she gave Cadoc a jab with her heel. The resulting sideways leap, although expected, nearly unseated her. She managed to stay on but her hood did not, slipping down her back and revealing her tumbling mass of brown hair.

There was a moment’s pause while the soldiers stared before one of them laughed.

“Under our very noses,” James remarked, incredulous.

A distant rhythmic thudding fought its way to the forefront of Rayne’s consciousness as it changed to the ringing of metal on stone. The soldiers’ gaze drew past her and when Rayne turned she saw Ronan and Cadoc racing toward them as people flung themselves out of the way of the fast moving horse.

“Follow me,” he called as he reached her side.

Not needing to be told twice, she urged Cadoc after him as they charged toward the scrambling soldiers.

“Halt in the name of the King!” one cried, drawing his sword.

Ronan continued to bear down on him, his own hand hovering over his sword where it was strapped to Panza’s saddle. In the end, he didn’t need it. The soldier, seeing that Ronan didn’t mean to change his present course, dove out of the way and they cantered out the gate as one of the men, too late, thought to order up the drawbridge.

Rayne was more than ready to stop and make camp when night fell. The dense thicket of evergreens Ronan chose gave the advantage of concealment but left much to be desired in the way of sleeping quarters. It was almost standing room only.

After unsaddling Cadoc, Rayne managed to squeeze herself down between a spruce and a cedar and resigned herself to an uncomfortable night. Ronan was too tired to keep watch the first part of the night, still trying to get rid of his hangover. He figured they had at least an hour or two lead on the Captain and his men though Rayne didn’t understand how. Still, she left it up to Ronan, too tired to do more than sigh at what might happen if he turned out to be wrong. At least this time she didn’t have to worry about him being drunk.

It was two more days of riding from dawn until dusk before they saw another civilization. Ronan left her at the outskirts of the woods to check the local inn and see if there were any rooms available for the night.

While he was gone, Rayne busied herself cleaning the grime of the road off herself in a nearby brook. She stripped down to her under things and enthusiastically set to the task of scrubbing her spare tunic.

The water was refreshingly cool on her bare skin and she splashed about, laughing as Cadoc shied at her antics. A gentle breeze wove about her wet hair, tendrils curling under the caress. Birdsong and the gurgling of the water over smooth stones soothed her frayed nerves and, once she had finished scrubbing, she waded to the bank and collapsed upon the sun-drenched grass to dry.

An owl hooted from his hideout and squirrels raced each other through the boughs. Convinced that she wouldn’t continue her strange antics, Cadoc settled down to the business of eating, his munching loud in Rayne’s ears as her eyes drifted shut.

Rayne wasn’t sure how long she napped, but it was long enough for the sun to pass overhead and leave her small oasis in thickening shadows. Sitting up, she searched for Cadoc and was relieved to see him standing only a few feet away, staring at her inquiringly.

“Why did you let me sleep so long?” she asked the animal accusingly as she clutched her head.

She was in the process of getting to her feet when the realization that something wasn’t quite right tickled her awareness. Again, she looked up at the sun, frowning. How long had it been? Ronan should have been back by now, the niggling thought whispered and worry sharpened her talons.

Where was Ronan?

Rayne didn’t really begin to panic until the innkeeper assured her that no man fitting Ronan’s description had come in requesting rooms.

“Are there any other inns here?” she asked, trying to maintain a semblance of calm.

The innkeeper reluctantly nodded, obviously loathe losing a potential customer to competition. Rayne breathed a sigh of relief that she has thought to ask that question before going off in a panic.

She got directions and hurried out the door. The next innkeeper assured her that Ronan had requested rooms and would she like to see them?

As he led her up the steps and down the hall to the right, Rayne couldn’t help thinking how odd it was that Ronan hadn’t gone back to fetch her.

“This is it,” the innkeeper stated, indicating a rough wooden door before leaving.

Rayne knocked, entering when there wasn’t an answer. The reason was because the room was empty. A bed stood against the far wall, a nightstand beside it capped with a pitcher and bowl for washing up. Dingy curtains with holes in the seams did nothing to obscure the dying sunlight that shone through the window to illuminate dirt-ridden floorboards. This couldn’t be the room that Ronan had rented. The bed was lumpy beneath its threadbare sheet and looked as though it contained any number of crawling things with sharp teeth. And she was pretty sure she could hear scratching coming from between the walls. She would rather roll in horse manure before sleeping in a place like this. Turning smartly on one booted heel, she marched back to the front desk to confront the innkeeper.

“There is no conceivable reason under the sun that my brother would rent a room like that for us,” she stated, letting her hands thump onto the bar in the main room. A few pairs of eyes curiously turned her way but Rayne pretended not to notice.

“Your brother?”

Rayne froze, realizing as dread slipped chilled fingers up her spine, that she should have kept her mouth shut. The innkeeper was observing her through narrowed eyes, suspicion written all over his face as his wide mouth tightened to a thin line. Rayne scrambled for some way to undo the damage.

“If it wasn’t my brother who came in to reserve a room, then which-”

“I did.”

Rayne whirled, relieved to see Ronan standing just inside the door, the sunlight creating a silhouetting that shadowed features. He stepped forward and she could see that he had recently washed, his face shining and free of dirt, his damp hair leaving trails of wet on his shirt.

“I sent your brother and the others to go care for the horses.”

Ronan walked up and gave the innkeeper a smile before bending close to kiss her on the cheek.

“I think my wife and I will have dinner in our rooms tonight, we’re exhausted from the travel.” With that said, he wrapped an arm about her waist and led the dumb-founded Rayne up the steps and into their room.

She remained in a shocked silence as he released her and set about opening the windows to relieve some of the stuffiness and heat.

“Wife?” Rayne shook her head, blinking rapidly.

“It was the only way I could think to get us the one room. Traveling as a married couple will also help to throw the Captain off our trail. They’ll be asking people about a woman held captive, not two newlyweds journeying out to find our fortunes.”

“Is that what you told the innkeeper?”

“I embellished a bit in case anyone came poking around after we left. You nearly ruined our cover, bursting in like that and talking about brothers. Why didn’t you wait for me like I told you to?”

“Because I don’t take orders and it was getting late.” She certainly wouldn’t tell him she had been worried about his safety; had feared that the soldiers had somehow beat them to the town and lain in wait. “And how are you going to explain away the fact that no brothers will come calling, wanting their rooms in a few minutes.”

“Oh, they decided to sleep in the barn and give us privacy. We are, after all, on our honeymoon.”

Rayne fell silent and glanced about the room instead.

“There are fancier inns here, it’s true.” Ronan stalled, correctly reading the look of disgust on her face. “But I looked for the least crowded accommodations. The less people to remember us, the better.”

They set out the next morning to charcoal gray skies that looked like they would dump their heavy loads of rain at any moment. Rayne had bundled herself up well before setting foot outside and was thankful for the added layers of protection as the wind picked up, tossing grit and dirt everywhere.

The houses lay silent, as if they, too, waited for the fury of the storm to come. A part of Rayne waited too, eager like a young child while another part of hear filled with a nameless dread. Something lay ahead and she hadn’t a doubt that it would be unpleasant. How long would they be able to keep up their good fortune and avoid the soldiers? They had already had two run ins with them since she had escaped, how many more could they pull off before something went horribly wrong?

They were riding past the last row of squat one-story houses that separated them from the wilderness ahead when Rayne picked up a strange sound over the keening of the wind. Unable to resist tracking it to its source, she dismounted, handing her reins to an aggrieved looking Ronan.

“What are you stopping for? We don’t have time for this.”

Rayne waved him off and continued into the small alley off of the main road where the sound seemed to have originated. The smell that rose up from the sludge she walked through threatened to choke Rayne as she drifted into the shadows cast by the buildings. She pulled her tunic up to cover her nose, her eyes watering, and waited for her eyes to adjust.

The alley ended abruptly in a shoulder height wall of rock against which three shadowed shapes bent over something huddled on the ground. It was from that huddled form that emitted the muffled sounds she had heard over the wind. Moving closer, Rayne saw a scrawny leg poke out but it was quickly retracted as another cry sounded.

“STOP THAT!” Rayne bellowed, the cry bursting from her chest as she rushed forward. The boy nearest her stopped in the middle of raising a stone that glittered with a dark fluid and turned cold eyes alight with menace on her. Rayne froze in her headlong rush as she realized, too late, the danger she had just exposed herself to. She was a female facing three adolescent males and she had no weapon to defend herself with.

“Look what we have here, boys,” the ringleader drawled, straightening up and taking a step toward Rayne. “I wonder what would bring such a pretty bit around our district and dressed like that no less.”

The boy on the ground peeked his head up as his torturers moved away from him and large, liquid brown eyes pierced through Rayne as they stared at her out of an emaciated face. To Rayne, it looked like his nose and cheekbones were warring to see which could protrude further out of his face.

Shifting her gaze back to the most imminent danger, she tensed as the leader took another step forward, his cronies following in his wake.

“If you come over nice-like, we promise to let the rat go.” He grinned, displaying a full set of yellowed teeth.

The young boy’s eyes darted nervously between his three attackers and Rayne. He looked as if he were deciding whether to do something rash and Rayne hoped, for his sake, that he remained where he was.

The boys had come within grabbing distance when the darkness in the alley increased as a voice rang out clear as crystal and Rayne looked behind her to see Ronan atop Panza, his sword drawn and resting casually against the saddle horn. His relaxed posture believed the tension in his frame. Rayne knew that he would have his weapon up and ready with the barest sign of trouble.

“Are you quite done your friendly chat, I’d like to continue on.” He nudged Panza further into the alley.

The boys, seeing the very real glint of sunlight on steel, halted in their advance. The leader didn’t look too impressed, his dark eyes calculating as they sized up Ronan. The other two looked downright petrified at the sight of a grown man brandishing a sword from atop his mount.

“We didn’t mean nothing by it, mister,” the smaller of the two stammered out.

“Then I guess you won’t mind if we were leaving.”

The two younger boys fervently shook their heads. The third remained motionless and silent, fury tightening his mouth.

“Not without the boy,” Rayne insisted and, walking past the bullies, gently helped him to his feet with a hand under his arm. The boy weighed no more than a couple of sacks of flour, his spindly legs poking through the tears in his patched trousers.

He gave the other boys a hard stare as Rayne ushered him past, as if he were afraid they might kick out at him if he weren’t looking.

“What is your name?” Rayne ducked her head to murmur so only he could hear.

He whispered something she didn’t catch and had to repeat it twice more before it came out coherently enough that she could understand. “Dominic.”

“Where do you live Dominic? We can drop you off to your parents before we leave.”

He shook his head, eyes downcast. His left eye was already showing signs of swelling.

“No parents at all? But you must have an aunt, a grandmother, someone who watches over you?”

Again, there was the barest shake of his head.

“You poor child,” she said, tears stinging her eyes. She couldn’t have imagined growing up without a loving family surrounding her. And suddenly, it didn’t matter that her father wasn’t related to her in any way except love, he was still who had loved and cared for her enough to raise her in a loving home.

Still determinedly staring at the dirt road with its dust devils swirling about, Dominic’s lips moved and Rayne had to bend close to catch what he said.

“-don’t needs no pity. I done just fine.” He turned anger-bright eyes up to hers, defiantly trying to stare her down.

“You’re right about that.”

A startled glance was all she got before he fell silent and turned his attention to Ronan.

“We can’t just leave him here,” Rayne stated, addressing Ronan.

“And why not? He seems to have done just fine so far.”

A muffled whine sounded and a bulge in Dominic’s shirt that Rayne hadn’t noticed gave a wiggle. A furry head capped with oversized brown floppy ears poked itself out of the boy’s collar, squirming for freedom. Ronan laughed.

“Is that what you got into that fight for boy, a scrap of a puppy? Well, you’re well matched.”

Rayne’s surprise turned to amusement as the pup, annoyed at its restraints, wiggled up and nipped the boy on the chin, causing his eyes to water.

“He seems about as grateful of being rescued as you are. He yours?” Ronan asked.

The boy stared at him suspiciously before reluctantly shaking his head. “I found ‘im and I’m not leavin’ ‘im for those gutter tripes to find.”

“You could come with us,” Rayne piped up. Ronan made a rude noise in the back of his throat as Rayne had a sudden idea.

“It could help us with our problem Ronan, to have the boy tagging along. We could say he was your nephew and you’re taking him to his grandmother’s–”

“The boy looks nothing like me.”

“Please? I’m sure we could find him some sort of job in the city.”

“Fine. But you better hope that he doesn’t slow us down.”

Rayne grinned and beckoned the boy over to Cadoc.

“You’ll be riding double with me on Cadoc. Here, hand me the pup while you clamber up.”

It took them a few more minutes before they were sorted enough to set out. Panza now carried Rayne’s saddlebags along with Ronan’s and Cadoc had a double load. Dominic sat in front, cradling his new puppy with Rayne arms about him holding onto the reins and preventing him from sliding off when Cadoc gave an experimental bounce.

“Hey, you! Quit it,” Rayne growled at the horse, giving him a thump on the shoulder for good measure. “Think you’ll be able to hold onto that pup?”

The boy gave a jerky nod so they set off at a walk, giving him time to adjust to sitting atop a moving beast before rocking into a canter. The pup protested at this, whining and wiggling to be put down but Dominic kept a firm grip on him and he soon quieted down.

They were a quiet group that night around the fire. The pup had scarffed down the slices of meat they had left for him in a few quick bites and lay curled up on Dominic’s feet. Dominic hadn’t been much better. He had stared at the cooking meat as if he were seconds away from snatching it off the spit and shoving it into his mouth. And when they had handed him his plate he inhaled his food so fast Rayne expected him to be sick. But he hadn’t. He had curled up next to the fire and drifted off to sleep instead, leaving Rayne and Ronan to discuss their plans in a murmur so as not to wake him.

“We aren’t far outside the city now,” Ronan explained. “We should be there in a day or two.”

“What about the boy?” Rayne asked, glancing over at where he slept.

“I know a few people in the city that might be willing to help him out, if he’ll take it. I can take him to meet them straight away. You’ll have to stay hidden somewhere. It wouldn’t do for them to find you now and that place will be crawling with the King’s guard. Now, I’m going to get some sleep and I suggest you do the same.”