The Elemental Diaries - Complete Series

by Andrea Lamoureux

  Percifal handed me the water skin once I’d finished picking every bit of meat off the bones.

  I drank the refreshing contents and handed it back to him.

  He put it away and pulled a small flask from his belt and held it out for me to take. “Here, this’ll help you sleep.”

  I accepted it and took a swig of the spirits inside. As soon as I swallowed the spicy, warm liquid, I sputtered and coughed.

  “Whoa, whoa,” he laughed. “Take it easy. That’s strong stuff.”

  “Yes, I see,” I managed in between coughs. “A little warning would have been nice. What is this?”

  “It’s only whiskey. Have you never tried it?”

  “I haven’t.”

  The firelight reflected in his eyes. “Well, it’s my honour to be the one to give you your first taste.”

  I smiled, shaking my head.

  “What? You don’t like it?” he asked with a look of dismay.

  “No, I do. It’s strong at first, but—” I paused to search for the right words to describe it, “it brings a welcoming feeling shortly thereafter.”

  He chuckled softly at that. “That it does, my lady. That it does.”

  We sat for a while, the only sound the crackling of the fire, each lost deep in our own thoughts. Darkness had completely fallen, and I could make out a few stars peeking through the trees. Were we lovers, this would have been a most romantic setting. But we were not.

  My cheeks warmed at the idea. I inwardly scorned myself for even letting that thought rise to the surface. I barely knew this man, and he wouldn’t even tell me who he truly was, as charming as he may seem. According to my past luck with men, I shouldn’t be thinking thoughts like that in the first place. Men only wanted to fulfill their own desires. I couldn’t let myself forget that, else I might find myself in trouble yet again.

  Stretching, I broke the silence. “I need to relieve myself, and then I’m going to try to sleep.”

  “A good idea that is, my lady,” he replied, pushing himself up.

  When I returned from the bushes that gave me some privacy, I saw Percifal had set out four wool blankets; one for underneath, and one for on top of each of us. He had taken off his leather armour, leaving on only the trousers and a loose, white linen shirt. My eyes wandered to the muscles visible through the thin material. He looked strong, like he’d been trained and polished for battle… a warrior.

  He looked up, noticing me watching him.

  I quickly averted my gaze and stared straight at the blankets he’d laid on the ground. I shivered, feeling a cool breeze upon my back pushing me to yearn for a warmth I wouldn’t get on my own.

  As though he’d read my mind he suggested, “If we sleep together, the heat from our bodies will keep us warmer.”

  Appalled, I stuttered, “I—I don’t need body heat. A blanket shall do just fine. Thank you, sir.” I strode to my blanket and removed my boots. I’d rather suffer than let him touch me. Though, a part of me wondered what his skin felt like. I squeezed my eyes shut and counted to ten.

  “As you wish, my lady.” He gave me a formal bow, which only served to annoy me further. I didn’t need a man to keep me warm. And now he was mocking me!

  I climbed between two of the blankets, silently seething as he followed suit.

  I must have been immensely exhausted, for I fell asleep in an instant.

  When I woke, it was early morning and the fire had died down to slow burning embers. Warmth enveloped me, regardless of the dying fire. I sat up and found Percifal’s spot empty and his blanket on top of me.

  I threw the blankets aside and stiffened when the chilly air met my skin.

  Footsteps crunched behind me. I twisted to find Percifal coming out from the bushes.

  “Ah, good. You’re awake,” he stated, the warmth in his eyes from the night before gone. “We must be off soon.”

  I rose to my feet, my sore muscles complaining. Sleeping on the hard ground had done nothing good for my pain, but I gritted my teeth and kept my mouth shut about it.

  He handed me some bread and dried berries from one of the saddlebags.

  I ate in silence, deciding not to mention the extra blanket he’d given me.

  Shortly after I’d finished breaking my fast, Percifal had our horses saddled and ready, and we started down the path through the forest that had become my temporary home.

  We rode on through that forest for over two fortnights, following a creek so that we would always have fresh water for ourselves and our horses. My whole body ached from being on horseback day after day. Though, my muscles were growing accustomed to me being astride Moonlight, and the pain dulled each time I rode. I became used to Percifal’s company during our journey too. He remained secretive, but I thanked Celestia he treated me well. I sometimes stole glances at his powerfully built body… when he wasn’t looking. I didn’t think I could ever long for the attention of a another after what had happened to me, but there it was. Shame filled me when my blood ran hot, reminding me of my weakness. I battled inwardly while my mare carried me toward the Kingdom of Water, utterly unaware of her rider’s flaw. You’re not flawed, a voice inside my head said. It wasn’t your fault.

  It seemed, thankfully, that Ginnie had given us enough food to last us through our journey. As tired as I was of stale bread and dried berries, I felt grateful for not having to suffer with starvation. I once wanted to know what it’d be like to be a commoner. Now, I knew.

  We rode, and rode, and rode through the never ending forest from dawn ’til darkness day after day. My dress gained a few tears from the sharp branches grasping at me like clawed fingers, and my arms and legs were covered with scratches from squeezing between trees.

  As the days went on, the nights stretched longer, and summer began to turn to autumn. Gold tinted the edges of some of the leaves on the trees, a sign that soon the forest would be splashed with colours of crimson and amber.

  Every night, Percifal and I went to sleep with our own blankets. Every morning, I woke up with his blanket on me. One night, I woke before morning to find him with no top blanket and shivering like a leaf in the wind. He’d put my comfort before his own. Feeling guilty, I grabbed our blankets and shuffled toward him. I placed his blanket back on him and positioned myself so my back pressed against his. Slowly, I felt his shaking abate as my warmth seeped into his broad back.

  I didn’t notice when he got up before me the next morning, he left me undisturbed as usual until he had to wake me. He didn’t mention my act of kindness until later that afternoon. “You didn’t have to do that.”

  Lost in my current thoughts, he’d caught me off guard. “Pardon me?” I asked, dumbfounded.

  “The blanket and your—” he paused, “body heat. I was fine without them. I know how uncomfortable contact with me is for you after what that man—”

  “You were shaking. I’m not so cruel as to let you freeze. It’s fine. It’s only our backs that need touch. I can handle it.”

  His lips pulled up a little in the corners, but he stayed silent, letting the matter drop.

  Every night from then on, that was how we slept; each with one blanket, our backs pressed together. The heat from his back oddly comforted me, a feeling that confused me. I tried not to let my mind wander to the way his muscles melted against my own back; hard, yet soft… contrasting.

  Percifal wasn’t like other men, a lesson I was beginning to learn. My body reacted differently to him. I watched him as he cut firewood for us one evening. He was a beautiful creature, now that he didn’t look like a vagrant. His short, dark hair complimented his strong, angular jawline and high cheekbones. His well-honed body reminded me of a warrior’s; not big and bulky, but defined and well-proportioned. He made me think of a wild cat, quick and agile.

  I didn’t think he appreciated my appearance as much as I did his. I concluded that he probably thought of me only as a fragile victim who needed protecting. And then there were his secrets, hanging in the air like a dark cloud
. I couldn’t let him close to me with his past hidden, so I kept my emotions guarded, pretended I didn’t care what his secrets were, or what he thought of me. I thought if I kept pretending, eventually it would become truth. I told myself it didn’t matter who he’d been before Lottenheim, but the longer I spent in his presence, the more my gut told me he’d done something very wrong. Get to Aquila, I told myself. You’ll forget about him once you find someone to take you in. He believed I was going to meet with his sister to ask her to teach me about my power. I’d humour him enough to meet with her, but I certainly didn’t believe I’d be fighting some dark force. I still planned to find employment with a rich lady. Surely Aquila had lots of wealthy people.

  “I’m going to wash up in the creek,” he informed me, pulling me from my thoughts. “Care to join me?”

  I shook my head. “No, I’ll wash in the morning.”

  “As you wish,” he said before disappearing through the trees, leaving me alone. I’d grown used to solitude with only him and our horses for company. I felt safe in the giant forest, surrounded by nature. Big mistake, for I barely paid attention when I heard the sound of breaking branches nearby. I assumed it was only the horses traipsing around fallen trees.

  Galloping hoof beats had me turning my head to find two men riding bareback out of the trees, heading straight for me. I thought they meant to trample me where I sat, so I scrambled to my feet to dart out of the way, but I was too late. One of the bandits reached down and hoisted me up onto his horse with him.

  “PERCIFAL!” I screamed.

  The bandit slapped his big, dirty palm over my mouth. “Yee partner is surely dead by now. Johnno went after him while we came to take yee. Don’t worry, though. We know how to take care of a lady.” He laughed to himself, a high-pitched and cruel sound that made me tremble to my core.

  My heart dropped as his words sunk in. Dead? Percifal was dead? Suddenly, it felt like the whole world was slipping away, all hope lost. I sagged against my captor, defeated. This couldn’t be happening. No, no, no, no, no.

  I don’t know how long we rode for, but we stopped at a small clearing in the forest with three small wooden shelters, big enough to fit two or three people in each. A fire burned in the center. I watched the flames miserably. I never knew I cared for my unlikely saviour. Not until the moment he’d been taken from me. I didn’t want to fight. The sudden loss had sapped every spark of energy within me.

  The bandit let go of me long enough to dismount before pulling me off the horse too.

  “Got ourselves a pretty one, Horas. Look at this flaming red hair. Her parents must hail from Solis.”

  The other man, Horas, grunted in reply as he dismounted his own horse.

  The bandit’s words gave me an idea. I knew with Percifal dead, I had no hope of making it through the forest alive on my own, and at that moment, I was filled with so much dread that I just wanted to go home and never leave again. I’d deal with my mother when the time came. How? I didn’t know yet.

  I said the only thing I could think of that would get me there, praying it went better than the last time I’d used my heritage to bargain. “I am descended from Solis. Truthfully, the queen is my cousin. If you take me to her, she’ll pay you graciously for my return. You shall have enough riches to last you a lifetime.” Bandits were thieves. They loved coin and jewels. I could give them both.

  “Oh-ho-ho! Did you hear that, Horas? The queen’s cousin! Ha! Yee be lying, girl.” He turned on me and put a short, thick blade to my throat.

  I swallowed hard, feeling its sharp edge against my delicate skin.

  “Go ahead, then, kill me.” I looked him in the eyes, daring him. “You’ve killed my friend, so what does it matter anyways?” They didn’t believe me. Of course, they didn’t believe me.

  He grinned, showing off his crooked yellow teeth, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “Not yet. Not before we’ve had some fun.”

  Feeling sick, I clamped my mouth shut.

  He took the knife from my throat and slid it into his belt. One hand around my skinny wrist, he hauled me over to the post of one of the shelters and tied me to it with a thick rope. His task complete, he stepped back returned to his friend.

  I tried to listen to what they conversed about, but I could only make out a few words; liar, chance, fun, and on the morrow.

  The conversation ended, and the one who had tied me up stomped back over to me. “Yee sleep here t’night. Tomorrow, we head fer Solis. Horas decided we can’t miss the chance if yee may be tellin’ the truth. If we find out yee be lying…” he made a slitting motion across his neck with two fingers, and then he left me again. I couldn’t see where they gathered; my bonds were too tight, but I guessed it wasn’t far.

  I tried with all my effort to wriggle my wrists from their bonds. The rope only ate away at my skin as I did so, making it raw and sore. I gave up and laid my head back against the post.

  As the night stretched on, the air grew colder. I shivered, unable to sleep. I thought mayhap I would freeze to death that night. I welcomed the thought. With Percifal dead, and me on my way back to Solis, I didn’t see the point in going on. My death would ensure Adelaide’s safety. Percifal had to be dead. I knew if he was alive, he would’ve been there to save me. I hadn’t seen or heard any sign of him. If only I had paid more attention to my surroundings, I could’ve hid until it was safe, and then… and then, what? Travelled to Aquila on my own? I didn’t know where to go. I surely would have died anyways, lost and alone. I sighed, feeling pathetic. None of my royal lessons had prepared me for the harsh life outside of the palace walls. I’d been stupid to think I could survive. At least, if I’d hid, I would have kept my freedom.

  Chapter 22

  I awoke to the morning song of birds chirping. The rising sun beamed down on me with warm radiance. Surprised I had fallen asleep, and even more so that I hadn’t frozen to death, my head snapped up. What a beautiful day to be in such a horrible position, I thought unhappily.

  I heard Horas and his partner speaking from somewhere behind me. “Johnno should’ve been back last night,” said Horas.

  “We wait one more day. If he isn’t back then, we take the girl to Solis without ‘im.”

  There was a moment of silence before I heard footsteps coming closer, and then a piece of salmon landed on my lap. “Eat.”

  I peered up and saw large, hairy Horas hovering over me. “I can’t eat without hands,” I shot back at him.

  He bent down, untied my hands, and stepped back. “Try anything, and we’ll kill yee.”

  The pain from sitting made my movements slow as I bent forward and picked the piece of fish up off the ground. Thankfully, the fish was warm; it must have been cooked recently. It actually tasted quite good.

  When I’d finished eating, I cleared my throat. “May I have some water?”

  He grunted and threw a skin of water at me. I picked it up and drank. I set it down once my stomach felt full. “And may I relieve myself?” I pressed my hand to my bladder.

  “Fine, but that’s it! I don’t have time to watch yee all day!”

  He took me to a bush and stood close by, not taking his eyes off me.

  “May a lady have a little privacy?” I asked, staring back at him.

  “Nay, I don’t think so. I’m not taking my eyes off yee. I’m not stupid, yee know.”

  I glared at him as I squatted behind a bush and did my business, feeling completely exposed. Once I was done, Horas took me by the arm and led me back to the post and retied my bonds.

  All day, I sat there tied to that post, and all day, I tried to call upon my power to burn the ropes holding my wrists away. At one point, I thought I started to feel the rope grow hot against my skin, but nothing else happened. I decided it must have only been my imagination.

  Feeling frustrated and defeated, I gave up. It seemed I couldn’t conjure my power up at will. I had hoped Percifal’s sister would be able to help with that, but that wasn’t going to happen anymore. To
morrow, I’d begin my return to Solis.

  Oh, Solis, I thought. I wondered what awaited me back at my home kingdom. Mayhap Adelaide would be with child, and my return wouldn’t matter. If she wasn’t, perhaps I would tell my queen exactly why I’d run away and beg her to banish my mother instead of ending her life. Perhaps I could ask her for a carriage to take me to Aquila, but then I would have to explain why I wanted to go there, and I didn’t know if she would believe me.

  I groaned, tilting my head back against the wooden post. I was driving myself mad with these thoughts. If I were to be honest with myself, I really didn’t want to go back to Solis at all.

  I squeezed my eyes shut and felt a big wet drop hit my leg where my dress had come up. I opened my eyes to see the once clear, sunny sky taken over with dark, looming clouds. More water drops tumbled to the earth. Wonderful, I thought with sarcasm. At least this weather suited my mood more and would wash some of the filth from me; it had been a couple days since I’d washed in the creek.

  The rain didn’t let up until I was soaked through, my dress now heavy with water. I heard my captors speaking about the grouse they’d caught for tonight’s meal. I guessed they didn’t think I would be able to escape because they’d both left me alone to hunt. I supposed they were right, because I hadn’t.

  I heard the crackling of a newly lit fire. Shortly after, Horas’s partner, whose name I learned was Oren, made his way over to me with some cooked grouse. Instead of untying me, he held the bird to my mouth. I bit the meat from the bones, watching him with seething eyes the whole time.

  “Don’t give me that look. At least we be feeding yee.” He glared back at me with his dark, beady eyes.

  “Oh, how kind of you. You are such gentlemen,” I mocked.

  “Shut up, or we’ll gag yee, and then yee can starve.”

  I winced at his poor accent and butchering of our language. “If I starve, the queen shan’t pay you.”

  I guessed he had nothing to say to that, because he just spat on the ground beside me and watched me finish my meal in silence. Once the bone was clean, he held the water-skin to my lips for me to drink, and then he left, saying over his shoulder, “We’ll let yee relieve yee self before we sleep for the night. We ride for Solis in the mornin.’”