Anna leaned against a tree gasping for breath. She wrapped her garment quickly around her as Jack appeared in front of her.
“What was that thing?” Anna said, shaken. “I’ve never seen anything like that—hey, how did you get here so fast?”
“I heard you calling,” Jack avoided her eyes.
“And why didn’t you kill it?”
“She had a young one to care for. It wasn’t her fault you were splashing in her watering hole.” His eyes said I told you so in a most irritating way.
“What?” Anna said, her face flushing. “How did you know she had a pup or whatever you call it? You followed me?” Jack didn’t answer. “You followed me, climbed a tree and watched me?”
He stared at her.
“Deny it!”
“Anna, I wasn’t looking at you, just looking out for you. Big difference,” Jack tried to cover a smile. “And as it turns out, you should be happy I did.”
She sniffed. Her heart still hammered in her chest. “You didn’t answer me—what was that thing?”
“A bunyip.” He frowned. “You hear stories about them, but I never thought they existed.”
Just then Anna realized she had to go back to get her underclothes. Would this day never end?
“Well, whatever it was, it wanted me for dinner,” Anna said as she turned to retrace her steps. She took a few steps before fear stopped her.
Now he laughed out loud. “Where are you going?”
“I have to go back for my clothes, which I dropped as the jaws of death were pursuing me,” she snapped, the embarrassment making her cross. “May I have your sword?”
“No, I’ll go with you.”
“Of course, why not? I suppose I can’t get any more humiliated!”
Jack smirked as he followed her, putting an arrow to the bow. “I didn’t see much…” he murmured.
“What was that?” Anna snapped as she picked her clothes up off the forest floor. She only thought they were filthy before. In fact, she looked at her dirty feet and legs and wondered if the bath had been any good at all. Fatigue washed over her.
“Nothing.”
When Anna caught back up to him, he held his arm out, motioning for her to go in front of him. His hand grazed her shoulder, pulling the fabric down and baring her shoulder. He opened his mouth to say something. Anna slapped his hand away with one hand and drew her knife with the other. He jumped back.
“What are you doing? I just saved your life!”
Anna pointed the tip of the knife at him.
“Don’t you ever lay a hand on me again, Jack!”
Jack’s eyes widened. Anna pressed her lips together furiously and withdrew the knife. Jack’s right hand had instinctively gone to his sword. He released the handle of his blade. He walked back to camp ahead of her in stunned silence.
She followed him, heart still pounding, shocked at her own behavior. He saved my life twice, and this is how I act? Perhaps the heat, embarrassment and exhaustion had overwhelmed her, but she wasn’t about to apologize. She went to Star and buried her head in the tired horse’s soft mane. Star’s ears flicked to acknowledge her presence, but she didn’t move. Anna stroked her neck, rubbed down her shoulders and rump. The horse leaned into her touch and nuzzled her arm. Anna scratched Star’s neck. The horse’s steady, deep breathing somehow calmed Anna. She took a deep breath of her own.
That evening, after moving some miles from the watering hole, Jack sat roasting a freshly shot rabbit at a small fire. He hadn’t spoken to her since the incident. She went to the saddle bags and pulled out bread and dried fruit. She didn’t deserve any rabbit, but he offered anyway. They both ate in silence, watching the flames lick the last of the sticks. Jack lit a pipe. He smoked in silence for a while, and finally Anna couldn’t stand the tension one second longer. She scooted next to him.
“I didn’t know you smoked,” she said.
“Only when I’m angry,” he said through clenched teeth.
“Oh,” Anna whispered. She thought of retreating to her horse, but decided to try again. There was nowhere to run. Looking straight ahead, she said, “About what happened earlier. I’m sorry.” Apologizing had never been her strength. He didn’t respond for a moment, and she got up to leave.
“Wait,” he said. “Let me try to understand what happened today. First, you foolishly go off on your own after I tell you not to, you almost get eaten by a mythical creature, from which I saved you, and then you pull a blade on me? For what?”
Anna sat in silence, a tear balancing on the edge of her eyelid. She closed her eyes, and it slid down toward her nose.
“All because you thought I was spying on you? You know what?” His voice grew louder. “I swore an oath to your father to serve him faithfully until he releases me. You are the daughter of the king. I know for a fact he’d want me to protect you with my life, which you and I both know I’d lay down for you in an instant. Seeing you without your clothes wasn’t important compared to getting you back to your father in one piece! It’s my honor and duty to do so!” He threw his hands in the air and waved her off, dismissing her. Anger flashed through Anna.
“Honor and duty to return me?” she repeated. “Like a lost piece of property? You know nothing about me.” She stomped back to her mat.
“I know enough. You’re a spoiled little princess who’s always gotten her way and probably had every fine thing imaginable and yet never was satisfied. Am I close? I bet it wasn’t even Seamus you overheard. Why would he do such a thing? I hope you’re just not trying to repay him for giving you some well-deserved discipline!” He turned around as her mouth fell open. “I’d heard you were a handful for your father, but I never believed it. Until now.”
“That’s none of your business,” Anna spat. “You have no idea what you are saying.”
Jack grunted. “I pity your father.”
“I never had any parents who cared about me,” Anna’s voice was intense. “Mother died before I could have any decent memories of her, and the man my father was died along with her.”
Anna threw herself on her mat. He doesn’t believe me about Seamus. My father won’t either. I’m doomed. We’re doomed. She clenched her fists and fought back angry tears. Angry at Jack. Angry at herself. But mostly, she was angry at how much she needed him. She felt him lie down next to her and was angry at the part of her that was glad he was near, especially with the bunyip still out there. They didn’t speak again as night fell.
Jack stirred next to her, and she moved a little closer to him. Snakes and bunyips. Her hand slipped to the dagger. She stared into the woods for hours, holding back the threatening tears.
Chapter 9
In the morning, Anna found Jack smoking by the fire. She dropped next to him.
“Still angry?” she asked, gesturing to the pipe.
He exhaled. “No. I guess I just wanted to finish it off.” His jaw was set. She bit her lip. He didn’t have to like her, but she wanted him to at least understand her a little. She grabbed a twig and drew circles with it in the soft earth. Her heart throbbed as she broke the silence.
“Again, I’m sorry about yesterday.” Her chest was so tight she thought it might burst. “I’ve never told anyone—not Stefan or Mary, my nurse. But maybe you’d understand more if you heard a story.” Anna closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
When she opened them, out of the corner of her eye Anna saw Jack turn toward her. She kept her gaze down, following the twig’s scratches in the dirt. Her voice trembled.
“One night when I was twelve years old, there was a ball at the palace. I wasn’t old enough to go, but after it had begun, I snuck into my sister’s room and slipped into her smallest gown. It was still too big, but I found a servant and demanded she pin it up for me. I borrowed Saira’s jewelry, did my hair the best I could and smeared her cosmetics on my face. I had a wonderful evening. It was great fun dancing with the younger soldiers in the smaller ballroom, far from the notice of Father or anyone in the c
ourt. I was just a few inches shorter than I am now, so I blended in. Until I ran into Seamus. I was leaving early, sneaking out the side door when he bumped into me. He was drunk and almost knocked me to the ground. He had a woman with him, but he still looked me up and down in a way that made me feel queasy. I thought it was because I had interrupted his moment with the woman.
“When I returned to my room Mary drew me a bath and then left. I bolted the door behind her and headed for the bathtub. Before I got in, there was a knock. Supposing it to be Mary who had left something behind, I wrapped myself in a robe, opened the door and peeked around the corner. To my surprise, it was Seamus. I tried to shut the door, explaining I wasn’t dressed.
“He shoved his way into the room, despite my protests. I’ll never forget him turning and slowly locking the door. He had a strange look in eyes—I can still see them gleaming down at me.” Anna paused, wondering if she could keep going. Jack’s firm jaw quivered. She continued. “I can still smell the wine on him.” She swallowed hard to get the lump out of her throat.
“I tried to get away from him, but he grabbed me and covered my mouth. I stepped backward and tripped on something. I twisted away from him as I fell, toppling my whole dinner tray over with me. I landed on my stomach, and miraculously my hand fell on a knife from my tray. He grabbed me and rolled me over. As his face came toward mine, I cut him under his eye to just above his mouth. There was a lot of blood—all over my robe. He let me go. I can remember lying on the floor watching him look in the mirror. He was furious. He’s barely even been wounded in battle, and here a little girl scarred him where everyone would see it forever. I crawled backward, slipping in his blood, holding the knife before me. And then, there was a noise, something outside that distracted him. He knocked the knife from my hand, stripped off my robe and used it to mop up the blood. Then he threw me into the tub, cleaned the rest of the blood, threatened me to tell no one and stormed out, holding my robe to his face. I think he burned it. Nurse scolded me for losing it.”
Anna closed her eyes for a moment, trying to erase the humiliating memory even as she told it. “From that day on, he’s hated me.” Anna peeked at Jack, to see if he believed her. “He changed that day.”
“That’s how he got the scar?” Jack’s mouth dropped open. “Not from a practice joust?”
Anna blushed and nodded. Then Jack tilted his head toward her. “Did he… hurt you?” Anna knew what he was asking.
“No, he didn’t and never has. So, obviously it could have been much worse. He did tell me if I told anyone he’d take my ponies out to the mountains, cut their legs open and let the wolves finish them off.”
“So you never told anyone to protect your ponies?” Jack asked.
Anna frowned. “Don’t think he wouldn’t have done it. I was young and scared. I couldn’t understand how someone who was my godfather could suddenly do such a thing. He had been kind to me, but from then on he was a different person. Besides, I loved those ponies.”
She glanced up and found his eyes searching hers. “After that, whenever I saw him, he’d whisper some horrible thing he’d do to me if I told. He’d show up in my room or at the stables sometimes just to harass me. And I never knew if he’d try, well, try again.” Anna stopped and looked at Jack directly for the first time. “You must understand how afraid I was—am of him. Everyone is afraid of Seamus.” Anna got up and walked away, suddenly ashamed. Jack doesn’t care. She crossed her arms tight to her stomach. What was I thinking telling him this? She heard Jack’s steps behind her.
“I know people think I’m spoiled or crazy,” said Anna with her back to Jack. “But the last four years I’ve lived in fear. Father was lost without mother. Then Seamus poisoned him against me, so that if I ever told, Father would never believe my story. I’m a threat to him in that way, I suppose. I have no mother and am only a nuisance to my father. Seamus twists the truth and turns him against me.” Jack was silent. “Stefan was always on my side, but he’s grown busy with the army, and is gone months at a time. And as you know, Seamus sent him away just before I left.”
“What about Saira?” Jack murmured.
“She had just returned from studying abroad for four years when I was captured.” Her hands shook as she brushed a loose hair out of her eyes.
Jack was speechless. Anna couldn’t tell what was going on behind those steely eyes.
“I have been haunted in my own home. I’ve wanted to leave so many times. If it weren’t for the danger my father is in, I’m not sure I would go back now that I’m free of Anwar.”
Jack stepped closer.
“Your father loves you,” he whispered. “You know you mean more to him than Seamus or anyone else. He’d do anything to protect you, his daughter, his own flesh and blood. You must know he has favored you from the beginning.”
“I don’t know that and besides, he’ll never favor me now. By now he knows what I’ve done.” She told him about the jeweled brush. “Seamus will refute my story and use my use of magic gems as a way to force Father to have me executed. He won’t have a choice.” Anna wouldn’t look at Jack. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks at the thought. “He’ll never believe me over Seamus.”
“No, he will believe you when you tell him everything. The king has the right to pardon anyone. He’d never put you to death,” Jack said. “That is nonsense.” Softness filled those blue eyes. His arm hovered toward her and then fell as she backed away.
“You didn’t believe me before. I don’t blame you. You don’t know me, and I can act a little crazy sometimes. After the bath, I was angry and just reacted. You didn’t deserve that. And by the way,” she tried to smile, “I never thanked you for saving my life.”
He moved to touch her hand, then hesitated.
“It’s okay.” She grinned. “I’m not afraid.” She took his hand. “I’m sorry.”
Jack lifted her chin with his free finger. Anna wanted to turn away, but the tip of his finger and his captivating gaze held her.
“I’m the one who is sorry, Anna. I’m sorry I questioned you. I should have never spoken to you that way. You have gone through too much at a young age,” he said. “I will protect you, and I promise, when we get home, we will expose Seamus.” He dropped his finger to touch his sword. “His treachery will end, and you will feel safe in your own home.”
Anna dropped her chin. “I feel safe with you now.” She stole a glance at him as she felt heat go to her cheeks. She was exposed before him. She tucked her hair behind an ear. She studied him—that quiet physical confidence warring with the occasional flash of sorrow and insecurity in his eyes. She was suddenly aware of how close they were. He locked eyes with her and finally gave her a lopsided grin.
She knew she should drop his hand, but she wanted to hold onto him. She had always thought if she told someone about Seamus that she’d feel nothing but shame. But not with Jack. She felt her heart slowly opening. She squeezed his hand tight before letting it fall. She frowned up at him.
“What’s your story, Jack?” she asked. “How did you end up here?” Anna asked.
“That’s a long story.” He doused the fire with a splash from the canteen. “Let’s get moving.”
Chapter 10
They continued riding north under tall pines, hard maples and wide oaks as well as through underbrush that poked and tore at them along the way. After yesterday’s conversation with Jack, Anna’s chest was lighter—like it had cracked open and something ugly that festered within her for years was finally out. She felt cleaner somehow. Perhaps things could be set right in the palace.
What she would have given to kick Star up to a gallop. Instead, she took a deep breath and filled her lungs with clean air. Her heart bounced with the springy gait of the mare underneath her. When they stopped for a meal, Jack motioned for her to come over. He presented her with the silver handle of his sword. “Let me see what you know.”
He picked up a sturdy tree branch and snapped off the twigs springing from it.
<
br /> Anna stretched the sword out before her, gauging its weight. Heavy. “I’d never be able to handle this thing. I might stick with a dagger,” she said.
“Just for fun,” he said, slipping a thin leather sheath over it for safety. He drew his tree branch. She laughed as he took a step toward her, gently swinging it at her shoulder. She blocked it and swung her own sword around, striking at his chest. He sidestepped out of its reach. “Oh—” He laughed. “You do know how to handle a sword, a bit.”
“Stefan taught me. It was one of the many things I loved that Father did not approve of.” She swung the sword again. Her skills were nothing compared to his effortless ability. She was trying hard, but she knew he was just playing. His feet and eyes danced. She whipped the sword over to strike his side, but the sword’s weight threw her off balance. She let her arm fall.
“Your sword is too heavy for me.” Though she’d worked hard as a slave, lack of food and rest had taken its toll on her body. She had lost so much weight. His eyes fell to her skinny shoulders. She curled them back, away from him.
“Practice with it every day. You’ll grow stronger,” he said.
Anna scowled. “Perhaps I’d like to rest when we stop?”
“Oh, no,” he retorted. “You who ride stallions in races and fight off the greatest swordsman ever can handle this.”
“I didn’t fight him off,” Anna mumbled as she drew the sword once again, swinging it at his ridiculous log-sword. She bit her lip at the effort.
Day after day they sparred, and Anna didn’t see any improvement on her part. Her arms ached as she tumbled off Star for the last time one evening. Jack said he’d hunt for dinner, but Anna didn’t care. She barely had the strength to unroll her mat. He said something to her, but she was already drifting off. So tired, so tired, her mind kept repeating. She didn’t move as she felt rough hands cover her with a cloak and gently smooth the hair away from her face. She drifted off.
Gems of Fire: A Young Adult Fantasy Page 10
