by Marie Hall
"Settle, Io, settle. All right now. Settle." He must have sat, because she found herself in his lap. The place she felt most welcomed, most safe. She curled up and held on.
"Do not command me, do not abandon me. We are strongest—"
"Together. Yes, Io, you are right. I will not abandon you. I will not command you abandon me. Settle now. Settle." His hands rubbed up and down her back, over her arms and across her face, warming her, though she didn't know when she'd become so cold.
"Do not," she said then sniffed. The air around her felt heavier now. Weighted by everything she'd endured to keep this man in her life. "Do not."
"I will not," he said, and though she tried to keep him from doing so, he pulled back. "I will not, Io. Look at me. Look." When she did and his features came into focus through the blur of tears, she felt a darkness slipping over her. "No, Io. Look at me. Hear me, just a moment more." She sniffed again and lifted her palm to his face, running it up to where his eye was swollen shut and turning black. She was as careful as she could be, still, he winced. "Yes, settle now and hear me. I will not command you again to run. To abandon me. I will not command it. We are strongest together. But you will know this, my love, that it will always be my first want. It will always be my only desire that you should seek safety without thought to mine. No, do not shake your head. I will not command you again, but I will want this. And I will never begrudge you, I will never despise you, hate you, or stop loving you, should you flee. But I will not command you."
This, she could agree to, and with nothing more than a nod, she did and was rewarded by the feel of his arms tightening and the steady beat of his heart in her ear.
Chapter 8
Xavier leaned forward and accepted the fresh rag from Gerald. Pressing the wet, cold cloth to his eye in hopes he might stop the throbbing and maybe be able to see out of it again, he settled back and checked to make sure the movement hadn't disturbed anyone.
"Want me to take the baby? At least," Gerald asked as he took a seat next to Xavier.
"No, if you move him and he cries out, it will wake her," Xavier said, still looking at his wife sleeping curled in his lap, the little boy everyone called Owl curled in hers, and the other two boys, Frog and Fox, asleep but still clinging to Io's legs.
"Might want to put that rag on your lip as well." Lucas chuckled as he dropped another blanket to try to cover the group without burying one or more under the covers.
"Does it still bleed?" Xavier asked and dabbed at the cut that made the swelling even more painful.
"A little," Jon said. "She really got you," he added, shaking his head.
"Yes, she did," Xavier admitted, trying not to laugh so he didn't wake anyone. "I was not at all prepared for her to actually hit me."
"Well, now, if you come at her like a fool, you know more what to expect," Roth said, leaning in to toss a log on the fire.
"You did go at her rather strong," Mark added.
"I did," Xavier admitted with a snort. "I was not thinking at all." Io's reaction was amazing in its fury and more so in its passion. He'd always suspected in her own way of understanding it, Io loved him. Maybe not as much as he loved her, but he always considered that a consequence of her not having love through her life. She didn't understand the concept and so she didn't gather all the things she felt for anyone and call those feelings by one simple name. Love.
Today, though, when she refused to leave him for dead, when she refused to shame either of them by showing fear, and when she emphatically denied he had the ability to command her to save herself at his peril, he knew, without a doubt, Io did love him. She may never say the word, may never acknowledge all those emotions had one title, but Xavier would not feel cheated by those things. He didn't need to hear the words 'I love you' from her. Not when she so easily said she'd rather be dead than without him.
"She is becoming quite a fighter," Ian mused.
"She is, though she still does little to defend herself," Xavier agreed. Io was making the transition from runner to confronter, although he didn't think she'd become an instigator. "What do you think?" he addressed the group. "If I were to start her on lessons, more formal, in battle and defense?"
"I can see no harm in it," Gerald said, and others muttered agreement.
"I can," Roth snapped. "You teach her to do battle, and she will take it upon herself to start trying to defend all of us." He pointed around camp. "She does well enough with the little dirk she carries. Any more, no."
"He is not speaking unreasonably," Mark said. "But the addition of another weapon, staff or even shield, could help her."
"And certainly," Ian added, "teaching her how to move soldiers to defend a holding or even to take a field could prove useful."
"Teach her how battles are fought and won," Gerald added, sounding intrigued. "It is something most other ladies know. That they are taught from birth should not matter for Io."
Xavier listened to the men talk on what lessons and how to give them. It wasn't as if they could take Io to a conflict and let her watch from the hillside as many people did. He chuckled softly; his wife didn't even like to watch practice between men. She'd refused to watch any of the events when he took her to the tournament. He already concluded she'd be learning much only on paper. Perhaps he'd get her some child's toy figures to place on boards. The king, himself, had such a set, though his was grand in scale and far more than a child's toy. Even as he thought it, Jon was suggesting it. He chuckled again. This time, Io's groan and Owl's whimper reminded him he needed to be still. Setting his hand on her head, he gently stroked her hair. It still seemed unreal, how close he had come to failing her.
Shouts from the other side of camp brought the conversation to a halt. Xavier watched as Liam and Luther made haste to return to this side of camp. And in the firelight glow, Xavier saw Lord Balbroke and a few others chase down Whitby, pull him to a stop, and the shouting resumed, though what was said was unclear.
Both Io's men plopped down across from him with relieved looks, although they turned to watch the disagreement until it moved out of view.
"What was that about?" Roth inquired.
"Not sure, but it seems Whitby wishes to go on ahead. He no longer wants to travel with us," Liam told them.
"That is odd," Xavier mused but didn't let it concern him. In fact, given the man set Io on edge, he'd be pleased with his departure. Though this close to the destination he didn't see the point. Io muttered something in her sleep, drawing Xavier's focus back to her. He needed to get everyone, included himself, better situated for sleep, but for now, he leaned back and held the rag to his eye.
"Make way. Make way," the call went out from about midway back, and Xavier reined his horse out of the center of the road in time to miss being run down by Whitby and two others riding at full gallop until they disappeared over the rise.
"Good riddance," Gerald muttered as they eased back center and continued to plod along.
Xavier only shook his head but then turned in his saddle at the sound of a fourth horse coming up a little faster. A smile tugged at his lip, which reminded him quickly that smiling was not a good idea yet. Lifting his finger to the knot on the side of his face, he gently felt that injury. He'd be lucky if he could open his eye by the time they reached the river. He slowly turned back as Luther rode up with little Frog sitting in front of him. The boy still rubbed sleep from his eyes and his hair stuck up in tuffs all around his head, but his cheeks were flushed and when he stopped rubbing them, his eyes sparkled with the same excitement he'd displayed each day.
"Morning, Frog," Xavier offered, "did they wake you up with their yelling?"
"Yes," he grumbled then added, "sir," when Luther poked him.
"Did they wake up your brothers or Lady Io?" Xavier hoped not. Neither of those two had slept well these last two days.
"Owl was awake, but everyone else sleeps," Frog reported, his tone becoming more happy as he continued to report. "Sir Jon let Owl ride with him, but he is
still little so he cannot ride up front with us."
"No, he must ride in the back until he is a big boy," Luther confirmed.
"I'm a big boy."
Xavier would've rolled his eyes if that wasn't painful. The boys quarreled all of yesterday because Fox refused to acknowledge Frog as a hero, too. It was the middle brother who'd run back and alerted camp of the trouble, but Xavier had to admit it didn't rise to the level of hero. Io finally settled it by saying they were brothers, so if one was a hero, the others would become one someday as soon as they were big enough. She made it about how tall the boys were and as ridiculous as that sounded, it worked. Now Frog was waiting for a growth spurt. But he did so in peace.
An hour down the road and Fox rode up on his own pony, yawning and stretching. "Lady Io still sleeps," he announced when Xavier looked at him. "She cried much of the night."
"She wants to return home, to not be here," Gerald said, maybe more to himself than to the boy.
"Is she still scared? We saved her. Why is she scared?" Fox asked. He might be proud of himself, as he should be, but his devotion to Io kept his concern above his pride. He'd indeed grow into a very great man. And as Io often pointed out, the world sorely needed more great men.
"Io lives her life a little afraid all the time. It has served her well, kept her alive," Luther said then wrestled Frog back in place as the jarring steps of the horse bounced him almost off.
"But…" Fox started then stopped to think on something. "Does she not live with all of you?"
"She does now," Xavier said, knowing where this was going.
"Why be afraid when she is among so many heroes?"
Xavier heard several of the men guff and cough to cover the laughs and despite the pain, he did smile. "She has had no heroes until you," Xavier said and saw the boy start.
"You are her hero, too?"
"Me, I am far from it. I have failed lady Io too many times to count, and on more than one occasion, it nearly cost her life," Xavier said seriously. Maybe he didn't need Io to tell him she loved him, but it'd be nice to hear her say he was her hero. A goddess needed a hero. All Io had was a mortal, a warrior, the king's champion. The king's, not hers. "I am no one's hero." Xavier said then watched as Lord Rigatos rode up and motioned that he'd like Xavier to ride ahead with him. Xavier signaled the men should stay back and squeezed his thighs to get his horse to pick up its pace.
He found the will to smile again, though, as he heard Fox mutter, "You are mine."
Rigatos put a good distance between them and the men, and Xavier's hairs stood on end. "You saw young Whitby ride on?"
"I did," Xavier kept his voice flat.
"Alain has given him leave to be alone, but only until we reach the crossing."
"And this is my concern, how?" Xavier didn't care what Balbroke allowed his men to do as long as they didn't do anything to endanger Io.
"I should think you would want to know, for it means Alain has not yet accepted things."
"Accepted what things?"
"That his man will not be swaying lady Io to him," Rigatos said so easily, Xavier wasn't sure he heard right.
"Sway Io? For what purpose?" Xavier was looking at him so he saw the man's brows crease and the deep frown.
"Balbroke still wishes Lady Io as Whitby's wife."
"What?" Xavier shrieked, pulling his horse to a stop and staring at the man in disbelief. The sound of hooves coming up behind him had him turning then signaling the men to hold back. He cleared his throat and tried again, "Lady Io and I are duly wed and those vows duly consummated. She is my wife."
"And wives are known to exchange husbands for better prospects," Rigatos reminded him.
"Whitby?" Xavier snorted at the absurdity. Io would eat him for supper and likely declare she was yet hungry.
"I make no comparison, Lord Brice. I simply state that Balbroke wants his man to have the lady. You lifted his hopes when you beat her. Her display the other day killed all hope for Whitby."
"For what reason is Io so coveted?" Xavier asked and prayed he wasn't about to hear what he knew he'd hear.
"Her bloodline."
The man hadn't said it outright so Xavier wouldn't surrender the information. "Io is no one, a destitute orphan when I met her. A scold with a vile tongue and vulgar manners. She claims no status, no rank," he paused to chuckle, "not even the one she has now as my wife. What noble man willingly pursues such a bride? Accepts such?"
"You did."
"By his majesty's command. I was, until I was told otherwise, waiting to hand her off to whomever had the misfortune to be awarded her foul presences."
"You are the poorest liar I have ever known, Brice," Rigatos said as a compliment. "It is more than clear that you actually love your wife, and though I must say it came as a great surprise to me, to everyone, her love for you is undeniable. Even Whitby had to admit it after that display. He'd still hoped that it was only through your manipulations the lady wasn't yet crying to be rid of you."
"What reasons would she have to cry out against me?" Xavier was still hoping Whitby only hoped to have Io now, thinking she'd bring at least some wealth with her.
"As I said, that beating you gave her sho—"
"I do not beat my wife," Xavier growled out, though he admitted, at least to himself, there was still anger rolling through him when he laid down that strap. "Lady Io was well aware the penalties for such wicked disobedience and she has well endured harsher corrections."
"You were quite distant with each other after," the man said thoughtfully. "Alain told Ivan to push his pursuit before we reached the Forks, but your men would not let him near her, and it was impossible to find a moment with her after that."
"Io and I always reconcile. Sometimes it takes a little longer, but we always reconcile," Xavier said with pride but not as a boast. It'd taken great effort and many moments of reflection and understanding to build the marriage they had. And they both gave themselves to the work it took to hold it.
"Yes, that was well enough displayed two days ago. As I said, her love for you is obvious."
"Io does not love me," Xavier said, not so much because she didn't, but more to set the idea he wouldn't be used as a weapon against her.
"We all saw, heard—" Rigatos started.
"Heard what? Heard her declare she did not want to again be alone? To again be left starving, cold? Did she declare love, my lord, or only state that before I covered her in my wealth, her life was misery? Io does not even understand the word."
"Then you would do well to teach it to her and to not let Lord Balbroke hear these things from anyone. He still plans to petition the king to annul your marriage and set the lady with his man."
"For what purpose?" Now Xavier wondered if he needed to consider Balbroke's loyalties. If he hoped to grab Io and try to displace the king on the throne…
"You know why. What better than a man in your ranks with ties to the throne?" Rigatos now looked back over his shoulder. Xavier did, too. No sign of Balbroke or his remaining men. "He spent great effort trying to sway the king to his favor and was near apoplectic when word came she was wed to you."
"Why need of effort? If there was a man willing to take her?" Xavier honestly didn't know why he was chosen. He believed because the king knew him to be his most loyal man and not someone who might use Io to unseat him, but he didn't know that before they were ordered to wed. He'd actually had moments where he wondered if he'd not somehow displeased the crown and Io was his punishment. She was recklessly impossible those first weeks. Worse, she hated him, truly hated him.
"You do not know?" Rigatos turned to look at him. "A great number of men were being considered. It was well a decision years in the making. Balbroke wasn't the only man trying to win her hand, though he was one of only a very few who know the truth about the lady."
"What truth?" Xavier felt a tightening in his chest. The long held suspicions, and the effort he took to keep anyone from knowing and using them. Even when it'd hav
e silenced his mother on the matter, kept Io from running, even at the cost of their own child, Xavier refused to speak the truth out loud.
"That she shares kinship with the king. She holds—"
Xavier reached over and grabbed the horse's harness, dragging them to a stop and pulling Rigatos close so he was sure to hear everything Xavier said. "Io is no princess; she is not even a lady. She has no care or use for titles of any kind, and I will not have them foisted upon her by some crawling dog seeking power of his own. Io is Io. That is all she is, all she wants to be, no man, no bloodline will change that. I have her, as she is, and I will not surrender her." He shoved off the other horse and sat back. "Tell Lord Balbroke that. Tell him, too, any attempt to upset the kingdom as it stands will be met with bloodshed. Io will not gain any man anything while I still live."
"I think," the man said, clearly startled by Xavier's declaration, "His Majesty chose better than he knew with you."
"He chose little. The choice has always been Io's," Xavier said and prepared to meet the men now riding up quickly. "It will remain hers."
"You do know she holds more than only the king's bloodline. You would do well to guard as you have and perhaps more so, once at court. For it is not our crown some may seek from her."
"I protect Io regardless, but I say now I know nothing of her beyond what she has been these last two years. I do not even know her age. And before you speak on it that I can no longer lay such claims… do not speak on it. It matters not to anyone who knows her, less to me." Xavier reined his horse around and galloped ahead, his men joining him before he could stop the shaking in his hands.
What other claim could Io have but to the king's blood? And could it be a claim so worthy as to create dangers for her he might not foresee? Never in his life had he considered disregarding his sovereign's commands, but at this moment, he wanted nothing more than to grab Io and ride home, close the gates behind him and never open them again.
