by E L Russell
Leeth rubbed his chin.
* * *
Leeth joined Finna at the table by the window high in the keep. He placed his shoulder bag down before sitting beside her. The view was calming and for a moment he didn’t speak and she ignored him.
“I can tell by your prickly manners your head still aches.” He eventually said. She was prickly most of the time with him. “I have medicine for your headaches.” He slid his chair closer, reached into his bag and handed her a small blue ceramic jar. “This will help.”
She planted her hands against his upper arms and firmly pushed. “You sit too close, Seeker.”
As if he hadn’t heard her, he twisted the lid off and set it on the table in front of her. “This will not put you to sleep like the last medication I gave you. Put just a small dab on your finger and rub it on your tongue.”
“You once gave me a white jar for Yasmin.”
“Ah, good. More recall.”
“I remember many things, just not everything.”
“You will fully recover, Finna.” He put his dry finger on his tongue, showing her where the pain medicine went. When she didn’t move, he said, “That stuff only works when you put it inside your mouth. It doesn’t work in the jar.”
Finna dipped her finger into the jar and still hesitated to put it on her tongue.
He encouraged, “Go on. Try it. I haven’t killed you yet and I’ve had every opportunity.” When she tasted it, he laughed at her expression of surprise and pleasure.
“It’s sweet and I’ll have more.”
He shook a finger. “Not yet. Give the medicine a chance to work.”
She nodded, licking her finger.
“You can have some of this one, though.” He brought out a yellow jar and hid a smile when she dived in with her finger. Before putting the dab in her mouth, however, she had second thoughts.
“What does this one do?”
“It heals wounds. It is made from the bark of a special tree and because the flavor is usually bitter, I add something to make it sweet.”
She hesitantly put her finger into her mouth. “Honey. Nice. You make these potions?”
“Mostly. I gather plants in my travels. Some, I must trade for. I’ll teach you everything I know about healing plants and chemicals.” He handed her a red jar. “Remember, this one? This is for the sleep you need for recovery. Put a very small pinch in this wine. See?” After swirling the liquid, he passed the cup on to her.
She did remember. Each new recollection added to her confidence. Soon, she would escape. “That was most satisfactory in Germany. Even the big one, who was not totally knocked out, fought so poorly he was no challenge.” She looked past him at the open leather pouch. “What more fills that bag, Sir Seeker?”
“Secrets,” he said with mischievous humor and pushed the cup toward her once more. “Go on. Drink it.”
She took a sip. “This one has no taste.”
“It’s compounded that way so the bad guys aren’t aware of its presence.”
She looked into the cup, swirled the liquid with her finger again and swallowed the rest of the contents in one gulp. “It doesn’t seem strong, how long—”
Her chin slowly rested on her chest and she fell forward. He caught the cup in one hand and pulled her close with his free arm.
Lord alone knew what drew him to her. She was cantankerous, stubborn, opinionated, suspicious . . . and enchanting. An enigma. Damn woman. He laid her gently on the bed and removed her shoes.
In sleep, the anxiety and distrust Finna wore like armor disappeared. Her smooth brow in repose gave her the appearance of innocence and a softness she did her best to hide. With a fleeting contact, he touched his lips to hers then placed a hand on her forehead and spoke to her mind.
Leeth projected a scene into Finna’s brain of the two of them walking with Jamal at the base of the keep. He explained she was experiencing dream training and the learning would become a permanent part of her memory.
33
Seth
Consultation
From his research, Leeth figured that recorded history would not be altered by anything he’d done up to this point in time. Oh, a few minor disruptions rippled in several directions, but after following each one as far as his skill permitted, they flat-lined with no shifts the Time Overlords would detect. However, a feeling of uncertainly lingered and no conscience effort could abate or dismiss it. He desperately needed advice and could only think of one person who might provide it.
Leeth sat cross-legged in reflection, and quieted his brain, allowing his mind to take him to another place where Seth, a man as old as time, rested under the shade of a palm tree by a cool oasis pool. His flowing silver hair lifted with the gentle breeze and he smiled a greeting.
* * *
Leeth studied the distant pyramids while he waited for the senior Time Overlord’s evaluation of his guidance of Finna and Jamal. Leeth believed he had considered all angles and possibilities. The Time Overlords, however, were meticulous to a fault. If he’d missed any small detail, he would have to go back and start all over. He didn’t think he could endure it.
the man older than Methuselah said.
Leeth took Seth’s words as a serious threat and a promise.
A sliver plate of dates and clay pots appeared between them and Seth spread his open hands over them.
The old man lowered his chin and raised one hand, forefinger extended for emphasis.
Leeth snapped back.
He sipped from a clay pot.
Seth waved a hand.
Leeth’s jaw dropped.
Leeth emptied his pot before saying,
Seth shrugged.
The ancient man in the desert colored robe chuckled. It was a dry crusty sound, but it held humor, nonetheless.
For all that he objected to any number of Overlords rules, they generally knew what they were about, and for the moment, at least, he accepted there was logic behind their demands. He hoped details would be made clear to him in the near future.
Oh, shit. Leeth kept all expression from his face, but it was hard.
His heart was pumping like a locomotive building steam. Damn Overlords. They always came up with something that required a fix. He grabbed a few dates.
Leeth was dumbfounded. The old man was telling him that Finna was stubborn. He obviously didn’t know the woman as well as he thought because he left out pigheaded, mulish, head strong, obstinate, and pain in the ass.
Better than he’d anticipated. Thoughts that he would receive a reprimand and have to execute a redo had given Leeth nightmares. He hid his relief, or at least hoped he did.
Leeth’s strategy for Yasmin’s redemption played through the Time Overlord’s brain in a flash.
Arrogant ass.
The ancient one offered Leeth a small bag.
34
Leeth Explains
A Larger World
Three days later, Finna woke for the first time feeling somewhat like her old self. She was still stiff and weak from lack of exercise, but that was to be expected. The important thing was she felt alert and hungry. Where the hell was Leeth? When she didn’t want him, he was all over her space, sleeping on guard, taking her pulse, and disturbing her with questions. His lack of presence left an emotional void she found hard to explain.
A slight noise on the far side of the small room drew her attention and she stretched her neck to find Jamal sleeping by the recessed fireplace, possibly for the heat from the coals. Good. He was nearby. When she made her break for freedom, he’d be at her side.
Footsteps outside her door alerted her to Leeth’s approach and his voice boomed in her head.
She’d forgotten how invasive that voice could be, but why not wake Jamal? He’d been here as long as she had and he had no injuries.
God’s ever-loving Bones.
She slipped out of bed and dropped some mint leaves into the cup of water sitting on the table close by. After sloshing her mouth out, she slid the knife she kept under her pillow into her belt and tiptoed to the door. Narrow steps led up to a small overhead trap door and she pushed it open to the sunny square rampart.
Her legs throbbed as though she’d completed a training session and she huffed and puffed like a blacksmith’s bellows. She leaned against one of the battlements to catcher breath noticed the quality of the stonework.
Her father had occasionally allowed her to help him make important repairs to such structures and she knew good work when she saw it. This was fine masonry. It therefore made no sense that a large portion of the castle had crumbled and fallen with only the single tower remaining. She ran a hand over the crenel, appreciating the positioning and size. The archers defending the castle had good protection.
“Good work, yes?” Leeth said, stepping from the shadow of the far corner. “What took you so long?”
Glad she’d caught her breath and didn’t have to wheeze a response, she asked her own question. “Does your magic allow you to hear my thoughts?”
“I spoke to your head so I didn’t wake Jamal. He has worked and trained hard with me every day. And no, I cannot read your thoughts and what I do is not magic.” He sat and patted the floor again. “Come, sit. I have something to show you.” He held up a book with his middle finger stuck between two pages as a bookmarker. “I trust you slept well and you’re feeling stronger?”
“Yes.” She was stronger and almost ready to escape. Sliding her gaze to the sea and surrounding land, she evaluated possible escape routes.
Leeth shook the book at her. “You often say I know little about you. Not true.”
She jerked her head back to face him, lest he realize her intent to escape.
He opened the journal and held it toward her with both hands. Clearing his throat, he asked, “Do you know how to read?”
“You offend me. Of course, I can read. You would know that if you know everything about me.”
“Touché, mon petit fleur.” He laughed.
Finna gestured toward the journal. “Will this tell me why you took me? For all I know, Sir Kidnapper, you are an agent for the low prince of Aleppo.”
“Don’t be absurd.” He adjusted his position so he was closer to her and she immediately scooted away.
“Stay close, otherwise, you’ll not be able to read with me.” He held the book with the arm that was close to her and pointed to specific parts of the book with his opposite index finger. “It says here, when you were nineteen,” he paused and raised his eyebrows, “you entered and won a local tournament dressed as a young man.”
“You told me you knew that and you also know that I entered as a squire. Nobody bothered to look at my face. I never hid my intention.”
He ig
nored her annotation. “Your fighting skills caught the eye of a certain noble woman, also nineteen, who took you under her prestigious wing to be one of her court as an armed escort.”
“Is there some purpose to reading me my life’s story when we both know it?” She glanced in the direction of the forest for a possible escape route. The problem was escape to where? She still had no idea where she was. Torg? She’d dreamed that name. On another planet? What was in the man’s medication?
Leeth held the closed journal against his chest. “I know of the skills you used to win the tournament.”
Finna listened with half an ear as her mind drifted back to that time. It had been heady stuff when the queen had singled her out. It had probably also saved her skin, as well. Although she never actually believed her father would kill her, his approval came more readily once he knew the queen wanted her. What she’d really wanted was his approval and blessing.
“It says here you entered the tournament to humiliate a bully who had pestered you for years.”
“Once more you have some correct information, but miss the main point, Sir Know-it-all. I entered to win the favor of Queen Eleanor. Defeating the bully was a bonus.” A small smile played on her lips. Bromwell had landed hard when her lance knocked him on his arse. He’d been so surprised . . . and so angry. Hah, served him right. Lord knows he had terrorized her enough times for a lifetime. She hoped he was still spitting shit.
It wasn’t until much later that she figured why her father was angry. He was afraid she’d be killed in the jousting. It was the only event that she hadn’t trained for against a live opponent. That she’d won that event, especially against Godfrey, had made her father very proud. She eyed the journal. “You have been spying on me and you pieced together my background. What of it? You told me that before.” It made her furious, that’s what.
