by A L Wright
Chapter 14
As they neared the road, the sun was just starting to peek over the horizon. Friesa knew that Nikka and Tynen would be exhausted by now. She spied a small waft of smoke down the road, just far enough for the owners of the campfire to remain unseen.
“Come on ya two, there be a campfire up ahead and maybe some folks ta help us out so you two can rest.” She spurred her horse past them.
“Wait up Friesa! You do not know that they are humans!” Tynen shouted, protectively.
She sighed, wishing he would show his protective side more often than when they were out in the open. “Goblins won't be here, by the side of the road when dawn's a breaking. Hurry!” She heard them galloping up behind her and she urged her horse to a run.
She could tell they were humans from some ways off, a hunting party in fact. They were crating up salted chunks of meat, most likely deer. Since she didn't smell the stink of entrails, she figured they were at least smart enough to gut the animals far away from camp.
Friesa spied several men and one woman near the fire. And about five more men away from it tending horses and tack.
She slowed to a walk before she got too close and dismounted before she reached the first tent. The woman was cooking something, and Friesa realized she was starving since they had not eaten all night.
“Hail there!” She yelled towards the folks at the fire. Most of them were already watching her approach. She stopped walking and raised her hands. “Can a few weary travelers share your campsite? We've ridden all night and need a safe place ta sleep.”
One of the older men looked her over. “Why ya ride all night? Runnin' from somethin’?”
Thinking quick and hearing Nikka and Tynen dismounting behind her, she said “We came acros'd a band o' goblins earlier in the night. Luckily, we were downwind and hid quick like. But we daren't stop out in the middle of the grasslands, 'fraid there would be more of 'em. So, we rode all night ta reach the road.”
The woman at the fire waved towards a couple of the younger men, boys more like, and they began to walk towards them. She looked up at Friesa and then at Tynen and spoke, “Well, let us feed those horses some grains then, they deserve some rest, too. My boys will take good care of them. Pile your stuff over there.” The woman pointed to the big tent on the far side of the camp. “And come eat with us. Fresh venison this morning.”
“My deepest thanks. If you do not mind we will set up our tents really quick, we are quite exhausted,” Tynen said to the woman.
The woman nodded and went back to cooking.
They relinquished their horses to the boys, who took them out to the field beyond the camp. Then they carried their gear, saddles and bags over to the backside of the large tent and dumped it there.
“You two set up the tents and crawl in. Get some sleep, I will stay awake a bit and talk with them. Be gracious with our hosts.” Friesa winked at them and walked away, feeling Tynen's glare at her back until she rounded the large tent.
She approached the campfire slowly, assessing the group of people around her. There were several boys, around fifteen or sixteen. Several more men in their twenties and thirties, and one older fella. He was probably in his early fifties if she could judge right.
The woman looked to be in her mid-thirties. Muscular and lean, narrow hipped. It didn't seem as though she had born any children. Friesa immediately decided she liked this woman.
“My thanks again,” she called out as she neared the fire. “I'm afraid my two companions were just too tired ta join me. My name is Friesa.” She sat down on a stump near the fire, across from the woman.
“Esther is my name. Tad and Cole are the boys who are taking care of your horses. The old man is my father, William. We run this rowdy rag tag group of hunters. We bring in the meat, and my brother, who is no good with a bow or trap, sells the meat back home in the village.” Esther forked a slab of sizzling venison onto a tin plate and passed it to her.
Friesa's mouth was practically watering as she eyed the plate coming near her. Accepting the plate from Esther, she quickly sat down with it. She drew her smaller dagger from her belt to cut it up into bite size pieces.
“That be a fine blade for such a young girl ta have,” said one of the unnamed men by the fire.
Swallowing the chunk of meat she had been chewing on, and savoring, she looked down at her blade. She hadn't meant to show off her dagger, but she had been so darned hungry.
“Aye, well, I am glad ya think so. I forged it maself. T'was one of the first blades I made, so there be a lot of hours spent pounding on this blasted thing.”
“You know how to forge blades?” Esther asked her.
“Short blades, yes. Long blades I am still practicing on. But I'm quite a good farrier. Shoes, buckles, bits. I'm darned good at those. If you want, I could check yer gear and yer horses’ shoes while I am here. Ta repay ya fer yer hospitality and all.”
Esther smiled. “You are a good lass. And truly some of our gear is old and in need of repair. I know a couple of the horses need new shoes as well.”
Setting her empty plate on the ground in front of her, she stood up. “Well I can see ta the horse shoes now, but then I must catch a few hours of sleep. Will ya be out hunting today?”
Esther nodded. “Yes, the men will be out today. And we thought we might try our luck catching a few wild hare tonight. We never catch many of those, but the lords of the village pay good money for rabbit and fowl.”
“Well then, when we wake t'night, I will repair some of yer gear while my friends help ya with yer hunt.” Friesa nodded at Esther and turned to grab her farrier tools from her packs.
- - -
When Friesa awoke that night, she opened her eyes to Tynen staring at her. He had such beautiful eyes. Ever since the first time she met him, she couldn't get enough of his eyes.
Shaking herself mentally, she rose up on her elbows. The short tent didn't lend room for more than that. “Tynen. Why are ya staring at me?”
“You slept longer than we did. You ate their food. I wanted to make sure you were alright.”
“Oh, Tynen. They ain't gunna poison me. And speakin' of food, I told Esther you and Nikka would go huntin' with 'em tonight.”
“Who is Esther, and why?”
“Why? Really?” She yawned and rubbed her eyes with one hand. “Esther is the woman who was cookin’ yesterday and because humans trade services, that's why. We took of their hospitality, and we help them with their huntin’. They hunt ta sell the meat in their village, ‘tis how they make a living.”
Tynen just continued to stare at her.
Friesa sighed. “Just go 'n help them, please? I be needin' ta get up. I have some tack ta fix for them.” Tynen stared at her for another few seconds, then turned and walked away. She sighed again and fell back against her blanket. At least he had his bow with him. She hoped he would play nice.
Chapter 15
They had stayed all that night, at Friesa's insistence. Nikka was only okay with that because she knew that her father wouldn't be looking for them, yet. He wasn't scheduled to return to the Keep for a couple more days.
She and Tynen had helped to catch some small game that night. Nikka flushed out several pheasants, which Tynen deftly took down with his bow. Then they trapped about a dozen hare, and several geese, and a few more pheasants which they kept alive to take back to the village.
The hunters were grateful, especially old William. He said they risked their necks too often out here. They had lost a couple young men to the goblins. With the abundance of game they were taking back this time, they wouldn't have to come back out for another month or so.
Friesa suggested to him that they build some pens back in the village and keep the geese and pheasants for eggs. Maybe let some of the eggs hatch and make some stock out of the growing flock. Esther seemed to like the idea.
The hunters offered them all a ride in the back of one of the wagons, since they had stayed awake hunting all night. They w
ere headed to Noble's Rest as well, and said since they had to travel slowly with all the goods they were bringing back they wouldn't reach the village until after nightfall.
Friesa, who had gotten a nap in while Nikka and Tynen were hunting, rode alongside the wagon for the first couple of hours. When Tynen and Nikka awoke, Friesa was there in the wagon, snuggled into Tynen with his arm slung over her waist. Nikka raised a brow at him, and he managed to look guilty, but only for a moment. Then he stretched and crawled catlike out of the front of the rolling wagon.
Pulling the flap at the back of the wagon aside, Nikka saw it had just fallen dark and the skyline was still pink. The wagon settled to a stop and she jumped out the back to see Tynen leading her horse around to her. She mounted up while he went back for his own and then they were off again.
Nikka could see the watchtower lights of the village in the distance. She was excited to see it, as she had only seen Friesa’s small village of Northill a couple of times. And the one they were approaching was much, much larger.
“You know, I lived in Noble’s Rest for many years until I became a ranger.” Tynen wasn’t usually talkative, so it surprised Nikka when he spoke up.
“I did not know that. No one really speaks of this village. My father avoids the subject of it like a plague. And a couple of times that the place has come up, Victor has gotten up and walked away from us.” Nikka thought to herself for a moment. “Did something bad happen here, Tynen?”
“Well I was off in the Eastern Reaches when it all happened, so I do not have a first-hand account of it by any means. But it was a devastating blow when your mother died. Your father was out of the palace as she went into labor with you, and arrived back just as she died.”
Nikka was shocked. “But why was he gone? What took him away from her when she was so close to her time?”
“I do not know. But maybe when we reach the palace, you can ask your grandfather.”
They rode along in silence for a time after that, Nikka trying to understand why that story had never been spoken of to her before. When Friesa woke up and rode up beside them, Nikka let her horse fall just a bit behind, so she could watch her friends. The two were still a bit tense towards each other. That would probably never change, unless Friesa were turned.
One more thing to talk to her grandfather about. She was beginning to feel intimidated about meeting the man. The impression she always got about The Patriarch was of power, strength and nobility.
Hopefully she could relate to him at least a little bit, so they could speak of important things. She sincerely hoped he would like her.
Their party had reached the limits of the town, and were riding through the open gates of the wall that surrounded it. The gates were open, showing peaceful times. But they were all heavy iron, double rowed and thick. Almost impossible to penetrate.
Nikka was honestly glad to see that her grandfather was ready for any coming conflict.
The wagon rumbled to a stop and Esther hopped down from the bench.
Nikka and Friesa dismounted and walked over to the woman.
“Thank you kindly for your hospitality,” Nikka said as she grasped arms with the woman.
“No need for thanks on your part. You all done more than your fair share and helped us bring back quite the catch. We gotta ride on in and get the meat salted and laid in. Will you be needing an inn or such to stay at?” Esther asked.
“No, madam. We are looking to visit the palace. We have not been by here in quite some time, and should pay our respects to the Patriarch,” Tynen spoke up.
“Well of course, but I thought maybe your lady friend there might need a place to stay.” Esther looked a bit concerned as she peered at Friesa.
“She is a skilled smith and of use to the Nobles. The Patriarch will surely want to meet her,” said Nikka. She bowed lightly to Esther as she and Friesa turned back to their horses and mounted.
“Well it was lovely meeting you all. I hope your visit is a pleasant one. You can help us hunt anytime.” Esther had seated herself back on the coach and whipped the reins to start the horses forward.
The trio waved at the hunters as they rode past them, then turned their horses towards the Palace.
Riding through the gates of the palace was even more impressive than the gates of the town. These were open as well, but much more reinforced and with guards standing at attention all around.
Two young grooms ran up to take their horses as soon as they dismounted. Tynen stood and waited for the two girls to take in the impressive expanse of the Palace before walking forward to the front entrance.
He led them through the doors and into the massive foyer. There were a few humans sitting on the black marble benches, looking like they were awaiting an audience or delivering messages. A few nobles were also present, chatting amongst themselves, dressed in their finest clothes.
There was music drifting in to the foyer from a room further inside. As she peered around she could see more Nobles milling about, talking. There were a few humans among them, dressed richly.
“It sounds like there is a ball going on tonight,” Tynen finally spoke up.
One of the Nobles in the foyer near them turned around as he spoke. She was tall, with straight black hair draping down her back to touch her buttocks. She had eyes that looked almost black and fine white skin. Her lips were painted like dark cherries.
“Quite, my darling. We have just had an awakening and we are celebrating our newest member. You should clean up and join us in the ballroom.” The look she gave Tynen as she spoke told them all that she was more than interested in having him join her.
“My lady, I thank you for the invite. We are weary from travelling and do not think we will partake in the festivities tonight,” Tynen stated politely.
The woman sashayed over to him and began speaking to him in a low tone. Nikka had at first been mesmerized by the woman’s beauty, but was once again taking in her surroundings.
There were Noble’s coming down the hallways and walking past them, all going in the same direction. She assumed that was the way to the music, then. Perhaps to a ballroom.
The walls were covered in enormous tapestries, brightly painted and depicting mountains, meadows and forests. As she was taking in the wall hangings a large group of Noble’s entered the room, led by a very tall man dressed in an all-black well-fitted pants suit with a heavy black cape billowing out behind him.
The man saw her and his long-strided walk came to a sudden stop. His heavy cape wrapped itself around his legs as his momentum ceased, then went slack behind him as he continued to stand there.
Nikka tried hard not to stare at the man, but he was so familiar. He held her stare for a few moments before addressing her.
“You look exactly like your mother, child.” His voice was deep yet clear; rumbling across the foyer and causing all chatter to stop. The woman who had been insistently flirting with Tynen snapped her mouth shut and turned towards the man with a low bow. The rest of the Nobles in the room bowed as well.
The quiet that ensued stretched on in that single moment, yet felt like forever. The tall man finally walked over to her, covering the distance in only a few strides. He reached out and touched her cheek with his fingertips.
Immediately she felt the flow of his power, and something within her recognized it and responded. Her cheek grew warm. Nikka reached up without thinking and touched the man’s cheek.
All the Noble’s in the room held their breath as this stranger dared to touch their Patriarch, then gasped when her fingertips lit up against his cheek.
The Patriarch smiled for the first time in almost twenty years. He adjusted his hand so that it cupped Nikka’s cheek.
“My dearest granddaughter. Welcome home.”
Chapter 16
Victor stood stoically nearby as his Prince sat silently at his desk. They had just ridden back into the keep to find that Tynen and the girls were gone. Dartein was seething mad, but trying very hard to control
it.
Nikka had never done anything against her father’s will before. But she was a grown woman, and could take care of herself. That did not cause them to worry less, however. Having Tynen with them was good, they would be that much safer.
Victor knew all that was running through his Prince’s head. He also knew that every irrational thought about hordes of goblins setting upon them unexpectedly was in there as well.
He knew that because he was having all those same thoughts himself. And a couple other ones. He was trying quite hard to push them away, but just couldn’t.
Ever since they had brought the smithy girl here, he knew he was going to lose Nikka. He knew it, but had not been resigned to it. He knew that he did not deserve such a woman for himself. But he dared hope.
That hope died the day he saw Nikka and Friesa holding hands. Their casual conversation about turning the girl cemented his belief that he had lost her completely. He never should have shut her out like he had. Victor had seen in hindsight that if only he had opened up just a bit, she would have responded.
But he had been afraid.
A loud bang had Victor opening his eyes to see his friend standing with his fists on the desk. His thoughts had taken him to dark places, and he hadn’t even realized his eyes were closed until just then.
“Victor, I cannot leave the keep. Not now, not while we are negotiating with the humans. I cannot have them deciding to move out here to our lands, and myself not even present when they do. That will not foster trust.”
They had ridden to the village to speak with the humans there about the goblin raids, urging them to send their able-bodied people out to the keep to learn how to fight. Dartein needed an army, and did not have a chamber to turn humans. So, he had to build one however he could.
A couple of families decided that they would take their chances farming out next to the keep. It wasn’t much, but it was a start. As they left the village, they heard talk amongst others about doing the same.
