“Too much sun?” she asked dryly. “Is there ever such a thing in Darth?”
He smiled. “We need to be on our way. I'm certain I have nothing to do with these odd occurrences you've spoken of. I'll ensure you get enough to eat between here and Peltis, and I'm confident that you'll feel much better, that there won't be a repeat.”
Rosalind nodded then allowed him to assist her into his saddle. She hoped he was correct.
Chapter 9
Perhaps Someday
Terric steered Stephen off the main road with ease and confidently led him into the forest that bordered the Kingdom of Darth. It would take two days longer, at least, than traveling the main road would, but he knew he couldn't be seen throughout the kingdom alone with Princess Rosalind. And he knew that the less people who knew they were traveling to Peltis, the better. He didn't want to give King Cedric's position away.
He rode fast, trying to ignore the feel of Rosalind in the saddle in front of him. Her head came up to his chin, the fragrance in her hair wafting to his nose alluringly. It smelled faintly of jasmine, which only served to remind him of the night of her entrance. Every muscle in his body grew taut with awareness, and he very nearly moaned. She was intoxicating and different than he expected a princess to be. He had spent his fair share of time around King Cedric's daughters, and though they were lovely girls, he never had any interest in them. If anything, they felt almost like sisters, or cousins, to him. Rosalind definitely did not feel like a member of his family.
And when she had explained to him the odd feelings she experienced when he was around, he had foolishly dared to hope that the same stirrings of attraction he felt for her were reciprocated. He was glad that he had taken a teasing tone with her when he proclaimed her in love with him, for he could tell that his proclamation embarrassed her deeply and would have embarrassed him too if he'd sounded serious when he had said it.
Forcing thoughts of the girl out of his mind, he thought back instead on the recent attack at Brantonwall Castle. He knew he would be racing time attempting to find out who was behind the attack before there was a repeat, and that's part of the reason why he felt so frustrated at King Cedric's command that he be the one to retrieve Princess Rosalind. The other reason for his frustration was the girl herself. There he went, thinking about her once more.
He hadn't realized he groaned out loud until Rosalind turned to look at him curiously. “Why are we not traveling on the main road? Going through the forest isn't safe and will make our journey significantly longer.”
“Don't you trust me?” he asked
“I wouldn't if you weren't my uncle's lead defender. Surely he has explicit faith in you to trust him with his own life, never mind mine. I saw the missive he penned with his own hand, instructing you to come for me. Aye, I may trust you, but I'm not sure I understand you.”
Terric found her honesty refreshing. “There's nothing for you to understand. Don't concern yourself with the details, leave them up to me.”
“Do I have any other options?”
“None,” he replied, ending the conversation as she turned forward once more.
It was well past midday when Terric decided to stop for some food and allow Stephen to rest. As soon as both he and Princess Rosalind had dismounted, he pulled the satchel of food from his saddle bag then patted Stephen on his rump indicating he go graze in the nearby field. The trees in the forest were thick, causing the air to smell crisp and fresh. Terric had always loved the solitude he experienced in the forest, a part of Darth very few people ever dared venture into. There were too many tales of walarutes, viscous beasts that were rumored to be larger than horses, circulating in the imaginative minds of the townsfolk, that caused only the most courageous of men to dare enter the forest. And Terric had been brave enough to venture into the scary woods too many times to count, never once encountering the fabled beast.
Looking around the woods, he spotted a fallen log that would make an excellent seat. He walked over and sat, indicating for Rosalind to do the same. “I apologize for the lack of accommodations, but tis not going to get any better before we arrive in Peltis.”
Rosalind eyed the log briefly. “My dress is already ruined, so it'll be no bother.”
Terric waited for her to sit, then handed her a small loaf of bread. “I'm not just referring to seating accommodations. Our supplies are limited so the food will be sparse; there are no public garderobes along the way, and no inns with beds when night falls.”
“Well, that does make things uncomfortable. Is there a valid reason you choose to spend the next few days in utter discomfort? We aren't far from the main road; we can always turn back.”
“There will be no turning back. Please just trust me and stop trying to change my mind.”
“Whatever you say. We'll just have to make the most of it then.”
Her willingness to endure such hardship without nary a tantrum impressed Terric. They sat quietly eating the dry bread, birds chirping merrily above them. Terric finished his bread first. When Rosalind finally managed to choke down the last of hers, she turned to him and said, “Tell me of your family.”
Terric was surprised by her inquiry. People didn't oft take the time to make pleasantries with him in his profession, especially not to ask after his family. “There's not much to tell. I have one younger brother and a wee baby sister.”
“Oh,” she squealed excitedly, “I always wanted a sister.”
Terric's heart clenched at her words. That would never be a possibility now.
“How old are they, your brother and sister, and what are their names?”
She seemed truly interested, so Terric obliged. “My brother Aeden is one and twenty years. He's a defender for King Cedric as well. My sister Gwendolyn is still at home with my mother. She's about to reach her womanhood.”
“Is she planning a grand entrance when she comes of age? Is she anxious to be courted?”
Terric laughed, “Nay, she's not nobility like you. Her entrance will be small, but just as important to her in its own right. As far as her anxiousness to be courted, I cannot honestly say. I haven't seen her for coming on a year.”
“Do you miss her?”
“That I do. She's a precocious thing, much like you actually. I think you two would be fast friends.” The wide smile that lit up her face made Terric wish he could introduce the two, for surely the idea pleased her.
“Does your family live faraway?”
“Our home is about halfway between Brantonwall Castle and Drambil Castle, so not terribly far from where I'm stationed, but my duties as Lead Defender don't allow me much personal time to travel and such.”
She leaned in and nudged him with her shoulder. “Oh, you're one of them. An easterner.”
“That I am. Though as of late, I've spent more time in the western side of Darth.”
“All of Darth's lovely. If the sun only shone more, it would be near perfect.”
“Agreed.”
“What about your parents,” she asked, bringing the conversation back to his family.
“What about them?” he asked.
“Tell me what they're like. I imagine your father is strong and brave like you, and your mother is probably just as courageous.”
“Why do you say that?” he asked her curiously.
“Well it can't be easy having two sons who are defenders. She has to be strong to send you away knowing the risk your profession entails.”
“Tis true, but it's just the way it is. My father was Lead Defender for your grandfather, King Harold, so she knew from the beginning that her sons would be raised to follow in his footsteps.”
“Your father must be proud of you, being lead defender and all.”
“I like to think so,” he answered quietly, honestly.
“What do you mean? Hasn't he expressed to you how proud he is?”
“My father died many years ago. He trained me in the art of defense from when I was but a wee lad. To say he was proud whe
n I got accepted to be one of King Cedric's defenders would be an understatement. He passed on years before I was ever made Lead Defender. His memory is what drove me to succeed. I wanted to make him proud: I wanted to be the best.”
“Are you the best?” she asked boldly.
Terric shrugged. “King Cedric thinks so.”
“Then certainly you are.” She reached forth and placed a hand on his arm, and even through his tunic he could feel that her touch was soft. “I'm also sure that you have made your father proud. Any parent would be proud to have a son like you.”
Her compliment touched him deeply, but at the same time filled him with sadness. Here she was comforting him over the long ago loss of his father when he should be the one comforting her. His father had lived a full life before being consumed with typhoid fever that had eventually killed him. And though it was painful for his entire family, his passing leaving a gaping hole that would never be filled, he still had his mother, the rock of their family.
Terric regretted the moment she pulled her hand from his arm to place it in her lap. Looking down on her hands she spoke, “I wish I could make my parents proud, especially my mother.”
Terric lifted her chin with his hand so that she was looking at him, “What makes you think that they're not?”
“I'm not the daughter they thought they would have. I'm not a typical princess. My father doesn't seem to mind nearly as much as my mother, but sometimes, it's as if she can hardly tolerate me. I'm constantly ruining my dresses, and I'd much rather be outdoors than inside the castle learning how to manage the keep and planning to be wed. It baffles her that I can be so apathetic when it comes to those things.”
He couldn't keep himself from asking, “You have no desire to wed?”
“I suppose I do, someday, if the time is right.”
Again, he couldn't keep from prying, “And how will you know when the time is right?”
“I rightfully don't know; that's the problem. How's one supposed to know these things?”
Terric was taken aback, “Are you asking me?” She only nodded her head. Raking one hand through his hair, he took a deep breath as he thought. Served him right for latching onto the topic of marriage in attempts at steering the conversation away from her parents. He was uncomfortable talking about the deceased king and queen, knowing that she was oblivious to the tragedy of their deaths. It hurt him to hear her talk of her family when only he knew of their demise. Finally he answered, “I think you're asking the wrong person. I'm not well versed in the art of love. I assume that when it's right, you just know.”
“But don't you think that marriage just holds you back? That it confines you to an existence that is always dependent on somebody else's decisions?” She seemed genuinely concerned, as if she had given the matter much thought.
“It never did with my parents,” he answered truthfully. “My mother always supported my father in his dreams, which mostly revolved around raising sons to be noble defenders. And he in return always supported her in her healing art. They were each other's greatest champions. They were a team. They became better together.”
Rosalind sat contemplating what he had said while Terric sat contemplating her. Several strands of hair had come loose from her braid, the sable locks contrasting with her pale skin. Her dress was wrinkled and dirty, and when he looked close, he saw a faint smattering of freckles across the bridge of her nose. He was sure she had acquired them from spending so much time out of doors. The thick, sooty lashes that framed her eyes brushed against her cheeks as she blinked. When she finally turned those eyes on him, he noticed that up close her violet eyes held specks of blue with a dark rim around the edges.
“Your mother is a healer?” she asked, admiration lacing her words.
“Aye, she is. In fact, that's how she met my father. She was trained in the healing arts; her mother, my grandmother, was a healer and passed much of the knowledge she acquired onto her. She's always had a certain gift, which was particularly useful being married to a defender and raising sons who would follow in his stead. My father had been King Harold's lead defender nigh on ten and five years when he was injured during a battle with the Kingdom of Moar. My mother's talents had come to the knowledge of many in the kingdom, including that of your grandmother, Queen Ruth. They summoned her to heal my father and, from the way they tell it, it was love at first sight. My mother was able to stop the spread of infection in his wounds, but his injured arm was never the same from that time forth. He was honorably released from his duties as lead defender and free to marry her, which he did three weeks later. Their courtship mainly consisted of her cleaning and dressing his wounds. She often jokes that not being able to heal his arm completely was part of her plan all along.”
Rosalind listened intently. “I don't understand. Why would she not heal him completely if she could?”
“I don't think it was entirely in her control. But, if my father would have continued as lead defender, he never would have wed her. It's a job that demands all of your time. You must sacrifice everything for the High King.”
He figured she already knew that, but oftentimes people overlooked the immense sacrifices defenders made to protect and defend the kingdom.
It surprised Terric to hear sadness in her voice when she spoke, “You have sacrificed everything for my uncle, haven't you?”
“Tis the way of things. Don't feel sorry for me, I fully knew what I was getting into from the time I was but a wee lad.”
“But don't you ever want to have a family?”
Terric thought about her question. Honestly he hadn't spent much time focusing on the things that he didn't have, the things he wasn't sure he even wanted. He wasn't sure how to answer her question. Finally he settled with, “Perhaps someday. What about you?”
“Perhaps someday,” she mimicked him. “Perhaps someday.”
Chapter 10
An Unexpected Visitor
The sun was just beginning to rise when Rosalind felt herself coming to. The previous days travels, combined with the odd episode she'd had by the stream had made her body weary with exhaustion. She had been so overcome with the desire for sleep that she hadn't even the energy to complain about sleeping on the hard ground with nothing but a fur beneath her.
Her sleep had been dreamless and oddly peaceful, but now, the sun shining through the trees and onto her face made her suddenly become awake, instantly alert. The rare appearance of the sun was something to celebrate for sure. Chancing a glance to where Terric lay, he appeared to still be sleeping, so Rosalind quickly grabbed her bag and headed for a thicket of trees not too far off from their campsite, anxious for a moment of privacy before Terric rose.
After having seen to her needs, she opted to change into the only other dress she had brought along, a deep red dress that was laced up at the bodice with a gold ribbon. Intricate gold designs had been woven into the neckline as well as around the elbows and waist. Perhaps it was a bit fancy for riding atop a horse all day, but Rosalind knew if they continued to travel at their current pace, there would be a good chance that they would reach Peltis before the day commenced and she wanted to be somewhat presentable when they arrived, if only to save her mother and father the embarrassment of a disheveled daughter.
Birds chirped merrily above the thick canopy of trees as the sun burst its rays into any available opening. Rosalind's heart felt happy and light, her mood always bolstered by the sun. Dropping her bag carelessly to the ground, she inhaled the fresh, woodsy fragrance of the forest as the rays of sun warmed her skin. Turning her face up towards the sun, she closed her eyes and smiled. And, before she had the chance to think about what she was doing, she began to twirl.
Rosalind frolicked in the sun, unable to keep the happiness it brought her from bursting forth. Her skirts bellowed out around her as she spun, her hair flying around her shoulders haphazardly. She felt so alive. That is, until she opened her eyes and spun around, her gaze settling on a very awake Terric. She stopped insta
ntly in her tracks, embarrassment at her unruly actions overcoming her.
Terric stood resting against a tree, one booted foot propped casually against the trunk, his strong arms crossed over his chest. His gaze was intent, much as it had been the night she had danced the Saylatee. A sudden chill coursed down her body, as she watched his eyes lower from her face down the entire length of her body. She felt self-conscious under his scrutiny. For some odd reason, she suddenly cared what he thought of her, which was a foreign concept to her. She had never cared what others might think.
Rosalind brushed strands of wayward hair back from her face, as she bent to retrieve her discarded bag. Holding it tightly against her chest, she walked towards Stephen and returned her belongings to the saddle bag. When she turned around, Terric was still watching her, regarding her with the same intensity as he had before. Finally his foot dropped from the tree, and he sauntered casually over to where she was standing uncomfortably waiting for him to say something.
Pausing before her he said, “You're like a woodland sprite, so carefree and alluring.”
Rosalind laughed nervously. “So you believe in faeries, do you?” she asked, trying to make her voice sound light.
“I do now.”
She dropped her gaze to the ground below before apologizing. “I'm sorry. It's the sun, it just...enlivens me.”
“Then I pray the sun shines down on you all the days of your life.”
Rosalind's head snapped up as she looked into his face, attempting to decipher if he was merely teasing her, but his expression was serious. There was a shadow of a beard on his face that hadn't been there the previous day, and his hair was mused from sleep and his normally clear, blue eyes had darkened with an emotion Rosalind didn't recognize. She watched his gaze drop to her lips. With a shock, she realized he wanted to kiss her. Even more alarming, she wanted to kiss him back.
Her heart thumped loudly against her chest as she waited long, painful seconds for him to act. As his face came near, his hand stretched forth, lightly touching the fabric of her gown as he traced the curve of her hip. His hand slid effortlessly over the silky material of her dress, as he whispered huskily, “I prefer this dress to the other one.”
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