CHAPTER 22
Sara
Sara did much better their second day of travel. Keeping to her silent vow to do so, she kept up with the boys, who only had to slow a little for her. They only stopped a handful of times to let her rest, and each time she assured them she was ready to continue. About midday, during one of their rest stops, Sara removed her boots and asked Ashton to heal the blisters that formed again on her feet. They were not nearly as bad this day. Her boots were finally starting to break in. The end of the day came quickly with all four of them talking and telling stories. Sara spoke the least, not having much to tell, and wanting to learn all she could about the boys, especially Seth.
As the sun began to set, they searched around for a good place to make camp. Sara was the first to notice a small stand of young trees a short way off the trail, and pointing it out, the group changed direction, angling towards the trees. They were birches in a rough circle with a decent opening at their heart. In the opening, at the very center there lay a ring of stones encompassing a pile of charred wood and ash, marking this as a place where someone else had made camp recently. Sara was happy to have contributed at least this much.
CHAPTER 23
Seth
This night the air was much colder, and Seth found himself waking at regular intervals to stretch his cold muscles and calm his chattering teeth. Each time he woke, he checked on Sara, being sure that she slept peacefully, and often he carefully pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders, tucking it around her small body to be sure she stayed warm. Laying back down he would try and salvage what was left of the night each time.
Seth was again the first to wake as the sky began to lighten. He looked around, verifying everyone was still sleeping restfully, and rolled to check again on Sara. He liked watching her sleep. She was so peaceful, so beautiful. But he decided this morning to wake her, not wanting to disturb her rest but hoping that they could perhaps share a few moments together, alone, without the eyes of the others upon them. Like the morning before, he knelt down beside her and whispered in her ear.
Again as before her eyes came slowly open, and registering his face she again smiled at him. Sara hastily made a plan. She rose from her blanket and motioned for Seth to go across the small clearing. He began to cautiously walk the short distance, careful not to step on anything that might make a noise. Sara reached down, snatching up the blanket, and followed him.
They walked together to the edge of the trees, and Seth turned to see what it was that she intended. Sara quickly asked Seth to sit, and he did, eager to make her happy. He plopped down on the ground, his knees in the air, and his back against one of the small trees that made the grove. Sara, watching Seth’s face for any looks of disapproval, ignored the empty space beside him and instead climbed carefully into his lap, curling up like a child. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her entire body against his chest. Seth sat there for what seemed like a long time, feeling her small body pressed against his, listening to her breathing. Finally warm, and more relaxed and comfortable than he could ever remember feeling, he fell asleep. Seth had not meant to. He wanted to relish in that moment forever if he could, but his body, overwhelmed and exhausted and now finally relaxed, had other plans.
Sara lay contentedly in Seth’s large arms. His body was so comfortable around her, it was as if she was meant to be here. It made her feel like she was made to fit in his arms. She could feel Seth’s body finally warming to a reasonable level. She heard his breathing slow, and she felt his chest beneath her moving in a steady rhythm. Knowing Seth had fallen asleep with her in his arms, she too closed her eyes and drifted into darkness, hoping to never leave his arms again.
CHAPTER 24
Sara
Sara awoke some time later. She did not know how long she had slept, but noted the sky was fairly bright now. She listened to Seth’s breathing a moment, and found to her delight that he was still asleep. She heard a rustling sound and slowly, carefully, turned her head to see where it had come from. Garret and Ashton stood a short distance away, staring at the unexpected sight of Sara in Seth’s arms. Realizing they had been caught gaping, Ashton’s face flushed and he quickly turned and walked away. Garret, on the other hand, raised his hand to his mouth to stifle a laugh and shook his head jokingly at Sara. She glared at him menacingly, letting him know in no uncertain terms that if he woke his brother he was in trouble. Garret’s smile disappeared and he nodded in understanding. Then, with a wink to her, he turned and strode across the small clearing to pack up his things. Sara watched the two boys to make sure they would not disturb Seth, and feeling confident that they would not, she turned her head back to his shoulder and pressed her face into his neck. There she lay, curled against his chest, until he eventually awoke.
CHAPTER 25
Seth
Shifting his weight slightly to relieve his muscles, Seth found Sara still curled up in his arms. He pulled her tightly against him, hugging her body to his. Then, as he relaxed his grip on her, her small face slid into his view and she stretched her body up, bringing them eye to eye. Seth watched as Sara smiled at him, and he was ready for her this time as she leaned in to kiss him. Sliding his arm from behind her small body, he cupped the back of her head lightly with one large hand. Feeling their lips press together, Seth lost control of the situation. He kissed her softly, more eagerly than he had originally intended. He hoped he hadn’t frightened her, and as he relaxed to withdraw himself from her, he had his answer. Instead of letting him escape the kiss, she turned in his lap and used her body to follow his retreat, kissing him harder and more passionately. She continued to kiss him until neither of them could breathe. Sara, short of breath, finally relented. Panting as she was, she smiled at him with the most beautiful smile he had ever seen. She opened her mouth slightly then as if to speak. Seth watched and listened, waiting intently for the words that followed. The words did not come. Instead Sara sighed and once again laid herself against him. Seth turned his head and kissed her cheek. Adjusting his body, careful to keep Sara comfortably in his arms, Seth scooped her up and stood with her body curled against his chest, and strode across the clearing carrying her.
Reaching the spot where they had slept the night before, Seth laid out the blanket as best he could and gently placed Sara upon it. She noticed the looks that Garret and Ashton had on their faces, and her cheeks blushed a bright red before she could hide her face. Seth picked up her boots, pack and crossbow and brought them to her, setting them at her side. Sara then noticed that Garret and Ashton already wore their packs, eager to get back on the trail. She hurriedly laced up her boots, hefted her pack into place and hung her crossbow over her shoulder. Seth watched as she readied herself, and when she finished, he picked up the blanket and hastily shoved it into his pack. Grabbing Sara’s hand, he turned to his brother with a crooked grin, and the four of them began walking.
CHAPTER 26
Sara
The day went by swiftly, without interruption. They talked of The Choosing again, though Sara never heard Seth mention what his hopes were for the ceremony. Often they walked in silence, both Seth and Sara reliving the morning’s events in their heads. Ashton again related what he knew of the different gods to Sara who had asked about them, and it turned out she was already better informed about many of them than the twins had been. Sara had told them that she hadn’t thought about The Choosing ceremony much, as it was relatively out of her hands. She only hoped now that it would not keep her away from Seth. Though he hadn’t said it, Sara hoped that Seth was thinking much the same. Garret and Seth talked for a while, taking turns to relate to Sara details about their previous years living in Vineleaf. These stories she took particular interest in and asked many questions, committing their answers to memory.
The day passed quickly, comfortably, as they walked. Sara’s feet barely blistered, and she was able to keep pace with the boys most of the time. Sara walked, her hand in Seth’s, staring at the ground trying to memo
rize yet another detail of Seth’s life when she noticed a strange print on the trail. It was unlike any other she had seen since leaving Stone Haven, and it spiked her curiosity enough that she found herself looking for another like it as they continued to walk. She saw a few more, and each time it appeared to be in the direction of crossing the wide path they took, not following it as most did. She assumed that it was a large animal that had left the track. They had stopped to eat but once this day, trying to conserve their food, and Sara found that she was hungry and hoped they planned to eat when they stopped to make camp.
The sun had begun to set, the sky slowly turning orange, then crimson. The wind had picked up over the last couple of hours and the temperature had dropped substantially. They continued to walk a little longer, hoping to find some sort of shelter before all the light was gone from the sky. The plains here offered very little in the terms of protection. Stands of trees like the one they had found the night before were becoming more and more scarce. Instead all that seemed to survive in this area of the plains was dense underbrush, rocks and very rarely a short, twisted, sickly looking tree. From horizon to horizon the four companions could see nothing but a vast field of yellow and gray. It was a dismal place in the fading light of late evening.
CHAPTER 27
Garret
One moment they were walking along the wide trail, and the next Garret had stopped, as if frozen in his tracks. He stood on the trail, his companions all looking at him, and he peered, squinting his eyes to the east trying to see something clearer, that the fading light was hiding from him. He told the others to wait where they were and he headed off the trail, wading through the ocean of waist-deep brush. Seth, Ashton and Sara watched him go. He could feel their eyes upon his back.
Walking several hundred yards off the trail he came to stand at a large outcropping of stone. It looked unnatural here, one huge stone lying diagonally across another, creating a large cave-like opening beneath the large stone slab. The opening wasn’t tall, barely high enough to sit in, but it was wide enough for the four of them to lie in comfortably. Garret eyed the hole, looking for signs of any animal that might inhabit it. Not seeing any, he called back to his companions, telling them to join him.
It did not take long for them to reach him as he had already plowed them a path. They decided it was unsafe to start a fire here, despite the cold. There was too much brush around to try and contain flames, especially with the wind blowing harder and harder as the night progressed. They quickly made camp, ate a hasty meal of dried meat and cheese, if it could be called a meal, and sat for a while talking.
The sun disappeared beyond the horizon and shortly thereafter so too did any trace of light. Clouds had blown in throughout the day, and they now obscured any sign of the moons or stars. The small group stumbled over one another and struggled to lay out their blankets in the darkness. Seth dug the blanket out of his pack Instead of spreading it out for her as had previously been his custom, he grasped her hand and pulled her through the darkness to the huge stone that their roof rested upon. The ceiling was the highest here and would be the most comfortable. Releasing Sara’s hand, Seth pulled the blanket behind him across his shoulders, and sat down, his back against the stone. He reached out to her, searching the darkness with his fingers. He brushed against her arm and followed it down to grasp her hand. Seth gently pulled at her hand leading her to him. The ceiling was so low even Sara had to crouch to maneuver safely. He assumed that she tried to see him through the darkness, but ended up tripping over his foot and fell right into his waiting lap. Seth successfully stifled a laugh, hoping she hadn’t hurt herself in the fall. He had no way to check her for injuries in the darkness, unsure of where his hands may lay upon her body. Sara sat stunned for a moment in Seth’s lap before moving. Eventually she seemed to realize where she was, and also realized Seth’s intentions. He wanted to hold her again in his arms as they slept. Though he wasn’t certain if she would accept his invitation, she turned her body to face him in the darkness and snuggled against his chest. Reaching up, she placed a hand on either side of his face and kissed him, trying to convey her happiness at his decision. She let their lips linger for a few moments, and then settled into his arms, her head on his shoulder, her face to his neck as before.
“Thank you,” Sara whispered into the darkness.
Seth pulled her tight to his chest, hugging her close, hoping beyond hope that she felt the same about him as was now feeling for her. He held her tightly for a long time, longer than he probably should. He didn’t want to make Sara feel uncomfortable. Finally, unwillingly, Seth relaxed his hold on the small woman, sighing in reluctance.
“No,” Sara whispered, her voice the sound of heavenly music. “You can hold me tighter, I like it.”
Seth didn’t allow her to say another word. Again he pulled her body into his, and locking his arms around her, he whispered into her hair, “I’ll never let you go, not unless you ask me to.” This promise Seth made to her with every fiber of his being, knowing he would fight with everything he had to keep her forever.
CHAPTER 28
Sara
Sara heard his words, not so much with her ears as she did with her soul. Her eyes filled with tears and she let them slide down her face, quietly lost in the darkness. She believed Seth’s words to be true, and more importantly, she knew he cared as much for her as she did for him. She had tried to be cautious. Tried to avoid having feelings for him lest she be hurt, but had failed miserably. He treated her like a princess, and the way he looked at her. By the gods he was too good to be true. She didn’t feel worthy of him. He was too good.
She had been raised, at least these last several years, believing she was worthless. Less than worthless, actually, as her worth was in debt to a hateful, abusive man. She did not want to burden Seth with care for her, a person who was not whole, a person who was broken. It seemed unfair of her to let him feel this way, knowing she would never be deserving of him, unable to make him happy. Yet, for some reason, Seth continued to have feelings for her. Maybe he didn’t realize she wasn’t worthy of him. Or perhaps he pitied her. Maybe, Sara allowed herself to hope…maybe he knew she was broken and didn’t care. Whatever the reason for Seth’s misguided affection, Sara was overwhelmingly happy that those feelings were for her. She would do whatever she was capable of to make Seth happy too so that his feelings for her would never change.
CHAPTER 29
Seth
Seth sat, his eyes closed, listening to the darkness. She was comfortable with him. Something Seth had been afraid she might never be. He had surmised much of her past by reading between the lines of the stories she had told about her life. She never shared many details, and he assumed it was because they were too painful for her to tell. It was obvious that John had abused her, both emotionally and physically. This fact had led Seth to fear that Sara might never trust anyone enough to get close. Yet now she was putting her trust in him, and there was no way he would endanger that trust. He would protect her and her feelings at all costs.
CHAPTER 30
Garret
Garret lay awake for a long time finding it hard to get comfortable on the stone floor. He had heard whispers from somewhere within their nature-made shelter, and knew that it was Seth and Sara. He envied Seth a little for finding such a beautiful woman. They seemed to fit well together. She was always looking at his brother with love in her eyes, and for this Garret was happy. He too knew his brother cared for Sara. He could see it in the way Seth walked with her and talked to her. Seth adored the girl, and who could blame him. She was gorgeous. The fact that the two of them seemed so happy with each other was the reason Garret was pleased for them, but at the same time extremely worried about them. He had been trying his best to conceal his concern when they spoke. Thus far he had been able to leave his brother and Sara in the dark about it. Now he wondered if he should mention it to them.
Garret knew that a small part of him was jealous of Sara, it was only natura
l. Seth was his twin, and they had always been the ones to look out for one another, always been as close as two people could be. Sara had changed that to a degree and Garret had noticed. He was not angry, though. He knew that one day it would happen, he just didn’t expect it so soon. But all that was of little importance. What really mattered now was Seth and Sara. He assumed that they had not yet really thought about where they were going. In just over a week, they would be attending The Choosing ceremony, where more than likely they would be chosen to play two different roles, in two different places. It was possible that they might be picked for the same thing, but highly unlikely. Garret was torn about what he should do. He could warn them, remind them really, of the impending possibility. This he feared might end their romance and bring them both to resent him. At the same time, however, it could make them that much more passionate about each other, allowing their bond to strengthen to the point that it might last even if they were separated. It was a thin line.
Garret still had the option of simply keeping his mouth shut, delaying the realization that was sure to hit them in the very near days to come. He did not think this would destroy Seth and Sara’s relationship, but it might lead them to do something foolish without enough time to prepare themselves for a possible separation. Then again, Garret thought, maybe they had already discussed it and decided it wasn’t important enough to dwell upon yet. Garret hated being unsure. He could usually make difficult decisions quickly. Usually, though, those decisions did not affect his brother’s happiness nor his relationship with his twin. Garret pondered the impossible dilemma until his brain could literally take no more. One minute he was conscious, the next he was out like a snuffed candle.
Age of the Gods: The Complete, twelve novel, fantasy series (The Blood and Brotherhood Saga) Page 10
