The Road To Avea

by Lynn Lorenz

  Rolf knew he should hide his interest in her. "No, there's no one." All his good intentions faltered as his need to feel a connection to this woman overtook him. Just one night with her would be enough for him. "And you?"

  "Oh, I have many suitors, but none who suit me. Sarah seems to think I may find the right man here at Avalon."

  Her voice shook him from his thoughts, but her eyes stared out at the woods.

  Rolf knew what he had to do. His only recourse. "There are many young, handsome men at Avalon, all with good futures ahead of them." His tone was cool and detached.

  She turned and locked eyes with him. "Who said I wanted young and handsome. I prefer older and fascinating."

  Rolf swallowed hard. Her emerald eyes pulled him to her. Never had lips looked so sweet to him. Her scent was driving him wild. His nostrils flared again, drinking it in. He wanted to kiss her, taste her, drown in her, but it was impossible. He was cursed.

  He broke away from her gaze and its danger. "Here's Avalon Castle now." Rolf pointed to the tall spires and gabled roof peeking just over the tops of the trees. "Legend has it, it was built nearly a thousand years ago, after hunters--knights actually--followed a wounded bear to the lake. They thought the area so beautiful they camped there. The first version of the castle was begun that next spring."

  "That's so interesting, Rolf." Her bright eyes gazed at him, as she hung on his every word.

  By the One God, a man could get used to the look in her eyes.

  Still, no matter how he felt, he had to fight it. Love was not for him. Love was not for monsters.

  * * * *

  As they turned into the lane leading to the Castle, Luci was frustrated. She'd practically told Rolf she would welcome his attentions, but there he sat, on the other end of the bench, looking at the passing scenery instead of into her eyes. She was not used to men ignoring her. She would have to exert more effort, it seemed.

  Honestly, how much more blatant could I be?

  She knew he'd scented her. She'd seen his nostrils flare, just as her own had done. His scent was overpowering, inescapable. There was no denying it--she wanted him, and it was driving her mad that he was so aloof.

  The carriage stopped in the courtyard, and Rolf hopped down. He turned to help Luci, but she didn't offer her hand; she stood there poised at the edge of the carriage, waiting.

  "Will you help me, Inspector?" Her voice was soft, with just a hint of suggestion.

  "Of course, Miss Greenwood." He reached up, his hands encircling her small waist. She placed her hands on his shoulders to brace herself, just as she felt her knees give way. No other man had given her such a strong reaction, and just from the touch of his hands.

  Long sheets of red hair hung down and brushed his face as he lifted her. Locking her knees, she touched ground, almost as tall as he was. They stood very close for a moment, in as close to an embrace as they could get.

  * * * *

  Even as his body trembled, he resisted her. His hands held her as he fought his urge to pull her to him and feel her body against his. The still depths of her eyes seemed to draw him in and he thought he would kiss her, devour her mouth, and taste her skin.

  An image of her and him and deep woods appeared in his mind and his body responded. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, like hackles.

  Danger. For her or for him?

  With an effort, he took a step back and went to retrieve her bag from the back of the carriage, breaking the physical connection between them.

  * * * *

  Luci gave a quiet gasp. Lifting her hand to her throat, she touched the locket hanging there.

  Sarah came down the steps to greet her friend. "Luci! I'm so glad you came."

  She embraced Sarah, then they walked up the steps to the castle with their arms around each other's waists, their heads together, whispering and laughing.

  Rolf followed with Luci's bag. A tall man, dressed in an inspector's uniform, appeared at the top of the steps. One look at the inspector and the way his dark eyes followed Sarah told Luci that this was the man Sarah had written about in her letter.

  "Who is this, Sarah?" she asked.

  Sarah gave Luci a look, which she met with an innocent smile. "Luci Greenwood, this is Inspector Stefan Bane."

  Stefan bowed formally to Luci, his left arm swept back and his right over his heart. "Miss Greenwood."

  "I have heard a great deal about you, Inspector." She smiled at him. This was too much fun. She couldn't wait for tonight.

  Stefan raised his eyebrow in reply and looked at Sarah in question. "Have you?"

  Blushing, Sarah tried to rescue herself. "I write of everyone here at the station, don't I, Luci?" She squeezed Luci's waist tighter.

  "Some more than others." Luci's smile was light, as her voice teased.

  "Come, Luci. I'm sure you're tired from your long trip." Sarah rushed her past Stefan and into the foyer.

  "It wasn't that long, dearest," she muttered.

  Stefan fell into place behind Rolf and the carpetbag in the small procession as Sarah led the way up the stairs. "You have a room next to mine. I had Tandy prepare it for you."

  "How wonderful. I'm looking forward to spending time with you. I've missed you so." Luci looked back over her shoulder and caught Rolf's eye. He coughed and looked at a painting they were passing.

  They reached a closed door. "This is my room, and you're here." Sarah pointed to the next door.

  Without hesitation, Luci stepped up, placed her hand on the lock plate, and opened the door. Turning to Rolf, who followed with her bag, she gave him a soft smile. "Thank you for bringing me from Chester, Inspector. Please, make me happy and tell me I'll be seeing you later?" She looked into his eyes.

  Rolf dropped his gaze and bowed. He handed her the bag, turned, and escaped down the hall.

  Luci sighed. She'd just have work a little harder on the inspector, that's all.

  * * * *

  Stefan leaned, arms crossed, against the wall in the inspectors' hall. Rolf walked past him in a daze.

  "Rolf?"

  Rolf ignored him and kept walking.

  Stefan turned and followed. "Rolf? Is something wrong?"

  "That was the most beautiful woman I've ever seen." He seemed as if he were in a trance. "Did you smell her? She smells so good." He came to his door and halted.

  "Does she?" Stefan understood. Sarah's fragrance, lavender mixed with her body scent, affected him strongly every time he was near her.

  "It's so familiar to me, yet I can't remember where I've come across it before."

  "Perhaps in your dreams?"

  Rolf looked sharply at Stefan. His face was straight, but the corners of his eyes crinkled.

  "You're enjoying this, aren't you?" Rolf's tone was sharp and angry.

  "What are you talking about?" Stefan raised his eyebrow.

  "You know I can't have her. I can't have any woman." He clenched his fists.

  "Perhaps, if you went to chapel, spoke to the priest?" Stefan held his hand out, palm up, as if it contained hope.

  "Forget it." There was an angry slash of his hand. "I gave up on the One God long ago."

  "You can't be serious, Rolf. You gave your oath to Him. Where is your faith?" Shocked, it had never occurred to him that Rolf was faithless.

  "My faith? Long gone, Stefan. Where was He all the years I spent praying for answers. Why me? What did I do to deserve this? All the candles I've lit. All unanswered. And now, he brings her to me." Rolf ran his hand over his face. "This is torture!"

  "Of that, I know." Stefan gave a rueful grin.

  Rolf looked up, saw it, and barked a laugh. "If we're not careful, Stefan, we'll be old men, still at our posts here, with no one but each other to keep us company." He pushed off from the wall, slapped Stefan on the shoulder, touched the lock plate, and ducked inside his door.

  "There's a thought that frightens." Stefan headed across the hall to his room.

  * * * *

  "
Well?" Sarah asked, hands on her hips. "Was I right? I must have been. I saw how you looked at Rolf, and him at you."

  "Sarah, dearest, you know me too well. I found him as you said, handsome, kind, sad, lonely, and so fascinating. There is such a strong connection between us. However, he's fighting it. If I'd only had more time on the drive." She sighed. "But tell me all about Inspector Bane. He's deliciously dark and his eyes devour you, my dear. He's trying hard to hide it, but he's smitten." Luci had taken off her traveling cloak. She sat on the bed as she pulled off her gloves.

  "One minute I feel in step with him and the next, I don't understand him, Luci." Sarah shook her head. "If he cared for me, then why did he report me? Yet, there were times when he acted as if I were his." She flopped on the bed, burying her face in the pillows.

  "Are you in love with him?" Luci always did get right to the point.

  Sarah pulled a pillow from her face. "Yes, I am. I was, that is. Not any more. I won't let myself be. That's best." She replaced the pillow.

  "Is it? You're still in love, dearest. Your face glows when you speak of him." Luci smiled wickedly and snatched the pillow off Sarah's face. "I'll wager, so does your body."

  Sarah sat up, shocked. "Don't worry about my body, Luci. Stefan is my superior officer and fraternization between a patroller and an inspector is against the rules. I think."

  "Be brave, Sarah, and just tell him how you feel." Luci leaned over and took Sarah's hand.

  "What if I told him of my feelings and he laughed at me, or worse, treated me as if I were a schoolgirl with a crush? I couldn't bear the rejection." Sarah punched the pillow in frustration. "To finally put my heart out to a man only to have it crushed." She shook her head. "No, I trusted him once. I can't do it again."

  Tandy appeared and greeted Luci with a curtsy.

  "Tandy, please assist Miss Luci and do whatever she needs of you."

  "Right away, miss. Just call if you need me."

  "Tandy, thank you so much for preparing the room. Everything is just as I like it. Will you take my dresses out and press them?"

  "Of course, miss."

  Tandy curtsied again and set to work.

  "Luci, I'm going to get changed for dinner. I'll meet you in an hour, and we'll go down to the mess hall. With any luck, we'll find you a seat next to Rolf!" Sarah winked at Luci and left the room.

  * * * *

  Luci sat there for a moment.

  "Tandy?" If you wanted to know what was going on with people, ask their servants. She was well aware of addlers' gossipy nature, having spent her entire life surrounded by a large staff of addlers at her parents' estate.

  The little addler hung up a freshly pressed dress and then stopped her work. "Aye, miss?"

  "Tandy, what do you think about Inspector Bane? Is he a good man? What's the word here about him?" Luci patted the bed for Tandy to join her.

  She hopped up and straightened her skirts. "Well, the inspector is very strange. He treats his addler kind enough...never beats him. He keeps to himself and he is a devout man. His addler says he goes to chapel often to pray." She was more than happy to tell what she knew.

  Luci thought, devout, eh? So, Sarah has found someone who spends as much time as she does praying. Luci shuddered. Better her than me. She'd fallen too far for any pretense of righteousness.

  "Does he love Sarah, Tandy?" Luci looked into Tandy's eyes. "Tell me if you know."

  "Well, I only know what Firestone, his addler, told Moss, Inspector Creel's addler, and he--Moss, not Creel--told Fleur, whom Moss is trying to woo, and she told me." She took a deep breath and continued. "Firestone says the inspector has been very out of sorts ever since she arrived. He mopes in his room when not on duty, pining for her." Tandy frowned. "Serves him right, taking her on that horrible mission, making her wear smelly old clothes, sleep in a barn, and then, to top it off, suspending her."

  "What else does Firestone say?" It was quite a job keeping the addler focused on the question at hand.

  "Well, Firestone also said Inspector Bane saw Miss Sarah kiss Inspector Creel on the cheek." She winked. "In the moonlight." Another wink. "Firestone said the inspector was so upset he destroyed the looking glass in his room with his fist. He had to see the healer to seal the cuts on his hand." Tandy's eyes were alight.

  "Did he, now? That sounds like a man in love, if you ask me." Luci collapsed back on the bed. "Tandy, what about you? Have you found someone here?" She rolled onto her side and smiled at the addler.

  "I have." She nodded. "An air elemental, with the most beautiful blue...uh, eyes I've ever seen."

  "Oh? And does he hold you in the same esteem?"

  "Of course." Tandy smiled and flipped her hand through her green curls.

  "So have you selected him as your mate?" Luci grew up around addlers and she understood much about them and their ways.

  "I haven't decided yet. I must wait to see what he offers." She nodded and hopped down.

  "If he wants you, it'll be something wonderful, I wager." Luci laughed.

  "It had better be!" Tandy gave a saucy grin. "After all, the castle is full of handsome addlers." She gave a knowing smile to Luci and departed.

  Chapter 15

  "Come on, Luci, or we'll be late." Sarah sat on the bed, her chin in her hand.

  "That's the idea, dearest." Luci's voice floated in from the bathroom.

  She swept into the room wearing a fitted gown the color of moss on a rock. A dozen small braids entwined with matching green silk ribbons decorated her long red hair.

  "You look so beautiful." Sarah sighed. "How do you manage it?"

  "Tandy sent up one of the addlers to help me with my hair. She does the horse's manes and tails on dress parade." Luci held up her skirt and pawed the floor with her foot. "If I whinny at any point during the evening, you'll know why." She laughed and twirled a braid.

  "Can we go now?" Sarah stood.

  "Is that what you're wearing?" Luci pointed to Sarah's plain grey dress and matching jacket.

  "We aren't as fancy here as you're used to, Luci."

  "At least, take off the jacket. You'll never catch the inspector's eye if you don't show the bait."

  "Luci! You're so wicked." Sarah shook her head, but she removed the jacket and looked in the mirror. The small glimpse of décolletage made her uncomfortable. "I don't want to catch his eye." She frowned at her reflection as she adjusted the neckline.

  "Why not? He's already swimming around you, dearest, so you might as well set the hook and reel him in," Luci told her, pretending to throw out a fishing line.

  "Am I reduced to being a worm on the end of the line? I'm not bait, Luci. Not for any man." Sarah shook her head and picked up the jacket.

  "Right, I forgot. You're in the Avalon Patrol. You gave up being a woman when you took your oath."

  "That's not fair, Luci. You know my doubts." Sarah frowned at her friend.

  "Dearest." Luci went to her friend and held her. "None of these men are your father, Sarah. Give them a chance."

  "But, my heart..." Sarah sighed.

  Luci released her. "Every heart should be broken at least once; that way you know it's working." She turned to inspect herself in the mirror of the dresser one last time. "In my experience, I've found that hearts are surprisingly strong and have the most amazing ability to heal." Luci headed to the door, and Sarah followed in her wake.

  They reached the top of the stairs and stopped. At the bottom Stefan, Rolf, and Thatcher stood talking.

  Luci leaned over and lowered her voice. "Wait right here, Sarah."

  "Why?"

  "Watch and learn." Luci grinned at her friend and softly cleared her throat. "Now, we can go down." Luci began her perfectly timed descent.

  Rolf had turned at the soft sound and looked up. His eyes widened and he swallowed hard. Stefan followed his gaze. Sarah felt the heat of his stare as he took her in. She looked down, pretending to watch the stairs as she descended. Thatcher stood with his eyes alight in obviou
s appreciation.

  Entranced, the trio watched every step with, what seemed to Sarah, complete rapture. She felt oddly powerful. Is this how Luci feels all the time? Heady stuff.

  When they reached the bottom of the stairs, the two women stopped in front of the men.

  "Chief Inspector Thatcher, may I present Lucinda Greenwood?" Sarah motioned to Luci.

  "Delighted to meet you, Miss Greenwood." Thatcher bowed to her, then nodded to Rolf. "You've met Inspector Creel, I understand, and Inspector Bane also?"

  "Yes, Inspector Creel was kind enough to retrieve me from the coach at Chester." She smiled, turning to Rolf in open admiration.

  "Indeed? Lucky man." Thatcher grinned. "Well, I'm glad you were able to come. Let's go in to dinner, shall we?" Thatcher offered her his arm, and she took it.

  "Thank you, Chief Inspector, for allowing me to stay here at the castle," Luci said as they strolled.

  "Well, I couldn't very well let Gregor Greenwood's only child stay in the local inn, could I?" Thatcher patted her hand.

  "Oh, do you know my father?" She tilted her head to him.

  "Aye, I've known Lord Greenwood for many years. In my early years, I patrolled near your estate. I solved that little matter of his foreman who was stealing the sheep."

  "So you're Patroller Thatcher! He tells that story often and speaks of your talents with great esteem. I had no idea this was you, all grown up." She batted her eyes at him, and his chest enlarged under her gaze.

  Sarah followed, listening as Luci charmed yet another man. She should be taking notes.

  Rolf leaned toward Stefan. "Lord Greenwood? She has an estate?"

  "I believe that's what he said." Stefan shot a glance sideways at him.

  Catching the conversation, Sarah looked over her shoulder at Rolf and gave him a sympathetic smile.

  When they reached the long table, Thatcher sat Luci to his left. Stefan took his right, with Rolf next to him and Sarah next to Luci. Several other patrollers took seats at another table, clearly in deference to the visitor.

  As dinner began, Rolf and Luci glanced at each other. His were quick, darting glances, while she watched him with intent from under her long red lashes.