He turned and grinned, arching his brows. “My back still needs washing.”
Fiona reached up and grabbed her towel and stepped out of the pool, uncaring that her behind was bare. She slipped her tunic on and when she was covered, she turned and faced him, angry now. “I’m not your plaything. You go too far and I am not amused. I am not staying in this place. I am leaving the first chance I get. I want to go home!” Unshed tears clouded her vision.
Kellach was astounded to find that he was wounded by her words. Why did it matter so much to him that she wanted to leave? “Where would you go?”
“I want to go back to where you found me. I need to see if there is anything that would help me find my way home!”
He stepped out of the pool. “There is nothing there. You would not find what you seek.”
“Will you take me?”
He shook his head. “I’ve no wish to travel there. I told you, it is barren country. There is nothing there and the journey too dangerous.”
Fiona whirled and stomped out. The wind had died down and she ran up the hill and into the dwelling. Conan jumped up when she entered, pulling against his rope, trying to get to her. Tears overflowed and she buried her face in his fur. Time was passing and she was afraid if she didn’t get back soon, she never would. She didn’t want to die in this place. She wanted to return home and be babied by her mother and father and go out on the town with Meagan and live the life she knew. Not this. Sobs wracked her body for some time and finally, when she couldn’t cry anymore, she prepared for bed. It was very late and Kellach had still not returned and she wondered if he would this night.
Sixteen
The bathhouse was too silent and empty after Fiona left, and he was alone with his dark thoughts. Kellach dressed slowly and stepped out into the night. The tearing wind had quieted and a slight breeze wafted over him, cooling his heated skin.
He turned towards home, but changed his mind. No comfort to be had there, he thought, and instead went to share a cup of wine with his men. The inns were bustling with patrons and, after several attempts, he found Durlach and a few others. Durlach waved him over and he made his way through the crowd and sat down. Immediately, a serving girl came over and set a flagon of wine before him. He drank deeply while his eyes searched the room. Men from every class joined here to partake in the dark side of life. Loose women moved from table to table, ever willing to entertain paying customers in the small huts out back. Disinterested, Kellach ignored their practiced posturing.
Durlach drew a circle of wine on the table. “Elochad is leading a caravan to the east next spring, I would join with him.”
Kellach nodded, such was expected. Durlach was young and had many things to experience before he would be ready to stay in one place. Kellach would sorely miss him but would not stand in his way.
“Elochad is a fair man He will treat you well.”
“If I thought you would have need of me, I would not go,” Durlach looked expectantly at him.
“My needs should not stand in your way. Go and make your fortune.” He slapped Durlach on the arm. Durlach was like a brother to him and he would miss his company. “Why do you wait so long?”
“Engai threatens him should he leave so soon,” he chuckled.
Many of the women would make the same threat. The journeys were long and it was hard to be left behind.
“Spring will come soon enough and until then, I will have need of your arm.”
A plump arm circled his neck and a strident voice shrilled. “Kellach, where have you been? I heard you were back but you have not yet visited me.”
Moluag moved around and planted herself on his lap. He smiled and hugged her. Moluag was a favorite with him, mostly because she was easy with her charms and cleaner than most and she was never jealous if he favored another. She was merry and witty and never lacked for company. Tonight, though, for the first time, he noticed how her perfume overwhelmed him, poured on in an attempt to cover the smell of sweat and other men. Her red hair hung in oily tendrils and her breath smelled of sour wine. He also noticed other things, the lines on her face and the sagging breasts. Her opulent figure used to please him, but tonight he felt repelled.
Unconsciously, he compared her buxom figure to another’s and found Moluag wanting. Broodingly, he wondered, when had his tastes changed so much? When did silvery blonde hair and green eyes become his standard of comparison?
Moluag leaned forward to kiss him and he pushed her gently away. Surprise twisted her features and, after looking into his eyes and reading the message there, she moved back in disappointment. Kellach had ever been special to her and that she was noticed by so great a Lord was good for business. Kellach stood up and she slid from his lap, confusion on her face.
“The problem lies not with you, Moluag, but with me,” he denied her gently. “I would seek tamer company.”
Moluag smiled, pleased that he would name her more than he could handle. Others close by heard this and clamored for her attention. She tossed her head and moved away. She could still please most and she had no doubt Kellach would be back. Rumors were that he had a woman now, but if he had a new woman, why was he here? Time would return him to her.
Kellach moved to leave and Durlach followed. The thought of going home right now was not a temptation for him so they moved on to another inn. Laughter and music burst from the door and scantily clad dancers moved through the throng of revelers. More of his men were found here and soon they were drinking cup for cup. A slim Oriental woman danced sinuously toward him, her dark eyes promising unknown pleasures, but he felt no interest in her. She was too dark to suit. Wine flowed and soon his brain was fogged, the room swayed and tilted.
He staggered to his feet. “I would seek my own bed,” he declared. “Whilst I can still find my way.”
Protests rang from every side. “I must go home to my woman,” he declared. “She waits my arrival.” He leered convincingly, to his mind anyway, and reeled to the door. “I must not disappoint her.” She would be waiting for his attention and he would satisfy her as no other.
The night was cold and bracing and his brain cleared just enough to find his way home. Pots, plants and rocks fought with him as he staggered home and more than once, someone needlessly tripped him. He would find the beggar on the morrow and teach him the lesson he deserved.
****
Long wakeful hours passed and, in the early hours of the morning, Kellach finally returned, singing off-key as he bumped and banged into every piece of furniture. From her warm nest, she imagined his hard body as he undressed, as she did on countless other sleepless nights.
“Fiona,” he sang, “my lovely servant, where are you?”
She burrowed down further into her covers and pretended to sleep. Kellach banged against a chair outside her little corner and cursed loudly. Conan lifted up and growled, his body stiff.
“I know you’re in there,” he said cheerfully. “Come out and attend to me.”
She grinned in the dark. It was hard to stay mad. Nothing like a drunk to liven things up.
“Go away” she said feigning anger. “I’m asleep.”
He leaned through the curtains, a drunken leer on his handsome face. “I could wake you up and then you could assist me.” He waggled his eyebrows. The smell of the wine he had been drinking almost suffocated her.
“I told you I’m asleep. Now go away.”
“If you were really asleep, you wouldn’t be talking. I know you have been waiting for me,” he argued. “I have come to satisfy you.”
He lurched forward and became entangled in the curtains, and as he fell, they came down about him, wrapping him securely. He fought for a few moments and then lay still. She waited for his next move, and when none came, she leaned over and lifted the cover from his face. The idiot had passed out and was snoring! She reached for a bed cover. He could sleep on the floor. There was no way she’d be able to get him to bed. For goodness sakes, he weighed far too much for her to lif
t. Feeling guilty, she worked a pillow under his head and smoothed his hair from his face. Too bad she wasn’t going to stay. He would have been interesting.
Seventeen
Light pierced his eyelids and his head pounded as though from a thousand drums. Something wet was continuously moving across his face, and when he squinted one eye open, Conan was perched on his chest, giving his face a good cleaning. As he stared, a large wet tongue applied another layer of slime. He brushed the dog off and attempted to sit up. Pain wracked his brain and his head felt as though it were splitting! His stomach rolled and the taste of his own mouth gagged him. Fiona moved around near the cooking fire and turned as she heard his movements.
“So, you’re awake,” she needlessly commented, “and looking none too good either.”
Kellach groaned. Last night fumes still sat in his nose.
Fiona fixed something in a cup and brought it to him. “Drink this. It’ll make you feel better.”
He drank the liquid in one gulp and almost choked on the taste. “By the Gods, Woman, do you seek to murder me?”
Fiona chuckled and turned back to the cooking fire. She ladled out something hot and brought the bowl to him. Just the thought of eating made his stomach heave and the smell offended him greatly.
Fiona noted the green tinge to Kellach’s face and had to turn away to keep him from seeing her grin. The big strong man did have a few weaknesses. “Eat and you’ll feel better.”
He set the bowl down. “I can’t eat this now, I fear it wouldn’t set well on my stomach.”
“Suit yourself, it’s your life to suffer,” she smirked and prepared to leave.
“Where are you going,” he asked feeling cross. “I don’t think I should be alone, I am too ill.”
She laughed outright. “You’ll live, but perhaps you’ll wish you didn’t. Last night might have been more fun that you could handle.”
Kellach glared at her through the red mist fogging his eyes. “I but shared a few cups with my friends. It was nothing.”
“Then you’ll be fine and you don’t need me,” she said reasonably. “I have things to do besides take care of a grouchy old man.”
“Grouchy? Old? I am not grouchy and everyone knows I am in my prime. Ask anyone.”
By now Fiona was laughing so hard, tears streamed down her face. He glared but slowly his mouth began to twitch. “You are heartless and have no care for my ills.”
“Your ills were caused by you and, in any event, you will survive. I have to leave now, I have things to do. If you survive today,” she teased, “I will see you later.” She turned and left the room, Conan trailing behind.
He fell back, suffering, but little by little, his discomfort eased. Whatever Fiona had poured down his throat seemed to be working. His head pounded less and his stomach settled. Perhaps he would live!
Tanith entered the room. “You don’t look well. Are you ill?”
He grumbled, annoyed by the questions. “I but shared a few drinks with my men. Why do you women need bother me?”
Tanith grinned. “It appears more than a few would be better said.”
“Why are you here and what do you want?”
“I came to see Fiona, but it looks like she’s left already.”
He nodded. “She is off on one of her gathering walks. Do you know, did Cyrnon accompany her?”
“He watches and when she leaves, he catches her. Don’t worry, he will watch her.” She moved around aimlessly, picking up things and looking at nothing in particular. “What do you think of Fiona?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Oh, no real reason. I but wondered how she was settling in here,” she said too casually.
Kellach measured his words. Tanith’s schemes were not lost on him. “She is a good housekeeper and a very good cook.”
“I know that, but what do you think of her? Do you think she’s pretty?”
“She is my housekeeper. I do not look at her that way.”
“I have seen how you look at her, and you do not look at her as a housekeeper. I never saw you look at Etain the way you look at Fiona, not that she wouldn’t have appreciated it had you done so.” She played with her bracelet, seeming uninterested.
“Etain was old! I would not have looked at her in that way.”
“True, true, but Fiona is different. What say you?”
Kellach envisioned Fiona in his mind’s eye. Yes, she was different, beautiful, kind, soft…
Tanith laughed, “She would make you a wonderful wife. You would do well to consider that.”
“Get you gone,” he charged. “I can’t think with all your foolishness.”
Laughing, she leaned down, kissed him quickly and skipped out the door.
***
Her medicinal herbs were in short supply and a collecting walk was in order. She no sooner left the confines of the settlement and Cyrnon rode up.
She smiled at the young man, glad to have company. “Hello, Cyrnon, escaping again?”
He laughed. “Tanith saw you leave again and sent me to watch over you.” He sobered. “You would do well to stay closer to the settlement, besides bandits, there is the threat of the huge striped cats that roam these hills.”
Fiona faltered, her steps slowing. “By huge striped cats, do you mean orange and black striped cats?”
Cyrnon nodded. “The very same. They’re vicious and kill for pleasure. We’ve lost animals and people to their appetites.”
“Oh, shit!” she muttered in English. Tigers weren’t on her list of expected threats. Glancing fearfully around, she was relieved to see that the hills nearby afforded little cover for such huge animals. Cyrnon was watching her, a slight smile creasing his face. Not wanting to let him know she was frightened, she decided to change the subject.
“Where are your partners in crime?”
“I have committed no crime,” he declared, offended.
“I meant, where are the twins today?”
“They are with Elochad. He has need of their help. I would have helped as well, but my first duty is to care for you,” he puffed up with importance.
“And how is Uasail today?”
He grinned and looked away. “Uasail is faster today than he was yesterday, and by tomorrow, no one will be able to catch him.”
“What about a week from now? Will you and he fly?”
He laughed, seeming delighted at the prospect. “Yes, to the tops of the mountains and to the moon.”
Fiona rubbed Uasail’s neck. He was a beautiful animal and his temperament was far better than the little beast she was forced to ride those few times when she actually had to.
“Maybe sometime you will take me for a ride.”
Cyrnon’s face flamed again, and his eyes popped out. “You…you belong to Kellach. I don’t think it would be wise.”
“I don’t belong to Kellach. I work for him,” she protested.
“Everyone says you are Kellach’s woman,” he countered.
“How can I be Kellach’s woman?”
“I only say what others are saying.”
“The others are wrong. I belong to me.”
Cyrnon nodded and they moved companionably along in silence. It would be a short trip, they had started too late in the morning and the sun was blazing down already. Samples were collected and they returned to the settlement. The streets were devoid of people. Most had retired to the relative coolness of the structures for a mid-day rest.
Eighteen
It must be late July or August now, Fiona estimated. Temperatures had soared and the winds blew almost constantly. Dust filtered into even the most secure corners of the dwelling and she spent longer hours trying to keep everything clean. Her patient load had increased and there were few times when she was alone with Kellach, even though he no longer avoided her and spent more time at home. A bridge had been crossed and she wasn’t quite sure what changed, but something had. He never spoke of the night at the bathhouse and she made no mention of it.
Little items began appearing in her corner, a small brass hand mirror, combs, jewelry items and small pieces of fine cloth. She protested his gifts but he stubbornly refused to take them back, saying they were part of her payment as housekeeper. He also paid her in coin. It seemed like too much, but she wasn’t sure what housekeepers made in this world and didn’t want to prove her ignorance by asking anyone. Patients came and went and Kellach did not argue when she set up a lean-to out back for their visits. A work bench appeared the next day along with a few stools and a basin for water. His thoughtfulness was apparent in everything he did.
Machar was a regular visitor and she was grateful for his attention to Conan. The puppy needed a young friend and Machar was the answer. The benefits were twofold, Conan had someone to play endlessly with him, and Machar had a friend to keep him busy and out from underfoot.
Engai’s young daughter was a frequent visitor as well, and would sit for hours watching Fiona work. Her mother cautiously asked if Ceara was being a bother and was relieved to find she was not. Fiona enjoyed her young company and Ceara was learning the basics of working with herbal medicines. She might make a good assistant some day. She certainly seemed interested.
On one very hot day, Fiona was outside working in her small garden when a woman from the village ran through the square to Tanith’s door. She appeared young and was dressed in the costume of one of the lower class prostitutes from the far side of town. She was breathless from running and Fiona watched with trepidation. Tanith came out and spoke to the woman and immediately ran across the square to Fiona.
“Her sister is in labor,” nodding at the young woman, “and she fears the worst. She wants your help but cannot pay.”
10 Timeless Heroes; A Time Travel Romance Boxed Set Page 11
