by Jane Henry
“Let us in, and I will tell you. Now.”
She steps to the side, allowing us entrance. She shuts and latches the door behind her, and, when she is finished, she turns back to me.
“My sister improves,” she whispers. “The medicine I brought for her has helped, but my mother is not rallying.” She sighs. “I know not what to do.”
I nod, removing my sword belt and laying it on the table. The boy gazes about the room with wide eyes, taking it all in. “You sit,” I command, pointing impatiently to a chair at the table.
He actually obeys. Finally, someone does as they are told.
“I found him as I was going to the portal,” I say to Svali. “He asked me to take him with me, as he wishes to escape Kleedan. I told him no. He explained to me why the portal would not work.”
“You found a child? So you brought him along with you?”
I shrug. “For now.”
She watches the boy.
I lean in closer to her and lower my voice. “I am giving him an opportunity to behave himself and do as he is told. If he does, he could prove to be very useful.”
“Useful?” she repeats. “What a horrible thing to say about a child!”
“That is the least of your concerns, little girl. I have an excellent memory.” Her cheeks flush, but she does not respond.
Dismissing her with a shake of my head, I go to the bed to check on her mother. Though she seems to be resting a bit better than she did before, she still appears to be terribly ill.
“You say she does not improve,” I ask, placing my own hand upon her forehead. Svali watches me, brows furrowed.
“She needs a doctor,” she whispers. “None of the kind we have here. She needs good Avalerian medicine, sun, and a place to wander in the outdoors.”
I sigh. “We will do our best, but I must find a way to get back to Avalere.”
She nods. “I think I know of a way, my lord. But it would involve deception.”
I groan.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Svali
I do not like the look upon my husband’s face. When I am alone with him next, there will be a reckoning, and it would be a lie if I said I was not afraid of him, even if but a little. He is well within his rights to punish me soundly. But, for now, we must we get to Avalere.
“My lord,” I plead. “I contacted a woman I knew here on Kleedan who bewitched me with the disguise I used to appear different to you when I joined the Circle of Women.”
He narrows his eyes and his lips thin. “Yes?”
“If I find her again and can disguise myself, perhaps I will be able to get back through the portal and find people who can help us.”
He shakes his head. “You suggest I allow my wife to put herself in danger? Are you insane?” He stalks to the other side of the room, turns around, and points one angry finger at me, his stormy blue eyes cloudy. “You are in such serious trouble already Svali. Do not push your luck now.”
“My lord,” I say. “I must. How else will we find a way to get you back to Avalere?”
“I do not know. Perhaps another warrior will seek me, or perhaps the magic that is keeping me from returning will somehow end. For now, I will not discuss this. You need rest, and, in the morning, we will find a way back home.”
He will not listen to reason. I will not wait the night! “No, my lord,” I say. “No! Idan! Listen to me! We must get you back. Even one more night apart—”
The young boy’s eyes widen as Idan slams his hand against the wall, propelling himself toward me. He drags me by the arm to the doorway, throwing off the latch. He turns to the young boy. “You stay here and keep guard,” he instructs. “My wife and I need to have a private discussion.”
My heart thunders, my palms sweaty, his muscles bulging as he shoves the wooden door open, the black marks about his shoulders making him appear ferocious and formidable.
“I do not care if there bragni in the dark. I have had enough of your defiance, Svali. I shall not tolerate it another minute.” The door shuts behind us, and I know I face punishment. I can’t help but resist a bit. I pull away from him, but he holds fast. With firm steps, he marches me to the back of the house, branches filtering the light of the moons through the bare tree branches around us. Will he whip me with one of the branches? Or his sword belt? My mouth is dry, and I cannot breathe. He has punished me before, but now he is furious.
He doesn’t wait another minute. He tucks me under his arm, bending me over one leg so that although I am standing, my belly is pushed up against his knee. He yanks my tunic up, and I am bared to him. I wriggle and writhe, but his grip is too tight. I cannot move at all. “My lord,” I say. “Not here! Please, someone could see us!”
The slap of his palm against my bare skin makes me yell out loud. I squirm, but he holds fast, delivering one firm spank after another. “My lord!” I gasp. “Idan, please!”
He ignores me, spanking me again and again, until my skin feels flaming hot to the touch. My face flushes with embarrassment, tears filling my eyes, but they do not fall.
“You disobeyed me and put yourself in danger.” He underscores his words with another crisp swat.
“I — I had to — owww!” I protest, as his palm strikes the crease of my thigh and backside.
“You did not!” he fumes with another emphatic smack. “You could have told me you needed to come here. We could have come to get your family with proper escorts and assistance rather than sneaking around.” Real remorse begins to flutter through my chest as I blink back tears. What would have happened if I had told him? Would he have helped me?
I cannot think as one stinging swat follows another. He holds me against the warmth of his thigh.
“I will listen!” I say, my voice choked, ringing through the darkness.
“Will you?” he asks, punctuating his question with another smack. “I have given you choices. Time after time, I have asked you to be honest with me, to trust me, and you have refused.” I close my eyes, resigned to face my punishment as another spank falls.
My deception to him does not end here.
I will take my punishment for what I have yet to commit.
He can punish me, but I will not stop until I have done what I must.
He pauses. “Will you obey me, Svali?”
“I will obey you, my lord,” I say, my voice breaking, and when he lifts me up to standing and pulls me against his warm chest, held in his tight embrace, the tears that swam in my eyes now fall. The knot within my chest loosens, and I weep.
“I hate to punish you, Svali. But you must obey me. Do you understand?” he asks, and his voice now warm and tender. “I cannot make you.”
“Yes, my lord,” I say, sniffling.
I do not cry from remorse for what I have done, but for what I will do yet.
I hope all comes right in the end.
⊱⟢⋯⟣⊰
I bide my time, waiting until everyone is asleep. Of course Idan places himself strategically near the entrance, guarding us against whatever danger awaits. “We will discuss what we shall do tomorrow,” he says. “Tonight, we all rest.”
I bring a cup of water to my sister’s lips, helping her sit up. She leans into me, her skin warm to the touch. I feel it straight through the fabric of her shirt. She sips the water, falls back on her pillow, and soon is fast asleep.
“I wish to find a way back to Avalere soon, my lord,” I say to Idan.
But he fixes me with a stern glare, which makes my heart skip a beat. It is not an hour since he’s brought me inside from my punishment, the sting still fresh upon my skin. At his look I feel smaller and subdued. “You will get your rest, Svali,” he insists. “You will not contradict me again, woman.”
I shake my head. “No, my lord.”
I marvel at his ability to do scary, marvelous things to my body. I have bedded more men than I ever care to count. Some were gentle lovers, some were greedy, others skilled.
None cared.
None
of them…not even the most attractive of the group, could ever make me feel as I do now. The depth of Idan’s voice makes my insides quiver. The feel of his firm touch makes my knees grow weak. And when he’s stern with me as he is now, the very picture of authority, I cannot help but be attracted. My thighs clench together. My very heartbeat responds to his touch, my breath stuttering in short gasps. I suddenly wish we were alone.
I obediently lie down on a pallet next to my sister, Idan returning to his resting place in front of the entry door.
“What do we do about him?” I ask, gesturing to the young boy who sits by the front door.
Idan frowns, his innate instincts to protect clearly surface. “I do not wish to be saddled with a child,” he says. “Every additional person we care for now hinders our journey.”
To my surprise, the young boy stands. “I will not be a big burden on anyone. It is time I find my way elsewhere.” He stands and walks toward the door.
“No,” I say. “You will not leave. You must stay with us now, and we will get you back home.”
Idan glares, and I turn to him. “Well what would you have me do? Leave him to the bragni?”
“Woman,” he warns, but I do not back down.
“I am asking you an honest question, husband. What would your choice be?”
“Fine,” he barks out. “We will not leave him.” He turns back to the child, and points his finger at him. “You will do exactly what I say.”
The boy nods eagerly. “Yes, my lord. Of course, my lord.”
Then Idan turns back to me, shaking his head. “Get some rest now. Tomorrow, we have much to do. For goodness sake, Svali, be quiet now and rest.”
I obey, lying on the floor in the darkness. I have come up with a plan. Now, I must execute it.
I might speak to the boy if he is to help execute this plan, but, since he sleeps, I must wait until tomorrow to do it. Meanwhile, I am going to have to get some rest.
I lie in the darkness, waiting for the sound of all of them falling asleep while I plot.
⊱⟢⋯⟣⊰
I rise early. I will move along as I normally do, preparing for the day ahead, feeding those under my care. And then I will execute my plan.
As I move about the room, I try to be quiet so I do not wake the others. Idan gestures for me to come to him.
“Yes, my lord?” I ask as innocently as I can. I wish that I could lie well, but I do not. My palms are sweaty, my pulse quickening as I make my way toward him.
“Why are you awake?” he inquires.
I sit by his side, tucking my legs underneath me. “I cannot sleep, my lord,” I whisper.
He reaches for me, pulling me up against his chest. He is strong, and warm, and he smells like wood smoke and summer. He holds me against him. “Are you sore from being punished, lovely? From when I spanked you?”
The question takes me off guard. Is he concerned about my wellbeing? I squirm, aroused at his words.
“Yes, my lord.” It is the truth. My backside aches from the spanking he gave me. “But I can bear it, my lord.”
He nods, and his eyes grow stern. “See that you give me no reason to renew that pain.”
I bow my head.
“Come here,” he commands, pulling my head down to his chest. My stomach clenches, not in fear but disgust, because the next step of my plan will involve deception.
I inhale. “My lord. We need food for breakfast. I have not been able to find any in the cabin.”
He frowns. “What might you rely on?”
“I would gather berries, and perhaps fish from the stream.” If I can get him to go that far away, my plan will be easier.
“Fish?”
“Yes, my lord. They are a steady and inexpensive source of protein, and easy to catch. If you’d like, I can go and —”
He shakes his head. “Certainly not. It will not take me long to gather what I need.” He kisses the top of my forehead. “You take care of your mother and sister, and wait here for me. You will lock the door behind me and not emerge until I have returned. Do you understand?”
I swallow against the lump in my throat that threatens to choke me. I will not obey him, and I hate that I am already choosing defiance. I wish for him to be pleased with me, not angry.
He picks up his leather sword belt. I watch as he loops the leather around his waist, before he fastens the buckle, the flat planes of his stomach taut and chiseled. My breath shallows, my thighs clenched together. After being punished the day before, I view him...differently. He is so strong. I long to be alone with him again so I can feel his masterful touch on my body. I swallow.
His auburn hair hangs about his face, his beard heavier than a few days ago. After he slides his sword into its sheath, his stormy gaze meets mine.
“You stay in this room, Svali. If we did not have to eat, I would not leave you. Please, take your safety seriously.” He pauses, his eyes gentling. “I will find a way back to Avalere. You must trust me.”
I nod. “Yes, my lord,” I say, my voice a mere whisper as I wish so badly that I did not have to do what I must.
The door shuts behind him, but I do not fasten the latch.
I must exit it myself shortly.
The boy sits up now, though my mother and sister still lie asleep. He watches me from across the room, and I beckon to him.
“I must return to Avalere and get help.”
The boy’s eyes widen. “The big man said not to go. Is he a king?”
I smile at him. “He is a duke, and my husband,” I explain. “I am supposed to do what he says, I know. But I must get help, and my husband is too proud to allow me to go.
He blinks. “Can’t you trust him?”
The words somehow cause tears to well in my eyes. Trust him? How can I ever trust anyone as much I as trust myself?
I do not answer him. “It is not about trust,” I lie. “But he is too protective to consider the fact that my getting back to Avalere will help us. He is too determined to keep me safe, and, sometimes, his protective instincts cloud his ability to make a good decision.” I feel my heartbeat accelerate. My patience wanes. “I do not have time to discuss this further. He has gone to gather food to eat. I am going to Avalere. When I leave this room, you will fasten the door behind me and open it upon his return. My mother and sister rest now and will be in a medicinal sleep for some time. They need, rest, so their bodies can fight the illness.” My gaze flits about the room to the little pouch I brought from Avalere. “You may give them a second dose if I do not return by nightfall.” I have already given him and Idan the powders containing a potent formula that boosts their immunity, so that none of us will catch the illness. The boy nods.
“This is stupid of you,” he says. “He will be angry with you, and you could get hurt.”
I do not respond. The threat is indeed present, but it is a risk I must take. “Fasten the door behind me.” I lift the latch, slip out of the door, and wait until I hear the latch behind me. I duck my head and run.
⊱⟢⋯⟣⊰
I feel their eyes upon me, and wish there was a way that I could have gone back to Avalere under the protection of my husband. I saw them last night, their gazes lurking in the shadows, when we came to the forest. When they saw my strong warrior husband, they scattered like mice beneath the looming shadow of a vulture. The bragni fear him. But when they sense me, they prowl closer and closer.
I have no weapon but a stick, a spear that will help me if need be. I run toward the portal, feeling their eyes upon me, hearing the pursuit of their flat feet crashing through the underbrush. In the distance lies the portal. I must get there. I must bring help to rescue Idan.
Five paces away from the portal, I feel them, their cold, clammy hands upon my skin. I stifle a scream. If Idan is nearby, he will hear them. Though I wish for him to save me, I do not wish for him to see what I am about to do. I take the stick, swing it, and connect with the body of one small, angry-looking bragni. He howls like a wounded animal and
falls to the ground, but his grasp on me does not slacken. I try to push them away, but I cannot. Their wide, soulless eyes fix upon mine. One reaches for my tunic and shoves it upward, and before I can stop myself, I scream. “No! Get your filthy hands off me!”
More of them come, at least six now, the filthy little creatures preying upon the fear and weakness of a woman. Silent predators that will violate me right here in the wide open, their fingers prying at my naked skin below my tunic. I try to swing my stick again. Just beyond us now, just paces forward, lies the portal I need to access, but I cannot reach it. I fall to the ground, and three of them are upon me, holding me down and lifting my tunic even higher.
“No!” I scream, trying to knee them, but they hold fast. They will violate me here upon the forest floor, and I cannot stop them. I have failed. I will not get the help I need and will not be able to bring Idan home safely.
Or my sister. Or my mother.
My head swims with anger, fear, regret.
It is then I hear the crashing through the forest. The filthy bragni freeze as one.
Idan looms over us, his sword already drawn as he sees the bragni holding me down, my tunic pushed above my hips, my loins on display for all to see. His eyes cloud, his nostrils flare, and, with one swipe of his sword, two bragni lay lifeless beside me, their heads severed from their necks. The rest jump away from me and try to scatter, but he pursues each one, slashes of his sword falling, the silver blade slicing through the air and laying waste to them all. Their animalistic screams are horrifying, high-pitched, and terrified, as he executes one after another with ease.
When my wrists are free, I run with all my might toward the portal.
I feel like a traitor for leaving him like this. What if they rally and hurt him? The last things I see before my vision is cloaked in darkness are his eyes fixed on mine, sword raised to strike.
He came for me. He came to save me.
I hope he forgives me for trying to save him.
⊱⟢⋯⟣⊰
When my vision clears, I hear their voices. There are people here, guards waiting. As soon as I get my bearings, I begin shouting.
