Lines of Fire (The Guild House - Defenders Hall)

by Walters, Janet Lane;

  Slowly he released her. He slid her vest from her shoulders. After removing his, he pulled his shirt over his head.

  Kalia touched the shallow indentation from the knife wound. She bent her head and kissed along the scar.

  Alric pulled her into a tight embrace. He felt the tips of her breasts brush his chest.

  A gentle kiss took fire. He drew her closer. Her body moved against his, Alric drew a deep breath filled with the essence that was hers alone. The fire in his loins grew hotter until he could think of nothing but Kalia.

  He stepped away to remove his boots and trousers. His rod sprang free. In Kalia’s gaze he saw hesitancy and eagerness. He met her gaze. “All I have is yours.”

  She slid her divided skirt over her hips and saw to remove her boots and skirt. He knelt at her side. One of her fingers touched his erect member. Alric fought the urge to push her down and thrust inside.

  He stroked her breasts with one hand and ran the other over her belly. Her gasps became sounds that dared him to tangle his fingers in her nether hair.

  “Then all I have is yours,” she whispered.

  He claimed her mouth in a kiss that made her tremble. Fear of eagerness, he wondered.

  * * *

  The kiss sent surges of heat to every corner of her body. Kalia followed his lead. Her tongue slid over his. She strained to touch her skin to every inch of his. He raised his head to catch a breath.

  Tremors of fear made her quiver. She opened her eyes and stared at her lines of fire. The kisses and caresses had erased much of the dark stains. Joyous laughter turned to fear. Had Alric’s lines darkened? She started to speak but his lips claimed hers. Heat rolled from his mouth and from his hands that touched, stroked and caressed. His fingers reached the curls guarding her secret place. One hand moved along her thigh. He touched a place and sent a steady current of fire through her body.

  Her breath came in short gasps. She wanted more but didn’t know how to ask. His hands slid beneath her hips.

  “Almost there,” he whispered.

  The words vibrated like the wind whispering through the leaves of a tree.

  He raised her hips. His thick erection slid over her folds. One thrust, then two. The third made her gasp.

  His mouth covered hers. His tongue thrust and retreated in a rhythm that captured her. She bent her knees and pressed her feet against the blanket and entered the rhythm of the dance. Waves of heat became a conflagration.

  As the fiery blaze consumed her, Alric raised his head. A shout, part agony and part ecstasy erupted. Her cries echoed his. He collapsed, rolled to his side and held her close.

  For an instant or a long time they pressed body to body while the fires banked and their gasps became slow and even. Kalia stared at their lines of fire. The scarlet threads moved in harmony. All the dark smudges had disappeared from hers and none appeared on his. The copper links on the bracelets they wore on chains glowed as though the metal had captured the fire.

  What did this mean? Sleep obliterated the question.

  * * *

  The aroma of kafa woke Kalia. She rolled on her side and reached for the mug. After inhaling the savory steam, she sipped. Her gaze moved to assess her lines. Still clear and any signs of lurking darkness were gone. She finished the beverage and washed in the basin of water on the floor beside the make-shift bed. She stretched and felt new aches reminding her of the night, the mutual pleasure and Alric. She dressed, rolled their blankets and emptied the basin. With the mug, blanket rolls and basin, she descended the ladder.

  Alric looked up. “Are you all right?”

  Her lips curved into a smile. “Perfect. We are truly bonded.”

  He took the mug and kissed her lightly. “I fear we won’t be able to hide our bond from anyone who can read the lines.” He re-filled her mug.

  She blew across the steaming liquid. “We know that but my lines are clean. Did you know they move in harmony with yours?”

  “I noticed that.” He dished the cooked grain into bowls and drizzled honey over the top.

  “Do you think we’ll find these outlaws?”

  “Yes.” He tasted the sweetened porridge.

  She swallowed a bite. “What makes them different from the rebel bands?”

  “Rebels have drawn apart because they don’t like the rules. Though they are known to raid and steal they would rather trade. They don’t separate into Guilds the way we do but live together. Outlaws prey on people taking what isn’t theirs and often kill for fun.”

  As soon as they finished eating they packed and left.

  * * *

  For three days they traveled past farms and camped in groves where there were fire pits. On the fourth day they entered a large village.

  Alric pointed to an inn. “We’ll spend the night here.”

  They stabled and cared for their bihorns. When the stableman approached to help Mist barred her teeth.

  “Step back,” Kalia said. “She’s skittish.”

  Alric leaned closer. “A one rider steed?”

  She nodded. “Won’t tolerate another rider. At least she let Sando saddle her.”

  “He’s a genius with bihorns. Never seen one he couldn’t handle.” Alric frowned. “When we have time we’ll have to break that habit. Never know when I might need to ride him. Storm Cloud will let you ride since he can smell my scent on your clothes.” He hoisted his pack, leaving the stableman to care for the shaggy pack beast.

  As they strode to the inn tension gathered in Kalia’s gut. Five or six days travel was where the last report of the outlaws had arisen.

  Alric arranged for a room and carried their packs to the second floor. Kalia sat at a table in the dining room and listened to gossip from the other diners. When Alric joined her and they ordered a full meal starting with soup and greens and ending with a fruit studded pudding and flaky sweet scones.

  When they reached their room and undressed she touched the bracelet he wore on a chain. “Did your father give this to you?”

  “He did.”

  Kalia stepped into his arms. “I have a tale for you about the matching one I wear.” She told him the things her mother had related. She watched sadness fill his deep green eyes.

  “My mother said her friend loved her bondmate. When her children were taken away by the Swordmaster she grieved and stepped into the abyss.”

  “He remained true to her until his death. I think I was the only reason he remained alive when he heard the news.”

  “Should we exchange the multi-link bracelet for the ones we now wear?”

  “Not until you decide to declare our heart bonding in the salle.”

  “Will the day come? You know about the threats he has made.”

  “We have a year before a decision must be made.” He settled on the bed. “We won’t give your father a reason to carry out his threats. Do you think he reads the lines?”

  Kalia frowned. “He sensed what Ilna did to me but he said he felt the power. I don’t think he reads the lines.” She slid beneath the linen sheet and turned to him.

  Alric drew her into his arms. Their lips brushed. She felt the rise of desire and kissed her way down his chest and stroked his belly. His erection rose to meet her hand. She stroked the tip and felt a drip of fluid.

  “Enough or I’ll release.”

  Kalia laughed and pushed the sheet down. In the moonlight she saw his body. She ran her tongue over his chest and watched the lines of fire follow the touch.

  Alric lifted her. “Take my rod into your channel and ride me.”

  The new way delighted her. As she moved he caressed her breasts and rolled the nipples. One of his hands slid between their bodies. He touched a spot sending a spear of fire shooting through her. He erupted. Her body tightened and exploded. She collapsed on his chest.

  * * *

  In the morning while they ate, a group of men arrived. Their rumpled clothing and newly healing wounds told her the men had encountered trouble. The three stood in the entr
ance. One of the group strode toward their table.

  “Defender,” he said. “There’s trouble. Pack of men came to our farm.”

  “Outlaws?” Alric asked.

  “Had to be.”

  “How many?”

  “Didn’t count the number. Was a pack. Some took our cattle and food from the storehouse. Slim pickings there, seeing harvest is months away. Four remained. Had their way with my wife and sister. Took my daughter.”

  “Where are the women?” Kalia asked.

  “At the herb woman’s.”

  A younger man glared. “One of the men wore a Defender’s shirt. Had eyes as black as dead embers.”

  Petan, Kalia thought. How many men had he gathered? “How old is your daughter?”

  “Fifteen and was to be chosen by the Defenders for training. She was quick to learn the sword and knife. Marked at least one of the men.”

  “When did this happen?” Alric asked.

  “Been three days on the road but could take one or two if you’re riding.”

  Alric waved to the innkeeper. “Feed these men and give them a room.” He turned to the three. “Rest before continuing your journey to the Guild House. Tell the Justicars what you’ve told me.”

  Kalia and Alric finished their food and went to the stable. While they saddled their steeds, Kalia met his gaze. “Do you think we’ll find these outlaws?”

  “I believe we will. Once the men reach the Hall and place a complaint with the Justicars, patrols will be sent out. We only have to locate the hiding place.”

  “What if the outlaws have prisoners?”

  “We’ll do what we can.”

  Alric helped her into the saddle. Kalia rode onto the road.

  Chapter 13

  With the directions he’d received from the farmers, Alric pushed the pace. He spotted the lane he believed led to the farm and signaled Kalia to follow with the pack beast. They passed newly planted fields and continued to the farmyard.

  “Check the house,” he called. “I’ll look into the other buildings.”

  “What am I looking for?” she asked.

  “See what they took. Was it just food they wanted or did they remove articles of value like clothes, jewelry and other goods?”

  He dismounted and began his search. A few fowl scattered when he looked into the coop. The sty, the smoke house and the barn were empty. He noted several barn felines and one farm dog. Looked like the farm wagon had been taken.

  Kalia left the house. “I believe they took everything of value, including blankets and quilts. I wonder how the patrol for this sector missed signs of these outlaws.”

  “By them staying hidden in the forest and not attacking anyone until the patrol passed,” he said. “Maybe they have a source of information in the Hall. I’m sure there were also observers in the village where we stayed at an inn.”

  Alric stooped to examine a knife lying on the ground that showed evidence of a fight. The farmer had said his daughter had skills and would have been accepted as a Defender trainee. Why had the outlaws taken her? An idea he didn’t like took form.

  He signaled Kalia. “We need to move on. Nothing more can be discovered here.”

  “Which way do we go?”

  He’d forgotten she’d never been on patrol. He beckoned. “Let me show you how to follow.” He pointed to one of the bihorn’s tracks. “See the notch in the right front shoe print. Means the animal’s shoe has a flaw. Will show us the direction they rode.” He also noticed this bihorn’s tracks were deeper meaning either a huge rider of a double load.

  Kalia pointed. “Looks like they went this way. Do you think we’ll find them soon?”

  Alric shook his head. “Not today. With luck this hoof print will show us where they have their camp. Remember the farmers were several days on the road.”

  For a time he followed the trail. He halted and held up a hand to stop Kalia. In the bushes he saw a body and moved closer to examine the wounds. The scruffy clothes and unshaven face told him the man, was the man the farmer’s daughter had wounded.

  He straightened, grabbed Storm Cloud’s reins and continued forward until he reached the hard-packed surface of the road. He helped Kalia mount and checked the direction showed by the notched hoof. He swung into the saddle. When the sun moved to the west he spotted a campsite with a fire pit. A spring flowed into a stone basin.

  He checked the area for signs of the men they sought. The ashes in the fire pit were cold and the tell-tale print of the hoof was absent. He notices signs a wagon and draft animals had been in the area. Perhaps the outlaws had divided into two groups.

  “We’ll camp here tonight.” He dismounted and unloaded the pack beast.

  Kalia joined him. “How far ahead do you think they are?”

  “Don’t know. The wagon stopped here but there are no signs of the ones we’re seeking were here. They may have divided into two groups.”

  Kalia gathered the makings of a stew and placed the pot on the grill over the now lit fire. “I think Petan’s one of them.”

  “Why?”

  “Just seems like something he would do. If the girl really had Defender potential her lines would have been strong and he could leach them.”

  “You could be right.”

  “Will we rescue her before he drains her completely?”

  Alric looked away. “I hope so but rescue is not why we’re on the trail of these outlaws.”

  “I know. Find their camp and report.” Kalia moved to face him. “Petan had two bondmates who died less than a year after the bonding.”

  Alric carried their blanket rolls to a spot beneath a giant oak. “I heard tales about bodies of women banished being found dead. Also those of young women who refused the training though they had been selected.”

  Kalia’s lines of fire moved in an erratic pattern he recognized as fear. He reached for her hand.

  “What can we do?” she asked.

  “Move with caution.” He ran a finger along her arm.

  “What if we encounter Petan?”

  “We’ll observe. That’s all we were ordered to do.” He reached to stir the stew. “Though we haven’t gone public with our heart bond I believe our status protects you from him.”

  Kalia edged closer. “I don’t want to learn if you’re right or wrong.”

  Alric clasped both her hands. He leaned forward and brushed her lips with his. Warmth flowed from the kiss in waves that caused him to harden. He rose, pulled her to her feet and kissed her with the urgency he felt.

  “Come with me.” He drew her toward the blankets. He drew her to the ground and savored her eager response. A need to mark her arose. He slid his lips over her skin and stroked her neck with his tongue. He sucked gently and then with more force. “I need you,” he whispered.

  “And I need you.”

  With a flurry of activity they undressed. Alric spread the blanket rolls and pulled her into his arms. She moved until she lay atop him. Her mouth fastened on his neck. Alric felt the draw and tightened his arms around her. He rolled her to her back and kissed his way down her body, stopping to lavish attention on her breasts.

  Kalia’s whimpers and small cries spurred him. He lifted her legs to his shoulders and found her mound. Her scent engulfed him. Her cries increased the working of his mouth and tongue on her labia.

  “Alric, please, please.”

  “I’m trying.”

  “Join with me.”

  He lowered her legs and thrust inside. As her channel tightened around him, he wondered if he would ever grow tired of these moments. She moved. So did he. Heat burned through him and became volcanic. He spewed until he felt drained and collapsed on her.

  “Love you,” he gasped.

  “Love you, too.”

  When his breathing returned to normal he rolled to his side. In the fading light of the sun he saw the red blotch on Kalia’s neck. He rubbed his fingers over the area and though the lines flowed there, the mark remained a scarlet flame. He g
roaned.

  “What?” Kalia asked.

  “The mark on your neck.”

  “You have one, too. How odd. Though the lines gather I can’t make the mark fade.”

  He laughed. “Wonder how long it will last.”

  “Guess we’ll learn.”

  He reached for his clothes. “We’d better dress and prepare a meal. Then an early night. We must be off at dawn.”

  * * *

  Glints of the light of dawn filtered through the leaves of the huge oak. Alric reached for his clothes and touched Kalia’s shoulder. “Time to get ready to ride.” He glanced at the mark on her neck and noticed it had remained the same bright scarlet color. Another thing they had to search for in the Archives.

  Kalia moaned and opened her eyes. Her languid stretch made him want to make love again but dawdling wasn’t on the day’s agenda.

  They finished the stew from the previous night. Kalia drank three mugs of kafa and cleaned the things they’d used. Alric saddled Storm Cloud and started to load the pack beast.

  A faint cry made him pause to listen. Was someone calling for help? He vaulted into the saddle. “Break camp. I think someone’s in trouble.” He flicked the reins.

  “Be careful,” Kalia cried. “Could be a trap.”

  Was she right? Alric pushed his bihorn into a gallop. The cries were louder. Did it matter if this was a trap? Defenders always answered cries for help. Storm Cloud raced around a bend and along a straight section of the road. Only the pounding of hooves against the dirt and the now louder cries of a woman filled Alric’s ears. Sunlight blurred his vision. The tall spruces and bushy maples and oaks lining the road formed a green and brown tunnel.

  As Storm Cloud rounded a second bend, Alric spotted a clearing. The screaming died. He focused on a scene that made him ill. Two men held a woman down while a third rocked above her. Chilling soprano laughter sounded. The third man bellowed his release. The lines of fire on the victim’s skin were pale and thready. Had she been drained the way Kalia said the Swordmaster treated her mother.