by Missy Jane
“Want to try it?” he asked.
She kept her attention on the sky but the smile faded as his brothers disappeared from her line of vision.
“Try what?” she asked.
“Flying. I can take you up, if you’d like.”
That jerked her attention back his way. “Truly? You…you wouldn’t mind?”
“Of course not. I enjoy holding you in my arms.”
She blushed and he stepped closer to run a hand over her hair.
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “You don’t have to support my weight when we’re on the ground or…in bed.”
He chuckled and pulled her into his arms. “You’re light as a feather, Theda. I assure you, it will be no strain at all.”
She made a noise of disagreement and he laughed. Then he took on his gargoyle form before wrapping his arms more securely around her. “Hold onto my shoulders.”
As soon as he felt the grip of her small hands he leapt into the air. She cried out in surprise before a deep laugh erupted from her. The joy and wonder of it arrested him and he nearly forgot to flap his wings.
“Kephas!”
He grinned as they dropped a foot before he began to fly. He took her up to the lowest clouds and then rolled onto his back to glide with her resting on his chest. She laughed and laughed as she released his shoulders and put her arms out as if she was the one flying.
“By the Gods. This is amazing!”
Never before had a woman looked at him with so much appreciation and joy on her face. It was a memory he planned to treasure for the rest of his days.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“No. I could stay up here forever.”
He chuckled and she frowned.
“If I get too heavy then you must go back down. I don’t want to tire you.”
That made him frown. “I already told you, you’re light, Theda. I could fly three of you around all day and night.”
She finally smiled again and took in the sights.
All too soon Kephas landed beside Triton again. Giga lounged in the dirt a few paces away and watched them with little interest. Theda laughed, though her cheeks and belly hurt from all she had already done in the sky. Kephas released her but didn’t step away as his gargoyle form became human. She felt his skin change against hers, a most remarkable thing to experience.
“I’m glad you enjoyed that,” he said.
“Oh yes, thank you.” She hugged him tight. “It was wondrous.”
When she tried to pull away he kept his arms around her. Then he kissed her with a low growl. What did it mean when he made such sounds? He didn’t seem to be angry. And though he’d done the same before, she wasn’t naked now. Their kiss ended and he stepped back, running a hand through his hair.
“I’m very glad you enjoyed it. Perhaps we can fly again soon.”
“I would like that.”
He took Triton’s reigns and nodded to the gates of Halstrid. “We’re nearly there. Ready to see my home?”
Was she? Not quite, but there would be no going back now. So she lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “Yes. Yes, I am. But what about Giga?”
The odd creature trotted over to them at the sound of his name and sat looking up at her.
Kephas crouched down and patted his head. “Giga, you can come with us, but you’ll have to stay close. Do you understand?”
He nodded. “Gigaaa. Clossssse. Giga. Staaaaay.”
Kephas glanced at her. “We’ll have to trust he understands.”
She nodded in agreement though she was still concerned. Kephas took her by the hand and led their little band toward the large open gates. They stood unguarded, which she thought odd until one of his brothers landed atop the wall on one side. Petros waved to them and Kephas nodded as they entered Halstrid.
It was exactly as she had imagined and yet entirely different. The stone buildings and paved walkways were just as her mother had described, colorful and strong. Beneath her feet was hard-packed earth for wheels and horse hooves to travel upon. Both crowded the wide street where four horses could walk abreast in both directions at once.
This was a relatively arid city, with vegetation in spurts. She spied a fountain here and there, but for the most part it was much drier than the Rim, much as her mother had said.
The people, however, were nothing like she’d pictured.
Voices echoed off every stone wall and from every direction. She nearly clasped her hands over her ears. Every style of dress she had ever seen, and many she hadn’t, were in evidence. The women were just as loud as the men, some selling their wares, others yelling after children. The men walked beside the women rather than in front of them, and no one seemed to think it odd. No, this was not the city her mother had left. Or, more likely, not the city her mother had imagined she had lived in all those years ago.
Theda wasn’t naïve enough to believe a queen could walk these streets like any common woman. Her mother wouldn’t have been like those present now, but had she truly been a prisoner in her own home? Only her father could answer that and Theda wasn’t certain he could be trusted.
She looked at Kephas again and instinctively knew he would tell her the truth of the King if she asked. But that might also make him suspicious. Best to wait before the questioning. Wait until she was ready for the answers.
Despite his aversion to civilization before, Giga appeared to have no problem traipsing among the crowds. Every few minutes they had to stop and wait as a child or two gave him their delighted attention. The little animal seemed to bask in it. Kephas laughed and those around them visibly relaxed. As a protector he was obviously respected, but as a man who could turn into a gargoyle he was apparently feared to some degree. She watched how the men spoke to him quietly and some of the women gave him bold looks.
An unexpected spurt of jealousy hit her when one woman actually reached out to touch his arm. She was beautiful in an exotic way, with fiery red hair and an expertly painted face. Theda knew her perfection had to be contrived but had seen so few women paint their faces in such a way, it took a moment for her to realize what she saw. The kohl outlining the woman’s eyes gave her a shadowed and mysterious look.
“Good day, Master Kephas,” she said with a smoky voice that had no doubt caught more than one man’s attention.
“Good day to you, Serine,” he answered with a nod. However, he pulled his arm from her grasp and wrapped it around Theda’s shoulders.
Her tension eased and she tried to hide a smile, but Serine scowled at her.
“It has been too long since you’ve visited my parlor.”
He frowned and tightened his hold on Theda. “I’m sorry if you’ve been offended by my absence, but I will no longer be a visitor there. One of my many brothers will still appear regularly, I’m sure.”
He abruptly turned away and led Theda and Triton farther into the city. Giga caught up with them with a wide grin on his little face.
Theda held her tongue when she really wanted to both question and rail at him. But what business was it of hers who he kept company with before they met? He’d already lived an entire lifetime and she had newly stepped into it. Really, her jealousy was unfounded. Or so she tried very hard to convince herself.
After a few more minutes they were free of the jostling crowd and walking along a paved pathway that led away from the first collection of buildings. A large white tent waited in the distance with yet another crowd streaming to and fro.
“What is that?” she asked.
“The market. You can find everything you can think of under that tent. Food, drink, clothing, jewelry, weapons… You name it and it will be there.”
Her step quickened without thought and her heartbeat matched it. “Oh.”
Though she didn’t want to let on how much the thought of seeing all the wares excited her,
Kephas seemed to pick up on it. He stopped walking, still holding onto her shoulders. When she faced him, a serious expression was on his face.
“I’m sorry about Serine, Theda. Unfortunately, I can’t promise we won’t meet more women like her as we travel to my castle. However, I can promise once we’re there that will end. I’ve never welcomed a woman into my home and they know not to visit me there.”
But there would be visits elsewhere, she imagined. And why not? They weren’t married. They weren’t even truly courting. He’d made no claims on her other than to bed her every night. He’d made no promises other than to see her safely into Halstrid, and now they were here. Soon she would be on her own again, whether she was ready for it or not.
The thought choked her and she swallowed hard before replying. “Yes…all right.”
She pulled away from him and turned to face the tent again. “Can we go there? To the market?”
“Of course. But we should go to my castle first. I can fly you back here in no time at all. But first you should rest a bit and have a meal.”
Her stomach rumbled at his words and he grinned. As usual, it made him even more handsome than should be possible. But this time instead of being enthralled, she wanted to slap the grin from his face. How many other women had he looked at like that?
She offered a weak smile and followed as she fought down her ridiculous feelings. What would he want with a woman like her anyway? She had no home, no family other than a father who might want her dead or imprisoned. She had barely more than the clothes on her back. Kephas had been chivalrous enough to purchase another set of clothes early in their travels, but she had refused to let him buy her any more than that. With no obvious way of paying him back, she hated being in his debt. He had called it a gift, but she still felt indebted.
He led her along a trail that skirted the marketplace by a large enough swath that they weren’t bothered by the crowds streaming in and out. She glanced at the people, still amazed at their colorful clothing and the seeming equality between the men and women. Hopefully it was always thus, and today wasn’t special in some way.
“Is today a holiday?” she asked.
Kephas shook his head. “No. Is it where you come from?”
She frowned in thought. “Not as far as I know. But to be honest, I’ve lost track of the days. I’m not even certain what month this is.”
His thick brows went up and he grinned again. “We’re in Artemisios now, but only just. Haven’t you noticed the wild flowers blooming?”
“Oh…yes, of course.”
He stepped closer to her but she made certain to keep some distance between them. From the edge of her vision she spied his frown as he moved closer to her again. She would have moved away once more, but Triton was in the way. With a huff she stayed between the gargoyle and his horse as they walked on.
They stopped to eat on the side of the road, sitting atop a low hill that looked over a wide valley. Kephas pointed to a collection of stone dwellings a short distance away. In their midst stood a tall, dark castle. A gargoyle flew away from one peak as she watched.
“That’s my home, Theda. The Masters’ castle. We will rest for a day or two before inquiring about your father.”
She stared at the beautiful structure in the distance and a pang of longing hit her. No place had ever truly felt like home in all the years she remembered. The castle was dark and intimidating, but it was also inviting. Especially because she knew Kephas rested his head there each night.
“Are you certain I won’t be keeping you from anything?” she asked. “I don’t want to impose.”
“You’re not imposing. Your quest is very important and I will help you see it through.”
She nodded even when she considered arguing. There would be no point in voicing her doubts now. She would follow him home and then make her own plans.
Chapter Twelve
Giga seemed perfectly happy to follow Kephas up the stone steps leading to his room. The odd little creature had ignored the dogs kept by the human staff, preened in front of the other Masters, and sniffed every corner of each new room he entered. Kephas watched him with amusement, happy someone was excited to join him. Theda, on the other hand, walked as if the path ended at the gallows.
The smile she’d given his brothers was weak at best, her greeting to the human staff a mumble. Only Astrid, Phaidra, and Ourania seemed to get a bit of enthusiasm from her, but it was minimal. Her steps dragged as she studied the tapestries on the walls. At first he thought perhaps she was just tired, but as soon as they reached the door to his room she froze.
“Where will I sleep?” she asked.
He almost laughed until he noticed her expression. She wasn’t jesting.
He barely tamped down a growl. “With me, of course. Just as you have these many nights past.”
She opened and closed her mouth as a slight stain reddened her cheeks. He ushered her into his room while she was still flustered.
“But…we’re in your home now,” she said. “I’m sure you’d like to get back to your normal life as quickly as possible. There aren’t dangers here as there are on the road.”
“One never knows where danger might lurk. My brother, Orestes, nearly lost his wife not so long ago. She was kidnapped from this very castle.”
“The one I met in the library?”
“Yes.”
“That must have been terrifying for her.” She turned away from him to survey his room. She had been nice to Astrid and that gave Kephas hope they would become friends.
“Yes. It was terrifying for little Ourania too, who turned herself to stone and forced her way into this world before we even knew of her impending arrival.”
Theda faced him again with a look of horror. “Astrid gave birth to a stone baby?”
He fought down a chuckle. “Nearly. She was human once she began to emerge and hasn’t returned to her stone form since. The wizards believe she sensed the danger her mother was in, and turned to stone for protection. She is quite a remarkable little girl.”
“Yes. And very beautiful.”
Finally a slight smile graced her face before she turned away again. He watched in silence as she explored his bookshelf and desk next. She walked up to his wardrobe and rested her palm against it, but made no move to open it or the chest at the foot of his bed. Finally her wanderings took her to the chair before his fireplace. She sat down with a sigh and leaned her head on her hand. He walked over and made a fire for her, Giga close on his heels. The little creature stretched out nearby and promptly fell asleep.
“Astrid will have the kitchen send up food, but for now you can rest,” Kephas said.
“I should search for my father soon… So you don’t have to keep me clothed and housed at your expense.”
He barely held in a growl of frustration. Once the fire was lit, he knelt at her feet and removed her boots and stockings. She said nothing as he ran his hands up her calves over the trousers she wore. They had decided to have her remain dressed as a boy for their travels for safety.
“You needn’t worry about my expenses, Theda. I have enough money to keep you in jewels for the rest of your days. I’ve more than enjoyed your company these past few weeks and would gladly keep you housed here with me, in my room, for as long as you will allow it.”
He’d kept his head bowed as he spoke, focusing on her legs as he massaged them. After too much silence he finally raised his head. The tears streaming down her face arrested him and for a moment he was at a loss for words. Then he moved up to pull her to the front of the chair so she rested against him.
“Shh, don’t cry, my love. There’s no reason for tears.”
“You don’t even know me, Kephas. Not really. Not enough to make such promises.”
Her heartfelt confession and the anguish in her voice made up his mind. He set her back against the chair an
d stood, moving a few paces away.
“I may know you better than you know yourself…Princess Theodora.”
Shock appeared on her face before she jumped to her feet and ran for the door. He hadn’t been expecting that, but still caught her around the waist before she could open the latch.
“No! Let go. Let me go—”
“Never. Calm down. We have much to discuss. Firstly and foremost that you have nothing to fear from me. I swear it.”
She stopped struggling and remained pliant as he lifted her into his arms. He returned to his chair and sat down with her on his lap.
“My name is Theda,” she said stubbornly.
He nodded and kissed her temple. “All right. But we are missing our princess and her name is Theodora.”
“And what makes you think I am she?”
He rubbed his nose against her soft hair and inhaled her unique scent. “Because you’re the same age, you resemble our beautiful Queen in many ways, and you have the same birthmark as the Princess.”
She stiffened. “I don’t have a birthmark.”
“Oh yes you do, my love.”
He stood and carried her to the bed. Though he was reluctant to release her, he did so and quickly grabbed a hand mirror from his desk. She’d remained on the bed, but sat up to watch him.
“You must remove your trousers to see the mark.”
She scowled. “Of course I do, so then I can’t run off again.”
He chuckled. “Somehow I think you would still run off even without the trousers if you had a mind to escape me.”
Her scowl remained, but she untied the knot holding her trousers on and kicked them from her legs.
“Lie back,” he said.
Though she still appeared skeptical, she did as he asked. He grasped one ankle and opened her legs before placing the mirror in a position to capture the inside of her thigh. She lifted her head enough to peer at the glass and gasped.
“I never knew that was there,” she whispered.
He nodded and placed the mirror on his bedside table. “You certainly wouldn’t have been able to see it without the mirror, but it is one way I was told I would know you for who you are, Princess.”
