Her Reputation (The Empire: Book 1)

by Laura R Cole

  *

  Wren pushed his way through the woods, scratching himself on prickers and brambles as he shoved by them. They bit into his flesh, causing red welts to appear, but he ignored them. He’d tried to put the whole episode with Phoebe out of his head, but given that he would be forced to share her company this evening, he couldn’t help but obsess over it again. He wasn’t sure how he was going to face her.

  He tumbled down the hill to where he had seen the unicorn, twisting an ankle in the process, and looked around. The woods were quiet save for the stream bubbling past, tinkling its way happily downstream. Wren scowled at it. Kicking a rock into the stream, he started walking along it aimlessly. Maybe if he got lost and couldn’t make it back in time he’d have to miss the feast altogether.

  A strange sound began softly, barely heard above the running water but it grew louder as he walked downstream. Its tone harmonized perfectly with the sounds of the forest, creating a melody of nature-inspired beauty. Wren crept silently forward towards the sound, his sadness forgotten in his anticipation. It could be the unicorn.

  Moving through the brush as quietly as he was able, he snuck down a waterfall of rocks, trying to get a view of the pool below where the sound was coming from. A glint of bright light flashed at him, momentarily blinding him, and he bit back a triumphant yell. This time he was going to get it!

  He burst out from the bushes, leaping towards where he had seen the light. He shouted at the top of his lungs, hoping to startle the beast into frozen fright.

  A shrill scream stopped him short, and he blinked in surprise. Before him stood the most gorgeous woman he had ever encountered, her long hair flung out around her head, framing her perfect face. As his eyes drifted downwards, past the delicate point of her chin, to her fragile collarbones, he gulped. She was completely naked.

  He hastily turned around. “A thousand apologies, My Lady. I did not see you there.” He peeked over his shoulder to see if she had covered herself, but she was just standing there with her hands on her hips, staring at him with a stern look on her face in all her naked glory.

  “So why then, pray tell, did you burst forth from the bushes screaming like a madman?”

  Wren put his back to her once more, tearing his eyes away from the entrancing view. “I thought you were a unicorn,” he answered truthfully.

  She surprised him by laughing. The tinkling laughter should have made his face burn with embarrassment that she was laughing at him. Yet somehow she did it in such a way that made it seem like the situation was what was funny and not his mistake. He laughed with her, shaking his head ruefully.

  “What reaction did you expect to get from a unicorn by bursting out of the woods in such a manner?”

  He tilted his head in thought. “I guess I wasn’t really thinking about it at all. It got away last time, and things have just been so frustrating…” he trailed off, not really wanting to talk about his troubles with Phoenix with this beautiful creature.

  “It is always difficult when something you desire gets away. Sometimes, it is for the best. If it had been a unicorn instead of me, we would not be having this delightful conversation, now would we?”

  “I beg your pardon, My Lady, but it would be much easier to converse with you if you would let me fetch you your garments, and I could turn around and meet your eyes like a gentleman.”

  “No need,” the woman said, appearing next to him wearing a magnificent gown. Despite his polite sentiment, he was rather disappointed she was now so covered. She melted to the ground gracefully, her skirts billowing out around her like a blooming flower, and she patted the grass next to her. “Come, sit with me and talk a while. I don’t get a lot of company.”

  “Why not?” Wren asked, complying with her request and gingerly setting himself onto the damp grass, as close as propriety would allow.

  “Mostly I choose to have it that way,” she admitted. “I find that the majority of people irritate me. I spend most of my time alone, which is why I was so inappropriately attired when you stumbled upon me. I did not expect to come across another soul anywhere near here.” She paused, giving him an appraising look. “I like you, though.”

  Wren felt his face flushing. “You like it when men jump out of the woods screaming at you?”

  She smiled gamely. “It’s different. Different is interesting. Tell me, what is it that you do when you’re not scaring maidens in the woods?”

  “I fear I may bore you with my mundane lifestyle. I am but a scholar. I researched the time when the gods walked among us and am currently working on a legend that I stumbled across about a unicorn.”

  “That’s not boring at all!” the woman exclaimed. “Please, tell me more.”

  “Alright,” Wren agreed, surprising himself with his eagerness to share the knowledge with her. “I came across a passage in a history from during Queen Layna’s rise to power that piqued my interest. It indicated that one of the last Words from the gods passed down along the river was that a nightmare would come bearing wisdom. Apparently the Council all believed it to be an actual dream, and all took sleeping aids to try and be the one to receive it. Then in strolled a black female horse; a night mare. There are differing records of this creature, some claimed that it was really a mage transformed into a horse, but some accounts mentioned a single horn as though it were a unicorn. Though unicorns haven’t been around for hundreds of years – or so we thought – most people accept that they once did exist and had magic and intelligence.” He paused to gauge her reaction, but she was still staring at him with rapt attention. It was a bit unnerving. He cleared his throat. “Anyway, there were other stories referring to a unicorn that I believe to be referring to the same creature, though these are from times even farther back so I can’t be sure. It may be more than one. It has been very difficult to verify any of the claims. Even though the most recent stories are only from eighteen years ago and many of the people mentioned in the stories are still alive, none were able to prove or disprove the claims. I believe that the unicorn is real, however, and have made it my mission to find the creature. Just the other day, I caught a glimpse of it, but it got away.”

  “That’s fascinating!” the woman exclaimed. “If unicorns really did exist at one time, what happened to them?”

  “Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any more information about the subject in the old books, so I’m not sure. Any records must have been destroyed during the book burnings after the Dark King.” His face darkened at the thought of the all knowledge that had been destroyed. “Not a lot survived.”

  “I suppose not. Pity, though. I wish I could see a unicorn!”

  Her eagerness to discuss the topic with him fueled his own zeal, and he found himself immediately liking this woman.

  “They are pretty amazing. There have been sightings of unicorns all over and from many different time periods. From all accounts, they appear to be an extremely gifted animal – there are even some indications of human-like intelligence. I am trying to determine if the species isn’t actually extinct as we once believed and there are more of them than we think, or if this one unicorn is the last of its kind.”

  “Is that possible for one creature to have lived so long?”

  “Absolutely. There are certainly many documented instances of even strong human mages in the old days that retained their youth and lived long past their natural lifespan. I believe – though I cannot say for sure – that unicorns were known for having an unusually long lifespan. For a while, I wondered if it was only a myth, but now…I have seen it with my own eyes.”

  “What will you do when you find it?” the woman asked, then smiled impishly. “Besides jumping out and scaring the poor creature half to death.”

  Wren laughed. “I don’t honestly know. I’ve been looking for it for so long, I haven’t thought that far ahead yet.”

  “Have you considered that perhaps it doesn’t want to be found? If i
t truly is the last of its kind it probably survived by staying hidden.”

  Wren thought about this for a moment. “I suppose. But I find it difficult to let such an interesting piece of history go un-researched.”

  The woman smiled “As would I. I will have to keep a look out for it now that I know it is in these woods.”

  “What exactly are you doing out here in the woods?”

  “I often come out here to enjoy the beauty of nature and to take advantage of the natural swimming pool.” She gestured elegantly to the river. “I find this spot to be very relaxing and it’s very near my home so I frequent it regularly.”

  “But no one accompanies you?” Wren pressed, unable to believe that anyone would leave such a magnificent woman to wander the woods by herself.

  “I grew up with brothers,” the woman said as if this explained everything, “I know how to take care of myself.

  Her tone left no room for argument and Wren certainly didn’t feel that it was his place to say otherwise. Although he would have felt better if she would at least take him up on an offer to walk her home. She refused, however, saying that she made the trek almost every day and would be just fine.

  They chatted for the remainder of the day, mostly about Wren’s research, though touching on many other subjects. Though the conversation was hours long, Wren was interested the entire time – though it helped that his companion was so easy on the eyes. Eventually evening rolled around and Wren could put off his return to the palace no longer. “I’m so sorry,” he said regretfully, “but I have to go.”

  The lady nodded and rose. “Well, it was truly a pleasure to have run into you, sir.” She turned and started walking off.

  “You’re sure I can’t walk you home?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “May I see you tomorrow?” he called after her retreating form.

  She only paused to smile over her shoulder at him before disappearing into the woods.