Rojuun
Page 20
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Liselle saw Tathan attack, so she tumbled to avoid the danger. Her bow was off her shoulder and she had an arrow nocked immediately.
There was no one there. Her cousin was crouched with a wild look on his face. His eyes looked strange, even dark. It was worse than when he had drawn the sword on her mother back home. “Tathan? I don’t see anybody . . . Are they invisible?”
Tathan stood straight and shook his head to clear it. “No one’s there.” He sheathed his sword. “Just . . . Let’s go back to the tunnel.”
As he tried to walk by, she placed a firm hand on his chest. “What happened to you, Cousin? Why do you jump at shadows?”
“I . . . I can’t explain . . .” He gave her a weak smile. “I’ll be fine. Since we’ve been traveling together, I’ve done much better.” He tried to move ahead.
Liselle kept her hand against his chest.
“Peace, Cousin.” He took her hand, kissed it as one would a lady, and then released it.
Liselle watched him walk to the tunnel before looking back in the direction they had come. She wondered what could cause a man capable of killing thirty warriors to be so afraid. Then she thought that perhaps she didn’t want to know. Back home, he had mentioned something wanting his sword. His voice had an otherworldly quality to it at the time. With a shiver, she followed Tathan to the tunnel. Liselle didn’t put away the bow and arrow until they were inside.
Sir Danth was still banging his head against the wall when they returned. There was a sizeable hole in the wall, but not even a scratch on the helmet. Tathan motioned that they should continue back into the cave.
Vevin was nowhere to be seen, but the doors he had mentioned were opened. They went over to them. The large chamber beyond was empty like all the others they had seen, but there were niches in the walls.
“It will be perfect for treasure!”
“Vevin!” Liselle spun. “Please don’t scare us like that!” She had a hand on her chest to catch her breath after the shock.
“Oh! I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you. Once I explored here, I went to check your horses.” He held their packs up in either hand. “I also brought your gear. I thought we could camp near the stream tonight.”
Tathan took his pack. “That’s a good idea. Will the horses be safe? I’m worried about predators attacking them.”
“Oh yes!” Vevin nodded enthusiastically. “They are very safe. I put a ward over them.”
“Thank you, Vevin. That’s very nice of you.” Liselle graced him with another of her radiant smiles.
“Oh! You’re very welcome, Lady Liselle. I didn’t know you were a lady, by the way. You should have told me!”
“A lady? I’m not a lady. I’m just a . . .” She turned to Tathan. “What am I, Cousin?”
“You don’t have a title. ‘Farmer’s daughter’ or ‘Free woman’ would be the most likely phrases if you were to need one.”
“But Sir Danth called her ‘Milady’,” Vevin protested.
“Sir Danth will probably call any woman ‘Milady’,” Tathan said. “It’s a thing knights do.”
“I think it suits her.” Vevin bowed to Liselle, “Lady Liselle! Oh yes! I like it.” He proceeded to do his happy dance.
Tathan headed up the ramp. “Let’s set up our camp then.”
Liselle followed. “What about Sir Danth?”
“We’ll get him in the morning if he’s still banging his head.”