by Jen Pretty
After a long moment, he asked, "Do you even know how to read?"
I wanted to ignore him, but the question was rude. "Of course, I know how to read!" I shouted back without looking at him. At least, I was learning anyway. I wanted to ask him what dark arts was, but I figured it had to be a type of magic and he would think me ignorant if I asked.
He was quiet for so long I thought he had left, but when I turned around with the blanket, he was still standing, watching me with a curious look on his face.
"I came out here to tell you I had your horse shod. The blacksmith owed me a favour."
I stuttered for a moment then finally made words that made sense. "Thank you. You didn't have to do that. What do I owe you?"
He smiled. "I'm quite certain you don't have any money."
My face twisted into a deeper frown.
"I'm not making fun of you. I'm just stating a fact. Where are you heading?"
"What do you mean?"
"You aren't planning to stay here, are you?"
"No."
He didn't repeat himself, just waited with an expectant look on his face.
"South," I said, gathering up the dried blankets and moving to pass Paxton.
His hand snaked out and held my arm, stopping me. I glared at him, but he just had a passive look on his face. He dropped his hand and sighed.
"I'm heading south, too. Let me travel with you?"
I stared at him for a long moment, then strode back towards town, throwing him a "maybe" over my shoulder. Below his hat, he grinned and his eyes seemed to twinkle. I turned away, scolding myself for admiring his 'twinkling eyes'. What was wrong with me?
Back at the inn, I hung the still wet blanket on the fence surrounding the stable before creeping in to the barn carefully so I didn't get the clean blankets dirty. A soft nicker met me and a grin pulled at my lips.
"Hey boy," I whispered before looking down at his new iron shoes. Copper was ready to continue our journey, now I just needed some money for food and we would get out of this place. "I'll be back tonight." I kissed his soft nose and spun, taking the blankets with me.
Back inside the inn, men and women were filling up the lower level. The tables were nearly all occupied, and a tall, thin man was playing music in the corner on a strange instrument. Another man was singing in a language I didn't recognize, but I passed them all and hurried back up the stairs with the fresh blankets.
"Eh, girl!" Mary's voice stopped me.
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"You didn't get the second-floor rooms clean, better get to it!"
I nodded and then hurried up to find my pail and get to scrubbing.
The second floor had just as many rooms as the third floor and I didn't finish cleaning until night fall when people started to climb the stairs heading for their rooms. By then I was dirty and soaked in sweat from the sweltering heat in the inn. The day had been the hottest yet, but it was late in the year for such heat and I knew that winter would come before I was ready for it. I thought perhaps I could take a swim in the river after dinner. It would be dark and I really needed to rinse off after the last few days.
I stumbled down the stairs with the dirty pail of water and tossed it out the back door before replacing the bucket behind the bar. The burly man who served patrons was wiping a mug with a rag. "You done, girl?"
"Yes sir," I replied, pressing the wisps of red hair back from my face.
"Mary instructed me to give ya this." He slid a bowl down the bar and a loaf of bread.
I had never had a whole loaf of bread before and an idea struck me. If I save the bread, I could take it with me. It wasn't much food, but it was some food. Perhaps they would give me another tomorrow and in a few days, I would have enough bread to last me for a few days of travel.
I took the bowl and the loaf and sat down at one of the empty tables. Several people still sat around the room drinking, but I ignored them all and slowly ate my stew, practicing eating carefully, instead of gobbling it down as fast as I could. This task was made easier because the food was cold and not as delicious as last night. There seemed to be less meat and vegetables and more broth this time. No matter, I wouldn't be embarrassed next time I ate in front of a man like Paxton.
As if that thought materialized him, Paxton slid into the chair across from me.
"Hello, Morgan," he said with a smile.
My free hand immediately went to my waist to make sure the book was still tucked into my skirt. "Hi," I said before returning my eyes to my bowl of food. I scraped the sides, scooping up every last bit of the stew, then set my spoon down.
"You aren't going to eat your bread?" Paxton asked. He was awfully nosy.
"I'm not that hungry, I'll eat it later."
Paxton's lip ticked up as if he knew my secret, but I didn't care. I rose to my feet, grabbing the loaf of bread and the empty bowl.
"Morgan, wait. Please? I think we got off on the wrong foot and maybe haven't really shifted back to the right one."
"What do you want from me?" I asked.
"Nothing, just your company. I've been travelling a long time and I think you have been, too. I just want to get to know you."
I bit my lip and glanced around, hoping no one had heard him. "Okay, fine. I'm leaving in three days. You can travel with me for a little while if you are going my way."
A smile split his face, crinkling the corners of his blue eyes. He was even more handsome when he smiled.
"Stay and talk to me for a few minutes?"
I slipped back into the chair and sat staring at him. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Well, since you don't want to talk about yourself, how about I tell you about me and then maybe you will feel more comfortable sharing." He grinned like he was brilliant.
I had to admit I was curious about him. "All right."
"So, I came from the east. My father raised me to be a warrior."
I glanced down at the sword slung at his side.
He noticed my glance and rested his hand on the hilt. "It's not just for show. I'm pretty good with a sword, but I didn't want to join the king's army. So instead I chose to travel for a while and see the country."
"So, you ran off?" I couldn't imagine anyone leaving a family behind. If I still had my family, I would never leave them. A yawn snuck up on me and I covered my mouth, then rubbed my tired eyes.
"Not exactly. It's a long story and I don't think you are up for that tonight."
"I've had a very long day," I muttered.
"Of course," he replied. "Will you meet me for breakfast in the morning?"
"Sure," I said, rising from my chair.
"Goodnight, Morgan Le Fay."
I glanced back at him. "That's not my name."
He just grinned like it was the funniest joke, so I waved goodnight then trudged back up the stairs to the smallest bedroom in the whole inn. I had cleaned every room now and knew that to be the truth. It didn't matter. I didn't need much space.
Morgan Le Fay.
I wasn't sure what it meant, but I liked the sound of it.
Sleep washed over me, stealing any thoughts of blue-eyed men. I had also completely forgotten about my plan to take a swim in the river.
CHAPTER TEN
The next morning, I woke early, before Mary even had the kitchen fire started, so I grabbed one of the clean blankets and made my way out of the hotel. The town was silent except for the chickens out behind the inn clucking away. I shuffled down the dusty road, my boots scuffing the ground. The silence reminded me of travelling with Copper and I longed to get travelling again. I promised myself only two more days in this town, then we would leave.
The scent of the river reached my nose. A pungent musk. As I approached the river, I realized someone else was already swimming. Broad, bare shoulders flung muscular arms forward in a rhythmic front stroke. A man’s back glistening in the pre-dawn light. I stopped dead, unsure if I should leave. I really needed to wash up, though, and surely he didn't need the whole
river. After a few more moments of hesitation, I moved forward, intent on at least washing my face and hair.
I crouched by the edge of the water and dipped my hands in. It was cool and fresh, sending a shock through me as I splashed it up onto my face.
"Come in, Morgan. The water is great."
I looked up at my name and realized the man swimming was Paxton. His blond hair was darker, slicked back and wet. He stood closer to me now, waist deep in the water.
"I don't think that's a good idea," I said.
"Why not?"
I shook my head. What I wanted was to wash my clothes and lay them out to dry, but there was no way I would dash back to the shore naked and wrap myself in the blanket with Paxton here.
"I won't look," he said with a boyish grin that suggested he probably would.
I scowled at him and he moved closer. As he walked through the ever-shallowing water towards shore, I realized he wasn't wearing pants a moment before he rose far enough out of the water to display everything his pants should cover and I hid my eyes behind my hands.
"You aren't wearing pants!" I yelled.
"Shh, the whole town will hear you," he said with a laugh as he walked past me. I heard a belt jingle and prayed it was the sound of him putting pants on. "There, now your innocence is safe." He laughed again.
I peeked through my fingers and, sure enough, he was wearing pants, but not a shirt and his bare chest was on full display. Above his heart was a tattoo in a strange pattern I hadn't seen before. It was like a star with lines crossing and intersecting through the middle
He caught me staring at it and grinned. "It's the mark of my people." He ran his fingers over the slightly raised marking.
"Who are your people?" I asked. I had never heard of people being branded in that way.
"That doesn't matter. I'm going to head back to the inn. Enjoy your swim, Morgan."
I watched him walk away, his shirt tossed over his shoulder and his back muscles bunching and stretching. He had perched his hat atop his wet hair that still dripped in rivulets down his spine with each step he took until he was out of sight.
I shook my head, trying to knock some sense back into myself. I shouldn't be lusting after a man I don't even know. Instead, I moved the towel closer to the river's edge and then waded into the water until it was up to my chest. I freed my hair from the tie that kept it out of my face and then dunked myself completely under the water. I stayed under there and opened my eyes, watching the silt float around in the otherwise clear river. A fish swam past a few feet away, its scales glittering like a sunset.
When I was nearly out of breath, I rose to the surface, tipping my head back so all my hair would slick away from my face.
I checked in every direction and when I was sure that no one was around, I stripped off my wet clothes and scrubbed them quickly in the water before rushing back to shore and wrapping the blanket securely around me. Hopefully, at the next town I would find a way to make some money for clothes, but for now these would have to do.
Once I was covered, I wrung out the skirt and shirt and my underthings, then laid them on a big rock to dry and sat down next to it with the magic book which I had hidden in the blanket.
The next section of the book was much harder to read with long words that didn't make much sense as I sounded them out. I tried a few of the ones I was sure were magic words, but nothing happened. Back to the beginning of the book, I started reading again. I almost had the first few chapters memorized and could easily start a small fire with magic. The other words didn't seem to work when I whispered them in private.
Keeping a careful eye on my surroundings to be sure no one was watching, I started a fire. It was tiny, not much more than a candle. A larger fire would help dry my clothes faster. I watched it for a few minutes before pointing at the ground where the flame flickered. I said the word again, "Byrne."
The flame pressed back as if a wind had blown it, but it didn't grow. I tried holding dry leaves in the flame, but they wouldn't catch on fire. Magic fire was not the same as a regular fire.
I finally gave up, poured some water on the flame, extinguishing it, and pulled on my still-damp clothes before shambling back to the inn. I walked around back to check on Copper. He was antsy in his stall even though someone had refilled his water and tossed him fresh hay. I could feel the tension in his muscles as I ran my hands down his soft coat. He wanted to run.
"We'll go soon. I promise."
He snorted, spraying warm mist all over me and making me laugh.
"Silly boy." I gave him a last pat and ducked out of his stall.
A large black gelding that I recognized as Paxton's mount had his big head hung over another stall door. I paused in front of him, raising my hand to touch his long forelock. It was combed smooth and glittered in the low light of the barn.
"Is your owner trustworthy?" I asked the horse. I rarely trusted humans, but I trusted animals. They never lied.
The large horse stomped a foot and shook his head. I wasn't sure if that was an answer or not, but in my experience a well-kept horse was a sign of a good horseman. But was a good horseman a good man? I would soon find out given that we would be travelling together. For my sake, I prayed he was a good man. I would be safer travelling with him than on my own. Probably.
Back in the inn, I found the man in question sitting at the same table we had sat at the morning before. His face lit up when he was me walk through the door.
"Good morning, Morgan," he said as I pulled out the chair and sat down. He had half risen from his chair, as though he were a gentleman. I doubted very much he was that good a man.
"Good morning again," I replied.
Mary stopped at the side of the table with two plates of food. Paxton must have ordered them before I returned. I looked at Paxton, but he just grinned and picked up a bright red apple and took a white-handled dagger out of his belt. He used the dagger to cut thin slices of the apple off. I watched mesmerized, while I ate my eggs.
"So, tell me how far south are we going?" he asked.
I had no idea, but didn't want to sound like I was just wandering aimlessly. "Near the coast."
Paxton grinned and popped a piece of bread in his mouth. The grin was mysterious.
"Where are you going?" I asked after I had eaten some of my eggs.
"I have family at the coast. I've never met them, but I intend to."
Family. I hadn't thought of that. Of course, most people have a family. Mine were probably dead and gone, though I had no way to find out--apart from my father, whom I knew was gone. At one point I had sisters, too, but we were scattered to the wind upon my father's death and with the raiders and tumult of the north, I could assume they had perished too.
"What is it?" Paxton asked, obviously noticing my sombre mood.
"Nothing," I replied. "It's just nice you have a family."
He gave me a sad grin. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you sad. You have no family, then?"
I bit my lip. I had already pretty much confirmed it, but it was awkward to admit that I was alone. "No."
His hand slid across the table and trapped mine where it lay beside my half-eaten plate of food. He squeezed it briefly and then let go, returning to his meal. The touch was warm and gentle, reminding me of better days and tinkling laughter.
Perhaps I would find those days again in Avalon.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
By the evening of the next night, I had four loaves of bread stocked in an old rag I had found and washed clean in the river. I just had one more night, and then first thing in the morning I would climb on Copper and be gone.
My hands had blisters and cuts from the cleaning and washing, and I wasn't much farther ahead than when I had arrived, but I had some food and Copper had new shoes. I would have to ride slow and make the shoes last; hopefully Paxton didn't mind. His big gelding was obviously not bred for speed, but some heavier horses could still move fast if they were conditioned properly.
My legs trembled as I climbed the stairs to my room. I had been up and down the stairs so many times that day the muscles screamed in protest. A lantern in one hand and the other hand firmly on the railing, I took my time, but the thought of lying on the bed kept me moving forward.
Finally, I made it to the third floor and turned towards my tiny room to find the door standing open. I had closed and locked it before I left, I was sure of it.
I hurried forward and glanced around the room. Only one thing was missing. The old rag that had contained the bread I intended to take with me in the morning.
I slammed the door, set the lantern down on the table, and threw myself down on the bed wishing I could scream. My hand went to the book at my waist. Frustration made it hard to focus, but there had to be something in the spell book that would help me get food before the morning. I flipped through the pages angrily, none of the spells seeming to be what I was looking for.
I passed into the complicated section of the book where the words made no sense and felt a tingle go through my fingertips, stopping me dead. The tingle stopped almost as soon as it started, leaving me to wonder if I had felt anything at all.
The page was the same as the rest-- full of large unusual words-- but I tried to read it. Sounding out the letters until they formed words over and over. Eventually the lamp began to flicker, the last of the oil burning off. I wanted to read the page again, but it was no use. I was too tired and the wording too complex for me to grasp the meaning. There was one word that stuck out. "Agan" I whispered. Nothing happened, but I drifted off to sleep repeating the word to myself, keeping my voice low so neither God nor man would hear me.
A knocking at my door woke me early the next morning. I rubbed my eyes and rolled off the low bed before pulling open the door to find Paxton's handsome face grinning at me.
"Morning, sunshine," he said with a mischievous twinkle in his eye.
"Is it?" I asked, glancing back at the still-dark window.
"Close enough. Come get breakfast before we go." He turned on his heel and strode down the hall.