The next days provided more riding and sparring. Anna was always hungry and Jack kept busy shooting game for their nightly dinners. Once he took down a buck, hauled it to a village and had it dried and salted. He paid the butcher with some of the meat and returned with a little fresh fruit and bread as well. The venison solved their need for daily protein, but it didn’t taste like much. Still, Anna chewed and chewed on it as they rode.
As if Anna weren’t humiliated enough by her performance with the heavy sword, after a couple weeks, Jack added archery to her training. Normally she loved archery, but her arms were so exhausted, she could barely hold the string back. She was flustered by her sorry display.
“Honestly,” she told Jack. “At home, I could shoot well. I just lost my strength eating two bowls of horrible rice every day.” She tossed the bow to the ground. “Give me a day’s break.”
“You can quit whenever you want.” Jack raised an eyebrow as he picked up the bow. “If that’s what you want.” He plucked leaves out of the string.
Anna groaned. She wanted to quit.
Jack curled his lips in a poor attempt to hide his grin. He put an arrow to the string and released, striking a tree some distance away.
“Here,” he said, handing her the bow. “Put an arrow below mine. It’s an easy distance.”
Anna couldn’t help but look where his arrow had landed. It was an easy distance.
“All right.” She placed an arrow on the string and drew it back by her right ear, ignoring the protests in her arm. The bow quivered slightly. She released the arrow. Ping. The arrow struck the tree not six inches below Jack’s arrow.
“Good.” He winked. “You have some skill.”
She glared at him. “I have more than some skill.”
“I’d love to see it,” he said. “See that tree beyond with all the pinecones hanging down in a bunch?”
She had to squint. Oh no. It was far. “Yes, but I don’t know if I can manage it today with my sore arm,” she said, pulling the string back. She’d never shot that far, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Let me help.” He stepped behind her, put his hand on top of hers and pulled the string back an inch further. Her arm trembled. She felt his strong arms around her and his warm breath just above her left ear. She aimed, tipping her bow a little higher to compensate for the distance.
“Good, now, release!” Jack said.
Off went the arrow and down came the pinecones.
“We got it!” His eyes lit up. He pulled her in for a quick one-armed hug. For a moment she forgot the fear, the urgency to go home. All she could think about was the feel of his skin on hers. She blushed, worried he could sense her throbbing heart. He held her gaze for a moment before jogging off to find the arrows. Anna pursed her lips and studied him. He moved with the quickness and stealth of a predator. She was glad he was on her side. He jumped halfway up the tree and pulled out the embedded arrow like she pulled a pin out of her hair. It was nothing to him. He inspected each arrow tip and brushed aside any debris. He caught her eye and Anna couldn’t help the rush of pleasure that he flushed a little at her stare.
The next evening, they hunted. It had been awhile since they’d had fresh meat. The thought of striking down an animal made Anna’s knees a little weak, but she would try.
They crept along the forest floor until they scared up a large rabbit.
“Now!” whispered Jack. Her arrow landed right behind the darting rabbit. “Good try.” He nodded.
They ran a little farther, again flushing the poor rabbit out of its hiding place. Before it had jumped three times Jack had pierced it with an arrow.
“How can you do that so easily?” she asked.
“Practice.”
Thankfully Jack spared her the unpleasant job of cleaning the rabbit. Anna started a fire with Jack’s flint stone—another task she’d finally learned. She tried to rub the ache out of her shoulders. Sore or not, she had to admit she loved improving her skills. If a battle came to Sunderland, she would be ready.
“You must think we’ll be fighting our way to Sunderland,” Anna said. “I can’t imagine you are training me for the battlefield.”
“No. Battles are ugly, horrible places. I would never wish that for you. The memories there stay with you forever.”
“Then why are you teaching me this?” Anna stood.
“Lots of reasons. One, something could happen to me and you’d still need to get home. Two, you tend to attract bad luck—like that strange snake. Three, you’ll be a lot safer in general if you know how to defend yourself.”
“I could fight in the battle then.”
“No. Don’t think for a second you’d last long against grown men who’ve trained for years.”
“That’s insulting,” said Anna.
“I don’t mean to insult you. I’ve known a few women in the desert who’ve trained their whole lives to be masters of the sword and dagger. I faced one in my training who taught me to never underestimate an opponent.” He lifted his shirt to display a jagged scar across his muscled abdomen. “But if anyone tells you it’s not an ugly business, they’re lying.”
Anna reached her hand toward his scar. Their eyes met. She closed her fingers and pulled her arm back after hovering over his skin. He pulled his shirt down.
“Was it serious?” she asked.
“Not as serious as it was for her.” His face paled as his eyes drifted.
Anna sensed a terrible memory lurking. She didn’t know whether to pry.
“I have scars,” she blurted.
“I know.”
“You’ve seen them then?” She searched his face.
He hesitated before nodding. “At the creek.”
“Are they bad? Do they look like yours?”
She watched his Adam’s apple move up and down as he swallowed. Choosing his words.
“No. This almost killed me.” He gestured to his stomach. “Yours are surface wounds.”
She was quiet for a minute. “Thank you for all you’ve done for Sunderland.”
He nodded.
“Do you think scars make you stronger?” she asked.
“Scars can be a teacher, I suppose. They make you stronger if you learn from them.”
“You are strong enough for both of us.” Sudden emotion clouded her voice.
“You are a daughter of kings. Strength flows in Sunderland blood. We will make it.” He squeezed her shoulder.
Anna nodded. “We must.”
Their journey northward continued. And Jack was right. After almost two weeks, muscles were forming under her sleeves. The sword that had once seemed clumsy felt lighter every day. She sliced the air in front of her and smiled in delight.
“Come and fight.” Jack held up his branch. The leather sheath on the sword met the wood in the air with a thud. As the joust began, Anna found herself swinging and spinning with more skill than she knew she had. She aimed for his legs and missed.
“Move your feet, that’s it, back, then forward. Remember, it’s harder to hit a moving target.” He panted. “Look for an opening. It’s about skill and strength, but for you, mostly speed.”
She shot her blade at his ribs and struck hard.
“Hey—” Jack backed up, holding his side. He squinted at her. “Good. Point one for Anna.”
“Yes!” She beamed and raised her sword. She shuffled back a couple steps, tripped over a stump and fell, barely stretching her arm out in time to break the impact. He laughed.
“Yeah, that’s what I get for gloating.” Anna rolled her eyes at herself.
He took a deep breath and sat down next to her. “Perhaps enough for today?”
“Not on your life!” Anna leaped up and spun her sword around, gracefully resting it under his chin. “You should know better than to lower your defenses!”
He raised his arms in mock surrender. A flick of his leg tripped her, but his arm extended just in time to break her fall. He grinned and raised his eyebrows as she jabbe
d him with her elbow.
They both laughed, and she flopped back into the leaves again, staring up at the puffy white clouds floating effortlessly in the bright blue sky. She closed her eyes as she caught her breath. What she would have given to have this adventure under different circumstances. But just as the thought passed through her mind, the nagging urgency of their mission returned. Her stomach flipped. Anna glanced Jack’s way and found him studying her.
Her stomach flipped again for a different reason. His gaze dropped to her mouth. She bit her lower lip and turned away to fight the sudden desire to feel the touch of him.
“Will we make it back in time?” She asked the question to push other thoughts from her mind.
“We need to pin our ears back.”
As she let go of the sword, her hand brushed his. He took it in his palm, lightly rubbing her knuckles with his thumb. Her heart throbbed in response. She wanted to lean her head against his shoulder. It felt so good to have someone on her side.
“We’ll make it,” he whispered, suddenly serious.
“There’s no one else I’d rather have by my side than you.” She laced her fingers through his. “No one else.”
The corners of his mouth twitched up. “I’m so glad I found you.”
She returned his smile. “Maybe it’s time I watered the horses.”
Her hands felt clammy as she untied Avery. Her stomach refused to settle. She couldn’t help but steal a glance Jack’s way. He had pulled out a sharpening stone and was working on his sword. She led the horse to the creek. She forced herself to act normal as she returned for Star and watered her as well. She started as a flock of blackbirds croaked noisily overhead, followed conspicuously by a rabbit bounding through the brush. Odd.
“The horses are ready,” she called to Jack. He motioned for her to be quiet and join him. He brought his mouth down to her ear.
“Someone is coming,” he whispered.
Anna’s eyes grew wide as they hurried behind some large bushes. It wasn’t easy keeping the horses quiet.
“Hide here,” he whispered. “I’ll be back.”
She watched him disappear around the corner of the brush pile. His bow was strapped to his back and long dagger out. Every muscle in her body was taut. The horses picked up on her tension and stomped their feet. She wished Jack hadn’t gone alone. He was capable, of course, but she couldn’t stand this waiting. After about thirty tortuous minutes, he returned.
“There is an army camping in the forest. We’ll have to turn east to avoid it,” he said. “Whoever was coming our way must have turned back.”
Making as little noise as possible, they mounted their horses and headed east. Off and on that day, Jack would dismount and travel north for a while, returning only to tell Anna he had found more soldiers. They were gathering here. He pointed out their tracks any time they crossed them. Anna’s stomach was tight, and she strained to hear any movement in the woods. They rode a few more hours and just as the trees opened into a clearing, they spotted soldiers grazing their horses. Jack backed up Avery.
“I hope we haven’t been seen,” he said, filling his quiver. “Take the sword, we may be in for trouble.” They retreated into the woods. Anna’s hand shook as she gripped the weapon.
“Stay here.” Jack took a couple steps.
“Don’t leave me,” she whispered. “I’m safer with you anyway.”
Jack’s eyes cut through her like ice, but he relented. “You must be absolutely quiet.”
They ground-tied the horses and then crept through the brush toward the soldiers. Jack’s leather boots did not make a sound, and Anna tried hard to emulate him. She tested every step before putting her whole weight down lest she snap a twig. When she fell behind, Jack waited for her. They moved behind a large boulder and crept from rock to rock until they were dangerously close. The soldiers’ conversations drifted toward them.
“I hate all this waiting around,” one said. “Why can’t we get on with it?”
“Because, you idiot, we’re waiting for the rest to join us.”
“We have plenty of men to take down that yellow-bellied king,” the first replied. “We could be burning their flesh in a week.” He took a drink from a flask. “King Vilipp is a weak, depressed, sick old man. From what I hear, he can’t even keep a handle on his own family.”
Anna’s heart fluttered. That was her father they were talking about.
“Regardless, our superiors want to draw all their forces at once. We must wait for the rest. We’ll outnumber them so much they won’t have a chance.”
Anna felt the blood drain from her face.
“How many more are we talking about?” the first man asked.
“At least a thousand.”
“We’ve so many soldiers packed in these trees I can hardly breathe as it is,” grumbled the first one. “Let’s go back and see if they’ve shot any deer yet.”
After the soldiers left, Jack and Anna crept back to their patient steeds. Jack thought it prudent to stay hidden and not cross the meadow until dark. The moonlight would have to be enough to guide them.
Jack and Anna unpacked the horses in the thicket and tried to get some rest. Anna couldn’t close her eyes. Her senses were heightened to every movement, every sound. And her mind kept repeating the soldiers’ conversation over and over. Another thousand men. Their flesh would be burning… The urgency in her chest made her heart feel like bursting. Her eyes found Jack’s. He wasn’t asleep either.
“Will we ever make it in time?” she whispered cautiously.
He shook his head. “I don’t know.” He motioned for her to be quiet. They ate a little and waited for the sun to set. As darkness fell, they watered the horses and let them graze at the edge of the meadow until the blackness enveloped them. Chilly air blew against Anna’s face. She leaned into it, a new determination fueling her soul.
“No matter what happens to me,” Anna said, “I want you to go on. Leave me if you must, but Father must be warned. I’m tempted to order you to go on without me. You’d get there quicker riding alone.”
Jack stepped close to her. “We’ll go together, every step of this journey.” He tucked her hair behind her left ear. The darkness shielded his eyes from her, but Anna could feel them burning into her anyway. “That’s not negotiable.” He squeezed her hand and mounted Avery. The faithful horse was ready.
Her fingers tingled from his touch as she gripped Star’s reins. Jack wouldn’t leave her. She suspected he was motivated by more than just duty to her father, but she couldn’t be sure. She was, however, surprised at her own conviction. If it came to it, she would give her life for her country.
Anna mounted Star and steered her next to Avery’s neck. They listened intently for any noise. Hopefully the soldiers would be sleeping, and they’d pass unnoticed.
Chapter 11
All night they rode heading northeast, in the opposite direction of the castle, which lay to the north and west of the desert. With each step, Anna’s stomach twisted tighter. Every time they turned north, they ran into sleeping armies. Jack had no idea how this many men had eluded the network of northern spies. Was Anwar using some sort of cloaking gem from afar, or—
“The Black Woods.” Jack scowled.
“What?”
“The armies are forcing us toward the Black Woods.”
“Even I have heard of that dark place. No one ventures there.” Anna bit her lower lip.
They had been planning to go straight north, to the west of the Black Woods. “How long would it take to ride around the Black Woods to the east?”
“Weeks. Too long.” Jack cursed under his breath.
Luckily no scout had spotted them. Anna was surprised how cold the night had become. She shivered visibly. Jack pulled up to rest.
“We can’t risk a fire,” he said. “But you can wear my cloak if you like.” He took it off.
“No,” Anna said. “I can’t let you freeze.”
Jack ignored her, drapin
g the leather garment around her shoulders even as Anna shivered again. She slid off the mare and pressed her body against the horse’s warmth, letting Star block the wind. Star moved her head to Anna and exhaled her sweet breath. She patted her neck and ran her fingers through her black mane.
Soon they watered the horses and moved on again. Anna gasped at the cold wind when she remounted. Still Jack pressed on until the darkness changed into a midnight blue. The cold numbed her cheeks and her eyelids grew heavy from the mare’s steady walk. Her chin bobbed to her chest more than once and Anna shook herself awake. One by one, the stars disappeared. The sky morphed into a dark gray that gradually lightened until a single golden ray appeared over the horizon. Before long, the light illuminated the mist creeping up from the ground, adding damp to the chilly air. Finally, Jack pulled Avery to a stop.
“How are you doing?” he asked. “I hate that we had to ride all night through the cold.” He shivered.
Anna tumbled off Star, pain from her numb feet and legs shooting up to her hips. “I should apologize to you for wearing your cloak all night,” she said. “But the important thing is getting home as quick as we can.” Anna stretched her fingers that had grown cold and stiff from holding the reins.
“I should have thought to get you your own cloak. Let me check out the area,” he said, handing Avery’s reins to her. Reading her eyes, he added, “I’ll be back shortly.”
After unpacking and tying up the horses, Anna sat down against a large oak tree, with her back to the wind.
As promised, Jack soon returned and offered her dried figs and stale bread.
“How are we doing on our food supply?” Anna asked.
“We are getting a little low,” Jack replied. “I was planning to stop at a village on the other side of this forest, but we’ll not make it there now.”
“What will we do?”
“Hunt,” he said.
“Can we risk a fire?”
“We will have to be careful. We may get to the point where we have no choice. It will take us five more days to get to the mountain pass. Then it may take a week or more to follow the river to Karfin.”
Gems of Fire: A Young Adult Fantasy Page 11