by Kerri Carr
“I hope you’re – Wade covered his eyes, the tray of food he carried crashing to the ground. “I’m sorry. I didn’t…”
Roslyn pulled the sheets over her until her toes poked out the bottom. She tucked her feet under her bottom, her head the only thing visible.
“I should have knocked.”
“It’s okay. I…”
“Don’t apologize. Come to the kitchen when you get dressed.” Wade reversed his path with measured steps, his hands still covering his eyes.
She snickered as he hopped up and down, cursing the vanity and his clumsiness. He bent down, searching for the tray, not realizing he kicked it under the dresser. “Can you –
“Got it.”
“Thanks.”
Once he was gone, she took a moment to take in the various colors streaking across the sky. The beauty wasn’t enough to hold off the blots of the morning’s disaster. Her temples throbbed as the memories surfed through her mind. The embarrassment came over her as she imagined the other people’s reaction. She added several buckets to the makeshift bath before allowing the sheet to fall to the floor. She stepped back, giving herself a maximum view. She admired her muscles, posing in different positions to highlight her favorites. She ran her fingers over her stomach and down her legs, her youth giving her skin elasticity. She smiled at the curvy hips, tracing the dip in her back. The cloaks and pants she wore hid her frame. She cherished the moments she could bask in her femininity, those moments rare being that she was a part of a newly formed feminist group. It was long before steam obscured her vision. A moan slipped from her throat as her foot adjusted to the new temperature. Tension melted from her body as she lowered herself down. The stone in the room amplified her voice, the steam caressing her neck and shoulders, water droplets dancing in her hair.
The Wind is thin,
Sun warm,
The earth overflows
With good things.
Spring is purple
Jewelry;
Flowers on the ground,
Green in the forest.
Quadrupeds shine
And wander. Birds
Nest. On blossoming
Branches they cry joy!
Wade followed the trail of her outstretched arm, his mouth watering at the thought of tasting her. He finished the song, wishing he was the breath with which she recited the words. He ran his fingers down the curtain, images of her skin causing his heartbeat to triple in speed. He stepped out of her line of sight just before she turned around.
“Is someone there,” Roslyn called.
He swallowed the words on his tongue, clenching his fist to quell the urge to answer. He reclaimed his view after she settled back into the water. He took a last look before making his exit, kissing a towel and draping it across the bed. He looked toward the curtain. He would have his day. She would be his.
###
Different voices shouted over one another, determined to get their point across. Wade and Roslyn kept a close eye on the proceedings. There was no need in allowing a fight to break out; everyone in the room was on the same side.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
“That’s enough. That’s enough.”
The audience’s debate dropped to a murmur before silencing.
A large woman paced the stage, her feet thumping against the stone, her shirt stretched tight across her chest, her index fingers locked around each other behind her back. She wore a grimace as if stomaching some unseen pain. All eyes in the place followed her, though hers remained trained on the people standing at the back of the room. A smirk started in the corner of her mouth.
“Why does she always smile at you like that?” Wade whispered. “Is she – he hunched his shoulders and flipped his hand.
Roslyn jabbed him in the thigh. “No.”
“I was just asking.”
“It’s my week to speak.” She laughed at his wide eyes. She wasn’t a vocal leader, her actions doing the talking for her.
“As you all know, we have a major decision ahead of us. For the past three weeks, the majority of you have taken the opportunity to voice your opinions on the matter.”
The crowd began to talk amongst themselves, rehashing their points and discussing ones left out in previous conversations.
“Tonight, we have one of our most fearless leaders speaking.”
All the eyes followed her finger to the back of the room.
Roslyn’s steps were silent as she made her way to the front of the room. She had forgotten all the words she rehearsed the previous hour. She dried her hands on her pants, ripping a stray string of fabric from her shirt.
I can take on men three times my size in battle, but I’m afraid to speak in front of 20 people.
The veins in her throat throbbed as she stopped in the middle of her stage. Her vision began to zoom in and out, sweat beading on her forehead. Her heart thumped against her chest as her eyes matched the gaze of the different people staring at her. Anxiety constricted her airway, the lack of oxygen causing her to experience lightheadedness. She coached herself through her breathing technique.
In through the nose, out through the mouth.
In through the nose, out through the mouth.
She held up her hand, halting Wade’s progress. One public melt down was enough. Besides, she didn’t want him thinking she was a damsel in distress, his head was big enough already. She recited the breathing pattern once more.
In through the nose, out through the mouth.
The crowd’s clamor quieted when she opened her eyes. They landed on Wade; he gave her a reassuring nod. Roslyn cleared her throat three times and clasped her hands behind her back, the position straining her shoulders.
Ahem.
Hel, hello everyone. I’m Roslyn. Everyone here has presented compelling arguments on both sides.” Even as she stood in front of her peers, she went back and forth about where she stood. She understood both sides, though the rebel and warrior in her knew there was only one solution. Her eyes found Wade’s. The green irises comforted her. They also helped to finalize her decision. “While it may be unpopular, I side with those who want to fight.”
Scattered cheers erupted around the room.
“The royal family is corrupt and they will continue to be until they come across an equal force.”
“We can’t take on the King,” a random voice interjected.
“Yeah, he’ll kill us all. I have a family to think about,” another added.
“I applaud you wanting to protect your families, but don’t you think you owe them an existence better than our current one?”, she asked. She explained how taxes continued to increase, while their income decreased. She mentioned how their freedoms were evaporating under their noses. Every year, the King seemed to be taking a right in the name of security and safety. More soldiers were patrolling the streets, the chances of being arrested for petty crimes or no crime at all skyrocketing. “I’m tired of fighting for scraps, for the bare minimum. What makes his life greater than ours when we bleed the same?”
She took inventory of the crowd’s reaction, half agreeing, and the other half showing apprehension.
She was just grateful she didn’t find herself staring at the ceiling.
“The King isn’t going to listen to our demands. We’d have to kill him and put our own person in the castle.”
“Then so be it.” The words slipped out of her mouth before they had a chance to register in her mind.
The audience exploded into a jumbled mess of scattered thoughts. Heated debates turned into shoving matches, which caused the two sides to separate themselves. Just before punches were thrown, Elsa marched across the stage, Roslyn stepping back to save her toes.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
The powerful gavel barely made a dent in the deafening noise.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
“SETTLE DOWN.”
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Wade stood in between two large men, his mouth outstretched. Though his
mouth was moving, his words were muted. Whatever he said worked because the men’s faces returned to their normal colors, the veins disappearing into their necks. Once everyone had returned to their seats, Roslyn returned to the center of the stage.
“I know that isn’t the best idea –
“You damn right it ain’t. You won’t be fighting with us. You’re gonna be hiding with the rest of the women and children.”
Her blood began to boil, red splotches decorating her vision. “Listen, you sorry sack of –
“Let’s all remain respectful,” Elsa persuaded.
Roslyn jumped off the stage, paying no attention to the knees and feet she hit on the way to the loose lipped man. Her finger pointed at the spot between his eyebrows. “How dare you question my heart? Have you forgotten who I am?” She was never one to boast or remind people of the things she’d done. In fact, she made it a point to forget in order to remain humble. “It was me who gave you money and food when you couldn’t provide it for your family.”
People craned their necks to look at the man, who had long lost his smug attitude.
“Who fought off the guards and got you to safety after you sunk into the Prince's bath?”
The man didn’t provide an answer, his eyes searching his surroundings for an exit. As she continued to speak, his chin pressed further into his chest. The more time that passed, the more he became lost in her shadow. It was a wonder he didn’t curl into a ball.
Once she was convinced he remembered, she meandered back to the stage, her stroll confident. She drank in the fear oozing from everyone’s pores, the feeling addictive. She pushed it to the back of her mind, disgust forming a ball in her stomach.
That must be how the King feels.
“I understand if you think killing the King is a drastic move. But consider the alternative. How much more can you take? How much more can your families take?” The questions lingered behind her as she exited to the left, the heat from the working minds raising the temperature in the room. She and Wade slipped out of the door before the meeting ended, Roslyn satisfied with her speech.
Wade wore a twisted smile as they walked the barren streets.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You put that mouthy bastard in his place. And why didn’t tell me you snuck him out of the Prince's bath?”
“I didn’t want you to worry. I also didn’t want you trying to follow me.”
“You know me well Ms. Roslyn.”
She went over the details of the night, downplaying the part where the Royal Guard confronted her. In reality, she fought off three men, all while dragging the drunken culprit to the forest.
“Is that the night you came to my house all bruised and battered.”
She nodded her answer. “It was no big deal though.” She performed a pirouette in the middle of the street. “As you can see, I’m fine.”
Wade grabbed her by the shoulder, his face rigid with concern. “Don’t you ever do that again.”
Roslyn shook him away, brushing his comment off with a laugh. “What, are you, my father, now?”
Wade swallowed hard before letting her go. He waited until she was five yards away to begin following, his eyes to the ground. The rest of their ten-minute walk was quiet, the rustling leave and pieces of garbage scattering along the cobblestones comprised a majority of the background noise.
Upon reaching the small tavern, Roslyn stopped at the door, stepping to the side. Her jaw dropped when he opened it and walked past her.
“You’re a strong woman; you can open a door yourself.”
“You seriously can’t be that mad,” she called after him. “Wade…”
He dismissed her with a wave of his hand, twirling his index finger in the air. The barkeep acknowledged him with a smile and a nod. Less than a minute later, the mind numbing booze spilled from the sides of his mouth. He used the back of his arm to wipe his mouth clean and slammed the mug on the counter, the barkeep refilling it on cue. He downed the drink in equal speed.
Roslyn grabbed both sides of his face, examining his dilated pupils, his half open eyelids covering most of the flying saucer sized blots. She felt his muscles relax, his features taking on a softer appearance. As she stared at him, memories of their time together ran through her mind. She stifled a chuckle as she recalled the time she was teaching him how to wide; he had fallen off his horse five times before successfully mounting.
He shook her off. “Stop laughing at me.”
“How do you know I’m laughing at you?”
“Because you’re staring right at me.” He shrugged off another push and downed his third drink of the hour. He nodded at the barkeep. “This is some top of the line brew.” He turned his head to find Roslyn’s face less than an inch away from his. He jumped back, the chair rocking back and forth before settling.
Her features drooped. “What are you trying to say? I’m ugly.”
“No, you just scared me is all. Why were you so close?”
She scooted her chair back before gulping down the drink the barkeep set in front of her, letting out an impressive belch.
“Very lady like,” Wade joked. He waited for her to finish her second drink before reposting the question.
“No reason. I…” She shook her head and waved her hand. “Never mind.” She didn’t move as Wade carefully tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.
He turned his chair to face hers, their knees brushing against one another’s. He supported himself with his elbows on his thighs, his chin resting on his fists. He wore a goofy smile, half his upper teeth exposed. His eyelashes teased his cheeks as he blinked one time after another.
The sound around them disappeared as they gazed at each other. An unfamiliar feeling knotted her stomach. She chalked it up to a bad batch of drink. Wade, who she had considered to be her good friend, her brother began to take on a different appearance in her mind. Her eyes fell to his fingertips which were softly stroking her thigh. Though his lips moved, she didn’t hear anything he said. Roslyn began to swoon, following the sway of his eyes. Several minutes passed until she realized her legs were wider than they started his knee the main cause. She didn’t protest. Without thinking, she ran her fingers through his hair, allowing her fingers to trail along his jaw line and down his neck. She cupped his face and closed the gap between them until she could smell the sweet scents of the hops on his breath. Her drunken state mistook the widening of Wade’s eyes as a sign of approval to continue.
“We need to go.” His words sounded as if he were yelling from 100 yards away, each one hitting her eardrum individually.
She continued smiling, her eyes trained on his lips. She licked her own.
“Roslyn.”
The violent quake that followed snapped her out of her trance. “What?”
“Get down.”
Crash.
Roslyn looked behind her to see the last remnants of a bottle and its contents sliding down the wall. She turned around just in time to duck the first flying in her direction. She couldn’t avoid the man that swung into her.
Thud.
The cobblestoned ground forced the air from her lungs, stars flowing in and out of her vision as she tried to make out which side was right. “Wade,” she gasped, gripping her chest. “Wade.” She tried to make out his red leather boots. She scanned the floor, pulling herself through the sea of legs. A hand wrapped around her after she found the top of the bar, a swift pull helping her to her feet; a fresh breath of air soothing the burning in her chest. She limped around to the other side, glass crunching under her feet. Safe, she watched the massive fight in real time.
The barkeep offered another drink and settled in next to her.
“I take it this happens a lot,” she said between sips.
“At least twice a week. You come to expect it. The drink makes people forget who they are.”
She took in the scene, enjoying the talk and free beer until she remembered she didn’t come there alone. Her anx
iety caused her to slam the mug on the counter. “Where’s Wade?”
Feeling the same concern, the barkeep began sifting through the ever-moving bodies. “He’s in the corner. Over there.”
Roslyn followed his finger to the far corner of the establishment, her legs moving before her brain had a chance to react. She slipped an errant punch and sent her fist into another man’s ribs. She twisted the hand that grabbed her shoulder, smiling at the cry the burly man let out. She continued contorting the man’s hand until she felt the bones snap, finishing him off with a boot to the chest, her sweat splattering the ground as she whipped back around. She fought everyone who was unfortunate enough to step in her path. She shoved away the men that were fighting in front of her target. The light gleamed on her ten-inch blade, giving the men a final incentive to leave her be.
A trail of blood traveled from Wade’s eyes down to his chin. His shoulder hung at an awkward height, suggesting it was dislocated. Dried blood crusted in the corner of his mouth. A streak of the liquid spanned the length of his bottom lip. Blood drips dotted his shirt, some fresh, others in the process of melting into his shirt.
She recited her breathing mantra as she watched his chest rise and fall.
In through the nose, out through the mouth.
In through the nose, out through the mouth.
“Keep breathing Wade. Stay with me.”
He sucked air through his teeth as Roslyn attempted to pick up his damaged arm.
“I’m sorry.” A grunt forced itself from her chest as she lifted him to his feet. She gave him a few light slaps to revive him. “Come on, wake up.”
His eyes fluttered open. “What was that for?”
“Tell, you later, we have to get out of here.” After he was sure on his feet, Roslyn led the way out of the bar, throwing a sentence of gratitude over her shoulder.
The cool air dried the sweat on their skin, the hairs standing on her arms. They staggered to a nearby bench, the old wood creaking as it adjusted to their combined weight. Wade rested his head on her shoulder.