Pushing up on the door latch, she eased her way inside and secured the door behind her just in case anyone from the house had good night vision and noticed the door open. Her own eyes had adjusted to the darkness, so she had no trouble finding Donkey. She’d been fed and seemed pleased with herself, showing Bym her big teeth and snickering at her.
Bym whispered, “I was so worried about you. Are you okay?” She opened the stall and went inside where she ran her hands over Donkey’s neck checking for injuries. Then, she hugged her. “I came to say goodbye. I’ll miss you.”
Donkey snuffled at what was left of Bym’s hair.
The barn’s back door creaked softly as it opened. Terrified, Bym froze. The youngest of the farmer’s boys stood staring back at her with his mouth open but not for long. He was fast. Before Bym knew what hit her, he had grabbed her by the shirt, hauled her from the stall, and tossed her to the ground. Bym rolled away from him, huddled against a stall door, and covered her head with her arms.
Big boots filled with angry farm boy advanced on her. “Start explaining before I snap your scrawny neck.”
“Don’t hurt me, please!” Bym drew her legs in and tried to make herself smaller. Risking a look, she saw his angry scowl. “I just wanted to make sure Donkey was okay and tell her goodbye. I thought the soldiers were going to take her.”
He crouched in front of her. “If she’s yours, why didn’t you speak up?”
“I was scared.”
“So, you just watched the entire time? All of that time? They left long ago. Why should I believe you? You could be a thief. Or worse, how do I know you aren’t a spy for the Umbra?”
Having no idea who the Umbra were, she said, “I’m not.”
“Then, what are you doing out here?” His thighs and arms were massive from spending his life working on a farm, and Bym feared he could easily do as he’d threatened and snap her in two.
“I want to go to town because….”
He grinned and nodded at the ground behind him. Following his gaze, Bym saw a pack he’d dropped when he’d caught her. “Because you want to join the army when they next come for recruits?” A good-natured smile made him appear less threatening. “I’ve got the same idea.” He stood, held out a hand, and helped her stand. “You’re kind of puny to be a soldier. I’m Eurig.”
Deciding it would be in her best interests to go along with Eurig’s assumptions, she said, “I’m Bym.” She was just relieved that he no longer seemed intent on beating the crap out of her for trespassing.
He walked over to the tack room and returned with a saddle and bridle. “A donkey, huh? They won’t take you as a soldier if you don’t have a horse. You might have to start as a stable boy and work your way up.”
Bym was relieved. The fine farm boy thought she was a guy. She hoped he’d think the same in the morning light. She tried to concentrate on what he was saying, but she was distracted by the muscles rippling under his shirt. The barn was dark, but it wasn’t too dark to appreciate a fine male physique. He placed the saddle on a wood rail and then opened a stall. He led a large horse from it, brushed it down, put a blanket over its back, and saddled it. Bym paid attention, having never before seen it done. He grabbed his pack from the barn floor and started walking his horse out.
“Are you coming?” Eurig asked.
Under her breath and still thinking about all of his muscles, she said, “No, I’m just breathing hard.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing,” she whispered as she followed him out.
“Aren’t you bringing your donkey?”
Bym gazed back sadly at her. “She’s hurt. She’ll be better off here.”
“No, she isn’t. She threw a fit because she didn’t want to go anywhere and got her way. Nothing is wrong with that animal. I checked her myself.”
Heartened by the news, Bym smiled and turned back to the stall. “Come on, girl. Come with Bym.”
Eurig shook his head and mounted his horse. Then, he was dumbfounded while watching her try to mount it. “Don’t you have a bridle for it?”
“No,” Bym whispered. She was afraid his family would hear them.
“Here. Hold this. I’ve got an old one you can have.” Dismounting, he handed her his huge horse’s reins.
Even sitting on Donkey’s back, the horse towered over her. Eurig was quick. He secured the barn door and affixed a leather and metal contraption to Donkey’s head. Then, he traded reins with her. She held them not knowing what she was supposed to do with them. On his horse once more, he made a soft clicking noise to it, and it trotted off. Donkey seemed to understand she was supposed to follow. Well, it was either that or she thought the horse was as cute as Bym found the farm boy to be. They rode in silence. Occasionally, Eurig looked back to make sure that Bym still followed, but he didn’t seem too terribly concerned.
Time dragged on. Taking advantage of the privacy, she lifted her loose right pants leg and did her best to smear more of the salve into the claw marks.
Hours went by, but Eurig made no indication of planning to stop. He didn’t make any attempts at conversation either.
Softly, Bym called out, “Can we take a break?”
“If you need to piss, stop, drain your worm, and catch up with me. We’ll stay on the road until dawn. Then, we’ll find a place to rest. It’s better to keep moving since we don’t have shelter. Anyway, Pa can ride like the wind. If he catches me, he’ll make me go back home. Then, he’ll take his belt to me. You’ll get in trouble, too.”
“Me? Why me?”
“You’re with me.”
Bym frowned. She didn’t like the idea of a big angry farmer chasing them down and dragging them back. Eurig was incredibly strong. If he feared his father, she could only imagine the beating he might give to a “beggar boy” like her. Had he really told her to drain her worm? At least, her disguise was working. Unfortunately, if his father caught them, to avoid a beating she’d have to confess she was a woman. Then, he would turn her over to the female-hoarding, lecherous soldiers. She scrunched up her face as Eurig’s horse started dropping globs of poop on the dirt road in front of her. Yes, those were her thoughts exactly. She’d managed to get herself into some serious shit, but she wasn’t alone.
Large trees towered over the road to each side making the darkness complete. Days without sleep caught up with Bym, and the serene darkness and sounds of insects provided an irresistible lullaby. Laying over Donkey with her arms around her neck, Bym fell asleep. When Eurig glanced back to check on the scrawny boy, the donkey looked riderless. He stopped his horse and waited. When the donkey sidled up to him, he saw the kid had fallen asleep and took the reins, leading the animal with its burden off the road. Pa would be expecting him to stick to it and head for the nearest town. He wouldn’t expect him to travel farther north and closer to the Umbra territory. However, the closer he got to Primis Tenebris, the more desperate the Order of Solis would be for recruits to train, and the closer he’d be to the actual fighting.
First, he’d travel to Cingeto Ridge, a civilian city of the Solis. It was many miles from home and where long ago Beryn, a mighty warrior of the Order, had led his soldiers in an attack against both the Umbra and the goblin horde. The three armies had crashed together, blades and spears slashing, power surging down from roiling clouds, and teeth and claws ripping. They’d battled until Beryn and a small team of his most valiant warriors had broken through the Umbra defenses and rescued Nesta, the Temporal Locum, the Time Holder, deemed worthy and bequeathed by her aged predecessor with the survival of their whole world, keeping day unto day, and night unto night. Beryn had carried Nesta away to safety, protecting her until she came into her powers. Thus, the violent fluctuations had ceased, and sunlight returned to the lands of the Solis. The peace and prosperity had lasted for generations. When Nesta had grown weary and faded, she had passed on the Temporal Locum to Aurora, who had carried the burden for centuries. However, now Aurora had faded, and her successor remained l
ost. The Order of Solis searched the land for her, and Aurora save them all if the goblins or the Umbra should find her first.
Eurig watched and listened for dangers. When darkness fell, evil man-eating goblins scoured the land for prey. However, until their new goddess was rescued and came into her powers, the goblins would be far more dangerous than they’d been during his lifetime or that of his father or grandfather. He didn’t dare camp at night. He knew to survive that he’d need to travel at night and sleep during the day. Daylight blinded the nocturnal goblins. He felt for the ancient sword sheathed at his hip. He’d found it last spring while plowing a field. Knowing his family’s opinions on their place in the world, he’d hidden it in a hollow tree. His brother might be content to live out his days in their father’s footsteps, if Abigail was returned to him, but Eurig was bored with the monotony.
He wanted more than to be a farmer. He needed to prove to himself that he was more, and he would. He was strong, and he had a horse, a bow, and a sword. He’d be like Beryn and be remembered in songs for his bravery. After the Temporal Locum was rescued and he’d proven himself in battle, he’d return home wearing his armor and bedecked in medals awarded to him for his bravery. They’d be proud of him then.
He kept his horse at a steady pace and made much better time than he had expected, but the night lasted for several hours longer than it was supposed to. When the sun finally began to rise, he found a suitable place to make camp. Tethering the mounts where they could graze, he lifted the boy from his donkey’s back and laid him down on a soft patch of grass. He hadn’t intended on babysitting on his way to run away and join the army, but there was something to be said for not travelling alone. He made a fire. Then, taking his bow and quiver from his pack, he ventured off into the forest to hunt some dinner.
Chapter Five
A throbbing, pounding pain woke Bym from the first sleep she’d had in days. She pressed her hands to her skull and then realized she was sleeping on the ground. She hesitantly opened her eyes. She wasn’t sure how to judge it but thought it might be around mid-day. A warm fire blazed nearby, and sitting beside it in the ashes was a metal pot. Her body protested, but she sat up anyway.
Eurig slept on the other side of the fire with a muscular arm thrown over his eyes. His soft snores reached her over the crackle of the burning wood. Fervently wishing for the pot to be filled to the brim with coffee, she edged closer and looked inside. It was food, real food. Since Eurig had left it, she hoped it was meant for her because she was starving. Using the bottom of her shirt to keep her fingers from getting scorched, she pulled the pot away from the fire. A metal spoon had been left in it. Deciding to give it a second or two to cool, she darted off into the bushes and then hurried back. She had to force herself to chew the tender chunks of meat and mushrooms. After eating every bite, she licked the spoon clean.
“How long has it been since you’ve had a meal?” a quiet voice asked. He still had his eyes covered with his arm.
“A few days,” Bym answered. “Is there any water?”
He passed her a waterskin.
While she drank, he said, “There’s a river half a mile north. We’ll need to cross it before dark.”
“Thank you for sharing your food. You’re a good cook.”
He chuckled softly. Then, he sat up and gave her his attention.
Bym stared back. Did he know? Could he tell now in the daylight that she was a woman?
“I can’t help but notice that you don’t have much. You seem ill-prepared for travelling. Don’t worry though. Things are going to get better. Unless, you’ve changed your mind and want me to take you back home.”
So, he still thought she was a boy. However, things he said confused her. She did want to go home. Right? Where was home? Confused, Bym searched her memories and found nothing but distant dreams. All that was real to her was waking up alone in a forest at the feet of a massive stone arch and everything which had happened to her since. She felt like she had a life to mourn, her own. Embarrassed, she wiped a stray tear from her cheek and hoped he hadn’t seen it. She was supposed to be a guy, and they didn’t often dissolve into tears during casual conversations.
“I’m not going back.”
“Alright, then. Let’s get going. We’re rested and fed.” Getting to his feet, Eurig smothered the fire by kicking some dirt over it.
Bym blinked and coughed from the resulting smoke, ash, and dirt. “I thought we were resting during the day.”
“We did. Now, we’ve got a river to cross. Get your ass moving.”
Was he talking about her or Donkey? Bym scrambled to her feet and adjusted the feed bag over her head and under her arm. “Eurig, I’ve got a piece of jerky left. You can have it.” He’d shared his dinner with her, so it seemed she should return the favor.
He chuckled. “You keep it. I prefer fresh game when I can get it. If you see any rabbits, tell me.”
Bym tried to hide her horror. Was that what had been in the pot? Had she just eaten a little bunny rabbit? Please, no. To hide her face from Eurig, she cozied up to Donkey, patting her and giving her a hug while he saddled his horse. He mounted and trotted away while Bym was still trying to get onto Donkey’s back. Finally, she managed it.
A little breathless from the endeavor, she said, “Come on, girl. Go. Move.”
Donkey let loose a noxious fart. Hee-haw! Hee-haw!
“Nasty. You’re fucking nasty. Go. We’re gonna get lost. Don’t you like the big pretty horse? Go.”
Donkey didn’t move. It was like she wanted to hang out in the cloud of vile gas she’d released, enjoying her eau de parfum of flatulence.
“Damn it! You stupid fucking piece of shit! Go!”
Donkey seemed pleased with the insult and stepped forward.
Bym began to suspect that Donkey’s previous owner had been free and loose with the verbal abuse which was odd because Donkey reacted to it as though the profane words were those of sweet and undying love. Donkey lurched into a trot forcing Bym to tighten her grip with her thighs to keep from sliding off. Her nerves calmed once she could see Eurig’s back.
Left to her own thoughts, she tried to remember where she was supposed to be. As her mind drifted, a memory came to her of an old man and woman, the corner of a busy street, the crunching sound of a paper bag, and a gold snake pendant which had melted into her skin. Bym reached up and touched her chest. There were no signs of tail-biting snakes. However, now she remembered her mission. She needed to get to a town and find help so she could go home, but where was home?
While she’d been preoccupied by her own thoughts, they’d made good time. A new sound greeted Bym’s ears and pulled her from her silent reverie. Sloshing, gurgling, and trickling sounds were made by the river about which Eurig had told her. She’d lost sight of him. Now, she put her hand out to push a branch aside to keep it from hitting her face. Donkey slowed to make her way through tall grasses, bushes, and new tree growth. All of which was being nourished by the water’s close proximity. When they cleared the brush, Bym’s eyes widened in shock. She shook Donkey’s reins to encourage her over to Eurig’s side. He sat astride his horse and looked up and down the river.
“Are you crazy? We can’t cross that! We’ll drown! It’s got to be at least two miles across! Is there a bridge?”
“A bridge? What are you going on about?” After staring at each other as though they’d both lost their minds, Eurig said, “We either find a shallow spot to cross here, or we get stuck going over those mountains.” He pointed.
Bym stared over the trees and up. In the distance were four gigantic snow-topped mountains. They were insurmountable along with her false hope of being anywhere near the city she’d once called home.
“If time was stable, I still don’t think I’d risk the mountain passes with just the two of us. No offense, but you aren’t much of a fighter as of yet.” Reaching out, he roughed up the top of her hair. “You will be one day. You just need to grow into your feet.”
Even though she was mildly insulted before remembering the too-big-for-her borrowed boots on her feet, his smile made the butterflies in her stomach do aerial acrobatics. She started fantasizing about him shirtless and doing something sexy like chopping wood. Maybe, she should tell him the truth. No, he’d turn her over to the soldiers. He was making this journey to join them. His family supported the Solis cause, whatever it was. His own brother had acted like it was Abigail’s duty to go off with them, even though they’d murdered her father in front of her. Eurig was sexy as hell, but she’d have to be a stupid twat to trust him or anyone who was loyal to the Order of Solis.
Continuing, he said, “The mountains will be even more dangerous now.” Returning his attention to the river, he pointed again. “It looks narrower up there.” Dismounting, he led his horse along the muddy bank.
Bym slid from Donkey’s back and followed. The animals wasted no time drinking, so she went upstream from them and did the same. She used her hands to gulp down water.
Eurig crouched nearby and refilled his waterskin. “Aurora, protect us,” he whispered. “Mount up. Hurry.” Grabbing Bym’s upper arm, he pulled her to her feet and hoisted her onto Donkey’s back. “Hold on,” he sternly commanded.
Bym cast her eyes around for the source of his agitation and noticed the sun rapidly setting. “How can this be? I thought it was only a few hours past noon.”
“It would be if our Time Holder hadn’t faded. Until the new one comes to power, no one is safe.” He took his horse along the bank and into the river.
“I thought we were crossing farther down.” It worried Bym that Donkey didn’t need any love words to get her moving. Something had her big ears up and twisting around.
“There’s no time. Do you have anything you can use as a weapon?”
Water splashed up around them as their mounts entered the cold river. “Weapon? Um, I have a knife. Do you want it?”
Temporal Locum Page 5