He noticed Katherine cast her eyes downward again as she busied herself picking up the dinner plates to take them to the kitchen so the kitchen wench could begin tidying up. He was like any other father in the regard that he only wanted what was best for his daughter. He was getting older, though, and wished she would soon find a husband to take care of her in the event of his death. It wasn't good to be alone in the world. He had lost his wife a few years back, and he would have traded all the riches in his kingdom for one more night with her.
Despite his leadership style in ruling his kingdom, he was kind to his wife and daughter; it was them and them only who would hear the soft tones in his voice. He allowed only them to see the sensitivity in his eyes as opposed to the steel. That steel had returned to his eyes once again when he returned to his study and looked down at a map. They could be anywhere. He didn't know the young soldier's intentions with his daughter, but he was a Scotsman, so he couldn't be trusted. They were all nothing but knaves and rogues. It was his duty to eliminate them from the face of the earth, restore England to its greatness, and eliminate the plague on humanity their kind brought.
The same rage bubbled through him now as it did the day he caught them together. The day after following the peace talks, he rounded the corner of one of the upstairs turrets, hoping to find Katherine to ask her opinion on the new drapes he ordered for the drawing room. He found the pair locked in a passionate embrace. The Scot had his arms around her and they were backed into a corner, their lips locked together. Stefan pulled his sword, and the sound of forged steel scraping against its sheath echoed through the hallway. “Get away from my daughter!”
Killian, slow to anger, yet not one to back down from a fight, spun around and placed Katherine protectively behind him. “I will do no such thing. I'm in love with your daughter. Ye must now know this.”
“My daughter will not love such an abomination as yourself. Guards!! Seize our intruder!”
Before he could become surrounded, Killian drew out his own dagger and kissed Katherine swiftly once more, saying, “I'll be back for ye, my darlin'. ” One of the guards charged at him, and Killian made quick work of fending off his attack, then ran off down the hallway, climbing out a window and scaling the castle walls downward to his escape. Katherine, terrified from the scuffle, faced her father's wrath trembling with fear and shame.
“What were you thinking?! Don't stand there and tell me you're in love with that scoundrel!”
“I am, Father!”
“You are merely in lust. Surely he's got you under some kind of pagan spell. This is nothing more than some type of magical curse, Katherine. You're not to see him again. When I find him, you can visit his head on a stake outside our walls. Until then, you're not to leave the castle. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Father.”
“Very good then. I shall see you in the morning. I must take my leave now.”
Rousing himself from the painful memory, Stefan looked at the various ports and towns on his map in an effort to pinpoint where they would be going, but it was to no avail. They could be at any number of them. He would canvas them all until he found his daughter. No pagan witchcraft was going to take her from him. She was the only good thing he had left in the world.
4.
The following morning Langley extinguished the campfire, sending smoke and ashes through the air. It was time for them to continue on their journey. They all gathered up their supplies and began walking north alongside the river. Katherine walked in between Killian and Langley as the men formed a protective barrier around her. Langley carried most of the supplies, as he was the stouter of the two men. He was the epitome of a true Scotsman. He was broad chested with a full beard, wild red hair, and gleaming green eyes. He was jovial on most occasions, but when angered turned into a pure brute. Killian carried less, but stood ready with his bow in case of enemy attack. They had much ground to cover today, so their breaks would be less frequent; they needed to make it to see the high priest before being discovered by Stefan.
“Langley, how much longer do you think we have before we arrive?”
“I'm not quite sure, Miss. I've ne'er known an'one who’s met the high priest.”
Killian interjected, “Well, ye see, people marry all the time in our culture, it's just that an outsider of any of the clans in a wedding such as ours would have to be blessed by the high priest to maintain its validity.”
Langley then added, “The thing is, the high priest keeps his location a secret. No one really knows the exact directions to his dwelling. He went into hiding decades ago and has not emerged since. Some people don't even believe he's real. Others think he is real, but is blessed with powers, or is immortal.”
“So we're basically chasing ghosts?” Katherine asked.
“In a way. I think he's very much alive, though. Just a recluse, who’s gotten closer to God than others because of his isolation.”
Katherine nodded in response and the trio kept moving forward. She was fascinated by the mystery and secrecy regarding their customs and religion. She knew that Killian was spiritual because she could feel his soul stirring and mingling with her own when he kissed her deeply. But she didn't realize that there was so much ritual in their pagan roots. Killian would sometimes pause and kneel along the way, picking up sticks along the path, and close his eyes. When Katherine asked what he was doing, he just smiled thinly and said, “Aye, ye caught me. Prayin' I was, albeit not to any God ye would know about.”
When Katherine probed further, Killian explained that the elements in nature corresponded to a particular God. He was asking the earth God for sureness of foot in their travels and further direction to the high priest. The high priest would maintain a connection with all the deities and beings of the Earth, so of course they would in turn know how to find him. He would simply follow their energies to him. Like a spiritual bloodhound, he did the same thing in the shallow end of the river when they stopped to take a break. He would close his eyes, then stare into the water for a few moments before taking a small sip and nodding his head. They continued toward the north, and as they did so the air got thicker and heavier. Their breathing became more labored as night was getting ready to fall.
Langley put his hand in the air signaling for Killian to stop. They had reached a shady clearing near the top of a knoll. “Killian, I say we bed down here for the night. The dark is fast approaching. We wouldn't make it there before the blackest of midnight.”
“Aye. I agree with ye. Go ahead and start building the fire. I'll thrash the beds.”
They made camp and then stretched out their bodies before the fire while Katherine made dinner. It was the same dinner she had made the previous night, only this time she added some carrots they had found growing wild along the way. They were obviously overgrowth from someone's garden, but they were outside of any boundary marker, so she gladly gathered them. She knew the men would be grateful for some variety in their diet, and she was glad she could contribute something to their journey. Katherine peeled the vegetable with her paring knife and added them to the pan with the potatoes and meat.
After the meal was prepared, she joined the men and they had supper around the roaring fire, but the mood was somber and they were exhausted from their long trek that day. It was the kind of night in which Killian was on edge and Langley would snore too loudly, making it impossible for anyone else to slumber deeply. As the fire died down, Katherine snuggled into Killian closer for warmth. He wrapped his arms around her protectively and she laid her head on his chest, finally drifting off to the sound of his heartbeat, while he stayed in a state halfway between dreaming and wakefulness, on alert.
5.
Killian stirred in the middle of the night and shook Katherine awake. “Get up, my love. It's time to go.” He was panicked and his voice was hushed and hurried. “Langley! Get up! It's time to leave! They're coming, I can feel it.” Langley roused himself from his slumber and rolled over to see Killian and Katherine standi
ng up and beginning to pack up the campsite supplies. Gathering what he could, he tossed the packs to Langley. Langley was still disoriented. “What's going on?!”
Killian responded, “The army is near. Go take the supplies and go ahead. Get as far north with Katherine as ye can. I'll catch up.”
Katherine protested, “But you'll be--”
“No!” echoed Langley.
“No time for arguments now! Safe journeys till forever, my friend. Go.”
Langley took Katherine by the hand and the pair hastily started their trek ahead of Killian. They were attempting to be quick, yet stealthy, in an effort not to disturb any underbrush. They did not want to alert any enemies of their presence. Shortly after they started their passage north, Killian stood at the camp with his eyes narrowed, scanning the wood line, his bow string pulled tight, ready to fire. He could feel the vibration of horse hooves on the ground in the distance and smell the enemy's sweat in the air. He could tell he was going to be outnumbered on a large scale, so his strategy would be just to distract the troops long enough to buy Langley and Katherine some additional travel time, then flee.
Before the first troop could even get into position, Killian sprang into action. He climbed a nearby knoll and took cover under a shady thicket. The men would be drawn to the smell of the cinder left behind from the fire; it was then he would strike. As he predicted, the English knights rode their stallions straight to the remainder of the campfire. Before they could see him Killian struck the first blow. He positioned his bow to where a target would be then let it loose. It connected, striking one knight against his temple and piercing the thin layer of chain metal separating the helmet from his skull. The knight fell off his horse and thudded on the ground, dead on impact.
Seeing their fallen comrade, the other troops charged toward the direction the arrow came from. They were playing into Killian's hands as he had planned. He launched a volley of arrows in their direction, several making an impact and landing on their targets as more soldiers fell. In the distance, though, he was surprised to see another squad of infantrymen flanking his right side. They were attempting to surround him.
Killian knew that he was running out of time before he had to make his escape. He could distract them, but he didn't have enough arrows or stamina to defeat them, especially not on foot. As they approached him he launched another volley of arrows in their general direction before turning and heading back south. He went much deeper into the woods this time. He didn't hesitate before jumping in the small stream, submerging his body underneath the icy waters. He swam against the current for a while until he was convinced he had been underwater long enough for the animals to lose their scent, then he emerged.
Shivering, he pulled himself up on the riverbank and lay in the grass, catching his breath. He stood up and stripped off his wet clothes, knowing he had to shed them or be subject to his stamina being sapped. He pulled on a fur cloak he had in his bag of supplies and continued his journey. It wasn't the warmest guard against the elements, but at least it was warmer than the cold, wet garments he had discarded. He would visit a shop in the next town they came to and get some new items. Killian had managed to keep hold of his bow while underwater, which he was thankful for. He would not have the time nor the means to craft a new one while under attack. He had a battle axe in his supply kit, but he felt much more comfortable attacking with his weapon of choice, the bow.
He continued his trek northward. He only hoped he had created enough time for Langley and Katherine to make it to the mouth of the river, where they would reunite and continue on their path to find the high priest. It was important from here on out there be no delays. War was upon them and they needed to get married soon. Killian wanted to make their marriage official with his people, wanted to get the blessing from the high priest, so even should he die while in battle he could die easily assured that their souls would meet once again in the Summerlands. Killian could only think of Katherine's grace as he trudged onward, cold and tired, climbing up the rocky hillside with an aching body. He would reach her no matter what the cost. If anything was worth fighting for, it wasn't the earth beneath his feet, it wasn't the resources the river could provide to his people, it was her grace.
Reaching the top of the hill, he looked into the valley on the far west side of the river and his mouth dropped open in shock. He saw the upturned ground where horses and wagons had recently passed through. To his horror he had the realization that he and Langley had miscalculated the amount of time they had until Stefan's army found them. His generals must have already scouted the area before even forming their search parties. Killian ran down the slope into the valley, imagining what fate awaited Katherine and Langley.
6.
“Well then ye slithly toves ,bring ye best!” Langley snarled and spat at the enemies surrounding him as he placed Katherine behind him protectively. Pulling out his battle axe and shield, he used the shield to partially cover Katherine as the soldiers pressed forward in their attack. They were surrounded on every side by Stefan's army. They had overtaken them coming down the ridge, and now they were in the middle of a wide open field with nowhere to run or hide for cover. Still Langley made the decision to stand and fight. He could have made the choice to throw down his weapons and surrender, but the end result would have been the same. His head would have ended up on a pike outside Stefan's palace anyway. At least if he fought, perhaps Katherine and Killian still had a chance, if Killian was even still alive. He doubted that Killian had met his demise, though. Surely he would have felt his friend's spirit moving had that been the case. They were like brothers. He felt as if Katherine was now his sister and he would fight for her freedom even if it sent him to an early grave. In his opinion, there was no death more honorable than dying as a warrior.
Standing before Langley, the knight swung his broadsword in an attempt to connect with the man. Anticipating this action, Langley swiftly dodged the attack and swung his battle axe, connecting with the knight's midsection, leaving a gaping wound in his middle as the man fell to his knees, spilling out his blood and entrails on the earth underneath him. “Haha! There ye go! The first has fallen! Where there be the others?! Bring it!”
The sound of metal clanking against shields and swords colliding with Langley's axe rang throughout the valley. Langley kept on attacking, taking out several of Stefan's men, but as he would defeat one, there would be five to take their place. Katherine assisted in the battle as well, taking a fallen knight's sword and using it to assist Langley in blocking attacks and even dismembering a few of her own countrymen in the skirmish. She didn't feel the least bit bad about the act. She didn't consider herself under any loyalty to her father any longer. Her heart and home was now with Killian and the rogue Scotsmen her father despised so. Her father relegated them into a lower class because their beliefs differed from his own so vastly, but she saw only the good in them. They were honorable men. They had kind hearts and noble intentions; they only wanted to live in harmony with nature and tend to their own wares.
Killian finally reached the knoll topping the valley in which Langley and Katherine were waiting. The scene looked grim. From his vantage point Killian could see that they were surrounded and the troops showed no sign of diminishing despite Langley's efforts. Narrowing his eyes, Killian knew that he was too far away for his arrows to be effective, so he sped further toward his companions. Finally getting within range he fired several arrows in a widespread pattern, several hitting their mark. Seeing a few of the soldiers fall, Langley smiled broadly and just said, “Aye! There's my Killian. Always late he is. Now, let's finish this!”
The additional assistance bolstering his morale, Langley felled several more troops, then took Katherine by the arm, moving them further up the battlefield, getting closer to the tree line and cover. Killian continued to follow them, providing them cover as they went with his arrows. He fell into a pattern of launching his arrows, then creeping off into the shadows for cover, then repeating the process
again. As they got closer to the wood line, however, Killian realized that it may indeed be a lost cause. Stefan's army numbered in the thousands. As much as they tried to level the playing field to their advantage, they could not defeat them. Not with only three of them fighting.
He launched one more volley of arrows in their direction as they got to the edge of the wood line, but then watched in horror as one of the troops overtook Langley, striking him from behind with the blunt side of his shield. Langley dropped to his knees, blood spilling onto his shoulders. What followed broke Killian's spirit. The man then speared Langley in the heart with his sword. Killian rushed onto the battlefield, kneeling down by his fallen friend. The blood was already spewing from Langley's mouth, and Killian knew it was too late. He took his friend's hand as the battle raged on with him dodging blows and Katherine fighting off the aggressors with her sword and shield. As he lay dying, Langley asked, “Did we make it, mate?”
“Aye, ye know we did, my friend. Don't ye see it? It's the rainbow bridge ahead, and those green hills and soft meadows? That be the Summerland. I told ye we'd make it there.”
“How 'bout that? Who woulda thought...”
As Langley closed his eyes, he smiled slightly, lips upturned at the corners. He looked relaxed and finally at peace. Killian swallowed the lump in his throat and took Langley's medallion from his neck, a sentimental token to remember his best friend by. Grabbing Katherine's hand he vowed not to let his friend's death be in vain. “Come on, my love, let's make a break for the forest. I've got ye. We've got one in the after realm on our side, at least.”
The pair ran hand in hand into the dense forest, their footsteps thudding softly on the ground. The cover grew thicker and it became darker as they traveled further into the woods. They paused briefly when they were sure that the soldiers couldn't find them in the wilderness, and embraced. Katherine and Killian clung tightly to each other, breathing heavily and sobbing. They were both sobbing from joy and sorrow. They didn't speak about Langley. Killian merely took Langley's amulet and wrapped it around Katherine's neck, clasping it tightly. He then placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “For protection, my darlin'.”
AFRICAN AMERICAN URBAN FICTION: BWWM ROMANCE: Billionaire Baby Daddy (Billionaire Secret Baby Pregnancy Romance) (Multicultural & Interracial Romance Short Stories) Page 78