"Thanks," she repeated, putting the whistle on a leather thong around her neck. "Can I use it if Splendor falls asleep again? I don't think that my kisses can revive him anymore..."
"We'll have to wait for Belfi," Joris answered. "I don't know what kind of spell hit him."
And then Belfi and Splendor came back, both thoughtful, and sat with them.
"Well?" Joris asked before Billinda could express her curiosity.
"Nothing." Belfi sighed. "Manusia's hand behind it."
"Bitch." Joris muttered. "Much like with the Lord of Grotius."
"Even more convoluted spell."
"Damn. I'm sorry, Splendor."
"It's fine," the prince answered. He didn't look upset. Sort of relieved, actually. Billinda wondered if he was really happy with the outcome. All those miles in vain... what could they do now that all hope was lost?
They left the cave the next morning, well-rested and fed. Splendor was still very quiet and didn't seem willing to discuss what Belfi had told him. As they headed back down the mountains, Billinda kept talking excitedly about the meeting.
"So Joris is now with his ex-lover's sister's son, can you believe it? I had heard of Kolia at the Star! He was from one of the tribes, maybe he's gone back to Caer Nittak! His nephew is cute too, maybe we could go to the tribes now, what do you think?"
She seemed to realize Splendor wasn't reacting to her chatter and turned to look at him.
"What's with you?" she asked, puzzled.
"Nothing," he answered.
"Any ideas of where to go now?"
"Wherever you want. I'll follow."
She shrugged and resumed walking, muttering under her breath.
Eternal Love
Splendor knew he had fallen in love. He loved everything Billinda did. Even when she was grumpy or blunt or harsh. He accepted her for who she was, a tough warrior woman who liked wandering through the northern kingdoms, living off her skills with her sword. And she was good at tracking as well.
Being an adventurer wasn't so bad after all. One year after his awakening, Splendor couldn't remember what his previous life was like. He'd forgotten his princely duties and enjoyed the freedom a lack of castle gave him.
He wished they'd found a place to call home and settled, but if she wanted to keep moving, he'd just follow. He wanted to be with her for the rest of his life. And if he couldn't touch her, it was fine. As long as she didn't dump him somewhere.
Towns and villages passed by, but she was still restless and didn't like any place. Splendor had stopped asking her what she was looking for. Maybe she didn't know.
And then they were attacked in a forest by a group of bandits who wanted their few belongings. Both unsheathed their swords and fought back fiercely, but one of the men – an ugly one-eyed outlaw – stabbed Splendor before falling under his blade.
Splendor fell to his knees as Billinda panted, catching her breath. Splendor noticed the bandits were all dead, and then he passed out.
***
"Splendor!" Billinda screamed.
She saw blood trickling down his luscious lips. He lay face down on the grass on the side of the little battlefield.
She turned him around and saw the wound.
"Splendor! Oh, no!"
Joris had given her a magic whistle, just in case they ever got in trouble. Like right now.
Billinda pulled it out and whistled. Almost immediately Joris materialized in the clearing.
"Save him, please," she begged as the Genn knelt next to Splendor's body.
***
Splendor dreamed. Ruth, Giselle, their naked bodies and pale faces. Leondina and her face mole and moon circlet and raven curls. Isabrun, yes, she was naked too, so he must have tried to make love to her before falling asleep. Yasmine in all her glorious beauty, a nice bed partner until she'd fallen in love...
But mostly he saw Billinda, short-haired like when he had opened his eyes and like she was now, with a shoulder-length mane since she hadn't cut it anymore after finding him. Having not enrolled in any army, she'd decided she could keep her hair long, much like him, even though it was shorter than any other woman's.
Splendor slowly opened his eyes. He was in some kind of cave. He could see the forest outside and heard the calls of wild animals.
Billinda lay next to him.
"Billi..." he started.
"Hello." She brightened at seeing him awake and leaned to kiss him. A long, passionate kiss, a war of the tongues and lips as if she could never have enough.
Breathless, he looked at her.
"Billi..."
She hushed him. They undressed each other and he made love to her with all the passion he'd kept inside him for so long. It might be the last thing he did, but he wanted it badly. His wish was being granted, as Belfi had predicted.
As they lay side by side, spent, he caressed her cheek, feeling the slumber coming again.
"I love you," he said.
"So do I," she answered tenderly.
Yes, he thought, overjoyed. It was his last conscious thought.
***
Splendor. This time she didn't scream his name. She watched him sleep, knowing it was over. Good-bye, Splendor. That was why I didn't want to fall in love with you... but it was worth it...
And then he vanished in a strange golden dust. Startled, Billinda dressed and looked around, but there was no trace of him.
She exited the cave and found Joris and Belfi outside.
"He vanished," she said, still puzzled.
"His time was over," Joris said. "I know Humans do leave corpses, but after a century there isn't much left. I thought I'd spare you the sight of his bones."
"He had what he wanted, Billi," Belfi added. "And so did you."
Yes, she thought. She touched her belly, knowing that the single time she'd truly loved someone would be enough for a permanent record. She'd find a place to call home where she could raise Splendor's baby.
"You should stop wandering until the baby is here," Joris suggested. "There's Tassamtor not too far from here, we could take you there with a spell."
"That would be awesome," she said. She knew she had lost her monthlies when she was doing too much walking and exherting herself, in fact they'd come back when she had settled for the winter and started traveling slower.
"You may have the baby at the house of another sleeping prince," Belfi added, amused. "Twenty-one years ago another young man was awakened from a centuries-long slumber and he still lives with his beloved savior."
"I guess he was put to sleep by a different spell," Billinda grumbled.
"Manusia was even more involved with him, in fact he slept for two centuries, not one."
Startled, Billinda stared at Belfi's impish smile.
"So, who awoke him?"
"An adventurer, much like you did with Splendor," Joris said. "A warrior from Caer Nittak, like Kolia..."
"Interesting..." Billinda mused. "I look forward to meeting them..."
"I will take her," Belfi said. "They know me."
"Kerrien knows me!" Joris protested.
"You never really spoke to him. And Rithvik will be glad to see me again. I'll take her."
Joris sighed, but stepped back under Evan's amused stare. Belfi turned to Billinda.
"Ready?" he asked, offering his hand. She nodded, putting her fingers in his grasp.
"Close your eyes," Joris warned. "Kolia always hated my instant-transfer spells!"
Everything went blurred, and Billinda closed her eyes as Joris' voice faded away.
"We're here," Belfi said only a moment later.
Billinda opened her eyes. They stood outside the stone walls of a somewhat large town built on a river shore. It didn't look much different from all the towns she'd visited so far, but she took her map and asked Belfi to point her the location. She'd never been this far west.
"It's not much different from Salamar," Belfi assured. "Shall I show you the way to Rithvik and Kerrien's house?"
<
br /> Billinda nodded with a smile. Maybe settling in a new town was the best solution. She could raise Splendor's baby without being encumbered with memories of the past.
The Archers
The carriage with its rounded top slowly advanced on the uneven forest road, pulled by two horses and flanked by a squadron of guards. The wood and iron of the four-wheeled wagon felt like a prison for Eleonor, who fanned herself glancing outside of the narrow window. The leather interior smelled bad and the elaborately decorated and gilded exterior had lost most of its appeal.
The old family carriage was taking her to an unwanted destination – her cousin's castle – with the sole company of her maid, Gwen, and Rowan, a teenager who stared adoringly at her. The little page who had followed her everywhere when her father was still alive was ready to become a squire, and then a knight.
Except there was nobody able to finish his training at her father's castle, hence Eleonor had brought him with her, hoping her cousin would consider finishing his training. And also take him off her back. Rowan was no longer a child and the way he looked at her also disturbed her. Eleonor wished she could find a husband looking at her like that. A man with no blood ties to her.
Gwen sat quietly next to her, a brunette her age that had been by her side since childhood. Not even Gwen had found the love of her life yet, and she was a dedicated servant and lady-in-waiting for Eleonor who was hating everything about the carriage trip.
Eleonor put down the fan and unbuckled her travel cloak, covering her cleavage with one hand as she leaned towards the carriage window, pushing away the curtain to check her surroundings. The cool air of the forest gave her some respite, but the sight of the armed men surrounding the carriage made her sit back with a snort of impatience.
The captain of the guards in charge of her safety moved his horse close to the window so he could speak to her, and she quickly put her cloak back on, hiding her pearl necklace and neatly braided blond hair under the heavy fabric.
"We're almost there, my lady," the captain said. "The castle is just beyond those trees. Your cousin, Lord Donovan, looks forward to welcoming you."
"Yes, Captain Theodore, you already told me that," she snapped, glancing at the birches and maple trees passing by with a frown.
Her uncle had come from the capital to send her off to her cousin's. It was the king's wish that Lord Donovan arranged her marriage. If she had loved traveling in that carriage with her father, she hated this trip that would seal her fate in a way she didn't like.
If it weren't for the armed escort, she'd have headed for the capital and pleaded with the king himself to rid her of her relatives and allow her to become a lady-in-waiting of the queen until they found her a suitable husband.
"And did I tell you all this belongs to the Duke of Lovenback – meadows, woods, everything?" the man continued pompously. He was a little on the plump side and not very tall, but could handle a sword. Eleonor thought he was quite full of himself, and was doing her best to ignore him. "This forest is a great hunting ground and poachers are heavily punished."
It's the same everywhere, you fool, she thought. She was the daughter of a Duke too. She knew how to run her father's castle with no help from estranged relatives with dumb servants.
Then her eyes fell on something that cheered her immediately. She leaned forward again.
"Tell me, Captain, what color are the arrows of your men?"
"Yellow and blue, my lady, why?" he answered, puzzled.
"Looks to me that carcass over there has a black and green arrow in it." She pointed triumphantly at a dead deer on the side of the road. Not really blocking the passage, but not hidden either, an obvious challenge to the guards.
"Damn! Forgive me, my lady, those damned bowmen do it on purpose!"
"Poachers?" Eleonor was very amused now. So her perfect cousin had problems too. From the words of his captain of the guard it looked like Lord Donovan was the best lord of the country and everything went smoothly under his loving rule.
"And bandits, and outlaws," Theodore answered quickly. "The Duke is hunting them down and sooner or later we'll get them!"
"Are you sure, Theo?" The voice came from the woods. An arrow flashed in front of the captain, startling him and the horse, and hitting a birch on the other side. Its colors were red and white.
"Bastards!" Theodore forgot his manners as more arrows flashed about, hitting a couple of men, but mostly trees – never the carriage, which made Eleonor wonder. The archers obviously didn't like the guards, but they weren't after her.
"I'll take you to cover, my lady, and take care of these rebels once and for all!" Theodore proclaimed.
Someone laughed at him from the woods while he took the passengers out of the carriage.
Not very smart, Eleonor thought. The carriage seemed to be safer than taking people on foot into the forest. But she wasn't scared, more amused by the attack. Maybe poachers would allow her to get rid of her escort and head for the capital.
Nearby there was a woodsman's cabin, empty. Theodore pushed Eleonor, Gwen and Rowan inside and gave the poor youth a sword.
"Here, take this to defend the ladies." And then he left, shouting orders at his men.
Rowan closed the door of the cabin with a fearful look on his boyish face.
"I'm not even a squire yet!" he whispered, wide-eyed, trying to balance the heavy weapon in his hands.
"It's all right, Rowan, we're fine," Eleonor told him, looking around the single room. There wasn't much furniture around – a fireplace, a bench that doubled up as bed and that was it. The smell of softwood was better than leather. There was only a small window, which meant the cabin was quite dark inside, much like the carriage.
Eleonor sat and Gwen sat next to her. Trying to run through the woods with bowmen on the loose wasn't a good plan. Maybe she should reach Lovenback and then she could send Rowan to the king. If Rowan proved he could take care of himself, that is.
"Seems like my dear cousin has problems keeping order in his lands," she said.
Gwen smiled, but Rowan still looked worried, standing by the cabin's door and listening to every sound from outside.
The voices of the guards faded and only birds kept them company. Rowan relaxed slightly and moved away from the door.
As soon as he stood in front of Eleonor, the door burst open. Rowan swirled around, holding the sword with both hands, ready to defend his lady even though he had no idea of what he was doing. Eleonor craned her neck to see beyond him, and saw two young men come in.
Both in their early twenties – much like her and Gwen – they wore commoners' clothes that blended in with the forest colors. They both had longbow and arrows. One was tall, raven-haired and good-looking. Clean-shaven and with a dazzling smile. The other was blond and gorgeous.
"Good morning, ladies, who are we honored to speak with?" the blond asked.
"Stay back!" Rowan said, waving the sword at them. "You're speaking with Lady Eleonor of Logris and if you dare touch her..."
"Put down that sword before you hurt yourself," the dark-haired one said, amused. "If we had wanted to kill you, you'd already be dead."
Eleonor rose, impressed. She wasn't afraid, and thought both young men were quite charming, especially compared to Theodore and her cousin, whom she hadn't seen in years, but remembered as being an arrogant person.
"What are you doing here, my lady?" the dark-haired one continued, stepping forward and ignoring Rowan.
"I'm headed for my cousin's castle, Lovenback," she answered. "Who are you?"
"I'm Mark, and that's Brendan."
"Professional archers, both of us," the blond one added.
"Oh! Was it you who attacked us, then?"
"Yes." Mark grinned. "Seb and Dave are keeping the soldiers busy. We came to check. We want to know everything about who comes and goes in Lovenback!"
"You're bandits!" Rowan said, still trying to intimidate the newcomers.
"How can you tell?" Brendan replied
. "You see us today for the first time!"
"Captain Theodore told us!" Rowan said.
"Oh, Captain Theodore." Mark was sarcastic now. "Theodore is only a dirty leech who isn't worth more than you, or me for that matter."
Brendan was listening to outside noises.
"They're coming back," he said grabbing Mark's arm. "Let's go, Mark."
"Happy stay, my lady," Mark said with a flourishing bow.
Both left and closed the door behind them.
"What good looking young men!" Gwen gushed.
"We didn't see anybody," Eleonor said, looking sternly at both her servants. "Understood?"
She stared at Rowan until he nodded and lowered his eyes in submission.
Good. Maybe the trip wasn't in vain after all, Eleonor thought, sitting back on the bench and putting on her mask of nobility again. She shouldn't be attracted to commoners, but she'd had enough of noblemen.
***
Mark and Brendan joined their friends at the old oak as usual. Sebastian had climbed the tree and he jumped down as soon as he saw them, long sandy-blond hair dancing in the wind and green eyes sparkling with mischief.
"At last!" he said as Dave came forward too.
"What took you so long? The two damsels kept you hostage?" Brown hair and blue eyes, Dave was the oldest of the archers, while Seb was the youngest. In his twenties like the others, he had a longbow and quiver, and clothes mostly green and brown.
"We were considering taking them hostage," Mark replied. "It was the cousin of our beloved Duke, no less, how could we?"
"I would have done it!" Sebastian said with an impish smile.
"You haven't seen her from up close," Mark snapped. "Besides, she might be different from him."
"Of course, she's a celestial being!" Sebastian snorted derisively. "Hey, Dave, what do you think happened to Mark?"
"He's on the way to end up like Jeff – slave to a woman," Dave teased.
"No I'm not." Mark glared at them. "But she is very beautiful."
"And noble. And she'll never look at you," Dave replied.
"She actually seemed quite taken," Brendan said, amused.
"Oh, really?" Sebastian burst out laughing while Mark frowned at Brendan who shrugged.
Tales of the Northern Kingdoms volume 2 Page 9