by J. D. Wright
~*~
“I just cannot believe the nerve of that woman! Kissing him, right in front of me. Acting like I wasn’t even there. And him! Just standing there and letting it happen.” Sidonie shook her head. “I shouldn’t go back. I will stay here, forever.”
“Ha!” Adelphie laughed. “As much as I agree with you, and would love to have you home, you and I both know you will not be staying. You couldn’t leave him, especially when things are so… sticky… between you.”
Sidonie glared at her sister, unbelieving at what she was hearing.
“How can you say that? You didn’t want me with him to begin with. Now that he has done something terrible, shouldn’t you be trying to convince me to leave him?”
“Oh, I tried that already, remember? You said I knew nothing about love and stormed off, back to him.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have…”
Sidonie stood up and stepped outside of her sister’s hut, looking around at what used to be her home. Adelphie’s hut was on the far end from the gate, and she could see all of the other huts from there. The fire pit in the center was still burning after roasting their supper, and several of the other Sabras were sitting around it, telling stories and singing songs. It was something she really missed at times. Her own hut had been given to Dyna after she left. And Dyna’s old hut was being used to store food for the winter.
Adelphie put her mug down and pulled a fur off of her bed. Then she walked over to where her sister was standing and wrapped it around her shoulders. She may not be responsible for her sister, anymore. But she couldn’t let her stand in the cold and catch an illness.
“Sid, I know things seem bad, now. But they will get better. You’ll see.”
“The way she looked at him… It was like she knew him. Like she knew him better than I did.”
“Well, you haven’t known each other very long. Perhaps she does know him better.”
Sidonie sighed. “I guess that does make sense.”
“Come back inside and let me pour you some tea. It should be ready.”
“And when did you start drinking tea?” Sidonie laughed and sat down on a stool next to the barrel her sister used as a table. She watched her pour tea from a large soup pot.
“Since I tried it in the castle. I have seen these teas before, on the merchants’ carts. But I never knew what to do with them.”
“You really should use a kettle, though. It would be easier.”
“I would, but I don’t have one,” she said, frowning.
“I could bring you one. I will buy one in Vale when we get there.”
Adelphie raised her eyebrows at her sister and took a seat across from her.
“So does that mean you plan to return, then?”
“Ugh. I don’t know. I can’t believe this happened. Everything was so amazing, and I had never been so happy. I just…” She wasn’t sure how to put her disappointment into words.
“Realized that you are living in reality and not a daydream? Sid, you obviously love this man, a lot. Or else this woman wouldn’t have bothered you so much.”
Sidonie rolled her eyes to the side at Adelphie’s remark, but she knew it was the truth. If Dagan didn’t mean so much to her, a quick kiss from another woman would have meant nothing.
“How could I possibly go back and face him? After what happened? I should just pretend like I don’t love him. Maybe if I pretend long enough, it will come true.”
Adelphie reached over and took her little sister’s hands in hers.
“Even if you did that, it wouldn’t make a difference. Someone once told me that when you love someone, you want to shout it from the treetops. It just shows. You can’t hide it.”
“But…”
“Now Sidonie, you know better than to cower before another woman, especially one like her. You are a huntress, a Sabra. Don’t forget that. You have killed and skinned more animals than this woman has probably ever eaten and you have climbed the side of mountains with your bare hands. Don’t forget who you are.”
Sidonie bit her lip. “Actually, there was something I wanted to tell you. Something that has a great deal to do with who I am. With who I’ve become…”
“You mean your magic?”
Sidonie could feel her mouth drop open.
“You mean you know? You already knew?”
Adelphie stood up and turned away from her sister. “Yes, I know. But I didn’t figure it out until I came back to Junacave for the second time. When I saw you the first time, I knew something was different, but I couldn’t figure out what it was.” She turned back to Sidonie. “When you came back from rescuing Cicilly, I knew. You inherited the gifts. The gifts from our mother.”
Sidonie stood up, irritation beginning to spread across her face.
“Are you telling me that you knew? About our mother and her magic, all along? And you lied to me?”
“Not exactly.” She walked back over and sat down across from Sid, who was still standing. “I knew that there was a chance you might. Mother told me to keep you safe and to continue raising you like she had raised me, to fear magic and destroy it before it could destroy us. I never believed her when she said that one of us might inherit her magic. I didn’t believe her, Sid. I chose not to.”
“And now what? You didn’t think it was important to tell me when you realized it actually happened? Dagan asked me who my parents were and I could only tell him our mother’s name, nothing else because I know almost nothing else. You knew something more, all of this time, and never told me.”
“I’m sorry, Sid. I didn’t know this would happen.”
Sidonie pulled her fur off of her shoulders and threw it across the room.
“I can’t believe this. First Dagan, now you. Is there anyone in my life who doesn’t keep things from me?”
“I didn’t want to keep it from you. I started to tell you, many times. But you never showed signs of having magic, so it never seemed necessary to tell you about it. I don’t know what happened to make your magic suddenly appear. I really don’t. But I didn’t tell you about it to protect you. That’s why we live like this, secluded from everyone and everything with magic. Mother said that if one of us had magic and someone found out, they would kill us or use it against us.” A tear began to roll down her cheek, but she quickly wiped it away. She had to be strong, for her sister, and for the other women who depended on her. She had to pull herself together.
Sidonie sat down and stared at the wooden table, thinking. The teacup in front of her began to spin. Adelphie froze at the sight. She had never seen her sister do magic.
“Uh, Sid…”
“I just need a moment.”
“No, Sid. Look.” Adelphie nodded at the table.
Sidonie yelped and grabbed the cup to stop it. Then she sat back and sighed.
“I can’t control it, Adelphie. Dagan has tried to help me, but he doesn’t understand it. No other female can do the magic I can do. How is this possible?”
“I don’t know,” she replied, shaking her head. “But I’m curious… What else can you do?”
Sidonie smiled and sat up in her seat.
“Close the curtain and I will show you.”
~*~
“We really shouldn’t be doing this, Rowan. If one of my knights realizes I’m missing…”
“Afraid of your own knights, your majesty?” Rowan chuckled as he pulled Breestlin’s hand and led her down the back alley, behind the inn. Dragon was waiting near the end, munching on some carrots Rowan left for him. He was excited to see Bree when she approached, nipping at her hand until she pet him.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“You’ll see.”
Rowan climbed onto Dragon’s back and hoisted Bree up behind him. She put her arms around his waist, leaning against his back. She remembered the last time they rode together when they returned home from finding Dagan and being captured by the Sabras. So much had
changed since then, and she couldn’t be happier about it.
“Put your hood up,” he whispered.
Bree pulled the hood of her cloak up, to cover her face. It was dusk and soon she could ride without worry of someone recognizing her. But for now, the sun was still burning in the sky and anyone with eyes would be able to tell she was the queen of Junacave.
Rowan pulled on Dragon’s reigns and gave him a gentle nudge. When they made it to the edge of the town, they came to a full gallop, speeding through the forest. Bree held on as tight as she could, using his body to keep warm. It was still winter and the air was crisp.
The sun was nearing the edge of the horizon when Rowan slowed Dragon down to a trot. Then he stopped soon after and dismounted. He had a mischievous look in his eye as he held Bree’s waist and slowly pulled her down from the saddle.
“Where are we?” she asked, but he didn’t answer. Instead, he just smiled and took her hand, leading her away from the trail, down a path, and into the trees.
She started to ask him if they should have tied Dragon up before they left him, but her words never made it to her tongue. When the trees parted, Bree couldn’t believe her eyes. Before them was a magnificent pool of crystal clear water, steam rising from the top as the gentle wind stirred the water.
“Oh, my! Is that…?”
“Crystal Springs, yes. The only hot springs on this side of the mountains. I came across it several years ago, when I traveled through.” With her hand still in his, he helped her down to the giant rocks surrounding the spring. She slipped off her shoes and dipped her toes into the water, closing her eyes as she enjoyed the heat on her feet against the cool winter air. When she opened her eyes, Rowan was already naked, in the water, which came to the middle of his smooth, toned chest.
“Rowan! What if someone sees you?” She couldn’t help but smile. The clear water made it easy to see all of him as he waded toward her.
“It doesn’t matter if someone sees us. Tonight, you are just a girl and I am just a boy, hoping you will join me and fulfill one of my fantasies.”
Bree laughed. Then she stood up and began to loosen her gown as he watched her.
“So when you mentioned all of the places you imagined devouring me?”
“Yes, this was one of them. Though, the library wasn’t a bad idea. I can’t believe I never thought of it,” he said, tilting his head, considering.
Their first time, when they were teenagers, had been in the back of the wardrobe, and rather uncomfortable for both of them. But it hadn’t mattered at the time. Their second time together, however, had been much more comfortable, even if it was on the king’s old desk in the library. He still couldn’t help but grin every time he saw the desk.
He watched as her gown slipped off of her and fell to the ground. He still couldn’t believe that she was his. That she would give herself to him, so openly, so fully. She was royalty. She could have had almost any man in the realm and she had chosen him.
She reached up and pulled the pin out of her dark auburn hair, letting it tumble down around her, reaching the curves of her hips. Then she sat down on the cool rock beneath her feet and Rowan put his arms around her, pulling her into the hot water. The steam surrounded them as she wrapped her legs around Rowan’s waist and leaned back against the warm rock behind her.
He started at her neck, trailing kisses from one side to the other. Bree closed her eyes and couldn’t help but feel a little scandalous at being naked in the middle of the forest. It was like she was living a scene from one of her books. Though she had to admit, none of the love scenes she had read about had taken place in a pool of hot water.
He took his time, stopping to kiss her before he moved his hand down to caress her breasts that skimmed the water. There was no hurry. No reason to rush. He was confident that they were alone. Dragon would alert him if someone approached.
Slowly, he worked his way down her body, kissing or nibbling as he went, until he reached the water. Then he ducked down below the surface. She gasped when he grabbed her hips and lifted her up, wrapping her legs around his neck.
“What are you doi—“
Her words were cut short when he found her with his mouth. She was wet and steamy, but he doubted it was entirely from the water. He kept his eyes and ears above the water so he could hear her, watch her. She moaned and grabbed the rock behind her, her breasts bouncing as she writhed around. He almost stopped, afraid she might hit her head on the rock, but she reached her hand out and ran her fingers through his wet hair, so he continued.
The sun was completely gone and the only light to guide him was from the moon and stars, reflecting on the water. He used his fingers to spread her open, then watched her reaction to tell if he was in the right spot. If he had thought this out better, he could have brought an oil lamp with him, but it didn’t matter now. Her moans told him all he needed to know.
She couldn’t believe how amazing it felt. The heat from the water and his tongue were driving her insane. As the orgasm built and exploded inside her, she groaned much louder than she meant to, causing birds to fly out of the tree behind her. When he lowered her back down into the water, she couldn’t help but giggle.
“Where did you learn to do that?”
A sheepish grin spread across Rowan’s face. “I have spent a great deal of time in brothels.”
“What?”
“No, not for that reason!” He laughed when she raised an eyebrow. “When you’re trying to hide, you can’t just check into the local inn. You need somewhere to stay that won’t raise suspicion and can be discreet.”
“And staying in places like that are discreet?”
Rowan couldn’t help but smile. The look on her face was hysterical.
“Yes, very. They don’t share who comes in or out. If they did, they’d lose half of their business.”
“Wow. The more I learn about our seven years apart, the more I don’t want to know.”
“I can tell you one thing about our years apart…” He pulled her close, then kissed her neck.
“Yeah, what’s that?” she replied, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.
“I would rather have been with you.”
Chapter Three
Simon hoped Vallica was in a better mood today. Her ranting and raging had become unbearable. Even alone with her, she refused to set aside her anger at Cicilly, Queen Mother of Junacave. This anger was ruefully displaced, as it was really Vallica’s late husband, King Silas, which she truly wanted to harm. But since the king was dead, at his wife’s hand, nonetheless, she couldn’t exact further revenge on him. So it was Cicilly who Vallica aimed her fury toward. And Cicilly was nowhere to be found.
Sire’s soldiers had scoured the countryside, in search of Cicilly, after her escape. Simon had even sent spies into the village in Junacave, to no avail. No one seemed to know where the Queen Mother had escaped to. It certainly wasn’t back to her daughter’s kingdom. And without a wizard in the service of Sire, tracking Cicilly would be much more difficult.
After Vallica stabbed her husband with a dagger, Larkin had magically disappeared with his body. The Royal Mage had been extremely loyal to Silas, refusing to swear allegiance to Vallica, even over Silas’ dead body. Whatever became of Larkin, however, wasn’t of any concern to Vallica. Two months on the throne and she had already found a new wizard to take his place. However, a sudden storm at sea had delayed his arrival sending Vallica back into her sour mood.
“Garlic? Does this soup have garlic?” Vallica could not believe that the cooks ignored her request, again. This was the third time this month that she could taste garlic in her meal. She had been forgiving the first time, and only gave minor punishment the second time, but this time would be different. This time, she would make sure it never happened again.
A kitchen maid rushed forward to remove the queen’s soup from the table. Vallica reached out and grabbed her arm, holding it so tightly, it caused the girl
to wince.
“Leave the soup,” Vallica said, in her usual angry tone. “Go to the kitchens and tell the cooks, all three of them, that their presence is requested.” As soon as Vallica released her grasp on the girl’s arm, the kitchen maid ran out of the room, sobbing.
“My queen, I understand your frustration,” Simon said, trying to diffuse the situation before it worsened. “Perhaps, I should handle the cooks, this time. You really shouldn’t be bothered with such mundane tasks…”
“If I wanted you to handle it for me, Simon, I would have commanded as such.”
“Yes, Your Highness. I just hoped to lessen the strain of your responsibilities, is all. I know you have been tense and strained, as of late.”
Vallica looked over at Simon. His constant presence was beginning to irritate her. When Silas had been alive, she and Simon had been forced to hide their relationship, sneaking around behind his back. Now that the king was gone, there was nothing preventing them from being together, openly. However, the more time she spent with him, the more she realized he was much like her late husband, trying to control her, trying to change her. The more he showed his true self, the more she hated it.
She hadn’t always thought this way. There was a time when she dreamed of the day she would be free of the shackles that she had called “husband”. Free to make her own choices and decide her own fate. Freedom to love whomever she chose, however she chose, if she decided to love anyone at all. But being the ruler of Sire was much more tiresome than she imagined. Of course, the other option would have been to turn the kingdom over to Silas’ daughter, Dahlia. Vallica would die before she’d ever let that happen.
“Has my new wizard arrived?” She desperately hoped so. A distraction was overdue.
“I believe he is scheduled to arrive later today,” Simon replied.
Movement caught Vallica’s attention as the cooks were led into the throne room.
“Good,” she said. “Until then, I will keep myself busy, punishing my incompetent cooks. What do you think, Simon? Ten lashes, each? Twenty? I think twenty will suffice.”