A Fugitive's Kiss

by Jaime Clevenger

  “What happened with the woman who was here earlier?” Darin asked.

  “Shawn…” She hesitated. “We had a disagreement. It’s nothing. It’s over.”

  “You’re lying,” Darin said evenly.

  Aysha nearly smiled. She’d already forgotten that Darin could sense a lie. “Shawn and I have been lovers for some time, but she has someone else. Another lover I wasn’t supposed to know about. I encouraged him to sleep with her last night.”

  “Why would you do that?”

  “Because I’d met you. I knew you weren’t staying but…” Aysha had to work at not looking away, not backing down from the challenge in Darin’s eyes. Suddenly Darin leaned forward and touched Aysha’s neck, running her finger so lightly over the knife mark that it sent a shiver down her spine. Her touch was a soft caress, but the wound stung.

  “I hate that I hurt you.”

  Aysha pulled back. “Let it be.”

  Darin opened her mouth as if to argue but stopped herself. Finally she said, “The other hunters will follow my trail here before long, you know, even after I’ve gone. If anyone asks you about me, don’t lie—they’ll know. Try not to answer at all but if you have to say something—”

  “I won’t,” Aysha said.

  “I should leave.”

  But Darin didn’t move. Aysha reached for her hand. She loved the strength in Darin’s grip, the roughness of her palm and the slender beauty of her fingers. “Maybe you should have stolen Prince that first night. Then I wouldn’t compare your lips to those of every other woman I kiss.”

  “You’re the only woman I’ve kissed,” Darin admitted.

  They were both quiet for several minutes and Aysha finally let go of Darin’s hand. She’d guessed by the urgency in Darin’s lips that she’d been with a woman before. Knowing that she hadn’t even kissed another woman changed things. But that wasn’t the only reason that stopped her from following her desire. Aysha couldn’t help staring at the knife strapped to Darin’s leg. She traced the wound at her neck, feeling the sting again. Darin reached for the bread and tore off a piece.

  “You say you should leave, but you stay. And I shouldn’t trust you, but I do. Even with all your knives.”

  Darin took a piece of fish and sandwiched it between two hunks of bread. “You aren’t eating?”

  Aysha couldn’t eat. Her head was too full. “How did you get the scars?”

  “What scars?”

  Aysha sat down opposite Darin. She reached forward to set her hand on Darin’s thigh, then shifted to push the hem of the tunic. When the tunic passed Darin’s hip, her soft gasp made Aysha nearly stop. She didn’t slow Aysha’s hand, but she seemed frozen. Aysha edged the tunic up far enough to expose the pale skin of Darin’s belly, striped on either side with fine white lines. “These I know. You have a child.” She slipped her hand along Darin’s ribs. Some of the raised lines were as wide as her finger. They crisscrossed from her ribs to her back. “What about these?”

  “I don’t have a child,” Darin said. She shifted away from Aysha’s hands and pulled her tunic down to cover her skin. “I was pregnant but…The other scars are from a whip. The baby died moments after he was born. Alekander blamed me.”

  “Alekander?”

  “He thought I’d killed his son. The baby was stillborn…I was whipped for it. Some would say he had every right to do what he did. He wanted to kill me. The whipping wasn’t enough.”

  That was why the bounty hunter had said Darin was a murderer. She thought of all the scars lining Darin’s back and felt sick. “How could anyone think that you should be whipped for a stillbirth?”

  “I didn’t want Alekander to have that child. He said I’d killed the baby.” Darin’s gaze was unfocused, her thoughts seemingly far from the barn. “I wished the baby dead a thousand times, to spite him. But then in the end, I’d forgiven the baby. I wanted to hold him. He was mine as much as Alekander’s.”

  “But babies are often stillborn…It wasn’t your fault.”

  “I don’t remember the birth,” Darin admitted. “I passed out.”

  “Whatever happened then wasn’t your fault.”

  “I passed out with a knife on your neck. Would it have been my fault if I’d killed you? I can’t remember what I did…but was it my fault?” She shifted on the hay, glancing at her saddlebag and cloak.

  “It wasn’t your fault,” Aysha repeated. “Neither was last night.”

  When she’d finished her food, Darin went to rinse her hands in the water trough. She eyed Aysha for a long moment and then picked up the blue cloak. Instead of pulling it on, she walked over to Aysha and draped it over her shoulders. Then she sat down next to her.

  “You aren’t leaving?”

  “Not yet…”

  Shifting the cloak to cover them both, Darin found Aysha’s hand. When she clasped it, a warmth spread through Aysha. Being close to her was nearly enough. Nearly. She turned and met Darin’s lips. Their kiss was long and deep.

  Aysha couldn’t help reaching under Darin’s tunic. This time, Darin didn’t stop her. She felt the scars and then the rise of her small breasts, nipples that firmed under her touch, all as Darin continued to kiss her. Aysha slipped the cloak off her shoulders and pulled off her own tunic, then guided Darin’s hands to her own breasts. Her rough hands were cool against Aysha’s warm skin. Darin’s lips parted when Aysha took off her pants. She stroked down Aysha’s body, past her belly and then lower to her thighs. Aysha didn’t hold back her gasp when Darin leaned close to kiss her neck.

  Aysha started loosening Darin’s belt. Darin glanced at the door and her jaw clenched. “Someone might come…”

  “Give yourself this one night,” Aysha said. “Give me this one night.” She pulled Darin’s belt off. “Then I’ll say nothing of meeting you and nothing of you being in this barn.”

  When Darin met her eyes again, the uncertainty was gone. She let Aysha take off her tunic and then started on her pants. Darin’s eyes never left hers and the desire in her gaze made Aysha long to do anything to please her.

  Once Darin was naked, Aysha settled back on the blue cloak. She clasped Darin’s hand and brought her fingers up to her lips. Darin stared down at her, lips parted. She seemed unsure of her next move. Aysha hoped she wasn’t thinking of changing her mind.

  “Come here,” Aysha said, pulling her close.

  Darin shifted between her legs, a soft moan escaping her lips. Aysha leaned back on the cloak. “All the way,” she murmured.

  Darin climbed on top of her and then found her lips. Her kiss was hard. There was no doubt in what she wanted. Darin’s weight pinned Aysha on the cloak as kiss after kiss took her breath away. They tangled together, naked skin against skin, and Aysha didn’t try to quiet the sounds of her pleasure when she stroked between Darin’s legs.

  Hours later, the bats flew out of the barn with their soft swooshing sound. Darin kept hold of Aysha’s hand as they lay curled up next to each other, the blue cloak draped over their bodies. Even in the weak light, Aysha could see the outline of Darin’s face. She wanted to hold on to the image. Soon she’d be gone and there was nothing she could say to keep her. She could only hope that Darin was quick enough with her knife to stay alive.

  Chapter Six

  Ranik heard a whistle outside his window and eased his way out of the bed. Jenner snored soundly. The man had a knack for sleeping, his one leg completely off the bed and the opposite arm tucked around his head. He squeezed around Jenner’s long frame to pull the curtain back. Callan stood on the other side of the window, folding and unfolding a strip of red cloth. By the weak rays of sunlight and the orange glow, it was just after dawn. Ranik dressed quickly and went outside.

  “Shawn’s taken with the fever,” Callan said, his voice breaking.

  “I’ll get Aysha.” He started back inside the house, but Callan caught his arm.

  “She isn’t in her room. I banged at your front door and called for her at the window, but she didn’t
answer. Her drape was pulled back so I had a look inside. Her bed was empty.”

  Ranik retraced the night’s events. Aysha had wanted to be alone and had gone to the barn with the dinner basket. It wasn’t unusual for her to sleep outside on a warm night. He led Callan over to the barn. Just before he pushed open the door, he remembered the woman Aysha had spoken of—the fugitive. He’d been distracted with Jenner and had forgotten about her until that moment. “Wait here, Callan.”

  The barn was full of shadows. He whispered Aysha’s name and got a grunt from Prince in return. He crossed the wood planks to the stacks of hay, feeling his way with one hand on the stall railings. His eyes were adjusting slowly. Louder, “Aysha?”

  “Ranik?”

  “Where are you?” He moved toward the sound, edging his way over to the horse tack. When they were kids, Aysha would often sleep in the barn. Between the bats, the mice, and the fat black spiders, he’d never understood why she liked it.

  Aysha reached out for him, clasping his hand. “What’s wrong?”

  “Shawn’s ill. Callan’s outside asking for you. He’s got a red handkerchief in his hands.” Ranik glanced at the woman lying next to Aysha. She stared at him with an unsettling coldness, but she was strikingly beautiful. He could see why Aysha was clearly taken by her, but no fugitive was worth the risk. If not for Callan being outside, Ranik would have told her to leave at once.

  “He’s sure it’s the Red Fever?” Aysha asked.

  “He lost his father to it, didn’t he? I think he’d know.”

  Aysha got up without a word to the woman under the blue cloak. Ranik glanced back at the Northerner as they left the barn. If Shawn was sick with the Red Fever, they had bigger concerns than a fugitive.

  Callan met them outside the barn. A look of relief settled on his face when he saw Aysha.

  “How is she?” Aysha asked.

  “Not well at all. She’s got the rash and she’s burning up with a fever.”

  Aysha eyed the red cloth in Callan’s hands and then went into the house for supplies. Callan waited, his fingers twisting and tugging the ends of the handkerchief till threads loosened at the corners.

  “Do you think Aysha can save her, Ranik?”

  “Aysha has some magic with her tea. You know that. Shawn will get through this.” He hoped it was true.

  When the Red Fever had struck last winter, villagers had worn red handkerchiefs whenever anyone in their home was ill. Ranik had been gone for the worst of it—working on the riverboat with Jenner. He’d come home as soon as he’d heard his parents were ill, but he arrived only in time to bury them. Aysha had been at their bedside throughout it all. That winter she’d aged years.

  After their parents passed, Aysha acted as nursemaid to several families. Although she hadn’t been able to save either of their parents, nearly all of the others she nursed made it through the illness. By the end of it, Glen Ore had lost ten adults and a half dozen children, but that was only a fraction of those sickened. Glen Briar and Glen Roushe had both lost over twice as many lives to the Red Fever. Many swore that the difference in Glen Ore was only Aysha’s tea.

  Aysha came out of the house with a sack over her shoulder. “I need a few things, Ranik. I’m out of lavender root and I’d like a bit of mint. Ask Tillie for their scrap tea leaves and more dried mushrooms. Helm always has some on hand.” She eyed him, “Will you remember all of this? It’s important.”

  “Is there more?” He didn’t hide his irritation. Aysha was the smarter twin and no one argued that fact, but he could remember a simple list.

  “I’ll need more willow bark. I have enough to get me through midday, longer if I really stretch it, but we’ll need to send someone to Glen Briar to fetch more. If this is the start of it…”

  “I’ll get the bark myself.” Glen Briar was the closest inland village to the river and the best grove of willows grew there. Jenner knew most of the townsmen there. He’d wake him at once and get Cobalt ready for the ride. “And I’ll have everything else you need sent to Callan’s.”

  Aysha clasped his hand and kissed his cheek. She used the moment of closeness to whisper, “Tell her why I’ve gone. I can’t say goodbye. But don’t tell anyone else about her.”

  Ranik watched Aysha and Callan leave. He lingered in the courtyard for a moment, considering his next move. Aysha’s Northerner could leave on her own. Shawn’s life was more important. He went inside and roused Jenner.

  “We need to make a trip to Glen Briar.”

  “Why?” Jenner rubbed his eyes and curled his knees up to his chest, pulling the cover over him as he did.

  “You remember the woman who was screaming in the courtyard yesterday?”

  “Aysha’s lover.”

  “She’s taken with the Red Fever. Aysha’s gone to tend to her, but she needs supplies—willow bark from Glen Briar. You know people there.”

  Jenner pushed out of bed and started dressing.

  “You’ll come with me,” he said, pulling on a shirt. “I don’t want to travel all the way to Glen Briar and back—I’ll spend half the day or more without you. And then tomorrow…”

  “I’ll come with you,” Ranik agreed. Tomorrow Jenner was due back at the riverboat. Their time together had passed too quickly. And there was no knowing when they’d be together again. At least they had one more night. “I’ll saddle the horses.”

  While Jenner made breakfast, Ranik headed over to Helm and Tillie’s cottage to see about the mushrooms. Helm’s jar was empty, but he promptly set off to the forest in search of more, promising to deliver them to Callan’s. Before Ranik left, Tillie handed him a leather coin pouch. She’d sold their hens at the market.

  Ranik went next to the barn. He rapped on the door with three loud pounds to give the Northerner warning. It felt strange to knock on his own barn door. After a moment, he entered, half expecting the beautiful woman to be standing in front of him with a sword drawn. He’d heard many stories from Jenner about Northern warriors and knew that the women were as quick to fight as the men. But the woman was plainly missing and the place where Aysha had lain with her was cleared of any trace. Prince nickered and Ranik was surprised to see both horses tied in their stalls and fully saddled.

  Jenner appeared with two canteens and a satchel of food. “All set?”

  “Yes, I suppose…”

  “What is it?”

  “Nothing. I just wanted to make sure I hadn’t forgotten something.” He eyed the dark corners of the barn.

  “A fugitive, perhaps? Her name’s Darin.” Jenner grinned, clearly taking note of Ranik’s sharp look. “I asked her to saddle the horses for us before she left.”

  “Darin? You spoke to her? But, how did you…” Ranik’s mind spun with questions. Questions he knew were useless to ask. Jenner was still grinning. Ranik scowled. “Never mind. I know what you will say. ‘I have my ways.’”

  “You know me well.”

  Ranik shook his head. Jenner had a strange way of knowing about things he couldn’t possibly know—often guessing Ranik’s thoughts and always noticing if he was hiding something. But when pressed, he refused to discuss his tricks. Clearly, Jenner didn’t trust Ranik enough to tell him the truth. He seemed to know everything about Ranik, but he himself was full of secrets. “Promise you won’t say a thing. If anyone knew we were hiding a fugitive…”

  “Ranik, look at me.” Jenner held his arms wide. “I’m a fugitive’s son.”

  He wouldn’t rat out a fugitive. Ranik sighed. “Let’s go. We’re wasting daylight.”

  Chapter Seven

  For once, Darin realized, her thoughts weren’t consumed by Alekander. Now she thought of Aysha too. Her body kept the memory of every place Aysha had touched it, every place her soft lips had kissed. When she closed her eyes, she recalled the sounds Aysha had made. But it was Aysha’s scent that she hated to leave behind. Without asking, she’d taken one of the blankets that smelled of her. In return, she’d left behind a gold coin. It was foolis
h to hope that Aysha would remember her for long—she was only another lover. For Darin, their night had been much more.

  As she laid with Aysha curled against her, Darin had even considered the risks of staying. Still, by morning she knew she had to leave—she couldn’t put Aysha in more danger. But now she fought the urge to turn back with every step.

  Within an hour of leaving the barn, she had a good view of the mountains. The low-lying hills of the Glenlands bowed to the rock giants to the west. The trees stopped halfway to the peak of the shortest mountain, and two other mountains, further back, were sheer rock faces with no sign of any vegetation. She wasn’t certain that she’d made the right choice but no direction had been without fault.

  Jenner had offered a ride east on his riverboat if Darin could make it to Glen Briar by nightfall. He’d promised to take her safely as far as the coast and then to get her passage on a boat en route to the Halo Isles, all for a very small sum of money. Too small a sum. Besides, Alekander would expect her at the river—he likely already had men waiting there for her. Being caught on a boat with no escape was worse than a lifetime of running from him. As Jenner had spoken, she saw his shifting eyes taking note of the clouds, and when she spoke to him, he stretched his palm as if his fingers felt an invisible wind. She knew then that he had a stronger sense, but his blank look at the word “forecaster” made her guess he’d never been given a name for it. Still, innocent as he seemed, she’d discovered forecasters couldn’t often be trusted.

  She took a drink from her flask and then started as she caught the scent of a dog. Voices came from around the path’s bend, and she hurried for cover behind a fallen log ten trees back from the path’s edge.

  Two men passed on the path with a small hound on a tether. A string of fish hung off one man’s shoulder basket. The other had fishing poles over his shoulder and the hound’s tether laced to his belt. The dog barked as they passed Darin’s hiding spot and strained on his cord. The men laughed, telling him he’d had enough rabbits for the day and pulled him along.