She gave me a shy look after finding a loaf of nut bread, absently picking bite-sized pieces from it, eventually working up the courage to ask. “Have you seen Ben since last week? It would have been nice to have him here with us...Did you invite him along too?“ She looked down at the small loaf in her lap as her already waning voice drifted off entirely.
I shook my head.“Sorry, Rhian. I haven’t see him, though I admit I wasn’t exactly looking for him.” I lied. I had been keeping my eyes open for him out of a desire to at least finish the conversation we had begun, though the thought of inviting him on a family picnic would have been awkward and so I wouldn’t have, even if I had thought of it. But I had not seen him, and I thought that perhaps he found some good sense and was avoiding our family dramatics. Or perhaps he found his so-called Master and Rhian can give up the notion of Ben being hired.
A half-hearted smile found her lips and she nodded to me, tearing another bite from the loaf. “Our paths simply didn’t cross.” She repeated his words and looked around the ruins. “I wonder where the Velynesians are hiding now? Do you think we have ever met any and didn’t know it? I bet they are tall...and dreamy…” As a shy little smile curled her lips upwards and she blushed, I definitely knew sharing of my visit with Owain would be a bad idea. “What is it like to kiss someone, Carys?”
My eyebrows shot up at her question and I nearly choked on my water. “You want to know what it’s like to kiss someone?” I asked incredulously, finally shaking my head a little in disbelief. The truth was, I had kissed a couple of boys and while it had been pleasant, it had never been what I had hoped for. Perhaps I had read too many romantic stories, but I longed for a kiss that made all thoughts fade...a kiss that drew you into it so deeply that you forgot your own name. The kisses I had thus far were...nice.
I quietly chewed on my lip while I tried to find a way to describe it to her. “Kissing is enjoyable, but it takes a little practice to get it wonderful. My first kiss was really awkward, but having the warmth of someone else’s lips pressed to yours is...well, it’s nice. Just feeling like someone cares about you that way is what makes it special.”
Rhian wrinkled her nose and me and repeated. “It’s...nice? That’s all you can say about it?” She looked a little confused, and perhaps a little disappointed. “Isn’t it supposed to be...more than just nice?” She looked over towards Brynmor and Iolyn who were coming back, and cleared her throat to interrupt me before I could answer, obviously not wanting them to hear. I quieted and looked towards my brother and our guard, smiling faintly. Their timing is impeccable, as always.
CHAPTER 22
The remainder of our day was spent in exploration, enjoying the last of the summer’s warmth though the cool wind warned us of the descending autumn. It wouldn’t be long before the days grew too cold for this sort of excursion, and as the sun began its descent, we packed our things and made our way to Lund to celebrate Rhian’s birthday with a special dinner at the Silver Stag. I could see her out of the corner of my eye as we steered our horses up the hill towards the Inn, her head swiveling to search faces for the only one she wanted to find.
We entered the Stag to its usual cozy dimness, the tavern filled with more patrons than usual. I had arranged for us to use one of the private dining rooms tonight, rather than being out in the main room. Not only did I want to avoid the potential rowdiness of the patrons, but thought to avoid Ben, if he was around. I knew Rhian would fawn all over him, and Brynmor would cause a scene, and avoiding those theatrics would be preferable. Ben had been right about one thing...we did draw attention to ourselves.
I looked around the common room as Brynmor guided Rhian swiftly down the hallway that led to the private dining rooms, he knowing as well as I that she would dawdle in the front. She would want to look for Ben, and Brynmor wanted to avoid the man as much as Rhian wanted to see him. I felt eyes on me, a sensation I was growing accustomed to this last week as I had felt it often while in town. I assumed it was a figment of my imagination, my fears and worries of danger creating beliefs that were not there.
I hesitated before following my family down the hall, turning my head to give the room one last glance, not really expecting to see anyone looking at me but I was wrong. Ben sat in the back of the room, his posture straight as a mug rested with contrived casualness on his lap. His eyes were fixed on me, and when our eyes locked, he dipped his head only slightly to me, a gesture I mirrored to him, but quickly turned to head down the hall with my family.
I had ordered several platters of food, samples of various meats, cheeses, breads, and desserts, I wanted to make it special, having a couple of Rhian’s favorite foods made. Rhian was thrilled with all of it, squealing with elation through the entire meal and talking non-stop about how this was the best birthday she had ever had. I watched her with amusement (and relief), happy to see her in better spirits than she had been since leaving Perinthas.
Iolyn and Madox left after dinner, leaving Brynmor to guard both Rhian and I while we finally went into the common room. Rhian had begged to sit out there for awhile, and as it was her birthday, I relented, permitting it only because I would be sitting with her to prevent any further errors in her judgment.
I looked over toward where Ben had been sitting, but the man was gone. As much as I wanted to finish our conversation, I was relieved that Rhian would not be further encouraged in whatever fanciful thinking she held towards Ben. Rhian’s light blue gaze surveyed the room with a hopeful smile, quickly appearing disappointed when he was nowhere to be found. I ordered her a very small goblet of wine, which made her eyes go wide, and she lifted her goblet from the counter like a scholar would pick up an ancient artifact. Father never let her drink, which I agreed with for the most part, but since it was her birthday and she was sixteen and technically old enough to wed, I decided to allow it. Just for tonight, anyways.
Brynmor took his customary mug of ale from the counter and gestured towards a nearby table. “We can sit there, I guess. Not many options tonight.” He frowned, looking around the crowded, noisy common room. The tavern was full tonight, more than a few of the patrons deep into their cups. Rhian looked around again, warily eying the group of laughing men nearby as Brynmor gave an apprehensive look of his own in their direction. “Alright…” the youth murmured, heading to the table and sitting carefully with Bryn and myself following immediately after.
It was difficult to relax and enjoy our drinks, the growing rowdiness of the people around us making me more apprehensive as the evening went on. A drunken man was weaving his way through the crowd, stumbling with every other step and nearly toppling when he bumped into the table next to us. After a loud bellow of laughter from him, I was about ready to leave.
The drunken man, burly and stinking like sweat and whiskey, righted himself as best he could in his inebriated state, suddenly turning and giving both Rhian and myself a look-over as he dropped heavily onto the bench next to me. “Ladies….an’ Mister….” He laughed and hiccuped, looking first to my face before his gaze slowly lowered. A crooked smile formed as he exhaled his approval, and I cringed. His breath reeked and I turned away, huffing with indignation and shooting Brynmor a look.
Before I could even say a word, the man’s meaty hand was fumbling under the table in search of my thigh, and with a startled gasp, I was up and off the bench in a split second, nearly ready to throw a punch. Brynmor was on his feet with equal speed, furious and hollering. “BACK OFF!”
The burly man roared with laughter, the sound echoing through the tavern. “Jus’ tryin’ t’ have some fun with a pretty lass. Didn’t realize she was yer girl, lad.” He guffawed again, eying Brynmor and finding this entire situation amusing. He swung his hand out, trying to grab my arm to pull me back but his thick fingers clutched only air as I sidestepped his reach.
After firing an outraged glare at the drunkard, I rounded the table to pull an appalled Rhian up to her feet. The teen was so shocked that she was utterly rooted in place, her blu
e eyes widening even more as Brynmor’s hand thrust out to grab the burly man by the collar, trying to pull the offending Lundhamer up from the bench. The man just laughed as Brynmor struggled, knowing Bryn’s wiry frame was no match for the thickness of his own beefy form.
Bryn, in a moment of embarrassed fury, shot me a look and growled sharply. “Take Rhian and get out of here!” The large man rose slowly from the bench I had just vacated, sneering and finding this less amusing now, looking at Bryn as though he were a pesky gnat that required squashing. The room was thick with anticipation, our little altercation becoming a scene of entertainment for the entirety of the room. We were only moments away from this becoming a brawl, so I did what Bryn ordered and I pulled Rhian along with me as I beelined for the door.
Night had long since fallen and I looked around the courtyard, the warm golden glow of the lamps illuminating the maze of streets as I tried to decide what to do. Our horses were still here, but my biggest concern was our safety, and the safest place I could think of was the Lund Jail where there were Watchmen who could protect us. “Come on, Rhi, the jail isn’t far. We will go there.” I tugged on her arm as I started walking, Rhian’s resistance preventing me from going more than a couple of steps.
Rhian looked worried, staring over her shoulder at the front door of the tavern and I knew she wanted to go back to help Bryn. She let out a little sigh, knowing I would never in a thousand ages let her go back in there. “But how will Bryn know where to find us?” She asked, her voice a little wobbly.
I smiled grimly. “The jail is next to the infirmary...chances are he will end up there as it is.” Rhian’s worry turned to alarm and she turned to bolt back to the Stag, but my grip on her arm was stronger than she was. She yelped when I held fast, her head snapping around to send her raven locks awhirl. “Don’t be a fool, Rhian. Brynmor will be along shortly, I’m sure of it.” She huffed, but relented with a worried frown.
We hurried down the road, and once again the sensation of eyes watching me prickling the back of my neck, and I needed no prompting to walk faster. I was oblivious to the three men that were tailing us until one of them laughed and called out to us. “Such pretty ladies wi’ pretty coin purses, left t’ fend fer themselves.” A series of snickers echoed off the stone buildings. The tallest one suddenly moved in front of us, drawing his knife and forcing Rhian and I to stop short, lest we run into his blade.
Using the crude knife to gesture to my waist, I could hardly pull my eyes from the thin point as it waved back and forth. “Hand over th’ coin purses, both o’ yeh, and mebbe we won’ gut ya.” He snarled, his eyes narrowing malevolently. The other cutpurses following suit and drew their own knives, quickly circling around us to cut off any avenue of escape.
We’re completely surrounded. Panic gripped my chest with its icy fingers as my eyes flicked between each of our assailants. We had no protectors to save us this time, and I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t a warrior, but hearing Rhian whimpering as she clung tightly to me, I knew there was no way I could let these men harm my sister. I will protect you, Rhi. I will find a way to keep you safe.
My sapphire eyes met the leader’s cold, ruthless gaze, only needing a moment to be certain that they would take more than just our coin purses unless we could get away. A surge of fear and fury at their audacity bloomed fiercely in my chest, sending the panic fleeing; in retrospect, it was the panic that kept me from doing incredibly stupid things.
The clear defiant ringing of my voice as I addressed these thieves was a surprise, even to me. “We are not giving you anything! Now begone before you regret it!” Even in my fear, my tone was pure ice in my staunch refusal to be intimidated by these thugs. But the moment the bold words were out of my mouth, the panic returned in full force. What did I just do? I can’t fight them!
The raucous laughter of the bandits seemed to fence us in all the more; they slowly began to move closer to my sister and I, not intimidated in the slightest by my empty threat. Rhian’s grip on me tightened in her fear which only magnified my own. What have I done? Brynmor was nowhere in sight, and Rhian and I were utterly helpless, and all I could do was slowly push Rhian behind me. We were doomed, but it wouldn’t stop me from trying to shield her until the bitter end. My breathing was coming in small gasps by now as I tried to come up with something...some way to get out of this catastrophe. There is no way out...
A tall figure stepped out into the light of the street lamps in that moment, his voice as cold and hard as castle-forged steel as he addressed the thieves, voice still eerily smooth and familiar. He casually rested his hands on his own long knives that hung from his belt as his eyes narrowed. “If you are in search of coin, look elsewhere. If it is the women you want, there is a brothel down the street. If you are in search of a fight, you have found it.” For all my suspicions of the man, I was vastly relieved to see him.I heard Rhian squeak quietly beside me. “Ben!”
The bandits stopped in their advance and whirled around at the sound of Ben’s voice, the leader snorting as he sized Ben up with a leer. “Oh look...a hero comin’ ta save th’ day.” The Leader took a couple of swaggering steps towards Ben , his eyes roving over the man’s attire and weapons, the glint of greed appearing in his eyes.
Ben’s steps were sure and deliberate, moving forward with a graceful step though remaining safely out of the reach of the thug’s blade. He took a moment to glance at the other two bandits, the second one taking a few steps towards him while the third came up behind Rhian and myself. Ben’s eyes met mine, his expression hard, though for a moment, I could see a momentary flash of concern as the third bandit approached us.
Metal glinted in the lantern light as the leader of the rabble lunged forward, swiping his dagger towards Ben in that split second that Ben’s attention was on me, but the taller man dodged his blade, turning himself to grab the wrist of the leader with ease, yanking his arm hard and twisting it, pushing it beyond its breaking point. The audible crack made both Rhian and I flinch, Rhian burying her face in the back of my shoulder with a little whimper. The thug let out a shriek, no longer being able to hold the dagger, the metal clattering loudly as it hit the paving stones.
The second thug ran forward in defense of his leader, a grunt coming from him as he thrust his own knife out towards Ben, still gripping the now broken arm of the leader. Ben gave the disabled thief a shove to send him sprawling, the second bandit having to jump out of the way to avoid tripping over their Leader, giving Ben time to draw one of his blades to block the attack of the second thug, turning to face him as he drew his second blade to slash at the bandit’s forearm.
It all happened so quickly that I wasn’t entirely sure what I was seeing. The bandit let out a shriek as a deep gash appeared in his forearm, the flow of crimson dripping to the stone road to leave an eerie spattered pattern. His dagger dropped to the ground, the thug now far more concerned about his arm than his opponent and Ben took full advantage, kicking him in the knee. There was a sickening crunch as it bent the wrong direction and buckled, the thug crashing to the stonework with an agonized screech.
Ben’s attention turned fully to the brigand that stood by Rhian and I, easily stepping over the second thug as he closed the gap between himself and the last of our attackers. Ben’s dark gaze fixed squarely on the third (and less courageous) outlaw, who could only stare wide-eyed with a swiftly growing panic regarding his own fate.
The blade he had pointed towards Rhian and I began to waver under Ben’s vengeful look before his eyes were pulled to his two companions, now left broken and groaning in pain on the road. He lowered his knife and backed away, his voice quaking. “I don’ want no trouble, I’m jus’....gonna go…” He carefully rounded my sister and I, keeping a very wary eye on Ben as he approached the other two, roughly helping them up before hobbling away.
Ben was not even breathing hard as he watched the attackers limp away, his cold eyes not moving from them until the thieves were out of sight. A gentle shing echoed in th
e road as he sheathed his knives, turning on his heel to face us as he closed the last of the distance between us with a furrowing brow.
His eyes found mine for a split second before he looked at Rhian, who finally released the vise-like grip she had on my arm, stepping around to press lightly into my side. She was staring in wide-eyed fear after our assailants, though that fear quickly shifted to adoration when her blue eyes turned to Ben.
Her lips formed a wobbly smile as she stammered. “B-Ben...th-thank you…” She threw herself forward to hug him, startling him with this action, though his apparent discomfort with her affection faded slightly as he awkwardly patted her back. He simply murmured, “You are welcome.” His comment was to her, but his blue-grey eyes searched mine as though ensuring I was alright.
My bravado began to fade as relief set in, as the full realization of how narrowly we had escaped harm sank in, my stomach turning over. I was rattled, my whole body trembling from the adrenaline coursing through my veins and I did my best to mask it in a poor attempt to maintain my dignity. But with his eyes meeting mine, I’m sure he could see it clearly, so I cleared my throat, about to express my own gratitude when the sounds of hurried footsteps approached us.
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