The thumping in her chest, the flutters in her middle grew when he stepped closer. Did she trust him with her secret?
Her mum’s warning echoed in her head. Never tell anyone.
The Giantess had told her differently. Who did she trust?
Revealing her secret to him was one thing, telling him what happened while he was gone was another. She said softly, “The Giantess made herself known to me.”
“You are well? She did not harm you in any way?” he asked even though she appeared untouched, he had to be sure. There was no telling what the Giantess might have done to her.
“I am and she was pleasant enough, though abrupt at times. She informed me that we were safe to travel through her home as long as we did not harm anything while here. I assured her we would not. She also advised that the berries are plentiful and will sustain us, and it is a distance to the next stream.”
“What else had she to say to you?”
“She told me I was rude for entering her home uninvited.”
Paine nodded. “She said something similar to King Talon.”
“Did the King truly wish to slay the Giantess?”
“It was a time when he needed to prove his strength and courage to the tribes. He wanted to prove he was worthy of leading them. Slaying the Giantess would have done that.”
“She did say he wanted to prove his prowess and that she gave him more prowess with his sword than he needed.” She was shocked to see the wide smile that surfaced on Paine’s face.
“That she did and with more than one sword.”
Anin’s brow wrinkled, then suddenly it struck her. “Oh, his prowess with women.” Sorrow filled her. “How sad for him to never feel so deeply for one woman that he must mate with many. He will never know the feeling, the joy that that one special woman can bring him or how it would feel to give the same to her. He will never hear someone say—”
“The King has forbidden any woman to say it to him.” It was not his place to tell her and yet he felt compelled to do so. She needed to know so that she would not go on dreaming that someday it would be possible to hear the King admit his deepest feelings for her with a single word... tuahna. Once she wed the King, it would never be possible.
Hide.
It was as if the Giantess spoke to Anin silently and she nodded, agreeing with her. Only this time, it was meant for the King. What did he hide?
Chapter Eleven
They stopped at dusk and sat around the fire, eating the berries Anin had collected. Paine had not rushed their pace since there was no fear of the Drust finding them, and an easy pace would benefit them both.
Anin seemed to think the same. “I am grateful that we go slower today. It was nice not to rush or fear being followed, though I cannot help but wonder what will happen when we leave the safety of this forest.”
Paine would have liked to ease her concern, but he would not lie to her when he was unsure of what they would face. “I do not know what awaits us, but we will face it together.”
Somehow that thought comforted Anin.
A heavy chill settled over the land along with darkness and though Anin sat close to the fire, she still shivered.
Let him warm you.
Anin looked around, expecting to see the Giantess.
“It is the wind, though it did sound like strange laughter,” Paine said.
“It is a bitter wind for harvest time.” Anin wrapped her arms across her chest, rubbing them with her hands and hoping he would come and keep her warm.
Paine reminded himself that she was the King’s intended and his task was to deliver her to the King safe and unharmed. He had grumbled at the task when it had been presented to him and had suggested that King Talon’s personal guard be sent to collect her. King Talon had reminded him that death walks with the executioner and no one would dare tempt death.
Death did walk beside Paine. It was as if a burdensome demon followed his every step, waiting, watching, and claiming everyone he ever cared for. It was another reason to keep his distance from Anin and see only that she was delivered to the King.
“Stay close to the fire,” Paine grumbled and stretched out on the ground, doing as he advised her to do, and kept the crackling flames between them.
Anin was disappointed and stretched out on the ground on her side, facing the flames, and keeping her cloak tugged snugly around her. Her thoughts went to what the Giantess had said about how Anin hid and that she did not understand nor accept how much she had grown to care for Paine. How wise was it to feed such a thought when she was promised to the King?
Have the strength and courage to be who you are.
Her mother had said similar words to her since she was young, but only the Giantess had encouraged her to be who she was. The question was... who was she?
This journey with Paine had allowed secrets to surface. Did she embrace them as the Giantess urged or keep them buried?
She shivered, the cold ground seeping into her body. She wished she slept beside Paine. She favored his arms around her, the warmth of his strong body next to hers, and that spark of caring she felt deep inside him and that was growing ever stronger.
A gust of wind had her cringing against the cold.
Suddenly Paine was stretching out beside her, wrapping his arm around her and easing her against him.
“I will not have you die from the cold or the King will have my head.”
Anin smiled and snuggled her back against him. “I would not want you to lose your head because of me.”
“Go to sleep. We set a brisker pace tomorrow. King Talon eagerly awaits your arrival.” And he was just as eager to deliver her and see this task complete, though he suffered a strong tug to his middle every time he thought of it.
“I am curious—”
“Curiosity will only get you in trouble,” he warned.
“That would depend on what a person is curious about.”
Now Paine was curious. “Tell me.”
“There is gossip that the King’s first wife, Estra, now wed to the chieftain of the Malloch Tribe, is heavy with her husband’s babe. Is this so?”
Tunnan, the chieftain of the Malloch Tribe and loyal supporter of the King had sent word to King Talon as soon as his wife had told him of the babe. King Talon did not receive the news well, for it only served to give his opponents even more reason to see him dethroned since it now seemed obvious he would never father a son to ensure the Pict reign. His opponents also made it known that not one woman, out of many, he had mated with had he gotten with child.
“Aye, it is true,” Paine said, wishing for the King’s sake it was otherwise.
“If the King’s third wife does not bare him a child whether son or daughter, surely his enemies will seek to depose him.”
“It is those against the Unification of the Tribes that wish to see him deposed. But there was endless chaos and bloodshed before the unification. There are also those tribes to the south who watched and waited, still do, to push north when the time is right and end the Picts. We are stronger now thanks to King Talon and we thrive as a people.”
“What if I fail the King? Will he be rid of me and wed me to another as he did with his other two wives?”
“Go to sleep,” Paine snapped, having no answer for her and not caring for the thought of what might befall her.
Anin did not argue nor did she sleep. She did not want to be Queen.
Be who you are.
As if that would help her, though if the King found her lacking, perhaps he would change his mind, she could only hope.
She had thought to rest her hand on Paine’s arm and feel what he was feeling, but stopped herself. It was not right for her to intrude like that, no matter how badly she wanted to. She would not want someone intruding on her feelings, so it was not right to do so to him.
Between the heat of his body and the warmth of the flames, she found herself being lolled into a peaceful slumber.
~~~
It is ti
me for you to come home, Anin. Listen and you will know where to go. You will be safe. Come home!
Anin thought about her brief dream while she walked the next day, the pace hardier than the day before. She had woken with a start, jolting up, expecting to see the woman who had been calling to her in her dream standing there and strangely enough wishing she had.
Somehow the voice was familiar to her, but she could not recall where she had heard it. One thing she was sure of was that it was not her mum’s voice calling her home. Why then did the woman urge her to come home? What home?
They continued walking and both were surprised when they reached the edge of the forest. Beyond was barren, rocky land, spreading as far as one could see, leaving it easy for the Drust to spot them.
If it was close to dusk, Paine would have remained in the safety of the Giantess’s forest, but there was much light left and he did not want to waste it.
He turned to Anin and her soft smile brought a forbidden thought. It was not that the thought had not come to him before, but this time it was stronger than it had ever been, making it more dangerous.
He ached to kiss her, taste her lips stained red from the berries she had eaten a short time ago. She would taste like the berries, more tart than sweet, the way he liked them.
“Is something wrong, Paine?” Anin asked, stepping closer to him and resting her hand on his arm before giving her action thought.
A jolt of desire struck her so hard that it frightened her and she jumped back away from him. His eyes took on a hardened glare that had her taking another step back.
“Keep aware... we do not know what awaits us,” he ordered and stepped out of the forest, knowing it was much too dangerous for them to remain one more night there with how he was feeling toward her.
Anin followed, more worried about what she had felt from him than the Drust.
Chapter Twelve
A chill had Anin keeping her cloak snug around her as they walked over rocky, pitted land. It was difficult to stay aware of her surroundings and watch her footing at the same time, but if she did not, both could prove harmful.
They stopped shortly before dusk, having come upon a small river. While Bog went off to hunt for his meal, Paine saw to catching fish for theirs. It was a quiet evening they shared together, little being said. Sleep claimed them early, though Anin woke shivering from the cold and it was not long before she felt Paine wrap himself around her. She sighed gratefully and returned to a peaceful slumber.
They started the next morning just after dawn and kept a good pace, again little being said.
Paine preferred the silence. Too often Anin’s questions left him thinking about her fate and the possibilities often disturbed him. She was a kind woman and many times more trusting than she should be, and the King would not be disappointed with her features. She was beautiful.
Too beautiful for the likes of himself and that thought disturbed him the most. Such a thought should not enter his head and yet he could not chase it away no matter how hard he tried.
He shook his head, trying to rid himself of his troubling thoughts.
“Something wrong?” Anin asked behind him.
“Keeping my head clear.” Her soft laughter brought a quick smile to his face and he got annoyed. No one had made him smile as easily as Anin did in a long time.
“My mum once told me that I would have to shake my head senseless to clear all my countless thoughts.”
“So you burdened your mum with endless questions?”
“No, she would not suffer my questions and said as you have that curiosity would get me in trouble. Though, I am grateful you were thoughtful and did not forbid me to ask questions as my mum did. Naturally, I could not stem my curiosity so I asked questions of others, though not too many questions of one person, so as not to annoy or have them remark to my mum.”
“So you are also stubborn.”
Anin laughed again. “At times. What kind of child were you?”
“A dutiful one. I helped my da work and protect the land and my mum and sister.”
“You have a sister, how wonderful! Are you kind to her? My brothers still torment me.”
Why had he mentioned his family? He had buried them and the memories long ago. Why had he allowed them to surface?
“My family is no more,” he snapped and hurried their pace as if he could outrun the heartbreaking memories.
Anin felt a sting of pain for him and hurried to keep pace. “How horrible for you to lose your family, I am so sorry.”
Paine stopped abruptly and turned almost colliding with Anin. “My family was not lost to me. They were brutally taken from me. Now enough talk. I need to get you safely to the King.”
He turned and hurried his steps. Anin followed, saying nothing. What could she say? She did not want to ask him what happened, for she would not want him to relieve the horror of losing his family. She did, however, wonder if he was trying to right the wrong done to his family every time he swung the executioner’s axe.
It was not long before dusk when they climbed a small hill and saw a village below.
“It is the Corsar Tribe. They are loyal to the King and fought with honor beside him. They will give us food and shelter for the night and protection from the Drust if need be.”
Anin smiled grateful they would have food and a safe place to sleep.
The overcast sky grew darker as she, Paine, and Bog entered the village. The few people that were about began whispering and one scurried off as soon as his eyes fell on the executioner.
Anin wondered if they would be treated as the old couple had treated them, willing to give them food, yet avoiding them. She watched as more people emerged from their dwellings, eyes wide with concern, and began following them.
She kept her chin high as she walked beside Paine. She wanted everyone to know she walked beside him proudly and willingly. Though, she wondered if it mattered since all eyes were on Paine.
Anin stopped along with Paine when a tall, slim man approached them. His tunic fell just above his knees and a fur cape hung over his shoulders. Fur wrappings encased his lower legs and body drawings covered both arms. He had fine features, though the many wrinkles around his eyes and mouth marked him as an elder and his long gray hair signified him as a man of importance.
“It is with pleasure I welcome the King’s executioner to our home,” the man said with a nod. “I am Conmar, Chieftain of the Corsar Tribe.”
“We need food and shelter for the night,” Paine said.
“Of course, I will gladly provide whatever you need.”
Anin watched the exchange between the men. Conmar seemed cautious and anxious. Anin felt the same of the tribesmen that had gathered around them. Something was not right and she instinctively took a step closer to Paine.
“Do you need a place to keep your prisoner?” Conmar asked.
Anin bit on her bottom lip to keep from speaking. She wanted to acknowledge Paine as her friend, but that was not possible with her slated to be Queen.
“She is not my prisoner,” Paine said and offered no further explanation.
Anin rubbed her arms, a sudden chill coming upon her and her unease grew.
Fear.
That was what she was feeling, an overabundance of fear.
“What goes on here?” Paine demanded, feeling the unease himself and Bog agreed with a low rumbling growl.
Conmar raised his voice for all to hear. “It is a sign from the spirits that you were sent to us. We need your help. Please, come sit and eat and I will explain.”
Anin was surprised when Paine ordered Bog to follow them into the feasting house and Conmar did not object.
Food and drink were provided even to Bog, and Conmar presented his wife Phillia, a thick woman who barely struck a smile. Conmar made no mention of the help they needed until the meal was done.
Phillia approached Anin and said, “I will show you to your dwelling where you may rest.”
“Anin stays with m
e,” Paine said to her relief.
Phillia bowed her head and left along with others, leaving only Conmar with Paine and Anin.
“Tell me,” Paine ordered. He did not care for the unsettling feeling he had gotten upon entering the village. He knew well how he brought fear with him when he appeared, but fear had been here before he arrived. Something was terribly wrong and he had no intentions of letting Anin out of his sight.
Conmar leaned closer to Paine and kept his voice low, though there was no one about to hear him. “Several passed moon cycles some of our smaller animals had been found dead.”
“That is not uncommon. Death strikes us all.”
Conmar shook his head. “Not like this. The animal killings stopped after we found one of our own dead in the woods, gutted viciously just like the dead animals. At first, we thought nothing of it. A wolf probably had gotten him. We changed our minds when we found the next body and realized that an animal would have eaten at least part of his kill. We knew then it was no forest animal. We have lost five tribesmen in the same way since the last moon cycle. Fear has taken hold of our village and turned friend against friend, no one trusting one another. No matter how many sentries I post it does not stop the killings and since the killer eludes us many believe that a demon is responsible. They fear that the demon will not stop until the whole tribe is dead. Be it demon or man we search for, I beg of you to help us.”
Anin shivered at his words. She had heard stories of demons that rode in on the shadows of the night claiming innocent people. And if hungry enough, would stay and feed on the fear and death.
“Find the demon and take his head so that we may finally be rid of him.”
It was not an easy task Conmar asked of Paine, but he was the King’s executioner and would be responsible to see it done.
“If you have not found this creature, what makes you think I can?” Paine asked.
“You are legend, whether warrior or executioner, nothing stops you from your task. You serve the King and his people with honor and do what must be done, what no one else wishes to do or dares to do.”
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