“She is a seer,” Dunnard insisted. “A seer sees the past and the future. What is my fate? Please tell me.”
Paine’s hand fell off Anin’s wrist to quickly reach out and grab Dunnard’s hair, giving it a hard yank. “I am your fate!”
“I did nothing. I beg you to believe me. I did nothing!” Dunnard pleaded.
“I will see you soon and you will confess the truth,” Paine said and turned, taking firm hold of Anin’s arm and hurrying her away. Once they reached the dwelling, he opened the door roughly and shoved her inside. “Do you wish me to suffer unspeakable torture before I lose my head?”
The thought turned her sick and she shook her head and was glad her voice had returned to her. “Never would I want you to suffer and I most certainly do not wish death upon you.”
Paine took such quick steps toward her that she scurried away from him, her back hitting the wall. He planted both hands on either side of her head and brought his face close to hers. “Never, ever, disobey me again. If I fail to deliver you safely to the King, he will see me suffer far beyond any suffering I have brought on others.”
Anin reached up and laid a hand to his warm cheek, flushed hot from anger. “Forgive my thoughtlessness. I will not diso—” Her words died instantly when Paine’s true feelings rushed over her. Fear. Not for himself, for her. Fear that something had happened to her. Fear that he failed to save her. Fear that he would never see her again.
Paine had never seen such tenderness and caring in anyone’s eyes as he did in Anin’s. One look could soothe and—his eyes flared when suddenly her eyes looked at him as if she had just discovered something—about him.
Her fingers drifted off his cheek to his lips and he warned himself to stop her, but he did nothing. He stood still, not moving, his breath caught somewhere inside him. And when her fingers drifted faintly across his lips, he whispered her name in warning, “Anin.”
His warm breath kissed her fingers, sending a rush of tingles through her. She instinctively, without thought or consequences, went up on her toes and brought her lips to meet his.
Paine grabbed her by the arms, intending to push her away. Instead, he yanked her against him, settling his lips over hers in a hungry kiss.
Anin felt something in her spark and fire to life, as if she had never truly been alive until this very moment. When he slipped his tongue into her mouth to mate with hers, she felt herself slip deep within him, where spirit stirs, and somehow lock there. They were one now and would always be and nothing would ever change that. It was a strange sensation, a rhythm of sorts, almost as if their hearts beat together as one.
Anin’s breath was suddenly ripped out of her when Paine shoved her away. She stood there a moment, her hand to her chest, fighting to regain her breath and her wits.
Paine turned away, fighting for breath, feeling as if it had been torn out of him. He turned back in haste. “I know of seers who can rob a man of his breath and thoughts. Are you one of them? Is that why your mum did not want you to wed the King?”
His words pierced her chest, hurting so badly that she dropped down on the bench to the side of the door. “I am no seer.”
He could still feel the taste of her on his lips, hot and hungry. He rarely kissed women. It was a good poke he would have with those willing, but not a kiss did he share. A poke was a poke, but a kiss meant much more. He had not intended to kiss her, so why had he?
“You wanted to kiss me as much as I wanted to kiss you.”
“You know my thoughts,” he accused.
She wanted to tell him that she felt everything he felt for her, but her mum’s warning rang clear in her head.
Tell no one.
And this time she listened. “I know what I see on your face and,” —she placed her hand on her chest—” I know what I feel.”
Paine turned away from her again and walked around the fire pit, so that it separated them. He was trying to find an excuse to explain it all when he knew full well what he had felt, still felt, and feared he would always feel. And the kiss had proven it to him. It had reached down so deep in him he had thought their spirits touched and united, joining them together forever.
It had shocked him and that was why he had shoved her away and for no other reason, not even that she was to be Queen.
He turned slowly to face her. “This cannot be. You are meant to be Queen.” He raised him hand, stopping her when she went to respond. “It is done. We speak of this no more.”
Anin held her tongue. It would do no good to tell me that she was meant to be his and he was meant to be hers. How she knew that she could not say, but as sure as light graced the land each morn, she knew it to be true.
“Dunnard will tell anyone who will listen—and many will—that you are a seer. I will have to tell the King of this incident or he will hear of it from someone else and demand to know why I did not tell him.”
“If I was a seer, I would have been able to warn you about the Drust attacks before they happened. I am no seer.”
“Why did you go see Dunnard?”
How could she explain to him what she could not explain to herself? She chose to tell him a partial truth. “I believed Dunnard innocent and wished to talk with him.”
Paine walked around the fire pit to stand a safe distance from her with his arms folded across his chest. “I do not believe you. Now tell me the truth.”
He was good at getting the truth from people in any way he could. She had seen that when he questioned the tribesmen who had found the bodies. She worried that a few choice questions might reveal what she wished to keep hidden. She had to be careful of her responses.
“I think you are right about Dunnard. He lies easily.”
“And what brought you to this conclusion?”
“That he claims me a seer, thinking it will save him. As you said yourself, he will tell everyone that I am a seer and convince them I know of his innocence.”
“He will not have time for such claims.” He tilted his head, seeing a slight scrunch of her brow. “Is there something else you have not told me?”
His ability to see more than most frightened Anin. It could prove difficult when harboring a secret. “I do not know if it matters or not, but I recall seeing a shadow pass by near Dunnard as he begged for help.”
He wanted to reach out and snatch her up against him and never let her go, for fear of something dreadful happening to her, but he did not move. He simply shook his head and ordered, “Never again will you place yourself in danger.”
“Bog was with me,” she said as if there had been nothing to fear.
“He did not go after the shadow?”
“He growled, but never left my side.”
Paine looked to Bog and nodded. “Good work, Bog.”
The wolf jumped to his feet from where he lay by the door and started growling just before terrifying screams pierced their dwelling.
Paine grabbed his battle axe and Bog waited anxiously at the door. Anin followed both of them as they rushed out of the dwelling and into chaos.
“The demon struck again,” a woman screamed, joining the others who were running frantically through the village.
Paine grabbed Anin’s hand and she held on tight, fearful of being torn away from him in the rushing crowd. Mist still lingered, though not as heavily, leaving it easier for them to follow the others. It was on the outskirts of the village, near a stream where everyone gathered.
Paine pushed his way through the crowd, though they parted as soon as they saw it was the executioner and his wolf.
“He has struck again,” Conmar said as he turned and spotted Paine. “How is this possible with Dunnard tied to the stake?”
“Dunnard is possessed of a demon who takes to flight whenever he wishes,” someone yelled out.
Others agreed with similar shouts.
Paine turned a powerful voice on them all. “Go to your dwellings and stay there until otherwise told and do not go near the prisoner.”
&n
bsp; All eyes turned to Conmar.
“Innocent or guilty, Dunnard needs to die now to stop the fear and madness that grips my tribe.”
“Dunnard will die when I command it,” Paine ordered. “Have them obey me or suffer for it.”
Fear gripped Conmar as strongly as it did the tribe and he threatened, “I have a village of warriors.”
“And who do you think they will obey when I take your head in one swift blow and hold it up for all to see?” Paine raised his battle axe to his waist.
Conmar was quick to shout, “Do as the executioner says. Return home.”
Grumbles filled the air as the crowd began to disperse reluctantly.
Paine looked to Anin and ordered, “Turn away.”
Anin did so without protest. She had no desire to look upon the horrific scene. And she was pleased when Bog sat beside her after Paine ordered him to guard.
A few steps took Paine and Conmar to the body and he crouched down to get a better look. “His name?”
“Rolson... a good warrior who many of the lasses favored.”
“Is he one of the added sentries you posted last night?”
“How did you know I added sentries?”
“You would have to be a fool not to.”
“He was one of several, though the heavy mist made their task more difficult,” Conmar confirmed.
“Who found Rolson?” Paine asked.
Conmar nodded toward a woman sitting beneath a tree, her head slumped. “Young Areanis came upon the awful scene.”
“Bring her here,” Paine ordered.
“Areanis, come here,” Conmar called out and she stumbled to her feet to hurry and do as he ordered.
Anin felt sorry for the young woman as she watched her approach. Her eyes were red and swollen from crying and she wore no shoes. Her hands and feet were covered with blood and blood was splattered all over her tunic.
“She tripped over Rolson and by the time she was able to get to her feet, she was drenched in blood. She is frightened that death has touched her and will claim her next,” Conmar explained before the young woman reached them.
“You found Rolson?” Paine asked and Areanis started trembling.
She bowed her head. “The mist was so thick I did not see him. I thought I had tripped over a fallen tree. When I saw Rolson and all the blood on me, I started screaming and tried to get the blood off me. She demonstrated, rubbing her hand on her tunic frantically.
“What were you doing here?”
Areanis seemed reluctant to answer.
“Answer the executioner!” Conmar ordered sharply.
“I was meeting Rolson.”
“You saw nothing, heard nothing before finding him?” Paine asked.
Areanis shook her head. “I could not take my eyes off Rolson. His insides were spilled out around him.” Her trembling increased and tears pooled in her eyes. “The demon got him and he is going to get the rest of us. You must save us, please,” she begged tears running down her face.
“This madness cannot be allowed to continue,” Conmar said.
“Death touched me. He will come after me next. I will die like all the others,” Areanis cried, her shoulders slouching in defeat and her tears clearing a path through the blood on her cheeks.
Shouts rang out. “Dunnard broke free. He broke loose. The demon is free.”
Chapter Fourteen
“The demon is coming for me,” Areanis cried out and ran into the woods before anyone could stop her.
Paine looked to Conmar, “Gather your warriors and meet me at the stake.” He hurried over to Anin, taking her arm. “I do not want to leave you, but I must go after Dunnard. I will see you safely to our dwelling and you will wait there until I come for you.”
The village was in chaos, people running and hurrying inside their dwellings, shutting their doors tightly. Warriors rushed to gather at the stake, spears and swords in hand.
Anin hurried inside as soon as Paine opened the door. “I will have your word that you will stay here until I come for you.”
“You have my word I will remain here.”
The door shut and a shiver ran through her.
“It is a shame you will not be able to keep your word.”
Anin froze in fright for a moment before forcing herself to turn and see Dunnard standing there naked. Dark spots marred his body where the stones had hit him and areas of his skin were peeled raw from where the rope had been drawn tightly around him.
“Your cloak,” he said, holding out his hand and taking a step closer to her.
Anin quickly slipped it off and tossed it to him.
“Did Areanis run?” he asked as he fashioned the cloak around his waist, providing cover to his lower parts.
Anin nodded.
“Good, she waits for us,” he said with a chilling grin.
“You kill together?” Anin asked.
He laughed. “You knew that as soon as you touched me. Is that why the executioner is so good at his chore? He keeps a seer by his side.”
“I am not a seer.”
“Why do you deny it? I could see it in your eyes when you touched me that you knew what I did, though I was not sure if you saw Areanis slip through the mist to help me or heard the plans we made.” He stretched his arm out to Anin. “Touch me and see your fate.”
“I am not a seer.”
“Deny it if you wish, but I will have you tell me of my fate.”
He rushed at her, grabbing her, and she instinctively tried to push him away. He twisted her arm and she yelped in pain and his pleasure shot through her like a stab to her chest. He twisted it again and before she could cry out once more, she felt the brutal sting of his hand to her face twice. Blood pooled in her mouth and ran down her chin. She swept her tongue faintly across her lower lip to find it split near the middle, blood continuing to run from it He enjoyed making someone suffer and the more pain, the more enjoyment for him.
“Tell me!” he demanded.
She saw eagerness in his eyes to hit her again and felt it seep into her until she thought it would choke her. She responded quickly even though there was no truth to her words. “You and Areanis survive.”
“And the executioner, what is his fate?”
Anin hesitated and it was the excuse he needed to make her suffer once again. This time he delivered a blow to the side of her face, catching her eye and cheek. The pain shot through her like a piercing arrow, causing her to cry out and for that he slapped her again, and she tasted more of her own blood. She had to answer quickly and tell him what he wanted to hear if she was to survive.
“You slaughter him as you did the others,” she said her insides twisting at the thought.
“I cannot wait to see how the executioner responds when I slit him open and he watches as his entails spill out.”
A rap shook the door and Dunnard grabbed her chin, squeezing it and whispered, “Watch your tongue or I will make sure you lose it here and now.”
“Who is there?” she demanded.
“Willum, I was sent to make certain all remain inside their dwellings until the demon is caught.”
“I will remain where I am,” Anin assured him. Dunnard sent her an evil look and she was quick to call out. “Where do the warriors search?”
“The woods where the last body was found. Be safe.”
“You as well,” Anin called out and Dunnard grinned.
He pressed his finger roughly against her lips and she cringed from the pain it brought her and he pressed even harder, causing more blood to flow from her wound.
After a few moments, he whispered, “You will open the door and peek out just enough to see that no one lurks about.”
She did as he said, hoping that once free of the dwelling she could somehow escape him. She peeked out, pushing the door open a bit further. “I see no one.”
With a tight grip on her arm, he shoved her out further past the door until he could see for himself and once sure no one was about, he squeeze
d her arm even harder as he hurried her around the dwelling and into the woods.
Anin tried not to cringe from the pain in her arm, but when his fingers dug deep, she could not keep from wincing.
“That is nothing to what I am going to make you feel,” he said with such pleasure that her insides sickened and she was glad she had yet to eat or she would have lost the food there and then.
He enjoyed every step he forced upon her and every squeeze to her arm, or jab to her back if she did not move fast enough.
“Hurry, Areanis waits for us.”
Anin kept going, not knowing what to do. Paine thought her safe in the dwelling and would not return to her until Dunnard was caught. But he was closer to the village not where they were searching, so how would Paine ever find him?
Call to him. He will hear you now that your spirits have touched and become one. He will know how to find you.
The voice was soft yet strong in her head. Could it be? Would he hear her?
She called out silently. Help me, Paine. Hurry, there is not much time. Dunnard has me.
Dunnard yanked on her arm, causing her to stumble and giving him an excuse to squeeze her arm until she thought she would scream with the pain. She closed her lips tightly to keep from crying out and cringed, forgetting her wound. The taste of blood was strong in her mouth and she forced herself to ignore it, and the agony she suffered, as she continued to silently reach out to Paine.
I am waiting for you. I know you will come for me. You will always protect me and keep me safe from harm. You too, Bog. Come now, I need you both.
~~~
Paine stopped abruptly and listened. He had thought he heard Anin call out to him for help, but that was not possible. She had given him her word. She was waiting for him where he had left her.
He looked around. They had found no signs, no track of Dunnard, and Paine wondered if they had missed something.
Bog began to whine, startling Paine. The wolf never whined.
He heard something again. He shook his head and whispered, “Anin?”
Help me!
Her voice was as clear as if she stood next him and he knew Bog heard it as well since his whine increased. “Find Anin, Bog!” he ordered and the wolf took off.
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