“I’m so sorry.” She kissed the top of his head.
“I can never go back there. No one will ever accept me again. I was shocked when you said Lady Sylvia said she trusted me. I didn’t think anyone trusted me.” Kaiden admitted.
“No she trusts you. She wouldn’t have sent me to you. I didn’t even know she knew about me though until she sent me here.” Colleen admitted.
“I always did like her. She knew my parents, I’d spent time in her house almost the whole time I was growing up. I played with her kids when they were younger too. I knew her husband before he died. He was a good man, and she’s always been a good lady.” Kaiden stated.
Colleen tried to picture him as a young boy.
“You know when you look at me with those eyes, it is hard to focus on our conversation.” He said to her.
She smiled at him. “I’m sorry, I’ll try to look at you differently!” She said.
“I just don’t want you to think that we could ever have a normal life. Between your problems and mine we have to leave this area. I don’t know how far we would have to go though. People travel all the time. All it would take was one person to see you or me who was from around here.” Kaiden was running through options in his mind as he talked.
“So you don’t want to be with me?” She questioned.
“No I’m not saying that, I want to be with you. I just need to make sure you are willing to be with a man who might have people call him a murderer?” He asked.
“You aren’t a killer. It is different when your family is at stake. If I had known magic, my family would be alive right now. I would do the same thing as you.” Colleen stated.
Her eyes had a faraway look as she was imagining her using magic. How she would have made those men who killed her family pay. She could think of many ways to use magic on people she didn’t like those men and the Queen being some of the main parties.
“How do you control it? I mean when you get angry, how can you control it?” Colleen asked.
“You don’t get angry.” Kaiden stated.
“But is that possible?” Colleen wondered.
“Not always, there are things that will drive anyone in life over that line. But I have to be more responsible from now on. I can tell you though, if anyone tried to hurt you they would be dead in a second.” Kaiden looked at her his eyes burning into her soul.
“Let’s just run away from it all then. Let’s try it somewhere else. I just want to be with you.” She said.
He couldn’t hold back any more and pounced on her. His passionate lovemaking made her scream again and again. It lasted for hours and he was ready for food after they were done.
“I have to get some food for us.” He got up to go.
“I wasn’t kidding can we go somewhere else?” Colleen asked. The conversation that had started before their lovemaking started up again.
“I guess we can, but we can’t do it all at once. I mean we won’t ride straight through. We can’t be sure before we get there that people won’t know us. There is a price on your head and I’m not willing to lose you.” Kaiden’s eyes sparked.
“I know. But can we at least try. I don’t want to have to hide out forever. I don’t care about the crown either. As far as I’m concerned it has always brought pain and suffering to our family. I know we had good times, but it killed them in the end.” She stated.
Not many would understand why she hated being an heiress. But the only thing about claiming her heritage would be that she would be able to rule the people better. Give them more of a life. She remembered how her father had been with the people. He had given them more grain if they needed it, he had made them wealthy, at least in knowing they were cared for.
“Maybe one day I’ll want to rule. But I don’t know about that. It seems like so many people would be dependent on what I decided. I don’t know enough to make a good ruler.”
“Let’s just try and survive first.” Kaiden reminded her.
“Your right, let’s focus on that first. So when can we leave?” Colleen asked him.
“Tomorrow we can leave. I’ll get everything ready tonight. We’ll try and go as far as we can. I have some spells that will protect us from view. We should be okay, as long as we.” He stopped and didn’t say anything else.
“As long as we what?” Colleen asked him.
“I just haven’t used some of these spells before. I can only hope that they all work.” Kaiden admitted.
Colleen shook her head. “Alright I understand.”
They travelled for what seemed like a month to Colleen before he would allow them to stop. “This should be far enough.” He said one day.
She looked around the town, it wasn’t big, but not too small. “So where will we stay?” She asked him.
“I’ll get you a room in the inn. You can freshen up and relax a bit. I’ll see about finding a permanent house for us.” Kaiden stated.
She watched him walk out of the room after he had helped her get settled. She smiled thinking about him. He was such a good man. She hadn’t told yet, but she was almost certain she had a child on the way.
Colleen hadn’t wanted to tell him while they were travelling she feared he wouldn’t push to the end of their trip had he known. Now once they were in their own house, she could safely inform him about what she thought.
Kaiden came back quickly and there was a smile on his face. She looked up at him. “Good news?” She asked.
“We have a place! Let’s go I want to show it to you.” Kaiden grabbed her hand and pulled her up. “It’s perfect there is a nursery and everything already!” He heard her gasp.
“Did you hear those thoughts too?” She asked him.
He stopped and turned around. “Yes I did dear! Plus I can hear our child’s heart beat.” He smiled at her widely.
Colleen smiled broadly.
He pulled her up to a two story house. It was on the outskirts of the little town. She hadn’t realized it was quite that small at first. However, maybe that would be better. The less people around she still felt the better off they would be. Colleen had pleaded her case to be out in the woods somewhere instead. But he had told her that would have to wait until later. “I will have to find a good piece of land and buy it, then build our home. So we are looking at a few months for sure.”
She hadn’t been happy at that point. However, she understood his plan.
“We are still going to go to the woods eventually right? I mean not wait for too long? How much did this cost? How did we afford it?” She asked him.
“We will move to the woods yes, don’t worry. There are only around 100 people at the most in this town. Don’t worry about the money, I had it. Please Colleen you need to think of the baby.” Kaiden told her, trying to calm all of her fears at once.
“I just think we would be better off without anyone around us.” Colleen looked out the window her fear apparent.
“Look at any sign of someone knowing who either of us are, I can do a spell. It is a hard one to do, but I believe I have enough magic skill to do it.” Kaiden explained.
Colleen looked at him, she studied him deeply. She saw no sign of betrayal in his eyes. He did love her, she could tell that so she felt safe.
“You will do this spell if anyone notices either of us?” Colleen questioned again.
“Yes I promise you that I will do the forget spell if anyone says a word to us that we have to wonder if we have been discovered or not. I will not make us run, not while you are pregnant. I also promise you that within the next few months I’ll start looking for a place in the woods for us to build.” Kaiden said, putting his hands on top of hers. “Please just trust me. I won’t let a single thing happen to you or our little child.”
She smiled up at him. Her fears seemed to be something that would drive her crazy. “Let’s go out and get some goods for our new home then. We will see if anyone recognizes me. I stand out a bit more than you do anyway!” She commented.
It was true
the Queen would have a bounty on her head for sure by now. If they weren’t far enough from home, or if someone around here was from out of town, they might notice her.
“Alright, let’s go.” Kaiden said and walked with her outside.
He helped her get into the wagon. Heading into town, Colleen had a dreadful feeling cross over her body. She wasn’t sure why, but she had a feeling that something might take place. She hoped that Kaiden was ready with this spell. In fact as she thought about it maybe they should have just done the spell without going to get the goods.
She turned to him about ready to ask him what he thought.
“I don’t know if that would be a good idea. What if no one notices you? If I use this spell I don’t know how long it will take to recover. We use it now, and in a month or two someone notices you, I may not be able to do anything. That will mean we will have to flee while you are pregnant, and much more so at that point.” Kaiden commented.
“Aye, you are right.” She admitted.
He pulled up to the front of the store that looked very small from the outside. “ I don’t know how much stock they have on hand, but hopefully enough to start with!” He stated.
They walked in and the shop keeper looked up.
“Hello, new to town?” He asked them. He seemed like a friendly sort.
“Yes we just move down from up north.” Kaiden stated, not giving the correct direction they had come to town from.
The man looked at Colleen. “You look very familiar, do I know you from somewhere?” He asked her. His eyes got a far off look as if trying to place her face.
“No I don’t think so sir.” She answered, but felt the thrill of fear shot throughout her body.
Kaiden squeezed her hand to calm her down.
“The eyes they remind me of someone I once knew I think.” He finally commented and looked away from the couple.
They bought their goods and left the store.
“Did he know me?” Colleen asked almost before they were out the door.
“I’m not sure he had too many questions going around in his head. But I will do the spell once we get home if you want. Or we can wait to see if he says anything to anyone. He didn’t have a direct link to who you might be set in his mind though. So we might be safe.” Kaiden explained.
“That mind reading ability you have is very helpful.” Colleen commented.
“I love it.” Kaiden admitted.
“Let’s wait to see if he says anything to anyone before you use the spell. But we might have to be very careful about it. All it takes is one person thinking the wrong thing, and I don’t know if they will kill me or simply turn me over.” Colleen stated.
“I can tell you he had nothing in his mind about killing you for now!” Kaiden commented. “If he had he wouldn’t be alive still.”
Colleen looked at him no doubt that he was telling the truth.
“Is there a way you can try and focus on the whole town’s thoughts?” Colleen asked.
“It would take a lot out of me too, and trying to keep them all separate would be impossible for now.” He stated.
“But if you hear someone think something well you can do the spell, right?” Colleen said.
“Alright let me do it when we get home. I’ll see if I hear anything.”
When they got back to their new home, Colleen put the things away and Kaiden sat down to focus.
Colleen watched him from the other side of the room. The whole time she couldn’t get away from the feeling of fear in her mind. She watched as his brow furrowed.
“I’m sorry dear I’m going to have to do the spell. I hear far too many whispers about an heiress being in the kingdom. Someone the Queen is searching for. I don’t know who brought in the rumors or anything. But I know we need to stop them now.” Kaiden explained.
“I had a feeling this whole time.” Colleen admitted.
Kaiden focused and chanted the words for the spell. Colleen watched intently as he looked as if he aged years in front of her.
“I don’t know if I’m strong enough. I might be able to do it.” Kaiden stated.
She walked over behind him and put her hands on his shoulders. “Use some of my energy if you need too.”
“I can’t it may hurt the baby. This has to be all me.” Kaiden admitted.
As she watched she saw a few of his hairs turn gray on the sides of his head. The moments passed and more hairs turned color. Colleen began to worry wondering if he was going to survive this spell.
Finally, he fell to the ground. “It is done, we are safe. But I’m sorry baby we will have to stay in town for a while. Please help me to bed.” Kaiden whispered.
Colleen looked at him. “Will you be okay?” She asked, worried.
“Yes I just need sleep.” Kaiden said.
Colleen helped him lie down on the bed and curled up beside him. He placed a hand on her stomach. “It is safe for us now. But I don’t know how long this spell will last on them. I also placed a barrier up around the town to not allow new news into this town. It is what really took the power out of me. However, we can be safe here for a long time now. I hope anyway.” Kaiden said and closed his eyes.
THE END
UNSPOKEN TRUTH
Chapter 1
“Princess, you have a visitor. Your uncle has left for the day, but I do not believe that he wouldn’t be very happy with the person that is standing at the door. We both know how he feels about Michael. I don’t know why they have this animosity between them, but you’d think from the way that they stare at each other with daggers that it’s something personal.” Elizabeth was a loyal handmaiden that had always there for Samantha for anything that she desired. It didn’t matter what her Uncle Phillip dictated. Her duty was to the princess and nobody else. This was made painfully clear to her by her parents, who were gone on a long journey to negotiate a peace treaty that would bring the English the freedom that they didn’t have before.
“I hate to say this, Elizabeth, but your place is not to question anything that I do. Michael is here at my request and I expect you to treat him with kindness. Do fetch us some tea and bring it to the study. I’ll be down shortly. Make sure that he’s comfortable and that you do not let him wait at the door like some common peasant.” Samantha had known her standing from the moment that she was born. There were no other siblings and being a princess had made her a commodity that was sought after by many empires.
“I really don’t want this responsibility thrusted onto my shoulders. I don’t want leadership, but I can’t allow Uncle Phillip to think that he holds all the cards. I have to do something and the only person that I can trust is Michael. He has always been there for me. I think that he would stand in front of anybody that was going to do me harm and that includes my uncle. What I want most is to find a man that is worthy of me. It’s hard to think that there could be anybody like that out there. Those that have tried to gain my favor have found that I am a little bit more than they can handle.” Samantha dresses demurely. Her dress is a flamboyant red and gold brocade that follows a train down the stairs behind her.
She has learned through proper etiquette that she can walk with a regal bearing. She does not stumble over the layers of fabric that almost wrap around her ankles with each step. The headdress signifies that she is royalty and those that stand in front of her know that they have to bow in her presence.
She enters into the room with her spun gold hair tied into a bun. She has a natural beauty that does not require any kind of assistance.
Her porcelain skin is the first thing that Michael. He stands and bows to give her the proper do that she is deserved.
“I was a little surprised to hear from you, princess. Your uncle has been very clear that I should not darken the doorway of this estate ever again. I’m taking my life in my own hands by coming here at your request. It must be very important, or you wouldn’t have gone to this kind of measure.” He sees her beckoning him to sit down and she does the same with her eyes n
ow narrowing on his.
“It has come to my attention that my uncle is trying to usurp my authority. Rumors are abound that he’s making allegiances with those that are going to try to take over the English Land. I will not tolerate such disobedience and his obvious intent to take what is rightfully mine. I know that you’re not going to like this, but I need your help. I take no delight in any of this. I used to care for my uncle, but he has become bitter and power hungry” “I don’t exactly know what his response is going to be to my query. Michael has always had my back, but this may even be beyond his ability. I don’t want to put him into a position where he’s going to have to fight for his own life against my uncle. That’s a battle that he would not win, because my uncle is professional fighter and knows how to deal the final death blow.
“I get this feeling that I’m not going to like what comes out of your mouth next. Be careful, because we both know that walls have ears. There are those that are probably conspiring with your uncle, as we speak. They put their trust and favor with the person that they think can lead them. No offense, but you are only a woman and that hampers any kind of respect that you are looking for. Your people need a leader and somebody that is going to be able to fight and protect them at a moment’s notice. Wait a minute, you’re not suggesting what I’m thinking that you’re suggesting?” Michael stroked his beard, feeling the bristles and contemplating the possibility of a woman going into battle.
“I know that it’s unheard of and it has never happened in history, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t happen at all. A new day is arriving and comes with it a new leadership that needs to take a stand where it matters. You’ve all, but alluded that you know of people in low places. I don’t know if that’s the contention between you and my uncle, but I am not one to pry into personal matters. I do need you to introduce me to somebody that will be able to teach me the finer arts of battle.” “I really don’t have any reason to get blood on my hands. I’ve never had been desire to step in between an altercation between one or two parties. I’m a dainty flower and it’s time to harden my resolve and be ready for whatever my uncle brings against me. I would love to have a strong man to do that for me, but that doesn’t appear to be happening anytime soon.”
ROMANCE: HIGHLANDER ROMANCE: Seduced by highlander (Historical Mail Order Bride Time Travel Romance) (Military Fantasy Romance Short Stories) Page 3