"We'll eat here."
I watched as everyone dismounted, left their horses standing, their reins dangling down to the ground, and gathered together in a small grassy clearing. Since everyone's attention was elsewhere, I tried to emulate their dismount style. I tossed my right leg over the horse's head, rolled over to my stomach and tried to slide gracefully to the ground. I made it to the ground, but not so much gracefully, more like with a thud and a squeal, but I made it.
My injured leg didn't hurt too bad. It was more an achy-sore feeling now. What was a bit uncomfortable though were my butt and legs from sitting astride the mare for so long. I limped around in a circle to try and loosen up my muscles. It worked well enough for me to limp over to the group of men to see whatever it was they were sharing to eat.
As I stood next to the other men, I realized that I was quite small. I didn't come up to any of their shoulders. In fact, I barely made it to their elbows. There were eleven of them. They were all huge, they were all hairy, but they were all clean. Not one of them looked dirty or un-kept. Even the ones with a full beard were nicely put together.
They all watched me. I didn't know what to make of it. I just said, "So, what are we having."
Lucas pushed his way next to me and said, "Jerky."
That's what it was too. Just every day, run of the mill, jerky, like I would have found at home. I took the piece of the leathery brown meat he held out to me and said, "Thanks."
"We haven't been formally introduced. I'm Lucas," he said.
He held out his hand, which I took, and shook it once. His hand was rough and calloused.
"Sunny," I replied.
"You aren't from around here, are you?"
I didn't know how Leif wanted me to respond, so I hedged just a bit and said, "Not really, no."
"I could tell."
"How?" Did I have a sign on my forehead that said 'outsider here'?
"Your clothes. No one would dress like that for travel by horse."
What was wrong with my clothes? I just wore shorts and my tanks. My sweatshirt was again tied around my waist as it was hot, but otherwise, it seemed fine to me. The shorts showed off my legs, which are actually quite nice, by the way, and my tanks were weather appropriate. I looked at the others and realized they all wore long pants and long sleeved shirts.
"Okay, what's wrong with how I'm dressed?" I finally decided to ask.
"Well, with all the thorns and sticks and stuff in the forest, you should be a bit more covered. Not even counting the bugs, you know?"
"Oh." That was about all I could say. Leif hadn't said a word about my clothes and how to dress for the trip. He had left it completely up to me. How was I supposed to know that stuff? I figured with the hot weather, shorts would be fine. I sighed loudly when I realized I hadn't packed one pair of long pants. Lovely.
I didn't have much to say after that, so I nibbled on my jerky. It was good. I didn't ask what it was made from. They were people who rode cows, after all.
As I finished up my 'meal,' I had another pressing matter to contend with. I needed to go to the bathroom. I looked around, not knowing what to do, and I sure as heck wasn't about to ask anyone.
I decided that maybe a walk in the woods away from the others was my best bet when Lucas took pity on me and said, "If you want a moment of privacy before we head out, there's a small creek on the other side of the horses."
"You guys won't leave me here, will you?" I had to ask. I figured Gabriel was just waiting for the opportunity to get rid of me.
Lucas smiled and shook his head at me. "No, we won't leave you. Just make it quick."
Even though my muscles felt better, my leg still hurt. I limped my way over in the direction Lucas had pointed.
It was actually a nice little spot with a creek that ran through it. I did the best I could with the 'facilities' and then splashed some water on my face. It felt so good. I was hot and sticky, and the water was refreshing. I felt better as I made my way back to the others.
When I got back to my horse, I pulled out a pair of black flip-flops and traded my still wet shoes for them. I then returned to the group, took up my spot next to Lucas, and awaited further instructions from the angel, Gabriel. I smiled to myself at my little joke. Then I realized that Gabriel was frowning at me. Again.
Now what had I done?
"No," he said.
"Huh?" was my articulate reply.
"Trade them back. You can't wear those."
I looked down and realized he meant my flip-flops. "My other shoes are wet. I can't wear them," I explained.
"I don't care if they are wet, put them back on."
"No," I said. I put my hands on my hips and tried to copy the glare he was giving me. I don't think mine was quite as intimidating.
"Yes," he snapped and stepped right up into my personal space. He towered over me, his hands on his own hips. I realized something. I wasn't really afraid of him. It was his eyes. They were mad and snapped in anger, but they were not mean or evil. He may try to bully me around, but he wouldn't hurt me. I just knew it.
"Sunny, just put the other shoes back on," Lucas said. He came up and stood between Gabriel and me as we tried to stare each other down.
"Why. They're wet and yucky. I don't want to wear them."
"It's like the clothes, Sunny. They're safer, more appropriate for riding."
I looked at the group and their footwear. They all wore boots. The tie kind, manly construction worker boots. I didn't want to back down, but I did. I went back over to the horse and changed back into my now cold soggy tennis shoes. Yuck.
None of us said a word as we got ready to head back out. I took a deep breath and tried to get back up on my horse, which, incidentally, I really needed to find a name for. I couldn't keep calling her horse, or mare.
"Sunny, use the leg you put in the stirrup to step up into. Don't just try to use your arms to pull yourself up. You'll never make it. Watch," Lucas directed. He stepped up and mounted a grey and white horse with soft gentle eyes. He made it look easy. I knew better.
Taking a deep breath, I did as Lucas suggested, and although not pretty, I made it up on my horse. I settled in, pointedly ignoring everyone who was staring at me again. I really hate that.
I wanted to crow with pride, that I had made it up on my horse all by myself, but Gabriel ruined that too. "It's about time."
I just looked at him. Then we were off. I didn't know where we were going and I didn't ask. I figured I wouldn't get an answer anyway.
Lucas came up next to me and said, "You know, he's not so bad."
I snorted. Not so bad compared to what?
"Everything he does, he does with a reason."
Oh, sure he does. Embarrassing me was his reason.
~ * ~
We rode for what felt like hours. The forest was never ever going to end. I had watched so many trees pass by that they were all starting to look the same. I would have sworn we were actually walking around in circles.
The daylight was beginning to fade when Gabriel called us all to a halt. "This'll do."
"Do for what?" I asked. Everyone got down from their horses and removed their gear and…stuff.
Without turning in my direction, Gabriel said, "I thought with all that sighing you were doing you would be happy to call it a night. We camp here."
No way. Camp? "Don't you have a house or something?"
No answer.
"Hey? Why are we camping?"
Again, no answer.
Everyone, even Lucas, left me there. I watched in dismay as they walked over to a small trampled down clearing and dropped their gear in a pile. They all then dispersed in different directions. Some started to gather up wood, and others disappeared from view.
What to do? I couldn't sit on the horse all night. Well, I could, but I wasn't going to. I lifted up one leg and tossed it over to the side with the other. After rolling onto my stomach, I slid down the side of the horse to the ground.
I sm
iled happily to myself. I had made it down from the horse very nicely. Then I tried to walk. Oh my God! My butt hurt, my back hurt, and my legs hurt. Not even just where the arrow struck, but all of me. I bent forward and limped my way over to the circle. I didn't figure any amount of walking was going to make me less sore. I dropped down to the ground next to the pile of gear and waited to see what was going to happen next. I didn't have long to wait.
"You need to un-tack your horse," Gabriel said from behind me.
I craned my neck around to see him. "I don't know how," I admitted.
Gabriel closed his eyes and sighed. Huge sigh by the way. "Come on, I'll show you."
That meant I had to get back up. As seemed to be the usual with Gabriel, he didn't wait for any reply from me. He just walked away toward the mare.
I struggled back to my feet and followed behind him, rubbing my bum the whole way.
"Watch. I will only be showing you this one time."
"Okay."
He made quick work of removing the bridle, saddle and pad from the mare. He then grabbed a handful of grass right from the ground and rubbed her down with it.
"Why do you do that?" I asked.
Without a glance my way, he said, "She is hot and sweaty. This will remove some of the sweat and dirt."
After he had finished wiping the horse down, he took the reins from the bridle, looped it around the mare's neck, and then wrapped the end around a low branch.
"Can't she just pull that loose if she wanted?" I asked. It certainly wasn't very secure.
"She won't unless she needs to. If she needs to, she can," he replied.
"Uh…okay," I replied. I had no idea what he was talking about, so I let it go.
Before he could run off, I asked, "Why are we camping? Why aren't we going on to your house?"
He turned and looked at me, for once, then said, "We had to travel slowly today. If we could have traveled faster, we would have made it to the keep. We didn't, so we camp."
"Oh." There wasn't much else to say to that. "What should I do now?"
"Take your pack and go sit out of the way of the others," he said.
I nodded then reached down with a groan to grab my stuff. I swear I saw a grin on his face when I stood back up. It was quickly gone, but I saw it.
"Try to stay out of trouble," he said.
I gritted my teeth in annoyance. At least I got to be the one to not answer that time.
Chapter Five
Darkness
Camp consisted of a campfire. That's it. I watched from my perch on the ground by the fire as all the guys ran around looking busy. There was a pile of wood for the fire, but otherwise I had not one clue what they were all doing, aside from ignoring me.
Gabriel had left with a few of the others, including Lucas, to 'go find dinner.' I was afraid of what that meant. I was so bored, what I wouldn't have given to have my mp3 back. The isolation did give me time to think though.
First and foremost on my mind was, where the heck was Leif? Was he hurt? Was he coming for me at all? Then after thinking about that, I had to wonder why he had left me so incompetent for my trip to Acadia. I had no idea that Acadia was still in the dark ages. I mean, really, horses and castles and camping. Why had he not told me, prepared me? He and I were definitely going to have ourselves a little chat once he finally got his butt there to save me.
Gabriel returned with the biggest rodent I had ever seen, slung over his shoulder. It was brown, with a long fluffy tail, and it kinda looked like…
"What is that?" I asked.
Giving the rodent a quick look, Gabriel said, "Squirrel."
"No way is that a squirrel. It's huge!"
Lucas gave me a smile. He came over and squatted down next to me. "How's the leg?"
"It never stops aching but otherwise, it's all right." I nodded in the direction of Gabriel and said, "That's not really a squirrel, is it?"
He laughed. "Yeah. Haven't you seen one before?"
"Yeah, but not that big," I said giving the creature another glare. "They are little and cute where I come from. They eat nuts and steal bird feed. That thing over there is as big as a Labrador. It's kinda creepy."
The obvious question was 'Where do you come from?' but Lucas didn't ask it. I was glad as I wasn't sure what I was supposed to say, but also a little annoyed, in a girl sort of way. Why didn't he want to know?
"It's just food," he said, with a shrug of a shoulder. He finally dropped down to the ground and sat. He stretched his longs legs out in front of him and leaned back.
I couldn't help myself. I took a long, slow inventory of the guy. He was long and lean, and broad and strong. My eyes caressed over him from his feet, all the way to his laughing eyes that new exactly what I was doing.
Embarrassed, I quickly looked away. "Ah, so are you related to Gabriel?"
"Yeah, he's like an Uncle. See that guy, the one with the graying blond hair and beard?" He pointed at a group of men, several of which were blond.
"Which one?"
"The third one over from the wood pile," Lucas said.
"Oh, yeah. I see him." He was one of the taller men in the group. Since he wasn't actually facing me that was all I could tell about him.
"That's my dad. We live in the keep with Gabriel."
"Is your mom there waiting for you?" I asked.
Lucas got smoothly to his feet. "Life is hard for everyone in the Kingdom right now. Especially women." Lucas then turned and walked off to join his father.
"Oh," I whispered. I guessed that meant she was either gone or dead. I couldn't decide which one would be better, as either way, he didn't have his mother.
Dinner was quickly cooked, just like I imagined it would be, right over the fire. Eating meat is easier when all you see is a chicken leg or a steak. When it has hair and eyeballs staring at you, not so much my thing.
I was handed a wooden plate with a hunk of squirrel on it, along with a piece of what I took to be bread. I managed to choke it all down. Although in general, aside from being a bit greasy, it didn't taste bad at all. Regardless, I couldn't wait to get back to my prepackaged meat and processed foods. Ugh.
Night had fallen. There was no moon in Acadia. But the stars, there were so many and so bright. They at least gave off a bit of light up in the dark sky. It was actually very pretty.
"Here," Gabriel said, just before he tossed a blanket at me.
I caught it easily. "What's this for?"
"Sleeping."
I sighed. "I gathered that much. But, this is it? What about a tent or something?"
"Do you see any tents?" Gabriel asked. He rose up one single eyebrow at me. It conveyed so much, that one little movement.
"Fine," I snapped. I jerked the blanket, that incidentally smelled like horse, around me and flopped down on my side in front of the fire. "Sheesh!"
I heard his footsteps as he left. "Jerk," I mumbled to myself. "A tiny little bit of explanation wouldn't have hurt you."
I was still mumbling when I heard his footsteps return. I was going to ignore him, until I heard the sound of sloshing. I jerked up and around to face him. He carried a small bucket that was evidently filled with water.
I had a brief moment of fear that he had heard me mumbling and was going to douse me with water, but when I saw him head to the fire, my fear turned to terror.
"What are you doing?" I shouted.
Gabriel flinched at my sharp tone. "What does it look like I am doing?"
I stood up and let my blanket drop unheeded to the ground at my feet. "It looks like you're putting out the fire."
"Then why did you ask if you already knew?"
"But why?" I wailed.
"What's the matter with you?" he asked. He stepped over to me and looked into my face. "I can't leave the fire burning through the night. It's a hazard."
"Can't someone stay up and watch it?" I asked, pleaded. My hands were clenched together before me.
"No."
"Why?" I wailed agai
n.
"Stop it," he snapped. He grabbed my shoulder with one hand and gave me a quick shake. "What's wrong?"
I didn't care if I looked like a coward at that moment. I didn't want the fire to go out, so I blurted, "It will be dark."
"Yeah," he said.
"I don't like the dark," I said.
"Obviously. Why not?"
"Bad things happen in the dark," I whispered.
Gabriel set down his bucket, stepped forward, and whispered gently back, "Bad things happen everywhere, not just in the dark."
"Yes, but I can't see them in the dark. I can't be prepared for it. They just come and get you."
Gabriel didn't laugh, or yell at me, or make fun. He looked at me, hard. Into me.
I wondered for a moment if he had any special gifts, and if he did, what he saw inside me. A coward?
"The fire must be put out. I'm sorry for it, but it must. We are in the forest and I can't chance a fire getting out of hand. We are out in the open here. It's better to not leave a beacon of light for someone to find us by. I will leave some of the coals going for you though. It won't be light, but it won't be so dark either. Plus, look up."
I did.
"You have the stars to light the darkness for you."
I nodded once at him, in understanding. I felt my eyes and nose burn with oncoming tears, so I picked back up my blanket, wrapped myself up in it again and lay back down. I faced away from him and all the men that had stayed silent and listened the whole time. I had made a fool of myself for nothing. The fire would still be put out, and even though men surrounded me, I would be alone in the darkness.
I saw Gabriel put out the flames. He did as he said and left a few red coals to burn. I knew, though, that they wouldn't last long. I felt him place a gentle hand on my shoulder for a moment, before he left me. As his footsteps faded behind me, one tear slipped down my cheek. Only one.
I watched the red coals for a bit. I listened to the deep breaths of the men around the camp as they settled into sleep. Surprisingly, the sound of so many around me calmed my racing heart and erratic fear.
I finally drifted off, but not into an easy sleep like the others. I dreamed of splashes of red, and arrows, rearing horses, and fear. Fear oppressed me, made it hard to breath. I sucked in air as fast as I could. I ran and then Leif was in front of me, but he just stood there. Watched me.
Shadow Dancer Boxed Set Page 19