by Nina Monroe
Rolf let out a strange sound as he lifted his lower back from the ground and then rolled to the side. Rolf got to his feet slowly before he lunged for Will and punched him in the stomach. It was a strong enough punch to bruise, but not to knock Will to the ground as Will lifted his fist and slammed it into Rolf's cheek. Will felt his knuckles ache and he could see the bruise forming just beneath Rolf's skin as he fell back to the ground. Will knew he had used too much force as he watched Rolf stay on the ground and nursed his face, but Will felt triumphance flow through his veins.
"Do I win this one?" Will asked as he placed his hands on his hips. He felt the warmth of the sun on his shoulders and his back as he came to stand by Rolf's side with a grin on his face. "I think the crowd is definitely in my favor."
"I can climb faster, you piece of lard..." Rolf said as he continued to groan.
"Lard. That is a fantastic comeback," Will replied as he held out his hand. "I'm helping you up."
"No, you're not," Rolf said as he placed his hands on the ground and helped himself up. "I don't need your help."
"We're going to have to work together to bring Tamzin to Bradford. That doesn't mean we have to like each other, but it means we have to tolerate each other. After this, our rivalry is over. After I beat you," Will smirked as he brought his hands together, where he cracked his knuckles.
"Very impressive work, William," Turner said as he returned to the arena, with his hands behind his back. "If you haven't made my daughter swoon before, you have now," Turner said with slight distaste as he turned to look at Tamzin. "But it seems that we have to go to the final task to decide the winner. The winner will receive a substantial amount of gold to do with as he pleases, the bragging rights as a winner, and the crown to name the loveliest girl in this territory."
Will returned his gaze back to Rolf, who was still nursing the side of his face. Both men stared at each other for a moment before Turner continued.
"My men have shot two arrows at the top of the poles," Turner said as he pointed to the two totem poles at the end of the arena. The poles stood on their own and stood high enough that Will swore he could touch the clouds at the very top. They were smooth, with little visible ridges to be used to climb. It would be a difficult task to climb this, especially considering Will was unused to climbing. The archers could climb the highest trees to get the best shot, but Will had more upper body strength for his arms to carry him up. "You race from here to the poles, climb up and retrieve the arrow before you personally deliver the arrows to Tamzin, in her booth. Whoever runs to her first, wins," Turner said with a grin before he held out both of his hands. "On my count."
Will turned to look at Tamzin, who was now standing from her throne. His eyes lingered on her as she began clapping and cupped her hands around her mouth to project her voice. She was smiling and rooting for him; it was a beautiful sight for him. As Will turned to face forward, he heard Turner yell, "Three!" before Will bucked forward.
His few inches of height on Rolf helped Will as he ran across the arena. The yells and cheers of the people rang in Will's ears as he nearly leapt forward and dug his fingers into the smooth wood of the totem pole. Will felt the muscles in his arms strain as he pulled himself up the totem pole. Will wanted to look to see where Rolf was, but he focused on the arrow at the very top of the pole. Will slid a bit before he hooked his fingers into small slots on the side of the pole and pulled himself up. Without touching the top, Will reached forward and ripped the silver arrow from the wood. It wasn't an easy feat, as the arrow was designed to stay ingrained to whatever it hit. It would have been lethal if the arrow hit human skin.
Will slid down the pole and tried to brace for the fall. His feet hit the ground and he felt the shock slide up his legs painfully. With unsteady feet and the arrow firmly in his grasp, Will stepped forward and ran clumsily towards Tamzin's booth. He was beginning to make the distance when he felt a hand wrap around his ankle. It felt like Will's face hit the ground first before he turned to see Rolf's hand around his ankle.
"Even with cheating, you won't win," Will spat as he kicked Rolf's hand away from him and crawled to his feet. The arrowhead scraped across his hand as Will reached forward with his free hand and touched the top of his and Tamzin's booth. With the arrow in his hand, Will slammed it on the booth and stood up on shaky legs. He was exhausted until he felt a warm hand cover his. Will looked up to see Tamzin's smiling face before she turned her attention to Rolf.
"Congratulations, Will. You've won," Tamzin smiled as she unlaced Will's fingers around the arrow.
Chapter Thirteen
Will watched as Tamzin ran the jasmine oil down his sore arms as he nursed his goblet of wine. On her head was a crown of flowers, made by a child in the town; this was the crown she won after Will worked for it. But Tamzin was delighted when he placed it on her head and she gave him a very public and passionate kiss for his work.
The Thurston and Roth men waited patiently for the sun to set, which is when they would leave. After the Tournament, Will and Tamzin attended lunch with her parents and the other nobles, which was as painful as it sounded. The food was delicious, but all Will wanted to do was find a comfortable bed and pass out. As Tamzin finished rubbing his arms, she opened her arms to him. They were sitting on the wagon that brought Tamzin from the Thurston camp to Roth and Will laid down on his side, his head resting on Tamzin's lap. Gently, she ran her fingers through his thick hair as Will began to close his eyes from exhaustion.
Will only slept for a few hours before he felt Tamzin gently shake him awake. His blue eyes focused on her tearstained face, and Will knew. The sun had set and the sky was dark, with only the stars illuminating the sky. The moon was full and would light the back roads, enough that the men would possibly be able to forgo lanterns and lights. Will sat up slowly, his body still aching from the tournament, and he opened his arms for Tamzin. She crawled into his embrace and her tears stained his tunic as Will pressed gentle kisses to her hair.
"It is not forever," Will said as he combed his fingers through her wavy hair. "When the war is over and the roads are safe again, you will see your family again. I promise," Will said as he watched Turner and Gemma approach Tamzin, with Thom behind them. Will gently unwound his arms from around Tamzin and stood up from the wagon. "I thank you for your hospitality towards myself and my men, Your Grace." Will bowed to Turner before he watched Turner extend his hand to Will. When Will took it, he felt Turner bring him closer.
"Keep off the main roads. We could hope they would be quiet at this time of night, but we shouldn't take the risk. I am sending my entire second wave archers with you, which consists of 500 men. Hopefully, 1500 men should deter the average bandit, but you and I know the average bandit does not cause the damage we have seen so far," Turner said as he released Will's hand. "Be careful."
"She will be safe," Will nodded as he turned to watch Tamzin embrace her mother and brother. Gemma wiped Tamzin's cheeks clean of tears before she pressed her lips to her cheek. Thom clung to his sister like he may never see her again and it wasn't until Will approached them that he felt Thom's arms lock around his waist. "What are you doing?" Will asked awkwardly before he returned the boy's embrace.
"You were right about the girl I liked," Thom said as he looked up to see Will's face. "I'm sorry for what I did."
"I've long healed and the anger has been forgotten," Will said as he brushed back Thom's hair, so similar to Tamzin's.
"Promise you'll bring Tamzin back," Thom said with watered eyes as he looked back to his sister. "I miss her when she's gone."
"I know the feeling," Will said as he remembered the months he spent separated from Tamzin, the same months he had no idea what she was experiencing. "My entire purpose in life is to keep her alive," Will said as he pulled away from Thom. Tamzin hugged her Father and watched him whisper something to her before they pulled away. Will could tell that she was trying to be strong and hastily wiped the tears away from her cheeks. She didn't say i
t, but Will could see that she truly believed this may be the last time she saw her family, perhaps forever. This was a time of war and she had already seen the Johanssons attack Will's home. Why would Roth be any safer?
"The advice you gave me about the girl worked," Thom said. "She kissed me."
"Of course she would. You're a charming kid," Will grinned as he lightly punched Thom's arm. Thom was much smaller than Will, so he stumbled from the impact. "If you're lucky, maybe your father will let you marry her when you two are old enough."
"I don't think so," Thom said glumly as he watched Turner approach them. "Tamzin hadn't wanted to marry you when Father first announced it, but she did her duty."
"But it's not a duty any longer. We love each other. You can be just as lucky," Will responded as he watched Turner place his hand on Thom's shoulder.
"It's time for you to get on the road," Turner said, his eyes downcast in sadness. "The roads are cleared for now, but there is no time for taking a leisurely pace. With any luck, you will be there early tomorrow morning."
"The majority of the men are on horseback or are on the wagons with our supplies. It is a good idea to bring food, weapons, and medicine as a bargaining tool to ensure our entrance into Bradford," Will said as touched his hip, searching for his sword. It was probably still resting in the wagon where he rested with Tamzin.
"Was that Tamzin's idea?" Turner asked.
"It was. We discussed it last night and she had your advisors arrange everything this morning," Will replied as he stood awkwardly next to his father in law. "She will be safe with me, I promise."
"You've made promises like that before. I will believe you when I see her again, unharmed preferably," Turner said as he extended his arm. "It's time for you to be on your way, Prince William."
"Thank you for your hospitality," Will bowed again before he walked back to the wagon, where Tamzin had taken her seat again. After the tournament, she had changed into a sleeveless lilac dress that dipped into her cleavage, though she had a cream colored light cloak to go over her when they made it to Bradford. Her dress was definitely too revealing to be worn in Bradford. She sat inside the wagon, with five soldiers sitting on the outside of the wagon, guarding her. They pushed aside to let Will in. When he came to sit next to her, Tamzin was holding his sword.
"You're not going to ride Angus?" Tamzin asked as Will placed his arm behind her and rested his hand on her hip.
"We need to have as many men off the road as possible. We will travel quicker with most of the men on the wagons or on horseback," Will said as he felt the wagon shift before they began to move. It was then that Tamzin turned and buried her face in Will's chest. The men talked quietly amongst themselves as Will ran his fingers through Tamzin's hair. Will stared through the archway, at the men in front of them. The wagon they were on wasn't in the front of the pack, as to protect Tamzin. Will could see Garrett and some Roth men towards the front; Garrett was riding Angus.
"Do you think it would have been a sin for us to lie together before we were married?" Tamzin asked abruptly as her fingers played with the opening of Will's tunic.
"Why do you ask?" Will asked with a grin. "I doubt I had a chance with you before we were wed."
"You didn't," Tamzin giggled. "But my father said that I need to be as ladylike as possible. He says it is much stricter, where we are going."
"I would assume he is right, but no one knows for sure," Will said as he stroked her belly softly.
"Father said they may not allow us to share a chamber, because we have obviously already procreated," Tamzin said as she looked down to his hand on her belly. "I don't want to be kept from you."
"We won't be," Will said as he kissed her forehead. "Go to sleep, sweetness. By the time you wake up, we will be close or in Bradford."
"I can't sleep," Tamzin groaned softly.
"Why? Are you anxious?" Will asked.
"No, my stomach has been bothering me," Tamzin said as she winced lightly and rubbed the skin under her stomach. "I've been feeling like this for a few days."
"Are you well?" Will asked as he turned his attention to her. "Do you think it's the baby?"
"Mother told me I would be well aware if I were going into labor. This is just cramps," Tamzin smiled through a wince. "Jacque offered me some medicine to help before I got on the wagon, but I don't want to hurt the baby."
"Jacque is coming with us, right?" Will asked as he continued to massage her stomach. "In case something happens on the road."
"Yes, he has joined us, but you have nothing to worry about," Tamzin said with a smile. "I can't say I'm not enjoying your concern."
"I'm happy my anxiety is leaving you with such a warm feeling," Will replied sarcastically, though he returned her grin. "Seraphina is joining us."
"I figured as much," Tamzin responded as Will continued to massage her stomach. "I cannot be her friend, Will. I won't be rude to her, but I will not go out of my way to be kind either."
"All I ask is that you stay courteous to Garrett. He is my second-in-command and though we are going through a rough patch, he is still my best friend," Will said as he looked out ahead to where Garrett was leading the men. "I know it is hard, and I wouldn't ask if I didn't need it to be so."
"When Seraphina has her baby, what will happen? Can the child be legitimized?" Tamzin asked as she played with the strings of Will's tunic. Will could feel her warm breath on his chest.
"Yes, Garrett can accept the child and have me legitimize it. I can grant the permission, but my father or Aidan Bradford, the King, will have to sign the paperwork," Will said. "Do you want the child legitimized?"
"It isn't the baby's fault how he or she was conceived," Tamzin responded as her hand rested on her belly. "The baby should be born without anything hanging over its head."
"I cannot wait for him," Will said and gestured to her stomach, "to be born."
"If I didn't have to go through a world of pain to have him, I would agree wholeheartedly," Tamzin laughed as she pressed her head into his shoulder. "My cramping has slowed. I think it is time for us to take a nap. We need to be in tip-top shape for when we see your family."
Will didn't reply as he pressed a kiss to her forehead and sighed. Gently, he laid his head back against the wall of the enclosed wagon and closed his eyes. The soft jumbles of the wagon wheels on the dirt road lulled him into a fitful sleep.
When Will awoke, it was to the smell of smoke. He awoke abruptly and though he could see where he was easily, he knew the fire was nearby.
"Is something burning?" Tamzin asked in a groggy voice as she sat up against his chest. "Will?"
"Stay here," Will ordered as he pulled away from her and grabbed the chest that rested inside the wagon. His men, who still sat on the wagon, pulled out their weapons as Will pulled his chain mail over his head and some light armor over his torso. He adjusted the sword at his hip as the wagon came to a halt. The motion slammed Tamzin into the wall behind her and she groaned from the pain as she massaged her neck. "Are you okay?" Will asked as he crawled to Tamzin and touched her knee.
"I'm fine..." Tamzin began before the men from their wagon jumped to their feet. As they moved away from the wagon entrance, Tamzin could see the smoke. "What is it?"
"I don't know," Will said as he unsheathed his sword and followed his men. He was half off the wagon when he saw what made the men stop in their tracks.
An entire town, small as it was, was burned to the ground. The ash and cinder moved gently through the air and the fire pits that still burned illuminated the dark sky. Will smelt the unmistakable smell of burned flesh and the stench of rotting bodies.
Though the fires were still fresh, it was possible that the town was attacked hours before and the heat and possibly sunlight could have made the bodies rot faster. Will hopped off the wagon and approached the entrance to the village slowly, and with his sword drawn. His men began to follow him, though a few stayed behind to protect Tamzin's wagon.
The town wa
s completely destroyed. Every structure was burned to the ground or mostly destroyed by fire. Bodies of men, women, and children littered the ground and their blood seeped into the nearby river. Will nearly choked when he came across a dead woman strewn across her child; someone had run a spear through them, and it killed them both. The men, especially, died violent deaths, with slashed throats, bloody torsos, and some had missing limbs. Though Will had been in countless battles, nothing prepared him for seeing dead women and children.
A hand reached out and grabbed Will's ankle. In a fright, Will turned around and thought he would see an enemy, but all he saw was a small boy on the ground. The boy had dark hair and his eyes weren't open enough to see what color they were. The boy let out a croak as Will dropped to his knees. He immediately took the boy in his arms and cradled him as he called out for Jacque. For what felt like hours, Will waited for Jacque to come, but all he found was Tamzin, who knelt beside him.