“I do say, Torust. She might show you up,” he smirked.
He was too far away. Through her peripheral vision she could see Therek standing a short distance from her, watching her carefully, appraising her stance and technique. She needed him to come closer. Casually, she let her right shoulder drop to grasp low on the string, leaving an intentional flaw in her form. Therek would correct it. She wouldn’t make the shot if he didn’t.
A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she noticed Therek moving forward, his hand lightly sliding over hers to lift it higher on the string. “You will never get enough tension on the draw if you hold it down there,” he corrected. His face was not far from her own, his arms positioned around her to help grasp the bow while improving her grip. Taking advantage of his close proximity she turned her head, praying her soft whispers wouldn’t be carried away on the wind.
“We need to talk.”
“That sounds almost humorous coming from you,” he whispered back, his motions to correct her posture becoming more ostentatious, drawing the attention of the others away from the conversation they held. “Keep your eye on the target,” he announced, raising his voice for everyone to hear before dropping his tone to nothing more than a breath over Kaori’s ear. “We will find a way.”
Slowly stepping away he allowed her space to draw the string back, the creak from the tension the only thing Kaori could hear. She’d accomplished her first goal. Now all she had to do was make this shot and wait for Therek to think of what to do next.
The bow was harder to draw than the ones she’d practiced with at home. A solid make. Better quality. It would bring more power to the arrow when released. If she could keep her aim steady, the added speed improved the odds of the tip actually sticking in the target. Missing wasn’t an option. She’d made too much of a show to fail now.
Focus. She could do this. Everyone was quiet, anxious, waiting to see what would happen. At the last second she closed her eyes, afraid to watch the arrow as she released her hold on the string, hearing it snap forward with a loud twang. She heard the thud before opening her eyes to see where the arrow landed, the courtyard silent, still, devoid of any sound from the others. On the target she saw her arrow, solidly lodged, protruding only a few inches from where Therek’s had struck.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Liurn mumbled, incredulous. “The woman is a natural.”
“Yes, she certainly is a quick study.” Therek shielded his eyes from the sun, staring down the range at the target. The expression on his face resembled that of shock mingled with admiration at her unexpected success.
Pehrona was on her feet instantly, the sway of her skirts creating a gentle rustle of fabric over the grass with every step. She looked hopeful, staring up at Therek with a smile in hopes of distracting his attention from Kaori. “I should like to learn as well,” she nodded, pointing toward the bow still clutched in Kaori’s hands. “Perhaps I could go next?”
Therek’s gaze slowly shifted to where Pehrona waited patiently in front of him, staring down at her as if not registering her presence. He stood perfectly still for a moment before responding, shaking his head to clear whatever thoughts had left him so distracted. “You will have to discuss that with Lord Tialore. I think I have had all the excitement this courtyard can offer me for one day.”
“I could not possibly follow a show like that,” Liurn argued, turning an apologetic gaze upon Pehrona. “Perhaps we can try again after we return from our ride. By then my pride might not be so wounded at being bested by a girl.”
The look on Pehrona’s face nearly sent Kaori into a fit of laughter. She looked pathetic. Miserable. The men were distracted from her company and she clearly was having a difficult time coping. Pehrona was used to being doted upon. It must be a devastating blow to her ego for another woman to steal the attention of these men. If their affection was what Kaori was after, she might have taken more pride in the accomplishment. Lucky for Pehrona, all Kaori wanted was five minutes of Therek’s time… alone.
Behind the others Sivar remained frozen, staring absently at the arrow still lodged into the target, dumbfounded, mouth agape. Shaking his head he began to stammer, unable to conceal his amazement. “I… Kaori, how did you do that? You have never… you are not supposed to –”
“I am aware of what I am and am not permitted to do. That does not mean I have to abide by those rules when not in the company of others,” Kaori sighed. Her interest in the bow had waned, leaving her anxious to be away from the archery range and out in the open yards for their ride. At least on the horse she wouldn’t have to worry about whether she was behaving appropriately. As long as her legs were fashionably settled on the side of the horse, no one could accuse her of being improper. “Shall we head to the stables?” she asked, forcing a cheerful tone to her voice.
Taking the bow from Kaori’s hand, Therek gave a slight nod, walking over to a small covered rack to place the weapon inside. Liurn followed his lead, securing his bow with the other, their eyes meeting one another’s in a silent exchange of bewilderment. No one knew what to say. Kaori wondered if Liurn’s decision to let her fire the arrow had been an attempt to watch her make a fool of herself again the way she had at the ball. He didn’t seem the type to take enjoyment in the failures of others but it was a possibility she couldn’t look past. She had so little faith in these people. It grated on her nerves that she had no choice but to count on Therek in order to protect herself and her parents. If she had things her way, she would take care of the situation alone. Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option.
They moved away from the courtyard in stupefied silence toward another door which led into the house. Pehrona scurried along the path to keep up with the long strides of the men while Sivar lingered behind, distracted, still shaking his head in consternation. Occasionally Kaori heard him mumble something under his breath, glancing over to her as if to speak, only to lower his head once again in silence.
Conversation slowly started to revive as they followed Therek through the winding corridors of the house. Idle chatter. The musicians at the ball had been quite good. How lovely the weather was for a ride. By the time they reached the door leading outside through the rear of the house, the men seemed to have forgotten Kaori’s display in the courtyard. Even Sivar began to act like his old self again, joining the chatter about the party and the grand turnout of courtiers, however, Kaori held no interest in the size of the guest list or who wore what. She’d never been one for casual conversation and it seemed somehow less enjoyable when in the company of so many others. Maybe if she knew these people better it would be easier to incorporate herself in the gibes aimed at courtiers Kaori had no knowledge of.
Detached from the group, Kaori stood by, listening to the gossip without registering the words, her eyes watching Therek and Liurn prepare the horses for her and Pehrona. Sivar kept himself rooted at Pehrona’s side, hanging off every word she said. Drifting in and out of focus Kaori became aware that most of the noise she heard was Pehrona’s voice, prattling on about pointless matters, social scandals, new fabrics available at the market – anything she could think of to keep herself occupied and visible to the men. In many ways Kaori felt sorry for her. Pehrona was a pretty girl but she lacked so many other qualities which would make her stand out were it not for her prestigious title. At least she has that to fall back on when she runs out of local gossip…
“That should about do it,” Liurn announced, checking the tightness of his saddle. At the sound of his voice, Sivar managed to tear his attention from Pehrona, surprised to discover the horses already out and ready to go.
Without waiting to see what the other men intended to do, Sivar lightly clasped Pehrona’s hand, leading her over to one of the horses. She accepted him warmly, allowing him to help her onto the saddle. Kaori watched the two of them in mild fascination. She’d never seen her brother behave so strangely around anyone before. Could it be that he truly cared for that poor girl? The way he leapt into act
ion at her every request, hastening to anything she asked. Such a pitiful display. She wondered why the other men didn’t say something for the sake of sparing Sivar’s dignity.
She jumped at the sensation of a hand gently taking hers, diverting her attention from Sivar. Inhaling a sharp breath she turned to see who was there, blinking at the sight of Therek guiding her forward, his free hand motioning toward a sleek white horse tied nearby. He kept his eyes directed straight ahead, the sound of his voice almost inaudible as they walked. “How skilled are you at riding?”
“Skilled?” she repeated, confused by the question. What did skill have to do with anything? They weren’t preparing for a race. “I have been riding since I was a little girl. I suppose I would consider myself an expert.”
“Good,” he nodded, hoisting her easily onto the horse. “I suggest you hold on tight.”
Her foot had barely touched the stirrup when she felt the animal jerk, a loud whinny echoing through the yard. Reflexively she cried out, the horse rearing up, forcing her to tighten her grip on the reins to keep from falling off. Frantic, she let her eyes shift to where Therek stood next to the horse, his hand recoiling quickly from whatever he had done to spark the reaction from the animal, stepping aside to prevent the horse from kicking him in its frenzy.
It was strange how clear everything became in her mind as the horse took off across the yard, the others left to stare after her, calling out her name, as if that would somehow make the animal stop and bring her back. She was no amateur in the saddle. Calming the horse would have otherwise been a trivial task to accomplish but she suspected there was a reason Therek had provided his strange warning. It was a trick. A means of getting her separated from the others. The question was how he planned to catch up.
Squeezing her legs tightly over the stirrup at the side of the horse she fought to maintain her balance, the design of the saddle less than desirable for the pace at which she currently traveled. Subtle in her motions, not wanting to risk observation by the others, she gave a slight snap of the reins over the horse’s neck, urging it to go faster, afraid of letting it slow too soon and disallowing Therek to further whatever plan he had in mind.
In its frantic charge the horse maneuvered through the dense foliage. Branches hung low, slapping her painfully while she struggled to guide the animal toward an open path that had been cut through the woods. Over her shoulder she could see someone coming into view, the sound of another horse’s hooves pounding along the leaves. She didn’t require anything more than the brilliant azure glow of Therek’s eyes to recognize that he was the one closing in on her. Coming to her rescue. The thought made her want to laugh. Under any other circumstances she might have allowed herself to.
Kaori’s heart raced at the sudden realization that she had no idea what Therek’s plan was beyond the initial separation of the group. It wouldn’t take long for the others to mount their own horses and take chase. She needed to think of something or her chance at privacy with Therek would be too brief. There had to be a way to divert from the main trail without notice.
Distracted by her search for an alternate path, Kaori vaguely noticed something in her peripheral vision. Small. Fast. Scurrying out from a line of bushes to the right. Before she had a chance to adjust her gaze to see what it was, she felt the horse rear back, legs lifted high into the air in fear of whatever had found its way onto the trail. At the sudden halt, Kaori tightened her hold on the reins, desperately clutching at the leather to keep herself on the saddle. Control was quickly slipping from her grasp. The horse stumbled sideways in attempts to get away from the small animal that had spooked it. Unable to maintain balance from her awkward position, Kaori felt her body tumbling to the left, a line of small shrubs the only thing between her and the ground to cushion her fall.
It was a less than graceful display, her skirts catching on the branches jutting up from amidst the bushes, a loud cry escaping Kaori’s lips to feel her shoulder connect hard with the ground. A sharp, stabbing pain brought tears to her eyes as her body finally came to a stop, landing slightly beyond the shrubbery, uncomfortably aware of a dull throb in her left ankle which lingered from the impact. Something moist soaked into her stockings, the thin fabric only adding to the horrible sting she already felt. Her stomach lurched, nearly causing her to retch.
From where she lay in the dirt Kaori listened to the sound of Therek’s approach, a soft, gentle command bringing his horse to a halt. She couldn’t see him, though she could hear his feet meeting the ground, the horse giving a wild cry as he sent it running down the path after Kaori’s discarded ride, his footsteps coming closer to where she hid. His face appeared through the green of the shrubbery, ducked low, swiftly moving to kneel at Kaori’s side. Voices could be heard from somewhere nearby, frantic, desperate in their shouts, the echo of Kaori’s name resounding through the woods. As they grew nearer, Therek lowered himself to protectively cover Kaori’s body with his own, concealing their location from view. It was an awkward position. She could feel the steady rise and fall of Therek’s chest with every breath he took, inhaling deeply to calm the rush of blood through his system from their exhilarating escape. Kaori prayed he wouldn’t notice her own shallow breathing, labored from the pain she suffered. It was all she could do to keep from pushing Therek away so she could examine the extent of the injury despite the tiny voice in the back of her head which told her she didn’t want to see it.
By the time the voices passed Kaori could already feel her heart beginning to slow. Regardless of the injury she sustained, their plan was a success. They had their moment of privacy. She would have to make the best of it before the others became aware of the fact that they chased after nothing more than empty saddles atop a pair of wild horses.
“Are you alright?” Therek whispered, lifting his head to stare at her in awe. He seemed shocked by her composure, an occasional grimace the only indication of discomfort he showed, though Kaori could think of no reason for him to feel unease other than their unusual closeness. Their antics were far from proper. Mother would be appalled if she knew…
“I will be fine. Your plan, however, was lacking. How exactly did you expect us to have a discussion while running about wildly?”
“Once out of view, I was going to help you from your mount so we could find somewhere to take cover.”
Irritably, she pushed Therek the rest of the way up, widening the gap between them so she could rise to a seated position amongst the leaves, casually observing the area while biting her tongue to distract herself from the pain in her ankle. “There was not enough time to assist me with anything. The others did not appear far behind.”
With an air of pride Therek sat back, nonchalant in his motions as he brushed the dirt and leaves from his doublet. “That may be true,” he conceded, the tone of his voice level, devoid of inflection to indicate whether he was pleased or unhappy with her observation. “I suppose we should be grateful, then.” He paused, lifting his hand away from the fabric to toss a small twig onto the ground. His eyes met hers, their azure glow steady, pulsing slightly at some private thought. Bringing his legs out from under him, Therek settled into a more comfortable position over the moist soil. “I am not fond of hiding from my guests, however, so we should make this brief.”
She stared at him, puzzled. If he was angry, he had no right. He was under no obligation to entertain her the way he did. Kaori would have been content with simply making some excuse to walk away and allow Therek to meet her. It was his idea to send her speeding off into the woods on some crazed animal. “I was to the understanding that we shared a mutual desire for conversation. Was I mistaken?”
Resting his elbows over his knees in front of him, Therek eyed her, curious, seeming deep in thought over his response. Kaori couldn’t deny the awkwardness of their meeting. They had a tendency to cross paths under the strangest circumstances. “You are not mistaken,” he replied suddenly, surprising her with the sternness of his voice. “My interest lies more in you.�
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“Me?” she scoffed. “Do not try to tell me it wasn’t your intent to get me alone when you invited me here. I want to know what you went through all this trouble to tell me.”
“I provided you with the necessary warning last evening. While I do not deny that my hope was to speak further on the matter this afternoon, I held no expectations that you would allow it to be so.”
She held his gaze firm, refusing to back down. He was lying. Even if it wasn’t outright dishonesty, she refused to accept the possibility that there wasn’t more behind his actions than he let on. Sure, he’d warned her about the General. That should have appeased his damnable conscience. Why did he then proceed to invite her to this circus if there wasn’t something more? “I don’t believe you.”
For a brief moment Kaori saw the bewilderment in his eyes. Her behavior was beyond uncouth. It appalled even her to realize the way she spoke to a man of Therek’s station. Accusing him of lying! Such an insult could tarnish her reputation indefinitely if he chose to expose her. But he wouldn’t dare. In order to tell anyone of her misconduct, he would have no choice than to reveal their secret meeting; and what would that say about him? His own reputation would receive a dent from admitting to their private audience. It would be an absolute scandal.
It didn’t take long for him to regain his composure, staring down at her over his nose. “That is a strong statement, Milady,” he said calmly, choosing his words carefully, each one spoken with perfect enunciation. “I invited you here to do you a service. Do not make me regret my decision.”
“What service would that be? Bolstering my popularity by association? Could you be any more conceited?”
The Myatheira Chronicles: Volume Four: In the Beginning Page 10