by Missy Jane
“He planned to travel to Halstrid?”
“He seemed confused about that, but was willing to remain with me that far.”
“Hmm.”
They walked on a bit more before finally seeing a dwelling ahead. More dotted the landscape as well.
Giga hissed and stood on his hind legs, sniffing the air. Then he looked at Kephas. “Giga hiiiiide. Giga hiiiiide.”
Then he ran off into the nearby brush. They watched him go without a word.
“Looks like Giga will hide now that we’ve reached civilization again,” she said to break the silence.
“Yes. It appears so.” Kephas looked around. “And there’s no sign of your companion.”
“Um…no. But we didn’t start out together. I just sort of found him. Perhaps he changed his mind about traveling together.”
They walked past the home and continued on until a collection of buildings became visible. Kephas stopped and turned to face her.
“Have you been in Pastel before?” he asked.
She shook her head and looked around. “I’ve been in the Outlands of the Southern Rim since I was a babe.”
“We’re in a land called Pastel and the people here are referred to as the Pastelle.”
“Pah-stay.”
“Yes. They are…different than humans.”
“Like you?”
He seemed surprised by her words and looked down at himself. Then in the blink of an eye he changed. He shrank a foot in height and lost some of his girth. The odd lumps beneath his cloak smoothed out so his back appeared normal. The gray tint over his hair and skin disappeared, changing to tan, along with hair as black as a raven’s wings. The shaggy strands began to sway with his movements, whereas before they hadn’t. His short beard was just as dark and neatly groomed to cover only his chin.
She took a step back. “What did you do?”
“I’ve taken on my human form. I was in my gargoyle form before.”
“Oh…I see.”
His light brown eyes held amusement but the corners of his mouth remained firm. He held one large hand out, gesturing for her to precede him. She managed not to stumble as she walked past him, but it was a near thing. Compared to the few men she’d been around her whole life, he was a very fine specimen.
“So you’ve always lived in the Rim but weren’t born there?” he asked.
She glanced at him before returning her attention to the buildings and the people around them. Did she really want this mysterious man to know more about her? Living among people who thought she was a freak of nature had made her wary, but she sensed only mild curiosity from him. Besides, who would better know what it’s like to be different than someone like him who was created rather than born?
“No. According to my mother I was born in Halstrid.”
Kephas was supposed to be looking for the Queen as well, but where was she? There was no doubt in his mind that this was Princess Theodora, but her wariness made him tread carefully. If her mother had spoken well of her homeland, then she would’ve known she could trust him the moment they met. It was his duty to protect her.
“Your mother remained in the Rim while you travel to Halstrid?” he asked.
Her shoulders slumped and she shook her head. Though her expression remained blank, the tightening of her jaw told of her discomfort. An immediate desire to hold and comfort her gripped him. He had to fist his hands to keep from reaching for her.
“My mother died. I buried her in the woods near our home. Then I set out.”
Shock rang through him, as well as a sense of helplessness. “I’m very sorry for your loss.” How would he break this news to his King?
“Thank you. It’s only been a matter of days. I still feel numb about it.”
He did reach out then, no longer able to help himself. His hand looked so large when he set it upon her shoulder, he feared hurting her. She looked up with surprise, but not fear. Hope soared through him and he smiled at her. When she smiled back it was as if the sun had burst forth through storm-clouds after weeks of hiding. His heart lurched in his chest and he forgot to breathe for a moment.
Then she faced forward again and his hand slipped off her shoulder. The spell was broken and a profound sense of loss hit him.
“She was a wonderful woman, but we never seemed to agree on anything. Now I travel to find my father to see if maybe he’s any different.”
“Your father? Where is he?”
Theda hesitated and wanted to curse herself for opening her big mouth. It was just so nice to have someone actually listen to her for a change. She’d grown so used to being ignored that Kephas’s attention quickly grew addictive. And he didn’t seem to judge her at all. He just seemed curious.
Still, if he was a protector of the realm then he worked for her father, the King. It might not be safe to reveal that she was the Princess to this man, no matter how safe and protective he might seem. If the King truly had kicked her and her mother out, then he wouldn’t be happy to have her return.
“Um…I’m not certain. I only know he lived somewhere in Halstrid and he’s human. I’ll have to ask a lot of questions when I get there.”
Kephas frowned and she wondered if he could tell she was lying. She’d never been very good at it, so he probably could. But then he faced forward again as if dismissing it either way and she released a relieved breath.
They walked halfway through the village before Kephas finally stopped in front of a pub. He looked around at the few people milling about before facing her. “I think it’s safe to say we’ve lost your companion.”
She nodded in agreement and looked around as well, but the Pastelle were so different in appearance to humans there was no way for Albain to hide.
“It appears so. I lost my companion and my pack. Wonderful.”
She crossed her arms and tried to fight the sense of helplessness stealing through her. What the hell was she supposed to do now?
She looked up at the sign for the pub and wrinkled her nose. “The Stinky Pig. Sounds…charming. Perhaps they can use some help with serving ale.”
Suddenly Kephas was very close beside her, his rich masculine scent invading her nose and the heat of his large body warming every chilled spot inside her. He grasped her elbow and pulled her away from the pub.
“There’s no need for you to work there, or anywhere else. I’m a protector of Halstrid. That includes all of its citizens. I’ll get you home, Theda, and then we’ll see if we can’t find your father.”
It was both what she wanted to hear and what she dreaded. Protection on the road was priceless, but could she trust this man once they arrived? As he pulled her down the road to a more respectable looking inn, she realized she didn’t really have much choice.
Kephas fought to calm his breathing to some semblance of normal so that he didn’t frighten Theda half to death. Why had the thought of her leaving caused such an intense reaction? His chest had constricted and both fear and anger had flared so quickly, he almost let out a roar of outrage. Luckily she didn’t seem to notice anything wrong with him.
Touching her had immediately calmed him, and as they approached the door to the inn he was reluctant to let her go. For her part she didn’t seem to mind his touch, and that calmed him further.
Once inside the inn he released her but stood close. When the innkeeper assumed they were married he didn’t correct the man. Theda opened her mouth and he grasped her arm again. She gave him a look of confusion but not anger. He took hope in that and steered her toward their room.
“Will you be wanting a bath and a meal?” the innkeeper asked, opening the door.
Kephas nodded as they stepped inside. “Yes.”
It was larger than he’d expected but there was only one bed. Theda remained quiet. He released her arm and she walked over to a chair by the fireplace. A roaring flame was alrea
dy lit and she sat before it with her hands extended.
The innkeeper left and Kephas closed the door. Then he removed his cloak and weapons. Theda watched him silently until he kicked off his boots.
“Why didn’t you tell him we’re not married?”
“It isn’t always safe for an unmarried woman to be traveling through these lands.”
“Pastel? I thought they were fairly civilized here.”
He grimaced and sat in the only other chair, facing her before the fire. “Pastel is civilized for the most part, but there are very few taboos here. Especially when it comes to relations between men and women. Or women and women. Or men and men. Or any other combination you can think of, and possibly a few you can’t.”
The expression on her face was almost comical, but the blush that crept up immediately after had him wondering how far down it went. He cleared his throat and stood to walk away.
“Uh…” she started. “I guess I should thank you then.”
If she knew the carnal thoughts running through his head she wouldn’t thank him. But since she didn’t, he simply nodded and went to open the door at the sound of a knock.
Chapter Eight
Wynn paced around the room where Steinn lay healing as close to the Wizard Stone as they could set him. The others had already gone, but each had shared his frustration at the vague answers Steinn had given when questioned about the ambush Zephyr had mentioned. Wynn wanted to leave and fly back to Zephara’s side. But how could he when his brother’s attackers were left unpunished? With a growl of annoyance he knelt at Steinn’s side and placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder.
“Steinn. Tell me, brother. Who did this?”
Pale blue eyes opened, filled with anguish and confusion. After a moment they cleared and Steinn looked around the room. It was the first time they’d been alone since arriving at the castle. Steinn closed his eyes with a sigh of defeat.
“What is it?” Wynn asked.
“Do you remember the conversation we had with Zeph while playing cards?”
Wynn wasn’t certain which conversation he meant. “Not really. I was too worried over Zephara to pay much attention.”
Steinn nodded. “She’s a very beautiful woman. You’re lucky. I like beautiful women. Always have. Never really thought about it one way or another.”
Wynn frowned as his brother took a deep breath and opened his eyes. He looked around the room again.
Wynn looked too. “There’s no one here but you and I.”
“Can you shut the door?”
Though confusion and a sense of dread filled him, he did as his brother asked. Then he returned to Steinn’s cot. “All right.”
“Haldor had relieved me of duty at the King’s side and I was to travel back here to rest. Zephyr asked to accompany me and I saw no harm in it. So rather than fly, I traveled on foot with him. We took our time, making camp each night for nearly two weeks with no problems. This night we made camp and were talking about things… I was drinking.”
He looked away, as if he simply couldn’t hold his brother’s gaze through his next words.
“I don’t remember how we started talking about sex, but we did. Then Zeph…he…”
He looked at Wynn again with a pained expression and Wynn gripped his shoulder. “What is it?”
“I’ve never looked at a man like that before. I swear it. But Zeph is as beautiful as his twin and then he was naked. I don’t know…”
He shook his head before gripping it in both hands as if it pained him.
It took a few seconds for his words to make sense to Wynn and a clear picture of the events to form in his mind. Shock and surprise hit him, but not disgust as his brother probably expected.
He tightened his grip on Steinn’s shoulder. “Brother. I would never judge you in this. Who you bed is not my concern. I know I speak for all of us when I say this.”
Steinn lowered his hands and the anguish in his eyes caused an ache in Wynn’s chest. He loved his brothers as if they had been born of the same woman. Though they had been created as full grown men, they felt the bond of siblings nonetheless. Perhaps that was the wizards’ doing, perhaps not. Either way, he had spent over seventy years living and fighting beside each of them. It would take far more than sexual preference to hurt that bond.
“Truly?” Steinn whispered.
“I swear it.”
Finally Steinn’s muscles relaxed and he wiped his hands down his face. His red-rimmed eyes told just how much the situation bothered him and Wynn pulled him into a hug. The brothers weren’t overly demonstrative of their feelings for each other, but neither were they cold and uncaring. Steinn returned the hug and released a sigh that sounded as though it came from his soul.
Wynn released him and looked him in the eye. “Now. Tell me everything.”
It was the hardest confession of his life, but Steinn told his brother exactly what had happened as he sat camped with Zephyr in the dark woods leading toward home.
“We were camped, drinking and talking. Then suddenly he was standing before me naked. And he was…beautiful.” He took a deep breath before plunging into the hardest part of his tale. “Next thing I know he’s in my lap and we’re…kissing. I…well I wasn’t paying much attention to anything else for a while. Then suddenly he was gone. I opened my eyes to see three men beating him and another three rushing me. I jumped up and fought them all, but by the time I got to him…”
He finally looked at his brother again. “How bad is he?”
Wynn gave him a sympathetic look. “A few broken bones and he lost a bit of blood. Gregori was more concerned about his head wound.”
“Was he conscious when you left?”
“Yes.”
Steinn sighed again and sat up slowly. The aches and pains were minimal but telling. “I’ve no idea what sort of creatures attacked us. Though they looked like human men, they used more magic than brute strength. Even in my gargoyle form they were able to hurt me. After I left Zephyr at Gregori’s doorstep, I went back to our camp and all of the bodies were gone. I’d thought I had killed them but there was no sign of any of them.”
“Perhaps you only wounded some and they carried the others off.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so. But I was so weak I might have missed their tracks. I found a strong tree to rest in until someone found me. I knew one of you would come.”
Wynn stood and paced around the room. “We must alert the King if there are violent creatures in the realm.”
“But if they only attacked us because we were…”
Wynn stopped and faced him. “You don’t know what their motivation was, brother. From behind, Zephyr could be mistaken for a woman. Besides, you’re hardly the first man to lie with another in Halstrid.”
A blush stained his cheeks. “I know, but the Masters are considered the strength of the people. Protectors. I’m not sure one of us lying with a man fits into that perception.”
“You’re also not sure who attacked you. They might not even be citizens of Halstrid.”
He thought it over. “Perhaps it was just the act that offended them?”
“No matter. You were in the woods where there was plenty of room for them to avoid you if they wanted to. They attacked without provocation and seriously injured the ambassador of another kingdom. This cannot go unanswered.”
Steinn lowered his head. “You’re right. Of course.”
Wynn closed the distance and crouched to be eye-level with him. “There is no need for you to repeat the series of events to anyone else unless you wish to. All you have to say is you two were camped, talking, and drinking before your fire, when you were attacked. It is very nearly the truth.”
Steinn met his brother’s stare and nodded. “Very nearly. But what if the part I leave out is what’s important?”
“We won’t
know that either way until we find them, will we? I say for now we leave it out and see how it goes.”
Love, relief, and admiration filled Steinn’s chest, choking him. He simply nodded again since he couldn’t speak to respond.
Wynn smiled and gripped his shoulder before standing. “All will be well, brother. Don’t worry over it.”
Steinn stood and stretched, already healed in many ways. “Will you return to Gregori’s castle now?”
“Yes. We can leave immediately if you feel up to it.”
The desire to return to Zeph’s side was strong but his sense of duty fought it. “No. I’ll go to the King with news of the attack.”
“He’s already been informed. You can go with me if you like.”
He turned away from his brother’s probing gaze and rubbed at his suddenly aching chest. “No.”
“And if he asks for you?”
Steinn closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Thoughts of Zephyr filled his mind, then he pushed them away and decided it was for the best if he never thought of them again.
“Tell him I’m well and that I…wish him well.”
Wynn remained silent for a full minute. Then his footsteps echoed as he headed for the door and opened it. “All right, brother. I’ll tell him.”
The closing of the door behind him sounded unnaturally loud. It was followed by a deep pain that Steinn feared no wizard could remedy. Silver eyes and hair filled his thoughts no matter how hard he tried to banish them. The memory of soft, alabaster skin over lean muscle made his palms itch to feel it again. He groaned and gripped the sides of his head. Wynn might not care, but that didn’t mean the others wouldn’t. He had to control his urges, no matter how badly he wanted to fly to Zephyr’s side. He went to his room, bathed, and dressed. Then left the castle and headed for Keva, hoping to lose himself in one of their beautiful women.
Wynn wasted little time heading back to Gregori’s castle. He informed the brothers who were home that he was leaving and received the expected questions about Steinn. Remaining vague, he assured them their brother had healed and they all needed to be on alert for the mysterious creatures that had attacked him. Then he all but ran to the roof so he could fly back to Zephara’s side. His thoughts churned about what to say to Zephyr if he asked for Steinn, but it was none of his business. Perhaps his brother would change his mind and follow him after all. Only time would tell.