A Journey Out of Time (13 page)

"Aye. Twas nay a big matter."

"That is good."

"Ye have been living at Ronin then?"

"I was," she said, annoyed.

"Did ye like it there?"

"Yes, I did. What do you usually do then, Rowan?"

"Well, I do a great deal of traveling for Angus. I accompany the guard when they are needed."

"You are a soldier as well as a prince then?"

"Aye," he chuckled, "I guess I am. We were taught since boys though, but I did remain with a regiment for quite some time."

Well of course they would be. It isn't like her time. She keep forgetting!

"Can you teach me?"

"Teach ye what?"

"How to use a sword."

He hesitated just a moment. "Sure. When?"

"I will go change."

"Change?"

"Did you learn to use a sword in a dress?"

Rowan's eyebrow went up. "Nay, lass. I would say, nay."

"Then I will be back."

Sonya went up to her room & put some trews on. Just to be on the safe side, she also put the bra she had brought on. She certainly didn't want to have
that
issue while swinging a sword! Going down the stairs she realized she was feeling much better. Rowan was waiting down the corridor, leaning against the wall like he was the day she met him. He was sure of himself. She envied that. Rowan looked her up & down.

"You approve?" she asked, somewhat annoyed at the assessment.

"Oh,
aye.
I do indeed," he grinned.

"Well then, shall we get on with it?"

"Aye. At least I hope I can."

Rowan took them into a large room much like the hall. There were various weapons around the room. He handed her a wooden sword & she took it. Rowan came over behind her, adjusting her stance. His hands lingered on her hips a bit longer than she suspected they needed to be. Then he moved to her hands, showing her how to hold the handle properly. She was nervous, but more than that, she was determined.

"Ready?" he asked.

Sonya nodded.

She wasn't expecting Rowan to hit so hard & the reverberations hurt as they went up her hands, but she didn't say anything & she didn't drop the sword. He grinned at her. Again he hit, but this time she took the hit & swung her hands down & brought the wooden sword back around knocking his downward.

"Good. Now let's see how you handle this." Rowan brought his sword straight down & Sonya raised the sword up halting his strike. She could feel her arms shake with the weight & she rolled her sword around over his, bringing his sword down. He looked surprised. "Good. Again." This time she did it quicker, but swung the sword back up, resting the tip by his neck. Rowan's eyes grew wide & he grinned.

How much time passed Sonya wasn't sure when from behind them someone applauded. She smiled back at Rowan & dropped the wooden sword. As she stepped back Angus came forward.

"Ye best be wary what ye teach the lass, brother, she may best ye one day."

Rowan came over putting his arm around Sonya's shoulders. "She seems to be a natural, Angus. She learns fast."

"So I see. Be careful or Duncan will nay be thanking ye for her lessons."

"
If
she goes back to Ronin."

Angus raised a brow at his brother & looked from him to Sonya, but said nothing. Rowan returned the swords to the rack & Sonya excused herself to wash up. Who knew! She found something she was good at! The lesson was exciting & something she always thought would be neat to learn how to do. It surely came from all the stories she read & her mother's love of King Arthur. Hmm. When was he around? She would have to find out.
So wild!
Rowan said she was a natural. Ha, a credit to the
Highlander
movies. Cool.

Sonya washed up & as she went out of the door with her hair wet, who should be leaning against the opposite wall, but Rowan.

"What if I hadn't come out?"

"I would have knocked."

"Okay, where are we off to now? I am sure I will be sore by tomorrow, so lets have it."

"To show you how to ride?"

"I rode here from Ronin."

"Aye, at a walk."

Hmm. This should be interesting. "Okay, let's go."

Rowan led her to the stables. The stable boy started to head into a stall which, she guessed, was to a very gentle horse. Sonya walked up & down the row greeting & petting all the horses. She loved horses. They had the softest noses & always tried to nibble you. After a look she stopped in front of a horse she recognized.

"This one," she stated.

Rowan said, "This one might be better to start with."

"Nope, I would like to ride this one. I like the spots." She was familiar with the Appaloosa. Her uncles had that type.

"The lady has spoken, lad. She will ride this one."

Rowan on the other hand, rode a medium brown horse with spirit to match his owner…untamed.

She took the reins from the young boy. "Thanks, I've got it."

"Yes, Milady."

Sonya got herself into the saddle as Rowan waited for her. They walked out into the field. "Where will we ride?" she asked.

"This way. There is some foliage, but I like it."

Sonya spurred the horse forward in the direction Rowan indicated. She hated trotting. She didn't expect any woman liked it too much. So, she made a clicking noise & the horse sped off. Oh, to ride a running horse had to be the next best thing to having wings!

Sonya emptied her head of everything but the exhilaration that filled her. The air blowing her hair back, the breath of the horse as he ran. Rowan matched her stride. The horses leaped a bit of brush & she stayed seated. She didn't always as a girl, but boy did she keep trying & kept jumping too. As they neared a lane with a row of beautiful trees on each side they slowed to a walk. Rowan smiled at her & she smiled back.

"Well?" she queried.

"Is there naught ye have to be taught?"

"I am sure there are a few things," she smiled. Rowan laughed.

As they reached a clearing, Rowan stopped. "I have always loved it here. We used to play here as children."

"You & Angus?"

"Aye & several other children as well."

Sonya looked over at him with narrowed eyes, trying to figure him out. He had a happy look as he reminisced. So, he wasn't all play. Rowan looked over at her & smiled.

"Ready to return?" he asked.

"Sure. It is nearly dinner, isn't it?"

"Aye, it is. We'll come again another day, when there is more time." They turned & rode back as fast as they had come. It was fun, it was freeing & Sonya truly enjoyed herself.

*

At dinner Sonya sat next to Rowan. She listened & smiled. There was never a boring conversation in this family! It reminded her of her own & she smiled again.

"Sonya," Angus said, "now will ye tell us how ye came here."

"Well, as we were just nearing...there was a wreck." That wasn't really lying, was it?

"And the others?"

"The ones that remained have settled into Ronin." Sonya didn't want to talk more about that.

"Tell us what your home is like," Anne said steering the conversation away from Duncan. Boy, did Sonya love that woman! Now, how the heck was she going to pull
this
one off?

"I lived down in the south in a place called New Mexico." They looked so riveted that she almost laughed. "It is very hot & dry there; the opposite of here really. It is a desert. I like to keep warm."

In a very low voice Rowan said, "We have ways of keeping one warm, lass." Sonya, choked & turned red. Angus looked at his brother who had a knack for looking innocent, even when you knew he wasn't!

"Anyway," Sonya cleared her throat. "It has beautiful skies & a very unusual place called White Sands. Which is just that, a place you can go & it is all white."

"Oh! That sounds so interesting," said Anne with wonder in her voice.

Sonya smiled. "It is."

"What other things do ye have there?" asked Angus with curiosity lighting his eyes.
Let's see, I guess I will leave out the Air Force Base & the Space Center. Imagine!

"What is your dwelling like?" asked Anne.

"Well, it is like a cottage."

"Do ye have a horse?" asked Rowan.

"No, but my uncles did. I loved to ride when I was growing up. Every chance I could get, I rode."

"No kidding," Rowan said dryly & Sonya laughed.

"Women are not so timid where I come from. At least not all of them."

"I think we have noticed," Angus confirmed & Sonya smiled. She didn't notice Anne was too timid either.

"Doona worry," Anne said. "Women here have to be strong. It is a respected trait."

"That's a good thing," Sonya said & they all laughed.

After dinner they all retired to a smaller room that seemed like a leisure room. There was a chess board set up, & other things lying on small tables. Anne sat on a window seat & drew some sewing out of a basket. She smiled at Sonya. Angus sat in a chair listening to a harp & lyre play on the far side of the room. Sonya wasn't quite sure what to go do. She was about to ask to leave when Rowan took her hand, leading her to the center of the floor, where he began dancing with her.

"Angus said ye doona dance."

"I am not comfortable with it."

"That isn't what I heard."

Sonya went red, not sure what he had been told. The first thing that went through her mind however, was of her & Duncan on the dance floor.

"Ye taught Angus & the whole court a new dance."

"True. It was the only one I could think of."

"Well, everyone is talking about it."

"Are they? I am glad they like it."

"Would ye like to walk the gardens before ye retire?"

"Yes. That would be nice." Rowan stopped & offered his arm. They did not bother Angus who seemed to be 'resting' his eyes. Rowan did stop by his mother & gave her a kiss on her cheek.

"I will see ye two tomorrow."

Sonya bowed her head. "Goodnight, Your Majesty." Anne smiled at Sonya as she & Rowan left.

"What say you now, Angus?" Anne asked.

Without opening his eyes he replied, "Mother, the lass is nay in love with Rowan."

"Not yet. Love will come."

Angus opened his eyes this time, looking amused at his mother. "Aye, it can come, but it will nay come for her & Rowan. She is in love with Duncan."

"Well, that means naught."

His eyebrows rose. "Aye? How is that?"

"Because she is a sensible young woman & Duncan is nay here."

"Aye, but love is never sensible ma, as ye know. I asked da about ye once."

"Oh, pah!" Anne responded, waving her hand at him.

"He said ye told him ye were willing to 'wait until time came to an end'. Wasn't that what ye promised him?"

Anne reddened just slightly hiding a smile. "I am tired, Angus. I think I will retire." Angus chuckled.

"Aye as will I." He stood & walked over to his mother, holding out his arm for her, escorting her to her chamber.

*

As Rowan & Sonya walked through the gardens she looked at him. He was a very handsome man. There was much more to him than she had given him credit for. She was wrong about him. And if she were looking for someone to marry, he
would
be a great catch. But she wasn't in need to marry like some women. Being single was not the end of the world. She was one of those people that needed time on her own. And being married to a prince, though an honor, was just not something she wanted at all. Rowan stopped & picked three daisies for her. She smiled.