Blaze (22 page)

"Yes. Then we should get some sleep. We're going to be very busy these next couple of days."

"I'll take the first watch tonight." He kissed her and stood, walking to the food she had arranged atop a cloak spread on the floor.

"Do you have any ideas about how to get the raiders out of Vivondra?"

"I've been thinking about it, but nothing seems quite right. Torn has a gift for planning this kind of thing. He'll probably be the one to come up with our strategy."

"I hope we can get through this with as little bloodshed as possible." Melody tugged on her clothes and tossed Blaze his. The thought of innocent people being hurt always unsettled her. She had seen battles over the years, yet she had never completely hardened to the devastation they caused.

Though it might be easier if she could keep her emotions locked away, she didn’t want to stop caring. Not ever. That was what she loved most about Blaze. She knew he felt exactly the same way.

Sitting beside him, she accepted the hunk of cheese he offered. Their fingertips brushed and their gazes met. Being with him in the cottage was so wonderful, but like all things, it couldn’t last.

Tonight was theirs. Tomorrow they would reach Sophianna and the plan to rescue the people of Vivondra would be underway.

Chapter Twelve

"It's a ridiculous plan, but I think it might work." Lock scratched his white beard and leaned back in his chair.

Blaze glanced at the group assembled in Torn and Honey Wine's private chamber in the palace at Sophianna. He and Melody had arrived that morning. It was dusk, but the plan to rescue Vivondra was ready to go. No sooner had Torn heard Blaze and Melody's story than he sent for several

members of his spy faction as well as Lock. A message had also been issued to the Dames who dispatched several of their sisters to join the battle.

"It will get us into the village undetected," Blaze said. "At least that will give us a chance to fight."

"All right." Torn leaned forward, his intense blue eyes sweeping the room. One thing about his foster brother, Torn was born to command. "Rain, you're in charge of the mission. I wish I could go myself, but since I'm still on the cane I'd be more of a hindrance than a help."

"No problems here," said Sir Rain. The tall, dark-haired Knight was an experienced member of the spy faction. He had earned the respect of his brothers on and off the battlefield. Rain patted the head of the tawny, wrinkle-faced dog beside him. "I have some dogs in my kennel that will be

perfect for this job."

"Lock, are you and Sparrow sure you can prep everyone so quickly?" Torn asked.

The burly ship’s captain replied, "There's nothing to worry about. We spent enough time with the gypsies to get this group to look and act like a traveling carnival show."

Blaze released a pent up breath. This was definitely one of the craziest schemes he had ever been a part of, and he had been involved in many over the years.

Disguised as a group of gypsy performers, their group of Knights and Dames would ride into Vivondra under the pretense of entertaining the people. Once inside, they would attempt to overthrow the raiders. Several ships belonging to both orders would keep watch on the shoreline to make sure that none of the raiders could escape by sea. Once the village was secure, they would

help rebuild and train a guard so they could defend themselves.

Sir Mahir had also sent word to the High King of Travelle about the Black Raiders. However, knowing the royal Court, Blaze guessed that the Knights and Dames would have Vivondra secured before the King sent help.

"All right. Let’s get to work." Torn stood and everyone except Blaze and Melody dispersed.

Torn rested a hand on Blaze's shoulder. "I do wish I could go with you."

"You formed the plan. That was most important. Thank you."

"It's what we do." Torn drew a deep breath, his gaze fixed on Blaze's. "You seem much better."

"I am. I lost my way for a while, but—"

"You found it. That's all that matters. It's good to have you back."

"Yes," Melody said. "It is."

Wrapping his arm around Melody, he smiled at her, then turned back to Torn. "We'll see you when this is over."

"Good luck and be safe."

"We will." Melody squeezed Blaze's hand.

Her touch sent warmth through his entire body. With each moment, his love for her seemed to grow, so much that he actually wished she would stay out of this battle. Still, he knew that could not be. She was a Dame, just as he was a Knight, and he loved her all the more for her courageous

choices.

"Blaze," Torn called before the couple reached the door. They turned back to the black haired Knight. "We're going to win you know."

"Yes." Blaze nodded. Somehow, deep inside, he knew they would.

* * *

Melody stretched her fingers, which were sore from stitching costumes for the past several hours.

As soon as Torn had dismissed them earlier, the Knights and Dames had gathered the supplies they would need to disguise themselves as the gypsy troupe. After packing everything onto Lock's ship,
The Sparrow Song
, they set sail for Warefield. They had little time to throw their disguises

together, conceal their weapons, and figure out possible alternatives to problems that would arise.

If the good weather held, the ship would dock sometime around dawn.

"Are you almost done?" Glenna muttered, trying to keep her face immobile since Sir Crag was painting it with colorful designs. Melody had been glad when her friend had volunteered to join the assignment. She had a strong sword arm and plenty of experience in battle.

"You can't rush a man when he's painting a war mask." Crag carefully swept his brush across the Dame's forehead, creating detailed patterns that would have been the envy of a master artist.

"You're not painting a monastery window, for the Spirit's sake!" Glenna snapped.

"Just sit still. He's almost finished." Melody couldn't keep the laughter from her voice.

Glenna hated anything to do with fashion. Even braiding her hair for special Opal Order ceremonies had always been a chore for her, so having her face painted must have been pure torture. Sir Crag had spent nearly an hour painting Melody's face, so she knew how seriously he took his artwork. Before joining the Ruby Order, the warriors of his Zaltanian village had painted their faces for battle in an almost religious ritual. Since several of the Knights and Dames were to act the part of colorfully dressed acrobats, Blaze had specifically asked for Crag to paint their faces.

"Why am I stuck as an acrobat?"

"Because you're a strong, graceful woman." Melody picked up her needle and continued sewing beads onto a pair of black trousers.

"If you don't hurry, Sir, I will die of boredom."

"Paint a bad mask and you have bad luck in battle."

Melody wasn't sure if that was a real superstition from Crag's homeland or not, but it certainly kept Glenna quiet for the next few minutes while he finished his work.

Blaze approached and squatted beside Melody. He took one of her sore hands and began massaging it.

"That feels good, but I need to finish these costumes." She closed her eyes slightly and enjoyed the gentle rubbing of his long, graceful fingers against her palm.

"I can take over for a while. Rain and I were practicing a dagger throwing exhibition with some of his men. That's a great way to hide weapons."

"How did it go?"

"Not bad. We used Lock as the target and he only lost an ear."

"Blaze!"

"Just joking." He smiled, taking the trousers and beads from her and settling onto the deck.

"Lock's actually showing a few of the Dames a Sothsea dance. By the look of those women, we're going to have to bring Lock with us if we want any kind of a believable dancer at all."

"This I have to see." Melody stood, shaking out the numbness in her legs. She had been sitting for too long and a walk around the deck was in order.

Glancing skyward, she noted that it would soon be dark and they would need to move below to work by lantern light.

Though Melody hated the idea of the coming battle, there was something about all of them working together that stirred feelings of warmth and camaraderie within her. Of all the lives she might have chosen, none could have been better than the one she had. The Dames were her family,

the Knights her friends, and Blaze the lover of her dreams. Suddenly she felt like the luckiest woman in the world.

After sunset, Melody went below deck. The Knights and Dames worked for several hours, finally completing their disguises. When they finished, most went to sleep for the night. Lock's crew would take all the shifts, allowing Blaze and Melody's special party to rest before entering the village.

Before going to sleep, Melody opted for a walk on deck. Hoping Blaze would join her, she searched for him and found him in the galley with Rain and Lock.

"Things are looking fine for tomorrow." Rain fed slivers of meat to the three powerfully built black dogs lying at his feet. The animals were trained in a wide range of command, from performing silly tricks to attacking in the heat of battle. Other than his affiliation with the spy faction, Rain was the Ruby Order's expert in dog training and animal healing. With so few Knights

and Dames actually fighting within Vivondra, Rain's dogs would be welcome partners.

"Those girls dance like a herd of White Island Yaks." Lock shook his head. "If I had more time to work with them, I might have been able to do better."

"Aye." Rain snorted. "If we didn't need you to lead the fleet surrounding Warefield, Lock, you could have come with us and played the dancer. No one's going to believe those women actually get paid for stomping around like buffalo in heat."

"The way Glenna tore up their costumes so they're half naked, no one will care what their dancing looks like." Melody sat beside Blaze and stole a piece of the bread in his hand.

"I saw you try dancing once, Rain." A smile played around Blaze's lips. "I think I cracked a rib laughing."

Rain curled his lip. "I think I liked you better when I couldn’t understand a word you were talking about. At least then I wasn't sure if you were insulting me or not."

Lock yawned and stretched. "I suggest the three of you turn in. You have a long day ahead of you.

And I need to go topside."

"Fine idea." Rain stretched out on the galley floor and tugged his cloak around him.

Melody turned to Blaze, longing for a few minutes alone with him. "Take a walk with me before we go to sleep?"

Blaze took her hand and kissed the back of it. He stood and tugged her to her feet. Together, they walked to the deck.

She gazed at him, loving the way his blue eyes gleamed in the moonlight. Wind lifted tendrils of his auburn hair and blew the fresh herbal scent of it in her direction. Melody drew a deep breath,

attempting to quell the desire stirring inside her.

"Want to sleep out here tonight?" Blaze asked

She nodded, cuddling closer to his side when he slipped his arm around her. "I love being on the deck of a ship during a pleasant night."

"So do I. It seems so free."

Finding a place a short distance away from some of Lock's sleeping crewmembers, Blaze and Melody stretched out close to each other. Resting her cheek against his chest, she fell asleep to the steady, comforting rhythm of his heartbeat.

* * *

The following morning, Melody awoke to brilliant sunlight, a salty breeze, and the echo of a deep, male voice singing a bawdy song.

Blinking sleep from her eyes, she gazed toward the quarterdeck where Lock stood, belting out a Sothsea tune. Knights and Dames mingled on deck. Some were still preparing for the assignment while others were breaking their fast. Crewmembers raised the sails.

Melody turned when someone touched her arm. She was a bit startled by the toothless man with a green-and-purple painted face. His overhanging brow and distended chin gave him the look of a frightening mask, yet the blue eyes gazing at her were soothingly familiar. Blaze had finally gotten into his disguise.

"How do I look, Sweet Music?"

"Horrible."

He grinned. "Kiss me?"

She grasped the back of his neck and tugged him close, her tongue darting between his lips. She ran the tip of it across his teeth to ensure they were really there and Rain hadn't knocked them out for authenticity.

"Yuck." She made a face. "That black stuff tastes awful."

"Tango Root." He chuckled. "It comes from the east, and no, it doesn’t taste good."

"It will ruin your breakfast."

"I ate first."

She giggled. "I should have guessed. Speaking of breakfast, I'm starving."

"The cook's on the quarterdeck with Lock. Let’s see what he has."

"Don’t tell me you're going to try to eat again. Not with that Tango Root on your teeth."