Demon Within (17 page)

Continuing with the undressing, Nissa pushed the heavy gown over cold shoulders then started to drag at the sleeves. Finally freeing Eloise’s limp arms, she pointed her finger to the window and whispered.

‘Is this your doing?’

Nodding and biting her lip as gravity pulled her dress across her curves and towards the floor, Eloise giggled. ‘Amazing, isn’t it? Kai’s impressed.’

Widening her eyes at Eloise’s excited state. ‘Is he now?’ Nissa couldn’t hold back a grin; she wondered exactly what they’d been doing in the rain.

Free from the weighty clothing, she steadied herself and placed a hand on Nissa’s shoulder while her attentive servant bent low and slipped the dress from under her feet, one at a time.

Eloise’s apparent mood convinced her Sabe had been right to assure her she would be safe. Her stomach lurched when she thought about him and her moment of weakness. Shaking away the memories she concentrated on Eloise’s undressing.

Stepping out of the crumpled heap Eloise couldn’t wait to tell Nissa about the afternoon's events. Balancing with Nissa’s aid, she raised her leg at the knee for Nissa to remove her shoe then promptly swapped to the other.

Crouching lower and slipping off each shoe, then casting it to the side, she rose up and started on Eloise’s undergarments. Shaking her head, she wondered why they’d not taken to shelter.

The wet undergarments were placed aside, along with the rest of Eloise’s clothes. Marching towards the bed, Nissa recovered the blanket she used for her own comfort, quickly wrapping it around Eloise. She studied the expression clouding Eloise’s face.

Seemingly in a euphoric state, she wondered if her skill at bringing the rain was to blame, or something else. After watching Kai drag her away, she’d expected tears and whaling; yet Eloise’s excited eyes indicated that clearly wasn’t happening and she was eager to learn why. Her inquisitive mind got the better of her; she couldn’t wait any longer and had to ask.

‘Why are you so giddy?’ Nissa relaxed her arms by her sided and huffed. ‘It can’t be just because of the rain, surely?’ Leaning towards the vanity unit and taking a dry towel she smoothed it over Eloise’s head and started to dry her hair.

‘I’m sorry Nissa.’ Eloise’s muffled voice apologized from under the toweling administered by her friend; pushing the drying cloth over her head and away from her face, she leaned close and whispered.

‘He was so gentle and tender.’ Eloise paused as her mind remembered his touch. Nissa started rubbing her hair, reminding her she was waiting to hear the rest.

‘Sorry!’

Pulling back her head and freeing herself from Nissa’s rough manhandling she grabbed the towel and let it fall to the floor. Snatching Nissa’s hands she led her over to the bed; hurriedly perching on the edge and pulling Nissa with her, she landed with a bounce by Eloise’s side. Scrambling to the middle of the bed and making herself comfortable, Nissa waited for the details.

Seeing Nissa’s impatience and eager to fill her ears, Eloise tightened the blanket around her shoulders; bending her knees and pushing away from the edge she scuttled towards the center to join her companion.

‘Where you worried about me?’ Raising her brows touching her hand to Nissa’s thigh, she gave her a sympathetic look.

‘Yes! Of course I was!’ She shook her head at Eloise. ‘Sabe kept assuring me that you’d be fine, but-’

‘I was worried too… at the beginning, but, I didn’t need to be.’

Eloise could barely catch her breath while she told Nissa how she’d shown Kai her skills after seeing the dry lake. The details she carried when describing him touching and holding her, and how gentle he was, made Nissa gasp. Her garbled words fell from her mouth hurriedly and without a pause for breath in some places. Nissa listened in amazement. Shaking her head and nodding to each detail and noticing Eloise’s newfound infatuation with her intended, she felt relieved.

‘But I am a little worried one thing.’ Eloise could barely look at Nissa. ‘We’re to bathe each other tomorrow.’

Nissa’s hands instantly sprang to cover her mouth as she gasped aloud. Her wide eyes caused Eloise to turn her face away in embarrassment.

‘But you won’t be married at that point!’ Nissa wondered how this was going to sit with her father, not to mention Roulan.

‘We’re to be taken to a secret temple, somewhere in the mountains.’

Managing to face her friend, Eloise brushed a stray lock of wet hair from her face.

‘It’s a bonding ceremony or something, we ask each other question and if we don’t tell the truth, it’s a bad omen for our marriage.’ Remembering about the observers, she added.

‘There’s going to be someone there to make sure nothing… inappropriate happens.’ Eloise drew her lip nervously into her mouth and fell silent, she could feel herself tense.

Unable to speak, Nissa covered her face and fell back on the bed screeching as she kicked her legs. After a few moments and managing to contain her excitement she sat up and started to giggle.

‘It’s no laughing matter!’

Nissa smirked, her grin smothered by her hands ‘I’m sorry Eloise, forgive me.’

‘What am I going to do?’

‘You’re going to ask lots of questions!

Crossing the border from the Highlands into Wild Plains flooded memories into Caster’s mind. The last time he’d crossed a border was nineteen years ago when he moved to Stonegarth with Ellanor and their baby from Middenland. He’d never traveled to Wild Plains previously and looked forward to seeing new territories.

It took five years for the memories of his life before the accident started to come back. In that time, he’d married Ellanor and they’d had a son, Jace, and he cherished both of them and was thankful every day for his survival from the fall.

As soon as he was fit enough to work he left the village of Tileworth, where they lived, and found employment with a farmer from the Highlands. The merchant, Steadman, as he was called, traveled regularly from his home in Stonegarth down to Tileworth, to sell his sheep at the busy market there. He was in his late fifties and made the journey despite struggling with many ailments. Struggling one day to shepherd his livestock into the pens at the market, Caster had come to his aid and having made friends over a pint of ale and some lunch later, he offered Caster work. Steadman retired to his home at Stonegarth in the Highlands, and Caster moved his stock from the Highlands to Middenland. Selling them in markets through the regions it paid well and provided him with a good wage. Considering himself fortunate in finding an honest and trustworthy man in Caster and not having any family, Steadman looked on Caster as his own.

Caster worked hard for Steadman and never took advantage or sought to rob or cheat him. For his rewards and after three years Steadman offered Caster the opportunity to buy stock of his own at a cheaper rate and start breeding, so that he could sell his own livestock. Eager to take up the offer he soon made a tidy profit after his selective breeding plan came to fruition. After another two years he’d made enough money to buy into Steadman’s business as his equal partner. He had a knack for business and enterprise and soon started making changes that brought in higher returns.

Caster and his family still lived in Tileworth but when his memory returned, everything changed. Selling up their home they moved to the Highlands and Steadman let them live in a cottage on his land, provided they maintained it and took care of the expenses. Caster had never set foot in Middenland after he’d moved up to the Highlands.

Barely watching the path ahead, it was only when his horse stumbled did he wake from his daydream of the past. Looking around at the forest and taking a deep breath, he brought his thoughts forward and started thinking about the meeting in Blackhill with Kai of Darkmide. He was worried the plan wouldn’t work, and his idea of peace between him and Garlan was a nothing but a pipedream. Thinking that Kai, a warrior in his own right, would need an alliance with Caster and his small army of Highlanders was ridiculous.

Caster worried they were making a mistake and feared it would end badly for him and his family. There was still time to turn back and forget all about it; without any objections from his wife or son, they would follow his decision without question. Taking in a few deep breaths he closed his eyes and considered his options.

It was late afternoon and Ellanor couldn’t find a comfortable position any longer in the saddle. Shuffling and rubbing her thigh, she tried to ease the irritating aches. She was finally ready to admit to Caster that she was tired. Each time he’d asked if she would like to rest, her stubbornness and pride made her say no. They’d covered more ground than expected and still had many hours of traveling ahead of them. But feeling weary and sore, Ellanor reasoned with her pride and thought about suggesting they should rest for the night and continue their journey early in the morning.

Glancing over to her husband, she could see the furrows in his brow. Married for twenty-four years, she knew the lines on her husband’s face well, and knew the past memories of his life before her would start to pray on his mind.

Spurring on her horse to draw up by Caster’s side, and gave his shirt sleeve a gentle tug. The pulling snapped Caster out of his daydream and back to reality, with a shake of his head he turned to look at his wife and smiled.

‘How are you feeling my love?’

‘Truthfully, I’m very tired and a little sore.’ With a shaky smile she hoped Caster would forget that it was her idea to come along, despite his advice to stay home.

‘I think we all are.’ Reaching his arm over the gap between their horses, he leaned closer and rested his hand on her thigh.

‘You’ve done well, but I think we’re all ready to rest and have a bite to eat.’ He gave her a warm smile and winked before looking over his shoulder to Jace.

‘I think we’ll start looking for a good place to rest for the night Jace, do you want to ride ahead and see if you can find somewhere?’

Without hesitation Jace kicked his horse forward and came up by his father's side.

‘Yes, of course.’ Jace sped off, putting a little distance between them.

The path they traveled cut through a forest and gave plenty of protection from the howling winds coming down from the mountains. They just needed a small clearing with a little shelter where they could sleep soundly for the night.

Caster drew in a long breath and turned to Ellanor. ‘Do you have any worries?’

‘I think I’m a little nervous.’ she drew in a deep breath. ‘I know we’re doing the right thing, but I’m still worried.’

Ellanor swapped the reins into her other hand and held Caster’s as it rested against her thigh.

‘Me too.’ Squeezing her hand to reassure her, ‘but we’re almost there and we’ve got each other for support. I’m sure we’ll be alright.’

Caster smiled hopefully, releasing her hand to rub along his thigh to ease the muscles.

‘We’ll set up camp and have ourselves a bit of a feast eh?’ Chuckling, he glanced back to Ellanor with a grin. ‘Maybe we can finish off the wine and take it in turns to rub out each other’s aches.’

Winking at his wife Caster grinned wider before turning to watch Jace speed towards them.

‘Did you find anything son?’

‘Yes I did. Follow me!’ Speeding ahead and turning off the path towards the left, Caster and Ellanor kept up behind him.

They halted in a clearing just off the path. Surrounded by thick oak tree’s there was a bare area where they could make their fire for the night. Using their blankets, they could fasten them between the smaller trees to make a canopy and be out of the rain should it turn stormy.

Each of them dismounted and took a few moments to stretch and get their bodies working again. They’d been riding since before dawn with only a few short breaks and they were all tired and eager to rest. If they made another early start and made good time, they would be at Darkmide by lunchtime, then onto Blackhill.

***

Arriving in Blackhill soaking wet from the unexpected downpour, Darion sought lodgings for the night. He’d found a small Inn and while it wasn’t the biggest, it was clean, and on the menu they offered wine from his home town of Braxton.

Hoping the food was better than the last place he’d stopped at Darion walked into the small room and looked around for somewhere to sit. The low ceilings and small windows made the room dim despite it still being daytime. He changed into dryer clothes in his room, but even the ones he’d kept for spare, were damp. Noticing a large table set in a corner occupied by only two men, he thought he might ask if he could join them as there weren’t any free tables.

The two men huddled over the table drank from large mugs and appeared quiet. Darion walked nearer, but hesitated when one of the men stared at him. They were both very well built, one had long blond hair with his back towards Darion; taking up more than half the table he was so broad. The other wasn’t so big. He and had shorter, darker hair and kept his eyes on Darion, mumbling incoherent words to his friend without losing eye contact. Feeling he should maybe leave, Darion turned and started to walk away but suddenly stopped when one of the men called out to him.

‘Hello! There’s room on our table if you want to join us.’

Quickly turning and looking to the dark haired man, Darion smiled and walked towards the table. He couldn’t help but notice the scars on the man’s face and arms and hadn’t realized he was staring until the man stood up.

Holding out his hand his deep voice filled Darion’s ears.

‘I’m Maika, and this is Saul.’

Darion quickly shook Maika’s hand and winced at the tight grip on his slender fingers.

‘It’s not usually this busy, sit and have a drink.’

Maika sat back in his chair and Darion turned to face Saul to take his hand as he sat next to him. Despite having visited Blackhill a few times over the past years, he’d never met either of them previously. Darion assumed they were with Kai; they had to be his warriors unless they were mercenaries but he didn’t think so. Seeing their scars, he thought they must have been former slaves; both arms on each man bore lash marks from a whip, and Maika had a large uneven scar across his neck. Darion tried not to stare but it was hard not to be distracted by them.

‘Thank you for the invitation. I’m Darion. I’ve been traveling all day and just wanted to have a drink and some good food.’

Looking around to see most people eating he leaned closer to Saul and whispered.

‘Is the food any good here?’

The man only nodded in response. Maika quickly interrupted.

‘My friend doesn’t speak, he’s lost his tongue.’

Darion’s eyes widened. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t worry, he’s used to it.’ Maika raised his hand in the air and called out to a waitress, ‘Hey sweetheart, can we get some food over here?’

Within moments the pretty dark haired waitress hovered by their table. Standing by Maika’s side, she gave everyone a sweet smile before telling them about the days specials. Taking everyone’s order she gave Saul a wide smile before leaving to head off to the kitchen.

Maika started chuckling and shook his head.

‘I don’t know how he does it, but they all fall for him.’ Saul laughed and opening his mouth wide, wiggled what remained of his tongue at Maika.

They didn’t have to wait long for more wine; flashing her eyes and her breasts, the waitress placed the wine and extra mug on the table. Promising to return with their food she cast another smile towards Saul before turning towards the kitchen. Maika shook his head and slapped his large hand over his eyes for a moment then turned to Darion as he picked up a flask of wine.

‘Here, let’s have a drink. What shall we drink to?’

Shrugging his shoulders Darion waited for the others to make a suggestion, but seeing the blank faces staring back at him, he smashed his mug into everyone else's and made a toast.

‘Here’s to our man Kai and his wife to be, Eloise.’ His voice carried around the room causing others to cheer; the sound of mugs clattering together rang out and Darion happily joined in, congratulating the happy couple. His new friends confirmed Darion’s suspicions; they worked for Kai.

Drinking heavily until the food arrived, Darion tested it gingerly before diving in. The meal was surprisingly tasty and he’d not realized how hungry he was. Maika drank more than he ate but eventually caught up and finished before relaxing in his chair feeling satisfied.

‘You said you’ve been traveling, where are you from?’ Maika poured the last of the wine from the first flask and reached for the second to top up his mug.

‘Braxton.’ Amazed at how much his new friends could drink, he still was on his first mug. ‘I’m here to ask for help.’

Leaning forward and resting his muscular arms on the table, Maika frowned.

‘Help with what?’

Aware both warriors were eager to hear Darion’s plight, he told them about the attack on Dryden. Explaining the scene of the wreckage; Darion expressed his views that raiders were not to blame despite what his father and others thought.

‘What if Braxton suffers the same fate, and then Darkmide after that? If whoever is doing this isn’t stopped, maybe Blackhill would follow?’

Darion hoped they’d see why it made sense to aid their town.

‘If Kai would send a few warriors to Braxton to help us in the event of an attack, having aid from feared warriors, such as yourselves, might scare them off.’ Darion leaned closer and stared Maika in the eyes. ‘We’re just farmers! Please, can you take me to speak with Kai and ask for help?’

Saul slammed his clenched fist on the table and grunted to Maika. Darion wasn’t sure if that was a yes or no but hoped Maika’s pause was a good sign. He’d presented his case and that’s all he could do.

Sighing deeply and lowering his head, Darion had no idea if Braxton was even still standing. Maybe it was too late to save his town, and whatever had destroyed Dryden had already moved onto Braxton. It was too much to think about.

‘I’ll speak to Kai in the morning.’

Hearing Maika’s words made Darion’s head jerk up. ‘Thank you!’

‘I can’t promise anything, don’t forget he’ll be getting married the day after, but I’ll tell him what you’ve told us.’ Pouring more wine from the last of the flask, he shook it and glanced to Darion. Taking the hint and grinning Darion called over the server and asked for two more flasks of wine.