dragon archives 02 - pursued by a dragon (12 page)

Cathryn pulled the quilt up around her ears, trying to find sleep once more, but the wind was banging the shutter repeatedly against the wall. After a few minutes, she abandoned the effort to sleep and rose from her bed. The sky was already lightening as she leaned out the window to secure the offending covering. A few clouds scudded through the heavens, but they were quickly being pushed aside by the force of the wind. After a swift debate, Cathryn turned away from the window and dragged on her riding habit, tugging the stays at her side tight before pulling on her sturdy boots. She crept down the stairs and quietly let herself out the door and onto the street.

Once again Cathryn had to rouse a sleeping stable boy, but the promise of a shiny coin quickly brought him to his feet, and within a few minutes Cathryn was trotting down the street on Morana’s back. She lifted her chin into the wind and shook her hair loose as she left the town gates behind her, letting the breeze catch the tendrils and toss them around her face. She slackened the reins as soon as she reached the meadow, and the horse whickered into the wind as it gathered speed. She could see the oak tree in the distance, a dark smudge against the grey sky. After a brief gallop, Cathryn pulled in her mare and slowed her to a trot. There was a rider in the distance, traveling in her direction, and he slowed as he drew near. The light was still too dim to see the features clearly, but Cathryn could make out a man riding the back of a very large stallion. His horse was fidgety and unsettled, uncomfortable with the weight on its back. The pair drew closer, and Cathryn drew in a breath when she recognized Favian coming towards her.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded.

“Good morning, my love!” he said with a grin. “I could ask the same of you.”

“I often ride in the morning,” she said with a toss of her head, “but I have never seen you out here before.”

“I found myself unable to sleep,” he explained, “and thought a ride would help clear my thoughts.”

“Do I dare enquire why you couldn’t sleep?” she asked cheekily.

“You can ask, but I will not give you an answer,” he said. “Now your turn — why are you out so early?”

“I found myself unable to sleep,” she replied, “and thought a ride would help clear my thoughts.” Favian laughed.

“Touché,” he said.

“Is that your horse?” she asked as it snorted and flicked its tail beneath him.

“No, I rented him from the stables,” he said. He leaned down and patted the horse on the neck, but the action did nothing to quiet the animal. “He’s not very calm, but I can guarantee that he’s fast. Do you want to race to that oak at the end of the meadow?”

“Race?” she exclaimed in horror. “A lady does not race!”

Favian pulled back in surprise. “My apologies, Cathryn. I did not mean to suggest you were not —”

He kicked his horse into motion as Cathryn flew out ahead of him, her laughter trailing on the wind behind her. She reached the tree first, and reined Morana in sharply before sliding off her back.

“Yes?” she said with a sweet smile as Favian reined in beside her. “I did not catch what you were saying.”

“You,” he said as he jumped off the horse, “are a very sneaky woman.” She took a step back as he stalked towards her, but the tree behind her gave her no leeway for escape. “I think,” he continued, placing his hands on the tree trunk on either side of her head, “I will have to re-evaluate your character.”

“Really?” she said, but the word came out in a breathy waver. He was so close, his eyes intent on her. Flecks of yellow burned deep within his eyes, and she watched, mesmerized, as he brought his face closer. Her lips opened, and then his mouth was on hers, sending a flame of heat rushing through her. Wrapping a hand around her neck, he pulled her closer, tangling his hand in her hair and keeping her captured. Her hands slipped around his back, lingering for a moment before sliding up towards his shoulders, caressing the taut muscle and sinew just beneath his skin. She could feel his warmth through the thin fabric of his tunic, and pressed herself even closer, curling her body into his. His lips moved away from hers, trailing over her neck, before he pulled away slightly, looking down into her eyes. .

“Does this mean you are ready to give me an answer,” he asked softly.  She dropped her head back to the tree trunk behind her, her heart pounding in her chest. His gaze held hers as he waited for an answer, and she smiled up at him, before twisting away in a quick movement, slipping under his arm with a laugh.

“Perhaps,” she said, “but then again, perhaps not.”

“Tell me,” he said, turning around and leaning back against the tree, “did you dream about me last night?”

“That would be telling,” she teased, “but I will tell you this: I dreamt about your cousin.”

“Aaron?” His face grew concerned. “Did you have another nightmare?”

“No,” she said slowly, “I don’t think so. It was a strange dream, but not like before.”

“Tell me,” he said.

“I don’t really remember it,” she replied. The eastern sky was glowing with the colors of sunrise, and Cathryn turned to watch. “Aaron was in it, as was the dragon. I woke up in the middle of the dream, but as soon as I awoke, I felt as though I was missing something. That there was something I should know about the dragon, but it kept eluding me.” She turned to look at Favian, who was watching her silently.

“What do you think it means?” she said.

“I think it means that you are still afraid of the dragon.”

“No, it’s something more, I know it. There is something I know about the dragon, but just cannot remember.”

“Cathryn, what do you know about dragons? Just a few days past you didn’t even believe they existed!”

“Well, I know what I’ve heard in the stories,” she said.

“Stories,” scoffed Favian. “There’s very little truth in stories.”

“I know that dragons are fierce monsters.”

“Only some of them.”

“I know they eat innocent maidens.”

“Pure fabrication.”

“I know they breathe fire,” she continued.

“Well, yes, that’s true,” he admitted.

“And have tails with spikes that can mortally injure someone.” Favian shrugged his concurrence.

“And …” Cathryn cast her mind back to the night at the Bradshaws’, trying to recall what else the bard had said about dragons. “Dragons can …” Her eyes widened as the story came rushing back.

“Yes?” Favian prompted.

“Dragons can take on the form of man,” she whispered, taking a step back. She looked up at Favian, looking for confirmation, and saw the expression freeze on his face as he stared at her.

“Is that true?” she whispered, but Favian remained silent.

“Aaron,” she gasped, “Aaron is … Aaron is a dragon, isn’t he?” Still Favian remained silent, his face set like stone.

“But how …? He’s your cousin!” She stared at Favian, the color draining from her face as she took another step backwards.

“Cathryn,” he said, taking a step towards her, but she held up her hand, stumbling as she backed away from him.

“No,” she whispered, “tell me it’s not true. Tell me you’re not … not a dragon.”

“Cathryn.”

“Tell me!” Her voice rose as she repeated the words. “Tell me!”

“I can’t,” he whispered.

“No! No!”

“Please, listen to me,” he said, moving towards her with his hands outstretched.

“Don’t touch me,” she screamed. “Stay away from me.” Turning on her heel she ran towards Morana, throwing herself over the saddle and hitching her leg over with a gasp.

“Cathryn,” he shouted, running after her. “Stop!”

Cathryn’s booted heels kicked into the horse’s flanks, spurring the animal into motion as Favian reached to catch the reins, missing them by less than an inch. Cathryn reached down and hugged Morana’s neck as she sped past Favian, tears streaming down her face. She kicked the horse again, urging her to go even faster, shuddering when she heard a roar ripping through the air behind her. She did not dare look back, but kept her head down as she raced towards the town as it slowly wakened to a new day.

 Chapter 20 

Cathryn sat at a small desk in her chambers, staring down at the paper in front of her which listed the items still needing to be completed before she started her tour. Father had finally agreed that the weather had settled enough for the roads to be passable, and with just two days to go before they left, there was still much to be done. She looked up as Hannah entered the room.

“Master Drake is here again. Should I send him away?”

“Yes.” Hannah watched Cathryn for a moment before nodding and leaving the room. Cathryn stared at the door after it closed. Favian had come by every day since that fateful morning when she discovered what he really was. She thought back to the conversation she’d had with Hannah the first time he called, when she told Hannah that she would not see him.

“Why not?” Hannah had demanded.

“He is not the man he appears to be,” Cathryn replied.

“Did he hurt you?”

“No.”

“Then what is it? Is he running from the law?”

“No. Nothing like that. He’s a good man. I just cannot marry him.”

“But … I don’t understand.”

“Please, Hannah,” Cathryn had said. “Just let it be.”

The sound of a door closing brought her back to the present. She rose and walked over to the window, looking down on the street below. Favian appeared from beneath the overhang, and she pulled into the shadows as he paused. Turning slowly, he looked up at the window of her chambers, his eyes searching. They stopped when he reached the corner where she stood, although she was sure he could not see her in the shadows. “I love you,” she saw him say. He stared for another moment, then dropped his gaze and slowly turned away. The tears gathered in her eyes and spilled unheeded down her cheeks as she watched him walk down the street.

Although Cathryn pushed all thought of him away while she was awake, she could not prevent him from pursuing her into her dreams. She dreamt of him every night. Sometimes the dreams were filled with warm embraces and words of love. He would hold her tight and whisper her name into her hair, before capturing her lips with his own, and she would wake in the morning with a wistful yearning.

But other times the dreams were filled with frustration.

“Why?” the dream Favian would demand. “Why can you not love me?”

“Because you are a dragon,” she would whisper.

“What does it matter?” he would say, but she had no answer.

On the morning of their departure, Hannah coiled Cathryn’s hair into a knot, securing it with the butterfly pin. Cathryn opened her mouth to protest, but slowly closed it again when she caught Hannah’s gaze in the mirror. She pulled the silver bangle onto her wrist, and waited as Hannah tightened the stays on her habit. A few minutes later she descended the stairs, Hannah following a few steps behind. The trunks had already been stowed in one of the wagons, along with all the other provisions for the trip. She stepped out of the house, and with the help of Felix, mounted Morana while Hannah climbed onto the seat of the wagon, waiting in the lane. It was a sunny day, and Cathryn glanced up at the sky to see only a few fluffy puffs that bore no threat of rain. High overhead she saw a dark shape circling above them — bird or dragon, she could not say — and she quickly glanced away.

“Ready?” she asked Felix, who responded with a nod. Father was holding her reins, and he reached up to pat her hand before stepping back. She gave him a quick smile as she set her horse in motion, Felix falling into step beside her. They soon reached the town’s gates, where the rest of the convoy were waiting to join them. Twelve wagons in total, ready to be filled with bundles of fleeces, each with a driver and an outrider who rode beside the wagon. Once each wagon was fully loaded with fleeces it would return with the goods to the warehouse in town.

They made good progress the first day, traveling along a well-worn road. The first destination was a monastery, half a day’s ride away when the distance was traveled on a fast mount, but almost two days away when traversed by a large convoy. Once there, the monks would offer rooms to the travelers; but for the first night, they stopped at a small wayside inn where they were offered a bowl of greasy stew and a straw pallet. Cathryn, to her relief, was given a small room which she shared with Hannah, but the men were bedded in the large common room, the tables and benches pushed against the wall.

After an uncomfortable night, they were up early the following morning, hitching the wagons and saddling the horses. Another long day of riding saw them approaching the monastery at nightfall. A forerunner had been sent on ahead to warn the abbot of their imminent arrival, and as the convoy neared the sprawling buildings, Cathryn found that their arrival was expected. Business conversations would wait until the morrow, but for now the promise of a warm meal and comfortable bed cheered them for the evening.

Eight hundred fleeces were ready to be loaded onto a wagon the following morning, a task completed while Cathryn and the abbot conducted their business, and the convoy was ready to set off once more by noon. The next destination was a large market town, where small fleece lots could be purchased from tenant farmers.

The days and weeks that followed started to blur as Cathryn continued her tour. Some nights were spent at wayside inns of varying quality and service, while other nights were spent at fine estates or austere monasteries where Cathryn took delivery of fleeces, drew up contracts or renegotiated old ones. At one estate the owner was unable to produce the required number of fleeces, and when Cathryn suggested that they renegotiate the contract on terms less advantageous to him, he grew belligerent. Cathryn was sure it was only due to Felix’s presence that she escaped without physical injury.

They had been on the road for fifteen days when the company was forced to put up camp on the roadside. The light was already starting to fade when the forerunner returned with the news that the next town was still twelve miles away, too far to reach before nightfall. A quick consultation with Felix resulted in the decision to stop alongside the road for the night, and he moved on ahead to scout out a suitable place to camp. He returned within a few minutes, indicating that there was a suitable site under some trees less than a mile ahead. They had just reached the spot when the sound of racing hooves was heard over the sounds of the creaking wagons and plodding horses. Turning in her saddle, Cathryn looked back to see a rider approaching them from behind. Next to her, Felix waved his hand, indicating that the convoy should stop to allow the rider to pass, but as he drew nearer he began to slow down. It was not until he was close that a gasp escaped Cathryn.