Ginny Hartman (11 page)

“I thought you said he was fine,” confusion marred her pretty face.

“Please, let me finish. Your uncle and I were alone in the council room, at least we thought we were alone. Somebody was hiding in the tower, ready to pounce. While I was fighting off the attacker, your parents came to see what the commotion was about, having barely left the council room themselves. As I was holding off the attacker, another man suddenly appeared and...” Terric had to stop speaking as the grisly images assaulted his memory. How could he share that nightmare with Rosalind?

Rosalind was before him, her voice shaking as she spoke, “What happened? Tell me.”

Terric looked down into her violet eyes and mustered enough strength to continue. “I couldn't stop the man in time; I couldn't save them.”

Rosalind's face paled. “Tell me what happened,” she demanded.

“I just did.” Clearly she didn't register what he had just told her, she needed clarification, but he was loathe to give it.

“Tell me,” she urged.

“I had the first attacker backed into the wall, my sword at his throat. I knew if I let him go to defend your parents, he'd kill King Cedric. Your father was killed first. I immediately killed the man I held captive and rushed to your mother. But I,” he paused to swallow. “I was too late. I slayed their murderer, but it was too late.”

Terric watched as Rosalind searched his face, shaky hands going up to cover her mouth as a stifled sob escaped. “Nay!” she cried, shaking her head violently.

Terric reached for her, clasping her shoulders in his hands before pulling her forcefully into his chest. Both arms went around her as her sorrow bubbled forth, manifesting itself in large tears that cascaded down her face. She pulled her hands into small fists and angrily pounded against his chest as she cried, but Terric's grip tightened, holding her firmly to him. Her punches didn't physically hurt him at all, but he felt the anger and pain behind each blow, and it hurt him emotionally. It multiplied the guilt he already felt at the situation.

As she sobbed and flailed in his arms, Terric replayed that fateful day over in his mind. He knew at the time that there was nothing he could have done differently that would have made it so that he had been able to save her parents’ lives. If there had been, he was sure he would have done it. But as he listened to her strangled cries, he started to doubt himself. He started to wonder if maybe there was more that he could have done. Could he have prevented the heartache the girl was feeling? He didn't think so then, but now he wasn't sure.

Rosalind's fists fell to her sides, as her sobs began to quiet, though the tears continued streaming steadily from her eyes. “Why didn't you tell me? Why did you say you were taking me to see them in Peltis, that they had requested my presence?”

“I couldn't, I had sworn an oath to King Cedric. He wanted to be the one to tell you.”

“What about Colin, is he dead too?”

“No, but Aeden just informed me that there has been an attempt to end his life since I left to fetch you. Your brother has fled with King Cedric and his family to Peltis, seeking protection. I was to see you safely there, but it's not wise to take you there anymore.”

“So now what? Am I to stay in the forest with you indefinitely?”

“Nay, you have to go into hiding. You are now Queen of the southwestern territory and must be kept safe. King Cedric believes that the enemy might try to target you now in an attempt to overthrow your territory.”

Tears still leaked out of the corners of her eyes, rolling down her cheeks and falling into the bodice of her dress. Her voice was shaky with emotion as she spoke, “Where will you take me? Can't I go to stay with Uncle Lawrence at Drambil Castle?”

“It's too obvious. I'm going to take you to my mother. She will hide you until we can figure out who is behind these attacks. You will be safe at our home.”

“And I am to trust you after...”

“After I wasn't able to save your parents?” He asked for her, not sure he could stand hearing her accusations against him. “It all happened so fast. If there had been something, anything I could have done, I promise you that I would have done it.” His voice was insistent, almost vehement as he spoke. He wanted her to believe him.

“I guess I only have your word for it,” she said icily, her admission cutting him to the core.

“Please don't do this to me,” he begged.

“Why?” she screamed. “Why should I care what I do to you? You lied to me; you let my parents die. Why should I do anything for you?” she spat angrily.

Terric was shocked. He had expected her grief, her sadness, but he had not expected the anger she directed at him. He slid his hands from around her, loosening his hold on her completely. His arms felt cold without her in them, and the smoldering look she was giving him completed the chill in his heart. He turned from her, unable to see the hate in her eyes. “Aeden went to fetch us some disguises so we can travel across Darth undetected. I will see you safely to my mother's then will return to protect King Cedric. You will never have to see me again after that. I'm sorry I failed you.”

“You failed my parents. That's who you failed.”

“I'm sorry,” he mumbled, closing his eyes in an attempt to block out the guilt magnified by her blame. It didn't work.

***

Rosalind watched Terric walk away from her as she hurled her angry words at him. She wanted to follow him and pound her fists into his back as she had done to his chest earlier, but she knew it wouldn't do any good. The man was all muscle; surely her blows didn't affect him in the least. Instead, she turned her back to him and walked away, fresh sobs bursting from her throat. She took two steps and crumpled to the ground in a heap, curling herself into a tight ball.

As much as she spent the majority of her time at odds with her mother, she still loved her deeply. Regret consumed her as she thought of the last time she had seen her alive. She had argued with her over her rude treatment of Prince Samuel. Oh how she wished she could take that all back now, that she would have spent that precious time telling her how much she loved her instead.

At least things with her father had been much less terse. Thinking of her father made her cries deepen. He had always been so tolerant of her. He spoiled her more than a father aught, but she adored him for it, adored him for his kind heart, his loving manner. And what of Colin? Did he know their parents were dead? Suddenly she felt an inexpressible desire to go to him, to mourn with him.

She blinked the tears from her eyes, rubbing them with her hands before looking up. Small, delicate tendrils of red mist were curling before her face. For a moment she thought they were flames, and though she risked being burned, she couldn't stop herself from reaching for them.

As soon as her fingers touched the weightless mist, her body jolted. She closed her eyes in shock and when she opened them, she was kneeling in front of Terric. She gasped, glancing over to the spot she had just been occupying, some thirty feet away. She looked at Terric, his wide eyes boring into hers.

“What just happened?” he asked, clearly confused by her sudden appearance in front of him.

Rosalind's voice shook, “I don't know. I was thinking of my brother, of how badly I wanted to be with him, and then, all of a sudden, I was here before you.” She grew nervous when Terric didn't say anything. “This has never happened before; I don't know how...I'm not a witch. I promise I'm not a witch.”

Terric reached down and gently raised her from the ground, “Aye. I know that you are not a witch. But that,” he said, looking once more to where she had just come from, “was not normal.”

Rosalind couldn't look at him as she spoke. Her emotions were strung much too tight and now this, this unexplainable occurrence was rattling the last of her already frayed nerves. “I saw the wisps again, the colorful mist I told you about. I decided to touch it and then, then I was here.”

Terric cupped her face in his rough hands, lifting her face so he could look into her eyes. “I don't know what's going on and I can't explain the episodes you've been having, but I highly suggest that you don't touch those wisps again.”

“Do you think I'm cursed?” she asked nervously, gnawing on her bottom lip, her grief momentarily forgotten.

“Nay I do not. I think you are tired and emotional. Tonight we will stay in an inn so you can get some proper rest. I'm sorry for everything you have been through.”

Rosalind heard his words and hoped he was right, hoped that this odd occurrence was merely a result of the strain she was under as of late, of the grief she was experiencing at the loss of her parents and nothing more. Thinking once more of her parents caused a fresh wave of tears to burst forth. Her whole body shook as she sobbed. Her parents were gone, she didn't know if she would ever see Colin again, she was being whisked off to stay at the house of strangers, and the man holding her could have prevented everything. She wanted to hate him but at that moment her grief overruled everything. Collapsing into his arms, she clung to his tunic and cried, anguished cries that spilled forth violently from her chest, but Terric just held her, occasionally brushing her hair back from her face in an oddly soothing gesture.

Rosalind wasn't sure if it was hours that had passed when Aeden finally returned, or merely minutes. Logically, she knew it had to be longer than minutes, for his ride into the village would not have been that quick. She hadn't the strength to feign cordiality.  Instead she burrowed her face into Terric's tunic in hopes of blocking out the world. Terric kept one strong arm around her waist, the action quite possibly being the only thing that kept her from sinking to the ground below. She felt comfortable in his embrace, but she wasn't about to analyze why it felt so natural. The conflicting emotions she felt towards him were exhausting.

Aeden dismounted and walked over to where they were standing. He addressed Terric, talking to him as if nothing was out of the ordinary. He handed Terric a satchel of clothing, which he took with his one free hand. After some final words in parting, he said his farewells, mounted his destrier, and galloped off towards the south.

When Rosalind could no longer hear the horse’s hooves beating against the ground, Terric gently peeled her from him. “Aeden brought us some clothing. As soon as we get dressed, we need to be on our way.”

Leafing through the bag, he pulled out a brown woolen cloak complete with a hood. He wrapped the itchy garment around her shoulders, tying it at her neck before reaching back and draping the hood over her head. It was large and would easily hide her face completely. Next he pulled a tunic out of the sack. It appeared to be made of the same itchy wool as her cloak. As he began pulling his own defender's tunic off over his head, Rosalind looked away, embarrassed by his immodesty, yet instantly intrigued. She wondered what his body looked like beneath his shirt.

She turned back after she was sure she had given him ample time to change, but was still regretful when she noticed his torso was completely covered. It was odd seeing him without the black uniform of a defender, and though his new clothing was supposed to make him look like a commoner, she thought it would take more than a drab tunic to accomplish that feat.

Terric pulled the last article of clothing from the bag, a gray cloak for himself. He quickly donned the garment before stuffing his own tunic and the satchel into the saddlebag. Turning to Rosalind he said, “It's time for us to go. Keep your hood on at all times; we can't have anyone recognizing you.”

She nodded silently before allowing him to assist her into the saddle. Then they were off.

Chapter 12

Forgiveness

The combination of unfamiliar, itchy clothing and the rare appearance of the sun made the journey uncomfortable. Terric was sure that Rosalind had to be annoyed with the course material of the cloak, for surely nothing but the finest of material had ever touched her satiny skin. He, on the other hand, didn't mind the tunic, for his chainmail put a barrier between his skin and the fabric, making it not as bothersome. It was the heavy cloak covering his head that irritated him so. He hated having his vision blocked by the thick folds of fabric, hated the way it made it nearly impossible to get a fresh breath of air. Even the sun failed to lift his moods.

It didn't help that Rosalind now hated him, blamed him for her parents’ deaths. It was the first time in his life that he felt guilty for his actions. He had to keep reminding himself that it truly had been out of his control, that his foremost duty was to King Cedric, and he had been successful in defending him. It helped assuage the guilt slightly, but not completely.

They made good time on their journey, pausing only briefly to stretch their legs, give Stephen a rest from their weight, and eat a few of the remaining food supplies left. Rosalind hardly ate a thing, but after much encouragement from Terric, agreed to at least eat a handful of nuts and a few dried figs. He knew it wouldn't be enough to sustain her all day and had promised himself to get her to a warm inn before nightfall so she could have a hot meal as well.

Terric was grateful that he knew Darth so well, making their journey that much less complicated. He was familiar with the route he was currently taking to his childhood home and knew that there was a cozy inn about half way there that would provide the perfect place for them to stay.

The sun had just set in the sky, causing a golden glow to cast itself over the valley, when Terric realized that they would soon be approaching the inn. The day had seemed long, the companionship between him and Rosalind tense. They had hardly said two words to each other all day. But now, he knew he needed to speak with her, to inform her of his plan. He reigned in his mount and leaned his head down so she could hear him speak, “We are fast approaching the inn I have planned to stop at for the night. It's important that we get to our room undetected. You will have to pretend to be asleep. I will carry you in, keeping your cloak covering you so the innkeeper will not know it is you. Do you understand?”