Goddess of the Sea (38 page)

She cracked the door. The knight was dressed as he had been the evening before, and his expression was strained.

“Good afternoon, Sir Andras,” CC said formally, feeling especially uncomfortable without Isabel at her side.

Andras inclined his head. “Princess Undine, I trust today you are recovered and able to walk with me.”

“I would be happy to, but as you can see I'm really not dressed for it.” She pointed at her dirty robe.

“I will send for the servant, Isabel, to aid you. I await you in the courtyard,” he said firmly, then executed an abrupt military about-face and strode away.

CC sighed and closed the door. She didn't have to wait long for Isabel to arrive.

“Come, let me help you into your beautiful gown,” she said, lifting the shining material from where it was draped across the bed.

“I don't want to walk with him,” CC said.

“You must, or you chance being locked away.”

At that reminder, CC shivered in fear.

“Smile at Sir Andras. Stroke his ego,” Isabel said.

“I'm worried about what Sarpedon could make him do.” CC chewed her bottom lip.

Isabel frowned. “You must take care not to arouse the knight's anger, then perhaps the evil spirit's influence will sleep. Think of Andras as the dashing knight who rushed to rescue you from the seas. And remember, this is the last night you will spend as a human. Tomorrow you return to the water. Can you not play the pretty princess for such a short time?” Isabel finished lacing her outer garment and began clasping the long strands of jewels around CC's neck. “Perhaps you can persuade the knight to walk with you by the sea. Could you not tolerate him in exchange for the chance at a glimpse of your Dylan?”

“I hadn't even thought of that!” CC said, her heart racing.

As had become her habit during the time that she could not spend with him, CC had tried to stay busy and not think too much of Dylan. She had found that if she dwelled on how much she missed him, the ache of her longing for him and for the sea merged into one painful force, which came dangerously close to overwhelming her. Now she felt herself tremble with suppressed desire as thoughts of her lover filled her mind.

“Hurry!” she told Isabel.

“Child,”—the old woman took CC's shoulders in her hands, forcing her to look into her eyes—“you may catch sight of him, but you must control your reaction to his nearness. Do not display your emotions and reveal yourself to the knight. Remember, you must wait on the timing of the Holy Mother. Promise me you will use caution.”

“Yes, yes! I promise,” she said quickly, wanting to reassure Isabel and bolt from the room. But the old woman wouldn't release her.

“Remember Sarpedon. Do not put yourself or your lover in danger because you mistakenly allow passion to rule your actions.”

At the mention of Sarpedon, CC felt her head clear. “You're right. I promise to be careful.”

“Go, child. And luck be with you as well as the blessings of the Holy Virgin.”

CC turned in the doorway. “Thank you, my wise friend.” Then she hurried to the courtyard.

Andras was pacing restlessly back and forth in front of the arched entryway that led from the hall. His two squires were flanking him a little way inside the courtyard.

“I'm ready for our walk,” CC said.

The three men looked at her, and the heat of their stares was a tangible force against CC's body. Their eyes seemed to bore into her, and she felt the exposed skin on her chest, neck, face and arms burn with an electric shock of discomfort.

Her hand went automatically to her neck. “Is something wrong?” she asked.

Andras blinked and pulled his gaze from her body to meet her eyes. He approached her with a feral glide that reminded CC of an animal stalking its prey. When he reached her side he took her unresponsive hand and raised it to his lips. CC wanted to pull her hand from his possessive grasp and bolt back down the hallway.

“I had forgotten how lovely you are in your gown. It is unfortunate that you have been spending so much time in the coarse robes of the Brothers.” He slid her hand through his arm proprietarily and together they moved across the courtyard. “A woman of your beauty and breeding should spend all of her time in glittering gowns surrounded by luxurious things.”

With an effort, CC didn't sigh. “Then I would be no more than a pretty doll or a piece of art. Those things are nice to look at, but they have no real purpose.”

The knight's laugh was condescending. “Is not a woman's purpose in life to be a thing of grace and beauty, a true asset to her husband and family?”

“As I am not yet a wife, I believe I am being an asset to my family by working to restore the area of the chapel that is devoted to Mary. Do you not agree that my work for the Great Mother is important?”

Andras nodded quickly. “Of course—piety is always important, especially in a woman.”

CC ground her teeth together to keep her retort inside her mouth.

Just then they passed the well, and CC felt her attention and her gaze drawn to it. During the past few days, she had successfully avoided coming near this area of the courtyard. Until now. At the sight of the well her stomach fluttered nervously. The stone structure stood silently in the middle of the courtyard, looking perfectly normal. There was no vapor escaping from it, no ghostly shape hovering above it. CC didn't even detect any of the feelings of dread she had experienced around the time Sarpedon began manifesting.

CC wasn't sure why, but her lack of any reaction to the well made her feel very uneasy.

“How have you been feeling lately?” she asked abruptly.

“Much improved,” Andras said.

“No more”—she struggled for an appropriate word—“dizziness, or falling or anything?”

“None. During the midday meal Abbot William even mentioned how pleased he is that I have recovered and returned to myself. His prayers on my behalf were obviously successful.”

“And no one else has been acting, um,
strangely
?” CC asked.

“No.” His voice had a suspicious edge to it. “Why do you ask?”

She shrugged nonchalantly. “No reason in particular.” She could feel that the knight was still studying her, so she added what she thought he wanted to hear. “The whole thing scared me. It's a relief to know that you are well.”

Andras patted her hand indulgently. “Of course it would frighten you, but you may rest easy. I am fully recovered, and you must know that under my protection you have nothing to fear.”

CC gave him a tight grimace masquerading as a smile, and he patted her hand again. At least he seemed to be acting like himself.

They exited through the monastery gates, and it was then that CC noticed that the squires were following them. And they, like Andras, were well armed.

Raising her eyebrows at the knight she asked, “Is there something out here that you're afraid of?”

“Of course not,” Andras said, drawing himself up to his full, imposing height, blond mane shimmering in the early afternoon sunlight.

He really was incredibly handsome, the perfect knight in shining armor.

“Oh, then those guards must be for me.” She fluttered her eyelashes at him coquettishly. “Silly me, I thought I just heard you say that I didn't need to be afraid of anything while I was under your protection. Or is that just while we're within the walls of the monastery?”

The knight's jaw tightened. “Marten! Gilbert! Remain here. I will escort the princess alone.”

The two squires sent hot looks in CC's direction, but they did as they were ordered.

“Come,” Andras said, his voice gentled from the tone of command he used with his men. “We shall walk down the road. It branches not far from here and the eastern fork winds through a rather nice meadow. I thought that you should visit some of the
inland
parts of Caldei,” he said, putting an emphasis on the word.

CC wanted to tell him that she could care less about what was inland—she just wanted to go to the seashore! Instead she swallowed her frustration and strolled casually beside him, careful to keep her expression neutral.

“Anywhere you would like to go is fine with me. You were right; I do enjoy the exercise.”

Andras smiled at her compliment, and CC couldn't help returning his smile. He did seem to have shaken Sarpedon's influence and was his usual, macho self again. The thought made her smile turn into a grin, and even though they weren't near the water, CC found that she was actually enjoying the walk. Soon they came to what CC recognized as the little path that branched from the road and meandered down to the shore. CC pointed to the trail.

“Isn't that the path that we took before?” she asked.

“Yes.”

CC sighed dramatically.

“Are you well, Undine? Perhaps you would like to rest before we continue?” Andras asked.

“No, I'm fine. I was just remembering what a wonderful lunch you had packed for us and what a nice time we had that day.”

Andras's eyes widened. “I am pleased to hear you say so, Undine.”

CC took a deep breath, steeling herself. Then she turned to face the knight. “Andras, I have been thinking about us.” She paused, letting the word
us
linger in the air between them. “We have had some unfortunate misunderstandings, and I am sorry for that. After all, you did save me, and I should be more appreciative than I have been.” Purposefully she looked down at her feet, pretending maidenly shyness. Then, glancing up at him through thick lashes she said, “Maybe we could start over.”

CC watched a fierce look of triumph pass quickly over the knight's face.

“Yes, let us begin anew,” he said passionately.

CC plastered a wide smile on her face. When the knight began to lean toward her as if he wanted to kiss her, she pulled her hand from his arm and clapped girlishly.

“Oh, good!” CC chirped, waggling her fingers in the direction of the trail and brightening her face, as if an idea had just occurred to her. “And what better way to start over than for us to follow the same path we did before all of our misunderstandings started!”

The knight hesitated only a moment before responding. “If it would make you happy, Undine.”

CC sighed in relief as they stepped off the road and began following the twisting trail. It took very little time for them to break through the trees and come to the sandy shoreline. CC breathed deeply, washing herself in the aroma of the salt breeze. Her spirit, dressed in her human body, quivered and strained with its desire to rejoin the waters. The ocean was sweet-laughter blue, and the whimsical waves played tag with the shore, calling to her in a voice that echoed through her blood.

“You always become even more beautiful when you are near the sea.” Andras's voice was raw with lust. “I wonder why that is.”

CC wrenched her thoughts from the water to focus on the knight. His features were tight, locked in the intense expression of a man determined to possess a woman. CC felt a shiver of apprehension. She had been a fool to believe that Sarpedon's influence could be so easily shaken. She realized that she had to distract him. Struggling to calm the fear within her, she formed her lips into a friendly smile.

“Well, it must be because I love the sea so much. Being near it makes me feel like I'm home.” She took another deep breath, schooling her face into an aspect of polite interest. “But enough about me. You've hardly told me anything about your childhood. I would love to hear about Caer Llion.”

The mention of his home seemed to break through his fog of lust, and Andras blinked like a man surfacing after a long dive.

“Caer Llion is a place of great beauty,” he said solemnly. “It is not wild, as is this coastline. It is well-ordered and civilized.” Andras stepped closer to her. “You could find there everything your heart desires.”

CC summoned up a delighted laugh and skipped a step away from him, as if she could hardly contain her glee at the thought of learning more about his home.

“Oh, it sounds wonderful! Please, tell me more,” she said as she wandered girlishly down the shoreline, picking up an occasional sea-shell or piece of discarded coral, while she moved ever closer to the water.

“Well,” Andras said thoughtfully as he followed CC. “The first thing you should know about Caer Llion is that it is a well-ordered castle . . .”

Andras loved his home, and his voice was warm and animated as he enumerated the wonders of Caer Llion. All CC had to do was to make an occasional, interested noise and smile encouragingly. He was so intent on his description of Caer Llion's stables that he didn't even notice when CC slipped off her shoes. It was only when she hiked up her skirts and actually stepped into the water that he paused in his recitation.

“You should have care. The water can cause a chill.”

CC noticed that his gaze was riveted on the glimpse of knee and calf she was exposing.

“I'll be careful,” she said, cheerfully ignoring the heat in his eyes. “Go on, you haven't described the main hall of the castle yet.”

CC breathed a sigh of relief as he continued his dissertation. Nodding and smiling, she half turned away from him and continued walking down the shoreline. Hungrily, her eyes scanned the water. There was no flash of orange and gold, no sign of Dylan's sleek body.

She wanted to call to Dylan. She had planned to—until she had stepped onto the beach. What would Dylan think when he saw her with Andras? Would he trust her, or would he be angry and jealous? Or worse, would he feel hurt and betrayed? Questions filled her mind as she made polite noises at the knight to keep him talking.