Hers to Choose (9 page)

Eric rose with a grunt of effort while she clung to his neck. “
Just show us the way, Sergeant.”

With a sinking heart, s
he watched the formerly belligerent sergeant shake himself like a dog emerging from a lake.
It starts again.

“Ah, yes, sir. Just follow me
, please.” As the sergeant backed out the door, his eyes never stopped worshipping Sophi.

* * *

“I’ll see to the wash water and the medical kit, ma’am. Is there anything else? Anything at all? Food? I can bring more pillows or blankets,” Trecchio said.

“Not right now, Sergeant. Thank you.”
Sophi smiled at the old officer.

Eric cleared his throat in irritation. “I’
ll make Lady DeLorion comfortable, then I’ll be back to fill you in on the situation, Sergeant Trecchio.”

Sophi watched as the
sergeant backed through the door, staring at her all the while like a moonstruck bedlamite. The closing door slowly cut off his view. She heard his steps clump down the outside hall. The spartan living quarters held only her and Eric.

“Eric, you can put me down, now.”

One strong arm gradually loosened and her legs met the floor, leaving her pressed against his chest, her eyes on his face, her arms still wrapped around his neck. He held her to him with both arms and rested his forehead on hers. “We have much to discuss, but right now, rest, Sophi.” When she began to speak, he raised a gentle hand and cupped her cheek, resting his thumb across her lips to quiet her. “Shh. Just rest.”

At her silent nod, he released her and crossed to the door. “I’ll be back to check on you,
Flight Leader
.” She watched him slip through the opened door. His booted feet clumped along the wooden floor as he walked away.

The narrow
, tautly-made bed beckoned like the gates to heaven. She did not even undress. Sleep claimed her as her head hit the pillow.

* * *

Eric forced one foot in front of the other. Fatigue crushed him. He fought a battle of self-discipline with every footstep. The wall became a convenient leaning post. The floor sang a siren’s song of enticement. Sliding down to the wooden planking and never getting up seemed a magnificent idea.
Damnation, I am getting some sleep. Everything else can wait.
Turning on his heel, he walked back, reading the name cards on the doors. Stopping in front of the room labeled “Corporal Saunders”, he knocked. Hearing no reply, he opened the door, walked straight to the bed and fell face first onto the mattress.
I should take my boots off,
preceded his slide into oblivion
.

* * *

A soft hand pushed hair back from Eric’s face.
Damn-it all, I just lay down. Whoever you are, go away.

He resi
sted opening his eyes. To him, the rope-sprung, narrow mattress felt like a palatial bed fit for a potentate. He spoke into the coarse woven blanket covering the bed. “Go away. No, wait! First, pull my boots off.”

“Commander?
Eric? You have slept for the better part of a day.” Sophi’s gentle prodding finally took effect. Wincing, he rolled over and blinked at her from eyelids so heavy he swore his horse sat on.
Won’t stay open.
He left them closed.

“
Mmmph. Sophi. What?”

“May I look at your wound?”

“You may do anything you want with me as long as it doesn’t involve leaving this bed.”

Silence met his offer. He ordered the ponderous animal off his eyelids and squinted
at Sophi. She stared unseeing out the room’s only window.
Damnation, she is lovely.
“I meant that exactly as you took it.”

Her eyes narrowed
.
“Then you won’t mind taking off your pants.”

A smile pulled the corner of his mouth. “
If I didn’t know you better,
Flight Leader
, I would think you had designs on me.”

He undid the fastenings
and slipped them down to his knees. “Anymore and you will need to help me with my boots.”

“Umm.” She covered his privates and began to wet the bandaging on his groin. “I don’t want to open anything beginning to close. This may take a while.”

Fully awake, he put his arms behind his head and studied her. “Sophi, your brother told me the Haarb held you captive for three years and what they did to you left you ‘reserved’ with men. I think he didn’t want to put into words what happened to you and I am not going to ask. But, I would like to know one thing.”

She looked up and cleared her throat nervously. “
What?”

“
Did your experience with the Haarb make you afraid of what happens between a man and a woman?”

“You mean has it made me afraid of sex?”

“Yes. That’s what I meant.” She wouldn’t meet his eyes.
Ah, sweetheart.
“Sophi, it is nothing to be ashamed of if you are. The Haarb are not known for being kind to their captives.”

Her a
qua eyes flashed at him, angry.
Mmm, there is the Sophi I know.

“Three years ago, yes. I was afraid. Two years ago, yes. I
was afraid. But now?” She drew a deep breath. “With the right man, no. No, I am not afraid of sex.” She held her head up proudly and met him with a forthright gaze.

And
your pause makes me think that you are but your pride will not permit a show of weakness. It’s a beginning I can work with.

W
hat she saw on his face he didn’t know, but when he smiled and said, “I’m glad,” she fumbled the wet bandage so badly she spilled the contents of the water basin in his lap. Cold wetness saturated his groin and puddled beneath him. With a muttered oath, he dug his fingers into the side of the mattress and tried to relax. “Damnation, Sophi!”

“By the seven hells
. I am getting more water. Don’t move.” She marched out of the room as if she was a water witch and the basin her divining rod.

Where does she think I’ll go?
He settled back, closed his eyes and dozed off.

Mmm. Soft hands. Gentle
.
He peered down his torso. She had gotten all the old bandaging removed and was examining his healing wound.
Can’t see a thing.

“Am I going to live,
Flight Leader
?”

“
With your skills the probability is rather good, as long as you stay away from
Fell
wolves.” A delicate shudder ran the length of her and she returned to dealing with his injury. Her hands paused and her voice softened. “I feared I would watch you die.”

“
I’m a very hard man to kill, Sophi.”

She echoed his earlier words.
“I’m glad.”

She winced slightly
, looking at his wound. “You are going to have an ugly scar but the wound is healing.”

He shrugged. “It will match
all the others.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Starving.”
For far more than just food.
“Shall we see what there is to eat at this outpost?”

“Hmm, yes.”
She made quick work of bandaging him and with a pat to his hip, stood. “You are good.”

Eric
chuckled. “No, I am not. But you are safe from me at the moment.”

An amused huff followed his
comment and they walked in companionable silence to the garrison’s dining hall. The orderlies were clearing tables and putting all to right. Sergeant Trecchio spoke with a guardsman at a far table. Eric hailed the sergeant and invited him to sit with them, then spoke with an orderly about food.

With many lingering glances at Sophi, Trecchio
sat and the questions began. “Commander, why are two great
Fell
wolves prowling our gates? I thought we hunted down and killed all remaining after the Haarb war. Is it part of the business with the attack on
Sh’r Un Kree
?”

At Sophi’s gasp, the
crusty old sergeant stuttered, “Oh! I thought you knew. I thought you came from there.”

Sophi replied
. “We expected it. That is all. How did you hear this news? What about the
Primus
? What about his wife? Are they safe?”

Eric
rested his hand on hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. “
Primus
G’hed is a wily old fox. He will keep his people safe.”

“Lady
DeLorion, an
Oshtesh
rider galloped through the gate mere hours before you arrived. She stopped to change horses then rode hard for Sylvan Mintoth.”

“
The rider was a woman? Did she give a name?”

“Yes, m’Lady
. Eudora. She said her name was Eudora.”

“Eudora
! Did she say anything else? Anything at all?”

The sergeant looked back and forth between Eric and Sophi. “She said the villagers had repulsed the first attack but it had been a very near thing.
Primus
G’hed ordered everyone to disperse into the wastelands where they might better conceal themselves.”

“Did she say anything
more? Anything?”

The
grizzled old non-com shook his head. “I’m sorry, ma’am. She was here, slammed down some food while we saddled a fresh horse for her and left. I spoke with her, at best, ten minutes.”

Eric picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. “Sophi, the best thing we can do right now is to
rest, eat and rest again, then start out in the morning for Sylvan Mintoth. Personally,” he threw a question at Sergeant Trecchio, “I would like a bath. A hot, long, private, sit-down-and-soak-until-my-skin-shrivels bath.”

Her aqua eyes glanced at her hand
, then up to his face. “A bath. Ohhh.” She groaned. “By Her Light, a bath. Could the garrison provide us each a bath?” She turned beseeching eyes to Sergeant Trecchio. “Is that possible?”

Eric fought to suppress a laugh.
By now the besotted sergeant would personally find a way to heat the mile-wide Echo River for Sophi if she asked.

“Yes, my Lady. I’ll see about it immediately.” The sergeant motioned one of the orderlies over and explained what he wanted then turned back to Eric and Sophi.

“Ma’am, give him about thirty
minutes, then the women’s bath house will be all yours and Commander, the men’s will be available to you.”

The simple meal
of roasted meat and vegetables provided them as the bath houses were made ready tasted as if it were from a gourmet kitchen. They sopped up the last of the gravy with slices taken from a loaf of soft white bread fresh from the oven.

Sophi’s eyes widened as the server brought out sliced melon. “My stars! Sugar melon
. I have not had that in years.” With no consideration for table manners, her fingers plucked a slippery piece from the platter. She sucked the smooth pink-fleshed slice into her mouth with a moist slurp. Closing her eyes, she moaned in ecstasy. “Mmm! Good!”

He
and Sergeant Trecchio watched, fascinated as her pink tongue licked at the red juice tricking down her chin and then at her fingers. He wanted to moan for a different reason but contented himself with watching a happy, child-like Sophi enjoy the succulent fruit.

“Ah,
Flight Leader
, I think your bath awaits.” Eric nodded at the female soldier who stood patiently next to Sophi.

“Oh!
I’m so sorry, I didn’t see you.” She laughed softly. “Good timing. I am soaked in melon juice.”

Eric
smiled. “I’ll see you in the morning,
Flight Leader
.”

Rocking back in his chair,
Eric interrupted Sergeant Trecchio’s careful observation of Sophi’s departure. “I would like to get a dispatch to
Segundo
DeLorion as soon as possible.”

“Yes, of course,
right away.” Trecchio tore his eyes away from Sophi’s alluring sway to summon an orderly to procure writing tools. “When you are finished, a courier will leave immediately for Sylvan Mintoth.”

Eric
didn’t have long to wait before he was able to put pen to paper.

To your Most Royal Majesty Fleur Constante and to the
Segundo
of the Second Tetriarch, Doral DeLorion;

I write of grave happenings. A minimum of three squadrons of Haarb infantry
are encamped near Avowatz Mountain in the
Oshtesh
wastelands. I saw them with my own eyes. A squadron of well-armed Haarb attacked the honor guard for Lady Sophillia Glorianna at Amboy Crater, killing all but one
ride
. Without the intervention of Lady DeLorion and her
flight
of archers, we would all have perished. Lady DeLorion was unharmed and remains safe in my care.