Journey in Time (Knights in Time) (35 page)

Chapter Forty-Two

Alex shut the door to their chamber.

"Happy birthday." A still exhilarated Shakira clutched something behind her back.

"What, no birthday kiss?" Alex made a fast grab for her, but she danced out of his reach.

"Not yet, although I'm sure that-" she winked and ran the tip of her tongue over her lips, "-and more will be forthcoming."

In the beginning, all it took was the right encouragement from Alex to break through her reserved exterior. Below the surface lay an earthy, bold creature whose vocabulary was now peppered with steamy, evocative words. Every carnal bead of sweat, every hungry whimper, and every breathy cry of release belonged to him.

His gaze lingered on her mouth. "Lick your lips like that again and things will be forthcoming faster than you plan."

"What an interesting threat. Now, I'm in a quandary." She tipped her head side-to-side. "Gift or challenge? What to do? What to do? Gift I guess."

She brought the hidden present from behind her and draped the hanging of his family’s heraldic symbol across her forearms. "I sewed it myself. Well, most of it. The silk swan plagued me so the seamstress helped."

Alex took the vermilion velvet square from her and held it up. On the plush side, she'd appliquéd a swan and stuffed it with batting. The reverse side was plain grey silk. Knots of silver cord formed loops across the top for a rod.

"I’ll understand if you don't like it. I’ve never sewn before." The disclaimer came out in a rush of words. "I didn't know what you’d want that was in my power to give. Since you hesitate to bring anything from this time back, I thought you might take this. The hanging’s loss has no affect here."

     
"Rocky--"

"Of course, you're not obligated to, I--I thought you might want some kind of reminder of...well...a reminder."

He couldn't swear to it, but he had the feeling she was trying not to cry.
 

     
He laid the piece on the table. Above the swan, Fortiter et Fideliter was embroidered in the same grey as the reverse side. The stitches weren't the straightest and few were uniform. His mother would've made Madeline yank them out and start over. None of that mattered.

"Rocky." He drew her into his arms and held her tight around the waist. "It's extraordinary. There isn't anything I'd rather have other than the obvious trip home for us.”

He kissed her and then unlocked the trunk with their modern clothes, his wallet, and their watches. "You know, after the first few days I no longer missed most of this," he said, examining the contents.

"I miss some conveniences of course, but not as many as I expected,” Shakira said. “What about you? What do you miss?"

“A number of things come to mind, my modern kitchen, the stove, and the refrigerator definitely. I miss the ease and selection of foods available to me." Shakira grinned and sat cross-legged on the bed. "You're smirking. You think I’m silly?"

"Silly? No. Adorable, yes. You missing your kitchen is cute. Go on, what else?"

"Your turn."
 

"Not to be gross, but flush toilets--really miss those, and hot, running water. Hmm...what else? I’ll go with books, I miss letting the cares of the day be forgotten in a good story. Your turn."

"I long for the variety of music we have and the rich sound of instruments not invented yet,” he said, locking the gift away with their contemporary things. “Come sit with me by the fire.”

They dragged the trunk to the hearth and propped pillows from the bed against it. Alex seated Shakira between his legs nestled against his chest.

"Where were we?" Alex smoothed her hair down so the fine ends didn't tickle his nose. "Ah yes, music and books. I do read a lot at the cottage but for me, music is a piece of heaven."

He was quiet for a moment, then said, "Rocky, thank you for everything. Any other woman would be expressing their hatred for this place and their misery daily. This is so alien to the life you knew. Yet, you’ve worked hard to make my people happy, not to mention how happy you’ve made me."

"You make the difference Alex. I’m not as noble as you believe. What I do, I do for you," she said softly. "What else do you miss? Wait, let’s reverse the question. What do you miss from this century, if anything?"

He slid a hand under her skirt and played with a garter, watching her curl the toes of each stockinged foot, wiggling them towards the heat. "Good question. Let me think. Conversation, the camaraderie no one has time for at home.

"Outside of Ian, there isn't anyone I'm good friends with. Most people don't want to be part of a dialogue unless it's an anonymous and sterile internet environment. Without distractions like television, iPods, or computers, people were compelled to talk to each other more." His rough hands found smoother traveling along her skin where there was nothing for calluses to snag and catch. "The measure of a man is bound to come to light if you talk to him enough."

"I take it you had more friends in this time besides Basil?"

"Yes, a couple, Stephen and Simon. Had I lived, probably Jared, once he matured."

"Speaking of Stephen, what a fine tenor."

"That, he is. If we were home, I’d make him a star."

"Judging from the females tonight and those who follow him around, he’s a star here. He'll be mobbed when the army returns." Shakira twisted in his arms and smiled in that female way when there’s good gossip to be had. "Which lady does he end up with?"

"None."

"None?"

"He isn’t coming home."

It took a moment for the meaning to sink in. "I'm sorry I asked," she said and collapsed against his chest. “I accepted the inevitability of Basil’s death, but I never envisioned Stephen, or even Simon, dying in battle. It makes me frightened for you."

"Rocky—"

"Every time a stranger rides through the gates I hold my breath. I’m terrified it's one of the king's men come early to order you to court."

He kissed the top of her head. "You can't torture yourself with those thoughts. We may not return to our century, but we will leave here. I’ll find a way to make us safe.”

“Me maybe, not you, I’m so horribly afraid the king will hunt you down."

Shakira was right and wrong. If the king found him, he’d find her. She wasn’t safe either. Alex stared at the fire. Their best chance for survival lay in a holding he’d never see

Chapter Forty-Three

The midnight black horse and cloaked rider burst from the long shadow of the abbey wall into the light. Shakira spurred Eclipse into a swift canter. Calves flexed, she squeezed his barrel hard one more time. He instantly responded, his extended strides eating up more ground with each hoofbeat. They rode against the wind. With the cowl of her cloak blown back, the chill air stung her cheeks and whipped through her hair. Loose strands teased her nose and caught at the edge of her mouth.

     
Although none of her escort spoke to her unless she addressed them first, the knights laughed and joked with each other as the pace increased. For the few miles on the journey back to Elysian Fields, she’d relish every ray of light, every smell, and every minute of freedom. The next time she left the castle for the abbey, she’d also be leaving the outside world behind. There’d be no returning.

     
Tonight was for memories and images she’d cherish and burn into her heart and mind. After tonight, she’d never see Alex again. The taste of him, the sound of his voice, the feel of his skin when they touched she’d capture and hold. The impact of losing him, losing their future, losing hope, crushed the breath from her, and she battled the pain.

     
Time and time again, she tried to push the sorrow away, reminding herself of the necessity of the drastic action. She and Alex had ridden daily to the rock and failed. To survive, he had to leave Elysian Fields, soon. Escape meant living off the land for days or weeks. With the king’s men close behind, she’d slow him down, physically and emotionally. Chivalrous, in this case to a fault, he'd tell her a kind lie and say she wasn't a burden. How could she not be? Valuable time would be wasted while he sought better refuge for her than he would for himself alone. The lost time aggravated by additional lost hours foraging for extra food.

     
The convent was the only viable solution. At least the abbey offered the basics of life. More important, her chances for meeting a brutal end were reduced. Few safe choices existed for a woman alone in this world.
 

     
Abbess Turcotte indicated a smattering of unwanted wives lived at Hailes. "None so exalted as you, Lady Guiscard," she said with an avaricious grin when Shakira dropped her "donation" into the abbess’s palm. Turcotte wound the black pearls around her hand. "You might commiserate with each other as long as association doesn’t interfere with your duties."

     
Turcotte.
Shakira dug a heel into Eclipse’s side only once before he broke into a gallop. His heavy footfalls and those of her escort’s horses as they pounded the hard dirt road provided a welcome distraction. She put the abbey from her mind and lost herself in the temporary exhilaration of the smooth gait. She listened to the four beat sequence, thrilling at the seconds when all four hooves were suspended. The joy of the ride took over.

     
A rabbit darted from the shrubbery across the road. Shakira wheeled Eclipse hard to the right and narrowly missed trampling the hare. Eclipse’s whinny of
 
protest swallowed her startled gasp. She circled him in a wide arc until he calmed. The second time around he slowed enough for her to ease her firm grip on the reins. Her focus was on a gap in the thick bushes she hadn’t seen before.
  

     
"Stephen, that trail there--" She pointed a gloved finger at the small path half-hidden in the shade. "Where does it lead?" Alex mentioned another trail once after they visited the outcropping. "Does the path lead to the granite boulder?" she asked, as the knight trotted over and pulled his mount parallel to her.

     
"Yes. But, it's rarely used, especially in the winter. The damp footing isn't good for the horses. You notice how difficult the entrance is to see, once on the path it grows worse. Dense shrubbery darkens the way and the floor is dangerous with twisted vines and roots. The wider trail is safer." Stephen pointed toward the path she and Alex always used. "Was there something in particular you're looking for there, milady? One of us can venture down if you like."

     
Had the gauntlet disappeared? Desperate to know, Shakira nearly said yes. If it was gone, she’d enter the convent with the firm hope Alex might make it back after all. It was too late for her, but perhaps there existed a glimmer of a chance for him. Instead, she hid her anxiety. Better not to act too interested in the boulder or attract undo attention to the spot. She’d wait until her final trip to the abbey and then look one last time.

     
"Milady..."

     
"Yes?"

     
"Did you want me to test the condition?" Stephen asked.