The Harbinger (A Fight for Light Novel Book 2) (7 page)

When Tristan and Kayleigh came back we packed and left for home. I saw Kayleigh watching Kellen. He still seemed a little upset. She noticed but didn’t say anything. I looked over at her and mouthed ‘Seasnan’ to her. Her eyes filled with understanding and she giggled. When Kellen looked at her she just shrugged.

It was a pleasant ride home. The sun was starting to set. Already the brilliant colors were stretching and arching widely to make their way across the sky. I observed the stunning view around me in awe and wonder, never tiring of its beauty. I would miss it when I left here. Sunsets were never the same as here in Karmelo, never quite as beautiful or stunning, never as dazzling.

When we reached the house, Kellen slipped off of his horse and turned for me. He had his hands raised up to lift me down when Seasnan stepped out of the front door and started to walk over in our direction. His eyes were on me. Kellen noticed.

That must have been the last straw for him. He dropped his hands and scowled. I saw the thunderous frown on his face before he turned around and headed toward Seasnan. Seasnan seemed to see what was coming. He stood his ground and folded his arms across his chest.

“Seasnan!” Kellen yelled at him. “Do you mind telling me what the hell you are doing?”

“Kellen, come on. She’s quite the beauty. Look at her,” he tried to explain.

That infuriated Kellen more. His hands balled up into fists at his sides.

“No, you don’t. She’s mine Seasnan.
Mine
, do you understand? She isn’t Renee. Back away now and we can forget this.” His voice was deathly calm.

The smile dropped from Seasnan’s face. “Don’t you think that is a little possessive?”

Kellen’s anger worried me. I slid off the horse quickly and ran over to him just as he was saying that. He put his arm around me and pulled me back against his side away from Seasnan. Seasnan peeked around him at me anyway and smiled. I knew he did it on purpose. I looked away, sighing.

Kellen’s reaction was different. He growled slightly in response and let go of me. He tore his shirt off. Seasnan sighed and took his off too. I looked over at Kayleigh in horror. She just shook her head at me, rolling her eyes. What in the world were the two of them doing? Were they going to
fight
?

I stepped in front of Kellen and put my hands on his chest.

“Please don’t fight over me, please. This is ridiculous. Stop, Kellen,” I begged him.

He pulled me close and kissed me and then he pushed me behind him. I started tugging on his arm, frantic with concern. He ignored me.

“Kayleigh, please.”

She grabbed my hand and pulled me a few feet away as Tristan walked over to them. I thought he was going to stop them but he only stood as referee. My eyes were wide as saucers as I watched them crouch toward each other, dodging back and forth, trying to predict each other’s moves.

Suddenly Kellen brought his right fist forward and landed a punch square in Seasnan’s left jaw. It knocked him off balance but he caught himself and straightened up. Then Seasnan caught Kellen on the lip, splitting it open on one side and making it bleed.

“Kellen!” I screamed. I tried to move but Kayleigh held me there.

They continued to brawl, both getting in punches but Kellen causing the most damage to Seasnan. Kellen landed a final right hook that sent Seasnan sprawling on the ground. Dazed, he shook his head. He held up his hands in surrender. Kellen nodded to him.

Finally, Kayleigh let go of me and I ran to Kellen. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. I was crying. He brushed away my tears and looked at me smugly. He was proud. My honor was intact. He had fought for me and won his claim. His arms slid around me and we kissed. I remembered his lip and put my fingers up to it.

“You’re hurt. Let’s go inside.” I took him by the hand and walked into the house.

“Sit down while I get something to clean you up with,” I ordered.

He sat down obediently. “You sound like a wife.” His words were low but I did not miss the glimmer in his green eyes as he said it.

Kayleigh brought me a rag and some water. I got down on my knees in front of him and began cleaning his cut, careful not to hurt him. He winced slightly and smiled at me gently. I rang the rag out and used it to start wiping his face. My hand was shaking as I brought it back to his lip.

“You fought for me,” I told him, a tear slipping down my face.

“Rhiannon, of course I did. I had to protect your honor. Besides, he had it coming.” He winced again. “I love you with all my heart.”

I lifted my lips to his and kissed him softly. “Thank you, I love you too.”

He brushed the tear from my face, his fingers lingering on my cheek. His eyes stayed locked with mine for several minutes until I leaned forward into him and put my head against his chest. He rubbed my back for a few minutes, both of us silent. When we looked at each other again, our eyes were both glistening.

I don’t know why it felt so emotional. Maybe the intensity of the moment or the very idea that someone would engage in a fight to defend my honor. It was chivalrous and romantic. To them it seemed completely normal, although to me it was crazy and barbaric. Medieval. Chivalrous. Sexy in a way.

I looked up and saw his family was there watching us. His mother had tears in her eyes too.

“Let’s see to dinner, shall we?” She said sniffling.

The rest of the evening I spent in Kellen’s arms. We played cards with his family and laughed together most of the night. I learned that everyone loved Rummy and Euchre, they were good players and quite competitive. It was a tradition in this house. More than once, someone would get the best of another player or win unexpectedly and chaos followed by laughter would ensue. There were shouts and protests of cheating, although no one did, and plenty of good natured teasing.

Kellen’s eyes lingered on me constantly. Often he would brush his fingers along my arm or grip my fingers tightly in his hand. He never let go of me and I didn’t want him to. Kayleigh also glanced frequently in his direction. She seemed to be amused. He pretended to ignore her, focusing most of his attention on me.

The hour turned late and I fell asleep as he held me close. Sometime later I felt him carry me upstairs to his room. I realized he was laying me down on the bed and I grabbed his shirt.

“Stay,” I whispered, my voice groggy.

“Yes,” he replied softly, dropping next to me, “my rose.”

I lay down with my head on his chest and fell right to sleep. Nothing else but the sound of his heartbeat beneath my ear mattered.

I was Kellen’s, and he was mine.

The next morning he was still there in the bed with me. I looked over and he was actually sleeping. I didn’t usually see him like that. Lying there, I watched him for a long time. I thought about the fight yesterday and decided to confront Seasnan. I wanted him to stop taunting Kellen. Maybe if I spoke with him alone I could get somewhere.

Kayleigh came in the door a little while later, peeking on us. I’m sure she was wondering about Kellen. He was always awake by now. The stress of yesterday must have exhausted him. I put my finger to my lips and she nodded. I quietly got up and crossed the room to her.

“Kayleigh, he needs to sleep.”

I left with her and shut the door quietly.

“Rhiannon, you do understand why they were fighting yesterday, right?”

“Yes, I guess. I don’t know. I hate the idea of fighting,” I admitted and sighed.

“It was a matter of honor. Seasnan overstepped the boundaries of chivalry and respect when he pursued you so openly, knowing that Kellen was already your Guardian and you’re dating. Promised to each other really. It was a formality but it is understood that he has to leave you alone now. Kellen won the fight,” she explained.

I nodded my head in understanding. I suppose it made sense in an odd way. This culture was so different than my world. The idea of honor and chivalry no longer existed, at least not in any formal way. Modern society was sadly lacking in good morals, in the general sense. The idea of a man stepping forward, like dueling pistols as sunrise, was completely unheard of.

Kayleigh helped me again to get ready, quickly this time. I was impatient. I wanted to find Seasnan, especially after what she just told me. As soon as she was finished, I ran downstairs and out the door. I began to walk the grounds, looking for Seasnan. I didn’t have to go very far, he was practicing with his sword close to the rear of the house.

I slowed down and stopped in front of him. His eyes were wide when he spotted me, staring at me with curiosity and attraction. They roamed over my body, up and down appreciatively. I had to swallow against the disgust it made me feel. I knew he wasn’t a bad guy.

“Seasnan, I want to know what that was all about. I already told you there wasn’t a chance. Why did you pick a fight with Kellen?” I asked him angrily.

“Rhiannon, you are worth more than one effort. I would fight him again for you. Don’t you get it?”

I saw his black eye and swollen lip. Part of me felt bad, but he had brought this on himself.

“Get what? You think I’m pretty or something and that gives you a right to me?” My words were like acid.

“Milady, Rhiannon.” He said my name softly and I cringed. “I had to try.”

“Is that it? Am I some kind of prize to you? You don’t even know me, Seasnan. You know nothing about me.”

“I know all I need to. You are more than a prize. You’re special,” he said quietly.

He walked closer to me. I backed up a few paces, ready to take flight if needed.

I shook my head at him. “Kellen loves me. I love him too, Seasnan. It’s no competition. You are wasting your time. It’s not like you love me too.”

I looked at him, straight in the eyes, hoping to make him see. I couldn’t believe it when his eyes betrayed him. He
did
care for me. How in the heck did that happen?

“How could you possibly care for me when you only just met me?” I asked him in confusion.

“I don’t know…but I…feel this connection…a deep sense of purpose. I can’t walk away and I can’t leave. I’m supposed to near you and keep you safe. I think you feel it too.”

Mostly I felt frustration, but there was a tiny little bit of truth to what he was saying. I was in denial, no way would I admit it, not to give him the satisfaction.

“Seasnan, no. I won’t even consider it. Don’t you understand?” I asked him desperately.

“Milady, you misunderstand…I truly care for you…as much as I think you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met. You think I am behaving crudely but I am not. I feel-”

“No, Seasnan. No, get back,
go away
. This is all wrong,” I interrupted him.

I was shaking. I would have to hurt him. It made me feel awful. I looked at him, tears suddenly in my eyes. I shook my head again. He took advantage of my surprise and pulled me close, bending his face toward mine. I reached my hand back and slapped him full in the face with everything I had. He took it without even flinching. He still didn’t let go.

I was really angry now. “Let go of me, Seasnan. You are seriously deluded if you think I would turn my back on Kellen. I
love
him.”

“He may not always be around Rhiannon. He may not be the man you think he is. I’ll be there when that happens.
I’ll be here for you
, waiting, whenever you need me,” he told me quietly.

Was he insane? I was still trying to get his hands off of me. Struggling, I pushed at his chest again, without success.

“Just give me one word, one spark of hope. I’ll wait around.” His eyes met mine. “I only want to be near you, to prove to you that I am capable.”

I couldn’t believe his tenacity. “I said there was
no chance
at all. I don’t know how to be clearer than that.”

He reached down, quickly and briefly, his lips meeting mine. I shoved at him, more successful this time in getting us a few inches apart. I screamed in my frustration. I slapped his cheek again as hard as I could. My eyes were blazing in their fury. I nearly lost my composure altogether.

“How dare you kiss me! I’m out of your league.” My chest was heaving. I could hardly breathe. “You are
no gentleman
.”

He flinched. “I did not mean to push myself on you. I could not help myself Rhiannon, you are so beautiful, so full of life. You consume my thoughts, every moment.” He held me tighter. “We are supposed to be in each other’s lives, whether you realize it now or not. I’ll remember...and so will you. Remember this moment as the one when you realize you have more than one choice for your future…and one than more person watching your back.”

“You fool. I could never love you. I could never love someone who forced me,” I spat at him.

He laughed. “You have it all wrong…and I cannot wait until you figure it out.”

What was that supposed to mean?

“The next time I kiss you Rhiannon, you will want me to. You will ask me to…and I won’t say no. I’ll never have to force you because you will ask me willingly. Someday you will feel different. I’m not going far until you do.” He smiled, confident and annoying in his surety.

I screamed in my frustration again and he let go of me. He was stepping back from me when Kellen burst upon us, sword in hand. He raised it at Seasnan and put his arm around my waist pulling me away. Seasnan raised his hands up in the air, a slight grin on his face.

“I relinquished any claim to her here yesterday. Calm down. I’m leaving.”

I buried my face in Kellen’s chest and burst into tears. I was clutching at his shirt.

“What did you do to her? What did you say?” He was furious.

“That’s between the two of us, Kellen. Let her tell you if she wants to.”

“We’ll settle this tomorrow Seasnan, at the tournament. I challenge you to a joust.” Kellen’s anger made his voice tremble.

“I accept. See you both tomorrow,” Seasnan answered and walked away whistling.

“Darling, are you all right? Did he hurt you? Say something please,” he begged me.

“Oh, Kellen, I…he tried to…I couldn’t stop him…I don’t…” I couldn’t get it out right crying.

He managed to understand some of it. “Did he touch you? Did he…kiss you?”

I could only nod at him. I started crying harder. His whole body shook with rage.

“I’ll kill him,” he said so menacingly calm it shook me out of it a little.

“No, Kellen, no. Just let him go. He means nothing to me.”

His eyes were wild looking. He grasped his sword hilt tighter, turning his knuckles white.

“If he comes anywhere near you again…” He didn’t finish.

I raised my tear streaked face to his. “Promise me you won’t fight him tomorrow over me. He’s just arrogant and foolish. He can never have what he wants.”

Kellen looked at me and some sanity returned to his eyes.

“It is a matter of honor and chivalry. He has always pushed the boundaries, getting himself into trouble. I can’t promise you that I won’t, Rhiannon. He will never touch you or take advantage of you again.” His voice was very final.

“I want to go back home, please. Let’s go.”

Kellen’s expression looked a little hurt. He nodded. Oh no, he had misunderstood.

“I meant
your
home,” I told him reassuringly.

He smiled but his eyes were hard and distant. “I would make it your home right now if I could.”

“I know and I would say yes just as fast. You are all I want Kellen.”

“Rhiannon, someday…I hope you will…I’ll be hoping.” He couldn’t get it out.

I understood. As long as he was my Guardian, we couldn’t entertain such ideas. We already discussed it. I knew his proposal would be the instant he was able.

“My heart will hope along with yours,” I told him.

He kissed me gently and then more urgently as he remembered Seasnan. I clung to him, remembering too. I couldn’t believe what had happened. I forced myself to forget all about him. This was our time. Kellen and I would have to leave in a week. I had to go back to Gran soon. I tightened my hold around Kellen’s neck as his lips moved along my throat. It was a long while before we made it back to his family home.