Alec the Wanderer: Generations of Eredwynn #4 (3 page)

I laughed. “I’m really starting to like you, too. Now let’s get out of town before more trouble finds us.” We left town and started down the long, four day road to Tesil.

For three days we walked and talked. By noon on the second day Carol would come up and offer her hand, which I’d happily take. Something had happened to me and I hadn’t seen it coming. I had a feeling that the nervous twisting in the pit of my stomach would change my life forever.

Late afternoon on our third day I started to slow my steps, because Carol was lagging back. She often did by the end of the day and I understood why. She was barely five feet tall and actually did more walking than I did.

Suddenly she yelled, “Alec! Stop!”

Because of her tone and volume, I froze in mid-step. I heard the sound of something rushing through the air and a flash beside my boot. Carol said, “Okay, now walk straight back.”

I did exactly as I was told and looked where I’d been about to step. The rattlesnake was still alive and wriggling, but couldn’t free its pinned head. Carol’s dagger had nailed the reptile to the road. She walked over and carefully placed her foot on its head, freed her dagger and removed the snake’s head from its body. She cut off its rattle, wrapped it in a bit of cloth and stuck it in her pocket. She threw the head way off the road so it wouldn’t accidently be stepped on. She then smiled sweetly. “We can go now.”

I walked to her, wrapped my arms around her and kissed her firmly. “I guess that’s two I owe you. Sorry about kissing without asking, but I felt it was something I had to do.”

She caught her breath. “Oh, that’s quite all right. I think that a person should definitely do what they feel they should. The sun will be down in half an hour and there is wood close by. Should we stop here or do you want to continue?”

“Here will be just fine.” I walked a dozen yards off the road. She tried to hide the sigh of relief, but I knew she was tired. If she stayed, I decided that I’d travel at her pace from now on. I’d pushed her to test her resolve and she’d more than passed.

I set up the tent and gathered wood while she laid out food for dinner. I stacked some wood in a clear area and sparked it with a thought. I sat back and watched her while she was cooking and noted how she’d become more beautiful every day we’d been together. I’d met her brothers and feared that their sister would be like them. I was happy to find that she was very smart and thoughtful. I’d decided, since this was going to be our last night on the road before we made Tesil, I’d ask her to stay. I’d like for her to be my traveling companion, or more if she chose.

We sat and ate as the sun set. I helped clean up afterward and repacked our dishes. I kept trying to find the right time, but brave Alec the wanderer was having trouble finding the courage it would take. I knew that if this delightful creature would have me, I’d take her as my wife. We sat and watched the fire and held hands but I still couldn’t talk. Finally Carol said, “I think I’ll call it a night and turn in. That way we can get an early start tomorrow.”

I nodded, “Goodnight and sweet dreams.” She crawled into the tent and I kicked myself. I was the son of the king and turned into a mute by a pretty, smart, enchanting young lady! Tomorrow, come rain or shine, I was asking her to stay. I was staring at the fire alone when Carol called from the tent.

“Alec, would you come here for a minute? There’s something about this seam you might want to look at.”

I got up and opened the tent flap. She was lying with her head away from the door, looking at something along the bottom edge of the tent. I crawled in and up beside her to see what she had found. She pulled the arm that I was balancing on toward her, causing me to flip to my back. She pinned my lips with hers and crawled on top of me. When I saw how she was dressed, I knew I should dress to match. She helped as I struggled out of my clothes and she slipped me inside her as if we’d known each other forever. We made love until we both saw orgasmic fireworks. I held her to me, not ever wanting to let go, but she finally rolled to the side. We caught our breath and she said, “I’ve decided to try to find work in Tesil. I wanted to make love to you once, before you left for your next town.”

My heart twisted in my chest and a lump formed in my throat. I slid my trousers on and crawled out of the tent. I almost made it without the tears showing, but not quite. I sat in front of the fire abusing the burning logs with mini-flamestrike spells that would flare up four feet and die back down. Carol came out behind me and sat down.

“What’s wrong, Alec?”

I couldn’t talk and couldn’t look at her. I just shook my head and kept her to the side.

“I’ve been holding you back and I know I have. I don’t want to be a burden and I couldn’t ever hope to keep up with your long strides.”

The dam broke and I couldn’t hold back the tears. “If you need me to crawl I will! I don’t wander on a timetable; I wander because I enjoy it! I can help people and meet people. Now I think I’d hate it if you aren’t there to share it with me. I love you Carol and I don’t want to be without you. I know the way to the mayor’s office in Tesil and am good friends with him, actually. If you’ll have me, I’d love to make you my wife.”

Carol stared at me as if I’d grown orc tusks! Finally she said, “Alec, have you been drinking? Do you know what you’re saying? You’re a Prince and I’m a farm girl. These things only happen in fairy tales and I know that there aren’t any little people that have wings and fly.”

Despite my mood and wounded heart, I had to chuckle. “I won’t tell my pixie friends that. It might ruin their day and throw off their strict rounds.”

Carol huffed. “That’s the second time since I’ve made love to you that you’ve teased me and it isn’t kind.”

I sighed. “Ok, I can see how the pixie thing could be considered teasing because many don’t even know they exist, but I can’t figure out the other thing I teased you about.”

The snap of her voice caught me off guard. “That cruel joke about marrying me. That was very unkind, and I didn’t think you were that kind of a man.”

I pulled her to me, accidently knocking the blanket from around her. Her naked body glistened in the moon and fire light. I kissed her and said, “It was no joke. Marry me, Carol.”

She whispered, “By the stars, I think you’re serious! Of course I’ll marry you and I’d be happy traveling with you, too. If we are blessed with children, they’ll just have to learn to walk young.”

I picked her up with one arm and the blankets with the other. I carried her and them to the tent where we consummated our engagement.

Chapter Three

T
he next morning I woke and realized that it hadn’t been a dream. Carol was cuddled against me sleeping peacefully. I dressed as quietly as one can in a two man tent and went outside. I stoked up the fire and pulled out the skillet. I then thought that I’d better pass on learning that skill. I could use a knife, sword or a sling. I could make snares and catch fish, but I’d probably burn down the province if I tried to cook with a skillet. I started to look through her bag to see what food items she might be carrying, but it felt like I was trespassing. I opened mine and began pulling things out that might make for a passable breakfast. There was a tap on my shoulder and a smiling Carol was shaking her head. “Pack the bedding and take down the tent. We should each do what we know best and it’s obvious that cooking isn’t your strong point.”

I laughed, kissed her good morning and began packing. She was right of course; I did feel much more comfortable dealing with my camping gear than trying not to burn water. I packed up everything that we weren’t using and sat down to a better breakfast than I would have thought we even had in the packs. We ate and cleaned up, I put out the fire, and then we hit the road.

I deliberately walked slowly and held her hand. We were in no hurry and I’d pushed her too hard up to this point. Pushing her had almost pushed her away and I didn’t want to risk that again, because of the feelings I’d discovered I had for her. The warm breeze coming from the west seemed to lighten my steps as I thought of what awaited me in Tesil. I knew the mayor would be shocked that I’d given up my solitary wandering to make it a duet. The ladies that worked at my favorite pub wouldn’t be happy about it at all. Every time one of my brothers had met that someone special, they’d sworn that they didn’t want or need Consorts. The thought of having Consorts with my lifestyle conjured images that made me chuckle to myself. I could see me with Consorts like those that my father had. All thirteen of them with fifteen children, loaded up in a wagon train. That wouldn’t work for me at all.

As mid-day approached I asked Carol, “Would you like to stop for lunch or continue on to town?”

“I’ve never been much farther than Edil so I don’t know how far it is to Tesil from here. I’m not terribly hungry yet so if it isn’t too far I’d like to get there.

“We’re only about three miles out and should be there in an hour. So, how are you enjoying your first trip away from home?”

She smiled happily. “It was all I’d ever dreamed it could be and more. I managed to get the man that every girl I know would throw her clothes at, to propose! The odd thing is that I did it by just being me, and you loved me anyway.”

“A wise man once told me, ‘Trying to be someone else to win someone over is starting with a lie. A relationship like that can never work out’ and it sounded like good advice. I’m glad you were just being yourself.”

“Who told you that? Was it your father?”

I laughed. “No, it was
your
father! He told me that just before we left his house.”

“I just had the strangest feeling when you said, ‘his house.’ It made me realize that the farm won’t be my home anymore. I’m glad that I’m not going to live out my life as a milk maid, but I was born there.”

“Are you having second thoughts about marrying me?”

She stopped in the road and pulled me down to her. She kissed me and said, “I’ll never regret my decision to be your wife. I want to get to Tesil and meet your mayor friend so we can make this official. That way I’ll know that you’re not going to back out on me!”

I pointed down the road that was starting to fill with people, horses and wagons. The afternoon traffic from Tesil was just resuming. “There is the city. It’s only another ten minutes away so you better start running back south or you’ll be Caroline Stephenson before the hour is up!”

She got a silly grin and I could see the giddiness flow through her, like a shiver. “Come on young man and try to keep up. I’ve waited my entire life to find a man worth marrying and you’re not getting away now!”

Laughing, I caught up with her and took her hand. We walked through the gates of Tesil like the sightseeing travelers that we were. The guards all smiled and waved when they saw me. I was the royal son that was one of the people. Everyone knew that I didn’t live in a palace with servants waiting on me hand and foot. I was the approachable sibling.

I pointed out the sights to Carol as we walked down the street. We passed the apothecary and I mentioned that she might be able to buy a bravery potion in there. She blushed fetchingly and we continued down the street. We passed a jeweler’s and the proprietor called out, “Alec, tell your father I could use some stones if he has them.” I nodded and waved and he knew that I’d pass the message on
if
I happened to see my father.

We approached the end of the street and I led us to a bench. I took off my pack as we sat down and Carol asked, “What are we doing? Have you gotten cold feet?”

I laughed. “No such luck, young lady. I love you and I’m keeping you. I’m just getting out some gold for whatever fees the mayor may have.”

“You have gold in there too? I saw enough platinum to buy my father’s farm ten times over!”

“I usually carry a hundred of each of the larger coins and I have a bunch of silver and copper in my pocket for this and that.”

She sighed happily. “Father used to tease me about making myself look pretty so I could land a rich man. Here I am, dressed like a farm hand and about to marry the richest man I’ve ever met.”

I kissed her gently. “There is a tailor’s shop right behind us. If you would like to find something that would make you feel like a bride, I’d walk you over.”

“You wouldn’t mind? I wouldn’t want to spend your money on something that we really didn’t need.”

“If I have my way, you will be my wife in an hour or less. Then everything I have will be yours, as well. If you want a dress, let’s go find one. Maybe you could get something that you could wear today that wouldn’t be too frilly for the road later. This is all up to you.”

She stood and we walked into the tailor’s. The tailor greeted us, “Good afternoon Alec; what can I do for you today?”

“This young lady is looking for a dress. Just something off the rack because we don’t have time to wait for something to be made. Take good care of her and give her anything she wants. I’ll be back shortly.” I quickly kissed Carol and went back out of the shop.

I backtracked to the Jeweler’s and went inside. He was surprised to see me back so quickly but greeted me warmly. This man had known my father since shortly after he came to Eredwynn. “I need something that you probably never thought that I’d come looking for.”

He laughed. “What could that be? I’ve seen you buy all kinds of things in here that I later see on the girls at the pub.”

I grinned. “Well, those days are over and I want your word that this won’t get out. I’m looking for a wedding ring for that lovely lady I walked by here with a moment ago.”

He nodded. “I’m sure we can find something and I’m sure you can adjust the size if need be. Who is the young lady marrying?”

I laughed loudly, startling the man. “She’s marrying me, sir. She is at the tailor’s at the moment picking out a dress as we speak.”

The jeweler chuckled and shook his head. “I’m not telling a warm body a word. The mourning that this news is going to cause all the girls in the pub, and both inns, will be terrible. Here, this one is dainty like your lady friend and only one hundred gold.”

I nodded. “That looks just fine. Where would you like the money?”

He pointed to the desk behind him. “Right there will be fine, as usual.”

I focused on the vault by Wizard’s Castle and on my section, where I kept my gold and platinum bagged up in bags of one hundred coins. I wrapped my
remote teleportation
magic around one bag of gold and
ported
it to the desk.

The jeweler sighed. “Well, all good things must come to an end. I doubt if your wife is going to be allowing gifts to working girls now. I suppose I’ll tell you that every time you go into your remote whatever it is, I wave my hands around in your face to see if you really do go blind.”

I laughed. “My half-sister Celina calls it a man’s inability to do more than one thing at a time. All the girls seem to be able to keep track of what’s going on around them. You might want to know that before you wave your hands in Lia’s face.”

He nodded. “Thank you for that information. You may have just saved an old man’s life.”

I bid him good day and went back to the tailor’s. Carol was there waiting and she was stunning. She was dressed in a knee length pleated dress with a tie at the waist. It had two inch shoulder straps but was otherwise sleeveless. The light green color set off her hair and made her eyes seem to sparkle. I was speechless.

The tailor smiled. “I think that means he really likes it. That dress is only one gold coin for you today.”

I walked to the counter, laid two coins down and offered Carol my arm. We walked out the door, turned right and went to the end of the street. I could see the homeless shelter that Father had sponsored and knew I had to see him soon, too. We walked up the steps to the mayor’s office and the guards bowed out of the way. As we walked into the office, the mayor looked up and bounded out of his chair. He bowed and said, “Alec, how good to see you. Are you sightseeing or protecting us from petty thieves?”

I chuckled. “Actually I’m here on more official business. This young lady, Carol, has agreed to be my wife. She knows that I’m not the easiest man to get along with, but seems willing to overlook that. Maybe she’s marrying me for my money, my title or just wants to drown me in a river somewhere. If that’s the case, then so be it. I love her and would like for you to marry us.”

Carol cut her eyes at me. “Do you actually think any of those things that you said are true?”

I laughed and kissed her. “No, My Lady, I don’t think any of that is true. I know you love me as much as I love you. I’m a Wizard’s Castle sibling, after all, and we can feel what people think. What do we need to do, Your Honor?”

A short ceremony, a ring, a document we both signed, a kiss and the farm girl became Princess Carol Stephenson.

Carol looked up at me with her eyes shining. “I want to tell my parents.”

I nodded. “When would you like to tell them, my beloved wife?”

“I want them to know as soon as possible, so they can be as happy as I am.”

I smiled as I looked at her, feeling nothing but love and happiness all over. I closed my eyes for a moment and we were behind the barn at her parents’ house.

Carol yelped at the sudden change of location and then looked at me. “I have to remember that I not only married Alec the Wanderer, but one of the most powerful wizards in the land! I was expecting to walk back.”

I laughed. “I can always
port
us back, if you really want to walk. You told me ‘as soon as possible’ so I brought us here. Before we tell them, why don’t you help me? I have a small pouch in my pack somewhere. If we can find it, I think I want to give your father another twenty-five platinum. That way, I won’t have to worry about my in-laws while we’re roaming the world.”

Her eyes went wide, but she nodded as she hunted for the pouch. I counted out the money just as she found it. I poured it in and she pulled the drawstring. She asked, “May I give it to them? I’d love to see the look on their faces when they see five years of hard work in one small pouch.”

I nodded. “Of course you may. Are you ready to meet my in-laws?”

She grinned and walked around the corner of the barn. As we walked across the yard, I heard a sound that was a cross between a growl and a roar. The front door slammed open and two snarling monsters flew across the yard toward me. This wasn’t entirely unexpected, so I raised my hand for them to stop. They were in a blind rage and charged on, so I gently lifted them a foot off the ground and held them there.

Kyle came running from the house. “Boys, I’m sure that if you’ll calm down, Alec will put you back on your feet. There’s no need for you to be angry just because he escorted your sister to Tesil. We told you she was going up there to look for work.”

Carol walked to her floating brothers. “Please calm down, because I want to talk to everyone and I can’t do it with you two acting like fools.” Finally the boys took deep breaths and Carol nodded to me. I lowered them back to the ground and set my personal
shield
high enough to keep me from any major damage.

Everyone was standing in the front yard now and looking at Carol. She’d said that she wanted to talk and now she was the center of attention. She took a deep breath and announced, “Mother, Father, Brothers, I have some things I want to tell you. Just let me finish and don’t talk. The first thing I’d like to do is say that Alec and I want you to have this, Father.” She tossed him the pouch and continued before he could open it. “Alec and I did a lot of talking and had some interesting things happen while we were out. I got to knock a man unconscious with a pan, and that was exciting; then I got to practice my knife throwing skills when Alec tried to walk on a rattler. Adam, I saved the rattle for you and have it in my pack. Two more interesting things happened that I hope you’ll be happy about. One is that Alec and I both fell head over heels in love with each other…” the boys started to growl again, “…and the other is, we were married by the Mayor in Tesil this afternoon!”