Cara's Twelve (13 page)

“Now who's the coward?” Finn said to the man's back, and he saw his shoulders flinch before he disappeared into the trees.

Finn sucked his breath in sharply as he straightened and stretched his bruised muscles. His entire body ached, and it was going to feel even worse tomorrow.

As he walked back into camp, Helfrich raised an eyebrow at him and shook his head.

“Looks like that went well,” Helfrich said, handing him two plates of food.

Finn grunted. “Make sure the men leave him alone. If there are any issues, come get me.”

Finn turned and headed back to Cara's carriage. She was asleep when he entered. Putting the plates on the table, Finn removed his shoes and shirt and crawled under the covers. Cara shifted but didn't wake. Wrapping one arm around her, he breathed in her scent and closed his eyes, and wondered if any of the previous Twelve had experienced this much trouble.

He thought it highly unlikely.

Cara awoke slowly, savoring the feeling of Finn's naked body against her back. He had one large muscular arm draped over her protectively, and his breath tickled her neck. By his breathing she knew he was still asleep, even though he held her as if he was ready to defend her at a moment's notice.

Over the past five days he had done everything in his power to silence her doubts and insecurities. Night and day he had stayed with her in the carriage. They had talked and kissed, and he had reassured her over and over that he wouldn't leave. Gently and patiently he had explored her body, and each time he took her in his arms and made love to her, the pain of Tahdaon's rejection lessened.

She had left the carriage only when necessary, avoiding the men as much as possible. But today they would reach Herron's estate, and she would have to overcome her reluctance of seeing Tahdaon if she was going to ride at the head of the caravan like she had planned.

Finn's arms tightened around her. He placed a trail of kisses down her neck and shoulder and whispered, “good morning.”

Somehow he always seemed to know what she needed, and she was learning how to read his body and moods as well. He groaned softly and his cock twitched and hardened as she rubbed against him.

Rolling her on her back, he separated her legs with his thigh and slowly slid inside of her.  

“Good morning to you,” she said through a sigh.

She was past the point of shyness with him, and her body opened and accepted him completely.

She felt safe and protected with Finn, and the weight of his body bearing down on hers, possessing her, filled her with a sense security she had never known.

She moaned in pleasure as he began moving inside of her. His gaze never left hers, and with each thrust her pleasure mounted. She couldn't control the deep guttural sound that came from her throat, as she felt her release just a breath away.  

“Finn,” she cried out as the pleasure pulsated through her body.

His mouth came down on hers, muting her cries with his own gasps. He shuddered, and she held him as he spilled himself inside of her.

Minutes passed before either of them moved.

Cara nipped at his shoulder and he grunted. Kissing her once before slipping from her body, he shifted his weight to one side and stared down at her with a satisfied smile.

She reached up and brushed his hair out of his face and tucked it behind his ear as he usually did. The summer sun had lightened certain pieces, and in the morning light the streaks matched the same tawny shade of his skin.

She placed her palm on his cheek and he tilted his head to kiss it.

“Are you ready for today?” he asked.

“I'm excited to see my father. That's what I'm trying to stay focused on.”

“You don't have to ride up front. You can stay here.”

“No, I need to do this, and I want to see the countryside. On horse, not confined to the carriage.”

“Then we should be getting ready.”

He kissed her once before retrieving his clothes and dressing quickly. “I'll saddle your horse while you get ready.”

Before he opened the door to leave, Cara called out, “Finn…”

He turned and her heart melted at the love that shone in his blue eyes. She should tell him how much she cared for him. There had been so many moments when she almost had, but for some reason she couldn't make herself say the words.

“Thank you,” she said finally.

He rubbed the back of his neck and smiled/ “I'll meet you outside.”

* * *

Finn hung back as Cara and Reyn led their small caravan over the Crowthornian hills. Never in his life had he seen such desolation and poverty. He had heard rumors of the Viceroy's financial instabilities, but he had never imagined that the once prosperous province had been brought so low. Many of the villages they passed stood empty, some burned to the ground, with only the foundations of the structures left standing. The few people they encountered were emaciated, and the rags they wore did little to cover the bones that protruded from their skin.

Helfrich reined his horse beside Finn's as they passed by a deserted farm. Finn couldn't understand why the land had been left uncultivated, while the people of Crowthorne starved. Where were the farmers? The laborers? The people?

“Plague”, Helfrich said, as if reading Finn's mind. “Over ten years ago now. Wiped out almost a third of the population. They have never fully recovered.”

“How did it not spread past their borders and infect the rest of the country?” Finn asked, shuddering at the thought of an illness that could cause so much death.

“Most of the ports had all but dried up by then, and the traders had moved on. From what I've read, it was Reyn's father who was the Viceroy at the time that shut down their borders when the first few cases were recognized, and prohibited travel in and out of the province. Plague took him while he was securing the borders, but his sacrifice saved the lives of thousands of people. The irony was the Queen's response to the man's bravery; increased tariffs on wheat production and a new law that prohibited immigrant workers from crossing their borders.”

Finn shook his head as he began to understand why the land was left fallow. “Leaving Crowthorne with no income, a decimated population, and a limited food source. How did that pass the council? It's a death sentence for the province.”

Helfrich shrugged. “Weaken the enemy before the war.”

“Crowthorne has never been an enemy of the Throne.”

“No, but they have never supported the oppression of Dalgliesh either. Even before Birkita took the throne, there were rumors and talk of war with the Northern Province, and any sympathy for an independent Dalgliesh has always been considered treason.”

“But how could she legally impose a separate tax on one province? Surely the council would have denied the request.”

Helfrich raised his shoulders and nodded towards Hauk who rode in front of them. “Want confirmation, talk to Hauk. The Queen imposed a similar tax on Northlew years back when they made the mistake of making an alliance with the Dalglieshans. Bankrupted the entire province with an outrageous fine on wool production.”

Finn frowned. Everything Helfrich said went against the very reason the monarchy existed. He was starting to understand the rumors of uprisings and calls for civil war that had become increasingly frequent over the last two decades. His own father and brothers had been called a few years back to lead their army against an uprising along the Colechester and Meall border, and another one only this past year on their borders. Both fights had been quick, the mobs consisting of mostly farmers and merchants carrying crude handmade weapons who stood no chance against the seasoned and disciplined warriors.

“Now that the Queen has been displaced, surely the council will remove the unreasonable tariffs.”

“Birkita wasn't the only one who benefited from her legislations,” Helfrich pointed out, his cheeks colored in anger. “Even after Cara takes the throne, it will take time for her to gain the confidence of the council and to make any significant changes. It will take years to erase the damage that has been done.”

Finn let out an elongated breath as they passed another abandoned farmhouse.

“Looks like our little princess got a premium upgrade when the council declared the redhead sterile,” Edmund scoffed as he approached from behind.

“Watch your words,” Finn warned.

“Or what?” Edmund sneered, his voice betraying his unwarranted hatred and hostility. “You think because you're screwing her, you get to tell us what to do?”

Edmund spit, reared his horse and took off in the opposite direction before Finn could reply.

Finn had to stop himself from going after him. It would prove nothing, and there was already more than enough tension within their group.

“He thinks because his uncle is the king that he's immune to law,” Helfrich suggested, as they watched Arwel and Theo rein their horses beside Edmund.

“What do you make of Arwel and Theo?” Finn frowned as he watched the men. He couldn't hear their conversation, but given the way they gestured towards Cara, he figured they were making more offensive remarks. “What do they have to gain by aligning themselves with Edmund?”

Helfrich sighed, and a tic worked in his jaw as he contemplated Finn's question. “The Queen's edicts have shifted the balance of power. Hellstrom and Ashwater hold nearly half of the country's assets, and while Bere Alstern has only moderate wealth, their army is the most formidable in the country.”

Finn raised an eyebrow at his comment.

“Next to Crantock's forces, respectfully,” Helfrich said, smiling.

“But what could they possibly gain by forming an alliance?”

Helfrich shrugged and shook his head. “That I don't know.”

Finn wasn't satisfied with the answer. It was evident that Edmund, Arwel, and Theo were up to something, and whatever it was, their blatant confidence in their own importance made Finn uneasy.

“Riders approaching fast from the east,” cried one of the guardsmen.

Reining his horse, he rode towards the front of the caravan where the guards had already positioned themselves protectively around Cara, but before he could get to her, she had forced her way through the barricade and took off in a full gallop in the direction of the riders.

Finn cursed and kicked his horse into motion. What the hell was she thinking? Her horse was too fast, and a lump formed in his throat as he knew he wouldn't be able to catch up with her in time if the men proved violent.

He was still a good distance away when he saw Tahdaon's black stallion charging her from the side. For a moment Finn thought the horses would collide, and he held his breath as he watch Tahdaon grab Cara's reins and position himself between her and the approaching riders. His sword was drawn and ready to fight if needed, but he looked just as ready use it on Cara as she continued to scream at him and fight him for the reins.

“Let go of my horse,” she screamed.

“You're a bloody nuisance, you know that,” Tahdaon sneered, never taking his eyes off the riders.

Cara let out a long rant of explicit curses, and then to the surprise of both Finn and Tahdaon, jumped from her horse and began running towards the riders.

“I'm going to kill her myself if they don't do it for me,” Tahdaon muttered.

Finn felt the same way as he watched the lead rider dismount and open his arms wide. Two seconds later, Cara ran to him so fast that he staggered backwards as she launched herself into his arms.

Tahdaon grunted, and Finn couldn't help but expel his own frustrated breath. The man held her just a little too close and a little long for Finn's liking. He noticed that while the man wasn't tall, he was built like a warrior, and his features spoke of Crowthornian nobility.

“Reyn's youngest brother,” Finn said under his breath, but loud enough for Tahdaon to hear.

“I don't care if it was Annul herself. She has no business running off like that.” Frustration pasted on his face, he sheathed his weapon, spun his horse around and rode back to the caravan.

Reyn rode forward, dismounted, and rushed to embrace the younger man.

Finn walked towards them, stood next to Cara, and waited patiently while the brothers exchanged private words.

“It's good to see you both alive,” the man said loudly, patting his brother on the back one last time before releasing him.

“Unfortunately, many of them are true,” Cara said, placing Finn's hand in her own.

The simple gesture made Finn smile, and he saw the other man raise an eyebrow at him.

“Finn, this is Callion, Reyn's youngest brother.”

He had guessed the man's identity correctly. Finn nodded in acknowledgement.

Callion eyed him cautiously, before returning the nod and shifting his attentions back to Cara.

“Why isn't my father with you?” Cara asked, eyeing the other riders he travelled with. “I would have thought he would have come to greet us.”

Callion looked down at his leather-gloved hands and his face drained of color.

Finn's mouth went dry.

“Callion?” her breath hitched in her throat as she said his name, demanding an answer.

“I think we should wait until——”

Cara shook her head and let out a long breath. “It's better you tell me now.”

Clearing his throat, Callion took a step towards her and she flinched as if she had been slapped.

“I'm so sorry,” he said, placing his hand on her shoulder.

“When?” she demanded.

“Two, almost three weeks ago. There were rumors that the Queen's guards had murdered you and Reyn. Other rumors that you had escaped the palace and were considered fugitives. We didn't know what truth to believe. We don't have much communication with the other provinces anymore, and what limited news we get is often distorted and untrustworthy.”

“How?” Tears filled her eyes, but she didn't let them fall. “What happened?”  

“His heart. It just stopped.” Callion shook his head and continued, “There was a messenger that day. He claimed that he had seen your body. That you had been tortured to death by the Queen's own hand.” He let out an elongated breath, as if the thought pained him. “It was just too much for him. He passed away later in the evening in his bed.”

Cara closed her eyes and took a steadying breath. When she opened them again Finn saw that she had pulled a shield over her emotions. Her face was expressionless and her eyes distant. She let go of his hand, and he had to stop himself from pulling her into his arms.

“Thank you for telling me Callion,” she said stoically, and then turned to Finn. “We still have a fair distance to travel today. Best we remount and be off.”

She turned from them and walked towards her horse, and all three men watched in silence as she rode away.

It was Finn that finally spoke, “She's right. We should keep moving. Once she's home she'll be able to grieve properly.”

* * *

Cara paced the floor of her old bedroom. Compared to the luxury of the palace and Tomias' summer house, her room seemed small and modest, but everything about it reminded her of her father and the life she had left behind. She shivered despite the heat of the fire, and the warm muggy air that drifted through the open windows.