Druid Knights 1.5: The Druid Knight Tales (7 page)

“You, maybe. I’d be happy staying right here.” Bran stared out the window. Arik wondered what was on Bran’s mind. He knew it wasn’t the training that had been arranged for them. They had spoken of it often enough. “Five years underground and in the wilderness doesn’t make my heart sing. You, on the other hand,” Bran clapped his hand on Arik’s shoulder. “You were made for adventure. For as long as I can remember you always played the knight— ”

“To rescue you, Leticia and the manor,” A satisfied grin lit Arik’s face. “Letty always cheered us on. As a dutiful younger sister should,” he added without hesitation.

“Yes, you, Rebeka and your devoted squire.” Bran’s smile eased Arik concern. For a moment he’d feared Bran would not go with him. But that would never happen. They would be together always. “Logan is a good little brother.” Arik removed a wooden box then stepped away from his chest. “He likes swords and mud more than sitting and reading. Soon, Logan will go and train then we’ll all be Druid knights, all except Rebeka.” Arik shook his head. “I don’t think she makes a very good soldier. She doesn’t take orders very well.”

He moved on to the table and leafed through the books. “Mother believes our destiny’s been decided by the Ancestors. We each play our part, she says. It would be comforting if it was so. It wouldn’t take much thought or effort to follow along blindly but I’d rather believe we have a hand in what we become.” He closed the last book.

“I agree, but somehow I don’t think either of us have any say in this, at least not our schooling. You need help with those?” Bran took a few out of Arik’s arms.

With the books in hand, they left the room. Arik shut the door without a backward glance.

“I have to agree with you.” The boys headed back to finish packing. “Leaving it to destiny would be easy. Things will sort out,” he assured Bran even though it went against everything he believed in.

Things never sorted out on their own.

“But five years. In the wilderness.” They entered their room. Bran kicked the door closed and stood in the center. “What… what if they all… forget us?”

Arik dropped the books on his bed when he saw his brother’s quivering lip. “They won’t forget us. We won’t let them.” He needed to act quickly to stem Bran’s building panic. “We’ll be terrible, so terrible that the masters will keep father informed.” He looked at Bran for any sign his brother’s dread was subsiding. Bran lips pursed as if he’d sucked on a lemon.

“That will not do well at all. Father would thrash us to within an inch of our lives if we disgraced him.” Bran stacked the books in Arik’s traveling trunk. Bran’s trunk stood nearby locked and ready to go.

Arik let out a deep sigh and put the last of his books into the chest. “That leaves us only one alternative. We dazzle the masters with our brilliance. They’ll tell the family about our wonderful accomplishments. The masters will have so many great things to report they won’t be able to forget us.” Arik smiled and waited. He bent and whispered in Bran’s ear. “Perhaps we’ll have such a good time
we’ll
forget
them.”

The absurdity of the remark sent both boys into peals of laughter

Bran caught his breath first. “Someone’s pounding on the door.”

“We’d better tell them to come in.” Arik finally said.

“Come,” they said in unison, between chuckles. A sad faced Logan walked in followed by the footman who came to carry out the trunks. Arik regained his composure. For weeks Logan was adamant about going with them.

“Father said to come downstairs. It’s time to leave. Jeannie’s prepared a basket of food for you to take.”

“Why the long face?” Arik broke away from Bran. He stood in front of the ten year old and put his hand on his shoulder.

Logan concentrated on the floor. Arik loved his little brother and included him whenever he could but this was one time, well, it was one time where he was only ten. “Father won’t let me go with you. I told him you needed me.” Logan looked up with pleading eyes. “I’m your squire. Squires always stay by their knight.”

Leticia waited at the door, letting the footmen take out the chests. “The Grand Master is here with Ellyn and Rebeka. It’s time for you to leave.” She turned to Bran. “I’ll miss playing your lady of the manor.” She linked her arm in his. “You’ve been a good sport at testing my salves and remedies.”

“Please, don’t remind me. My skin still itches from your last salve. Rather than a healing cream it nearly caused me to scratch my skin off. It was fortunate for me that Ellyn had an antidote.”

“It looks as if we have everything.” Arik scanned the room one last time.

“Bran and I will meet you downstairs. Bran, I have a pot for you to take with you.”

“Let me ask Ellyn for more of her remedy,” he said, ducking from Leticia’s playful slap as they left the room.

Logan started to follow. “Wait squire. I have need of you." The boy straightened up and turned to his big brother.

Arik handed him the wooden case. Logan’s eyes lit up as he reached out and hesitantly took the box. “Are you certain? These are your knights and horses. The ones Father brought you from court.”

“They’re yours now. I know you will take good care of them and use them often.” He looked at the shine in the boy’s eyes and saw not only excitement over the gift but adoration. Logan, holding the box, wrapped his arms around Arik and held him tight.

“I’ll miss you,” Logan whispered, then let out a heavy sigh.

Arik squeezed him. “I’ll miss you, too. But you’ll see. In no time we’ll be home.” Arik released the boy and put his arm around his shoulder. They went downstairs to meet the others.

“Well, everyone is here now.” His father rubbed his hands together. His mother stood nearby wrapped in her shawl and a melancholy malaise.

They said their good-byes to Jeannie and graciously took the hamper as she dabbed at her eyes with the end of her apron. “And don’t eat it all before you get onto the road.”

Bran hefted the basket. “We couldn’t eat all this in a month.” He hugged her and kissed her forehead. She held him tight for a moment longer.

“You be good, do you hear.” She straightened his shirt and coat. “Don’t go running around making trouble.” She brushed away the stray hair that always fell into his eyes.

“I’ll make you proud. I promise I will. You promise you won’t forget me?” Bran stood straight and tall.

Jeannie pulled his face close to hers. “What a thing to say.” She held him tight one more time. Then shoed him away. “Now get along. Don’t keep your father and the Grand Master waiting.”

Ellyn stood ready to say her good-bye. She had already spoken to Arik. “It’s hard to believe you’re the same boy who we brought back from Orkney. You’ve grown tall and strong.”

“Thank you.’ He didn’t know what else to say.

“Your strength is not only physical. You have a good mind. Don’t be afraid to use it. And Bran,” she held him close, “know that you will be missed.” Her voice was a whisper.

Ellyn had always known his inner thoughts. She’d been close by, cheering him on and listening to his great plans. He pulled away and kissed her cheek and noticed she looked so sad.

“Go,” she smiled taking his arms away from around her. “Dimia is waiting for you.”

Fendrel got into the wagon with Maximilian. “Come boys,” he called.

Dimia stood on the manor steps. She gathered Arik and Bran into her arms. “You may be far away from me but never far from my heart. I’ll miss you both.” She let them go but not before she gave each a kiss.

Settled for their trip, the wagon rolled and bumped out the manor gate and up the long drive that snaked its way to the top of rise. Arik glanced over his shoulder for a final look at home. “To hearth and home,” he said silently to himself. His chest tightened, great sobs welled up causing a knot in his throat so large it threatened to choke him. He dare not turn around for the others to see him. He took one deep breath after another while he blinked his eyes and bit his lip. He refused to let Maximilian or his father witness him cry.

Bran, still looking forward, covered Arik’s hand and squeezed it gently. “I’m glad we’re going together and that we’ll be there for each other.”

Arik nodded, afraid if he spoke the dam he held back would burst. Bran understood him better than he realized. It wasn’t what he said but the quiet strength he gave him. He too was glad his brother was with him.

“Oh Great Mother I swear no strife,

I pledge to protect my brother Bran with my life.

So mote it be,” he said silently.

Arik and Bran looked back over the back of the wagon. Their family was gathered together waving good-bye. “We will always be together,” Arik said.

“Always,” Bran replied.

***

See what happens when Arik and Bran return after their five years of training in
Whispers on the Wind
, a short story in
Timeless Treasures
, on sale now
www.RuthACasie.com/books.html

About…

Ruth started reading romance books while traveling the world for business. Traveling alone can be daunting but she found a book in hand could see her through long waits at the airport as well as being good company at dinner for one. For some of her longer treks, she pared down what she packed to make room for books. Her favorite genres are romance and adventure.

A seasoned professional with more than twenty-five years of writing experience in communications and marketing for a large financial institution, she gave way to her inner muse and began writing a series of historical fantasy romance novels. Ruth is published by Carina Press and Harlequin Books.

When not writing you can find her home in Teaneck, New Jersey, reading, cooking, doing Sudoku and counted cross-stitch. Together with her husband, Paul, they enjoy ballroom dancing and going to the theater. Ruth and Paul have three grown children and two grandchildren. They all thrive on spending time together. It’s certainly a lively dinner table and they wouldn’t change it for the world.

***

You can read more about Ruth online at
www.RuthACasie.com
, on Twitter at
twitter.com/RuthACasie
, or
on Facebook at
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.

***

Want to read more about Bran, Arik and Rebeka?
Knight of Rapture
, Book II ~ A Druid Knight Tale available March 30, 2015.

Knight of Rapture

He crossed the centuries to find her…

For months Lord Arik has been trying to find the right combination of runes to create the precise spell to rescue his wife, Rebeka, but the druid knight will soon discover that reaching her four hundred years in the future is only the beginning of his quest. He arrives in the 21st century to find her memory of him erased, his legacy on the brink of destruction, and traces of dark magick at every turn.

A threat has followed to take away all they hold dear—forever…

Bran, the dark druid, is more determined than ever to get his revenge. His evil has spread across the centuries. Arik
will
lose all. Time is his weapon, and Bran’s made sure his plan leaves no one dear to Arik, in past or present, safe from the destruction.

But their enemy has overlooked the strongest magick of all…

Professor Rebeka Tyler is dealing with more than just a faulty memory. Ownership of Fayne Manor, her home, has been called into question. Convenient accidents begin happening putting those she cares for in the line of fire. And then there’s the unexpected arrival of a strange man dressed like he belonged in a medieval fair—a man who somehow is always around when needed, and always on her mind. She doesn’t know who to trust. But one thing is certain. Her family line and manor have survived for over eleven centuries. She won’t let them fall, not on her watch… in any century.

***

Want to read more about Max and Ellyn’s daughter, Rebeka, and Fendrel and Dimia’s son, Arik? Look no further than
Knight of Runes,
Book I ~ A Druid Knight Tale available now!
www.RuthACasie.com/books.html

Knight of Runes

England, 1605

When Lord Arik, a druid knight, finds Rebeka Tyler wandering his lands without protection, he swears to keep her safe. But Rebeka can take care of herself. When Arik sees her clash with a group of attackers using a strange fighting style, he’s intrigued.

Rebeka is no ordinary seventeenth-century woman—she’s traveled back from the year 2011, and she desperately wants to return to her own time. She poses as a scholar sent by the king to find out what’s killing Arik’s land. But as she works to decode the ancient runes that are the key to solving this mystery and sending her home, she finds herself drawn to the charismatic and powerful Arik.

As Arik and Rebeka fall in love, someone in Arik’s household schemes to keep them apart, and a dark druid with a grudge prepares his revenge. Soon Rebeka will have to decide whether to return to the future or trust Arik with the secret of her time travel and her heart.

***