Ginny Hartman (8 page)

When her amusement at the situation finally abated, she focused her concentration on holding tightly to the pommel of the saddle while they furiously rode further and further away from Herfordshire Castle, her many questions for the defender having to wait until he slowed the horse's pace.

She wasn't sure how long they rode, but the further they got away from her home, the more distracted she became by the stranger sitting behind her. His arms were covered with the black material of his defenders tunic, but his hands were lean and strong, as he expertly guided his destrier. She took her time inspecting what little of his body she could see from her position in front of him. She could feel the strength of his legs as his muscular thighs held tightly to her sides. She looked down at the gray hose covering those magnificent legs and noticed several splatters of blood. She cringed, wondering briefly if he was aware of the stains, or why he hadn't bothered changing into clean attire before coming for her. She shrugged the small detail off, knowing that she wasn't one to judge another for their unkempt appearance, knowing very well that her own appearance was often lacking.

When the horse finally slowed, Rosalind adjusted herself in the saddle, attempting to look up into the defender's face. He was so handsome; her heart did a funny little flip in her chest, beating out an erratic cadence against her ribs. She tried to ignore it, as she asked, “Are you seriously planning on escorting me all the way to Peltis without my chambermaid?”

The defender pulled back on the reins, slowing them almost to a stop. “It would appear so. I certainly don't intend to go back and retrieve her.”

“My parents will be furious when they find out.”

A steely look passed over his face, but only just briefly. “King Cedric instructed me to retrieve you and deliver you to Peltis.  He never specified that I bring along your entire castle staff as well.”

Rosalind smiled. “One chambermaid doesn't exactly constitute the entire staff of Herfordshire Castle.”

The defender just shrugged, completely unapologetic for his actions. And truthfully, Rosalind wasn't offended by his actions in the least. The rebellious streak that had always seemed to reside in her rejoiced at the prospect of an adventure, however brief it may be. When it became clear that the defender had nothing else to say, she asked him curiously, “Since we are to spend the next several days together, may I inquire as to how I should address you?”

“My name is Terric de Valles.”

“Terric,” she said, testing it out on her tongue, liking the way it sounded.

Another spell of silence ensued before she spoke once more. “Tell me Terric, why would King Cedric see fit to send his lead defender to escort me to my parents?”

She felt him stiffen behind her, as he brought the horse to a complete halt and slid effortlessly from the saddle. Once he was planted firmly on the ground, he looked up at her through his helmet and said, “I'm just doing as I have been instructed.”

Rosalind didn't wait for him to assist her. As she slid from the horse, Terric reached up and steadied her with his hands, guiding her safely to the ground. “Do you always do as you are instructed?” she asked him.

“I do,” came his firm reply.

“Of course you do, you wouldn't be the High King's lead defender if you didn't.”

“Do you view that as a weakness, Your Highness?”

Rosalind looked up at him, wishing he would take off his helmet so she could search his face. She thought about his question before answering him. She knew that she herself often struggled with complying to every instruction bestowed upon her. Her disregard for her parents’ rules had often caused much contention between them. She had often argued that she was just following her heart, but maybe it was more of a willful rebellion on her part than she had previously realized.

She paused in her ruminations, knowing that he wasn't asking her if she always did as she was instructed, but wanted to know if she found him weak for being honor bound to his duties. When she thought of it like that, she knew her answer immediately. “Not at all. I don't imagine there is a weak bone in your body.”

She watched as his face broke into a smile at her response. Was he amused by her answer? Finally, he reached up and removed his helmet from his head, dangling it from two fingers as he lowered it to his side. His hair was plastered to his head with sweat, and the faint shadows under his eyes revealed to her that he must be exhausted, but there was still something about him that made her insides feel as if they were turning to mush. She pressed both of her hands to her midsection, as if the action could cause the feeling to flee.

“There's a stream not too far from here. I will lead Stephen there so he can get a drink before we must resume our journey.”

Rosalind only nodded, then watched silently as he led the horse to the water, bending to splash some of the cool liquid on his face and hair as well. Now that they were away from the castle, the first inklings of doubt began to form about being alone with him. She had only been thinking about adventure and getting away from the stifling Brigit. She hadn't taken the time to anticipate the full consequences of her actions. The next few days could prove to be very awkward—she wasn't quite sure how to act around men, especially one as handsome as him.

Trying to distance herself from both Terric and her uncomfortable thoughts, she walked further upstream from the man and his destrier. The morning air was still crisp, but Rosalind couldn't resist slipping her feet from her shoes. Lifting the hem of her dress, she dipped one toe cautiously in the water before withdrawing it suddenly at the overwhelming coldness. She laughed nervously before glancing towards Terric to see if he was watching her. When she was satisfied that he wasn't, she braved submersing one foot fully into the water before letting the other one follow.

Her feet felt as if they were quickly turning to ice, but it was oddly refreshing nonetheless. She found her footing on the slippery rocks at the bottom of the stream and took a few tentative steps. Starting to feel confident, she chanced another step, but her foot came down on the sharp corner of a jagged rock, causing her to moan in agony and withdraw her foot suddenly, causing her dubious balance to wane. Arms flailing, she fell back, her bottom end meeting with the hard ground of the riverbank. Great, she thought, she had most likely just stained one of only two dresses she had with her for her journey to Peltis. Her mother would not be amused and would surely insist on an entire wardrobe to replace the one she didn't bring with her.

Glancing downstream, she desperately hoped that Terric had not witnessed her blunder. With relief, she noticed that his back was turned to her, though his shoulders seemed to be shaking. Was he laughing at her? Bolting upright, she felt her cheeks flame red. Why was she always embarrassing herself in his presence? Surely he must think her extremely incompetent. Brushing her backside off, she waited for her feet to dry before replacing her shoes and making her way to where Terric was standing.

Hearing her approach, Terric turned towards her. She willed herself not to blush as he looked at her, his eyes sliding towards her feet, then up to her now-stained dress before settling his clear, blue eyes once more on her face.  “There won't be time for you to change, or any place decent for you to freshen up for that matter.”

“Do you hear me complaining?” she snapped back, unsure of why she felt so peevish at his statement.

“I just thought that...”

“Well you thought wrong. I'm not like most princesses you know. My clothing is dirty more often than not, and it doesn't bother me one bit.”

Terric smiled at her then, an infectious smile that seemed to brighten the overcast morning. She felt the funny feeling start in the pit of her stomach once more before it seemed to spread, first upwards into her chest then branching out into her limbs. Her arms began to feel tingly and weightless. Glancing briefly over Terric's shoulder, she saw a slow mist crawling towards them, shimmering with vibrant colors. She cocked her head to one side as she viewed the intrusion, mesmerized by its beckoning call. Ignoring Terric's curious stare, she stepped around him and began walking towards the wisps of color. Feeling a strong hand wind around her forearm and pull her back, she blinked, snapping out of her reverie.

“Are you well, Your Highness?” Terric asked in a worried voice.

Shaking her head to try and dispel it of the fog that had settled on her senses, she turned to look at him, but the effort proved too much. Suddenly weak, she slid to the ground in front of him, cradling her head in her hands, as she stared at the grass beneath her legs.

Terric knelt before her, “Are you well? Perhaps you should eat; your strength has failed you.”

Rosalind responded without raising her head, “Mayhap that would help; thank you.”

Terric rose and went and rummaged through his saddle bag until he found some dried strips of meat and some almonds. Returning, he extended his hand and offered them to her. They sat in silence as she ate, her strength seemingly returning, albeit slowly.

When the food was entirely consumed, she turned to him, her face still pale, “Strange things happen when I'm around you.”

Stunned, he asked, “Whatever do you mean? We've only been around each other...”

She cut him off, “Four times, if you count earlier in my bedchambers as a separate time than now. And, each time I have felt...well, strange.”

“How so?”

Rosalind thought a moment, unsure of how she was going to explain to him what had just occurred. Finally she spoke, “I feel funny inside. My limbs become weak and I...” His hitched breath caused her to stop speaking. She looked at him curiously, but when he didn't say anything, she continued, “I see these wisps of translucent color swirling towards me, almost beckoning me to them. I've never touched them, but I wonder what would happen if I dared.”

“Is that all that happens?” he asked.

“Yes, that's all. When the wisps leave I feel faint, drained of all my strength, like now.” Turning imploring violet eyes on him she asked, “What could it mean?”

Terric rubbed one hand over his chin methodically, as if it would somehow help him think more fully. “Are you sure it only occurs when I am around?”

“Certain. The first time it happened was upon our first meeting in the woods, the day you found me searching for cudworth berries. That's why I was lying in the grass when you approached. I hadn't the strength to rise.”

“Curious,” he said, still rubbing his chin, his eyes taking on a faraway look. When his gaze came into focus, there was humor dancing in his eyes. “It could only mean one thing—you are hopelessly in love with me.”

Rosalind gasped, her face burning with heat. She could feel the blush rise from her throat and pour over her face. “What an audacious thing to say! I don't even know you, how could I be in love with you? ”

Terric started laughing then. He stood, reaching forth one hand to assist her, which she took reluctantly. “I'm only just jesting. Your strange episodes are most likely a result of poor nutrition and too much sun.”

“Too much sun?” she asked dryly. “Is there ever such a thing in Darth?”

He smiled. “We need to be on our way. I'm certain I have nothing to do with these odd occurrences you've spoken of. I'll ensure you get enough to eat between here and Peltis, and I'm confident that you'll feel much better, that there won't be a repeat.”

Rosalind nodded then allowed him to assist her into his saddle. She hoped he was correct.

Chapter 9

Perhaps Someday

Terric steered Stephen off the main road with ease and confidently led him into the forest that bordered the Kingdom of Darth. It would take two days longer, at least, than traveling the main road would, but he knew he couldn't be seen throughout the kingdom alone with Princess Rosalind. And he knew that the less people who knew they were traveling to Peltis, the better. He didn't want to give King Cedric's position away.

He rode fast, trying to ignore the feel of Rosalind in the saddle in front of him. Her head came up to his chin, the fragrance in her hair wafting to his nose alluringly. It smelled faintly of jasmine, which only served to remind him of the night of her entrance. Every muscle in his body grew taut with awareness, and he very nearly moaned. She was intoxicating and different than he expected a princess to be. He had spent his fair share of time around King Cedric's daughters, and though they were lovely girls, he never had any interest in them. If anything, they felt almost like sisters, or cousins, to him. Rosalind definitely did not feel like a member of his family.

And when she had explained to him the odd feelings she experienced when he was around, he had foolishly dared to hope that the same stirrings of attraction he felt for her were reciprocated. He was glad that he had taken a teasing tone with her when he proclaimed her in love with him, for he could tell that his proclamation embarrassed her deeply and would have embarrassed him too if he'd sounded serious when he had said it.

Forcing thoughts of the girl out of his mind, he thought back instead on the recent attack at Brantonwall Castle. He knew he would be racing time attempting to find out who was behind the attack before there was a repeat, and that's part of the reason why he felt so frustrated at King Cedric's command that he be the one to retrieve Princess Rosalind. The other reason for his frustration was the girl herself. There he went, thinking about her once more.

He hadn't realized he groaned out loud until Rosalind turned to look at him curiously. “Why are we not traveling on the main road? Going through the forest isn't safe and will make our journey significantly longer.”

“Don't you trust me?” he asked

“I wouldn't if you weren't my uncle's lead defender. Surely he has explicit faith in you to trust him with his own life, never mind mine. I saw the missive he penned with his own hand, instructing you to come for me. Aye, I may trust you, but I'm not sure I understand you.”

Terric found her honesty refreshing. “There's nothing for you to understand. Don't concern yourself with the details, leave them up to me.”