Lovers of Legend (3 page)

"I wished for more fresh air," I replied.

"Well, your mother has sent me to fetch you. She wishes for you to try some dresses before the picnic this afternoon," he informed me.

At that moment my father burst from the trees. He noticed us and hurried over. "What are you doing, Alexandra? I ordered you into the house," he reminded me.

"I merely wished for another ride along the road-"

"I do not want your excuses. Put Beferon in the stables and go to your room. Steven, there is an urgent matter of which I wish to speak," my father told my beau.

Steven raised an eyebrow, but bowed his head. "As you wish, My Lord."

My father and Steven rode to the manor front doors while I went to the stables. By the time I had dismounted and handed the reins to a stable boy I had made up my mind. Since the matter in the woods concerned me so directly I would ask my father about them. I strode into the entrance hall of the large manor. In the center was the large grand staircase, and off to the sides were the dining room, parlor, and the most important, my father's study. I hurried to the entrance, but stopped when the door opened and out stepped Steven. He closed the door behind himself and turned to me with a smile.

"Good morning, my dearest. Were you looking for me?" he wondered.

"Actually, I wished to speak with my father," I replied. I tried to step around him, but he stepped in my way.

"Your father has given me strict instructions not to allow anyone to see him. It seems he is much disturbed by the rumors of wolves and wishes for me to be your protector for the picnic this afternoon," Steven revealed.

I was disgusted. "I am sure I need no protector. If there are wolves Beferon is quite capable of speeding me away," I argued.

"Your father worries you won't be able to reach Beferon, and insists I stay by your side until we leave the woods. I am sorry, but that is the way it must be," he replied.

"Let me speak with my father about this," I countered. I tried to push through Steven, but he grabbed my wrist and pulled me against his chest. He leaned his face close to me and I turned my head away.

His voice was low and husky, and his eyes flitted over my body. "A good wife obeys her husband," he scolded me.

"I am not your wife," I hissed.

"But you will be soon. Your father has all but assured it," he replied.

"Over my dead body," I argued.

He chuckled. The sound froze the blood in my veins. "That would make the wedding night shorter, and where's the fun in that?" he wondered.

I broke from his grasp and stumbled back. This elf was a monster. He wished only for my wealth and nothing at all for me, not even my life.

"Ah, there are the two love-birds," a whimsical voice trilled. I spun around to find my mother striding down the stairs. She was all smiles for us. "Alexandra, darling, I have been looking for you. There are a few dresses I wish for you to try on." She looped her arm through mine and bowed her head to Steven. "If you would excuse us."

He smiled and returned the bow. "Of course, Lady Stethana," he agreed.

My mother led me upstairs from the terrifying confrontation, and the moment we were out of earshot I grasped her hand in mine. "Mother, that man is a monster," I quickly told her.

She chuckled. "Is that not what you say about all your suitors?" she teased.

"I am serious, Mother. He means to wed and kill me," I insisted.

"Oh, nonsense, Alexandra. Steven would never hurt so much as a fly. Now enough with this nonsense. Let us see what you look like in your new dresses. One is a very becoming white," she replied.

I stopped and stepped in front of her so we faced each other. "Mother, do you not hear what I am saying? Steven intimidated that he means to wed and kill me!" I looked in her eyes for any sign of comprehension, but there was only vexation.

"Alexandra, enough with these lies or you will never be married. What husband would want a liar?" she wondered.

"I am not lying!" I argued.

She scoffed. "Then am I to believe that Steven is a murderer? Nonsense. Impossible. He will make a good husband for you if you would see past your own prejudices and accept him into your cold heart," she insisted.

Chapter 4

My concerns were thus brushed aside in favor of his breeding and lineage. Those traits could do no wrong before my parents' eyes, thus he could do no wrong. The servants and my mother arrayed me in the finest cloth for the coming picnic to which I both dreaded and looked forward with eagerness. The picnic grounds were a beautiful meadow a few miles into the woods. Deer often grazed on the grass and birds flew through the sky. It was a place I often traveled to for peaceful solitude, but that would be marred by the company of my mother, other female acquaintances of ours, and my new protector, Steven.

Arrayed in a beautiful sky-blue dress of soft silk, I stepped down the hall with my mother at my side. Behind us was an entourage of half a dozen chattering female servants, all ladies-in-waiting to my mother and myself. None of them were worth the gold we paid them for their company, but they amused my mother with their endless gossip.

Steven met us at the bottom of the stairs. He smiled and bowed to us. "You both look so lovely I can hardly tell you apart," he flattered us.

My mother laughed and tapped him on the shoulder with the fan in her hand. "What a handsome compliment from a handsome man. Isn't it, Alexandra?" she asked me.

"It is something to behold, mother," I agreed. The backhanded compliment was only noticed by Steven, but he only smirked and bowed his head.

"Well, let us be off. The day won't last forever for our amusement," my mother advised.

Our group of twittering idiots with Steven by my side strode to the stables where we were each given a horse. I mounted Beferon and was disgusted when Steven stepped up to ride by my side. "A beautiful day for a ride, is it not?" he asked me.

"It depends on the company," I returned.

My mother shot me a warning glare, but smiled sweetly at the others. "Come, ladies and Steven. Our picnic awaits!"

We trotted down the road and onto the main road that wound its way through the woods. I glanced at the side path where lay Ethan's property, and my mind pondered the strange meeting between my father and the woodsman. I could not understand what had taken place, but I would be sure to speak to my father on my return, even if I was forced to break down the door to his study.

We marched onward and in an hour we arrived at the picnic meadow. It lay just beside the road, but was large enough one could take their picnic far from the threat of dust and noise. My mother chose such a spot that lay close to the thick line of trees that ringed the meadow.

"Dismount. We shall picnic here," my mother called to our little group.

One of the maidens hesitated. Her eyes flitted over the tree line that was only ten yards off. "So close to the trees, My Lady?" she wondered.

"And why not, Marcella?" my mother returned.

"I have heard rumors of wolves in these forests," she told us.

My mother scoffed. "Wolves in these forests? The like has never been seen for several centuries, and if there was any substance to these rumors my husband would have taken care of the matter," she pointed out.

"But my brother heard their howls when he fetched wood one night," she argued. "The noises came from this direction."

"Nonsense, now dismount or return to the manor. We have no time, and I have not the patience, to be dealing with such tomfoolery," my mother warned her.

Marcella reluctantly dismounted and blankets were spread on the lush grass. I sat down and to my disgust was joined quickly by Steven. He seemed intent on vexing me with his presence. I turned away and looked out over the meadow. My heart was disappointed to find there were no deer grazing in the grass, and no birds flew overhead. The meadow was rather quiet and lonely. Such an atmosphere cast a depressing blanket over our little group, and though the women ate heartily and talked often their eyes flitted to the woods. They feared the story of wolves was true.

Steven seemed unaffected by the possibility of danger. Perhaps it was because his sword lay in his saddle. "Thinking beautiful thoughts?" he interrupted my musing.

I had actually been studying the dark shadows in the forest. I could not recall their being so ominous in past times. Something in the air of the woods caused the hair on the back of my neck to stand on end. There was danger afoot, but I knew I would be as ineffective in warning my mother as Marcella.

My voice was low enough only he could overhear what I spoke. "On the contrary. I was thinking of you," I replied.

He chuckled. "I find your little attempts at insulting me quite amusing, but so long as you are destined to be mine then I am able to tolerate a great deal," he told me.

I opened my mouth for a witty retort, but my words were drowned out by the sound of a wolf's howl. Everyone jumped to their feet and the horses whinnied and pulled at their reins. They were staked closer to the road about ten yards off, and the terrified creatures pawed the ground and strained to free themselves of the pins that held them to the ground. The call of the wolf died in the distance, but the horses weren't comforted and continued to rear up and pull at their ropes. I hurried over to Beferon and petted his nose to sooth him. His fearful eyes still flickered from the danger in the woods to the safety of the road that led back home.

My mother turned her head to and for and clutched at Marcella. Her voice quivered and sounded small. "What is that?" she whispered.

"A wolf," Steven replied. He stalked over to his horse and pulled forth his sword from its scabbard. His eyes scanned the tree line for shadows.

My mother turned to her ladies. "We must leave at once. Ladies, gather the clothes and-"

"Hold a moment," Steven commanded them in a low, firm voice. He stepped toward the trees with his sword in front of him.

"What is it?" my mother whispered to him.

"The call was only a signal to the others. We may be surrounded," he guessed.

"Then all the more important we should flee," my mother argued.

Steven shook his head. "No, remain here. They may strike at any-" Another howl broke the silence, but this one was just inside the tree line. Gray shadows burst from the woods and raced toward my mother and the ladies.

Steven jumped in front of them and swung his sword. The blade struck one of the wolves in the neck and lopped off its head. The other wolf jumped him, but he threw it off. It landed on the ground on its paws and dove at him. He jabbed his sword forward and stabbed the creature in the chest. The beast howled in pain and dropped to the ground, wrenching Steven's sword from his grasp. There was silence for a moment, and then to our horror the bodies transformed into black mist. The darkness flitted away into the woods, leaving only Steven's sword on the ground as proof that anything had happened.

"It's an omen! Some evil is being done!" Marcella shrieked.

My mother smacked her upside the head. "Quiet, foolish girl! There is nothing but black magic at work," she hissed.

"Black magic we should escape," Steven advised. He picked up his sword just as another howl warned us of a return of our enemies. "To the horses!" he commanded us.

I unpinned and mounted Beferon while Steven helped the ladies do the same. We were all in saddle when four wolves burst from the trees. They rushed us, and growled and snapped their jaws. The horses reared up and raced down the road. We could only hold on to the horns of our saddles and the sweat-soaked necks of our steeds. I was in the lead by a dozen yards and had only just reached the end of the meadow in the direction of the manor when a half dozen of the wolves jumped from the woods and blocked the road.

Beferon reared and turned so sharply that I nearly lost my seat. The wolves gave chase, leaving the way open for my mother and the others to flee toward the manor. Steven turned to give chase to us, but half the wolves turned and raced toward him. They blocked his path and snapped at his horse's legs as the other half continued their chase after me. Beferon sped around the perimeter of the meadow until we came upon a path I couldn't recall seeing before. Beferon didn't care about its sudden appearance and turned left down the dirt trail.

His hooves pounded against the ground as we sped over roots and through thick brush. The wolves were ever at Beferon's hooves gnawing and gnashing their teeth, pushing him onward. I gripped the saddle horn as tightly as I could as we raced across the uneven ground. My eyes were so focused on the ground that I didn't pay heed to the air. I saw the tree branch a moment before it knocked into my chest. I flew from the saddle and crashed onto my back into the brush on the side of the path.

Beferon sped by with the wolves at his heels. He rounded a corner to the right and hurried onward. Neither party slowed, and before long they had all disappeared down the path. I tried to raise myself, but my head grew dizzy and I fell back unconscious.

Chapter 5

I don't know how long I lay there, but when I awoke the sun was gone and night ruled in its stead. All around me were the sounds of crickets chirping and frogs calling to one another in their throaty voices. I sat up and winced when my back cracked and complained. There was no sign of the wolves, and most importantly Beferon. I struggled to my feet and glanced up and down the path, or I tried to. The path in the direction from whence I'd come had vanished. It simply stopped existing a yard to my right and became thick brush and old trees.