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Authors: Breanna Hayse
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a phlox or even a poppy, I would not carry this concern. You sacrifice too much.”
“Your sacrifice was just as great, having to take me to this place. But we are being gifted with the promise of a safe and prosperous future for our children.”
“Ilesbet…when you said we were not to interfere now. Does this mean that I cannot hunt down this man before more harm is caused?”
“I fear that it means exactly that. More people will be killed, and many more lives shattered before he is brought to his knees before the gods. But have faith that it will happen as it should and when it should. Anything that alters the path can end up in destroying the promise.”
“Will Daynel be hurt?”
“Yes. But,” Ilesbet rested her finger over his lips, “she will not suffer harm. Trust me.”
“I do. I must,” he sighed, kissing the top of her head. “I have no choice.”
Chapter Five
Baldric looked over his shoulder nervously, sensing that unfriendly eyes were upon them. They had traveled for hours beyond the trail after discovering the path had been littered by a large rockslide. The detour had taken them outside the protection of the forest and left them visible to all. Including those who might be bandits. Daynel swayed easily on Firestar’s back, unbothered by the possibility of a fight. Her senses were as taut as the string of her bow and she knew that her mount’s ears were as keen as her own.
Baldric’s discomfort amused her greatly, to say the least. His religious sect was very passive, allowing the ways of life and nature to occur naturally and without interference. Because of this, his frequent threats to “warm her sit-upon” went unnoticed. She complied with his requests, though. Primarily because she felt sorrow that Ilesbet had saddled the poor man with such an unpleasant chore that required him to spirit her far away and keep her out of trouble until the time to return home was upon her. This was an assignment she would wish upon not even her worse enemy. She chuckled, recalling how many times her twin brothers had been called upon for a similar duty when Günter was not available. They had failed miserably, for she managed to escape them within hours of the announcement. How she enjoyed the brilliant red in their faces when she finally allowed them to discover her whereabouts, scoffing at their inability to track a mere female. Both had begged permission from both the king and the crown princes to deliver justice to her bare backside, and had been jovially refused. Daynel smiled with the memory, knowing that they were determined to show their competence as guards the next time they were given the chore. And still, she managed to evade them!
Daynel’s mind returned to the present and she reflected the third day that she and Baldric had traveled together, heading east toward the Great Waters. She had felt restless, uneasy, and understandingly disturbed by the image the Dragon’s Sight had burned into her mind. That same immense, powerful, strange man haunted her dreams now. And there was only one way to wipe away dreams. Mead.
“Baldric! I wish to go into town,” Daynel said wearily, rubbing her back as they plodded through the thick forest. “I want a feather bed and a meal made of something I have not hunted or you have conjured.”
“No, Princess. I have already explained to you the danger of being seen. Hungry men will sell their children for a piece of silver.”
“Such theatrics! My brother would aptly tell you that your place should be as an actor before a king, not a guard for the priestess,” Daynel scoffed. “Come with me and share a mug. It would do you good.”
“No, Princess,” Baldric said patiently. “My sect does not…”
“Drink spirits? The only thing the men in your sect seem to do for pleasure is mount women! You do mount women, and not sheep, right?” she antagonized him.
“Young lady, you are sorely trying my patience. Keep this up and I will warm
“Your sacrifice was just as great, having to take me to this place. But we are being gifted with the promise of a safe and prosperous future for our children.”
“Ilesbet…when you said we were not to interfere now. Does this mean that I cannot hunt down this man before more harm is caused?”
“I fear that it means exactly that. More people will be killed, and many more lives shattered before he is brought to his knees before the gods. But have faith that it will happen as it should and when it should. Anything that alters the path can end up in destroying the promise.”
“Will Daynel be hurt?”
“Yes. But,” Ilesbet rested her finger over his lips, “she will not suffer harm. Trust me.”
“I do. I must,” he sighed, kissing the top of her head. “I have no choice.”
Chapter Five
Baldric looked over his shoulder nervously, sensing that unfriendly eyes were upon them. They had traveled for hours beyond the trail after discovering the path had been littered by a large rockslide. The detour had taken them outside the protection of the forest and left them visible to all. Including those who might be bandits. Daynel swayed easily on Firestar’s back, unbothered by the possibility of a fight. Her senses were as taut as the string of her bow and she knew that her mount’s ears were as keen as her own.
Baldric’s discomfort amused her greatly, to say the least. His religious sect was very passive, allowing the ways of life and nature to occur naturally and without interference. Because of this, his frequent threats to “warm her sit-upon” went unnoticed. She complied with his requests, though. Primarily because she felt sorrow that Ilesbet had saddled the poor man with such an unpleasant chore that required him to spirit her far away and keep her out of trouble until the time to return home was upon her. This was an assignment she would wish upon not even her worse enemy. She chuckled, recalling how many times her twin brothers had been called upon for a similar duty when Günter was not available. They had failed miserably, for she managed to escape them within hours of the announcement. How she enjoyed the brilliant red in their faces when she finally allowed them to discover her whereabouts, scoffing at their inability to track a mere female. Both had begged permission from both the king and the crown princes to deliver justice to her bare backside, and had been jovially refused. Daynel smiled with the memory, knowing that they were determined to show their competence as guards the next time they were given the chore. And still, she managed to evade them!
Daynel’s mind returned to the present and she reflected the third day that she and Baldric had traveled together, heading east toward the Great Waters. She had felt restless, uneasy, and understandingly disturbed by the image the Dragon’s Sight had burned into her mind. That same immense, powerful, strange man haunted her dreams now. And there was only one way to wipe away dreams. Mead.
“Baldric! I wish to go into town,” Daynel said wearily, rubbing her back as they plodded through the thick forest. “I want a feather bed and a meal made of something I have not hunted or you have conjured.”
“No, Princess. I have already explained to you the danger of being seen. Hungry men will sell their children for a piece of silver.”
“Such theatrics! My brother would aptly tell you that your place should be as an actor before a king, not a guard for the priestess,” Daynel scoffed. “Come with me and share a mug. It would do you good.”
“No, Princess,” Baldric said patiently. “My sect does not…”
“Drink spirits? The only thing the men in your sect seem to do for pleasure is mount women! You do mount women, and not sheep, right?” she antagonized him.
“Young lady, you are sorely trying my patience. Keep this up and I will warm
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