David Dalglish - The Old Ways

“Stop thinking,” she whispered as she slipped into his bedroll. “For tonight, at least.”

She stopped his next sentence with a kiss, and despite his greater strength, she held his arms down with little difficulty.

“I just don’t want you hurt,” he said as she removed her clothes.

“Shut up, Jerico.”

“I know, but…”

“Shut up, Jerico.”

His clothes were next, and he helped her even as he protested.

“I’m just worried that…”

She kissed him, then held her hand over his mouth.

“Gods you’re impossible,” she said, then laughed despite herself. After her wounding, her many days of sickness, he could not resist the warmth of her body against his. She felt so vibrant, so alive. Her hair hung low across her face, lit by the moonlight as she hovered above him. Seeing her smile, her happiness, he gave in at last.

C ome the next day, they traveled with a much brighter spring in their step. For once Jerico did not dwell on the fight that awaited him, and Sandra was in her best health since leaving her brother’s camp. It seemed even the weather matched their brightness. They passed several couples, and a large family of twelve, heading toward the nearby villages to ply their trade. One couple sought a suitor for their daughter; another hoped his skills as a smith might be rewarded for a few weeks before moving on to the next town. Jerico wished them well, and prayed with those who were glad to see a man of Ashhur.

“Weather is fine,” Jerico said on their fourth day. “Makes it almost possible to forget that every paladin and priest of Karak is trying to kill me.”

“They’re who knows where, and we’re here,” Sandra said. “Try not to worry.”

“Easier said than done. It’s my head they want on a pike, not yours.”

“I’d join you on a pike, anyway. You think I’d let them take you without a fight?”

Jerico laughed.

“Indeed. And would you stop them?”

“I’m Kaide Goldflint’s sister. Damn right I would.”

The paladin looked her up and down while they walked.

“With what?”

She smirked at him.

“I keep a dagger on me at all times, Jerico. Well, perhaps not at all times.”

He blushed, and she mocked him for it. From behind, they heard a distant shouting of orders. Jerico glanced back, saw a wagon train about a quarter of a mile behind.

“Caravan heading toward the castle?” he wondered.

“Sebastian would never let them through the siege lines,” said Sandra. “Perhaps supplies for Sebastian’s own men, instead?”

Jerico stopped so he could see better. The dirt path was mostly flat, with but the slightest of bumps from the gently rolling hills they traveled across. He saw groups of armed men, but their banners were of no mercenary troop he recognized.

“Reinforcements for Sebastian’s army?” Sandra asked. “Jerico, I think we should get off the road.”

Jerico nodded, starting to think she was right. But the banners, they almost looked like…

Lions.

“Oh no,” Jerico muttered. “This is bad.”

He looked about, seeing nothing but fields of grass in all directions.

“Very bad.”

“What?” Sandra asked.

“They’re pledged to Karak, which means they’ll likely have priests or paladins with them.”

All around were the flat fields of tall grass. They could hide within them, but if Jerico could see the caravan, then the caravan could see him. What would they think of the couple who suddenly rushed off the road to hide? And what if they recognized his armor, realized he was a paladin of Ashhur? If only there was a hill, a group of trees, that they could vanish behind to hide the direction in which they fled.

“Not good, not good, not good,” Jerico muttered as his mind raced.

“Have you no ideas?” Sandra asked as she took his hand.

“None.”

“Then we’ll do mine. Walk into the field, slowly, as if nothing were the matter.”

“What plan is this?” Jerico asked. Sandra led the way, pulling him along. Behind them, the wagons rolled closer.

“Why else would a man and woman wander off a path for a moment alone?”

Fifty yards out from the road, she turned so his back was to the road, and she could peer over his shoulder.

“Almost,” she said, then grabbed his face in her hands and kissed. Jerico was too stunned to kiss back. When the kiss ended, she pulled him down into the grass, where they would not be seen.

“Will they believe it?” Jerico asked as he huddled on his knees.

“I don’t know. You’re a terrible troubadour.”

“I’m no good at lying, nor playing pretend.”

“A shame.”

Despite their situation, she laughed, and he blushed again.

“Are you so certain they are a danger?” Sandra asked. She also crouched on her knees, ready to run at a moment’s notice. Jerico wanted to look, but dared not for fear of revealing their farce for what it was.

“I know of no one else who might carry such a banner,” he said.

“What will you do if they come for us?”

Jerico pulled free his mace.

“I’ll do what is necessary. If they do come to inspect, you run like the wind, understand?”

“Worry about yourself.” Sandra crept higher, peering through the slender stalks of grass. Whatever she saw startled her, and she ducked back down and spoke in a whisper.

“Two men, they’re almost here.”

“Are they armed?” Jerico asked.

“Yes, but they haven’t drawn their blades yet.”

“They might have seen my armor,” Jerico whispered. “Get ready to run.”

Sandra looked again, then shook her head.

“Jerico,” she said. “Don’t judge me for this.”

His brow furrowed as he wondered what she meant, and then she began to moan. It started low at first, and quiet, but steadily grew louder. Jerico felt his neck flush, and his jaw dropped open. Her eyes were closed, and her face looked like she was in the midst of deep contemplation, but it did not match the noises coming from her mouth. Shaking away his shock, Jerico peered through the grass. Two soldiers were near, both with the symbol of a lion painted across their breastplates. Amused grins decorated their faces. They were talking, and Jerico did his best to ignore Sandra’s performance in order to listen.

“Sounds like he’s giving her a solid go,” said the one on the right.

“Care to give ‘em a startle?”

“Go ahead if you want, but I won’t. Interrupting a king’s knight while he’s fucking is a good way to get yourself stabbed.”

“I ain’t scared of any knight,” said the man on the left.

“Then go on, if you’re so desperate to spy a tit. Or is it the man’s dick you’re after?”

They struck one another with their fists, then returned to the road, glancing behind only once. Sandra quieted, then stopped when Jerico motioned they were gone.

“Are we safe?” she asked.

“Seems like it,” Jerico said, making sure one more time. When he knelt back down, Sandra caught him giving her a funny look.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

“No, what?”

He shrugged.

“Some of that sounded familiar, that’s all.”

She punched him across the jaw. It bruised his lip, but he didn’t complain. He definitely deserved it.

Once the wagons were far enough ahead, Jerico and Sandra emerged from the grass. Feeling safer, Jerico counted their numbers, and didn’t like the estimate he came up with. At least four hundred, if not more. Given where they were, and the direction they were headed, there could only be one place they traveled.

“They’re going to the Castle of Caves,” Jerico said.

“If they join Sebastian’s army, then Arthur will have no chance,” Sandra said. “And Kaide…he’ll still try to stop them. My brother is too stubborn to know reason. Whatever hope Arthur has is done.”