we can reach Valdor.”
“But, your…..armor?”
Even as she spoke, shadow wreathed him, and when it faded, he seemed to be wearing only simple, linen breeches, and a common tunic of deerskin. Even his sword was gone. In its place, he now carried only a long staff. He looked like any other freeman found on the borderlands. A freeman of Kanlysan blood.
“How is it a Kanlysan champions Valdor,” she finally asked him quietly.
He gave a wry chuckle to that. “’Tis a long story, lady. Mayhap we shall have time to share it after we leave this town behind,” he told her pointedly. “For now, I am Kaye,” he called himself. “And you are my companion Helen I acquired from a pleasure hall for my own convenience. Douglas shall be our son, which ’twill explain my….protecting you both.”
“A wise ploy,” she nodded, and followed close to him. “Even if I look old enough to be mother, or aunt, rather than companion.”
“You are still a handsome woman, Helen,” he called her pointedly. “Do not doubt it despite that fool’s abuses.”
“You are very kind, sir…. Ah, Kaye.”
He only nodded. “Let us find an inn, have a hot morning meal, and then move on. Like as not, the little babe would like fresh milk, too.”
“Aye,” she nodded, noting Douglas was starting to stir restlessly. “Only mine dried long since….”
“If you will allow me,” he said quietly, and turned to gently brush his long, strong fingers over her breasts, shocking her for a moment. Not half so much as the sudden, familiar feeling of milk swelling in her breasts as she gasped at the weighted, bloated feeling she knew from her own babes, and the ones lost her.
“Is naught beyond you,” she exclaimed in wonder as he turned to lead her into town.
“There are many things beyond me, lady. I am, at heart, still but a man.”
She only looked at him, holding her son close as she kept to his heels, like a dutiful ‘companion’ would in the world of men. In her eyes, he was far from a man just then. He was a virtual demigod, and she prayed he could keep his vow to see her home. Just then, that was all that mattered to her. That, and her son.
X
“My lord,” the older man strode boldly into the throne room where priests gibbered and chanted around the king. “I believe I can aid you.”
“Indeed? Now who are you, sir,” George demanded irritably, “And how can I expect aid of a man that looks older than I?”
“I am indeed older,” Harlock Ian Graves smiled, his weathered features surprisingly pale for a freeman. “I am Sir Graves, of the United Guild Elders. I bring grim news, but an answer, too.”
“Will you stop babbling in riddles, and just speak your mind, freeman,” George spat. “I get enough flattery from your guild sycophants!”
“Just so. I believe, my lord-king, the devil you saw was a true shadow. One of those thought but rumor and legend from the old tales. I believe, sire, he is a true shadow from what you have said. And from what I have learned, I feel he is the very shadow that rides with the Xandaran mercenaries that follow the Black Wolf.”
“Mercenaries? Then why did we not hire these devils, if they are so good? So…powerful?”
“They are Xandaran, sire. They tend to loathe Galdynians,” he reminded him.
“Hmmph.
“But, your…..armor?”
Even as she spoke, shadow wreathed him, and when it faded, he seemed to be wearing only simple, linen breeches, and a common tunic of deerskin. Even his sword was gone. In its place, he now carried only a long staff. He looked like any other freeman found on the borderlands. A freeman of Kanlysan blood.
“How is it a Kanlysan champions Valdor,” she finally asked him quietly.
He gave a wry chuckle to that. “’Tis a long story, lady. Mayhap we shall have time to share it after we leave this town behind,” he told her pointedly. “For now, I am Kaye,” he called himself. “And you are my companion Helen I acquired from a pleasure hall for my own convenience. Douglas shall be our son, which ’twill explain my….protecting you both.”
“A wise ploy,” she nodded, and followed close to him. “Even if I look old enough to be mother, or aunt, rather than companion.”
“You are still a handsome woman, Helen,” he called her pointedly. “Do not doubt it despite that fool’s abuses.”
“You are very kind, sir…. Ah, Kaye.”
He only nodded. “Let us find an inn, have a hot morning meal, and then move on. Like as not, the little babe would like fresh milk, too.”
“Aye,” she nodded, noting Douglas was starting to stir restlessly. “Only mine dried long since….”
“If you will allow me,” he said quietly, and turned to gently brush his long, strong fingers over her breasts, shocking her for a moment. Not half so much as the sudden, familiar feeling of milk swelling in her breasts as she gasped at the weighted, bloated feeling she knew from her own babes, and the ones lost her.
“Is naught beyond you,” she exclaimed in wonder as he turned to lead her into town.
“There are many things beyond me, lady. I am, at heart, still but a man.”
She only looked at him, holding her son close as she kept to his heels, like a dutiful ‘companion’ would in the world of men. In her eyes, he was far from a man just then. He was a virtual demigod, and she prayed he could keep his vow to see her home. Just then, that was all that mattered to her. That, and her son.
X
“My lord,” the older man strode boldly into the throne room where priests gibbered and chanted around the king. “I believe I can aid you.”
“Indeed? Now who are you, sir,” George demanded irritably, “And how can I expect aid of a man that looks older than I?”
“I am indeed older,” Harlock Ian Graves smiled, his weathered features surprisingly pale for a freeman. “I am Sir Graves, of the United Guild Elders. I bring grim news, but an answer, too.”
“Will you stop babbling in riddles, and just speak your mind, freeman,” George spat. “I get enough flattery from your guild sycophants!”
“Just so. I believe, my lord-king, the devil you saw was a true shadow. One of those thought but rumor and legend from the old tales. I believe, sire, he is a true shadow from what you have said. And from what I have learned, I feel he is the very shadow that rides with the Xandaran mercenaries that follow the Black Wolf.”
“Mercenaries? Then why did we not hire these devils, if they are so good? So…powerful?”
“They are Xandaran, sire. They tend to loathe Galdynians,” he reminded him.
“Hmmph.
Similar Books
