Akira Rises (28 page)

“Only if it can last longer and does not get interrupted.” Akira saw no point in being anything but honest. This man, woman thing was new to her.
I learned to fight, learned to use a power I did not know existed, if he is a good teacher I will be a good student.

“That can be arranged.” Dimitri thought of another activity that could last longer and definitely would not welcome any interruptions.

“You made me feel weak in the knees,” she confided in a whisper.

Her admission was endearing. It made him catch his breath. No woman had that effect on him for a very, very long time. He thought of other ways to make her knees feel weak. “You make me feel as excited as when I was a boy with my first virgin.” He whispered, for the monk was getting closer to Pegasus’s stall.

Akira blushed. Then emboldened she whispered ever so quietly, “Well am I going to be your second virgin or one hundredth conquest?” She knew it was highly doubtful she would be his second or third novice. He would have bedded many women. He was the type of man women fell over themselves for. Good looks, the elevated status of a marquise and a wild and dangerous reputation made him a most desirable bachelor. Just because she had not yet awakened to sexual desire or curiosity until now did not mean she did not notice how some women reacted to men. Until of late, it baffled her that women could get gushy and mushy over a man. She remembered what Dimitri had said when they first met. “You have just not met the right man,” he had said. She waited for an answer.
Are you the right man?
Her eyes searched his looking for a window into his soul.

Dimitri felt his body responding. “A gentleman would never tell.” Suddenly, he was thankful the monk was near. Akira deserved more than a first bedding in the straw of a barn. She had excited him so greatly, he was tempted to deflower her in the barn. Her first taste of sensual delights would be in a safe cocoon he decided. For now, he would try wet her appetite so she would melt when it was time. But now was not the time and he started whistling to alert the monk of their presence.

Akira felt disappointment and relief at the same time. It showed. Her eyes narrowed. She hid her face on Pegasus’s back until she regained her composure. If only she could make him feel as desperate as she did to ease the ache that had been building for months as she denied herself the pleasure of imagining what his body would feel like.

“Patience Akira.” Dimitri reached across Pegasus’s back and cupped her smooth cheek. “You deserve to be tutored about the delights of being a woman in a comfortable bed where we can take our time exploring each other. Only a fool would rush you and perhaps make you regret sharing your tantalizing body in a less than romantic night. For you only share that precious gift once. If we couple, when we couple I want it to be perfect for you. Can we wait until we reach my home?”

“If you promise me that it will be worth the wait, and you swear this is as difficult for you as me.”

Dimitri groaned. “You have no idea how difficult this is to walk away from touching you. You know not of what you are missing. You have whetted my appetite since the moment I laid eyes on you standing naked. I’ve hungered for your body since I woke up nestled to your warm and inviting buttocks.”

“You must shut up now. How is it you can make me burn in places I’ve never …” her voice trailed off.

“Oh god woman, you are a virgin in more ways than one. You have never?” his voice trailed off also.

“No never. I wanted nothing to stir any feelings that would require a man to ease them.”

Dimitri groaned again. “You are killing me little one.”

“Good.” She looked relieved and slightly satisfied.” Then we are equally discombobulated.”

“Discombobulated? What kind of word is that for what we feel?”

“I do believe it means we are confused, befuddled about this attraction to each other. It seems the desire to mate makes one’s head soft.”

Dimitri laughed out loud. It eased the tightening and hardening of his body. Her innocence was not to be mistaken for ignorance. Akira looked at him as if to say what was so funny. She hissed like an annoyed kitten “I could have said equally goatish!”

“Oh god woman, you are killing me! We need to get off this mountain without delay!” He growled. The self-restraint he prided himself for having was perilously close to being broken. He walked around the horse and allowed himself one kiss. The second kiss was wetter. It was not gentle. When she instinctively parted her lips he entered her mouth with his tongue. When he felt her lean into him and press against his body he pulled back and left her hanging onto to Pegasus. She would have to return to the barracks on her own. She was a witch, an enchantress, a jester, and he wanted her for his own.

He pushed away every reason his conscience put forth to stay away from an entanglement with Akira. Her desire to be a fierce warrior would be jeopardized if she could not control her emotions. Love had a way of making warriors vulnerable. At times, love caused warriors make foolish sacrifices. At other times, love made warriors hesitate to make necessary sacrifices. Dimitri had avoided the emotion he associated with weakness. He allowed himself to love the company of a beautiful woman, but he ran when he sensed himself starting to love a woman he had enjoyed. He credited his success as a warrior and leader with keeping himself untangled and focused. Akira was young and impressionable. That she was inclined to distrust men was a good thing. He wanted to tell her, “do not trust me, do not get attached to me.” He wanted to say, “let us enjoy and share our bodies with each other, but keep your heart away from mine.” He knew he needed to say, “keep your heart safe from me.” His heart and his mind were at war.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

A
kira looked back at the gates of the monastery. The face of the monks lined up to bid farewell pulled at her heart strings. They were such kind men. Men devoted to serve others and not themselves. Fate was wise to expose her to the antithesis of what she had learned of men as a child under the roof of a bully and a tyrant. The monks and mages waved. Akira searched for Mage Morgan’s face. She saw him and as their eyes met, she pointed to her helmet.

She had found the parting gift on her bed when she cleared her belongings of the warrior barracks. The helmet was carefully and artistically crafted. The front of the helmet looked like a metal skull. Towards the crown it was embellished with fur strips and feathers. It suggested power. It would help make her look fierce. Instinctively, she had known it was a gift from her mage father. She nodded to her father. He smiled, confirming he was the gift giver

Akira and her companions raised their swords high in a silvery salute. The polished blades flashed in the sunlight. As Dimitri turned his horse to face the descending path a melodious bell signaled their departure. His handsome face grinned as he nudged his horse forward.

Akira fell in behind Cronus. Crow, singing ditties lead the procession down the mountain made Akira’s ears burn. She hoped his wife was going to be as eager to see him as he was to see her. The winds were warm, and the view spectacular. Behind her were five mules carrying precious healing salts and crystals gathered over the winter months. They would be delivered to the first town they would encounter as they made the journey to Dimitri’s estate. From there, the healing crystals would be traded for goods needed on the mountain, cloth, manuscript paper, seeds, spices, what goods the mountain could not produce on its own.

Dimitri was third man back from Crow in the procession. He looked back frequently at Akira and no longer cared who noticed. His men noticed. Without saying a word, he had claimed her as his woman. It was unmistakable. His men nodded knowingly among themselves, expressing their approval. It was no surprise. That Dimitri and Akira had tried so hard to hide their attraction to each other all winter, stayed arms-length had been duly noted. They both had strong wills. It was good to have strong wills. The men looked forward to the impending courtship. With strong wills sparks would fly. A few laid odds on how long it would take Dimitri to wed her. That he would bed her soon was a given. The sparks of desire were flying between them already and the celibate period of the winter months was no more. The men with wives were anxious to be home.

Erastus grinned. He had paid for fertility prayers for Akira and Dimitri. Only a fool would deny they were meant for each other. He chuckled and sang along with Crow. The mood was jovial. Erastus had also paid for infertility prayers for his own wife. They had six children already. Six mouths to feed, to clothe, and they all needed something. How his wife managed to keep the household in order with all the noses she had to wipe, all the ears that needed boxing, was a mystery, but she was a good woman. He looked forward to jumping her bones.

As they moved down the mountain, the grasses and lichens between and on rocks started to show signs of greening. Midway down the mountain white snowdrops and wild purple crocus nodded their delicate flower faces in the gentle fresh smelling breeze. The mules brayed occasionally. It was as if they were anxious to be down the mountain sampling the new grass shoots, that would be moist, sweet and tender. The odd rock tumbled and ears and eyes would perk up.

Spring was beautiful on the mountain path. Dimitri looked back at Akira. She was more breathtaking than the view. His eyes could not get enough of her and he risked the winks and grins of his men to look back at her more often than he should have. Her cheeks were tinged with pink. The tip of her nose slightly sunburned. Her hair was loosely bound under her helmet, and wisps kept softly brushing against her delicately tanned skin. Her eyes were a startling blue. The sooty liner she applied around her eyes made them seem bigger and mysterious. The gray wolf fur trim of her cape hugged her neck. She wore a short skirt over dark gray leggings. Her bow was in its holder. Her quiver was full of arrows. Her sword was in its scabbard. Every bit of her clothing screamed of warrior, but as much as her clothes were chosen for practicality they could not diminish her feminine attributes. The fine chain metal tunic she wore did not hide the soft swell of her chest beneath. It had been a parting gift from her father, Mage Morgan. It was a warrior helmet unlike most. It seemed exotic, almost like the head gear an enchantress would wear. Akira’s eyes were darkly outlined. She looked mysterious ,exotic, and with the skull pattern on her helmet, she looked fiercely beautiful.

Dimitri filled his lings with the spring air. He was anxious to be off the mountain. He hoped there was no pressing business to take care of. It was to be expected after a winter’s absence from home. None the less he could hope.

As the procession neared the tree line, the relaxed atmosphere changed. Each man checked his weapons, making sure each was unencumbered and ready for use. Akira followed suit. She decided to talk to Nels. ‘“Have you ever been robbed coming down the mountain with a payload?”

“Not personally, the couriers were ambushed several times before Dimitri took charge of guarding the mountain routes and borders. On our watch we haven’t lost a mule or man. Those who do not wait for escort take a risk, especially carrying goods. We do regular and random patrols. Best not to have a set pattern that thieves and scoundrels can predict.”

“Is it usual for this contingent of men to do the patrols?” Akira wanted to know more about Dimitri’s habits.

“Yes, but we do have more men at home, at Dimitri’s valley villa. Others will take turns at tours of patrol duty. Dimitri does not go on every patrol.” Nels smiled. “Nor does he spend every winter training candidates on the mountain.” Nels knew her conversation was a fishing expedition. Fishing for information about his leader. He smiled knowingly.

A flock of birds flew up in the distance. The lazy time passing conversations between the men stopped abruptly. Dimitri signaled for the men to halt.

“Crow and Cronus scout ahead. We will wait here for your signal that it is safe to proceed.” He turned to the rest of his men and Akira. “Draw your weapons in case they come back on the run. Akira ready your bow.”

Akira tensed. Would this be her first skirmish? Her first real fight? She readied her bow. Her hands were steady. She inhaled deeply, exhaled slowly, and waited. She listened for the sound of a screaming jay. Suddenly, the screaming jay sound split the air and Dimitri signaled to move forward.

“No excitement yet, boys. You can all hide your disappointment.” Dimitri grinned.

Confused, Akira looked at Nels. “Disappointment?”

“Yes, disappointment! It would not be good trip if we did not get some exercise along the way. How can we justify our pay if we never get to thwart some robbers or kill some murdering scum?”

Akira shook her head. “Well, I never thought of it like that.”

Nels laughed. “I’m pulling your leg in jest girl...well not totally… a good fight stirs a man’s blood.”

“Have you been badly wounded in any battles?”

“Ah yes, and I’ve scars to prove it. I pray ye never get any, they look better on hairy, manly bodies.”

Akira laughed. “Oh you’d be surprised at how many scars I already have.” She thought of one in particular

Nels looked at her. “Oh that bothers me! Pray tell me no one scarred ye. I’ll run my sword through him!”

“Well some scars were accidents, but the ones that hurt the most you will never see.”

Nels nodded in understanding. “Was it that bastard Baron Rolfe who scarred you?”

Akira nodded affirmatively. “I want to run my sword through him. He is responsible for too many scars on too many people. He is an evil man, Nels, an evil man.”

Nels sensed Akira was not telling the half of it. Her eyes seemed cold and distant as she spoke of the baron. Dimitri’s men were all aware that the baron was hunting for her. They welcomed the opportunity to meet her nemesis and rid her of the worry that he would ever catch her, or worry Lady Shy ever again. “Well let’s hope he comes a calling with his last will and testament made out. You can put arrows into him, and we shall feed his body to the worms. An enemy of yours is an enemy of ours.”