Queen of Jastain (27 page)

“I am sorry.”
He gazed into her comely face.
“I did not mean to wake you.”
They had not spoken with mindspeech for a long while. Too long.

“
It’s okay. I’m glad you did. I was worried about you. Are you okay?”
She furrowed her brow and clasped his forearm. The warmth of her touch melted the chill of the spring morn.

“No, Abigail, I’m not, but I am better now I know you're safe.”
He continued to stroke her hair, taking small strands and gently wrapping the curls around his finger. “
Abigail, do you have any memories of me telling my wife I love her?”

Her gaze shot high and to the right in recollection. She shook her head. “
No, I don’t have any.”

“Do you not think that strange?”

“A little. Why didn’t those memories Implant?”

“Because there are none. I never said the words to her.”

“Avant, you can't beat yourself up over that. Some people don’t say it. They show it. I think that’s what you did. She knows you love her.”

He dropped the strand of hair and stared into her eyes.
“But do you not believe hearing it is as important?”

“Yes, I guess it is.”

She hadn’t understood, but she would. He would not repeat the mistakes of the past. He shot a glance over at Petra. Now was not the time for that conversation. He spoke softly. “I've been thinking how I might help you use your Implanting, and I have an idea.”

She sat up on the palette. “That’s good, because I feel a sense of urgency now we’ve been discovered. The king will come after me, and he wants you, too, Avant. I don’t think it’s safe for us to go back to the fief.”

“You're right. He is gathering his troops even now and is preparing to attack the Freelands. We cannot return. My troops prepare for him and can hold back an attack, but I regret the losses they will suffer. I am confident that, even with smaller numbers, we can prevail over him in our own land. However, if you and I are not there to capture, he might not risk an attack at all. This morning I will send Petra back to the fief to notify my captains that I have found you and not to march on the castle as planned.”

“Avant, you don’t have to stay with me. Petra could stay. You can go back to lead your men in battle.”

He studied her intently, trying to read her motives. Clearly, something had changed between her and Petra. He had taken note of it last evening, but what that change meant he dared not think. A rage already brewed at the merest glint of the thought. He sucked in a breath. “Is that what you want, Abigail, to be with Petra?”

She shook her head. “I don’t want to take you from your responsibilities. I’ve cost you so much already, and I’m not thrilled with the idea of Petra in harm’s way.”

“Nor am I, but I am confident he'll be safe. I will not permit him to fight. He has to run my lands.” In truth, the fief was the safest place for Petra, which was Avant’s chief reason for sending him. “Abigail, regardless of whether Petra stays or goes, I will not leave you. You are my priority.”

She sighed. “Okay, then. Petra leaves at sunrise, but where will we go?”

“We can return to the cave where we camped our first night together. It provides security where we can practice your Implanting.”

“How do you think you can help me?”

“I want you to Implant yourself into me as I did with you.”

* * * *

Abby's heart skipped a beat. Oh God. That was not what she expected. Implant into him so that he could know her every thought, memory and emotion? No effin' way.

The first light of dawn illuminated the small cave, and Petra stirred and sat.

“Did you hear all that?” Abby asked Petra.

“Yes.” Hurt laced his voice and he wouldn’t meet her gaze.

The sun rose, and they packed up camp.

Petra was taking the horses back to the fief. She and Avant would travel on foot to the other cave. She surveyed the leather pack Petra had filled with provisions. It was the right plan, but she didn’t want Petra to go.

When Avant left to wash in the stream, she grabbed him and held him close.

Downcast, Petra wrapped his lifeless arms around her. “I understand the wisdom of this plan, and agree it’s for the best. I feel I’m losing you. I can’t explain it, but I know things will be different when this is over.”

Since returning to their company last evening, she'd sensed the same thing and knew Petra was right. “No matter what happens, I love you and I always will. You're my best friend, confidant, and personal cheering section. No one has been better to me than you.” Abby wasn’t sure why, but she felt compelled. She put her hands on either side of his face. “Whatever is meant to be, will be. But, Petra, you are not second best!”

Tears sparkled in his eyes. She placed a lingering kiss on his cheek and finished packing before Avant returned to the cave.

Avant embraced Petra, and it seemed any breach was healed. They tethered the horses, and Petra left for the fief. She watched him until he was out of sight and then left the cave, following Avant in the opposite direction.

They traveled the woods and reached the river before noon. Everything stilled in the quiet forest. Not even a bird chirped. A soft rain disturbed the face of the smooth flowing river.

Avant glanced over at her and cocked his eyebrow. “Do you want me to carry you across again?”

She smiled at the playful note in his voice. “I can make it on my own this time.” She lifted her foot. “Now that I have proper clothing.”

He chuckled.

They plunged into the biting water and started across. Halfway into the river, Abby spied a garrison of six soldiers on the bank in front of them. Avant swept her up out of the water and turned to run back to the opposite side, but six more soldiers lined the bank behind them. He set her on her feet.

“I can take three, maybe four of them, Abigail, but that still leaves two.”

Abby barely heard him because she was already Implanting stones from the water and hurling them at the men in both directions. Avant gaped at her before doing the same. They waded quickly in the direction of the cave. Three of the soldiers in front were knocked unconscious by the flying boulders, and the other three ran for cover. The six soldiers on the other bank started across.

Abby made her way as swiftly as she could, but wading in the knee-high water felt like frame by frame on her DVR. She continued a barrage of stones until they reached the bank.

Avant glanced at her and nodded once.
“Look for their horses, if we can take one and run off the rest, we may get a head start on them. I don't believe they can track us to the cave.”

She scanned the perimeter.
“The horses are in the trees.”

“We need to run quickly. Keep your eyes open. I believe there are more men than we have seen.”

Two of the soldiers on the ground began to stir, and two more came out of the brush and tall grass. Abby and Avant sprinted toward the horses, but before they could reach the animals, four soldiers surrounded them. Avant unsheathed his sword and speared the soldier in front of them. Blood poured from the wound. The man gurgled and fell with a thud. Abby’s heart lurched and her stomach churned like a thirty-year-old washing machine.

“Abigail, run!”

Avant engaged two more soldiers allowing her to slip through the ranks and head for the tethered animals. Blood pounded in her temples. She moved reflexively in the face of danger. The sound of the remaining soldier's footsteps echoed against the mountain.

Abby reached out for the horses' minds, telling them to be ready to run. She Implanted a large piece of driftwood, hurling it at the man chasing her. He leapt to the side, so it wouldn’t slam him to the ground. The blow gave her enough time to reach the trees.

She loosed the reins on the eight steeds and sent seven of them flying in the direction of the castle. As she mounted one of the stallions, another soldier grabbed her from behind and pulled her foot from the stirrup. She fell to the ground, flat on her back. He stomped her in the stomach.

“Ugh.” She whooshed out the breath in her lungs. Pain stabbed at her, but she still tried to get up. He laughed and kicked her in the head. The last thing she saw before she lost consciousness was a silver blade through his chest.

Abby became aware of someone calling her name from far away, or maybe he just whispered, “Abigail. Abigail, please wake.”

Opening her eyes, she saw that she lay in the darkened cave. Avant cradled her throbbing head and stroked her face. Not able to take a deep breath, she closed her eyes again and slept.

The next morning she woke, her head resting in Avant’s lap. He sat asleep, leaning against the cave wall. Trying to reposition her aching body, a pain stabbed into her side. Avant opened his eyes.

She smiled up at him and murmured, her voice dry and scratchy, “You carried me and all the provisions up the mountain, Superman?”

Relief flooded his face. He smiled back. “It was still much faster than when you climbed up yourself.”

“I thought you intended to kill me that day, but you were too cute not to follow.” She tried to stretch and thought better of it as pain prevented a deep breath. “So what’s the damage?”

“You were kicked in the head, which I believe broke the man's foot.” He flashed her a rascally smile. “And you have at least two bruised ribs.”

“Were you hurt?”

“I am all right. I killed five of the eight soldiers, but there were six more across the river. I am certain they'll comb the rocks below for days. I do not believe they'll climb this far, and I sent the horse in another direction.” He rubbed his neck and stretched. “Abigail, we cannot linger in this place as I'd hoped. We have access to water, but we'll eventually run low on provisions. We cannot risk going for food.” Worry lined his handsome face, but if she knew him, he had a plan. He
always
had a plan.

“What do you suggest?”

“You need to Implant into me as soon as possible. I'm convinced I will be able to help you if you do.”

Anxiety cinched a chord around her throat, doubling her heart rate in a half second. “Avant, I'm not prepared for that yet.”

He brushed the hair from her face and stroked her cheek. “I understand you're still too weak today. We can do it tomorrow.”

Tomorrow? She rolled her eyes. Whew, what a nurturer. She wasn’t going to be ready for at least a decade. Knowing she had no choice but to Implant into him, she considered other drastic alternatives, but in the end, logically returned to the idea.

She sighed. “Okay, tomorrow, but I need to tell you some things before then.”

He bared his pearly whites in a knowing smile. “Abigail, are you ashamed of things in your past?”

Oh, he didn’t know the half of it. “Yes, I am, but those are the least of my concerns.”

They stayed in the cave for the remainder of the day. Her body ceased to throb in several places after she drank something and had a few bites of
panas
.

He made them a pallet. “It is too dangerous to build a fire that someone might see. We can lay together for warmth.” His eyes sparkled, causing a tingling sensation to scamper up her spine. Something about him was still different, and she still couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.

The sky colored with warm hues of the day’s end. Avant lay close behind her, propped up on his elbow with his arm resting around her waist. They watched as the sun set beyond the horizon. Stars crowded the sky. Abby had forgotten the panoramic vista from this cave. She sighed and leaned her head back against his chest. He nuzzled into the hair above her ear, drawing closer so the lengths of their bodies touched. Oh my God, he was spooning with her.
Definitely different.
She rested, content in his arms.

Sleeping long from exhaustion, neither woke until mid-morning. They ate a small breakfast of fruit and nuts. Avant carried her down the rocks to the next level so she could relieve herself and wash.

Her ribs protested with any sudden movements but breathing came easier. Maybe they weren’t too bruised. After returning to the cave, she took the last of the Tylenol from the first aid kit. When she came back from Dallas to Jastain, she was bringing a gigantic COSTCO-sized bottle of Advil with her.

Avant sat cross-legged in front of her, placing his palms on his thighs. “Are you ready?”

Her stress level hit Code Red, and her heart went into overdrive. “Right now?”

“Yes, because to think too long about doing a thing often becomes its undoing. So let us hasten to do what we have to do.”

Abby shook her head. His philosophy was about to turn to tragedy. She bit her lip and crinkled her brow. “Avant, I really need to tell you a few things so they don’t catch you by surprise.”

He patted her knee. “Abigail, you do not have to be ashamed of anything in your past. I will not sit in judgment of you.”

“My thoughts aren’t only about things I’ve done, and I’m afraid some of them will hurt you.”

Avant stared at her for a while then looked away. “Has something happened with Petra?”

Crap! She’d been so worried about Sentieve that she’d totally forgotten about that. “Yes, but that’s not what I am talking about.”

“You two are lovers, then?” he snarled through clenched teeth, his gaze flaming with jealousy.

She rolled her eyes and blurted out in frustration, “No! Is sex all you think love is? I have information about your wife that you need to know.”

His face was dumbstruck. “Sentieve…what about her?”

She took a deep breath. “Sentieve told me…she faked the death of her first child and sent him with my mother to keep him safe from the king. She believes he’s still alive, but she doesn’t know where he is.” Abby paused and studied Avant. “Sentieve had the emeralds from the Crown, and she sent them into hiding with him.”

His eyes narrowed and his voice raised an octave. “Sentieve sent our son into hiding, and he is still alive?”