Whispers of a Legend, Part One-Shadows of the Past (13 page)

“I would have sent him over in the morning,
Lord Rothworth. I had thought of offering you another. I’m not
certain if this one will work out for you. I have a scrapping young
lad, Siegfried. Has a lot of potential.”

“I assure you I’m quite pleased with my page,
Kushner. I will let you know otherwise if the need arises.”

Cono dismissed my keeper and I followed him.
He moved quickly. His strides longer, more assured, I fell behind.
A moment later, he slowed his pace. I heard acknowledgements when
we passed toward Cono, brief for Cono took no time to stop. Only
when we came to a large tent did I gather the courage to look
upward.

I followed Cono within the tent. His tent
set large and abundant, but entering I noticed only one bed and
wondered if he was the only one within. To the front of the tent
lay a pallet, clean with bed covers. I glanced up to find Cono’s
eyes on me. He walked soundly over to me and turned me so he faced
the entranced. But as quickly his arm rounded me, pulling me into
him.

He caught me off guard with his actions, but
the moment his lips touched mine I stopped thinking altogether and
focused on him. I kissed him back, weaving my hand into his hair. I
lost all train of thought except his lips on mine.

He broke from my lips, but lingered. His
fingers ran over them, staring into my eyes. I felt flushed.

“I worried so about your trip. All went
smoothly.”

I nodded for I could find no words. His hand
cupped my face. He whispered, “I wish all were different now. This
façade…having you so close within and…you understand we can’t be
caught in each others arms like this. From now on, I will have to
use more caution. There will be no more talks as I’m talking to you
now.”

“I know,” I said simply although certain my
eyes betrayed my want to be as I was now.

“I will look after you. Do not doubt but
until we have proven ourselves there can’t be…” Suddenly he
laughed. “You haven’t a clue, do you, of the danger of staying in a
tent alone with a man?”

I answered indignantly. “Gunilda has warned
me. Of course…” my voice lowered. “I…know a lady would never find
herself in the situation I have placed myself in, but, Cono, most
have not been trained in the manner I have…Do you think less of
me?”

“By the Great One! No, my Euchoun. Never. I
would plunge my dagger into one who questioned. You are so innocent
in some manner, Kela. So…innocent.” His mouth descended down upon
mine again. “This will not be easy, Kela for this bond we have we
can’t let others see yet. Not yet.”

I nodded, but in that moment footsteps
interrupted our talk. I stepped back as did Cono. Only moments
after, Falco entered without notice. From Cono’s look, I could see
irritation and quickly surmised Falco would be the only one to
enter without notice.

My time alone with Cono ended. My mission
began. Falco wasted no time in spelling out my duties and
responsibilities that would be expected of me. Lighter than most
pages, I assumed for in all I was to observe the maneuverings. Over
the next few days a routine emerged. I worked from sun up to sun
down.

About ten thousand
Sordarins boarded within the encampment composed of many of the
different tribes of Scarladin, each with their own division. Cono
taught me. He taught me the tribes- the Challow tribe from the
middle region of Sordarin, small, but quick; the
Acciptritutes from the north muscular and Cono said strong fliers;
the Mortalita tribe from the South, known for their strategies and
intelligence; the Lanka tribe who which Cono descended,
dark-skinned and agile. Cono said they were the fastest fliers. I
listened while he told me that each tribe had their strengths in
which the strength of Sordarin survived.

“King Edulf uses each to their strengths
which makes us stronger as a unit. We fight together. Never as
one.”

I watched from a distance while Cono led.
Twiten's words brought to question for without a doubt, Cono had
been born to lead. Falco also commanded attention and none would
dare challenge his position. I found that
my
brother's unpretentious nature and unmistakable courage made him
extremely well liked by his men. Bu
t my eyes lay with Cono.
The days wore on. I began to feel Cono’s movements in the sky.
Meditating, I felt as if I could almost see what he saw while he
flew. No, there was no doubt within me that we were bonded.

Within the camp, I became like a shadow that
no one took note. I was merely a page, a silent one at that. In
that it allowed me the freedom to observe. Keen observation of
their soaring skills needed to be able to protect my warrior in
battle. I took to the task. I learned while I watched all the
strategic maneuvering that it meant only one
thing to me, no immediate opportunity to do battle. The only action
I had seen had been in my imagination. The waiting, anticipating
was surely the worse, I thought, than the fighting would ever
be.

Over two weeks passed with no sightings of
the Arachnideans. The rumors of a stirring calmed. Instead I found
my will tested night after night. In the heat of the day, the
coolness of the night lent to me yearnings I had no knowledge
possessed me. Although I slept on the pallet in front of the tent
and Cono on his bed, I could not help but watch Cono when he
readied for bed. I resisted not the temptation to
stare at his muscular frame, broad shoulders and wings. He
showed no shame at his body, the sculptured muscles of his leg and
chest. His manner teased me often offering to help me with my
bounding around my chest in the mornings or at night when I removed
it. At times he would smile at me in a manner that I wanted nothing
more than to creep up into his bed. No, I understood in this was
the danger that Twiten worried upon.

The day had been long. I waited for Cono to
return from the grounding tent where strategy was discussed and
formulated. Sodden with sweat and covered with sand, he returned in
a bad mood. He snapped at me soundly for I had fallen asleep in
wait for his return. At most times Falco and Johannes accompanied
him, but this night he returned alone.

“Are you, too, questioning your
involvement?”

Startled for I was sound asleep, I jumped up
and for a moment unaware of where I stood. I wiped my eyes, but
with his tone my own aggravation swelled.

“I question nothing, Cono. I never have.”

He shook his head and his wings fluttered. He
walked over to the edge of his bed and sat. His hands covered his
face. I ran to his side and fell to his knees.

“Tell me, Cono. I am not a child.”

His hands broke from his face. “King Edulf
has reconsidered this approach. Falco has expressed his concerns
about you being discovered. I suppose our connection is harder to
hide from the eyes of all. My actions toward you have been
discussed of why I’m being soft toward a page. A page should show
signs of becoming a warrior instead of watching our maneuverings,
staring in amazement at our soarings.”

“I have never seen such before…” I responded
in defense of my awe. My head drooped; my heart sank. I swallowed
the involuntary bitter tears of disappointment and rejection.

“It is useless I suppose, Kela. It is my
fault as well. I cannot treat you as a lowly page. I want you by my
side and in that…we can’t do as of yet,” he said bitterly. “Falco
wants to send you back with the morning sun. The scouts have come
back with no signs of the Arachnideans. We will be moving out
further along. Harder terrain…”

“I’m to go back. Where? The Forest?” I
whispered, struggling with my emotions.

“It is the thought.”

I sat back and fell upon the floor of the
tent overcome with a sense of failure. “But it hasn’t been that
long. I haven’t seen a battle…”

“That is one of the problems, Kela. Falco
asked me how are we to train as it is now. We can’t do so openly in
front of all. We have no where to do so privately except the
Forest.” He bent down and took my hands in his.

My chest heaved heavily. My gaze locked
intently on him. “I can’t leave you.”

My words seemed to hang in the air for an
eternity. He said nothing, but his eyes told me all I needed to
know. His eyes broke from mine. There wasn’t a choice.

“We may have more time than the morrow. The
winds have picked up. A desert storm is descending down on us.
There will be no flying with the winds. It could give us more time,
not much…”

I had not noticed before, but now I heard
the winds whistling and felt them pushing briskly against the tent.
Then a sudden cry screeched in the air. A high echoing cry.
One even I knew well what it meant.

Instantly, Cono leaped to
his feet and gathered me upward.
“We’re under attack. Don’t
leave my side until I fly.”

“Never.”

The moment we exited the tent we struggled
with the wind. A violent hard wind encircled the camp with the sand
from the desert. Blown backwards, Cono caught my hand. I couldn’t
see for the sand blew in my eyes. Immediately, my hand flung wide.
The wind beat against my shield, but we could move again and see. I
caught Cono’s eyes. His hands rounded my waist.

“Keep hold of the shield.”

I stepped in unison with Cono. Sordarin
warriors scrambled out of their tents, beaten back with the wind.
Suddenly I felt air under my feet. I was in flight.

“The higher we go, extend you shield.”

The shield widened. More Sordarins took to
the sky within my shield. I heard commands and wings fluttering in
the darkness with only the moonlight to guide. A moment later my
brother was by my side.

To the right, Kela. Swing your shield to the
right.

For a moment I doubted my shield would widen
that far out, but a surge of energy ran through me with Cono
holding me tight. From behind me, Falco yelled out commands. I
couldn’t see for I was afraid to let the shield down, but suddenly
Cono unfurled his wings in a tremendous downward
thrust.
I dove hard and fast in Cono’s arms.

A moment later we landed upon the sands of
the desert. I could feel the ground trembling beneath me.

They coming from below
!

Winded, I caught my breath, losing hold of
one side of the shield. I looked up. In the dim light I could make
movement in the dark, slowly ebbing their way out of the ground,
hundreds of them as if ants exiting their mound, crouching, then
leaping forward only to hit upon my shield.

They are coming from tunnels below. They have
to be.

Need to cover the opening.

If we can find it.

I listened to the frantic thoughts of Falco
and Cono. Cono leaned his head down to me. “If the tunnels beneath
the sand it could not be stable if…”

I knew immediately of what he wanted and
nodded. My arms heaved downward. The ground shivered slightly, but
little else. Cono rounded me taking my hand in his.

“Now!”

With his hand in mine, I intertwined my
fingers together, gone for the moment the shield around everyone.
The winds blew fierce, but Cono didn’t let go. Over my head I
raised my arms and with a sudden motion, I lunged my hands downward
with Cono’s.

The ground shook with a tremendous bang.
Beneath me the ground gave way. I heard frantic calls to fly from
Falco. I had no time to think only react. I could feel Cono
struggle to fly in the winds.

“Shield!”

I couldn’t see with the sands, but I rose
back up the shield. Immediately we were back in flight. Cono lifted
me back up to shield all around. My head spun, but I refused to
give in to the blackness. For how long I hovered over the
encampment I knew not. In the midst of all, Cono handed me over to
Johannes. I saw not the battle, nor the outcome. I focused on
shielding the camp. I knew only when Cono returned for me.

"Let go! All is finished! The storm is over.
The battle won.”

Weakened, I stared into my warrior’s eyes. He
took me into his arms. Then a worry encompassed me for in my vision
I saw
the moon set. The sun rose at nearly the
same moment. I had no hat. My hair hung down around me. All would
know I was a female.

Cono laughed as he read my thoughts. I knew
nothing else except I was in his arms. Safe in his arms. Then all
went black.

Chapter Ten

Emergence

I awoke in a strange chamber. The stones of
the walls told me quickly I was within a castle. Where I didn’t
know. I edged off the soft bed. I had been cared for. The room was
as I had not known since my banishment, large with hanging
tapestries of flying Sordarins in battle, a cold hearth to the side
of my bed and great wooden chairs arrayed along the wall.

Washed and dressed in a misty gown of pale
silk, I marveled at the feel of the material against my skin. My
hair hung long down my back, brushed to a shine. Sunlight broke
through slits in the stone walls. I glanced around my room. It held
a balcony for Sordarins to enter.

Curiosity overcame me and I swung my legs
off the bed. For a moment I sat to regain my balance. My head spun.
My head hurt; my arms ached.

“Take care.”

I turned to the sound of the voice. Walking
in the open door, Twiten smiled broadly.

“Where am I?” I asked in a low dry voice that
crackled.

“At Hovoamia, King Edulf’s manor to the
East. It was the closest to the Payelaga Desert. You were flown
here while all was completed. You have slept for well over five
days.”

I looked up at Twiten, waiting with
expectation. I waited, holding my breath for a word, a sign, the
least hint of satisfaction. He stared at me pressing his lips
together.

“King Edulf has acknowledged your bond with
Cono and is persuaded that the actions of the other night has
deemed well for Scarladin. The Arachnideans attacked with the
desert storm at the most inopportune time. It seems evident that
they had waited until such an opportunity. If not for your actions
the whole of the army would have been wiped out.”