Private Tales Upriver

[Eislyn Gray]

"What was it like growing up there?"

Eislyn finished off the hard bread and nursed it down with another swig of water, putting the waterskin where Rayth could grab it. Luckily, it seemed there were a lot of freshwater sources around here. They didn't have to worry about running out.

For a moment, she stood looking at the bed of moss she was to share with Rayth. One hand on her hip, the other clutching the blanket. It wasn't that big of a space. She was a little worried. Not of him. Just. She'd never been in a situation like this before. When she'd shared a campsite with the traveling jester, they'd still had their own sleeping rolls - well spaced apart.

There was a rustling in the woods behind them and she found herself inching closer, lowering down to a seated position in the space. Wary eyes peered into the darkness. It sounded like a small animal. Nothing threatening.

Still made her jumpy.

"Do you think we'll be safe out here?" Her voice was a whisper as her fingers began working at the straps of her boots.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"I said this before of the hidden town so I don't know if it's worth trusting me on this," he laughed. "But there aren't any dangerous beasties out in these parts."

Rayth set down his sword belt and bandolier with his boots. He kept one knife handle facing towards them. He was more concerned about the other crew of mercenaries than the hogs who might find them in the night. Unlike Eislyn he didnt even feel a tremor of nerves at the thought of staying close.

"You know that I feel...well when you consider that I ran away for having a boring future. And with what you've endured..."

Rayth looked thoughtfully at the ground. He poked a patch of springy moss between his feet.

"I was jealous of my older brother and bored of a quiet country life. My father was put in charge of a quiet corner of the kingdom. Books were the only escape."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

"Well, as long as there are no karakal," hard to tell if the shiver down her spine was from that memory or the growing chill. With another tug of the laces, she slipped off her second boot. At least she had some nice, warm socks on. With legs drawn long in front of her, she wiggled her toes, hands near her knees. Couldn't help looking at the dark treeline to her side. Every innocent rustle sounding like a lurking beastie.

She took a breath, trying to settle her nerves and looked to Rayth's hunched figure.

"Right," she said quietly. "I don't think going to your home is an option for us." She still had a hidden, sheathed dagger strapped to her thigh. She left it there. She'd been sleeping with it hidden on her ever since the Paragon had picked her up from her envoy. With a final stretch, her back met the mossy ground. Golden hair fanned across the moss as she gazed up at the stars and moons through the canopy of trees. Blanket was pulled up to her waist.

She didn't look at him when she asked her next question.

"Won't you want to return to the Paragon soon?"

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"Not really a timeline on that," he replied. "I'm not going to run off in the night and leave you here, if that's what you're worried about."

A night bird called out and even Rayth shuddered at the ghastly sound. It was likely some kind of owl. A bird which would have been quite fetching if kept by a lord's huntsman.

"Do you mind if I borrow some of this?" Rayth asked of the blanket. He twisted around so that his legs were parallel to hers, but for now he kept a safe span of a hand between their hips.

The Paragon would still be in port. As the night fell the lucky half of the crew would be in the town. The captain would have to round them up in the morning from wherever they ended up. Sometimes you had to search the darkest corners on those mornings, he knew from experience.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Was she worried about him leaving her tonight?

"No, I," she paused. "I'm not really sure what I'm worried about," she continued perhaps too quietly for him to hear. She had an assassin with a known contract after her. After them. Eislyn should be worried about that. Not about the way Rayth made her feel when he kissed her. Or the touch of his calloused fingers through her hair. On her skin. The worry that if somehow, they stopped the assassin. Stopped the contract and the duke, that what she had with him would be all over.

Blinking, she tuned into his question. Reaching down, fingers tugged over the edge of the blanket as she handed it to him. She scooted a little closer. Let's call it a half-a-hand's distance away The blanket was meant for one person, so they'd have to be close in order for it to be effective. But was it close enough?

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"Way I see it, there's plenty to be worried about. But better to face it having it at least a little sleep," Rayth said. He didn't for a second imagine the worry her mind had eventually worked towards. He assumed that once this was all over that Eislyn would be half glad to see the back of the scoundrel and all the temptations he laid bare. Literally.

He checked the distance to his blades and had a final sip of water. Whilst he wanted a good rest he knew that small noises would wake him frequently through the night. If any of them were human then he would need a blade in hand quickly.

Even fully dressed the wind was bringing in the chill of night. Rayth took his smallest satchel and laid it behind him to rest his head upon.

Lips quirked into a smile as he pulled the blanket over his legs and eschewed the leather pouch. Instead he turned onto his side, rested his head on Eislyn's shoulder and wrapped an arm across her waist. He let out a soft sigh, warm breath fanning across her neck and sending a few strands of hair dancing.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Eyes widened nearly to the size of the twin moons above as his arm went around her waist and that head on her shoulder. Gaze flickered to his face as she tried not to move. Or swat at his nose as his breath tickled against her neck like an errant fly.

"Rayth," she whispered.

Night bugs began singing their cadence of starlit calls.

"Rayth," she whispered again. "What are you doing?"

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"Keeping warm," he said flatly. "Don't worry I'm not...trying to...anyway."

Rayth did, however, turn his head to place a kiss on her shoulder. There was a great deal of temptation of course. It wasn't a moment. It didn't feel like one to Rayth anyway. She had gone stiff as a board at his touch. The cold woods were hardly the place for a princess to become a woman. He had made that promise but hadn't thought that this would count as inappropriate to Eislyn.

"Do you want me to roll the other way?"

 

[Eislyn Gray]

"Are you," head lifted slightly, neck turning. He'd probably feel her eyes narrowing on him in the dark. "Smirking?"

Her own lips twitched in the night. When she said she trusted him, well, she did. And Eislyn had been raised a certain way. She'd only ever shared a bed with her sister. And that certainly had not been romantic. All of this with Rayth was new and uncharted territory. She knew he probably already had a good idea of how she was raised by her actions in the pool and her reactions to his actions in the pool.

Still made some heat rush to her cheeks at the not-so-faraway memories.

"Here," she elbowed him lightly and switched to her side, her back to him. Tugging her pack closer, she rested her head on it. Reaching behind her, she went to find that arm of his so that it could rest back across her waist. "Now I'm more comfortable." And now she'd have all his heat at her back.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

Rayth was not entirely convinced that being this way round was a more innocent position. Then again, she was so innocent herself that she wouldn't think the same. It also allowed him to pull her hair aside and place a gentle kiss just in the crook of her neck. He could almost certainly pass it off as a simple good night kiss. Yet Rayth knew exactly how sensitive she would be there and what it would do to her.

"We'll get moving again at first light," Rayth murmured softly. He was keeping a good distance between them at the height of his hips. His imagination was significantly less concerned with Eislyn's sensibilities.

"We should be able to make the town before night tomorrow."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

She wanted to shiver but it wasn't due to the cold. Toes couldn't help curling slightly after his lips left her neck. Eislyn Gray was determined not to let Rayth know how much his touch unraveled her. Eyes squeezed closed as he settled behind her. She found herself relaxing beneath that arm looped around her.

"Okay," she whispered back quietly as a small yawn left her mouth. "Then we'll come up with a plan."

She shifted next to him.

"I like this," she murmured quietly, without further explanation and found herself drifting off to sleep - despite the cold, hard moss and strange noises in the woods.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Morning birds and the warming, soft light of a rising sun on the horizon woke the princess first. Eyes fluttered open. At some point in the night, she must've turned, perhaps knocking into Rayth because she found herself half sprawled on top of him, his back pinned on the bed of moss.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"Morn..." he tried to say. Rayth cleared his throat and tried again. "Morning."

Before any protest could be mounted he had wrapped both arms around the small of her back and placed a kiss on her forehead. Apparently the sailor had no issues at all with the predicament they found themselves in.

As the fog gradually lifted he remembered everything that had come the day before. From great highs to great lows. He did not know where they were going. The next town was the first step and at least they could be certain on that one.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

How was it that the things he did so naturally made her cheeks warm while leaving her wanting more?

“Morning,” she managed as she couldn’t stop her lips from brushing against his jaw. And she was loath to leave the warmth he (and the blanket) provided. But as a woman of action, she wasn’t one to dawdle. Even with the temptations he presented.

She squirmed free and stood, arms stretching as she tried to work out the soreness. Hands pushed through ribbons of blonde.

“Too bad you didn’t pack your brush,” she commented mildly as she stopped to grab her boots, shoving her feet inside without tying up the laces yet. “I’ll be right back,” she made a beeline for a small line of bushes and rocks The ladies room called. Heel of her hands rubbed away the remaining sleep in her eyes.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

Rayth took a moment to stretch out. Old injuries and a lot of time scrambling around a ship in cold winds meant that he took longer to get moving in the cold and damp. He went some distance in the other direction to relieve himself. He took his sword with him.

They were packed up in fairly short order. Mostly because they had so little to carry. Rayth knew that he should not have been distracted by idle thoughts about the woman he was now escorting far away from that hooded assassin. He had never been very good at doing what he was supposed to.

"Some exciting bread for the road?" he suggested. They skirted the edge of the copse they had taken shelter in before setting back onto open ground. If they kept in this direction they would eventually see the dirt road leading back to the coat. It would take them to a town. For them it was more of a crossroads

 

[Eislyn Gray]

She took a sip of the waterskin and offered it to Rayth before putting it back in her pack. The walking was good. It was helping to loosen her stiff limbs of last night and warm up the small chill that had creeped into her bones - despite the warmth Rayth's body had to offer.

The princess still couldn't help the glance behind her shoulder every now and then. What would happen if the assassin caught them? She doubted she could outrun the black-clad woman. And Eislyn didn't like Rayth's chances on his own. Not after the bit she saw bouncing on the back of Geelyn's shoulder as the half-orc whisked her away. Maybe there was something she could do with her magic? She'd always used it in defense.

"Do you know anyone in town that might be able to help us?" They'd already covered a good distance since morning. The sun was getting higher in the sky.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"I can't even remember it's name," Rayth admitted. "But it's a coastal town and I have a purse of coin. For merchants and dock workers that's better than a favour when it comes to needing help. I've probably got enough to get us passage on a boat to the dock where Paragon is moored or with a caravan inland if you want to go somewhere else."

He did not ask the question, but he left the choice their for Eislyn to mull over. The Paragon could easily overpower the ship that had come for them, but it would take time to find them.

There was Eislyn's original mission, but if he was the assassin that was exactly where he would go to find her next.

They needed information and he did not know where to go to get it. Political shenanigans were not his strong suit.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Fingers flexed around the straps of her pack. So they were traveling down the coast and not further inland. Made sense with the salt still on the air. Up ahead, she could make out the beginnings of a road. Looked like they were already breaking into a more traveled area.

Funny. It made her feel more anxious instead of more at ease.

Head turned to Rayth. Unknown to her, she was having similar thoughts about trying to make it to the negotiations. The Paragon was not her first choice. Her first choice was a bit more reckless.

"I need to confront the Duke. Find out why he's doing this and change his mind." It was the diplomat in her. Thinking there was always a margin of negotiations.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

It was reassuring to be on the path. To be where regular civilisation could see them. Other feet had been on this dirt track hours before and would soon be on it after them.

At the same time it was a concern. They had been out of sight in the copse. If he was chasing people in open ground then he would restrict his search to the roads and towns.

"Any way to do that when you've got to leverage?" Rayth asked. "Or in a way that doesn't put you within his arm's reach? He probably doesn't travel without at least a few guards."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Shoulders rolled. Her stiff muscles from the night before were slowly unwinding. Lips twitched slightly at a thought. It was a very serious situation. But she wondered if her next suggestion would even be possible.

"What about a disguise? Do you think with trousers, a shirt, and a vest I could pull off a young squire?"

It was hard for Eislyn to imagine hiding her feminine features completely. And perhaps because she'd been in a stressful situation for so long, she couldn't help but laugh more easily.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"Thing about disguises," he replied, "is it's really easy to hide in plain sight. Put on clothes more befitting a peasant, cut your hair short and get a dark wig and no one will look at you twice."

Rayth wasn't sure you would even be able to get a wig out here. They weren't cheap either, usually being made from the hair of slaves.

"We would need more than the two of us to catch the Duke out and get some of his time..."

Eislyn was going to have to start wondering if he always thought of kidnapping as the solution to his problems.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

"Some of my men might be in town. They will follow my orders." She thought they would. There was a chance they'd take her back to the safety of the stifling walls of the Iron Fortress. Would her father ever let her out again if that happened?

She tried to imagine herself with short hair. And peasant clothes? It would certainly be the role of her lifetime.

"I suppose we'll see what town brin-," call it fate or magic. Maybe the blessing hand of the goddess. There was the softest whoosh through the air and Eislyn's ankle wobbled as her boot hit a rut in the road. She found herself stumbling into Rayth. The point of a spear meant for the middle of her back sliced through the air at her side. Point of glistening metal nicked fabric and skin before continuing on to bury itself at the base of a tree ahead of them.

Running, light footsteps of an assassin quickly followed. If an empath was around, he'd feel the rippling and growing anger coming from the black-clad woman.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"Shit."

He took a single breath, eyes following the end of the spear haft which wobble back and forth. The point was stuck fast in the earth. Her turned to see the dark shape rushing towards them. Her cloak fluttered in the wind, her hood was back. The entire side of her face was covered in angry welts and bruising.

Brin didn't quite get you then...

The assassin had her gaze locked onto Eislyn. Rayth rushed forwards and drew his sword. The assassin tried to veer away but seemed to make a split second decision to simply deal with him first.

She slowed to a walk, drawing another blade. It was a slim short sword, the entire blade blackened. In the night he imagined it would barely even catch a glimmer of light.

"I don't suppose you can be paid off?" Rayth asked. There was no point telling Eislyn to run. The assassin would fall or they would. No help was close enough to run to.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Eislyn drew her hand away from her side and frowned from the line of blood there. It didn't even hurt. She glanced back at the spear and went for it. Fingers curled around the wobbling end of the shaft and tugged.

"Now you know how I felt," the princess grunted back to Rayth.

Reminded her of when she wanted to know if she could've bought off the crew of the Paragon. She doubted the assassin would be accommodating either. Even if Rayth had told her to run, she wouldn't have listened. She wasn't leaving him. And she doubted she could outrun an assassin if he didn't stop her, anyway.

"Damn," she whispered as the spear stayed lodged. Booted-foot pressed against the wood and there was a sharp, splintering craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack as the shaft broke. The sound of the woman's favorite weapon breaking was enough to distract the assassin for a second from her attention on Rayth.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"Well...yes..." he replied to Eislyn. He offered the assassin a shrug. Being place in Eislyn's shoes and getting a close look at her face as the haft of her spear was snapped had put him in a slightly better mood.

Gallows Humour, that was what he had heard it called. It lasted until the first swipe. It came so fast that he barely had time to deflect the blow.

Rayth used careful footwork to put some more room between them, but keeping himself between them. He swing for the assassin's left. She parried the strike but backed away, shifted her posture.

"Can't see so well out of that eye?" he asked.

The assassin smiled faintly. "You, boy, I could beat with a blindfold."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Eislyn hefted up the splintered shaft, pointed and broken end held out. Fingers gripped tightly around the handle as she anxiously followed the dance between Rayth and the assassin. Even she could see he wouldn't last long. Not unless she could distract the professional. Somehow.

Still gripping the broken shaft in one hand, she scooped up small rocks along the road. She took one step. Then two as if following the top part of a circle away from Rayth. Gripping the rocks, she began throwing them at the woman.

"Come on! It's me you want. Stop messing around." One rock managed to wack the assassin right in the face.