Private Tales Upriver

[Rayth Keirn]

"Not a listener then," Lithad remarked. He paused at the next intersection. He waved for them to stay back.

Rayth was at a loss for what was happening. Lithad was well known in the provinces of his home. He was a soldier born to a respected family, trained as a true swordsman. He had taken prestigious places in the Royal guard and cavalry regiments and been present for many ceremonies Rayth had attended as a child.

"Come!" he led them across the street in a hurry.

"Why are you with the Duke's men?" Rayth hissed as they made for the eastern gate.

Lithad shot him an angry glare. "You still can't follow directions then you spoiled little shit? Fine. Questions then. The Duke has ten thousand marching west on Gelder. Your uncle has sent an entire company in support in exchange for a new trade deal once the two coastal cities are under the Duke's command. He fancies himself a king of his own and probably will be if he takes them. You can't go west, those lands are swarming with scouts. Go east. It will take you closer to his city but you have to go behind the army."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Spoiled little shit?

To Eislyn’s credit, she managed to school her features. Being a skilled negotiator for the past several years had its advantages. Lithad and Rayth certainly had a history.

And now they found out Rayth’s family was involved with support of the Duke? A duke who wanted to rise above his station and take down how many in the process? The war she was commissioned to stop was growing far wider and longer than she’d imagined. And as she followed the soldier and Rayth through the streets of the small port town, she felt the weight of her failure. Even if events hadn’t been in her control. Even if the Paragon hadn’t stopped them, she might've been slaughtered further down the river instead. Or perhaps been captured in the port city where she’s been headed. Especially if those marching numbers Lithad spouted off were accurate.

Her step slowed as she realized the truth. “Your company was sent here to collect my head in a bag for the duke, right?” But why go to all that trouble if he was declaring his won war? This tasted personal.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"My men are mostly with the main force and I will return to them and continue following my orders, but royalty - even disgraced - comes above that."

There continued down an alley that ran parallel to the rod heading towards the east gate. They would end up climbing back up the path away from the town they had come down. Or at least around the trees next to the path. They couldn't be spotted on that path from the town or else they would be chased down.

"The Duke's son rides at the head of the arm. He suddenly diverted a force and told us to come here and take you back to him," he told Eislyn.

"Do not take her home," he told Rayth. "You're welcome would be tentative enough without bringing an enemy of one of your uncles potential allies."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

“His son,” Eislyn paused. But now was no time to stop. Head shook as she picked up her pace. Cobblestones turned to dirt as the path continued further from the town. Trees lined and became thicker on one side. She could see the gate just ahead.

“Frederick wouldn’t...,” voice trailed off. Uncertain. So they were back where they started. On the run. Getting to the fortress wasn’t an option. Neither, perhaps to Rayth’s relief, was going to his childhood home.

Rayth had a moment to leave this behind. He could stay here and return to the Paragon. The duke’s men were after her. She knew he wouldn’t but she felt better knowing he could.

“Maybe the duke realized I’d be a better bargaining chip for my father’s kingdom if I was alive.”

Perhaps that’s why his son wanted her brought back to himself. The thought made her angry. Still just a pawn on the board. She hated being used.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"I don't know what's going on here," Lithad said, pointing two fingers to Rayth, to Eislyn and back again. "But I don't know what's going on between the Duke and your family either princess. But I know the Duke's son was angered by news you were alive. We were told to bring you to him, if possible, but I got the sense that he would have preferred dead to free."

Lithad looked back the way they had come from. They were hidden from the streets beyond the wall, but not the gatehouse itself.

"I have to go back now. Rennata. The principality has no love of Wherlstone and no alliance with your uncle. You'll be safe if you get there. Send a coded message to your father and I'll send a bird back if I find out what the obsession is."

Rayth nodded. He wasn't certain he agreed with the plan but it was nice to have someone else offer a possibility for once.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

"Thank you," she said quietly. Most royals acted hysterical in a situation like this or felt as if they were entitled to be saved. She, did not. She felt like a thank you to Lithad was deserved. He'd chosen a harder path as far as Eislyn was concerned. It would've been easier to kill her and Rayth. Not turn on his men. She was certain he'd explain their deaths away on herself and Rayth.

"And if you can, keep Rayth's name out of it." It was the only way she could think to protect him. Keep the duke's men from hunting him as well. As far as they were concerned, she was just traveling with a random stranger.

After Lithad was gone, she turned to Rayth and pointed to a stable building on the edge of the woods.

"We should get some horses." Head tipped up to the gatehouse. They'd have to time this right.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

Lithad shrugged, clearly wanting his part in this to come to an end. "Wasn't going to. Best of luck."

Rayth followed her gaze. The force that arrived must have come by horse, but their horses would have been on the north side of town. That was for the best. They would have guarded their horses, not to mention that if he stole Lithad's horse he didn't want to consider the consequences.

"Stay hidden, there is no point both of us going," Rayth said. It was worth the risk for one of them. He watched, waited and then darted back the way they had come, vanishing into the stable building.

Someone came running out, but so did Rayth with his sword drawn. He struck the man with the pommel of his sword across the head and took a moment to carefully

He came marching out quickly with two small horses on reigns. Not the kind of big brutes that the army would have ridden in on, but they would cover a lot more ground.

"Why don't we head back to that hidden cottage in the woods for now?" he suggested as he reached Eislyn.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Eislyn wanted to argue. Why it shouldn't be Rayth. He was in danger because of her now. And she hated it. She waited in the shadow of some trees, not able to tear her eyes off of what little she could see of the stables. Fingers couldn't stop playing with the iron bangle around her wrist, only stilled as Rayth returned.

She took the reigns of one of the horses. Chocolate brown with a splash of white on its nose. It nuzzled against the shoulder of the princess gently. She'd always had a way with horses.

Fingers gently ran down the length of the creature's nose. Palm ending flat at the bottom, so he could sniff her scent.

"We could. Maybe head out in the morning after spending tonight there. Do you trust Lithad enough to go the direction he suggested?"

With graceful fluidity, she mounted the smaller horse, perching in the shadow, she couldn't help the slight move deeper into the shadows, away from the potential eyes of the guard's house.

"Do you think Geelyn will head back to the Paragon and tell your captain what's going on?"

Were they truly on their own now?

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"She will, yes."

He trusted that she would elude the soldiers. They had no reason to be looking for her and it would take most of a batallion to stop her when she was in a foul mood.

"I trust him enough and what he says makes logical sense. Even if the word has not been spread we don't want to meet the duke's scouts."

The horse he had taken was a mottled, ruddy red. He had never been a skilled rider. Somehow being up on the back of a horse gave him more vertigo than being all the way up the mast on choppy seas. It was barely even a fall.

"I have no idea where we go," he admitted. They had almost formed a plan, dashed before it could even take its final shape. It was somewhat disheartening, but they were alive after another scrape.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

A moment of relief crossed her face. It was good to know another wouldn't die because of her. She couldn't quite shake the shadow across her face. The downward turn of her mouth. The shocked and faraway look in her eyes.

Her horse trotted forward. She held back a little, noticing Rayth's discomfort. While he thrived at sea, she thrived on land. She'd been riding since growing up. It was the main means of transport in the spine. Besides royal carriage rides.

She preferred riding, though. There was more choice and freedom. Open air to the stuffiness of a carriage ordered where her father wanted her to go.

"Do you think my people would forgive me if I disappeared?" Her voice was so quiet, she wondered if Rayth would hear the question at all.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"It would be hard to blame you for going to ground to avoid being murdered, I suppose," Rayth offered.

This could go very badly indeed. If the Duke became a king and forged a deeper alliance with his own uncle them he was going to be kept far from his home. If they took Eislyn's kingdom then neither of them would have a home to go to.

Even if he could catch up with the Paragon then it was no life for her. Even topped up by her retinue the coin would not last them long.

Rayth held his head a little higher as they rode on. The situation being dire did not take away from what they did have. They didn't need her magic or even his sword to get by in life. Even if they travelled a thousand leagues he knew they could find a way. The shift in his posture as he rode was obvious as his mind changed.

"If we wait until midday they should be far enough on for us to ride east." Closer to the spine, closer to her own home perhaps.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

The grim look across her mouth eased a tad.

"Oh you suppose, do you?" Maybe it was better to make light of this situation. Because how else would she go forward? She was suggesting she leave it all behind. Would her father forgive her? Would he care?

She imagined once he knew what the Duke was doing, he'd send men to look for her - for the safety of his daughter. And here was Rayth so willing to dive into this with her. Lips parted. She was tempted to urge him away. Again. Tell him to go with Geelyn.

But she didn't. While his posture lightened, hers remained decidedly down.

"Mid-afternoon. Then we'll go East," she agreed quietly.

It wasn't long before they were back at that hidden cottage. They stayed off the road, horse tracks hidden by dirt and pinestraw. Unless someone really knew where to look for them. She dismounted as they got closer. The field where they'd seen the deer was eerily empty now.

Eislyn was quiet and pensive. Such a change from her usual self. She felt like she was mourning the loss of something.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"Fuck," he went, breaking the silence that had fallen as he had tethered the horses. He looked a long way from the man who had stood so calmly at the door watching the wildlife.

It wasn't very grown up, but swearing made him feel a little bit better.

Some of her attempted humour must have rubbed off on him as he smiled faintly as he shook his head. The floorboards creaked as he stepped up onto the patio and opened the door.

"Well, we're back here. Two steps forward, one step back, but we are still in tact at least."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Walking in the door, she should've gone to sit on the edge of the simple bed but she couldn't. She was too restless to sit. Instead, she paced the porch outside. Old wooden boards creaked as she walked.

"We should enjoy the roof over our heads while we can," she mused as she paced, paced, paced.

Stopped.

Turned.

Pace, pace, pace.

The young woman spun to Rayth. She went back on her earlier mental word to herself. "They're not hunting you. You are not stuck with me."

She couldn't help it.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"I know," he replied with a sigh. He crossed the ground between them in two long strides, standing between her and the rest of the patio.

"I'm not going anywhere, but you will walk through your shoes if you keep this up all night."

He placed one hand firmly on each of her shoulders. Eislyn was blurting such things out in concern, but right now wasn't the time for hasty action. Rayth just wished he could lift her far from this place, far from the chaos that had engulfed her life.

"I know it's frustrating to go from half a plan to... To finding an army of your enemy a short ride away, but you're going to need the soles of your shoes." Rayth offered a faint smile as he looked down at her. It felt like an age, and almost no time at all since they had left the Paragon, fates truly wound up in each others.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

Rayth walked away from another out. Another chance to go back to his life on the Paragon. Another chance to leave her and all the trouble she'd inherited behind. Even with his family being tied up in the plot against her. And against her father.

Frustration mixed with surprise and gratitude rippled across her brow as he stood between her and the rest of her worries.

He anchored her in place in more ways than one.

Verdants lifted to meet his.

"I suppose my shoes will have you to thank for their survival." The smallest quiver of her pink lips.

"What if we don't go east at all? I've always wanted to see Fal'Addas. Maybe the Forbidden City. It would be a grand adventure."

There were the armies to think about. Lithad had warned them. It might be too dangerous to go that way yet. And if she did go that way, she'd be walking away from everything. For a very long time.

Walking away from everything except for the man before her.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"We should go east, but only far enough to get around the Duke's army," he said, his smile growing. It was hard to see a bright light, but they were untethered now. They could dream as big as they wanted and Rayth had been blessed with a grand imagination.

"On that kind of scale its like going out the left side of your garde to walk to a town ten miles to the right."

He let his hands fall to her elbows, taking a moment to consider her suggestions. The Forbidden City was certainly on the extreme end of places they could visit. As the crow flies it would be months by horse.

"There is always Elbion, perhaps answers to your magic. Do you know how a portal stone works? We could be far, far away from these lands in a heartbeat."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

She was wearing short sleeves. And she found the touch of his hands sliding down skin rather distracting. There was that familiar warmth and roughness from his palms. And in that moment, she could almost forget an army was chasing them.

Almost.

“I don’t know if I'm ready for Elbion,” she admitted slowly. It would mean declaring she had magic. She felt uncomfortable enough that Rayth AND Geelyn knew now. If word traveled back to her father.

Maybe if she came up with a new identity. There were a lot of things to work through. And what if someone wanted to use her because of her ability? Were there people in Elbion to trust?

“But I’m not against going there. And I’ve read about the stones. My father outlawed anything magical, of course, so I only know about them in theory.”

A spark of interest and curiosity entered her gaze. Hand came up, finger tapping lightly against his chest. So much lighter than her angry jabbing from the many times before.

“Have you ever used one; does it hurt?”

 

[Rayth Keirn]

"I'm afraid I don't really know much about Elbion or portal stones," he admitted. "I've never been that far west and being on a ship I've never had to use one."

He needed some knowledge on both of those things. Any town near a portal stone would be able to explain how they worked, he was certain. They would have made most of their trade in travellers.

Elbion was another matter. He didn't know where to start on a magical school. It was a lot of trust to put in someone else. It could be a long time until either of them felt read for that.

"It's not supposed to hurt though. I read somewhere it was like being dunked underwater for a few seconds. Then coming up for air and you're somewhere else.

"Sounds...a little scary when I put it like that." Rayth watched her carefully, glad to see some of the concern leave her face, if only for a time.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

"As long as it's not like the waters I fell into at the caves." A small shiver rippled down her spine. those waters had been freezing. The dress she'd been wearing hadn't helped either. Those thick fabrics had almost dragged her to the bottom.

"If I recall, though. You were quick to jump in after me. Even if you were just doing your job." A smaller, playful smile curved briefly along her mouth. Maybe they could suspend reality for a little longer. Suspend the fear of traveling and being discovered. Just for a few hours. At least until it got dark. Until they had to push out from this space and head East under the cover of the moons.

"So. We have a few hours. Should we re-enact a great play together? Spout of poetry? Dance?" And for that moment of playful suggestions, her face grew lighter.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

It had been his job to keep her alive then. It had not been when he had stood his ground against the assassin. It had been just days, but it felt like a lifetime since the task he had been entrusted with had come to an end.

He cared for Eislyn now because he wanted to, not because anyone told him too.

Rayth smiled. It was a warm smile, reminiscent of the sun setting low over the ocean.

"We could do any of those things," he said softly. Walking slowly backwards, his hands stayed on her arms, slowly tugging her after him. Back inside the cottage, away from the whole world.

"Dance to absolute silence, or fill it with laughter for a while. After the days we have been I am glad for a few hours with you where we are not running from our lives or plotting on how we can take on the whole world together."

And once they were over that threshold it felt as if they had actually left the rest of the world behind.

"Kiss me," he sighed.

 

[Eislyn Gray]

The ambient sounds of the field were behind them. Later afternoon light filtered through the windows of the cabin, showing eddys of dust in the air - trapped still, even after they'd already disturbed the place once. She followed that tug with trust. They were already going a strange sort of dance.

And she was glad to be in his arms and no one elses.

Eyes searched his. His request made a thrum of excitement spark through her veins. It was a small rush of adrenaline. Of anticipation. One she tried to hide. One she tried to keep her features schooled for, using her talents as a negotiator. She wasn't sure if she succeeded.

She couldn't quite hide the playful expression on her face as she asked. "What will you give me for this kiss?" Even as she asked, she leaned forward, fingers coming to rest on Rayth's shirt along his ribs on either side.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

It almost certainly hadn't been a serious question. The weight of the coming storm in his eyes betrayed how seriously he took it. It was a dance. He might have known the steps better than Eislyn, but he figured that she was a quick learner.

A half step closer and that was barely enough room left for the air between them. The moment might have drawn them away from the outside world but the emotional weight of the day had not gone away entirely. He was still a swirling maelstrom beneath the surface. She was an island of calm, his solace. Yet somehow she was also his tempest. She stole his breath and made him giddy.

"Everything," he replied. His voice was quiet, yet firm. Just the slightest curl of a smile formed in the corner of his lips. "Everything I can offer for a kiss."

 

[Eislyn Gray]

The princess had meant it to be a light question. She hadn't expected that serious look in his eyes. That captivating gaze of his. The tenor in his voice. And his response.

Her mouth was suddenly dry. She resisted the urge to run her tongue along her lips.

"Well then," she managed in a hushed whisper. And there was nothing left to say. Rayth always had a way of drawing her in. It was hard for her to stay in control in his arms. With the way his eyes roved her face and settled on her lips. The longing and wanting there.

The last bit of space between her lips and his disappeared as pink lips captured those of a swashbuckler.

 

[Rayth Keirn]

Right now everything he had was almost nothing at all. No money, no plans, no home. But every ounce of his attention was fixed upon her.

Slowly he leaned down to meet her as she closed the distance, running a long strand of gossamer hair between his fingers.

Those last inches vanished in an instant as their lips met in a bruising kiss. He spread the fingers of his other hand against the small of her back, pulling her tight up against him.

Everything he felt, that he had been holding him came flooding out in a torrent.