Ch.7: Reluctance

The road was a long and monotonous string of grassland and forest, alternating one after the other. In the moonlight, it was really just an alternating pattern of dim light and dark shadow. The chirping of crickets filled the night, and only the occasional run-in with nocturnal creatures jarred Lianna enough to keep her from zoning out completely. Once, a fox ran in front of Thicket as it crossed the road, its eyes shining in the moonlight. It put shivers down Lianna's spine and caused Thicket to rear up. It took quite a bit of cajoling to keep Thicket from bolting outright.

Farther down the road, Lianna jerked her head up as the hoot of an owl came from the tree limb above her. She groaned and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. Her initial burst of adrenaline having worn out earlier, her exhaustion was now catching up with her. The steady clip-clop of hooves and the songs of the crickets made her eyelids heavy.

I'd better find some place to stop before something goes wrong. She didn't trust Thicket not to bolt if he got spooked, so falling asleep in the saddle, even if tied on, was out of the question. Her horse still needed quite a bit of nudging to maintain their pace and direction. Lianna could feel Thicket's resistance to being out so late and so far from home. The furtive glances that Thicket kept casting back in the direction of Mills Yard made Lianna feel guilty for having to take him on such a perilous journey.

She rubbed her horse's neck, eliciting a snort from him. "Don't worry, boy. We'll be able to do the rest of this journey by daylight, hopefully."

As they descended into a valley between two low hills, the trees pressed even closer around and over the road. Lianna pulled the reins, stopping Thicket. She winced as she threw her leg over the pommel and eased herself down. Her muscles were completely stiff, but she forced her legs to stand straight as she led Thicket to the side of the road and through the trees.

As soon as the road was just out of sight, Lianna looked around and saw a large fallen oak. It had been ripped out of the ground, the root ball exposed. But the trunk formed a natural lean-to. The back was even closed off against the trunk of a neighboring tree. The fallen tree also left a hole in the canopy, letting light in.

This seems as good a place as any. Lianna tied Thicket's reins securely to one of the largest roots on the rootball and pulled her cloak more tightly around herself. She had no idea what time it was, but from the chill in the air, she had to guess that it was at least within four or five hours of sun-rise, perhaps even less. At least the clouds and misting rain had lessened the farther she had traveled.

Lianna crawled into the space beneath the trunk and sat down, putting her back against the other tree. Pulling her hood up, she brought her knees up and hugged them to her chest. Now that she was still, a bit of her earlier anxiety came back to life. She looked out into the dark. I wonder how father and Aaron will react when I'm not there in the morning, when I don't come down for breakfast, when I'm not there to help Aaron with his lessons and bring father his medicine…

One thought after another bubbled its way to the surface of her mind, but none of the questions had any answers. She knew that this was the only way. She only wished she didn't have to hurt and worry those she was trying to protect in the first place.

At least Charlona and Reggie know. They can keep Father and Aaron calm if needed, I'm sure. She turned her head to the side and rested it against her arms on top of her knees. She thought for sure these thoughts would keep circling in her head and wouldn't let her sleep, but the cricket song and Thicket's breathing nearby were steady, and soon, her eyelids fell shut.

***

From his second floor bedroom, Count Kerith Milliard stood by the window and watched a tiny lantern light flicker out by the front gate. Charlona stood there, holding it up as she peered into the night beyond their courtyard. She had stood there for what seemed like forever, though in truth, it had probably only been half a bell.

Kerith had been standing for that long at least. He felt it in his bones. He didn't know when the last time he'd been out of bed this long was, but he couldn't tear his gaze away from that little light. He had long since leaned most of his weight against the window frame, refusing to return to his bed, when a figure on horseback finally came up to Charlona in the courtyard. The figure was nothing more than a dark shadow, but Kerith knew it had to be Reggie. Charlona's quick hug around the figure's neck only confirmed it.

Only when Kerith saw that both Charlona and Reggie were headed back into the manor, did he finally let the curtains fall back and return to his bed. He kept himself in a sitting position, knowing that he'd be hearing a knock at the door soon. And nearly as soon as he had straightened the bed covers over his lower half, it came.

"Come in," Kerith beckoned.

Charlona and Reggie came into the room. Charlona's eyes were red rimmed, but she was smiling. Reggie took of his hat, and they both gave a small bow before Charlona was at his bedside. She took Kerith's hand, and for once her own hands were colder than his.

"Our lady made it, my lord. Reggie said it was a close call, but she is well down the road by now and that knight is none the wiser." Charlona's grateful gaze flickered to Reggie.

"That is good to hear," he said, keeping his voice even. "Can you tell me what happened, Reggie?"

"Well, it looks like that knight was rather thorough," said Reggie, stepping forward. He swallowed the words the bastard that Kerith knew he wanted to say and continued. "He posted lookouts by hiring some of the local townsfolk who are desperate for any coin they might can earn. The young miss circled the town well on her own, but I had a hunch that there'd be trouble once she reached the road propper. I circled around and found two lookouts walking by the road. But a little misdirection, and a promise of some wine got them turned back towards town. When I got the two men settled, I left them and went back down the road. By that time, she had moved on. She has good instincts." Reggie grinned, though it didn't reach his eyes.

Kerith leaned back against the headboard and sighed, his eyes focused on the ceiling. "So, she has left to find help in Rithan. I have no idea if she will find help or merely a worse fate. I'm reluctant to raise my hopes, but I'm also reluctant to discount Saoirse's words."

Charlona squeezed Kerith's hand. "I know Countess Saoirse loved everyone here. I don't know how she knew that one day Miss Lia would leave like this and warn us to let her go if she did, but I know she would never say such a thing if it would bring harm to Miss Lia or to any of us."

"And I think the same," said Reggie. "I've seen the countess do some downright amazing things in the past, and I wouldn't write her warning off now for anything."

Kerith nodded, all the words he could have said stuck in his throat.

Charlona stood and began tucking the covers a bit more snuggly around Kerith. "You should try to get some rest, my lord. I promise that myself and Ben will keep our ears open for anything that many happen from here on out. I know Reggie and Harrace will do the same."

Kerith nodded again and waved them out. Once the door was shut behind them, he reached into this nightstand drawer, past the letter from Brendwald and several other letters he kept close but whose content was only more fuel for his current anger and despair. Underneath all of that was a thin book. He took it out and ran his fingers over the slightly worn, leather cover. His late wife's finger marks were rubbed into the leather where she'd carried the booklet around so much. He was always careful not to make his own marks lest his mess up the shape of hers.

Opening the cover, there was a yellowed piece of paper. He knew what it said even without taking it out.

'My Dearest Kerith,

I will always regret that we've had to part. I wish our time had been longer, but it brought us great joy and our daughter and son all the same. I would not change my life with you and them for anything.

I'm leaving my special journal with you for now. I know that you can't read it, but I want you to pass it onto Lianna when it is time. She'll be able to find how to read it eventually. But more importantly than that is the timing of when you'll give it to her.

I don't know if you'll be able to believe me or to trust your memory of me when I'm gone, but Lianna will one day make a desperate journey to try and prevent disaster for our family and our county. When she does, I ask that you let her go. I know it will be one of the hardest things you ever do, but if there is one thing you would do for me when I'm gone, it is this.

I trust Lianna, and I hope that you will too. I have left her as much of my legacy as I can.

Until we meet again on the far side of the river, my love.

Forever yours,

Saoirse'

Kerith gritted his teeth and shut the book. With his hand on the cover, he closed his eyes. "I've done it, my love. I've kept this promise. Just please be right about her return. I want her to return safely so that I can fulfill the second part of that promise. I'll give her this book as you wanted. Just please watch over her from beyond the veil until I do." Since her death, he'd been dreading this day, but at the same time, the fact that it had come at all meant the words of his late wife were true. He had to believe in the rest as well.

Replacing the book in the drawer, Kerith lowered his pillows and laid down, but he didn't sleep. His mind was full of what he would tell Aaron in the morning, if his daughter had found a safe place to get some rest before morning, and half-formed plans on how to delay and confuse the knight staying in his town.