A/N: Sorry for the delay folks! Here is the next chapter… and the identity of the mystery woman is answered!


Chapter 2

Karigan suppressed the urge to laugh out loud. She had never seen Fastion look scared before, but he did now. She thought about demanding to know who the woman was, but decided it was better to keep quiet, in order not to risk giving her identity away.

The woman barely seemed to notice his look of horror, and ploughed on regardless, the other country ladies with her watching the interchange with great interest. "It's been sae long, since ye were a wee bairn, and then ye up and left yer poor mother, wi' nairy a thought, off to join those a-cursed Black Sh—"

"Aunt Gertrude! It's been tae long since I've seen ye" Fastion interrupted hastily, cutting her off before she could continue and give his position away. He swung off his horse and gave her an exuberant hug. "Ah ye're nought but skin and bone lad!" his aunt exclaimed, her fierce temper suddenly forgotten. "Aye, but it's sae good to see ye!" he replied, holding her at arm's length to examine her weather-beaten face. "And lookin' sae fine, Aunt, I'll wager there's been a dozen suitors up here askin' for yer hand, ye hardly look a day older than when I left." He made a great show of kissing her hand, the older lady blushing madly. The ladies standing behind her tittered and made appraising comments to one another about the "fine young man" that Gertrude's wayward nephew had turned out to be.

Karigan was so startled to hear the Weapon's normally measured, Sacor City tones transform into this rough brogue, she barely heard the lady's response. But soon she realised Fastion was casting her a pleading look and blinked rapidly, comprehending that his aunt was inviting him and his traveling companions to join her at her home for a "wee bite an' a bowl o' broth". Karigan hastily applied herself to thinking how to get them out of this—if this aunt of his were anything like her own aunts (which appeared very much to be the case) they would be caught up for hours if she didn't do something quickly.

Karigan cleared her throat and interceded. "Fastion, would you kindly introduce me to your aunt?" She gave him a pointed look. "Ach how silly of me," he exclaimed. "Aunt Gertrude, please allow me to introduce the Lady Bathilda, cousin of Lord Arey and the wife of my employer." Karigan nodded to her, saying politely "Lovely to meet you, Gertrude", and the aunt dipped into a deep curtsey, seeming a little awestruck but managed to reply "pleasure ma'am".

Karigan continued, "It sure is lovely to meet one of Fastion's family, he has been such a wonderful help to us, and we really would love to come for tea, but unfortunately we must continue on our way, for we have a wagon train waiting for us in the next village. We shall have to come for tea another time. Good day." This said, Karigan immediately kicked her horse and walked sedately past Aunt Gertrude, who looked slightly bemused and simply curtseyed once more. Fastion nodded goodbye, trying to look reluctant, and swung onto his horse. He and Tala followed after Karigan down the road away from the village.

Once out of sight around a bend Karigan stopped, and she and Tala collapsed in fits of helpless laughter, Tala managing somehow to snort and laugh all at once. Karigan had tears streaming from her eyes. "Ach, Fastion, I nivver knew ye were a wee country lad," she exclaimed, and began laughing so hard once more she couldn't speak. "Oh aye," replied Tala once she had controlled her laughter a little, "if the wee bairn ever sets a foot wrong I shall bring his Aunt Gertrude to the castle to give him a piece of her mind!" And that set the two of them off again, leaning on each other for support as they continued to shake with laughter.

Fastion rolled his eyes and resumed his usual granite expression. He walked his horse at a sedate pace down the road, knowing they would follow once they calmed down. Once he was at a safe distance, he allowed himself a brief smile as he thought with relief of how Karigan had outwitted his terrifying aunt.


King Zachary paced to and fro in front of the small wooden hut. The sun was reaching its zenith; Karigan's half of the party was almost half an hour late, he reckoned. Just then he heard a noise coming from the road; it sounded like laughter. Donal, who had excellent eyesight, confirmed it with a nod. "It's them, Sire." Zachary breathed a sigh of relief.

As they drew closer he could make out Karigan and Tala talking and laughing together, and Fastion riding a little apart, sitting stiffly on his horse. Zachary smiled as Karigan dismounted and bounded up to him, giving him a peck on the cheek. "Well you seem in excellent spirits love, what happened?" To his bewilderment the two girls fell about laughing, Tala just managing to choke out "maybe you should ask Fastion". That was all they would say on the matter for now, and Fastion looked so offended that the King didn't dare say anything to him about it.

They urged their horses into a brisk walk along the road again, for the destination they were aiming for was still a good half hour's ride away. Zachary kept looking bemusedly between Fastion's stony expression (even more stony than usual, which he would not have previously thought possible), and Tala and Karigan, who occasionally looked at each other and giggled, although they seemed to be attempting to rein in their amusement for the sake of Fastion's dignity. Donal and Rory looked equally clueless as to the cause of this sudden emotion, both the embarrassment of Fastion and the overt glee of Tala equally strange. After a few minutes of strained silence, broken only by the even thudding of horses hooves, Fastion surged forwards into a smooth canter, and the others followed.

The sun was hotter now, and the track they followed wound its way through the sparse scrub, with only the occasional tree casting a slight shadow. As they continued travelling northwest, a sharp breeze came up, refreshing on their sweaty faces. Then finally they came to the top of the ridge and the sea was laid out in front of them and to the right. The blue-green rolling depths continued all the way to the horizon before being lost in the haze, and the ocean winds chipped at the peaks of the breaking waves so the sea spray sparkled like diamonds. The path swung around to follow the shoreline a safe distance from the limestone cliffs that dropped sheer to where the endless waves pounded below.

Karigan looked at Zachary and saw his expression mirrored her own—revelling in the breeze and the briny air—this was like coming home; although the wild winds here were fiercer than the smoky harbour breeze in Corsa.

The path zig-zagged gently downwards, following the slope in this one place where the giant cliffs lowered themselves to touch the shore. They slowed the horses to a walk as they picked amongst the loose pebbles and gravel. Up ahead a small settlement lay close to the wooden pier; Karigan counted a mere half-dozen houses and a longer building which seemed to be a general store. Rory and Donal glanced at the others, and with an unspoken agreement rode forward towards the level ground as the others hung back, waiting for them to give the all-clear.

Karigan watched as the two weapons rode the short distance towards the buildings, looking about sharply for any sign of danger. A couple of raggedy young boys who were playing in the bushes ran off shouting to one another, and a pleasant looking young woman rocked her baby as she sat in the shade outside the store, waiting for the afternoon trade. On the far side of the pier a small group of old fishermen sat on logs around a low wooden platform where they would sort their morning catch, puffing leisurely on their pipes now that the morning's work was done. This region was famous for its smoked herrings, Fastion explained, his first words since the encounter with his aunt had rendered him silent. Donal waved at them; no danger here. Karigan smirked playfully in Fastion's direction. "No danger this time," to which he just raised his eyebrows in response.

Soon the group was at the edge of the road, dismounting and leading the horses forward towards the foot of the pier. On either side the sandy cove stretched out in a gentle curve, dotted by wooden fishing boats and seabirds that picked among the debris. Fastion pointed to a medium sized rowing boat that was tethered to the side of the pier. "That's her," he said, grinning in a way that made Karigan frown.

Rory spoke up quietly, "are you sure about this, Sire? Just that we normally wouldn't dare leave your Majesties without a guard, and—" He trailed off and looked gravely at Zachary who nodded in confirmation. "The only people on the island are an old couple I have known since I was a boy, and with you all staying here on the shore no one could reach us this way. The island is protected on the ocean side by a dangerous shoal that locals call the Devil's Teeth—no one will be able to disturb us. It is"—and he smiled wickedly at Karigan—"the perfect getaway for me and my bride." She punched him lightly in the arm, blushing furiously.

"Well, let's get you away then," said Fastion, handing his reins to Donal and gesturing to them to do the same, Karigan giving Condor one last loving pat before turning to the sea. The three of them walked down to the boat. Fastion pulled on the bow rope and the boat came bobbing merrily towards them. Karigan realised why he had been grinning earlier; it was barely more than a dingy and two sets of oars rested in the bottom. They would have to row themselves to the island. Zachary looked undaunted however, and she rolled her eyes, this probably seemed like a great adventure to him. What was it her aunts used to say? 'Men are just little boys with big heads'. Well, it wasn't like she hadn't rowed a boat before, and luckily all their trunks and provisions had been sent ahead so the boat wouldn't be too laden down. So it wasn't too bad after all.

And once they got there… they would have the place virtually to themselves, just the two of them on a lonely island. She bit her lip and forced herself back to the task at hand, but couldn't help the tingle that ran down her spine as Zachary placed a hand under her elbow to steady her as they got into the boat. Her cheeks flushed again and he smiled knowingly in response. Oh yes, the next few days would be very interesting.

Behind them in the small settlement, in one of the cottages that looked just the same as the others, a curtain twitched in the window. A gnarled hand pushed the coarse fabric aside a fraction, enough to peer out with one watery eye. The watcher turned to their companion in the dimly lit room. "They have arrived—it is time."


Well? What did you think of it? … What do you think will happen on the island? Who is watching them? Please REVIEW! Thanks =)