Chapter 7 [River Severn, Fifteen Miles from Camelot—Late that Afternoon]
[A/N: And yes, I am adapting "Jewel" to fit this sequence. Creative License and all of that. :P ]
Nemeth's delegation rested in a secluded yet well-provided for spot along the roadside. Between them and Camelot, the Severn cut a comforting boundary for the traveling party's feelings. The horses drank from the cool running water. Fires burned allowing the knights and courtiers to warm themselves. Their blankets and sleeping gear still laid rolled up not far from where the travelers sat.
While they would have preferred to ride further, Mithian had decided to rest and gather their thoughts at that point. The fact that the next river was another day's ride and into their now-clearly owned lands in Gedref had played a determining factor as well.
The knights played at lots. At times they'd glance toward the Princess' tent and then toward the woods. They shook their heads while wishing that Mithian would sit undercover and work at typical feminine crafts or perhaps rest for the long ride ahead starting at first light on the morrow. They were still trying to deal with her scoring the winning hit on the deer on the previous day. They would roll their eyes and then resumed their lots for another turn of the hourglass.
At least she was in her tent…or so they thought….
[A Half-Mile Away]
Mithian crouched low behind a bush for cover. She peered carefully through the leaves. Her eyes scanned the small clearing in front of herself. Her fingers tapped patiently on the side of her crossbow waiting for her prey to appear.
If the spoor on the tree a ways back had been any indication, she was on the path of a sizeable buck.
Come on! You have to come out some time! She wet her finger and held it up to the air. While the breeze chilled her hand, it also confirmed that her scent wouldn't be carried into the opening ahead. Her eyes narrowed. You have to be patient! Remember what Mother would've said, let the smallest of things flow into place.
Mother….
She allowed a mournful sigh to escape her lips. Her fingers drifted toward her neck and upper torso….
…the place where Queen Taene's necklace should have been….
I can't believe I left it behind! She frowned. The first two days held plenty of reasons for her to wear the precious necklace. She'd received several compliments at the banquet in her honor. She'd worn it to try and impress Arthur to no avail. (He didn't say a word about it much to her dismay.) After that, she'd set it in a wardrobe drawer for safe keeping or so she had thought.
During the frenzied packing process, she'd emptied the drawer but couldn't find it. She'd turned the entire bedchamber practically upside down to no avail. She was about to search again when Sir Galahad had confronted Merlin and Gawain in the passage. The conversation and Merlin's meal distracted her. Dread over dealing with Arthur and his court publicly demanded her focus at that point.
I can't believe I did that! She exhaled deeply. She swore she heard a branch break behind herself. Still she watched the clearing.
The deer in question loped into the opening. His antlers, an impressive collection of points in modern hunters' terms, caught her attention to say the least. A worthy prey! She raised her crossbow and aimed deliberately. She took a breath and fired allowing the bolt to fly with deadly accuracy.
The projectile struck the deer behind its front shoulder. It wavered and collapsed to the ground.
She nodded. Satisfaction and Pride offered her some solace at that point for her lost keepsake. At least I have something to take back to camp. She stood up and moved out of her cover. She was intent on dispatching her prey before it suffered overly much.
Only at that moment did she hear the grunt behind herself. She saw something out of the corner of her eye. She lunged to her left barely avoiding whatever it was.
A sizeable wild boar scattered her quiver of crossbow bolts. His dark hide glittered menacingly in the late day sunlight. Irritation glittered in his eyes. He pointed his tusks at her intent on impaling her as his next meal.
I'd have to come out here alone! She regained her footing. She tried to keep her breathing as calm as possible. She considered her crossbow knowing that it would only be useful as a club. She drew her hunting knife from its sheath. The knights would be of welcome assistance right now!
The boar snorted at her. He kicked up the dirt with his paw. He aimed his tusks in preparation for the next charge at her.
Both hunters eyed each other awaiting the next move….