Troubadours

Chapter 10

I've probably tried to write this chapter five times over the last couple years. And honestly it's never flowed how I wanted it to. And I make no promises that it will now. Anyway hold on tight and I'll see what I can do.

Serena tightened her hands around her mares reins as the animal followed the rapid gallop that Nathaniel had set for their pace. She could hear the rattling of the cart bounding down the rutted road as the horse struggled to keep up despite dragging its burden of extra weight from their supplies and belongings. Several miles from Dunewald Nathaniel called a halt pulling his mount off the road and dismounting.

"Artemis cut the cart free; it's slowing us down too much." He called out as he quickly removed a few items from the vehicle.

"Wait, why are we in such a rush?" Serena asked patting her mares heaving neck as she looked toward the direction that Nathaniel's voice had originated.

Nathaniel glanced at the woman on the horse and for the first time that he could remember felt a wave of annoyance and anger toward the beautiful blonde, he ignored her question and worked alongside Artemis to remove food, extra weapons, and money from the cart then unhitch it from Artemis's mount.

"You can ride bare back until we find you a saddle right?" He asked his brother who nodded returning to the cart to retrieve his ugly floppy hat.

"Nate I asked you a question why won't you answer me? Or tell me what's going on?" Serena pleaded as she started to dismount from her horse.

Nathaniel glanced at Artemis who was swinging onto his horses back and shook his head, "no time to talk Serena. " He said simply and remounted his own horse before pulling the animal in a tight circle and swatting Serena's mares' rump with the flat of his sword. "Yah!" he yelled at the startled horse before spurring his own into a gallop.

Serena let out a small cry and clutched at the reins and mane, she could hear Sach running alongside her and Artemis's mount bringing up the rear, though without the familiar rattle of the cart which made her sad. "Arty what has happened?" she tried to ask the younger brother who she could tell was coming up alongside her.

Artemis's eyes scanned their surroundings as they road along, and for the most part avoided meeting Serena's even though she couldn't see that. He remained silent and alert as he guarded their retreat, he like Nathaniel was not inclined to share the reason of their rapid departure just at that moment.

Serena frowned feeling concerned hurt and just a little bit upset as they continued their break neck pace for another hour or so, it was dastardly hard to tell the time when one couldn't see. Right about the time her mare stumbled in a rabbit hole, and Serena went soaring over the fallen animals head to land and roll to a stop on the side of the road she decided she'd had enough.

"Nathaniel De Grey you will halt and tell me why we are running like the hounds of hell are on our heels," Serena said struggling with the yards of heavy velvet that made up her gown which was now in tatters from her fall.

Nathaniel who for reasons unknown to him was still quite angry about their sudden need to depart, and Serena's absence prior to their departure wheeled his mount around to a stop and hurdled himself from the animals back before walking to the now incredibly disheveled blonde.

"Really Sere? You can't tell that we're might be fleeing for our lives because your bloody brother and sister from that demon woman are on our heels? And that because ye were so busy gallivanting aboot that we had to leave most of our worldly possessions on the side o' the road? Or that by staying a' Dunewald in the first place we've place all o' those people in danger by leadin' Jared and Rayeline ta them?" He said almost yelling and his accent which normally nonexistent became so thick that Serena could barely understand him.

Serena flinched at Nathaniel's tone and took a step back only to trip and land on her rump once more, "You don't have to yell Nate…" she said casting her blind gaze up at him.

Nathaniel ground his teeth in frustration and ran a hand through his hair shaking it loose from the leather thong that bound it, "Aye I do. And ye donna seem to understand Sere, we're heading for the King. 'tis to Edward we're bound, we've grown lax and comfortable traveling as we have been. Unheeding of those around us we put in danger."

Serena's hand flailed out in front of her, "the king?! We can't Nate; I've never met the man. How do I know he won't send me home to Rosehaven?!"

"If he does so be it Sere, do ye nae understand that everyone we come into contact with is in danger?!" Nathaniel said finally losing his patience and grabbing the girl he'd loved since he was a child by the front of her gown and dragging her face to face with him, "the man Darien ye like so much, Amelia, all of em! Little Diana, Arty's Luna! All of them are in danger because we were there! At least at the Kings palace we have a chance at protection and sanctuary! Or are ye so spoiled that ye cannae understand that?" he said letting go of her gown and watching her drop back to the dry dirt road. "Sometimes I wish that ye're father had never rescued me, then I wouldnae be oath bound to keep ye safe Sere." He said sadly turning and walking back to his horse and mounting it before riding off ahead without looking back.

Serena cried out more in pain from Nathaniel's words than being man handled by him, she knew that he didn't mean what he said. At least she thought she knew that, suddenly feeling sick she rolled to her side and vomited into the ditch on the side of the road. She continued to heave and shudder until nothing but spasms rocked her body and the muted sounds of gagging could be heard. Sach at some point had settled on the side of the ditch next to her and leaned his heavily furred body against hers for support and comfort.

Artemis had watched the exchange between his brother and Serena quietly half agreeing with what Nathaniel said, if not actually agreeing with how the words were delivered. He moved to check on Serena's mount and found her to be ok, though the leg was swelling slightly. Then he looked over his shoulder where Serena still sat on the side of the road her knees pulled up to her chest a lost look in her blind eyes.

"You know he has many points Serena," he said wetting a cloth from his water skin and wiping her face gently.

Serena swatted at the cloth, "I can't go to the king, Arty and Papa hated him. He never had a kind word to say about the king who was his brother."

Artemis handed her the cloth so she could clean herself since she refused to allow him to help, "be that as it may, I fear we no longer have a choice. Rayeline and Jared were spotted in the town near Dunewald; they won't be that far behind us."

As if to bring truth to his words, the jingle of horse tack could be heard and a falsely sweet voice sounded out across the road.

"Dearest Serena, I feared we'd never find you."

Serena stiffed her hand digging into Sach's fur and the cloth falling from the other onto the road.

Artemis cursed under his breath for them remaining in one place too long, "Lady Rayeline what brings you so far from Rosehaven Castle?" he asked trying for a small amount of his normal joviality.

"I was not talking to you servant, but to my dearest sister who looks quite harassed in your presence." Rayeline de Wolfton replied barely glancing at Artemis.

Darien watched the retreating troops disappear over a rise in the distance then turned to Malcolm and Andrew a worried frown marring his handsome face, "send me through the woods to find the troubadours. I fear that whomever they've been trying to avoid has found them. I just hope we reach them before trouble befalls our newest friends."