Sylvester sat before the fire sipping on his coffee. Toby and Happy had just retired to their tent. He looked towards the newlyweds' tent as the muted sounds of their pleasure reached his ears. He shook his head. Even after talking with Happy and the others and knowing they were essentially correct he still harbored resentment towards Walter. He'd barely slept because his thoughts just wouldn't stop. 'What was so special about him? Why would the wise Lady chose him to be with Paige? Granted he seemed to be well gifted in his art of singing and story telling but surely that isn't anything that really props him up above other people to be chosen.'
Sylvester shook his head, no matter how he thought about it nothing made sense. Suddenly he noticed a lightly glowing yellow line come running up from the roadway right up to him and stopped. He sat his cup down and stood up as he looked about with a frown. His hand drifted over and took hold of the hilt of his sword. Slowly he drew his sword when he heard the sound of a horse as it came down the road.
He moved a few feet out away from the campfire and noticed the yellow line moved with him. It was then that he saw he himself was had a slight yellow glow about him. He frowned and heard the horse getting closer to him. And then across on the other side of the stream he saw movement a lone figure on a horse.
The figure looked up and pulled its hood back. A young woman smiled. "Greetings in the camp, I'm Sister Ann a Cleric of the wise Lady. I'm in need of safe place to rest. May I enter?"
Sylvester slowly took his hand off his hilt. "Enter Sister Ann and be recognized."
She nudged her horse and rode on into the camp. As she got closer the yellow line and the glow about Sylvester disappeared. "Thank the wise Lady. I'm on my way to Scorpion Keep. I was beset by robbers this evening and barely got away." She reached under her chain mail and pulled out her necklace with a golden owl emblem and held it out for Sylvester to examine it.
Sylvester nodded in relief. "Welcome Sister Ann. Come, have a seat at the fire and have yourself some coffee while I tend to your horse."
Sister Ann smiled as she slid down from her horse. "Thank you, that is so kind of you. Even with all the excitement of the attack and escaping, I'm running low on energy."
Sylvester nodded as he led her horse over to the tether line and secured it before he turned. "I'm guessing you didn't have a chance to get your saddle or anything else as you escaped."
Sister Ann nodded as she poured a cup of coffee. She sat down and let her breath out. "I've been on the road for two hours since I escaped. I'd thought I had made camp far enough from the road so as not to be targeted but it didn't work. I'd just cast a location spell seeking refuge, I was so surprised I was so close to that refuge."
She took a sip of the coffee and closed her eyes. "Thank you wise Lady." She looked at Sylvester. "You wouldn't by chance have a bit of food you can spare, would you?"
Sylvester smiled with a nod. He walked over to the wagon and pulled a bowl and spoon out. Ann grinned as she looked towards one of the tents. "It sounds like someone is enjoying their time together."
Sylvester grumbled a little as he walked over to the fire. He dipped out some stew for her and got one of the rolls and set them on the table. "What temple are you from?"
Ann smiled after she prayed. "I'm assigned to the outpost at the border. The wise Lady directed me earlier to head this way with a message."
Sylvester smiled as he sat down. "Well if it is for the Lady Paige you are in luck. She is here. This is her company. We are on our way to Lancaster."
Ann shook her head as she swallowed a bite of the stew. "No, actually it is for one of her men, a Sir Sylvester."
Sylvester frowned. "You have a message from the wise Lady for me?"
Ann looked up in surprise. "You are Sir Sylvester?"
Sylvester nodded.
Ann put her spoon down and stood up. She took her emblem in her left hand as she began chanting. Sylvester sat watching a little confused and scared at this point.
Ann's eyes opened and she looked down at Sylvester sitting before her. "Sylvester," her voice spoke in choral proportions. "You grieve me child. Why do you harbor rancor for Walter of clan O'Brien? Why do you doubt my wisdom? You heard my word that Lady Paige and Walter are married in my eyes. You've been told through one of my Clerics I confirmed that I brought Lady Paige and Walter together, that she had grieved long enough over her last husband. I will not brook your obstinate behavior much longer. You have this night to make up your mind."
Sylvester stared at Ann in horror when suddenly Ann began coughing and quickly sat down and drank sips from her coffee.
"Oh man, it is such an honor to be chosen to carry a message from the wise Lady but it is so hard on the throat." She looked up at Sylvester with a smile. "Oh, I take it the message wasn't good from the look on your face."
Sylvester slowly rocked his hand back and forth. "She called out my behavior on something. But at least she has given me a chance to correct it."
Ann smiled. "You wouldn't happen to have an extra bedroll I could use do you?"
Sylvester nodded slowly before he got up and walked over to the wagon and got one of the spares out and brought it over and sat it on the table.
After Ann finished her stew she yawned. "If you don't mind I will try and get some sleep now."
Sylvester shook his head as he thought back on the words of Athena. He barely noticed that Ann got up and walked to the far side of the campfire and spread out the bedroll and crawled between the blankets. Warmed by the food and coffee inside and the fire outside Ann quickly fell asleep.
Walter lay in their bedroll with Paige sleeping soundly curled up next to him. Sleep was firmly in his mind but the wonder of it all had him so distracted. Had Ray not had lost most of their money gambling the week before they would have left the Inn in Oxinear before Paige had arrived. And then the Bard the Inn had engaged to perform the week after he was to leave didn't show up so they were happy to retain him another week. How quickly and close they had grown together. "Coincidence, I don't believe so, not in this life time." Walter said softly out loud.
He heard a soft scratching on the tent. "My Lady, Walter, it is time for watch change." Sir Sylvester said.
"Thank you Sir Sylvester." Walter responded before slipping out from under their blankets. He kept smiling at Paige as he dressed. He slipped out of the tent and walked over to the table and poured a cup of coffee. He looked at Sylvester, "Anything to report?"
Sylvester shook his head. "It's been quite quiet. Well except for her." Sylvester pointed.
Walter looked over and frowned. "Who is she?"
Sylvester nodded. "Sister Ann, she's assigned to the outpost at the border about a day's travel from here. She was on her way to the Keep and was beset by robbers earlier this evening."
Walter nodded.
Sylvester watched him sit down and looked back towards their tent. "Is our Lady having a hard time waking up?"
Walter shook his head. "I decided to let her sleep." Walter took a sip of coffee.
Sylvester nodded. "Well before I retire I just wanted to talk with you for a few. Mostly to just apologize for my rude behavior since you came to the Keep. First I promise you I have no interests such as Happy suggested in our Lady. Of course she is beautiful, intelligent, and compassionate not to mention the finest Paladin I know but that is as far as it goes."
Walter looked at him and nodded.
"Not to mention all the Bards I've known were real sleazes. And I just couldn't see our Lady with someone like that. From everything I have seen you are a much different, a stand up guy if you will. I didn't bother to even think you could be different. So if you are of a mind, I'd like to say I am sorry, I asked for your forgiveness and ask that we start over."
Walter looked at him closely. Finally he extended his right hand. Sylvester reached out and shook his hand. "Would you like me to stay up and stand watch with you?"
Walter smiled and shook his head. "Get your sleep while you can."
Sylvester nodded and stood up and dumped his cup into the wash basin and entered the tent he shared with Cabe and Ralph.
Walter stretched and softly sang his rejuvenation song to infuse his body with energy.
As the time of the end of his watch drew near Sara emerged from the tent she shared with her husband and smiled at Walter. "Good morning Walter."
Walter smiled at her. "Good morning Sara. I trust you slept well."
Sara nodded as she began gather cooking utensils and supplies from the wagon. She saw the woman sleeping by the campfire.
Walter nodded. "Sir Sylvester said she is Sister Ann from the outpost by the border. She was beset by robbers last night."
Sara nodded as she moved around Ann and began to prepare breakfast for the camp.
Walter began waking everyone up, saving Paige for the last. Walter walked into their tent and smiled down at his bride. He knelt next to her and began humming the rejuvenation song before he reached out to caress her cheek. "My Love, it is time."
Paige's eyes opened and she looked up at Walter as he smiled down at her humming. She grinned. "Is it time for our watch?"
Walter shook his head. "I let you sleep so your mind had a chance to refresh itself. My rejuvenation song is good short term but our minds still need proper sleep to process our thoughts properly."
Paige frowned. "Well don't you need to sleep then?"
Walter smiled. "I'll be okay my Love. I can always doze after Ralph's lessons are over today. My mare knows my habits and will follow along with you guys."
Paige reached up and pulled his head down and they kissed. "We're in no hurry, we could stay here another day."
Walter grinned. "Won't we be at the lake tonight? We could just take an extended stay there."
Paige rolled her eyes, "Fine."
Walter laughed. "Apparently a Cleric of Athena came to camp last night. Sylvester said robbers attacked her last night. She's supposed to be on her way to the Keep."
Paige frowned. "I guess I better get up and see what it is about then."
Walter grinned mischievously and pulled the blanket down exposing her breasts. He bent over and kissed both nipples before kissing her again. "I didn't want them to forget my lips."
Paige laughed as she kissed him again.
After helping Paige to stand up Walter kissed her and left the tent.
Paige joined them shortly after getting dressed.
Sylvester smiled as he stood up. "My Lady, this is Sister Ann from the border outpost."
Paige smiled. "Sister Ann it is nice to meet you. I understand you were on your way to my Keep when you were attacked last night?"
Sister Ann nodded. "Thankfully I was able to slip away. I lost most of my things including my saddle but praise Athena I have my life and horse. I wouldn't have guessed the place I found refuge would have the person I needed to speak with."
Paige nodded. "Well you can ride in one of the wagons. We can tether your horse to one of them. What did you need to speak with me about?"
Sister Ann looked confused. "Oh I am sorry my Lady. It was Sylvester I had to speak with."
Paige frowned as she looked to Sylvester but nodded as she sat down. She looked around but didn't see Ralph. "Where is Ralph?"
Walter smiled. "He was dragging a little this morning. He should be out here soon."
Almost like it was planned Ralph emerged from his tent rubbing his eyes and slowly began walking over towards the table.
Sister Ann's horse suddenly reared up as a snake slithered up towards it. The tether Sylvester secured it with snapped and the horse bolted straight for Ralph.
"Ralph." Paige screamed almost in panic.
Walter was the first to leap from his chair running as fast as he could. Ralph looked up and towards his left and saw the horse bearing down on him. His eyes opened wide in fear as his feet froze.
"Ralph, run," the entire company yelled in one voice as Paige began running towards him.
But Ralph couldn't move as he stared at the horse getting closer and closer. "Dad," Ralph cried out.
Just as the horse was about on top of him Walter slammed into the side of the horse's shoulder with his shoulder. His feet dug into the ground and he screamed in frustration feeling the horse's momentum continuing. One arm went around the horse's neck and the other under its ribcage as he struggled trying to set his feet and push against the raging beast. Suddenly the horse began moving as sweat ran down Walter's face and then Walter along with the horse fell over onto the ground.
They both skidded along the ground past Ralph. Walter's feet clipped against Ralph's legs knocking him to the ground. As Walter and the horse finally came to a stop the horse began thrashing and kicking. Walter was struck several times as the horse struggled to get up and then it took off leaving Walter laying in the grass and dirt.
"Walter." Paige exclaimed as she ran over with the others. Paige slid to a stop at Ralph and began checking him first as Toby, Happy and the others ran on over to Walter.
Paige breathed a sigh of relief seeing no signs of harm to Ralph. She pulled him up in a tight embrace, "My baby."
"Uh, Paige, get over here." Happy yelled.
Sylvester stood there staring at Walter and back to the horse as it disappeared down the road. He shook his head. "It's not possible. That horse has to weigh at least eight hundred pounds easy, so how in Athena's name did Walter move it? I realize Walter is big and strong but, how?"
Sister Ann stepped up and smiled into Sylvester's face as she put her hand on his shoulder. "That's the power of love."
Greetings! Hope you all are well! We're doing okay. Reviews are still broken but as far as I know I am still getting a copy in email and I am approving those that need approval so maybe in the next day or two they will appear. *shrug*
I know, cliffhanger! lol Sorry.
To the Adventure! -Tim