CHAPTER 6

The old mill was found by a rocky path close to an overhanging cliff, the path going straight up. On a hot day like this it was torturous, but I encouraged Gwynna and myself that we might not have to make the journey often. Father had given me his most valuable and important pieces to hide from the eyes of the law, so they might keep here for a while. As Gwynna and I cleared the crest of the cliff, both of us panting, I heard a twig snap behind me and turned.

No one was on the path directly behind me, but because it curved it was difficult to see further. A cold sweat broke out on my brow, and hastily I drew the short dagger I kept in Gwynna's saddlebag. I became very still, trying to listen for any sound in the humid air, and thought I heard another step, closer by.

"Show yourself!" I said loudly, looking around, but there were no more noises and no response. I looked ahead of and behind me, only finding a disturbing quiet, and so cautiously continued to the crest of the hill, where I saw what Charmaine had described.

The old run down remains of a rested in the corner of a beautiful clearing surrounded by trees…and wild lilies. My breath caught, as I suddenly felt certain that Mother must have known of this place. Perhaps she had even stored goods here, which made me want to come back again, just to be in a place that she had been. I herded Gwynna over to a tall tree near the pool, where I tied her up to crop grass and drink. I then went other old mill building, crept up the side door and was utterly stunned.

It was old and broken down, but a shelter for clothing and goods such as ours remained intact to keep them dry and mold free. No doubt this had been the work of my mother, I was certain now. She had dressed the site with - to keep moths and other pests out, and had left one of her woven signatures in the cloth above the shelter. My mother had known of this place, had constructed this storage cave, had come here herself.

Tears pricked my vision. Why could I not have known her? To not have known her or helped her in this task, before scarlet fever had stolen her from us. I loved her so much in that moment my heart ached. And now I knew where she had gotten my lilies.

I exited the mill to see a short waterfall cascading into the pool, and beneath it grew my lilies in their splendor and strength. This was a perfect location as they were well watered and given enough sun but not too much. Their fragrance seemed to fill up the whole grove and once again my heart caught in my chest, thinking of Mother, who was always blurry in my vision and memory.

I unstrapped the goods from Gwynna's back, who was only too glad to be rid of them, and dragged them to the shelter in the mill. My task done, I wanted now to stay in this place for a while longer, for it was cool and peaceful, filled with my mother's presence. The waterfall fell as if from off a shelf, and circulated in the pool, which kept the water fairly clean. On a day such as this, it looked downright inviting, and I longed to immerse myself in the cool waters. I wasn't sure how deep the pool was, but I was strong swimmer from a small girl, so I was willing to find out.

Looking about the grove and listening carefully for more intrusive sounds, I heard and saw nothing. I waited a few more moments, then went to the area just underneath the waterfall to change. I stripped off my laced dress and chemise, folded them neatly and grabbed an old woolen blanket from Gwynna's pack to wrap about myself. Wearing only this, I walked to the pool, slid off the blanket, and dipped my toe in. The water felt icy because it was such a hot day, but I had grown accustomed to cooler waters from my youth. I slipped into the pond, luxuriating in the refreshing feeling of the clean water on my hot skin. I threw my head back and went all the way under, my hair a red curtain beneath the water, then surfaced, wiping water from my face.

And abruptly froze.

There was a man standing there, and he had not been there when I went under the water. As my eyes focused, my heart began pounding as I saw that he held a knife and a long staff, and was advancing on me in the pool. H was crudely dressed and his face bore the scars of many battles.

A thief, just as Charmaine had warned me.

"Get out of there," he said coarsely. I swallowed.

"What do you want? I don't have any money."

"Then I'll take what you do have," he replied. "I saw you with a pack of goods. Where are they?"

I paused, trying to buy time. "I dropped them off already."

"Little lying bitch," he snarled. "I been following ya for half an hour. You'll be missing a tit if you don't tell me!"

Now I was really frightened. "In the mill," I said shakily. "The mill remains has a place."

"That's better," he said, now walking past me towards the mill. "You behave and I might let you live when I'm done with you." I watched him come close to the entrance of the mill, when my hearing picked up the sound of horse, and I knew whose it was immediately. In another flash or a second, Aomir came charging around the corner of the path, with Guy riding him like the devil himself. His eyes were full of deadly fury as he rushed at the man.

"Drop your weapons!" he shouted, drawing his sword. He reined the big stallion in, but Aomir could barely be held back.

The man's eyes widened. ""Ere, now, just a domestic dispute," he said. "The little lady and I are partners-"

"The hell you are!" Guy spat back. "Get out of here or I'll have your head!"

The thief feinted to the left, and Aomir followed, but Guy was too quick. He redirected the horse; the thief made for Aomir with the wooden staff and caught him on the shoulder. But the stallion was a warhorse and barely noticed the blow; the thief then made as if to knife Aomir with his dagger. Guy smoothly moved the horse out of the way, reached out and delivered a crushing blow to the thief's head. The fight abruptly knocked out of him, the man dropped his staff, and with one swift move, Guy caught the man with his sword right under the throat.

"I said, get out of here!" His northern accent thick, he growled. "If I ever see you in these woods again, I'll kill you." The man appeared to assent, and Guy dropped his guard for a moment, forgetting the knife, but I had not. As he turned Aomir, I saw the thief rise with the dagger in hand, aiming for Guy's side. I drew breath to call out, but to my shock, Guy had already anticipated it. His sword flashed through the air, and the man's hand, still holding the dagger, dropped onto the forest floor as he began screaming.

"Get out before I take the other thieving hand and every limb you have!" Guy snarled. The man, still screaming, decided to take this advice seriously and fled the clearing with great haste. I remained in the pool, staring at the scene in shock, and completely speechless. Guy hurriedly dismounted and tied Aomir to a nearby tree. "My lady," he said, rushing over to the pool, "are you all right?" His eyes, still afire from battle, grew softer as he approached the bank of the pool.

I looked up at him, overwhelmed from nearly being robbed and possibly raped, and witness to a violent fight. Hating myself, I began to cry.

"Oh, dearest Nyssa," he said, kneeling down on the bank to touch my face. "It's all right. That bastard won't be back."

"I'm so sorry," I said, not sure what I was apologizing. "I didn't see him on the path, and I watched, and then he found me here."

"He must have followed you for a while," Guy said. "Bandits like that are very hard to spot until it's too late. Oh, my sweet lady," he murmured into my wet hair. I instinctively crossed my arm over my body to hide myself from him, though I clung to his hand desperately as I wept. "That's good, just get it out. You're safe now," he said. I felt him lightly kiss my head, and thought I must look a sorry sight. He was warm and smelled of the horse, and the pungent odor of male sweat.

"Wait here just a moment," he said suddenly, and moved away from me. I assumed he may have gone to get my clothes, but when he returned, he had one of the lilies from under the waterfall, and quickly gave it to me. "Take this," he said softly. "I know how much you love them." I was so surprised and moved by this kind gesture that I nearly started crying again, but instead I gripped his hand tightly and whispered, "Thank you."

"Of course," he replied gently. He smiled at me, one of the first of his genuine smiles I had ever seen, and his eyes became soft. "You little wet thing," he said, caressing my damp hair. "What am I going to do with you?"

"I wish I'd had the poker," I said, shakily laughing. Guy laughed heartily. "I would have given that blackguard a good beating."

"Well, you certainly gave me one," he said, still smiling. He caressed my face comfortingly. "My little lioness."

A bit calmer now, I asked, "Would you be kind enough to give me my clothes?"

"Oh, I don't think so," Guy said, his voice tender but dangerous at the same time. "This is quite a delicious sight, Nyssa."

My heart began pounding. He stepped back from me, straightening, and holding his rakish gaze, slowly began to loosen the neck of his shirt before pulling it off. Left only in his leather breeches, he stood before me as I stared. His body was absolutely beautiful; a flat, beautifully curved abdomen with muscles that cut deeply into his biceps and forearms. There was a light bruise on his left side, where I had gotten him with the poker, but I could not take my eyes away from his beauty and masculinity.

And then, as he continued to lock his gaze with mine, he slowly began to unbutton his breeches. He did it both sensually and methodically, his eyes boring into mine as my face flushed scarlet. I had seen nude men before, but not like this, so bold and unashamed of sexuality. He slowly lowered his breeches, watching my face as he did so to reveal himself to me, arrogant and beautiful. He was so beautiful my breath caught in my throat. I tried to tear my gaze away from his gorgeous legs, his proud manhood, and striking face, but I could not. As he dropped his last item of clothing, still holding my gaze, he murmured sensually,

"Now we're even."