Revised 5/11/11

…

Zachary was finding difficult to keep his bleeding face straight. "I'm fine, really," he asserted for the hundredth time. Rena smacked the side of his head.

"No talk while I help you." She continued dabbing at his swollen cheekbone. Zachary bit his cheeks to keep from smiling and shifted his gaze to Karigan, who paced at the end of his bed.

"What an idiot," she said, also for the hundredth time. "What an idiot! Who goes around punching people like that?"

"You did, when you punched him." Rena smacked his head again.

"That was different. At least I had a good reason."

"In his mind, he had a perfectly good reason." He closed his eyes to accept another smack.

"Please. He was just looking for an excuse to hit you. Simpleton."

"Excuse me."

She rolled her eyes. "Not you. Him."

Rena threw her hands in the air. "I cannot help you, talkety-talkety like this. Kari, you clean him up. I go make breakfast." She bustled out of the room. Karigan sighed and sat in Rena's vacated chair.

"I'm sorry I didn't get there fast enough." She squeezed the water out of the rag and bent forward to wipe away fresh blood. Zachary took the opportunity to study her features at this new, close perspective. Freckles he hadn't ever noticed before dusted her nose and cheeks. There was a light scar near her left eyebrow and a funny cowlick curled the front few strands of her hair. He particularly liked the way she stuck her tongue out of the corner of her mouth as she concentrated. It took a few moments, but he finally realized she had stopped her ministrations and watched him expectantly.

"Oh, quite all right. I should have been more aware."

The dabbing recommenced. "Maybe. It's my duty, however, to protect you. At least all he wanted to do was hit you."

"And I doubt he'll ever make that mistake again." The king looked pointedly down at Karigan's hand. She glanced at her bloody knuckles, then smiled sheepishly.

"I only hit him to keep him from hurting you further. If I was a real Black Shield, he'd probably be dead." She leaned away from him and sighed. "You just have to let it heal, I guess."

He swung his legs off the bed. "I wish he had settled his score privately, rather than knocking me down in front of all those children," he said.

Karigan gave a sudden bark of laughter. "You should have seen Emmi. She threw herself on top of you and declared that if you were dead, she'd die an old maid because she would never learn to love another. It was all we could do to get her off."

"Complete fidelity," Zachary murmured, touching his face gingerly.

"Potts's son was also upset." Her brow puckered. "I probably shouldn't have hit his father in front of him. I was no better than Potts." She frowned at Zachary's elbow, then raised her eyes and smiled in response to his incredulous grin. "What?"

"Did you enjoy yourself?"

"Punching Potts? Very much so."

Zachary laughed. "I meant dancing."

Karigan sighed. "Poor Rich only made it through that one dance before running away. Not much of your fidelity there. Before I could find you, though, Trev pulled me back in. I'm pretty sure I danced with every single man on the island."

Zachary's smile faded and he absently stroked his beard.

"Probably a couple married ones, too."

The door opened and Rena reappeared. "Here is your breakfasts," she proclaimed, handing Karigan the tray of food. "Because you hurt, I let you eat up here. When you done, I have prepared bath for you." She quit the room.

Karigan smiled after her. "We're lucky," she said, "to have found this place."

Zachary took up a slice of bread. "Extremely." His eyes suddenly became troubled.

Karigan peered into his face. "What is it?"

"That man I spoke to last night – Mickey Morriseen." Zachary glanced at the door, then leaned in toward Karigan. Breakfast forgotten, Karigan imitated the movement. "He told me about the Green Rider that disappeared."

"But…Ainsley said those were just stories."

"Perhaps not. According to Mickey, Fedir Spinter's father had some issues with my father's policies. He attacked and murdered a tax collector shortly after Fedir and Marli were married."

"Oh, Aeryc…" Karigan muttered. "Was he punished?"

"He was taken to Sacor City. My father had him executed."

Karigan nodded, not surprised. "Do you remember this?"

Zachary shrugged a shoulder. "Not by name, but the story is familiar. A Green Rider was sent back to Black Island bearing the news and the father's few possessions."

Karigan shuddered. Death was never a good message to carry.

"Apparently, many of the villagers thought that Marli had cast a spell on her father-in-law. When the Green Rider – a young man – went to the Spinter home to deliver the message, he wasn't seen again."

Karigan blinked. "He disappeared?"

"So it would seem. He might have left by a different route, of course, but everyone was convinced either Fedir had murdered him in a bout of rage or Marli – did something."

Karigan leaned back in her chair, brow furrowed. "The corpse I saw in the hayloft…?"

Zachary realized he was still holding the bread and he dropped it onto the tray. "Assuming that the story is true, Fedir could have stashed his body up there to keep it hidden."

Karigan chewed on her lip, then shook her head. "That can't be right. You met Fedir and Marli with me. They can't be capable of murder."

"I do not believe they are. But a Green Rider was killed, undoubtedly."

Sudden knocking on the door caused them both to jump. "Bath is ready!" Rena shouted through the wood. Karigan stood.

"I'll let you go," she said. "I can help Rena downstairs while I wait." Zachary followed her to the door, holding it open for her. As she stepped out, she paused and turned around. "I just – um – wanted to tell you. When – last night, when you were playing with Emmi and the other – um – children, you were – um – were – " Her courage failed her and she stared at her boots stupidly.

He smiled gently. "I made a fool out of myself, didn't I?"

"No! No, not at all. You were actually – you looked like you were having a lot of fun."

"Especially when I almost fell into the bonfire."

Karigan laughed. "Well, what's more fun than risking death?"

He chuckled. "Risking my life and reputation for the sake of a few smiles."

"You're king, after all," she said, leaning against the doorframe. "You are supposed to remain dignified at all times. I understand." She realized she was leaning against the doorframe and quickly straightened up. Zachary pulled himself back. "Which is preposterous. They expect you to play this part all the time and to not be normal at all. To just do what you are supposed to simply because it is expected of you. To – to not share anything with anyone for fear of exposing yourself, appearing weak, appearing human. The whole thing is…unfair…"

She trailed off as she noticed him staring at her. A blush stained her cheeks. "But…" she continued, voice hoarse, "if there were one person with whom you could share…just one…who could understand…"

She found herself leaning back against the doorframe as he moved toward her.

"Zachy, you take bath in ice water, I don't care. I don't want to hear complaining."

Karigan jerked and smacked her head against the wood. She saw Zachary's hands go out to her and she stepped out of his reach. "Rena's right. I'll – uh – see you in a bit." She spun and pounded down the staircase.

…

"Mickey Morriseen is no good," Rena asserted, throwing a ball of dough on the counter. "You no listen to what he say." She began kneading.

Karigan was surprised. "So nothing he said was true?" When there was no response, she probed, "Rena…?"

"He doesn't know where Rider went. No one does. Maybe he went through different route."

"But there was a Green Rider that disappeared."

"Disappeared? No. Went home."

Karigan sighed. Too many biases.

"He want to make Fedir look evil," Rena whispered conspiratorially.

"Why?"

"Mickey was in love, but she didn't love him back. No, she loved Fedir. Even after he marry Marli, she kept loving him. Mickey was very jealous." She chuckled. "Sad, jealous love." She peered at Karigan out of the corner of her eye. "Your Zachy, he loves the children, no?"

Karigan smiled. "Yes, I think he does."

"Played like a boy." She kneaded in silence, then asked, "When you have his baby?"

Karigan's jaw dropped. "I'm – I'm not having anyone's baby."

Rena raised a telling eyebrow. "Mmm. Why you run away to island?"

"I – well, because – uh – well, because we were – I'm not – "

Rena tossed the bread into a bowl to rise. "People ask me last night why you here. Yes. They ask, Why they here? I say, They elope, running from families and king's service."

"Elope?"

Rena turned. "What do I say when you don't tell me why two Green Riders come without messages in middle of thunderstorm?" Her smile turned coy. "You have forbidden love, hide new baby from families."

"No! No, that's not even – that's so wrong, I can't even – Rena, how could you tell people that?"

"I see how you look at each other. Like you have a secret. You are obvious in your love." She saw Karigan's expression and threw her floury hands in the air. "Fine! You no tell me anything. You keep your secrets."

"Thank you. I will." As she made her way to the staircase, she heard Rena call, "You listen to me, Kari. He love you and he want family. Listen to me! He showed you that last night when he play with children for you!"

Covering her ears, Karigan thumped up the staircase. Not what she needed to hear. She turned into the hallway.

"You come back and make potato meal for dinner! Takes hours!" Rena's powerful voice still managed to be heard. Karigan dropped her hands.

"Fine!" she shouted back.

"Recruited for service?"

Karigan spun. Zachary smiled at her. His hair hung wetly around his face and his beard was neatly trimmed. His shirt hung untucked around his legs. The bruise on his cheek glared angrily, but at least it wasn't bleeding anymore.

"Uh – yeah. Dinner." She smiled weakly.

"It should taste good, then."

"Yeah. Don't count too much on that."

There was a silence.

Karigan stuffed her hands into her pockets. "Well, Rena asked me to cook potatoes. I should go do that."

"Wait a moment, I wanted to ask about – my back – "

"Is it hurting? Did you pull the stitching out again?"

"I'm not sure. I can't tell."

"Can't tell?"

"I can't feel my injuries again and I can't quite see to check on them."

Karigan walked with him into his room. "Can't feel them, like yesterday?"

"Yes, but more so. It's as though the injuries are not there."

"Do you want me to check on them?"

"Yes, if you don't mind. Just to see." He seated himself on the edge of the bed and pulled up – no, off his shirt. Karigan's insides tangled up as she perched behind him and peered at his bare back "Breyan's gold…" she whispered, forgetting her embarrassment.

"What? What is it?"

"The other one was around here, wasn't it?" She traced a circle near his spine, trying to ignore the feel of his skin – still hot from the bath water – and the shifting muscles beneath.

"Yes. What's wrong?"

"Nothing. And by nothing, I mean…there's nothing. They've completely healed. There's not even any scars."

"The thread?"

"Gone." She leaned away. "Magic." When he looked at her, she said, "It's the only explanation."

"I agree."

Karigan dropped her chin into her hand. "So Marli does know magic."

"And a Green Rider corpse appeared and disappeared in their stable."

They looked at each other.

"Karigan! Where are potatoes? Did Zachy drown?" Rena shouted from the bottom floor.

Karigan leapt to her feet. Zachary stood more slowly, facing her as slipped his arms into his shirt. "I have to go and help her," she said. She tore her eyes from him.

"Of course. I'm looking forward to dinner." He pulled the shirt over his head.

Karigan laughed nervously. "Eh – no. You shouldn't be."

"Karigan! You earn your keep!" Rena again.

"I have to go. You have a – your back is…" He was staring at her. Her face flamed. "It's healed. Your back is healed."

"Thank you. Yes, yes it is. Err – thank you."

"You're welcome."

"Yes."

"I come up and get you, yes, girl?"

"I'm coming!" To Zachary, Karigan said, "I'll see you in a little while?"

"All right."

She gave him a little half-wave, then hurried out of the room. Moron, she thought. As she turned into the stairwell, however, she couldn't help but glance over her shoulder. He stood in the doorway of the bathing room, watching her with a fond smile. She returned it, then passed a hand over her face, wiping the grin away. You need to focus, Kari. Remember who you are and remember who he is.

She thumped down the stairs. She did remember who he was. He was the man who loved her. And she? She was the woman who refused to admit that she loved him.