You like? Yes yes? No no? Or how about just yes? XD Well here's chapter 3. I own nothing but Aisling and Powder. READ AND REVIEW PLEASE!
Chapter 3: Know it All
I am awoken by a scream and I'm almost sure it was my own until I hear it again. It was a man and everyone jumps out of their blankets to run up to my cousin's cart. Felson only stops momentarily "Stay here girl" he said and his eyes and his tone left no room to argue. The screaming frightens me and I immediately jump into the blanket Felson had been in and hide under the thick mass of it all. I cover my ears clench my eyes shut, thinking of home and of faeries, anything but that screaming and what could be causing it.
It is only a few moments later when I am hoisted up by the scruff of my neck and I fight whatever has me "Calm yourself girl, your cousin escaped. We must find her now. You however will stay here in her cage" Behmen is angry and his eyes scare me. He brings me to the cart and I climb in, watching him shut the door. He stares at me longer then he should have, then turns and mounts his horse as Felson brings it up.
I watch them leave and I put myself in the opposite corner of the monk. We sat in silence with me wondering where my cousin had gone and what had happened to make her run. I glare at the monk and he looks at me with question. I roll my eyes away from him and I wonder when they will be back.
It is sunrise before they returned with my cousin on the front of Behmen's horse. Felson lets me out and they shove her back in. She stares at me with big sad eyes and my heart aches to help her. I lean my face against the bars and we share a hug through the metal, like old times, and she takes the chance to whisper in my ear "Don't let them hurt me anymore, Behmen and Felson, don't let them hurt me" My heart stops and a pain takes over my chest. The thought of Felson and Behmen hurting her turns my stomach, and even though she is my cousin some sort of doubt is in my heart and I hate myself for it.
Their faces are grim and I realize there is a body on one of the horses. I look sadly and realize it is the other knight. I do not know his name and I am saddened by this. We all gather for a funeral, I stand away from the group. I don't believe I belong due to the nature of my being here. I notice Behmen isn't listening and I walk over to him, intent on talking to him. Felson grabs my arm lightly but doesn't look at me. That pain returns as I look between Felson and Behmen, and I cannot believe my cousin's words.
I go to move again, but Felson looks to me and I know it is a silent warning. I sigh and stand next to him, wondering what could have possibly happened, wondering if they hurt my cousin. I walk back with Felson and he hands me my horse's reins and I over hear Debelzeq telling Behmen my cousin killed the knight. I growl but Felson puts a hand on my shoulder "Leave him be girl." I look at him and shake my head "My cousin is a kind soul! She couldn't kill!" Felson shook his head "I wish we could all believe as you do." He said and mounted his horse. I glare at him and he seems taken aback and if only he could read my thoughts. I wonder more if what my cousin says is true, but I feel myself being torn between her and this handsome man's eyes. I shake my head, it has only been two nights spent with him and I'm acting like a child. I realize then we are missing two horses, the only ones here now are mine, Felson's, Behmen's, the cart horses and Hagamar's. I wonder where the others have gone.
I mount Powder and we are off. As we are traveling we come to a narrow road and I take my chance to brush past my cousin, we touch hands and I offer her a smile, then I coax Powder to go in front of the cart next to Felson. Our ride is silent. A whistle stops our progress. I pull Powder to a stop and notice Hagamar hasn't stopped. I whistle myself, a loud echoing sound that startled his horse causing it to rear. I can't hold back the giggle of seeing him almost tossed to the ground. Felson has already gone back to the cart, and I turn Powder to follow.
"What's happened?" Felson asks Debelzeq as he walks up to the horses. The priest is standing next to one of the big black horses and looks flustered. Kay is standing by the other, checking him over.
"Spirit has been walking strangely and just now he almost stumbled off of the side" he says breathlessly. I slide down from Powder as Felson goes to touch the creatures' leg and is nearly bitten. We all laugh and I step forward "Let me try" my voice is soft and is just a mere suggestion. Felson shrugs and backs up "Good luck."
I step forward and pet the horse's nose and hum quietly. I run my hand along its back and then to its shoulder, calmly watching its eyes. He seems content so I continue my hand don his leg. He is uncomfortable with this but doesn't try to bite. I reach midway and he moves and I accidentally curse..
"He's been bitten by something, and the frog of his hoof is swollen." I say, grabbing his leg gently and managing to pull it up to rest on my knee and push my shoulder against his leg. "See?" the horse shoe is dirty but the problem is between the hoof and I shake my head when I see how swollen the soft spot in the middle of his hoof is swollen and red with yellow pus running from it. Behmen looks and shakes his head.
"There's no way this horse can keep going like this" he mutters and Hagamar has finally come back. "There's a alcove a little further up if he can make it." Hagamar says as he too dismounts.
I pull my hair back behind my ear and I begin to unhitch him. "I'll walk him up. Powder can pull, it is not that far" I finish and move him away to stand by the Cliffside, away from the edge. Then I grab powder's reins and hitch him to the wagon as Felson removes all of my things from his back. He puts them on top of the cart. When Powder is hitched and ready I kiss his forehead "Iad féin a iompar féin" I whisper in my native language and then I put his reins on Sprit.
"Take the wagon first so it doesn't spook him" Debelzeq and Kay jump back up to the cart and I'm glad to see Powder pulling without a problem. When the cart passes I pat Spirit's neck "Just a little farther darling" I tell him, and slowly he walks with me, limping heavily to avoid putting weight on his bad foot.
Hagamar is in front again and Behmen follows the cart in thought. I see my cousin reach her hand out to him but I cannot hear what she says. I shake my head and Felson falls back with his horse next to me. "Do you truly believe she's not a witch girl?" he asks glancing at me. I shake my head "If you had asked me that three nights ago I would have said yes, but now I believe we all have a bit of doubt in our hearts." He nods and the cart pulls into the alcove, with us a way behind.
"Do you think the horse's hoof can be healed?" he watches the cart and I look away from him. I sigh and shrug my shoulders though he cannot see.
"I don't know Felson. It's pretty bad. Hopefully one thing is true about this place, that there are warm water springs a little higher up. If I can get his hoof in warm water and let it drain the yellow out, he should be fine by next morning" he doesn't ask what is on both of our minds and I am thankful. What happens if there is no water?
We reach the alcove before long and Hagamar is laughing like mad. Felson and I share a look and I shrug. "What has you excited?" Felson asks and Kay laughs as he comes from behind a tree "Hot water! Thank God!" He is happy and so are the rest of us. Warm water means the horse's hoof will heal and I can bathe. I instinctively smell my arm and it is better than I thought, but it isn't as good as it was before the dungeon. The day wears on and it isn't long before I have the horse tied to a tree and able to go in and out of the water.
I sit on a rock relaxing in the warmth of the place as it fogs and the fog is blown away by the breeze. I haven't been this relaxed in ages. It's not long before Kay comes and tells me dinner is done and I smile at the blush on his face. I stand and follow, smiling to my cousin who doesn't smile back. I sigh and am ushered into the circle of people as Felson and Behmen tell a story that was prompted by Hagamar.
"Well, when we left the crusades we traveled, and after a month we came upon a small settlement. Felson and I needed new horses and were willing to trade until Felson caught a woman trying to steal his whiskey." Everyone laughs and Felson shakes his head.
"Never try to steal a man's drink." I smile lightly as Felson passes his flask around to share.
"Anyway, he grabs the girl and is about to yell at her when this man comes through the crowd of people and it turned out he was the King of Thieves and the woman was his daughter." Behmen smiles when he sees Hagamar's face light up.
"What a temper she had too, always yelling at me, telling me what to do" Felson complains and passes his flask to me, which I am about to refuse but the look in his eyes, the smile and laughter annoys me for some reason and I take a swig, missing the rest of the story as my mind is over taken by how much it burns, but how good it tastes. I take a second swig and Felson laughs "Looks like the girl can hold her drink" he says snatching his flask back.
"My papa used to allow us to drink at supper when mother wasn't in the room" I smile softly and the stories continue until nightfall when everyone is thoroughly drunk. Everyone goes to bed accept for Felson and I, we stay up talking away from the group so we don't keep them up.
"Okay Mr. knows everything, I got one for you, and I'll bet you for a piece of meat." I say with a sly smile. He shrugs and hasn't lost his smile yet.
"Fine, let's see if you can stump me, lord knows the last five didn't." he takes out a piece of meat from the pack behind him.
"Ok, Does the Sun follow the Moon, or does the Moon follow the Sun?" I asked and he pondered, watching me from his spot against the tree. He sighed and shook his head "Fine, you win." I grin and he tosses me his last piece of meat. "I'm sure there is a myth somewhere that tells the answer." He says lamely and I laugh again.
"There probably is but I don't know it, I just know what my mama taught me. They don't follow, they're dancing." I stumble upwards and laugh as I almost fall over and I twirl with my eyes closed around the grass "A dance that lasts eternity, how romantic" Felson laughs and the noise distracts me for a second and my boot gets caught on a root, making me fall. I laugh and I feel a hand over my mouth, and I didn't get a chance to see who it was before another fit of giggles washes over me.
So really, does ANYONE like this? O.o I'm starting another because I'm not extremely fond of the way I've chosen to do this, but if people are reading and want me to I will finish it. If not then this will probably be the last chapter I post.
R+R