When he awoke the sun was high in the sky, the mid day rays slanting across the ledge warm and inviting. Lalia was nowhere to be seen, but the snow white stallion stood stoically outside the cave grazing on what little grass out of the stone. She couldn't have gone far, he sensed a link between her and the animal and somehow he knew that she never went far without him. He shifted slightly, his ass numb, the sunshine outside too inviting to resist. He glanced around him and found his pants lying nearby, dry and clean, had she anticipated his desire to go outside and left them within easy reach. Anything was possible. He struggled quickly into them, no easy task with only on hand, and then braced himself for the climb to his feet. He used the wall for leverage, and sweating and cursing managed to get himself into a standing position. His hand never left the wall as he hobbled outside, more tired when he arrived on the bright ledge than he had suspected. There was a comfortable looking stone on the other side of the ledge, only a few paces away, but without the wall to support him it was questionable if he would make it without falling flat on his face. He glanced at Relam; the animal had lifted his head and was eyeing him with suspicion. The stallion feared him. No, Jack was suddenly sure that he feared all men in general. Brutish men like Lalia's father had seen to that.
"I won't hurt ya." He said his voice low "Not that I'm in any condition to"
The animal's eyes seemed to study him, and he took a hesitant step closer. When he was close enough Jack ran his hand over his neck, patting it gently.
"See? I ain't so bad"
Relam looked at him, before taking a step forward, away from him. He turned his great white head and nickered gently, and Jack suddenly understood what he wanted. If Lalia trusted him then so would her companion.
He leaned his weight on the horses withers and took a hesitant step forward, using the great white shoulders for balance. In this way they slowly made their way over to that comfortable looking rock and Jack lowered himself gently on to it, exhausted. He patted Relam's muscular neck again.
"Thanks buddy"
The stallion snorted and moved back to his grazing.
Jack looked around him, taking in the ledge upon which he sat. It was long and wide and lit with bright spring sunshine. To the right of the cave entrance a well used path led down into the forest and to the right a similar path looped up, disappearing above the roof of the cave. He turned slightly and looked over the edge, he could see for miles. The forest stretched out below him, and in the distance he could see the river that had carried him so far from home and the lake where he hadn't even had the strength to pull himself out of the water.
The clatter of loose stone behind him made him aware of her return. He turned to see her appearing at the top of the path to the left of the cave and his breath caught in his throat. She was naked apart from a strip of soft looking leather which she had wrapped around her hips. She had obviously been bathing, her hair was still damp and curled slightly at her shoulders, and her skin was still glistening with wetness and steamed in the slight afternoon chill. The hint of her body beneath her clothes that he had seen the previous day was nothing compared to this. She moved quickly down the path, her toned legs sure on the loose stones, her hips were slim yet full and curved up to her slim, flat stomach. Her breasts were high and firm, and she was tanned, despite the fading winter. The sight of her with the sun glistening behind her was breath taking. She looked up suddenly and became aware of his eyes on her and she blushed deeply, the color spreading fetchingly from her cheeks, down her neck and across her ample breasts. He could feel his body responding to her and it wasn't until she gasped and blushed deeper that he realized that he was still staring, and that more importantly she could see what he was thinking. Now it was his turn to blush and he ripped his eyes away from as she hurriedly finished her decent and rushed inside the cave.
When she reappeared she had donned a pair of short leggings that reached to mid calf and a short sleeved tunic that laced up the front, leaving a thin slip of tanned stomach and her deep cleavage exposed. Now it was her turn to study him and he felt her eyes run over his broad chest which was bare in the sunlight, the sun had been so inviting he hadn't bothered to pull on his shirt before making his trip out of the cave. He thought he felt a hint of desire before she closed her thoughts to him, she was good at that, he could sense some of what she was thinking, but not all.
"I am sorry" she said as she sat next to him on the stone "I am not used to company"
She had made another leap in her language skills and apart from a strong accent her English was now good.
"No problem" he answered, but he still felt breathless and his body still stirred with desire.
"How did you get out here?"
Jack laughed and indicated to the horse that grazed some distance away.
"I had a little help"
She laughed and moved to caress the horse, running her hands gently of over his ears and neck.
'Gracias mi amigo'
He heard the words as if she had spoken out load but her lips hadn't moved. Watching her fondling the large stallion his mind suddenly made a connection he should have made before. He laughed suddenly.
"You're the witch that's been frightening the villagers"
He knew how tactless that sounded as soon as the words had left his mouth, but the look on her face was painful to see. Her disappointment and sadness was thick and it hit him hard. And suddenly he knew that once the snows melted, she had hoped that the village to the north would accept her. However much she valued her freedom, she was tired of being alone. Eight years was a long time.
"Is that what the call me?" her voice was sad as she rejoined him sitting on the stone. "I rarely go that far north. I have seen their men hunting sometimes in the forest but we always move in the darkest parts of the forest, remaining hidden, I thought they had not seen me. After all" she looked at him "you didn't"
So she had been watching them. It was obvious now that he thought about it, he had felt a presence in the darkness, felt someone watching them.
"No, but I knew you were there"
She nodded her head in acceptance.
"I had hoped they may have need of my services as a healer. They are good people, that much I sensed from the men I saw hunting, kind people. I had hoped to find a husband and settle into security, even if it meant giving up my freedom. But what man would want….."
Her voice trailed off but the word 'me' hung between them. 'What man would want me?' He reached out without thinking and grasped her chin, raising her eyes to meet his own.
"Any man who doesn't want you is insane"
Their eyes held for several seconds, their gazes locked, before he looked away embarrassed. Stupid old fool, he thought, this bright, young women so full of life wouldn't look twice at him.
She reached out hesitantly and with her finger traced one of the long scars on his back; he forgot now where it had come from. Her fingers left a trail of fire across his tanned skin and he felt his desire stirring again. Then he felt her mind searching in the darker recesses of his memory and grabbed her wrist, breaking their tantalizing contact.
"I said don't" he growled "You won't like what you see"
She stared at him for a second her eyes soft.
"You have a darkness in you that frightens me Jack, but you are a good man and time has healed you more than you think"
