Ch. 2

 

2

Neil and Rosalyn lived together a month before the High Mage’s men began getting too close. Rosalyn had no fear that her family was worried or were looking for her, they would know that the High Mage had called her and would know to grieve for their lost daughter. But she did fear his men, they knew she was not dead and had not answered to their master’s orders. They had great power on their side and she had no intention of being taken or bringing further harm to Neil.

“You have done nothing other than save me time and time again this last week and you have kept me very comfortable this past month but it is time I left you.” She raised her hand to silence him, “Don’t interrupt me. I will leave alone tonight and you will be free to live your life before you ever saved mine.” Without waiting for protest she turned on her heel, her posture less straight in sadness. She went into the one other room and packed her few newly acquired belongings and tied her long hair back. When all was ready she passed through saying that she would get the fire wood this time.

They ate dinner in silence both dreading Rosalyn’s leave but for different reasons. Rosalyn knew she depended on Neil for safety but she didn’t want to seem like a damsel in distress and Neil had grown to like her presence and he knew more of her than he let on.

After dinner Neil suggested an idea, “Rosalyn, I know you feel you have been asking too much of me but how about we make a compromise? We move together but on the way I teach you how to defend yourself should the need arise?” He waited silently while Rosalyn contemplated his idea, when she nodded her approval they both broke out in grins, which was uncommon for Neil but not so for Rosalyn.

Rosalyn was relieved for a time but a thought clouded her otherwise sunny mood, “If the High Mage wants me so badly wont there be a price on my head?”

“You’re right…We’ll just have to use our names sparingly.” Neil chewed over this new concern trying to find a loop hole that might prove to be a little less hazardous.

“Would false names be an option?” An unsolved problem only added more stress to an already stressful situation, any plan she could imagine would be said in hopes that it would prove true.

“That would leave room for mistakes and people are far more suspicious of folks who give false names than those who don’t say a name often.” Rosalyn nodded in defeat and left Neil to his packing.

When everything was set to go they stood on the edge of the clearing wishing that the peaceful time they had enjoyed together wouldn’t have come to an end. They turned away from it in silence and returned to the forest from whence they came on that fateful night of their meeting.

Once the pain of parting from their humble home had settled to a dull ache Rosalyn brought the idea of weaponry lessons back to mind, “I lack any sort of weapon and the ones you carry are too large for me.”

He shrugged the problem away with a gesture to his pack, “In addition to being able to win hand to hand with quick feet I also brought some daggers fit for a woman’s hand and a bow, also built for a woman.” He pulled a long bow from off his back and handed it to his companion who hefted into a shooting position with ease.

As she lowered the weapon and thought struck, “Why do you have weapons meant for a woman?”

Neil remained silent, visibly drawing into himself, “They belonged to a woman I once knew.” Rosalyn feel into silence as well and on they walked, both lost in their own thoughts. The sun had long since rose in the sky when Neil passed Rosalyn a set of daggers, all of them meant to throw except for one which glinted dangerously when she pulled it from its sheath. She gazed at them too stunned to speak, but that was no mater for the amazement she poured into Neil’s eyes when she broke away from the sparkling blade would always outrun any thanks she could give in words. In response he gingerly placed each throwing knife into an easy to get to position, one to each sleeve, one in a slit of her cloak and one in each boot. For her long, lethal dagger the only proper and worthy place it could lay was on her hip, the sheath clipped to a new belt Neil had twisted around her waist.

They had reached the first village without speaking a word, a companionable silence, and in unison they pulled their hoods over their heads incase their images were posted anywhere or anyone came after them asking about a fair haired girl and a tall, dark man.

Before they had set out they had reached a decision of avoiding as many settled places as possible, this would lower any risk they were taking in traveling but the amount of salted meats and traveling food they had packed would not last long if they continued on foot. So they decided horses would be necessary.

“I have to confess, I’ve never rode a horse before. Always depended on my own feet and we never traveled from home except in carriage.” She lowered her head, “And I’m slightly frightened by them.” Before Neil could reply the horse dealer emerged from behind a stack of hay.

“Then I have just the horse for you. Her name is Silver Fire, she is both strong and gentle. And you my good man are no doubt a seasoned rider, would it be a warhorse or a swift horse?”   

“A swift warhorse, sir.”

“Aye, we have just that but it will cost. He is our most precious horse.”

“Price is no matter.”

“Well, if you’re sure I will show you our one and only Black Moon.”

Silver Fire was a majestic white horse with a grey flame-like shape so stunning it seemed like it actually danced upon her regal muzzle and her arched neck suggested royalty among horses. When Rosalyn stepped towards her, she sensed the fear and lowered her nose to gently rub Rosalyn’s forehead. Rosalyn started at the contact but the touch made her feel so calm and at ease. Stroking the strong animal’s silk-smooth fur Rosalyn realized that she had made a steadfast friend, one she could depend on above anyone else.

With the darkest of black fur that shimmered from black to blue in the late day sun Black Moon stepped forward with his head high letting the crescent moon on his muzzle catch in the light making it glow like the true moon. When he felt the presence of Neil’s appraising eyes he struck a pose that made him look stronger and leaner and when Neil placed a hand on Black Moon’s back he knew that he had been accepted by a master who thought him worthy.

When both Rosalyn and Neil had chosen their companions they chose gear that would match brilliantly yet would not hinder their new partners then last the prices were set and paid for.

Once the duo rode away after bartering for further supplies the happy horse dealer fell to the ground in a spasm, his eyes clouded, never to spend the money he had earned. Yet another unknowing pawn of the High Mage falls victim to his evil ways.