Chapter 1, Pages 56-60

Before
Rielari could respond Zefrik handed her the reins to her grouper.
Asrik started to help her to the animal when it moved closer to her
causing him to jump back slightly.

“Is
this your first time around a grouper,” Rielari muffled a giggle at
the look on Asrik’s face. She placed her arm around the animal’s
large neck with her injured leg closest to it and started to walk
around only placing the lightest amount of pressure on her bad leg.

Asrik
observed the animal more closely, it was the height of a horse and
walked around on all four legs but the resemblance ended there. It
reminded him more of a large overgrown cat than a horse. It’s body
was bulkier than a horse, with muscular legs that looked jointed like
a cat’s. The feet were large paws, four toes that stuck out in front
with deadly looking talons on each and a fifth toe directly behind
and almost under the paw. As it walked he noticed each toe had a
thick looking pad underneath and it used the fifth toe to balance as
it appeared to walk on it’s tiptoes. It’s tail was short, about the
length of his arm, and covered in long tufts of fur. The head was
elongated like a horses but with very feline features especially the
eyes which watched him with a curious almost intelligence. When it
yawned, similar to a cat yawn, he noticed the teeth were not sharp
as he had expected them to be instead they were much like his own.
He wondered if the animal was omnivorous. It was covered in a dense
speckled fur that looked very soft and thick.

“I
will never understand the fascination with horses,” Rielari said
watching Asrik curiously observing the grouper.

“Asrik,”
Zefrik said loudly, trying to divert his brothers attention, “We
need your help.”

Sighing,
almost agitated Asrik turned and glared at his brother. He looked
over his shoulder and winked at Rielari who smiled back at him. If
Zefrik would let him he was going to ride with her. He wanted to
know everything about her and her strange ways.

Ruik
glared with open hostility towards Rielari, “Lord Zefrik we need to
keep moving. The border to Dakrim is only a few hours from here.”

Asrik
watched with guarded interest the way Ruik was sizing Rielari up, it
bothered him. The man was trained to be cautious but the hostility
he was showing seemed a bit much. He decided to keep a very close
eye on the man until he could figure out why he didn’t like her.

Zefrik
agreed, “Yes we need to make it as far into Lord Gelrok’s territory
as possible before the sun sets again.”

The
three men quickly and efficiently packed their camp up and were ready
to leave. Sitting around what was left of the morning fire Ruik
stirred the contents of the cast iron pot. Ladling out the goop he
passed a bowl of steaming porridge to Zefrik and than he took his
bowl and stepped off to the side to eat. His contempt for Rielari
even more obvious.

Asrik
walked up to the pot and glared at Ruik, the man pretended not to
notice. Getting a bowl full for himself and Rielari he walked
towards her. She was still holding on to the groupers neck.

“Thank
you,” Rielari said softly.

Asrik
smiled at her, “Would you like to sit and eat?”

Nodding
her head Asrik assisted her to the ground and proceeded to sit next
to her.

“So
what’s it like to ride one,” Asrik asked motioning towards the
grouper.

Rielari
thought for a moment with a mouthful of warm porridge, “It’s hard
to describe, you would have to ride one to understand.”

Zefrik
watched as his brother effortlessly made her smile and open up, his
jealousy returned.

Ruik
followed his Lords angry gaze, “We should go now.”

<

span style=”background-color:#000000;”>Standing
Ruik took the pot to the river to wash it and quickly returned
packing it into his bags. Jumping into the saddle of his dappled
stallion he turned it and waited.

Asrik
took his and Rielari’s bowls and quickly cleaned and packed them
away. Bending down he deftly picked her up and placed her on the
groupers back. Taking her hand in his he placed a tender kiss on it
and watched as color flooded her cheeks and she smiled.

“Asrik
lets go,” Zefrik said with irritation, from the saddle of his
horse.

Playfully
bowing to Rielari again, Asrik gracefully climbed into the saddle of
his horse. Looking innocently towards his brother he waved his hand
signaling he was ready to go.

Ruik
took the lead with Zefrik and Asrik following side by side behind
him. Rielari took the rear guard in an attempt to clear her thoughts
and as she clearly pointed out to the hostile bodyguard she could
protect the two nobles. She didn’t like Ruik about as much as he
didn’t like her but they both had a mutual respect for the others
skills. Keeping a bit of a distance between herself and the
brothers, she trusted the grouper would alert her to any danger and
lost herself in thought.

Rielari
realized she would have to sit down with Zefrik soon, she need
answers she wasn’t sure Asrik could give her. He had been a
wonderful distraction this morning but she needed to find Yislon’s
murderer and get back to what she had been doing before. Thinking
back to that morning she had looked down at Geal gave her the chills.
She didn’t want to think on it, she turned her thoughts to Yislon
and her mysterious death.

Zefrik
turned his head slightly to make sure she couldn’t hear them, “Asrik
what are you doing?”

“What
do you mean what am I doing,” Asrik hissed defensively, “What are
you doing brother? You have a wife and small child at home, why do
you need Rielari too?”

Zefrik’s
face reddened with anger, “I was force to marry, I don’t expect you
to understand.”

Asrik
shook his head, he did understand but Zefrik would never believe him.
Everyday he watched the painful union of his brother and Kalyin he
thank Varun that he had not been born the eldest. He could marry for
love or not marry at all and it didn’t matter. Even if his brother
died and he had to assume the throne it didn’t matter; Zefrik had
already made the union to unite Friat and Truil. It does not however
mean that Zefrik can have everything he wants, Asrik thought.

“You
can’t have her brother,” Asrik glanced over his shoulder at
Rielari.

A
cruel smile came to Zefrik’s lips, “You wont stop me Asrik.”

Asrik
cringed he knew that look, Zefrik always got what he wanted, “Don’t
do that to her.”

“We
have about a week’s worth of travel till we reach the Port of Bruin,
brother and you will not say a word to her about Kalyin,” Zefrik
assumed Asrik would obey him without question, “Or I will kill
you.”

Asrik
looked away from his brother, he hated him at that moment. He’s
going to ruin her and then send her away or have her killed, he
thought. Something snapped inside him, steeling himself to his
brothers wicked charms he was determined to stop Zefrik.

“From
now on stay away from her,” Zefrik instructed with a cold edge to
his voice.

A
sinister smile crept to Asrik’s lips, “Oh brother if I do that
don’t you think a smart woman like Rielari would notice.”

The
dumbfounded look on Zefrik’s face showed Asrik that his brother had
not thought of that. Asrik knew he had to find a way to tell Rielari
before Zefrik had a chance to seduce her, but he was unsure yet how
to do it. Asrik slowed his horse to give himself some distance from
his wicked brother.