Chapter 1, Pages 61-63

 

Rielari
noticed the tension building between the brothers and was curious.
This whole situation was beginning to make her second guess her
earlier trust in the two. If there was strife between the brothers
she wondered what state Friat was in. It would explain why someone
was trying to set Zefrik up with Yislon’s death. She knew before
they made it to Friat she would have to figure a few things out,
otherwise she had a feeling that she would be stuck in a situation
that she would not be safe in.

The
grouper growled sensing her agitation; absently Rielari soothingly
stroked it’s neck. She checked the position of her weapon’s to
assure herself that they were easily accessible.

The
pain in Rielari’s leg was beginning to bother her again as they drew
closer to the border. She hoped they would stop soon so she could
make some pain relieving tea before she fainted. The bandage needed
to be changed; she could tell by the pungent odor that the wound
would be full of pus and swollen. She was happy she had refilled her
supplies when she was in Geal.

The
mid-day sun subtly filtered through the Hylgar Forest. Large ominous
shadows surrounded the group, leaving the Friatian’s on edge and
glancing around nervously. Rielari slowed the grouper to observe the
trio more closely. The wind blew through the undergrowth to the
right of the group and Zefrik jumped, drawing his scimitar clumsily.

Rielari
laughed so amused by his response that for a moment she forgot her
pain. Zefrik spun, his face turning a bright shade of red in his
embarrassment.

Asrik
glanced over his shoulder at the compelling woman behind him. Her
amusement with his brother made him smile. He noticed that her
grouper had slowed and he wondered if she was going to leave them.
Realizing that Zefrik hadn’t noticed he decided to slow his horse
too. He hoped it looked casual so he didn’t make Zefrik suspicious.

Rielari
watched with amusement at Asrik’s failed attempts to be sneaky. She
had a feeling that the brothers had been arguing about her. Maybe,
she thought, they are trying to decide what to do with me. She
contemplated Zefrik’s ignorance to his brothers movements. She
figured that Zefrik had only become heir to the Friatian thrown
because he was the first born.

“Your
brother seems a little jumpy today,” Rielari stated as Asrik pulled
his horse abreast with her grouper.

Asrik
smiled charmingly, “He has a lot to be afraid of.”

The
double meaning to his statement did not slip past Rielari, she
wondered what he meant. If nothing else the situation she found
herself in intrigued her immensely. They road in mutual silence for
awhile.

A
sudden shooting pain coursed through Rielari’s thigh, her normally
pale face turned as white as the snow caped mountains in the north.
Her vision blurred, abruptly she fainted.

Asrik
jumped from his horse and caught her as she fell from the groupers
back. “Zefrik,” he shouted concern causing his voice to sound
panicked.

Zefrik
spun almost instantly and guided his horse to were his brother stood
with Rielari in his arms. He scowled at Asrik with disgust.

Asrik
just smiled up at him knowing that there was nothing Zefrik could do.
Rielari’s head was tucked almost lovingly in between his shoulder
and his head. An evident fever colored her cheeks a striking red
which worried Asrik.

“We
need to cross the border before we stop,” Ruik spoke with a
sharpness to his voice.

Asrik
looked to his left at his brothers henchman with disgust, “If we
wait that long she might die.”

“That’s
a chance I’m willing to take,” Zefrik said with a wicked smile on
his face.

The
sun was beginning to go down and Asrik knew he would have to force
his brother to leave them there. Zefrik was only worried about
himself and Asrik

would not leave her behind. The fever she had
developed would take a few days to break, he knew from past battle
wounds.

“Ruik,”
Asrik said with an authority in his voice he hardly ever used, “Take
the Prince back home. I’m staying here until her fever breaks. I
will follow as soon as I can.”

Zefrik
looked at his brother in disbelief, “But..” He sputtered unsure
how to protest.

Ruik
guided his horse next to Zefrik and looked at his prince, “Your
brother is right my lord, we need to get you to safety.”

Zefrik
knew his brother was up to something but there was nothing he could
do under the conditions to stop him and this angered him. He glared
at Asrik as he pushed his horse towards Dakrim.

With
his brother gone Asrik knew he would have to act quickly to find a
safe place for Rielari to recover, one his brother would not find.
He looked at the grouper uncertainly and the beast moved closer as if
reading his mind. Gently he placed Rielari over it’s saddle like a
sack and swinging back into his saddle he lead them off the path they
had been following, hoping he could find a safe place by total dark.

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