A Warrior's Redemption

  *****

  I let Flin into a full gallop as we exited the suburbs and the cultivated fields of the city. The city was in an uproar over what had happened and we weren’t noticed. We rode into the dense growth of the forest until it got too dark to make our way.

  We made camp without any fire that night. We barely had a makeshift camp put together the next night when the heavens opened up and poured rain down upon us. It was a miserable night and none of us got any rest. When the rain was over in the early hours of the morning, we had a hasty cold meal and then we were back in the saddle. I was pushing the endurance of both Zarsha and Krista more than I should be, but it was vital that we get to the seacoast and the boat waiting there for us.

  Seven long weary days later found us near enough to the sea that we could smell the salt in the air and even hear the crashing of the waves against the rocks of the beach. Stiffly, I got down from Flin. It was well after nightfall. Zarsha was asleep and I lifted her down, careful not to wake her. I pulled the blanket roll off Flin and spread it on the ground near where I was going to make a fire. I laid Zarsha down onto the blanket and covered her up with it. I looked at her for a long moment as she slept peacefully. I was so grateful to have her in my life.

  “Why did you take on the responsibility of that little girl?”

  I turned towards Krista who still stood by her horse. “I don’t know. I just did and I don’t regret it for even a moment. She’s added so much to my life already that it’s hard to remember what it was like without her just a few weeks ago. ”

  Krista was silent for a moment. “You’re a rare man Roric. You don’t mind me calling you that, do you? You don’t think it’s forward of me, being your slave, to address you by your given name?”

  I hated that she had to ask such a question. I got to my feet and walked over towards her. I watched the apprehension rise in her face as I approached, but she remained where she was. I reached my right hand out and cupped the bottom left half of her face with it.

  “No Krista, I don’t mind.”

  My hand lying easy on her face, I leaned down towards her, watching her eyes as I did so. Her eyes showed apprehension at what was coming, but not fear. My lips found hers gently. I held her in no other way except for the gentle pressure of my hand on her face. Her eyes closed and she leaned into me whether knowingly or not.

  I let my left hand close around her and rest gently on the small of her back. I felt her hands rise up between us, until they rested against my chest, and I expected her to push away from me, but she didn’t. Her eyes were still closed, which I took as an open invitation and I deepened the kiss.

  Her hands slid up around my neck and tightened as she started kissing me back. Wow! This was amazing! The woman of my dreams in my arms, fully mine and she was kissing me back with a passion that matched my own. I leaned into her more, relishing our shared passion for each other.

  Slap!

  I reeled backward from her. My movement away wasn’t because of the force of the blow, but because I was completely startled by its occurrence. She was standing, faced away from me, breathing hard and holding herself tightly with her arms. Why had she done that?

  I was about to grab her, turn her around and demand why, but I stopped myself. I stormed away and started making a fire. The fire made, I sat down staring into its flames. The voracious flames were a match for the turbulent emotions swirling around in me. Why did I hold myself back from what I wanted? She was mine to do with as I pleased. I deserved to have something amazing like her happen after the rough life I’d had, but then hadn’t she had pretty much the same rough life I’d had? Wasn’t she even now still living it? A life of serfdom that I could say I was free of, at least for the time being. My anger dissipated slowly as I admitted to myself the real reason for my aggravation. Not only did I hunger to hold her in my arms and make her mine in the most elemental of ways, but I hungered almost as much to simply see her smile at me.

  I wanted to see her laugh and have her tell me her fears and dreams. I wanted her to like me and want to spend time with me. I wanted her to be in love with me. I stared at the flames morosely; wondering if that could ever be possible.

  I wasn’t sure yet….oh heck, who was I fooling. I loved her. So what did I do now? What was important was to treat her with gentleness and respect and deny the passion I felt for her, at least a little while longer, as I gave her the time she needed to get to know me.