He took the handle of his sword and rapped loudly against the stone wall. Nothing. He repeated it, harder, longer. Still nothing. Bone Face called out Deamon’s name. They had tried to wake the couple but to no avail. Bone Face and Sly looked at one another. Bone Face shrugged his shoulders and questioned, “He did say ANYTHING, right?” Sly answered with a mirrored shrug and nod of his head.
Bone Face pulled the curtained door aside and strode into the room. He tried rousting Deamon with urgently calling his name – several times. When that still didn’t work, he walked over to the side of the bed prepared to poke his brother awake. He peered down at the sleeping couple. Deamon held Larien in his right arm; his left tangled in her hair. Her head was resting against his chest with her hair spilled wildly about, a few strands caught on his damp lips. Deamon’s breathing slightly moving the curls giving them a life of their own. They looked peaceful, content. The bedcoverings were twisted around the two making a fabric cocoon holding them together in its own special embrace. Bone Face was reluctant to interrupt their peaceful slumber. He knew that Larien really needed more than the five or six hours that she had probably gotten since they were last in her room. Bone Face still hesitated. One thing about Deamon, you did not wake him up without suffering possible repercussions, especially when he was with a woman! But, the twins felt it important enough to risk Deamon’s response for this was important news – or so they felt.
“Deamon!” Bone Face jiggled Deamon’s shoulder. In his sleep, Deamon just turned his head and pulled Larien closer to him, burying his hand more into her locks. Bone Face looked at Sly. With a look of determination, he shouted, “HEY, RÉVEILLE, GROUILLE. Wake up now!”
Deamon’s eyes flew open. He was startled into wakefulness. He tried flinging his left arm at his assailant but his hand was too caught up in Larien’s web of hair. He blinked the sleep from his eyes trying to focus in the dim interior of the bedroom. Bone Face was standing at Deamon’s side of the bed and Sly was standing at the foot.
When Deamon realized that it was Bone Face waking him, he thought that Bone Face was very fortunate that Deamon’s hand did not made connect with his gut. If Deamon had been out in the tent, he could easily have had a dagger in that hand. Last night his only thought was to take care of Larien so he was unprepared for a surprise morning visit from anyone. However, now that he thought about it, it could have been the perfect time to kill her – while she slept. In fact, they would probably have both been killed!
Deamon was hampered in sitting up because of Larien lying across his chest and he cursed at his brothers as he tried to move Larien and protect her modesty at the same time, “Maudit! What the hell are you doing here anyway? This had better be good, Bone Face, to come in here and wake us up. Dammit! You are lucky I’m with Larien and didn’t think to put my dagger under my pillow last night!” Deamon lowered his voice a bit, “I could have killed you!”
While Bone Face anticipated the fact that Deamon would not be happy at being awakened, he didn’t think he deserved Deamon’s tongue-lashing. He glared at Deamon and snipped back sarcastically, “Well, now, let me see. I tried knocking, Brother, but you evidentially didn’t hear it. In fact, we rapped on the outer wall twice! You didn’t leave us many options other than to come into the room. I called out to you from the sitting room with no reply from you. And, excuse us if we took you at your word. When we left last night, you said to wake you if anything happened. You even emphasized the word anything, Deamon. Mon dieu, why else would we brave the lion’s den, huh? You figure it out! We’re leaving.”
Bone Face was a bit upset over Deamon’s treatment when he actually was coming to help him. Everyone was already awake and about their chores. Yes, it was still quite early but things were happening and Deamon and Larien both needed to be there. Bone Face volunteered to get them. Next time, he’ll just draw straws and let someone else do the dirty work. He stiffly turned on his heal and started around the foot of the bed towards Sly.
Deamon fell back against the pillows. “Wait! I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have snapped at you, Bone Face.” He rubbed the rest of the sleep from his eyes after having freed his hand from Larien’s hair. “You’re right, I did say that and of course, you were right to come and let me know. I also just realized what a terrible job I’ve done in trying to protect Larien while she slept. You could easily have been someone who wanted to do her harm and I would have slept through it and been killed along with her. What a fool I’m been!” Larien began to stir. Deamon continued, “Dammit! Guys, please wait out in the hallway and I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”
Bone Face attracted Deamon’s attention when he chuckled. “Well, that’s not quite true, Deamon.”
“What’s not true?” Deamon queried the twins.
Sly was smiling too as Bone Face continued, “On second thought, maybe the part of you being a fool is, though!” Bone Face gave a quick glance at Sly and Sly winked back. He looked back at Deamon and continued, “You see, we knew that Larien needed sleep and we knew that you were not going to leave her. We also figured that you would not be able to stay awake with all the fighting and stress you’ve been under. So, Sly and I pulled our blankets to the end of Larien’s passageway and slept there in shifts. Anyone wanting to get to either you or Larien would have had to go through one of us first.” Bone Face smirked as he finished, “So, now you can say thank you and we can say you’re welcome. We’ll be right outside when you’re ready. Oh, and, you’re welcome, Deamon!”
The rumbling of Deamon’s chest in her ear and the male voices raised in argument finally broke through her slumber. Larien woke. She turned her head slightly to see the backs of Bone Face and Sly walk through her room and out the door. She moved her hand down Deamon’s chest and sleepily asked, “What was that all about?”
She took him off-guard. “The boys came to wake us. It seems there is something that needs our attention.” Deamon captured her hand and brought to his lips, kissing her palm. “So, ma chérie, we must be up. The day awaits your beautiful face and your healing hands.” He grinned mischievously at her and teased, “Your body will just have to wait for the night.” Larien giggled just as he hoped she would.
He did not want her to have the chance to dwell on any undercurrents she might have felt when the twins were there. He hoped that she was too sleepy to have been able to read any thoughts that Bone Face or Sly might have been thinking. He felt that things were soon coming to head and that it wouldn’t be too much longer before all would be revealed. Deamon and Larien were both in their own little worlds as they went about preparing for the day ahead. He was buttoning his shirt when he looked up to watch her brush her hair. He could still recall the fresh scent of her hair as it wrapped itself around him during the night. Her small hand on his cheek; her legs entwined with his. Deamon still did not want to warn her of the danger she was in. He warred with himself about telling her anyway. Would she be better off prepared? Deamon still hoped that Bone Face would be able to recognize the voice of the co-conspirator before he made a move on Larien. But, what if he couldn’t? What then? Deamon felt he was performing a balancing act where the wrong move could cost someone he loved, her life. Deamon was putting a huge amount of faith in himself and that he would be able to protect her. He attached his sword and placed his dagger in his boot. He still lived in hope of finding out just what her protection was. Perhaps that should be something they discuss tonight.
Larien interrupted his thoughts when she asked, “How do you think the battle is progressing? Is this madness close to being finished? We have had so many injured that I am running out of supplies. Fortunately, we have not lost a lot of Angels’ lives to the orcs’ blades. The number of funeral pyres has diminished greatly, especially from the beginning. Thank the gods. Our food supplies are still adequate as is our water. However, I know that the women and children are anxious to be with their husbands and fathers; to make sure they are okay. The only ones we see are the ones needing urgent attention. They know there are some that haven’t come in to be seen – so are they alright or lying amongst the dead littering the field. They have asked King Jareth but he has yet to give them an answer.”
Deamon jerked to attention at her remark about King Jareth. Fortunately, her back was to him when she spoke of the vile man. Deamon’s anger was instant. He had to forcibly calm himself before he spoke so she wouldn’t question him as to why he was acting so oddly regarding the king. He was able to reply in a neutral tone. “Well, I have not seen him. However, I have been busy fighting so I do not monitor the comings and goings of the Angels. I am not a good one to ask, Larien. Why do you ask?”
“King Jareth tells them that he will find out when he goes down. But when he comes back to the cavern, he has no news and changes the subject. Sometimes he picks up a baby to tickle its tummy. Or, other times, he’ll ask them a question about something totally different. The Angels will not question his intent because he is their king. Since he comes into the caves twice a day, the gossip is that the king might not be going to the battlefields at all.”
“I have no answer for you. Are you almost ready, dear?” Larien nodded.
He picked up his cloak and waited a few extra seconds for Larien to grab a clean work apron before they left her room. Bone Face and Sly were waiting. Deamon caught the eyes of his brothers and gave his head a very minute shake as they all proceeded down the hall and into the main area. Larien could already hear a buzz of activity. The noise level of the room was louder, more intense.
Bone Face read her surprise and said, “Yes, there is something going on. That was the reason for the early morning wake-up call. Your presence was requested, my Queen.” As they came into the room, Bone Face surreptitiously moved to her right, Deamon was on her left, and Sly was walking behind her.
==================================================================
The pain was making it very difficult to move and varied in intensity when she did. It was getting harder for her to breathe. Walking was such an effort. She had to get to him – NOW. She had to see, to check for herself. She knew that she would have to take the journey in parts…she could not rush it. The pain would not let her. She must not give up but she had to rest, just for a few minutes. Then she would go on. She must. To her, it was a matter of life and death.
==================================================================
No comments:
Post a Comment