Yspaddaden - Chapter 8

 Kadyriath

Kady woke slowly to the smell of cooking food, the sounds of birds chirping, the touch of warm grass underneath her, and the feeling of freedom all about.

When she had been rescued the day before, Yspaddaden and the unknown man had brought her to another clearing about an hours ride away and let the horses rest. She had been too tired to talk much, only thanking Yspaddaden for his heroics. After the horses had watered and rested, they lashed Kady to hers and set out again. Being tied to the horse allowed her to sleep a bit as they rode away from the soldiers. Hopefully they could ride far enough away before the soldiers recovered to make a sizable head start on them, if the men chose to pursue them further. Kady had slept until they stopped, then had woken only long enough to be pulled off her steed and laid on the ground where she could fall asleep again. She hadn't gotten much rest being captive and the travel was wearing on her. But now, as she woke to the sunlight and to freedom, she thanked the gods for allowing her to live. There were a few moments in the soldiers clutches where she had been unsure as to if she would live. But she had.

She rose slowly and surveyed the clearing where she sat. The trees around her rose high into the sky. The underbrush was dense and seemed impassable. The remains of a fire sat in the middle of the small glen. The sun was directly overhead, signaling the middle of the day. She looked down at herself and sighed audibly. She was a mess! Her dress was filthy and torn in places, her sash ripped, her bracelet and jewelry gone, her feet, still unshod, were caked with dried mud and grass. She could only guess at what her face must look like in a mirror. She reached up to her head and tugged at the tangled mess that sat there. Awful. She really needed a bath.

She glanced again around the quiet clearing. She could see no sign of Yspaddaden or the strange, unknown man that had helped to rescue her. Maybe they were going out to get food. As soon as she thought of food, her stomach rumbled and she groaned, placing a hand to her belly. She literally could not remember the last time she had eaten. The pains made her wince. She hoped to Adnan that's what they were doing!

She made a quick search of the clearing and found no packs or anything that could hold food. They had eaten the provisions that Yspaddaden had brought from the city long ago and had left Joyill's village too abruptly to prepare anything. She cocked her head and heard the sounds of running water. A stream nearby? Maybe she could get in a bath before Yspaddaden came back! But as she thought it, she heard another sound. Footsteps pushing their way through the dense brush. Kady crouched behind a tree to one side. You could never be too careful in these circumstances. But she needn't have worried, for out came Yspa, carrying a large deer slung over his shoulder, an arrow piercing the beasts heart. Kady smiled and rose, walking toward Yspa. He saw her coming and smiled as well, his pleasure at seeing her unharmed evident. She reached him and he slung the deer down on the ground. Impulse took over and she reached out, giving him a huge hug. He seemed to hesitate for a second, but then his massive arms encircled her. She melted inside his embrace. It was one of the happiest moments of her life.

She pulled back and looked up in his face. He smiled down into hers.

"Thank you again, for rescuing me."

"It needed doing. So I did it. Nothing more to it than that."

"Still. You didn't have to. I'm grateful that you thought me so valuable. It felt good."

He grinned sheepishly and leaned down to his kill, flipping it over onto its back. He pulled out a small knife from somewhere and began slicing the beast open.

"Talk of it no more Kady. What's done is done and you've already thanked me. Once is enough."

He looked up at her, surveying her, taking her in. She stood still, allowing him his pleasure. But what he said was not what she had expected.

"You need a bath."

She stared into his face, not sure whether to cry or laugh or scream. She chose neither and simply answered him with an equally straight face.

"Exactly the thought I had."

Their eyes remained locked for a few seconds. Then Yspaddaden burst into laughter.

"No, I mean you really need a bath! It's been a week long, at least, since you've scrubbed yourself of dirt." He walked over to a pack that lay hidden in the brush at the side of the glen. She hadn't seen it nor searched it. He pulled out a smaller bag from within and from that, a small piece of homemade soap. He walked back over to her and handed her the object. "Here. You need it more than I do. There's a small creek with a pond just through the trees, there. The horses are tied up there, but I promise that they are the only ones who will be spying on you."

Kady smiled and took the soap. She sniffed it and it smelled like flowers.

"Where did you get this?"

"A woman in the village. She makes soap for a living. She cooks the flowers directly into the liquid so it comes out smelling nicely. Quite smart actually. So not only will you be bathed, but you might just be better for my nostrils as well."

For that comment she slapped him on the shoulder playfully. He smiled and resumed his task at skinning the deer.

"Now go. Take your time. I'll have a fire and possibly some meat when you return. I want to start out again before nightfall."

She nodded and started to walk off in the direction of the creek.

"Kady."

She stopped and turned. He stood up and crossed over to her, sharp, bloody knife in his hand. If she didn't know him, and knew him to be the gentle, kind person he was, he could easily be mistaken for someone with much less care for people. He stopped in front of her and then crouched, grabbing her leg. He sliced once, then stood again, holding her anklet of bells out to her.

"Never again will you become someones slave. That I guarantee you, now."

It took her a second before finally reaching out and grasping the band of bells. They were something that had always been with her, for as long as she could remember. Her leg felt incredibly light, now that they were gone. She had no words for him, so she simply nodded her head in thanks and headed off again.

The creek had been exactly where he had said and the horses were hobbled a few feet from the pond that was created in a bend in the creek. She laughed aloud at the sight that was before her. There stood four steeds, three fine horses, two brown and one speckled, and one massive unicorn, black all over. His head rose as he heard her coming and his horn shone brightly in the sunlight. She recognised him instantly as the steed that Marus had been riding before. Yspaddaden had actually stolen the mans ride! She had to laugh at it.

She stepped into the pond and smiled when she realised how warm the water was. She rinsed her feet and then sat back, feet dangling, lying on the grass. It was a most glorious feeling. She sat there for several minutes, before sitting back up and reaching for the soap.

She took her dress and underwear off, soaking them in the water and scrubbing them, washing the dirt away. Once her clothes were clean she lay them in the grass to dry. Then she entered the water herself, at first slowly, then all at once, dunking her head under. It felt so good! The first few layers of dirt washed away instantly and once they were gone, she used the soap to scrub the rest of it off. It felt delicious, rubbing the sweet smelling soap over her body. When she was finished, she lay the soap aside and lay back in the water, head on the bank, just sitting, letting the water trickle over her body slowly. The sun shone down and warmed her, causing her to fall asleep at one point. A noise must have woken her, for she jerked her head up, looking all about for danger.

She glanced over and saw a flash of blue and gold. That could only be a soldiers uniform! She was half out of the water before she realised who it was. There stood the young soldier who had tried to talk to her while she was still captive, staring at her from across the pond. She calmed down for a second, then a thrill of embarrassment ran through her as she remembered that was wearing absolutely nothing. She fumbled for her dress and spun back toward him in anger, holding the cloth close to her wet body.

"What are you doing?! Do you never call out your presence? You should know better than to walk up on a woman unawares like that! What are you doing here?"

He shrugged.

"I'm sorry. I only came to check on the horses. I didn't know you were bathing."

"What are you talking about? Where are your fellow soldiers?"

He shrugged again.

"Not sure. Probably about two days back where we left them."

"'We'? Why do you say 'we'? Do you not travel with them?"

He shook his head.

"No. I am to travel with you and Yspaddaden. I was the one who helped rescue you. I told you I wanted to leave them. Yspaddaden noticed me untying you that day and pulled me aside. He said if I helped rescue you, that he would allow me to travel with the two of you. He mentioned you are on a business journey to Epona."

Kady hesitated before nodding. Yspa must have been intentionally deceiving. The young man smiled and waved a hand at her.

"It's alright, you don't have to tell me what you and he are truly up to. I'm just happy to be free of that life." He closed his eyes and smiled, sniffing. "I taste cooking meat on the air." He opened his eyes and winked at Kady. "It sounds like Yspaddaden has prepared lunch. I doubt he will allow you to dine dressed as you are. Unless you are comfortable with all three of us being naked."

He smiled at her as he turned and walked off back into the woods. She grunted in anger and spat in his direction. Why had Yspa taken him along?! Did he truly trust him? He was so infuriating! Kady threw her dress back down on the grass and reached instead for her underwear. She had gotten it wet by hiding behind it. No matter. Her hunger was too great for her to worry about that right now.

Tylosse

Tylosse sat by the fire and chewed thoughtfully on the piece of deer meat he held in his hand. He glanced over to the silhouettes of Kady and Yspaddaden, watching them as they spoke forcefully to each other. He couldn't tell if they were angry, or merely annoyed at each other. Kady was mad, that he could tell. And he knew the reason why. It was neither her decision nor her desire for him to be with them on their journey. To be truthful, Tylosse felt a bit guilty about barging in on their time together. He knew not how long they had known each other, he guessed not long, but there seemed to be some sort of special bond between the two of them, and he didn't like coming in between that. He wasn't even sure if he wanted to see this quest through. Helping Yspaddaden and freeing Kady was simply a means to help his fearful self leave the life that had been planned for him from the start. He didn't want to be a soldier. He never had. It was boring to him. He found no joy in it. Maybe he would follow these people until the next town or village and make his departure. Maybe not. At the moment he knew not what his plans were. And sometimes it was good to not have any plans. To just go with how life flowed for you. Free as a bird in the wind.

He finished the meat and tossed it carelessly into the dying fire. Glancing back over to the bickering pair, he noted that they were still going at it. He smiled. Just like an old married couple. He admired them and their annoyance at the king. Most people Tylosse had met, and that included the soldiers that fought for the king, did not care for AethelBald. Many loved him, many hated him, but the majority of people simply tolerated him. His hatred and prejudice for people that sat on the outskirts of society were not hidden as they should have been. Tylosse felt guilty about some of the tasks he had been sent to do. Evacuating people from their homes, merely for being of another species. AethelBald hated elves and dwarves. If they weren't human, they didn't matter. He despised the Minotaurs, the centaurs, the pegasus. He was respectful of the Dragons and their Riders, but that was only decor, a respect built on fear not honor. His voice was never silent in dark corners and halls as he raged against the Kind. His hatred for them was probably the greatest. Except for his hatred of the previous king, AethelKil. Now that was a man the populace loved. Tylosse remembered him. He had become a training soldier in the time of Kil the Bold. The king had made it a point to personally greet and introduce himself to all the newest trainees. He told Tylosse he had wanted to know the men that might someday protect his life from enemies. Tylosse had been in the service for two years before he had ever met AethelBald, and that was merely a fluke. Marus had been training him in shield handling and Bald had been searching Marus out. To head up a mission to kill Yspaddaden, as it had turned out. When Tylosse had been introduced to the new king, Bald barely looked in his direction. Ah well. Tylosse led a new life now. One free of cares.

Or it would be free as soon as the mock husband and wife ended their quarreling. Tylosse looked up to the sky. It was almost evening time. He had to get up and do something. Maybe he would check on the horses again.

Yspaddaden

"Do you not understand what you've done here? It was a foolish, dumb mistake, and I don't understand how you could have made it. You've endangered the entire quest and we are even more in trouble now than before."

"More in trouble? You were kidnapped! They could have killed you! How is now more dangerous than before?"

"You have no idea who this man is Yspa. You've just met him. I don't even know him! He's a soldier of the kingdom! We have no idea where his true loyalties lie."

"He told me he wanted to flee that life. He said to me that he wanted no longer to be employed by the king."

"And you believed him? People lie Yspa! It happens! Do you not understand that concept?!"

Yspaddaden went silent and stared at the ground. He raised a hand slightly in defense.

"Yes, I understand the concept of lying. All too well. But I could tell that he wasn't lying."

"You could tell? How could you tell? Wait don't tell me. He said he wasn't lying, was that it? Was that all the confirmation you needed?"

"No that wasn't…listen, can we please just stop arguing about this? So I may have made a mistake. I don't know! Can we at least give this man a chance? Why are you so opposed to accepting him?"

"Maybe it's because of the reasons I've said before. He's a soldier. We don't know him. Was his name written down in some ancient prophesy? 'Soldier begins to travel with warrior and prostitute. Does not kill them. Courtesan however murders giant in his sleep.'"

Yspaddaden looked at Kady in awe.

"Oh. That's why. I understand now. You're jealous of him aren't you?"

Kady sputtered a response.

"Jealous? Of him? Of course not!"

"You are!"

"Why would I be jealous of that man?"

"Because I had to take you. I was forced to bring you with me, to fulfill the prophecy. But I chose him to come, I wanted him to travel with us. That's what you're thinking isn't it? Isn't it?!"

Kady looked at him in shock and awe. Her face had mellowed, but it was replaced by one of hurt and rejection.

"You didn't want me with you?"

Yspaddaden was not ready for that.

"What?"

"You didn't want me with you. The only reason you are bringing me with you is to fulfill the prophecy. That's all. I'm baggage to you. Another piece of your puzzle. Not a companion. Not a fellow traveler. Not a person. An object."

Yspaddaden's heart dropped to his feet. He had never meant to actually hurt Kady with his words. He was shocked that the argument had gone so far. He reached out a hand to place on her shoulder but she shied away from his touch.

"Why am I important Yspaddaden? I know the prophecy says I'm supposed to travel with you, but why? What purpose am I to perform? It can't be a skill of mine, I only have one. What is it? My blood? My hair? My heart? Is there some sort of sick sacrifice that you're supposed to make at the end? Why do you want me with you?"

He sighed and tried to think of a response.

"No, it's not like that. It's…when I finally reach the stone, I…I…"

He could tell his lack of words were just hurting her more. Her face fell and a single tear rolled down her cheek.

"Why won't you tell me?"

To that, Yspaddaden had no answer. He simply stared at her, trying to think of something to say. She finally nodded in finality and turned away, heading back toward the camp. Her bare feet shuffled along in the grass with despondency. Her shoulders were slumped and Yspa could hear her trying to shake away the tears that came. His own eyes began to water at his thoughts. The last thing he had wanted was to hurt her. But had not been able to answer her questions. He simply could not bring himself to tell her the truth. Why not? Why could he not? Would it be so bad if she knew? Yspaddaden lowered his head and turned, walking in the opposite direction.

He needed time to think.