Guardian of the Gate (30 page)

“And might I ask why you feel so strongly about Ursula?”

He glances at Dimitri before answering, and for the first time I see a thread of kinship between them. “Ursula and that power-grubbing daughter of hers — ”

“Astrid?” I ask.

He nods, continuing. “Ursula and Astrid don’t care about Altus. Not really. They seek their own authority and power. I don’t trust either of them for a moment, and neither should you.” His expression grows serious as he gazes out over the fields. When he meets my eyes once again, all humor is gone. “I believe you would be doing the island and her people a great service if you were to assume the role of Lady.”

My cheeks grow warm under the scrutiny of his gaze, and Dimitri sighs beside me with something like annoyance. “You honor me with your words, Gareth. But you don’t know me at all. How do you know I would be a wise leader?”

He smiles, tapping his temple. “It is in the eyes, my Lady. They are as clear as the sea that cradles the island.”

I smile in return, though I can practically hear Dimitri roll his eyes.

The fields stretch on and on, morphing from grass into shimmering wheat as the day passes. We stop only once at a small brook that babbles over smooth, gray rock. Drinking from the icy water and replenishing our canteens, we ensure that the horses, too, have their fill. I take a moment to close my eyes, stretching back onto the grassy bank and sighing deeply with pleasure as the sun warms my face.

“It is nice to feel the sun again, is it not?” Dimitri’s voice comes from beside me, and I open my eyes, shielding them from the sun as I smile at him.

“
Nice
is too mild a word, I think.”

Dimitri nods, his face brooding as he stares out over the moving water.

I sit up, leaning over and kissing him full on the mouth. When we pull apart, he is pleased, if a bit surprised. “What was that for?”

“It is a reminder that my feelings for you are far too strong to falter in the short time since we have been away from Altus.” I smile, teasing him. “And far too deep to waver in the face of a handsome man, however charming and friendly.”

For a moment, I wonder if I have wounded his pride, but it soon passes and his face breaks into a wide smile before faltering just a little.

“Do you think Gareth handsome then?”

I shake my head in mock exasperation, kissing him once again before rising and dusting off my breeches. “You are very silly, Dimitri Markov.”

His voice drifts to me on the breeze as I make my way to the horses. “You didn’t answer! Lia?”

Gareth is already atop his mount, and I double-check Sargent’s bit before lifting myself onto the saddle. “This was a beautiful place to stop. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he says, eyeing Dimitri as he makes his way to his horse. “I imagine you’re tired. It is said you have had quite a journey.”

I nod. “I’m quite happy now that we are out of the woods. It was harrowing, traveling through so dark and closed a forest to get to Altus.”

He looks at Dimitri to make sure he is saddled and ready to ride. When it seems all is in order, Gareth turns his horse.
“You needn’t worry. I believe you will be in the open from here.”

And then we are moving, though once again, my destination is a closely guarded secret.

We pass the rest of the day in pleasant camaraderie. Our brief time by the stream seems to have reassured Dimitri, and he is friendlier toward Gareth as we make our way across several fields, some planted with crops and others swaying with wheat or grass.

The sun moves across the sky and is beginning to cast long shadows by the time we come to yet another stream. This one is much bigger than the last and winds through the verdant hills and a small grove of trees at its bank. Gareth reins his horse to a stop and jumps to the ground.

“Right on schedule,” he says. “This is where we make camp for the night.”

We find basic supplies inside the packs strapped to our horses and set about making a small camp. Gareth lights a fire, and as he and Dimitri raise the tents, I put together a simple dinner. It is not at all strange to share a camp with Gareth. Already he is like an old friend. He and Dimitri entertain me with tales of common acquaintances from Altus. They grow rambunctious in their familiarity and it is not difficult to do my part by laughing in all the right places. The fire has burned low when Gareth finally rises with a yawn.

“We should sleep if we are to make an early start tomorrow as we must.” He nods toward Dimitri and me. I am sure I catch a glimmer in his eye even by the failing light of the fire. “I’ll leave you to say good night in peace.”

He heads for one of the tents, leaving Dimitri and me alone in the chill night air.

Dimitri’s chuckle is a low and knowing rumble. He holds out a hand and helps me to my feet, pulling me against him. “Remind me to thank Gareth later.”

I do not need to ask him why he wishes to thank Gareth. He lowers his mouth to mine, his lips tender but insistent, and my mouth opens under his until everything else falls away. In Dimitri’s arms, I find the peace that eludes me in every coherent, thinking moment. I allow myself to be lost, to fall beneath the power of Dimitri’s body against mine and the tenderness in his kiss.

When we finally pull apart, it is Dimitri’s doing.

“Lia… I must escort you to your tent now.” He rubs his cheek against mine, and I marvel that the soft stubble can feel both prickly and sensuous.

“Can you stay?” I am not ashamed to ask. Not anymore.

“I should like nothing more, but I will not sleep in these strange surroundings.” He lifts his head, gazing at the darkness that becomes total beyond the light of the fire. “Not while we are on our way to the pages. It would be wise, I think, to keep watch outside your tent.”

“Can’t you ask Gareth?” I am being bold, and I do not care.

He looks into my eyes, before leaning in to press his lips, hard this time, to mine. “I trust no one else with your safety, Lia.” He smiles. “We have all the time in the world. As many nights as you wish in our future. Come now, let’s get you to bed.”

But while I am comforted all that night by the shadow of Dimitri’s presence outside my tent, I still cannot sleep. His words ring through my mind and I know that he is wrong.

We do not have all the time in the world. Only the time the prophecy allows us. The time we take from it. And the time between now and the moment when I will have to reconcile the promised future with Dimitri and my past with James.

Our camp is small and packed quickly. In no time at all, we are back on our horses, making our way through the fields once again.

After the fog at the beach where we first landed, the sun is a blessing. I close my eyes to it for long moments at a time, tipping my face back and letting the warmth of it seep into my skin. I feel the presence of those who have gone before me in the prophecy. I feel the oneness of us all, though we are not together in this world. It fills me with serenity, and for the first time in days, I feel at peace with my fate, whatever it may be.

It is just such a moment when I realize the total silence surrounding me. No horses’ hooves. No chuffing of their great mouths. No easy banter between Gareth and Dimitri. When I open my eyes, we are amid a grove of trees so small that it does not even block out the sun.

Both Dimitri and Gareth have reined their horses to a stop, though neither has dismounted. I pull on Sargent’s reins.

“Why are we stopping?” I ask.

Gareth’s gaze takes in the surrounding field and trees. “I am afraid we must say goodbye, though I wish a more sheltered location had been arranged as a meeting place for your next guide.” He shrugs. “I suppose out of the confines of the woods, this is the best that can be done.”

I try to hide my disappointment, for I have grown to trust Gareth.

“When will our next guide arrive?” I ask him.

He shrugs. “I imagine he will be here shortly, though I cannot say for certain. Our identities and schedules are kept secret from one another on tasks such as this one.” He digs around in his pack, tossing two extra bags to the ground. “Remain here until your guide arrives. The packs are well supplied and will last you a couple of days at least.”

“Will we ever see you again?” This time I am sure my disappointment can be heard.

He grins. “One never knows.”

“Gareth.” Dimitri looks up at him. “Thank you.”

He smiles. “You’re welcome, Dimitri of Altus.”

He trots his horse over to me and holds out a hand. I place mine in his. “Regardless of whether you accept the title in name, in my eyes, you will always be the rightful Lady of Altus.” He bends his lips to my hand, kissing it gently before he turns his horse and gallops away.

Dimitri and I stand in the stillness left by Gareth’s departure.
It happened so quickly, neither of us is immediately sure what to do. Finally, Dimitri dismounts, leading his horse to a tree before coming back for mine.

We pitch the tent and create a makeshift dinner from the odds and ends found in the packs. By the time darkness falls, we have come to accept that our new guide will not arrive this night. Dimitri once more stands guard outside the tent while I, too cold to be comfortable, huddle under the blankets and pass a fitful night.

Several times, I believe I hear rustling amid the trees surrounding the camp, boot steps on the hard-packed ground. Dimitri must hear it as well, for he rises from the ground, his figure casting eerie shadows over the tent as he paces outside. I call to him several times, asking if everything is all right, but after a while he tells me sternly to go to sleep. To let him do the guarding without the distraction of my worry. Chastised, I will myself quiet.

I lay in the dark, my body tense for a long while before blackness finally claims me.

Our new guide is nothing at all like Gareth.

The first thing that catches my eye is his brilliant red hair. When he turns to greet me the sun sets it on fire in a blaze of gilded rust.

“Good morning.” Dimitri tips his head without introducing himself.

“Emrys, your guide.” He appears to be significantly older than Gareth, though not as old as Edmund.

“Good morning. I’m Lia Milthorpe.” I extend a hand and Emrys briefly shakes it before stuffing both hands back into his pockets.

I expect him to make conversation, to get to know us before we depart, but he does no such thing. He simply turns and heads for his horse, a chestnut mare tied to a tree near Sargent and Dimitri’s mount.

“We should be going,” he says as he unties the horse. “We have a long day ahead of us.”

I look at Dimitri, raising my eyebrows in silent question, and he shrugs and heads to the tent. Together we break camp, shoving the tent haphazardly into Dimitri’s pack and the blankets into mine while Emrys stays atop his horse with not an offer of help. I look at him once and find him gazing off into the woods. We’ve only just met, and already it is difficult not to think him as strange.

The camp cleared of our debris and looking as if we were never there at all, Dimitri strides to his horse, tightening his saddle and placing a foot in the stirrup. After a quick check on Sargent, I do the same.

Emrys nods and spurs his horse forward, and so begins our second day, with little fanfare and even less conversation.