21
Katja woke to the sunshine streaming into her face. It felt late. She smelled something cooking. She crept out into the landing ready to descend the stairs.
Rachel’s door flew open. “Wait!” her friend whispered urgently.
Katja turned in surprise.
“Dress first!” Rachel hinted.
Katja quietly returned to her room. Rachel ran to her room then came back wearing her hair garland as Katja was opening the wardrobe.
“Try the lilac one,” Rachel recommended.
Katja put on the lilac dress and found the neckline too low. “Are you sure this dress fits me?” Katja asked.
“Of course it does!” Rachel said. “You look lovely!”
“I don’t feel comfortable with this neckline. You said we’ll be going riding? I’m just not sure about this.”
“It’s what all the young women wear,” Rachel reassured.
“I just feel like I’m...on display.”
“You are on display regardless of what you wear,” reasoned Rachel with a wink. “These dresses make sure it’s a nice display!”
“Whatever! How do you ride in this?” Katja asked again.
“Softly, so that every jar of a hoof sends a tantalizing ripple ‘cross your bosom.” Rachel brushed Katja’s hair back and secured it with a ribbon.
Katja ribbed Rachel who giggled quietly before they crept down the stairs.
Downstairs, the men were already in the cottage and waiting for the maidens. Katja watched Rachel run to kiss Breyind before returning to the table to eat.
Katja gave just a shy smile to Adrick, but she couldn’t take her eyes off him. He watched her continually too – it made her blush, but she couldn’t help enjoying the attention of the very handsome man. She ate quickly and excitedly, sparing little time for conversation. Rachel seemed equally keen to get breakfast eaten.
When at last the food was gone, the two young women joined the men and Katja tried not to hurry outside to the waiting horses. Breyind took the lead in helping Rachel up. Katja followed her friend’s lead and sat slightly uncomfortably astride the horse. The men climbed up behind them. Katja took a handful of the long white mane and placed her toes in the stirrups provided by the saddle. Adrick put his arms protectively around her to grasp the reins. Then at the light urging of two sets of legs, the horses moved off.
Katja admired Rachel with her hair garland. She was stunning and clearly in love. She could not have found a better Tom Johnston lookalike anywhere, but this one had a white horse as well and seemed to be as much in love with Rachel as she was with him. Katja’s senses grew more in tune with the man behind her, sitting so close as to enjoy a great amount of physical contact. Katja felt nervous and wonderfully excited at the same time, though she did not have the gift of flirtation which Rachel possessed and exhibited with finesse and flair.
Rachel wondered whether her friend was ready for all this. Although Katja was older, Rachel had had to grow up more quickly. Katja had been more coddled...much to her resentment now. (This was why Katja’s leaving her home country was causing such friction with her family now.) Was Katja capable of responding to her own feelings? Of being selfish?
Rachel noticed that they took a longer route than usual...avoiding the village.
“Why didn’t we take Katja through the village?” Rachel asked Breyind.
“Trust me, it was necessary.”
“When are you going to tell me your secrets?” Rachel asked.
“Soon. I promise. I hate keeping things from you, but you will see that it was important...in time.”
The group arrived at the picnic site. They sat next to a river where many ducks congregated and often came to beg for morsels of food. Rachel realized it was well-maintained, yet free from people.
After awhile, Rachel took a stroll along the water’s edge. She had not gone far when Breyind had joined her. He took her hand as they continued together.
“How can you have so much free time to devote to me?” Rachel asked as they walked together.
“I will tell you later, when I show you where I have had your things stored...but you must promise to keep it a secret from Katja for the time being.”
“I hate keeping secrets!”
“You must promise or you will not get to see.”
“Okay. I promise,” Rachel said sulkily.
“I love it when you look like that!” he said kissing her.
“I’m not sure whether to hug you or hit you!” Rachel cried.
“Well,” Breyind answered. “If you were a big python, I wouldn’t want the hug and if you were a tiny flea, I wouldn’t notice a hit. Given your temperament...I’m not sure.”
This incited Rachel who launched a playful punch into his arm. Breyind, laughing, grabbed her fist and wrapped it harmlessly around himself before stealing a kiss from her.
“After lunch,” he promised slyly.
They returned to the picnic where Katja was getting food out of the baskets.
After the lunch had been consumed, Breyind made their apology.
“I have some things to do and I need Rachel to help me,” he excused.
“By all means,” said Adrick.
Rachel and Breyind rode away.
“They sure seem to love each other,” Adrick said to Katja.
“Yes,” Katja answered pondering. “I wonder at it coming so quickly. Is he really what she wants… I mean, the whole thing looks good, but I hope Rachel can be happy… especially knowing she will stay in Velantia.”
“I think the only person who can comment about whether Rachel will be happy is Rachel,” Adrick said.
“I know you’re right,” Katja admitted. “It’s just hard to let go of her. We’ve been flatmates for so long now. We are like sisters. I’m the older one and sometimes feel I am responsible for her.”
“She has been very worried about you, too,” Adrick told her.
“But I didn’t have to be awake for that.”
“I think she is still worried about you,” Adrick said.
“Why?”
“She doesn’t want to leave you alone either. It would make it easier for her if you decided to remain in Velantia.”
“I have responsibilities in my world,” Katja said.
Supplemental Materials
Prologue, map, character list
The Legend of the Sacred Trio
Links to Buy the ebooks
(Note: If anyone knows how to make this table look better in markdown, please comment!)
| Please catch up! | Links to buy |
|---|---|
 |  |
| Birth of the Neví – 829 T.C.E. It is a tumultuous period of Terrenden history. As is all too common, there are those who wish to profit from the misfortune of others. Some of these come together in a new "charitable organization" and step on the toes of the notorious Uugli. Combine this with draconian new measures to combat pollution and Terrenden has a situation ripe for a power struggle. | Rebound of Power: 850 T.C.E. Collection of Romance Terrenden is being terrorized by a previously underestimated Neví who through the mysterious “Curator” have been controlling elections all over the planet. In this collection, we meet some interesting women. Iyva, a homeless teenager in Irola whose untrained power leaves her close to death; Marc’la, a breeder of prized caballus in Kasago whose heart lives in the past; Zukie, an abused widow whose heart is afraid to try for future happiness; Jenna, an elections assistant manager and masseuse who has a prejudice against A’mara; and Kami, a chola student in Varkevand who has been assigned to protect Ardin, a man who has his own reasons to distrust A’mara. |
| Coming | Soon! |
| Rise of the Neví - 830 T.C.E. The Neví begin their rise in power with the completion of several large housing projects that seem totally charitable, but also hide a great evil within. The draconian measures brought in the previous year has caused major distress throughout the world, perfect for giving the Neví a further foothold on the Terrenden stage. Will the A’mara, now removed from the Council of Peers, be able to shut down the Neví? | Acting the Part - 851 T.C.E. Collection of Romance - The Neví continue to make a nuisance of themselves, infiltrating the Terrenden Freedom Party who have been winning most elections around the world. Dr. Jarly is still on the run and the Curator still dominates a larger part of the Terrenden stage than most would like to know. What’s more, famous actor, Derick Aiden has decided to release his Neví expose film, causing them to issue a Death Edict on him, forcing him into hiding. In this collection, we meet more interesting women (and revisit some we’ve already got to know.) Kauri, a simple receptionist who doesn’t realize one of her wildest dreams has come true; Tirry, an elections manager who is always the bridesmaid and never the bride; Zara, a chef who has all but given up on finding love for herself; Dzani, who isn’t even looking, but has to chaperone her more vulnerable roommate; Soala, the daughter and heiress who is expected to marry, but refuses to marry someone she doesn’t love; and Moxara, one whose past griefs have locked away her heart. We also get updates on some of the lovely ladies we met previously. |
Don’t forget!
I’m still offering 1 Steem Basic Income share for any minnow who asks me a question which prompts an “Ask the Author” post! I’m thinking about putting these into a Dbooks ebook all its own, actually.
Image Credits:
Brighid's Blood cover art based on:
- Mountain background shot (on the border of Slovakia and Poland) – PublicDomainPictures.
All three images were under the creative commons licensing, (no attribution required.)
- Shaze picture developed from PXhere
Shaze divider based on:
- Sword image from Wikipedia Commons
All maps/editing by myself on GIMP and Photoscape, both free programs.
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Although the penalty of knowing me in real life is that you will influence the creation of my characters; any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Writing and artwork copyright myself 2005-2018 – all rights reserved.
If you are interested in helping me publish these works, please contact me on Facebook or Discord, viking-ventures#2883.
Lori Svensen – A'mara Books & Viking Visual
