23
Adrick sat with Katja on the rock along the river. The horse ate grass contentedly. Katja watched the ducks on the river and wondered at all she had seen. The land was unquestionably beautiful. She thought about returning to her homeland with all the modern conveniences and stress and shuddered. She wasn’t sure she wanted it when she could have this world instead. What would her family and friends back home think? But her family was a long ways away and didn’t hide their contempt for her life so distant.
“Are you cold?” Adrick asked putting an arm around her.
She leaned into him. “No. I was thinking about my world. I can go back tomorrow,” she said with anticipation.
“Tell me about your life there.”
“I work at a school for young children when their parents can’t look after them.”
“Why would people have children when they are too busy?” he asked.
“I don’t know. They don’t want to slow down their lives just because they have kids, I guess.”
“Why are they so busy? Where are the grandparents? The aunts, uncles and cousins? I grew up with cousins all around me. Most kids here do.”
“That is so special, Adrick. Many people in my world live a long ways away from their families. I live 6,000 miles away from mine. I moved away for adventure and breathing space.”
“Why so far away?”
“I guess my family wanted to control everything in my life.”
“So you should stay here in Velantia. We are a more peaceful country than yours. We are more family oriented.”
“There is so much here which is so nice,” Katja agreed. “I’m just not sure I want to leave that life completely behind.”
“You could still visit your home – I could even come with you. Stay longer. Please.”
“Can’t I live there and visit you here?” Katja asked as she turned back to the man she was with right now. He was so perfectly handsome. He seemed to be the very one she had been asking for. He turned towards her and seemed to wonder something. Katja leaned forward and invited his approach, her eyes closed in anticipation. The next thing she felt were his lips against hers as he crushed her to him. Katja was filled with love for Adrick as her lips responded to his.
“Uncle?” Breyind called cautiously as he entered the family’s private lounge where the King liked to spend his afternoons when nothing more pressing engaged him.
“Do I hear my favourite nephew?” came a voice from inside.
“Yes, Uncle.” Breyind pulled at Rachel’s hand, encouraging her to accompany him.
“Do come in. Your mother and I were just talking about you.”
“I hope it was something nice,” Breyind said merrily.
“You’re in a good mood, Breyind.”
Rachel could see the middle-aged man now. He sat with two elegant ladies.
“Who is this?” The older lady asked.
“This is Rachel, the girl I have talked about – my fiancée. She has come to take up her quarters… and will choose a horse in awhile,” Breyind explained. Turning to Rachel, he explained further. “My Uncle, Liam of Velantia, the King; my Aunt Ellan, the Queen; and my mother, Ardith, the Princess Royal.”
“Nice to meet you,” Rachel said respectfully with a slight curtsy. She wondered if the bloom of her passion was evident on her face. Was it truly a secret?
“No need for formalities in this room… or amongst family,” the Queen said with a warm smile.
“Engaged?!” Gemina cried running to hug her brother. She hugged Rachel too. “You’re to be my sister! Won’t that be wonderful!”
“That sure didn’t take long,” the red-haired Aurelia said more dourly as she came in also. “We leave for a few days and everything changes! What next? My brother?”
“Try to be a bit more supportive, my child,” Ellan said to the young woman. “Breyind is not getting any younger, you know! You could try looking a bit more yourself.”
“I didn’t have time to hang out on the beach!” Aurelia said.
“You don’t have to sound so spoilt,” Ardith censured. “What kind of impression do you leave on others?”
“She’s family now, so she can think what she likes of me,” Aurelia said.
Rachel couldn’t help thinking how much Aurelia would like Katja!
After an otherwise-pleasant chat, confident that his mother, aunt and uncle approved his choice, Breyind turned to Rachel. “I think we had better get down to the stable to sort you out a horse.”
Rachel smiled in anticipation.
“Let’s go see your goslings and goats,” Breyind said, steering her towards the correct barns.
Rachel immediately went to the goats, grabbing their horns and wrestling them a little.
“It’s good to watch you play with them,” Breyind said taking a turn in the wrestling. “It does make me sort of want to wrestle you to the hay though!”
Rachel shrieked with delight as he playfully pushed her against the hay in order to start kissing her again.
“It’s been a couple hours since I was able to kiss you like this!” he exclaimed.
“I love you so much, Breyind!” she replied encouraging his loving.
After awhile, they went in and cuddled the goslings. “They won’t turn so mean if you love them like this,” Rachel said.
Then they walked down to the stable.
“Which horse? You can choose any horse in this barn,” Breyind said to Rachel as they entered one of the stables.
Rachel walked along. She peered into every box stall. “Are they always kept in the stables?”
“Most of the time, why?”
“In my studies I have found stables to be the most labour-intensive and least-healthy arrangement for a large number of horses. I would prefer to see them running free in a field unless there is a particular reason for their captivity.”
“I have never heard that, but it seems reasonable,” said Breyind. “We can take this matter to my uncle. He is always interested in new ideas.”
Rachel smiled and kept going from stall to stall. There were only a couple stalls left when Rachel stopped suddenly in shock. In the large stall in the corner stood a large dapple grey. “What’s her name?” she asked Breyind.
“Melodia. She’s rather a handful...”
“That’s the one. I’ve dreamt about her. She is meant for me.”
“I’m not sure..,” Breyind said, clearly concerned. He slipped into the box stall next to the mare who moved away from him, snorting. “She’s never been properly broken… she doesn’t take kindly to being trained.”
Rachel, for once, ignored Breyind and approached the animal. Rachel whispered soothingly to the beast. Melodia pricked her ears and nickered welcomingly to Rachel.
“I don’t believe it,” said a stablehand who had approached.
“Me neither,” admitted Breyind.
“All the same, m’lady,” the stablehand said. “I wouldn’t recommend getting up on her. She’s not properly trained.”
Rachel ignored their concerns and gesticulated to Breyind to help her up.
“This is not a good idea,” Breyind repeated.
“Trust me,” Rachel murmured to him as she accepted the leg-up. “I know this horse.”
She sat astride the mare without incident. The mare seemed to understand Rachel.
“Let us out,” Rachel asked.
The stable hand obeyed quietly. He and Breyind stepped back out of the way. The boy had a rope, ready to rescue Rachel and the mare if it came to that.
“Let me get you a bridle, m’lady,” offered another stableboy who had just joined them.
“I can get her saddle,” offered a third.
Rachel shook her head and squeezed her calves slightly. Melodia walked forward without incident. The pair rode out into the exercise paddock.
“I can’t believe it!” exclaimed one of the stableboys as they followed closely behind Melodia and Rachel. Breyind couldn’t believe it either, except that he was watching a miracle in the paddock.
“That horse has resisted all forms of training,” said the second. Breyind nodded, knowing the truth of the statement.
“Nothing has persuaded Melodia to accept any teaching,” said the third.
“Until now,” said Breyind very quietly. An amazing warmth spread through him as he watched the woman he loved work perfectly with the horse which could not be trained. She was a very special woman indeed.
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
