24
Katja and Adrick returned to the cottage as the sun began to set.
Stella smiled as Katja entered the cottage. “You enjoy yourself?” she said almost more of a statement than a question.
“Yes.”
“Adrick is the best catch around, a real gentleman.”
“He is most wonderful… but...”
“You have to make a choice, Katja?” Stella asked knowingly. “Is the choice really so difficult? Rachel has already decided to stay. Better life here than the one she had… she thinks it is true for you as well. Perhaps it is easier when the choice is made for you?”
“What do you mean?” Katja asked.
“You have kissed him. You must remain here in Velantia an extra week beyond that which has already been required of you.”
“But I have a job! Can’t I come and go as you once did?”
“You know that the portal is temperamental. Except for a fleeting visit if you want your things, I know the Guardians will not let you through now for a week because you have kissed Adrick.”
“How do you know we kissed?”
“Stella knows many things,” the old woman answered.
Rachel and Breyind returned to the cottage.
“Come see what Breyind gave me!” Rachel gushed to Katja.
Katja followed Rachel outside. “What?” she asked.
“This is Melodia,” Rachel introduced her to the dappled grey mare.
“A horse! Of your own! How amazing is that?!”
“Apparently, no one could ride her – but she’s the one I dreamt of – in England,” Rachel said.
“She was meant for you!” Katja said with obvious wonder.
“You could have one too if you stay in Velantia.”
“How do you know anyone would give me one?”
“Trust me, I know.”
“Stop trying to persuade me. I don’t want to stay.”
“But you never wanted that life! Slogging away 9 to 5, looking after other people’s spoilt children – still looking for Mr. Right to come along, dreaming of friggin’ actors for cryin’ out loud!” Rachel reminded. “We even did a love spell! Then, we turn up here and these guys are right here looking for us!”
Katja was silent, but Rachel could see the pent up rage brewing. The kind that only brewed when she knew she was wrong and didn’t want to admit it. Rachel let it rest.
“Anyway, we are here to get my things,” Rachel explained to her friend as they went back inside. Breyind was talking with Stella. He looked up and smiled at his bride-to-be. Rachel went over and kissed him before going upstairs.
“Where are you staying?” Katja demanded, following her up the stairs.
“It’s a secret for now, but trust me that I am very happy.” Rachel went into what had been her room since being in Velantia.
“So you have moved in with Breyind?” Katja asked as she helped Rachel with her clothes.
“Yes, in a way. I’m sorry, I’m not allowed to tell you yet. It’s killing me to keep this from you!”
“You never were good with secrets,” Katja said. “Please?”
“No! Don’t ask me, please!” Rachel said with frustration.
“I’m tired of people keeping information from me,” Katja said sadly.
“I know. I felt that way too until yesterday. I only learned the biggest secrets today – after I decided that I trusted Stella and Breyind enough to agree to marry him,” Rachel said. “I decided that Stella was trustworthy enough and I have seen no red flags for either Breyind or Adrick.”
“I don’t know that I can do that…,” Katja replied.
“So are you going home tomorrow?” Rachel asked.
“No, not allowed to. The portal won’t let me because I’ve kissed Adrick.”
“You have?!” Rachel exclaimed smiling excitedly.
“Yes,” Katja admitted with a blush.
“So why don’t you just stay?! He’s perfect for you.”
“But Velantia is not home,” Katja insisted stubbornly.
“It could be, Katja. But I must go back to the...to where I’m living,” Rachel said going downstairs again, with her friend following her. Breyind joined them.
“I miss you!” Katja said giving her friend a big hug. “You realize that this is the first time we’ve lived apart since I moved to England!”
“But even England isn’t your ‘home,’” Rachel whispered. “California is your home!”
“England quickly became my home,” Katja replied.
“Velantia could become the same. Even better because you could use a portal to visit California whenever you wanted – no jet lag or expensive tickets either!”
“But I had time to want England!” Katja replied. “Velantia was forced onto me.”
“As the result of our spell,” Rachel reminded.
“Maybe,” Katja replied.
“Good bye. I’m still around – just at the other end of the village!” Rachel said hugging her friend and kissing her cheek. Then, she stood on a stone and called Melodia.
Katja watched as the horse came to Rachel and knelt down slightly to allow her friend to mount easily.
She watched Breyind shake his head in amazement again before getting on his horse and joining his beloved. They rode away together in the twilight.
Katja’s mouth still gaped open.
“I’ve never seen that,” Stella said next to her. “That horse could not be ridden… until Rachel. No saddle, no bridle either. In all my years, I have never seen that.”
Katja nodded. Then she felt the tears welling up again. She ran to her room and cried. She felt so confused!
“Katja,” came Stella’s voice outside her door. “May I come in?”
Katja didn’t want to answer. She didn’t want comfort – not like this anyway. She wanted… She wanted… She really didn’t know what she wanted, she finally realized. She just wanted peace. In England, she wasn’t happy either – but she knew where she stood, where she was and how to live her life. In Velantia it was still such a mystery – an unknown. Worst – she hadn’t chosen any of it! She’d only followed Rachel through the cave.
“Katja,” Stella tried again. “How about some tea?”
“Do you have coffee?” she asked opening the door.
“I don’t think so, but maybe we can fix that – just not right now,” Stella answered handing Katja the cup. “Why do you cry? Is Velantia not the answer to your spell?”
“Rachel told you about our spell? That was just some fun – to alleviate our boredom,” Katja replied.
“But the Guardians do not regard spells as ‘fun’ - they regard them as cries for help. Cries from your very soul – from pains so deep that even the rocks wish to cry out on your behalf!” Stella replied. “Still, isn’t Adrick everything you asked for?”
“He is – almost too perfect – like the movie characters we were infatuated with!” Katja said, sipping the herbal tea.
“But Adrick is real. He isn’t perfect, thankfully – that would be boring! But I cannot recommend a finer young man to you! I wish I could help ease your pain,” Stella answered.
“We don’t always eat as a family,” Breyind explained after supper as he returned her to her room. “We do try to eat together once a week and for special occasions.”
Rachel threw herself at Breyind in a passionate kiss. Breyind responded with delight. “Do I have to stay by myself?” she asked shyly. “I will be lonely.”
Breyind was surprised. “No, of course you don’t have to stay by yourself. I can call for some servants to stay with you.”
“No, that’s not what I mean, Breyind. Could I stay with you?”
“Are you sure you’d want to? I mean, don’t you want your privacy?”
“Not from you. In my land it is customary for lovers to stay together in the same bed,” Rachel said, feeling shy again.
Still slightly confused, he put his arm around Rachel again. “Of course you can stay with me! I’d just never heard of it...not in the royal house anyway. I think peasants do this, but I’d always thought it was because they didn’t have the means to sleep alone.”
Rachel smiled and went with Breyind to his room. For the second time that day, she let him undress her. She got under the covers and he joined her, climbing onto her again. “I like this idea,” he said kissing her.
“I thought you might,” she answered as she succumbed to passion.
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
