26
In the morning, Adrick rode to the cottage as had become his routine now. He was looking forward to taking Katja riding again. He couldn’t stop thinking about her.
The young woman came out before he had a chance to knock. She looked stunning in her violet gown. He wished he could give her one even more spectacular. He wanted to show her off to the world and woo her with his position and wealth – if that’s what it took to convince her to stay.
Yet, he knew that Stella would somehow know that he’d cheated. Worse, the Guardians might take pity on Katja and let her return to her world early – and he’d never see her again! No, he would live by the rules no matter how painful it was for him.
He gave Katja a kiss and was delighted that she returned it as eagerly as she had the previous day. Maybe there was hope yet! He lifted her to the horse. “You don’t have to sit astride like Rachel does. You can sit side-saddle like most of the ladies do.”
“I’m fine,” she said, sitting astride. “I just wasn’t used to it yesterday.”
“Your legs aren’t too sore?” he asked, remembering Rachel’s discomfort.
“No, they are fine. Stella gave me something to rub on them last night, so that they wouldn’t be.”
“I’m glad. She’s a good healer,” Adrick said. The old woman was also the only healer he’d ever known. “Where do you want to go today?” he asked.
“I want to see where you live,” Katja replied as he mounted behind her.
“Alas, that is something I cannot do yet,” he replied. “Try somewhere else!”
Katja’s anger flowed. “Always secrets! Always things are hidden from me! You guys are just as bad as my family! Always trying to control me!” The tears flowed from her eyes.
“Shhh,” he said kissing her hair and hugging her to himself comfortingly. “No one is trying to control you here, there are just some things I am not allowed to share with you until your final decision has been made.”
“But I have decided. I want to go home, but I am prevented!”
“I do not control the Guardians,” he soothed. “But maybe for the moment, you wouldn’t mind spending lots of time with me? Where do you want to go today...besides to my home?”
“Anywhere you want,” Katja said, sadly. “You have a week to change my mind.”
“I think I know just the place,” Adrick said clicking at the horse to walk.
“How’s it going with Katja and Adrick?” Rachel asked Breyind as they explored the orchards above the castle. She knew Katja’s side of the story, but she wanted to hear Adrick’s side too.
“He is having trouble convincing her to stay in the country,” Breyind replied sounding a bit dour. “I don’t know how to advise him. Maybe you have an idea?”
“Maybe she should know the secret,” Rachel said. “She doesn’t like making decisions with so little information. She doesn’t like trusting people with so many secrets – things that are important.”
“But that’s just why it’s a secret! Adrick doesn’t want her to marry him just because he’s the future King. She has to fall in love with HIM, nothing must influence her.”
“I know,” Rachel said with a sigh. “I am glad I fell in love with you before I learned you were a prince.”
“It’s why I love you so much too – I didn’t have to worry that you were pretending anything in order to impress me. I mean, you even hit me! Would you have done that if you had known who I was?” he asked.
“Probably not,” Rachel said honestly. “I would have been worried about offending you. Now, I can hit you all I want!” She playfully hit him.
He caught her hand and pulled her to him in a passionate kiss. “There are consequences for hitting a prince, you know!”
“I think I can manage,” she replied kissing him again. “Depends on the consequence, of course.”
“I might make your belly grow big,” he replied suggestively. “There is a hide up here – I use it for hunting. We could go in there for a few minutes.”
“Okay,” she replied, eager for his passion again.
Along another stream, Adrick and Katja were enjoying a picnic together.
“How does this place compare to your… England, I think you called it?” Adrick asked.
“We don’t have those snow-capped mountains, that’s for sure – at least not in the South,” Katja replied. “In California, though – where I grew up – we have those. But California gets much hotter than England, so there’s many things to trade.”
“What about your family?”
“My parents were very upset when I left California. They’ve not even visited me in England.”
“Maybe it’s too far?” Adrick supposed. Katja realized he was thinking of ships and horses.
“It’s not so very far on Earth. An aeroplane ride is all, not even that expensive these days and it’s not like my parents are too busy to manage a few days away.”
“I do not understand this ‘aeroplane’ you have,” Adrick replied.
“It’s like a ship, but it goes through the sky, very fast. It only takes a day to fly the 6000 miles from California to England… and that includes everything about the travel. So, I find it sad that my parents cannot find the time to visit me.”
“I understand – or will try anyway. It sounds like they don’t want to make the sacrifice. The Guardians tend to let only orphans come through the portal – and to them, you felt like an orphan, I guess.”
“Strange – Rach and I were talking about that – how I was also like an orphan,” she replied. “Stella says they heard our… ramblings.” She didn’t want to say the word ‘spell’ which had such negative connotations in her world – even in 21st century England.
“So, you care for other people’s children – orphans?” he asked.
“They’re not really orphans,” she replied. Then she thought. “I suppose in many ways they are though – they’re in my care during the day while their parents work their jobs to make money to live.”
“Here, you wouldn’t have to work. Not like that anyway. Only to help raise a family – with me?” he said. He kissed her. “If I asked you nicely?”
She kissed him back, her emotions in a turmoil again. His answer sounded so simple. Her heart wanted her to agree to anything he wanted – if only he would always love her – and let her live in her world… Her head interfered again.
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
