28
“I have a picnic for us today,” Adrick said. “I want to show you one of my favourite places in all of Velantia!”
“Sounds good for our last day,” Katja replied.
Adrick felt his heart sink. “Yes,” he said.
“I look forward to going home tomorrow,” she said.
“Don’t you want to stay with me?” Adrick asked from behind her. He tried to hide his feelings of desperation. He wasn’t ready to lose her so soon.
“I don’t know. I’m not sure I belong in Velantia. I belong in my world doing my job.”
“Rachel said it was a dead-end job – one where you can never get very far – barely paying the bills, whatever that means. Why do you want that so much?”
“It’s a world where my work makes a difference to a bunch of kids,” Katja said.
Adrick pulled up the horse near a lookout point. He dismounted and held Katja’s hand, looking up into her eyes.
“You could make a big difference to me, every day – just being you. I want you to marry me. Please?” he asked earnestly, desperately.
“I just don’t know, Adrick. Too many emotions,” she said fighting the tears. She did love him, but she didn’t want to choose yet...the implications were far too great.
“Don’t think you must give me your final answer just now,” Adrick whispered. “Don’t think of tomorrow just now. Think of us today.”
He lifted her down. He took off his cloak and spread it out on a patch of soft grass and they sat. He kissed her hungrily, running his hands along her body.
Katja felt her body awaken with desire. It didn’t make any sense to her, but she wanted him with all her being. Her hands ran along his body as the intensity grew.
She went to speak, accepting his deeper kisses instead. It only made her want him more.
“I want you so much,” he whispered. “I want you with me always!”
Katja’s heart wanted to sing with his so desperately. How could she keep denying herself the love of this amazing man?
“Are we truly alone?” she asked, smothering him with her returned kisses. She could no longer control herself – nor did she want to.
“We are quite alone,” he promised. “This is the King’s lookout – in the King’s wood. And the King is quite busy today!”
“Good!” she replied, laying back on Adrick’s cloak, pulling him to her. “I want you too,” she whispered desperately.
Desperately afraid she’d change her mind, Adrick was quick to reward her lustful longings as they shared their carnal passion.
When it was over, she lay under him totally inebriated with happiness and love. Adrick kissed her again and again. They lay in each other’s arms for a long time still, both completely content. “I want you here with me – like this – forever!” Adrick said. “Please marry me!”
“I don’t know,” she cried quietly – wishing she could give him his ultimate desire, but still so unsure.
“If you don’t know after that, how will you know?” he asked gently.
The tears steamed down her face. Didn’t lovemaking prove it? She wondered to herself. She felt that it should, but her heart was still such a jumble.
“I don’t know,” is all she could say.
He held her close. “Give me the chance to prove it to you? Every day?”
She didn’t answer, but got her clothes straightened out, still thinking about what had just happened. She blushed. Yes, she did love this man, but was that enough? The thoughts plagued her as they ate their picnic and spent the rest of the day together.
At the other end of the village, Breyind and Rachel were helping out with a livestock show. They sat in a small booth at the entrance to the small arena.
The announcer was using a simple megaphone to call the next class.
“I thought you might enjoy this,” Breyind said as Rachel handed a red ribbon first prize to the handler of a young horse.
She grinned back. “I used to do this many years ago! The only thing better would be to be winning the ribbons!”
“Maybe next time, when your goats are bigger,” he replied with a squeeze.
“What are these creatures?” she asked looking at the bovine-like creatures coming into the arena now. They really did look like cows, but they were taller, skinnier, with a stubby tail, and four horns instead of the two she was more familiar with. Some of them even had a curly coat.
“Jelip,” Breyind replied. “We eat a lot of it, one of our main sources of meat.”
“Do we raise any?”
“We have large herds above the orchards. I’ll take you to see them after the show, if you’d like.”
“I’d love that,” she replied watching animals walk around the ring with handlers keeping a firm grip on the leads. “There seem to be so many colours of them!”
“Yep – most colours happen. Some are nearly a rainbow! Their pelts are worth a fortune!”
“Maybe it’s time for us to expand our herds…,” Rachel suggested. “It could be fun.”
“I love it when you talk like that!” Breyind whispered, kissing her cheek.
“Looks like another class needing ribbons!” Rachel said, returning her attention to the show.
The last class was called, shown and awarded.
“Time to go for a ride?” he asked.
Rachel grinned as she mounted Melodia in her usual fashion.
Breyind was soon next to her on his horse.
“Watch!” she said as they turned onto the familiar trail. Then she clicked to Melodia who took off in a wild run up the trail.
Half afraid and half challenged, Breyind urged his horse to a gallop after them.
When at last he caught up with them at the edge of the orchard, Rachel was giggling hysterically, her cheeks rosy with the excitement.
“You scared me half to death!” Breyind scolded gently, pulling her towards him to kiss her. “Next time, I want to be with you.”
“You’ll have to ask Melodia!” she replied sitting straight again. “Don’t worry, she won’t let me fall!”
“In my head, I know this to be true. In my heart, it’s frightening beyond belief!” Breyind had dismounted. He pulled Rachel off the horse into his arms. “It’s also incredibly exciting!” He started kissing her possessively.
“Is there a hide nearby?” she asked, equally excited.
“I haven’t a clue!” he said. He set her down before taking his cloak off and throwing it on the ground. “I’ve been wanting you all day long!”
Katja’s thoughts continued to plague her as they rode back, even with Adrick’s frequent kisses on her neck and shoulders. She was wild with confusion – she knew she loved this man, but she felt the pull of her old world as well. Half of her wanted to put him out of his misery and consent to be his wife, but she was equally scared of leaving her world further behind – despite assurances that she’d be able to visit from time to time. At last, they reached the cottage. She kissed Adrick before he rode on.
Katja entered the cottage quietly. She felt that the flush in her cheeks would be instantly recognizable. Fortunately, Stella didn’t appear and Katja felt that she had got away with the secret.
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
