Excerpt: Fire of the Covenant

Day 37: Bathing

Willoe slept poorly and woke early. Aeron still slept and it wouldn’t help her to wake him. After a week she had gotten accustomed to riding all day and Sergeant Trystan’s ointment had made it almost enjoyable, but she still had trouble sleeping at night, even though worn from the long days in the saddle. The Burning Lady’s words still haunted Willoe. She had not yet discovered anything about the promise her ancestors had made and was worried she wouldn’t know when the time was right to find the Lady in the Woods, or where to find her. No wonder sleep doesn’t come. She shook her head. The thoughts just wouldn’t settle.

She dressed and lifted the tent flap, stepped outside into the cold morning air. She pulled up the hood of her cloak and strode to the nearest campfire.

“I will get food.” The page Tomos, evidently up for some time, handed her a cup of warmed, spiced wine, then excused himself and headed off to the supply tent where the cooks would have something to break the soldiers’ fast.

Willoe stood there sipping at the wine, holding the mug in both hands. The bizarre simmering in her body still puzzled her, but she was happy that it kept her from being too cold. The heat and spicy taste of the wine gave her a different kind of warmth.

She scanned the camp, watching the servants and many of the Guardsmen prepare to break camp.

Willoe turned around and nearly dropped her wine when three naked wet men ran toward her. They were laughing and came toward the campfire. Her first thought was to run, but before she could convince her body to move, the men had arrived and stood with their backs to the fire. She tried to keep her eyes cast down at the ground. She lifted one eye, having never seen a man’s buttocks, and realized it wasn’t much different than a woman’s, though she wondered if they were all as hairy as these.

One of the men turned around and Willoe put her head fully down.

“Sorry, My Lord.” The man was still chuckling. “We thought a quick dip in the stream might take some of the grime off. Obliged you sharing your fire.”

She kept her eyes down and could see the man’s feet as he stepped closer.

“Are you well, My Lord?”

One of the things Aeron had taught her was that a gentleman, one of a noble birth, would always look someone in the eyes, whether an equal or someone from a lower class. To do otherwise would be considered dishonorable.

Squeezing the cup tightly with both hands, she looked up into the man’s eyes. She recognized him as one of Captain Harte’s Guardsmen.

“Prince Rowyn.” The Guardsman was a little taken aback. “I… I mean, we—”

“The road has been hard on us all, Guardsman.” She hoped her cheeks were not turning red; her face felt flushed. Not from the fire inside, but the embarrassment.

“We only meant to cleanse the filth.” The Guardsman seemed both flustered and startled.

“I wish more would follow your lead.” She tried to smile, without showing her teeth too much, but didn’t think it came off well. “The horses are beginning to smell better than the men.”

“That’s the truth, Your Highness.” The man laughed. The other two men had turned around and Willoe took a deep breath, keeping her eyes straight ahead.

“If it please Your Highness, we need to get dressed and make a report to our sergeant.” The man continued to smile.

“Do not let it be said that I kept the Captain’s Guardsmen from their duty.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” All three Guardsmen saluted, fist to chest, then ran off toward another part of the camp.

Willoe couldn’t help but watch. She had a strange feeling in her stomach and wondered if her noble husband would look as good. The thought only brought back what awaited her upon her return to Westhedge and she frowned when she saw the page returning with a full platter. Suddenly, food did not appeal to her.