The King of Anavrea (Book Two of the Theodoric Saga) Read Free Page B

his
beard and warm skin proved it. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
No matter how she tried, she could not swallow the lump in her
throat.
    So tired... I feel so tired. She could
not tell if they had stopped or not due to the swimming of her head
and it frightened her. A warm hand closed around hers and a voice
that she knew belonged to the man behind her asked her to shift
positions. Obediently she followed his directions.
    “Can I go back to sleep now?”
    “Yes,” the voice said. Lirth slipped back into
the oblivion of sleep and the blessed warmth holding her.
     
    ~~~~~~
     
    Her skin burned beneath his fingertips. Ireic
could feel the fever's heat even after he readjusted his thicker
cloak around her thin shoulders. Delirious and lost in her version
of reality, she murmured nonsense occasionally. He cradled her head
against his shoulder. It was the best he could think of in such a
situation. She needed food, warmth, and sleep. Just as he was about
to urge the horse into motion again, Isack approached.
    “Your brother sends word that the hound has
followed the southern rabbit.” Isack drew alongside as Ireic's
mount began to move. “Is she alright? She appears too frail for
this type of travel.”
    “I agree.” Ireic pulled her a little closer than
before. “How far are Trahern's men from us?”
    “About a mile north.”
    “Bring him to me please.” Ireic gazed out into
the night. “I need to ask him something about a change in
plans.”
    With a brief, “Aye,” Isack turned and
disappeared into the night.
    Ireic continued along the vague trail and
planned how to best handle the process of introducing his future
queen to his council. His people did not worry him. They would love
her because she was beautiful and his wife, a symbol of future
stability. She represented hope for heirs, sons to smoothly follow
in his path.
    Very few of his subjects knew he had already
provided for a smooth transition. In the event of his untimely
death, Trahern's son, Seth Theodoric would become king with his
father acting as regent until he was of age.
    Ireic’s thoughts were dragged back to the
present by the dull thunder of approaching horses. He greeted his
brother and bodyguard as they all came to a halt.
    “I wish to change course for the school,” Ireic
declared as soon as the two were within hearing. “The princess is
ill, and I don't believe that it will go well if the council gets
fed all the bad news at once.”
    Trahern frowned at the dark head visible beneath
the cloak. “I will send a messenger ahead to warn Eve. We can reach
the school by dawn tomorrow. Will she make it?”
    “Eve is of equal importance.” Ireic met his
brother's eyes. “Is it really safe to bring sickness into the
house?”
    “As long as it is not contagious.” Trahern
guided his horse closer so he could see Lirth’s face within the
cloak. “Is she asleep?”
    “Yes.” Ireic drew the cloak’s folds back so
Trahern could view for himself the feverish coloring in her cheeks.
“She is underfed and weak. She said they didn’t let her out of that
room for at least a year.” Ireic tried to contain the anger that
rose with the thought. The way she had flinched when he moved to
touch her spoke more eloquently than any words of their treatment
of her. Looking up, he recognized matching indignation in his
brother's eyes. “Is the man who held her prisoner dead?”
    Trahern nodded. “I am glad. I would not have
enjoyed chasing you chasing him.” Ignoring Ireic's new questioning
look, Trahern drew away. “I will see you there.” Then turning his
steed, he departed in the direction that he had come.
    “The school, sire?” Isack asked.
    “The school.” Ireic rearranged the wrappings
around his bride and urged his horse into a trot. They would plan
the best course of action after they all rested.
     
    ~~~~~~
     
    The sun cleared the eastern horizon as Ireic,
Lirth, and Isack crested the ridge overlooking Trahern’s school.
The red