The wind whistled past Kailynn's ears as she fell through the air. The dark rose up to swallow her as the lantern in the window that she had jumped from got further and further away. She fell for what felt like forever before landing in the hay pile. As soft as it was it still knocked the wind out of her lungs. Choking and trying to get her breath back, she rolled out of the hay and into the mud created by the last two days of rain. The mud was cold and immediately coated her body, causing her undergarments to cling to her and become almost transparent with the standing water that covered the mud's surface.
With a soft grunt, Sera landed in the pile of hay and rolled out just like Kailynn had. Sera grabbed Kailynn's arm and started marching her toward the stable. Behind them another window burst open and two figures jumped out into the darkness as the town guard appeared in the window behind them. Sera quickened her pace but did not run. As they reached the stable, the carriage driver pulled out of the front double barn doors in the drivers seat of the carriage. The man looked as though he had dressed in the dark and the horses were nervous. The driver jumped down and opened the carriage door for Sera and Kailynn. "Aren't we one short Lady Beaufort?"
Sera paused as she rushed Kailynn up the carriage steps. "She is no longer with us Geoffrey. Wait for The Bard and Alac but not a second more please." Kailynn's stomach dropped. No longer with us. You mean dead. She's really not coming.
"Yes Lady Beaufort," the driver touched his cap, "I can hear them headed our way now. I'll wait in my seat." With that, he climbed into his seat high on the carriage.
The Bard and Alac came running up as the front doors to the inn burst open behind them.
"Stop!" The command rang out with authority from behind the running men. "Lord Waghts commands you to stop!"
Without breaking stride, The Bard leapt into the carriage and scrambled out of the way to sit across from Sera just in time for Alac to make the same leap and sit facing Kailynn.
"Onward driver!" Alac roared as he slammed the carriage door shut. Geoffrey shook the reins and shouted to the horses to get moving. As the horses broke into a fierce trot and then into a gallop, the town guard came running up only to be left behind as the carriage vanished into the dark.
The Bard turned to Kailynn. "I'm sorry for your loss," his voice low and soft. "There is nothing I can say or do to make it easier, but if there is, please just ask."
"Can you take me home?" Kailynn looked at Sera pleadingly, "Please Lady Beaufort. Just take me home. Please?"
Sera blinked away the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "My dear princess, that is exactly what I am doing. I'm taking you home."
❧
Sera had produced a valise from under the carriage seat and withdrawn two sets of traveling clothes. Kailynn's trousers were a dark brown to match the knee high brown boots and her unflattering white blouse tucked in and was secured with a wide black belt. Sera had commanded the men to turn around while she and Kailynn stripped, threw their wet and muddy things into the valise and changed. Sera reached out and lightly wiped one of Kailynn's cheeks off with a handkerchief. Then she put one palm on each side of Kailynn's head and tilted her head back to look Sera in the eyes. "My Lady, I'm sorry about Annie."
Tears welled up again in Kailynn's eyes but her head could not escape Sera's grasp.
"I truly am sorry," Sera repeated. Kailynn threw herself against Sera's chest and wrapped her arms around Sera's waist. Deep heart rending sobs escaped her as Sera whispered comforting things in her ear all the while stroking Kailynn's wild hair. The Bard and Alac became consumed with whatever flora was becoming visible out their carriage windows in the breaking grey light of dawn.
Finally Kailynn sat up wiping her face on her blouse sleeve. Turning to face the men, she realized that they were still only half dressed. Both of them were much younger than she had originally thought. Their bodies spoke of a very physical life. Hard planes of muscle swathed their frames and while The Bard was definitely more pale than the tanned brown skin of Alac, his brown curly hair framed the most striking blue eyes she had ever seen. Alac's eyes by comparison were a rich grey-green and his long loose black hair hung over his shoulders framing him as if he were some lost forest god.
"My Lady," The Bard interrupted her staring. "While I am by no means ashamed of my body, I would have it belong to someone else. I regret my level of undress when you came into my room this evening. I do apologize."
Sera chuckled as she dug under the seat for another valise. "You mean when you were naked?"
The Bard reddened slightly, "Yes. I do in fact mean that."
"Why did you call me "My Lady"?" Kailynn interjected stopping the jovial retort forming on Sera's lips. Kailynn turned to face Sera and then back to The Bard. "Both of you called me that. Why?"
Sera glanced meaningfully at The Bard as she handed him and Alac a change of clothes. "Kailynn, there is so much you should have been told by now." Sera sighed, "The Bard here knows the story the best."
"I do. If it pleases you, I'll tell it after I change?" The Bard gestured with the pile of clothes in his hands.
"Oh! Y-yes please do!"
The Bard and Alac sat there for a minute. Alac huffed and stood bent at the waist in the carriage and hooked his thumbs into his sleeping trousers and pulled them down in one smooth motion.
"ALAC!" Sera yelped her hand going to cover Kailynn's eyes as she averted her own gaze. "For the Line's sake!"
"Bard here did say we needed to change, I thought she meant to watch?"
Kailynn's cheeks grew warm as she looked out her carriage window. That was the second time now she had seen a man on full display. Without a frame of reference, she wasn't sure if what she had seen tonight was impressive or not, but she felt impressed. Or embarrassed. Or both. It was probably both. The sounds of the men grunting their way through changing filled the small space as their scents did. Someone smelled wild and like a forest, while the other gave off the scent of fire smoke and ale. Kailynn flushed deeper as the images of both men naked flashed into her mind. Clearly Sera had some feelings or relationship with The Bard and Alac just seemed to be a stone wall with no qualms about anything. Had they all known each other for a long time or was this as new for all of them as it was for her?
"Well that's a lot better!" The Bard pronounced as he settled back into his seat and gestured to Kailynn as she looked back at him from the window. "And now I know you have questions. I'm all ears."
"Better than all mouth like normal," Alac muttered as he finished pulling on his black forester boot. He was dressed in head to toe midnight black which made his eyes stand out even more.
The Bard laughed tilting his head back as he settled back into his seat across from Sera. "Alac, you are just mad that you had to leave your favorite sword."
"They were all my favourites!" Alac growled out with a deep rumble from his chest. "Now I have to go back and get them. I'm not leaving the twins or The Carver and The God-Killer in the hands of those simpletons."
"He names his weapons," The Bard explained seeing the confused look on Kailynn's face. "He will get them back. He always does."
Sera cleared her throat. "Weren't you about to give Kailynn here some answers?"
"Ah, yes!" The Bard rubbed his hands together, "Its easier with an instrument, but I can do without. The easiest way is to tell you the story of the Ash Crown King and then I'll answer your questions after, okay?"
Kailynn nodded.
"Well then. It all started about three hundred years ago..."