18. The Wind and the Sky Above
Chapter 18
The Wind and the Sky Above
T hey rode all morning and afternoon. His horse was fast— faster than any she had seen on man or Lord of Season. Even that rogue Silas. It seemed to obey his thought instead of his hand, and the ride was smooth.
But Celestine was not well. Her time with Tristien in his madness had done terrible things to her. She felt naked without her collar. She didn’t want Lord Azure to touch her, to hold her.
“It will be alright,” Azure spoke. His voice was like soft wood, bending under a bowmaker's hands. His eyes were brown with dashes of yellow, his skin the deep brown as many she had seen from the Blue Banners in the Painted Realm.
“What will you do with me, Lord Azure?” she asked.
Azure smiled softly. “Show you my world, and show you to it.”
“I meant…”
Azure raised an eyebrow. He was thicker than Tristien, handsome where he had been beautiful. A reserved composure emanated from him. “Did Encarmine take your maidenhead the first evening?”
“He did not.”
“When did he bed you?”
Though she had been naked but an hour past, she blushed in his arms. The further they rode from the Yellow Realm, the more parts of herself struggled to come back to life.
“He made it…a contest to win my affection.”
Azure considered this. “A contest? Like a tourney? Do tell..”
So Celestine told him. She did not hold back any details, and as she rode, held completely above the saddle in the Lord of Blue’s strong armored arms, his standard blowing proudly in the wind from its stirrup, and he listened. She told him of how Encarmine had fought and won her three ribbons. How he had come to her wounded and dying, how she had fought for him, and finally, what it was to know victory and defeat.
“Vermilion lived? How interesting.”
“I don’t believe he was supposed to.” Celestine passed the water skin back. Azure took it and slung it on the saddle. “But…”
The nomadic knight nodded. “You tended to him. You gave the fiend mercy. Encarmine never knew.”
It wasn’t a question. Azure was able to read her. It was never short of amazing to be near and dealing with these men who were men and so much more.
“Speak to me of Lord Solis.”
Celestine opened her mouth to speak…but instead, she wept.
Azure stared down at her, his hands running over the back of her dress lightly, feeling for her wounds.
He’s reading me. He’s reading what happened.
“Speak no more,” Azure said. “Rest.”
As much as possible, she fell into something different than sleep.
He won’t take me tonight, it seems. I just feel he will leave me alone.
When they entered his lands, it was a vast valley, so wide it was like an ocean of tall grass. In the distance, small numbers of people traveled, and nomads were on his land.
“Where do they live?” Celestine asked.
“Wherever their head lies at night. Unless granted by me, any land outside a home belongs to any and all people to roam as they see fit.”
Down in the large plains to the left, the ocean glittered. Far, far away, with no ships in sight.
“Come, we will sleep here.” Lord Solis pulled back on his mount. He gently lowered her to the ground.
The second and third pack horses came trailing up to them.
“The stream ahead, you can’t see it, but it’s to the north. If you wish to wash before dinner.” Lord Solis stepped down from his mount and planted his standard in the ground.
“Thank you…” Celestine turned.
“Other way.” Lord Azure was unpacking. “It’ll be uphill.”
He is more…normal than others.
Celestine walked in a daze. It had been a long, long ride here. To be out of the manor… out of the wall. The only thing that surrounded her was space. Grass and wind. She looked behind her to see Lord Azure setting up camp and continued upwards.
She fell upon the stream, literally. It was maybe a foot and a half wide but deep, like a laceration cut into this perfect earth. The soil was black, the smell of grass was pleasant. Celestine dipped her hands into the cold water, cleaning the grime from the immurement away.
She rubbed and rubbed. There were still blemishes black grime in the very cracks of her skin. She continued scrubbing and scrubbing. The wind blew across the plain, and when it touched her neck, where she felt like she had worn a collar for eternity, she screamed and fell backward.
Tristien sat across from her, smiling cruelly. His circlet glowing upon his brow. Celestine’s eyes went wide.
“No!” she shouted.
The wind howled faster as if it had heard her. Tristien was blown away, an apparition of her mind.
Celestine gasped, as if she could not catch her breath. She grabbed clumps of the earth to stop from falling back into the sky.
The wind swelled around her, bringing the breath she so desperately wanted. It touched her, comforted her.
She shuddered and fell into the grass, curling into a ball. The tall grass was cool, the wind warm, and the sun was high over the hill.
Away from any Lord or being, she fell asleep. Truly asleep, surrounded by nothing but grass and sky.
Celestine’s eyes whipped open. She sat up, moonlight pouring down on her. The trickle of the stream behind her reminded her where she was, what she was doing.
Quickly, she looked around. Tristien was not there.
My mind is still entombed. His very abuse leaves lash marks on my soul.
Celestine stood, a bit dizzy, a bit more herself. The night was chilled, but not cold. Down across the plain, she saw the glow of a great campfire and walked towards it.
The wind seemed to guide her, blowing tall grass down as she came. Coaxing her forward.
Lord Azure’s camp was impressive. She stepped forward, her shoes giving her trouble, so she took them off. When her bare feet touched the silken grass, she felt finally tethered to the earth.
If he touches me, I will break. My body and mind will seize. What Tristien did to me…
Reaching out, she could still feel the terrible stone of the wall that had held her captive.
Blinking, she stared at the camp and walked forward.
The three horses were unsaddled, each standing without a tether and moving to graze. A large and long banner of blue made the tent covering, protecting them from the wind. Great cushions and pillows sat, made of fox and wolf fur. On a long wooden post, a great falcon watched her from its perch. .
Azure sat, staring at a pot above the fire.
“Welcome,” Lord Azure said to her. The firelight crackled, and the pot smelled delicious. He was unarmored, his large frame clothed in simple garments, loose upon his build. His hair was close-cropped. He beckoned to a cushion next to him.
“I’m sorry, Lord Azure, I seemed to fall asleep…”
“I knew you would return when ready enough.” Azure shrugged. “The plain knows us all, and the wind tells our tale. It knows when we need to ride upon it, to run across it, and when to hide among its glorious grasses and hear the wind. Even in death.”
“I… thank you.”
“You are a guest in my camp; therefore, I am a guest in your company. It is customary for me to feed you, Celestine. May I serve you?”
She nodded. Azure sat leaned forward to bring a ladle to the pot. “Fresh hare, some wild onion, and a few other starches and bulbs I plucked from the land.”
“You went hunting.”
Azure smiled. “I really only provided the perch, Ferro here.” He pointed the spoon up at the falcon. “Is to thank for our bounty.”
“Thank you, Ferro.” Celestine smiled at the falcon. She was answered with a screech.
“Here you are.” Azure handed her a bowl with a smaller wooden spoon. “The bread should be warm if you reach down among the fire.”
Celestine leaned forward, seeing a loaf of bread nestled among the hot stones. She picked it up and tore it in half, handing some to him.
“Thank you,” Azure said and filled his own bowl. “Please, recline, enjoy yourself.”
Seeing the striped cushions and blankets on the soft, soft grass, Celestine turned and mimicked his posture. It was unusual to eat like this. Within a moment, she tasted the stew. It was exactly what she needed. It wasn’t just food; it was nourishment.
My soul is in tatters.
Azure ate as well, not rushing her, not doting upon her with questions. They ate and listened to the wind. The moon bathed the vast plain in white and blue light, and the fire warmed her. He served her a second bowl and a third until her belly was full.
I’ve been too long without proper meals.
“Do you know the beauty of wooden bowls, Final Bride of Calendar?” Azure’s deep voice brought her eyes from her empty bowl.
“No… Lord Azure.”
He smiled. “Easy cleanup.” He tossed his bowl into the fire.
Celestine laughed, startled by such a thing. She followed suit, and Azure laughed heartily.
“In my land, wine comes after the meal. It keeps fools from being born at the dinner table.” He reached up and pulled a wineskin down of horse-leather. “This was warmed in the fire. Would you like to try?”
Azure handed her the wineskin, and she drank deeply. Hot wine slid down her throat, spiced and tingling so much she shuddered.
She could feel her body again, if for a moment. Azure took the wineskin, taking a long pull.
“Wine isn’t native to my lands. My people love it, but we have to import it from other Banners. Fermented mare’s milk is the drink for most of my people, but it doesn’t agree with every stomach.”
“I’ll have to try it sometime.”
Azure shrugged. “Maybe. Should you choose to stay.”
“I’m free to leave, then? Even back to the Painted Realm?”
“All are free here,” Azure spoke. His handsome face turned serious. “There are no collars here.”
“As you say.” Celestine sat back on her cushions. Suddenly aware of how filthy her dress was. It appeared eating reclined was going to take practice.
“You called Solis another name. What was it?”
“Tristien.” Even saying his name brought a shudder.
"Interesting.” Lord Azure reached into a saddlebag sitting by and withdrew several pouches and a long clay pipe. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all. My father partook from time to time when friends were visiting on business.”
Azure nodded. “Tobacco is a fine leaf, though many grasses, roots, and herbs grow in my lands. I enjoy tobacco with a bit of sweetvine.” Celestine watched him fill the clay pipe with expert precision, taking pinches from several different bags. “I find life, like a well packed pipe, is about conflicting tastes.”
When the pipe was packed to his liking, he leaned forward and snatched a small burning twig from the fire. “Though there are very few pleasures after a meal better than a lit pipe.”
Azure puffed on the pipe, its cherry flashing at her. In a moment, his lips withdrew, and he exhaled myriad spices and scents into the air. The smoke danced away with the campfire. He took another long pull.
“Not what you expected, my great hall, is it?” he asked.
“It is lovely,” Celestine said. She touched the grass beyond the cushion. “Your housekeepers must have a hard time.”
Azure laughed differently, merrier. “You make me laugh, Final Bride.” His eyes relaxed, brown and warm, inviting her in.
If he touches me, I will break.
“We won’t see my great hall until it is time.”
“Until it is, what time?”
“Until you would like to, of course. If you ever do.”
Celestine looked down at her bare feet, something at home she would never permit another man to see.
How times change . How it changes us.
She didn’t like saying Tristien’s name. It was like an evil spell that she would walk back to.
“May I try that?” Celestine reached out to the pipe.
Azure raised an eyebrow. “This isn’t your father’s tobacco, Celestine. The sweetvine gives it a dusting of an intoxicant.”
“I feel like I could use a barrel of intoxicants right now.”
Azure sat up, puffing to keep the ember lit, and handed it to her. As she took it, he held the other end.
He looked at her, making sure she got his point. “It doesn’t take anything away.”
Celestine nodded. Acrid and sweet smoke billowed into her mouth as she puffed. She blew the smoke out into the air, her eyes already dancing. She coughed hard, and Azure handed her the wineskin.
“Sorry, Lord, I ugh…” Celestine coughed.
“It’s alright.” He took the pipe back.
A warm feeling came over Celestine. Not unlike a few glasses of wine, but different. Her head felt a bit fuzzy. The fire seemed to shimmer differently. She reclined among the cushions, listening to her own heartbeat.
Azure puffed on the pipe, watching the fire.
“I am not Encarmine,” he said after a while.
Celestine shook her head, entranced by the flames. Her mouth felt dry, and she drank from the waterskin.
Azure was staring at her.
He wants my body.
“I am not--” she began.
“Nor am I Solis, with his manor and manacles.” Azure stared at her.
Celestine nodded. “I may need some… time for our courting.”
Azure smiled. “My ways are much different, Celestine. You need not ever feel my touch. Even if we were betrothed. I am not here to hunt or control you. I only want you to do one thing.”
“What is that?”
“Rest.”
Now that the pipe had gone to her head and the warmth of the fire settled into her bones, she felt a deep comfort. The hot food filled her, leaving a pleasant fullness in her body. Out among the stars, this solace was different from the opulence of Suntower.
“I thank you for dinner, Lord Azure,” she said.
Azure stood with a smile. “One other thing before you retire, Lady Celestine.”
The world was spinning a little. The stars swirling above. “Yes, Lord Azure?”
His eyes fell upon her neckline.
“Remove your dress.”