Chapter 10
 Aquila pulled her horse up as she approached a low hanging limb.  They were traveling
on a narrow path through very heavy foliage.  Trouble had had no problem leaning to
the side of the horse to miss it, but Aquila had one big issue that kept her from ducking or
leaning as Trouble had.  “Um, Trouble.”
 Trouble, already a few feet away, reined up and turned around in the saddle.  His face
said he wanted to die laughing but one look from Aquila told him he had better think twice. 
He turned the horse around and came back.  “There is no way the horse can go around the
limb with all of the trees and bushes.  Hm...can you climb over?”
 Aquila looked at him as if he had lost his mind but then studied the limb.  It was a sturdy
limb and could probably hold her weight.  At least what the limb would get.  She could
keep most of her weight on the horse if she kept one foot on the back end of the horse as
she lifted her other foot over the limb and planted it in the stirrup of the saddle.
 “Hand me the reins and I'll hold the horse steady,” Trouble said as he climbed off of his
horse.
 Aquila obeyed and Trouble led the horse under the limb until Aquila was directly in front
of it.  Aquila slowly and cautiously balanced herself on her knees on the top of the saddle
and then stopped.  “How do I do this?”  Aquila was starting to panic.  Her original plan
had been a good one but the process of getting there was a scary ordeal.  The horse could
shift at any moment sending her crashing to the ground beneath it.  And her stomach was
hindering her from lifting her leg so that she could plant her foot securely on the horse and
lift the other one over the limb.  
 “Change of plans,” Trouble said hitting himself on the head.  Ducking under the branch,
he reached up to stabilize her.  “Let me help you down and you can walk underneath.
Then I will help you back up on the other side.”
 Aquila's mouth gaped.  “How come we did not think of this before?”
 “I have no idea,” Trouble shook his head.
 Aquila placed one of her hands on Trouble's shoulder until he had her in his arms and then
she wrapped her arms around his neck.  For a moment he held her in his arms and Aquila's
mouth parted slightly.  He is so strong.  He lifts me now with just as little effort as he
did before.
 Trouble accepted the invitation.  Dropping the reins, he enveloped Aquila with his
powerful arms and leaned forward.  His kiss was ever so gentle yet possessive.  
 When he pulled away, Aquila spoke in an almost inaudible voice.  “I think this pregnancy
is causing mental blocks.  Please excuse my lack of intelligence.  I promise it shall come back
to me when this child is born.”
 Trouble chuckled.  “You are excused.”
 Trouble held her yet for a few more seconds before setting her on the ground.  When they
were both re-situated on their horses, Aquila asked, “Who are they?”
 “Ah, yes, they,” Trouble nodded, having momentarily forgotten about their previous
conversation.  “There were two children born to one of the maidservants, who had been
married to one of the executed menservants, who were imprisoned.  Because the children
were innocent of any wrong doing, they were released from prison when they were old
enough to make a life of their own away from their mother.  But their father was one of the
band leaders, who had convinced his wife of their right to the Lucian royalty, who in turn
passed it on to her children before they left her. You see, there was one valuable, priceless,
heirloom that was known across the kingdom to represent the Lucian royalty and whoever
had it was revered as the highest person in all the land of Lucia.  Their influence and power
would be great and everyone would follow them.  That heirloom was lost in the chaos and
was never found on any of the maidservants or the bodies of the male servants.  When the
children of the maidservant were released, it was rumored that they had somehow had
possession of the priceless heirloom all along, and that now they were out to rule the
kingdom.  As that circled around, a band of the royal guard came back together to reclaim
the heirloom in hopes of restoring it to the rightful place: buried in the sea where the whole
world believed the royalty to have perished.  They retrieved the heirloom, but one of the
royal guards became greedy and stole the heirloom himself.  He disappeared without a
trace.  It is believed to have passed from one cut-throat's hands to another, but the children
of the maidservant and their clan has been after it ever since.  Finally Pleo received a
missive from one of his men that they now had possession of the heirloom but Pleo never
saw or heard from him again.  That was about two years ago.  There is word that they
have discovered the whereabouts of the unfortunate possessor of the heirloom and has
even sent two assassins to retrieve it.  The first assassin was supposed to have returned
the heirloom just over a year and a half ago...but he never returned and so they sent a
second one who was the unfortunate victim of the first assassin's blade...mine, in fact.”
 “The heirloom?” Aquila said as she reached down into her robe and pulled out the
small velvet pouch.
 “That cross pendant in the red velvet pouch you keep hidden away in your robe,”
Trouble responded without even looking back.
 “And how did you know where I kept it?”
 “Well, I searched the castle for it while you were gone, first off.  Second off, I
searched you one night and found it,” Trouble said matter of factly.  This time he looked
back.
 Aquila's cheeks reddened and she quickly looked away.  “So, that was only a week
and a half's time.  What did you do for all of those months?”
 “Well, after he told me all of that, I realized that these people would not rest until they
had the pendant back.  I figured you would not mind me being gone a little bit longer and
so I left to track them down.  It took me two months to track them down and another
month to find the right time and method of annihilating them.  Then I doubted my reasons
for keeping you the way I did.  I was obviously being selfish.  You really did not want
me anymore and I would no doubt be sentencing myself to a life of bitter estrangement
that would not make either of us happy.  It took me a few weeks before I decided that
I could not leave you without giving you the reason why I left and tell you that I had
released you from our commitment to each other.  You had been gone for what had to
have been only one week when I got to the palace.  I stayed at the palace with my
doubts for a week more before finding myself in your room.  It was there that I had
this sudden desire to hold you again.  Then I thought of how it must have been Dirrach
who had carried you off and I was furious that he would cross the line and take
something that was mine away from me. So then I tracked you down.  And that
concludes my story.  So tell me about your story.”
 Aquila shivered as she remembered the cold nights she spent wondering where
he was. “Well, I waited for you.  After about a month I found myself greeting the sun
every morning watching for you at the edge of the mountain.  It got cold, too.  I ran
out of wood and I was afraid that you would return the instant I was gone to chop
down a tree for firewood and you would be angry with me.  You should know that
I was completely intimidated by you and feared your wrath so horribly, that I spent
my nights in cold darkness.”
 Trouble was silent and Aquila proceeded.  “Then one day Dirrach showed up and
the next thing I knew, I was running off with him and his clan.  He introduced Yerik
to me first off and told me that he was my body guard.  So from then on, day in and
day out, we traveled on.  The Beldarak Thadal was the worst experience I have ever
had.  We lost my horse and I had to scramble up with Yerik on his horse.  But it was
so cold.  I had a fever for a few days afterwards.  It was only a day or so later that
Earh came running up with your threat to Dirrach.”
 “Hm,” Trouble grunted acknowledging that he had heard her.  Silence fell for a long
while as they continued to forge their way through the jungle.  Finally Trouble cleared
his throat awkwardly.   And what was Yerik like?”
 Aquila sighed.  “Nothing like you.  He was rather clumsy, not very good looking
at all...and he could hardly hold my weight.”
 Trouble looked back and grinned.  “That really matter to you?”
 “If you had not come along first it would not have mattered at all.  But having met
your strength first...I could never forget the way you could lift me with ease.  And
when he asked me if I preferred him or you...I could not help but compare you two. 
Where you were graceful and poised, he was the total opposite.  He often stumbles
or kicks rocks when he walks.  And as I said earlier...you could no doubt have lifted
me onto the horse with no help from me and not had a problem but he could hardly
assist me onto the horse.  He was the perfect gentleman, but I knew that he could
never possibly be as gentle and loving as you are, and that I could never spend the
night with him as husband and wife without thinking of you. It would not have been
fair to him and I would have regretted my choice for the rest of my life.  I would
spend it pining away for a man I willingly turned down.  I only wish he had not taken
it so hard.  He might have found him a wife who could love him like he deserved. 
He could have been very happy with someone else, if he had only given it up!”
 “Do not torment  yourself over it.  He did what he had to do,” Trouble offered.
 “What he had to do?” 
 Trouble looked back at her understandingly.  “Honor.  In his mind I was only the
wretched man I used to be.  If I had been in his place, I would have done the same
thing.”
 “But you called him a foolish boy.”  Aquila was confused.
 “I did.  But not because he tried to protect you.  Because he acted in anger.  You
never strike in anger.  It clouds your senses and leaves you prone to make mistakes. 
Deadly mistakes, like his,” Trouble explained.  Sighing, he continued, “No, he was
not foolish because he tried to protect you.  The men in his camp will give him a
heroes funeral.  After all, he tried to take a stand against the Woman.  Anyone
who does that is revered as the greatest man who ever lived.  I have that reputation.”
 “But you are different now!”
 Aquila sounded so triumphant over that fact that Trouble turned around and
smiled.  “I guess I am at that, my love.”
 “I guess that makes me the greatest woman alive.”
 “How is that?”
 “Because I took a stand and conquered you with my love.”
 Trouble laughed.  “Yes, you did.”
     **********
 It took a week of traveling before Trouble pulled up in front of a small shack
just outside of a small town.  It would have only been a few days as Dirrach had
said except that Trouble had discovered he was a little rusty on his directions from
his extended absence.  A wisp of smoke curled out of the chimney and
disappeared into the drearily clouded sky.  Lightning flashed in the distance and
the thunder slowly rolled in as rain could be smelled in the humid air.
 Aquila saw the light in the window and breathed a sigh of relief.  “She must be
expecting Dirrach back to be up this late.”
 Trouble did not say anything as he sat motionless on his horse.  Aquila studied
his profile under his wide brimmed hat as he seemed to have forgotten she was
there.  His jaw tightened and then loosened to just tighten once more.  


 “Trouble, sit down and be quiet...go cut some firewood...stop it, Trouble,
I am busy...go feed and milk the cows...you are nothing but trouble, did you
know that...clean that mess up, Trouble...why can you not be like your
brother...I wish you would just disappear...”
 It all came back to Trouble as the familiar smell of his mother's apple dumplings
met his nose.  Mother's apple dumplings were Father's favorite.  She definitely
was looking for him.  
 Why had he come back?  The last time he saw his mother was that morning they
discovered his stash of stolen goods.  It was nothing big, only a couple of pieces
of candy, a special rock he had had his eyes on for months on the general store's
shelf, a small knife, and a few other toys.  He had been ten at the time and when she
said, “I wish you would just disappear,” he decided to grant her her wish.  
 His life he had spent working for his father almost every minute of the day.  But
when he was not working, he was always asking his mother questions about things
or tried to help her do things.  They always proved disastrous and she would
constantly belittle him for his failures.  She also never found time to answer his
questions, instead telling him she was busy and he was just being a bother.
 When he left, he figured he was doing them all a favor.  She wanted him to
disappear and he wanted to get out from under his father's thumb.
 “Who is out there?” a soft voice called from the shack.
 Trouble all of a sudden realized that it had started to rain and had grown
considerably darker.  He looked at Aquila who was just watching him.  “Sorry, my
love,” he whispered and quickly dismounted.


 Aquila breathed a sigh of relief when Trouble reached up to help her down.  She
was soaked and getting rather cold.  Fear of a relapse from her previous bout with
the cold caused her to send a quick plea up to Deus for mercy.
 After Trouble set her on the ground, she preceded him to the open door.  She
could see the tall woman that stood there waiting and instantly saw the similarities in
the woman and her son.  
 When they were both in the light where the woman could see them, she gasped
and took a step backwards.  “Trouble!”
 “Hello, Mother,” Trouble nodded as he removed his hat.
 Trouble's mother recovered enough to realize Aquila's presence and state of her
pregnancy.  “Quick, come in out of the rain.  You must be cold.”
 “Mother, this is Aquila,” Trouble said once he had removed his soaked trench
coat and shut the door.  “She is my wife.  Aquila, this is my mother, Kasaba Woman.”
 Kasaba only glanced at him as she ushered Aquila over to the fire.  “Stand here
while I go fetch something for you to change into.  We can not have you wearing wet
monks clothes.”
 Aquila was led to the hearth that sat in the middle of the large room.  Kasaba
disappeared into a small room at the back of the small rectangular room.  Aquila
looked up and found an ink sketch above the modestly sized fireplace's mantle of
Dirrach, Kasaba, and a young man who resembled Trouble and Dirrach.  The sketch
seemed to be missing something but Aquila could not put her finger on it.  
 Aquila looked down dismally at the gray and white Crocotta rug that was being
drenched.  Hopefully it would dry and not ruin.  
 She sighed as she saw the Crocotta fur lined chaise with a hand carved oak wood
framed glass table in front of it.  On the other side of the room was a simple but
sturdy oak table with four chairs placed around it.  In the center of the table sat a
steaming pot that smelled of the apple dumplings that made Aquila hungry with the
rich cinnamon spices emanating from the dessert.  
 There were two windows on the front end, one on each side of the solid oak door. 
A lamp hung above both and Aquila felt sorry for the woman knowing the news they
had to bare.
 Kasaba appeared in the doorway.  “Come this way, Aquila.”
 Aquila quickly obeyed and Kasaba led her into a small room barely big enough for
them and the large bed and elegant oak armouir it held.  Dirrach must have been an
excellent craftsman.
 “You can change in here in privacy.  I hope these things work,” Kasaba said as
she handed her some pieces of clothing.
 “Oh, I am sure they are fine, thank you so much,” Aquila smiled her gratefulness.
 Kasaba disappeared out the door and Aquila quickly changed.  She then
scooped up her wet things and returned to the living room.  It was very quiet and
Aquila could feel the awkwardness of the reunion.  She hurried to the outside door
and said, “I will just toss these things outside and hang them up to dry in the
morning when it stops raining.”
 “Oh, no.  Surely you do not go around wearing monk's clothes all day.  You
can just throw them in the fire,” Kasaba shook her head.
 Trouble grinned.  “Actually, Mother, she does.”
 “Yes, I do.  And I only have two sets so I must save these,” Aquila explained.
 Kasaba looked perplexed but did not object any more.  When her mission was
through, Aquila took her place at Trouble's side and noticed that he, too, had
found dry clothes to change into.  She looked from Kasaba's averted eyes to
Trouble's concerned expression.  Aquila was completely at a loss as to what to
say.  
 “How is Oserene?” Trouble offered.
 “He is doing well.  He got married eight years ago to a lovely young woman,
Poges. They have only had one child but are hoping for another one.  Oserene is
the law around here, now,” Kasaba replied.  “I assume you have seen your father
and that is why you have come.”
 “Yes, Father.  About Father, Mother...he is dead,” Trouble said awkwardly.
 Kasaba gasped and buried her face in her hands.  “And I suppose you were
the cause of that!” she accused.
 “No, I was not.  He charged me with his sword with Aquila in between us
and he was fired upon by other men.  They had no choice, Mother,” Trouble
explained.
 Kasaba was uncontrollable for quite some time.  Aquila and Trouble had to
escort her to the chaise and wait for the flood to subside.  Aquila patted her
arm and offered comforting words like, “He was a good man.” and “He loved
you very much.” even though she did not even know how much Dirrach loved
Kasaba.  She had to guess on that part.  
 When Kasaba was finally able to compose herself, she became a completely
different person.  All signs of tears disappeared and she patted Aquila's hand. 
“When are you due, dear?”
 “In about two and a half or three months,” Aquila responded.
 Kasaba looked at Aquila's enlarged stomach and thought for a minute. 
“You must stay in my bed until the baby is born.”
 “Oh, no, I could not intrude on you like that,” Aquila objected.
 “Oh, yes you can, and you will.  Trouble will see to that,” Kasaba raised
her chin triumphantly.
 “I will?” Trouble confirmed.  Kasaba gave him a look and Trouble turned
to Aquila.  “I will.”
 Kasaba suddenly turned sad and took Trouble's hand in hers.  “Trouble,”
she sighed.  “I made the greatest mistake in treating you as I did.  I was not a
very good mother to you. A—after you left...there was this hole in my heart that
has never healed.  I have cursed myself and berated myself many a time since
that day you left.  I could not stop missing the little boy who was always asking
questions...that I never seemed to have time for.  Dirrach does not know this, but
I have been praying for you to come back ever since.  And now you have. 
Please do not leave me again.  I know I was harsh in accusing you of Dirrach's
death but...”
 Trouble wrapped his mother in his arms and gently held her to his chest.  “Do
not worry, Mother.  If we part, it shall not be on such terms.”
 Aquila furiously wiped at the tears that were pouring down her cheeks.  If only
I had a mother to go home to.  But I do not even have Wren.
 Kasaba hugged her son for a moment before noticing Aquila.  “Oh, Trouble,
take Aquila to bed.  She is exhausted.”
 Trouble kissed his mother's forehead and then stood.  “Yes, Mother.  Aquila,
you heard her.  Off to bed we go.”
 Aquila giggled through the subsiding tears at the way he said “we” and quickly
scooted off of the chaise and into the back room.  Trouble was close on her heels
and was quick to wrap her in his arms when the door was shut.  “Oh, my love!  I
am never leaving you alone for as long as I live.”
 “You know that is not possible.  You must make a living somehow and I cannot
follow you along with children and a house to tend to,” Aquila shook her head.
 “Then I suppose I shall have to leave you with my mother while I am gone. 
Mother was always a strong woman and can protect you when I am not around.”
 “Are you sure she will like that?”
 “She will love having you around with a grandchild,” Trouble assured her.
 Aquila chuckled.  “Children do have that affect on people.”
     ********
 “So, what is next for the two of you?” Kasaba asked them as she set cups of
steaming coffee in front of them the next morning after breakfast.
 Trouble had just finished filling his mother in all that had gone on for the past
two years. Breakfast had now been cleared away and Aquila was massaging her
stomach as pain sliced through her core.
 Kasaba frowned for a second as Aquila grunted but thought nothing further of
it. Trouble did not notice it at all and shrugged.  “I figure I will try to find a job
around town. Maybe go talk Oserene into deputizing me.  But I reckon a felon
such as myself could not be given such a job.”
 “Nobody in town knows your identity.  And Oserene can be talked around,”
Kasaba informed him.
 “Then I shall see him today when I go into town,” Trouble concluded.  
 “Do not bother going into town.  I shall send a missive inviting them to dinner
tonight. We can have a family reunion and you can meet Poges and Olga,” Kasaba
suggested.
 “Good.  It will give me time to get some things done around here.”  Trouble
stood and kissed Aquila on the forehead before heading out the door.
 Kasaba watched Aquila for a moment before leaning forward and placing her
hand on Aquila's stomach.  “Do you have any brothers and sisters?”
 “Eight of them.”
 “Is there a history of twins in your family?”
 “The two underneath me are twins, why...”  Aquila looked down.  “Oh.”
 “I think we are expecting more than one.  What have you been doing in
preparation for these babies?”
 “What have I been doing?”
 “Yes, like making clothes, diapers, and the other necessities needed for the
care of an infant.”  Aquila looked horrified.  She knew nothing of how to prepare
for a baby.  
 Kasaba saw the look and her mouth dropped slightly.  “You mean you have
not done anything?”
 “I know nothing of how to prepare for a child,” Aquila explained.  “The twins
were the only ones underneath me and I remember nothing of my mother's
preparations and she died when I was very young.”
 Kasaba instantly sprang into action.  “Let me see what I have left over from
Trouble and Oserene.  Probably not much.  I think I sent most of it to Poges when
she was pregnant with Olga.”
 Aquila followed Kasaba to the back of the house and into a closet.  Kasaba
opened various boxes and shook her head.  “Poges has them all.  I shall ask her
about them tonight and see what condition they are in.”
 “How far is town?” Aquila asked.
 “Oh, not far.  Why?”
 “I want to get the feel of this place.  Trouble talks as if he wants to settle down
in this town.  You could go with me and give the missive to Oserene.”
 “That is a good idea.  Let me go get the horses ready.”
 Aquila did not ask to help.  She had given up all attempts to assist in such
preparations. Instead she slowly wandered outside and towards the stables.  It
was a beautiful place.  The gray stone with a thatched roof and a chimney rising
above it to the right gave it a quaint and cozy atmosphere.  
 The smoke did not bother the birds that blissfully sang from the trees that
completely surrounded it, sealing it off from the outside world except for one gravel
road that seemed to simply disappear into the foliage beyond.  
 Aquila looked around and frowned.  Where was the barn?  She circled the
whole cottage but found nothing.  She was thoroughly confused by the time Kasaba
appeared in a buggy coming up the one road leading in.  
 Kasaba read the look and nodded.  “The barn is just beyond.”
 “Oh.”  Aquila grunted and groaned her way up into the buggy.  “You do not
think I will look a scary sight?”
 “What?  The fact that your stomach is five times as big as your body?  Yes,
but they are kind people and will not say anything,” Kasaba said matter-of-factly.
 Aquila looked at her incredulously but said nothing.  The trip into town was
much less overshadowed as the house.  The road led out of the trees into open
space that seemed to relieve the oppression Aquila had begun to feel.  “I think
I want to live on a farm out in the middle of nowhere.  Something like this. 
There are trees but not so many that you can't see the sky or enjoy fresh
uninhibited air.  Here there is plenty of room for the kids to run around without
worrying about thorns and briars.”
 “That would be a wise decision.  Trouble and Oserene were always coming
in with scars,” Kasaba noted.
 The picture of the scar that ran across Trouble's back suddenly flashed
through Aquila's mind.  She had seen it that first day when she bandaged him
up from the spear in his side. Somehow she had not thought to ask him about
it since.  Now it plagued her.  “How did he get that scar on his back?”
 “What scar on his back?” Kasaba frowned.
 “Oh, he must have gotten that while he was gone.”
 “Most undoubtedly.  What does it look like?”
 “He has one thick long scar that runs from his left shoulder to the bottom right
side of his back.”
 “We shall have to ask him about that.”
 The remainder of the trip into town was quiet but when Kasaba appeared in
town, a small town called Kantuuk, people began pouring from one side of the
street to the other to meet her.  Aquila was perplexed.  “Do you always get such
a greeting?” she asked her mother-in-law.
 “No,” Kasaba shook her head in a quandary all her own.
 “Kasaba, are you all right?”
 “Have you heard about Dirrach?”
 “Kasaba!”
 “Do you need anything?”
 Everyone was talking at once asking questions about Dirrach and her well
being. Suddenly a tall man appeared cutting through the crowds.  “Mother!”
 Kasaba had already put the brake down on the buggy and handed the reins
off to another man so that the tall stranger simply lifted her down and whisked
her away.  The crowd seemed to follow, completely ignoring the other woman
in the buggy.  
 Aquila watched the crowd disappear into a saloon.  Sighing, she folded her
hands in her lap and waited a moment.  Surely Kasaba would remember her. 
Right now she was at a loss as to what to do.  The feat of getting down from
the buggy seemed much scarier than getting up.  
 When some time elapsed and she had obviously been forgotten, Aquila finally
looked over the side.  “Fine.”
 It was slow, and even scarier than just thinking about it, but she finally
managed to touch ground.  Straightening her skirt of which she was
unaccustomed to wearing, she looked around.  The general store was easy to
spot and so she decided to venture in.  
 Tanner's General store was well stocked and seemed to be decently priced
as well.  She looked over the dry goods well and then moved on to a section
that was devoted to clothing.  There was some baby things that she began
picking up and examining.  
 “Excuse me, can I help you?”
 Aquila jumped, startled at the sudden presence of the woman addressing her. 
“Oh, no.  I am just looking.”  Aquila looked up at her and then at the taller man
beside her.  She had seen that man before.  It only took a moment to place him. 
“You must be Oserene Woman.”
 “Y—yes, I am.”  The man stuttered out as he looked at the other woman. 
“How did you know?”
 “I saw your picture with your parents above the mantle,” Aquila said as
if that would explain everything.  
 “Picture?  You know my parents?” Oserene asked.
 “Did Kasaba not tell you?  I am sorry.  I only assumed she would have
told you.  I am her daughter-in-law,” Aquila informed him.
 Oserene's face paled.  “D—daughter-in-law?  I—I am sorry, you must be mistaken. 
I am her only son.”

Chapter 9
The next morning, Aquila woke up and sighed. I am not going to think of Trouble anymore. This morning I am turning that page in my life and never looking back.
“Good morning, Lady Aquila,” Yerik's low voice intruded in on her thoughts.
Aquila gladly turned her attention to the man. “Good morning, Lord Galowen.”
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I did, thank you. And you?”
“I did, thank you.”
Yerik handed Aquila a steaming cup of coffee. Aquila accepted the cup as she studied the man who had become her companion. He was not that handsome but then again she could see why some girl might enjoy his attentions. He was well built and slightly above average in height. His large hands were rather clumsy but he made up for it in excellent manners and his smile was quite winsome despite the small gap where his left front tooth had been knocked out. His eyes matched the muddy brown of his hair that was gradually receding back over his head. But this was hardly noticeable as he normally wore a black flat cap with red and gold bennu feathers.
Yerik shifted and Aquila realized he was watching her as she watched him. “Forgive me, Lord Galowen, for starring. It is quite rude of me.”
Yerik merely shrugged. Dirrach stepped in at that moment. “We need to mount up.”
Aquila wanted to complain but shut her mouth. Instead she took a deep breath and grunted as she struggled to stand. Her baby kicked in protest and she gasped.
Yerik frowned. “Lady Aquila, are you alright?”
Aquila managed to nod. Yerik offered his hand and she grabbed hold. With his help, Aquila was able to get off the ground and sighed in relief. “I do not know if I can do that again.”
Yerik chuckled. “It is a pity there is not such a thing as a transportable pulley and harness so that we may lift and lower you from the horse to the ground so that you may get up and down as much as you like. It might also help you off of the ground.”
Aquila nodded in agreement. “I just can not wait until I have this baby and I can lose this weight.”
At that moment the baby kicked again but it was rather odd. At the same time that it kicked on her left side, it felt as if it had kicked the right side as well. Aquila frowned but said nothing. Yerik was already in position to assist her onto the horse.
When Aquila was comfortably situated on the horse, Yerik smiled up at her. “Maybe we can travel at a slower pace today.”
Dirrach had mounted his horse and was by their side at that moment. “Aquila, are you uncomfortable with the pace we have been going at?”
Aquila flushed. Looking down she admitted, “Yes.”
“Do not be ashamed. It was harsh of me to push you at such a pace with you being with child like you are. I offer my sincerest of apologies for my thoughtlessness. We shall travel at a much slower pace,” Dirrach assured her.
Aquila looked at him and smiled in gratitude. “That would be so nice, thank you.”
Yerik mounted and Dirrach spurred his horse into a comfortable walk. Alas, despite the slower pace, Aquila's discomfort grew worse. Once a tear managed to slip down her face and Yerik reached over and wiped it off. Aquila was slightly startled at the gesture but shook it off and sucked it in. Concern for the baby within her was growing. Could he or she withstand the strain of the trail?
Are you a girl or a boy? Will you look like me or...your father? I do not know if I could handle the pain if you become the constant reminder of a man I once loved. Memories of the good times she had had with Trouble flooded her mind at that moment and she had all she could do not to turn around. Trouble was probably not even home anyway. She would be returning to an empty castle where his memories would haunt her there. Besides, she could not love him like she did before.
“Have you thought of a name for the baby?” Yerik's voice intruded into her thoughts.
“A name? Oh...I guess I have not thought about that,” Aquila frowned as she reached up to move a small low hanging limb out of her way.
“Well, think of some. You must have one soon. We would not want the little one to surprise us earlier than expected and not have a name for him or her.”
“Maybe something like Gustav, or Gilov maybe.” Aquila shrugged.
“So do you think it is a boy?”
“With as much movement as this little one is giving, it has to be a boy. Right?” Aquila's brow furrowed.
Dirrach pulled up at that moment forcing all to come to a stop. “Yerik, we are coming up on the Beldarak Thadal within the next mile or so. Lady Aquila will probably need a steady hand to help her across.”
Yerik nodded and moved his horse so close to Aquila's that his foot brushed the hem of her robe. “She will get across safely.”
“Good man,” Dirrach nodded and then moved the entourage forward.
Moments later a dull rumble could be heard in the distance. As they traveled on it grew louder and louder until it became a deafening roar. Aquila's eyes widened and she swallowed in fear. White caps crashed wildly against rocks that stood up above the angry river that looked as if it could carry an elephant away.
“Do not be afraid, Lady Aquila,” Yerik said calmingly. “It only looks impossible. Many have crossed it and lived to tell about it. I have no doubt you shall make it as well.”
Yerik nudged his horse even closer so that he could place an arm around Aquila as he kicked his horse into motion. Aquila's horse followed obediently and down into the river. Icy water hit Aquila's legs and she shuddered wanting for all the world to return to the bank. Aquila gasped, exhaled shakily, and gasped again as the strong icy arms of the river crept up her legs and then up her waist.
Aquila grabbed a hold of the horse's mane to steel herself against the raging force of the river. In between gasps for air, Aquila squealed, “Lord...Gallowen!”
Yerik's hold tightened around her waist. Seconds turned into hours as the travelers fought to stay on their horses while the horses struggled to not get swept downstream. Halfway across the river, Aquila's horse's leg struck an underwater boulder and the horse panicked, losing it's control. Aquila quickly let go of the horse's mane and threw her arms around Yerik's neck as the raging waters swept the horse out from under her.
Yerik pulled her over the front of his horse as soon as she was free of her horse. “Hold on, Lady Aquila!”
Dirrach was the first to make it across and he turned to watch as the others joined him. “Hold on, Aquila! Yerik!”
Aquila shook from the cold water that penetrated clear to her bones. It seemed the onslaught would never end and she was losing the feeling in her lower half. She was acutely aware that she was easing up her grip around Yerik's neck, and had it not been for Yerik's arm around her waist, she knew she would have surely been swept away by the river's merciless fury. Yet even Yerik's grip was shaky enough to leave her fearful of the consequences should he give way.
Exhaustion hit Aquila and she leaned up against Yerik's wet chest. Closing her eyes, she prayed, Deus, where are you...


It was hot. Hot and dark. Yet shadows fell over her even through the darkness. Something heavy laid over her body and she pushed it away trying to find relief from the heat but something repositioned it. A low voice admonished her, “You have to stay covered.”
“Hot,” Aquila mumbled in response and tried to push away the heat source. A firm grip held it over her and she gave up. “Hot—“


“How is she doing?”
“Her fever broke this morning.”
“Good. The worst is behind us.”
“She should be out of it at any moment.”
Aquila opened her eyes. Staring up at a gray wall, she blinked. A cave. But what happened to the river?
“Aquila?” Yerik appeared at her side. Dirrach frowned at his side. Yerik shook his head. “Lady Aquila, how are you feeling?”
“Aquila, we were worried about you,” Dirrach said in a reprimanding tone.
“I am sorry,” Aquila squeaked. Clearing her throat, she smiled apologetically.
Dirrach winked as he reached over to pat her hand. “You rest now. You will be up in no time at all and we can continue our journey. It should not be but a couple of days or more now before we reach home and you will be in the capable hands of my wife, Kasaba.”
“Thank you,” Aquila squeezed his hand.
“Excuse me, I must see to the other men,” Dirrach nodded at Yerik.
When Dirrach had left, Yerik picked up her hand. Aquila turned to him, “What happened? The last thing I remember we were in the river.”
“We got out, is what happened, but you came down with a high fever due to the freezing temperatures you had to endure while in the river. We thought we had lost you several times over the past couple of days. But you seem to have come out of it all right,” Yerik explained.
Aquila nodded. Then, remembering something Dirrach had said before the river, Aquila asked, “Lord Gallowen, what's Beldarak Thadal?”
“That was the name of the river. It means 'Treacherous Fate'.”
“Oh.” Aquila studied the man sitting beside her. His face was too wide, his nose to big, and his forehead too bare of hair for her to find him attractive but something about him stirred up a desire to love again.
Yerik released her hand awkwardly, having held it longer than propriety allowed already. Aquila looked away and pulled her hand under the thin blanket that covered her, the form of her pregnant stomach reminding her of the obstacles in between her and a future with a man. No one would want a woman with a child.
Suddenly Aquila's future dimmed. Why did I ever think I could start over? Sure, I could probably forget Trouble completely but that does not change the fact that I am a mother and it is looked down upon for a woman to leave her husband. But I did not leave him, he left me...but people would wonder and no man could marry me with my baggage. It would shame them. No one would even consider it.
A tear slipped down her cheek bone and rolled into the crease of her left ear. Yerik frowned. “What is wrong?”
Aquila jumped. She had forgotten that he was there. “Oh, it is nothing. I am just tired, that is all.”
“Sleep now,” Yerik ordered. “I will have some food for you to eat when you wake up next.”

********

True to his word, Yerik had a plate full of food ready for her when she awoke. After assisting her into a sitting position, he handed her a plate with some beans and meat on it. “Rabbit meat. It is very good,” he responded to her questioning look.
Aquila accepted the plate and ate as if it would be her last. When she was done, Yerik took the plate back. “Are you ready to travel?”
Aquila nodded. “I am ready.”
Yerik stood and helped her to her feet. “We only have a few days travel ahead of us.”
Aquila suddenly remembered her horse. “What happened to my horse?”
“We found him on shore a mile downstream with a broken foreleg.”
“Poor horse,” Aquila frowned. “How will I travel now?”
“You shall ride across the front of my horse. When we take a break we will trade with one of our men to give ours a break from the weight.”
Dirrach approached then. “Are we ready?”
“Yes sir,” Yerik saluted.
“Mount up!” he roared over the camp.

**********

As the day progressed, Yerik kept Aquila involved in lively banter. Many times Aquila would burst out laughing causing Dirrach to look back with a frown. Putting a hand to her mouth, she stifled it as best as possible. Yerik would chuckle every time.
Aquila was already asleep in Yerik's arms when nightfall hit. Recovery would still take a little bit more time.
The following day was the same. Aquila rose and sat across the front of Dirrach's horse that now served as Yerik's. But that evening Aquila was wide awake when they set up camp. She frowned as Dirrach nervously paced around the campfire. He had been on edge since that morning. Aquila had seen him talk quickly with the men but for some reason had left her out of it. All day, during the ride, he was constantly looking around and everyone seemed to be keeping one hand on a sword or bow. Aquila was curious but did not know if she should ask.
Now they were encamped in some tall grass in a small circular clearing. Tall pine trees lined it one foot apart from the other but they were not enough to block out the beautiful star covered sky above. Aquila forgot about Dirrach's agitation as she rested on her hands and sighed. “It is a beautiful night, is it not?”
“Very true, Lady Aquila,” Yerik agreed. There was a small moment of silence before Yerik cleared his throat. “Lady Aquila, I was wondering—“
Suddenly one of the men that had been on guard duty came running up with wide eyes. Aquila immediately noticed the empty sheaths at his side where his long sword and dagger normally were.
Dirrach frowned. “Earh, where is your sword?”
Earh was out of breath and looked as if he had just passed death's door. “It is...him...he sent me...to warn you...he wants...his wife back.”
Dirrach scowled. “You tell him he will not have her.”
Earh dropped to his knees. “Please do not send me back...without her...he says he will...kill me if...she is not with...me.”
“Fine. I will tell him,” Dirrach said and then turned to his men. “This is it, men. Yerik, you stay with Lady Aquila. The rest of you, come with me. We are going to finish him off.”
Something sliced through Aquila's heart when he said that but she frowned and shook it off. It was only after the men had disappeared into the trees that Aquila became concerned. “Yerik!”
“Yes, Lady Aquila?” Yerik moved closer.
“Trouble is smart. He is a good tracker. He no doubt knows that there are way too many men for him to take on by himself and would not chance an encounter with the lot of them. You must leave now, or you shall surely lose your life,” Aquila pushed him towards the direction the other men went.
“But Lady Aquila, I am here to protect you. I could not forgive myself if I left you to the hands of that ruthless killer. I will stay and fight for you,” Yerik protested.
“No! You must go now. You would be foolish to think you could take him. He will not hurt me but he will not think twice of killing you if you should even lift a finger to challenge him. Go, go, go!”
“Never. Lady Aquila, you must know now that think that I am in love with you. You deserve better than he and I would rather die than give you up,” Yerik informed her.
Suddenly his eyes grew big and he gasped, staring at something behind and far above Aquila's head. “You just may have that chance,” a deep voice responded as a blade came to rest on Yerik's shoulder, inches away from his neck.
“You fool!” Aquila frowned at Yerik. “It is too late now.”
Yerik glanced upward at the dark figure looming over them. “You must be a man of some honor. Surely you would not cut me down now without giving me some chance.”
“You want a duel?” Trouble asked evenly.
“That is exactly what I want. One long sword, no daggers or bow. Code of honor on both of our parts,” Yerik nodded.
Trouble lifted his sword and a hand steered Aquila to the side. Aquila watched as Trouble stepped back, replaced his sword in its sheath, and bowed. “Code of honor—to the death. Aquila, move to the left. Monsieur Yerik, take your stance and prepare to die.”
Aquila was only happy to move further away and held her breath. Yerik slowly stood and bowed awkwardly. “Monsieur, I am afraid you have met your match.”
“Nonsense. I have only met one man who I could not kill but neither could he kill me. Know that if they return before I kill you, the code of honor is of none affect in the interest of my wife and I.”
Yerik placed one hand behind his back and lifted his sword. “You may find that I have the upper hand.”
“How is that, short stuff?” Trouble cocked his head to the side as he tapped his sword to Yerik's.
“Just that. I am shorter than you and thus can better come in from underneath then you can.”
The fight had begun and Aquila wanted to close her eyes, but she could not force them shut. Trouble set the pace at an easy level and began walking around, forcing Yerik to turn in circles. “Yes, but I could slash your throat just as easily, especially since I have a longer reach.”
“True,” Yerik shrugged.
That movement almost cost him as Trouble took the first move and lunged at him, but he recovered quickly and blocked it away. Trouble's eyes glinted in the soft moonlight. “I must say, it is quite a shock to be gone so long and then to return and find your wife missing. Add to that the fact that once you catch up to her you find her pregnant and enjoying the company of another man.”
“The baby is not mine, if that is what you are implying,” Yerik growled as he attempted a downward slash at Trouble's left leg. “She was much that way when we acquired her pleasant company as she is now.”
“And how am I to believe a word you say?” Trouble swung at Yerik for a horizontal strike to the neck.
“Trouble, this baby is yours!” Aquila came to her own defense. Looking from one man to the other, Aquila frowned. Trouble had yet to break a sweat but Yerik was showing signs of overexertion already.
“You may want to rethink this, boy. There is no room for errors in this game.” Trouble blocked a vertical strike and then paused. “Tell you what, you pull out in the next two or three minutes and I shall release you from death. Otherwise, you might not be so fortunate.”
“Ha.” Yerik lunged but Trouble flicked it to the side. He did it with such ease that Aquila cringed, waiting for Trouble to finish him off.
“Yerik, pull out now,” Aquila pleaded.
“Never. I shall not rest until I see you freed from the oppression of this man,” Yerik sneered.
“He is not oppressing, really. I can take him,” Aquila assured him. “Please, pull out. My husband is reasonable, you will live and...”
“No!” Yerik yelled just as he dodged a playful jab from Trouble.
Aquila could tell that Trouble was not exerting any extra energy. But Yerik's wet neck and face shimmered in the dim light. When the pace started to pick up, Aquila could see what Trouble was doing.
“He is playing with you, Yerik. He is not even sweating,” Aquila pointed out. “He is letting you think you have a chance but he is also making you nervous. Trouble just picked up the pace and will go from a challenge to total intimidation until you make one mistake. That is all it will take and then he will strike at you and you will not have a chance. Yerik, please!”
“You have fallen quiet, Monsieur,” Yerik commented to Trouble.
“What is there to say? My wife is doing the job just fine,” Trouble smirked as he flicked away the testing jab.
“Your wife,” Yerik remarked snidely. “You do not even know your wife, do you? You have been gone how many months? I do not even think you ever loved her. A ruthless killer such as yourself could not even begin to know the meaning of love much less feel it. Say, why do you not ask your wife whom she prefers?”
“All right. Aquila, my love, whom do you prefer?” Trouble complied with no hesitation.
Aquila looked from one to the other. She thought about Yerik. He had been nothing but nice and gentlemanly. He was predictable, easy going, and a good conversationalist. But his hands could not have spanned her waist like Trouble's. Where Yerik was awkward, gruff, and unstable, Trouble was smooth, graceful, and firmly grounded. Yerik had the greatest difficulty assisting her off and on the horse but Trouble could no doubt, despite her extra weight, lift her without feeling a thing. She knew Trouble was gentle and loving, and while Yerik could no doubt be that in his mind, he could never measure up to Trouble.
“Aquila?” Trouble's voice broke through her thoughts.
Aquila shook her head and noticed that the fighting had come to a standstill. She looked between the two. Yerik seemed so sure of himself but Trouble was unreadable. Aquila sighed. “Yerik, you are sweet. You have good intentions, and I am flattered by your affections.” A tear rolled down Aquila's cheek. “But...it would be unfair to you to say yes to your proposal. While you have been nothing but a gentleman from the start, I lost my heart long ago and there is no getting it back. When with you, I would think of Trouble and how he would act and things that he would say or do in each given situation. I would dream of him at night instead of giving you my full attention. I could not make a life with you even if I tried. This child in me is Trouble's and would be a constant reminder of the life I could have had. Please do not be angry with me.”
Devastation hit Yerik like a load of bricks. But it quickly turned to anger and he turned on Trouble once more. “You can not have her!”
In that moment, Yerik made the biggest mistake, and Trouble cut him down with one quick flick of his wrist. Aquila watched in horror as Yerik fell at Trouble's feet. Trouble sighed. “Foolish boy. Never strike in anger.”
Suddenly there was a commotion coming from the forest and Trouble sprang for Aquila. She was in his arms before she could do anything and he disappeared into the forest on the opposite side.
Trouble was quiet but quick. They could hear the men cry out when they found Yerik and Aquila buried her face into Trouble's neck to keep from making any noise, as she cried for the brave man who had attempted to win her heart. It was her fault he was dead.
A few yards later, Trouble mounted with her still in his arms. “A few months pregnant, are we?”
“Try like almost six months pregnant,” Aquila replied sardonically.
“We are not going to last long on this horse. We stayed way too long,” Trouble scowled.
“Well, I am so sorry,” Aquila scowled back. “But I do believe this was your fault.”
Trouble grinned at that point. “I guess it is.”
“There is no guessing about it. If you had not left and stayed away for so long, Dirrach would not have found me alone and been able to carry me off so easily.” Aquila raised her chin.
Trouble softly kissed her lips as he kicked the horse into motion. “I am sorry, darling.”
Aquila could not explain why, but relief flooded her being. Did I really miss him that much? Aquila thought as she melted into the arm he had around her back. You still love him.
“I guess I do,” Aquila sighed.
“What?”
“Oh, nothing.”

*****

Trouble and Aquila were in town when Dirrach and his men caught up to them. Unfortunately, they were also in the middle of the street. Aquila squared herself in front of Trouble. “Dirrach, wait.”
Smoke could almost be seen from the fire in Dirrach's eyes. “Out of the way, Aquila. It is time to end this once and for all.”
“No, Dirrach! Please, listen to me,” Aquila cried.
“He killed Yerik who's been like a son to me. Something Trouble never was. Now he is going to pay,” Dirrach cursed.
“Dirrach! He is the father of my child. You can not do this to me,” Aquila still pleaded.
“How can you sit up there after the way he treated you? He abused you on your wedding and then left you. Now you defend him?” Dirrach pointed his finger at her as if accusing her of all of Trouble's wrongdoings.
“Dirrach,” Aquila barely whispered. “I love him. I chose him. Yerik asked which one I preferred and I told him I preferred Trouble. Yerik made the mistake that lost him his life. If you must be angry at someone for Yerik's death, it is I. I killed him with my own betrayal of his heart.”
“Trouble, are you going to stand up and fight or are you going to continue to hide behind your woman's skirts?” Dirrach spat.
“I could come out from behind them, Dirrach, but you will not win this fight,” Trouble informed him evenly.
Dirrach laughed. “How do you think you are going to get out of it this time? There is twenty of us and one of you!”
“Wrong,” Trouble said.
Immediately men appeared from both sides of the street, some behind Trouble, and some even behind Dirrach's men. They all had bows with arrows ready and all were looking at Dirrach.
Dirrach stepped back and looked around. “Who are they?”
“I am not without friends, Dirrach, contrary to what you may think. There is about fifty of us here and all around you. Take your men and leave or prepare to meet your maker,” Trouble commanded.
Dirrach's anger seethed for a moment as he furiously tried to come up with a plan. Suddenly he lifted his sword and charged at Trouble. Unfortunately Aquila was sitting in between them and she was certain he meant for the blade to go through her and then into Trouble.
Arrows suddenly flew from every direction and Dirrach fell to the ground with ten of them stuck in his body. The other men quickly raised their hands. “We give up. We are leaving,” Earh yelled.
“Good idea, my friend,” Trouble nodded.
Once the men had turned their horses and left, Aquila took a deep breath. It is over. What about his mother? The poor woman, Aquila thought mournfully. “Trouble, your mother! We must go to her. She will be so upset.”
Trouble's arm tightened his hold on her. “What she will be more upset by, her husband's death or the return of her lost son, is the question. But for tonight, let us find a room in the hotel and start out tomorrow.”

**********

Aquila woke up, her hair neatly pulled to the side, and Trouble leaning over her, resting on his arm. Trouble smiled. “Good morning, my love.”
“On the way to your mother's, I want an explanation of why you were gone as long as you were,” Aquila informed him.
Trouble bent down and kissed her lips tenderly. “As you wish.”
Aquila threw the covers back and rolled to her side. Pushing up with her arms, she put her feet over the side and stood. “We need to get ready now.”
Trouble was slower in getting up but when he did get up, he was dressed in only a couple of minutes and was headed out the door. “I will go saddle the horses.”
“Horses?” Aquila frowned.
“Yes. After you fell asleep last night, I bought a horse off of one of my friends. Poor Jessup was not going to last much longer.” And with that he was gone.
Aquila was ready and waiting twenty minutes later when Trouble walked in. Aquila felt like she was waddling as she moved for the door. Stopping just in front of it she grabbed Trouble's shirt and pulled him down. “I love you,” she said and kissed him. “Now let us go.”
Trouble chuckled as he shut the door and followed. When Trouble had checked out of the hotel and had her situated on the horse, Aquila asked, “So, what were you doing all this time?”
Trouble mounted his horse and turned his horse towards the west. “I went to town to look for a job. After a week and a half of not finding one, I headed home. I decided to check your traps as I went.”
“How did you know about my traps?” Aquila interrupted, shifting to a more comfortable position on the rough saddle.
Trouble looked over and grinned. “You know that big hippocerf you caught that you could not carry with you?”
“Yes.” Aquila frowned as she tried to think of the time she had told him about it.
“How do you think it wound up at your feet that morning in the barn?” Trouble asked mischievously.
“You?” Aquila was incredulous.
Trouble nodded. “I followed you on one of your trips into town. I was curious as to what you did. Well, it was at the old mill down by the river that an old man, who introduced himself as Pleo Edler, stopped me and asked if I was the inhabitant of the old Lucian ruins. I said yes and he invited me inside with the excuse that he was our closest neighbor and felt like he had been rude in not reaching out to me sooner. But when we got inside he asked me about the ballroom on the second floor and if I had seen it. When I explained that I had, he told me the story. He was the King's closest friend and as such, his closest advisor. No one knew, and could know, that they were best friends. It was only proper that the King did not associate on a friendly basis with his advisors, but he did not trust Pleo's job to anyone else. But anyway, in the middle of his wedding ceremony, the servant that held the rings produced a knife and thrust it into poor Lady Portchi's stomach. A long sword went into His Majesty's chest and then chaos and pandemonium ensued as knives and swords appeared all over the room. Some managed to escape unscathed, but Pleo had to know if his friend was truly dead. So he moved through the hysterics to the front and just as he had emerged, a knife went into his side and then another across his neck. But it was not a very efficient job as he managed to get up from the floor and exit the door the priest had fallen at. He said he did not remember much after that other than the fact that he hid and watched as the servants partied over their massacre outside until a branch of the royal guard that had been out on a regular patrol of the surrounding grounds came riding through. Obviously some of those who had manged to escape found them and the royal guard executed every manservant on the grounds. They sent the maidservants off to life in prison. Pleo, as the highest ranking official alive, made the royal guard take an oath to never tell what had happened there that day. He disbanded the the men and dismissed them to places all over the world. History books know nothing. All they tell is that on the thirtieth day of the month of June, in the year of our Lord twelve hundred twenty four, the Lucian royalty was silenced and never to be heard from again. Everything else is left to one's own imagination of what could have occurred, although Pleo said that he doubts anyone has ever gotten close to what actually happened. He sealed the doors and transplanted some ivy and petiolaris vines and whenever he got wind of people going up there, he scared them out of their wits with tales of ghosts. So far it had worked. Except somehow you managed to slip by. And now, you have something that they want.”