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| Shards of a Broken Heart | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Two: a strange land | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Slowly Bethany began to slowly stir from a deep sleep. Her eyes slowly opened. A short distance from her was a roaring fire. Her eyes slowly panned around the primitive looking place. A wave of fear began to swell within her - the last thing she remembered was the wolves - then the cold embrace of the icy waters. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Wasn't a dream," she muttered. She tried to get up - but a wave of nausea caused her to fall back down onto the cushions she was resting on. It was then that her tired eyes focused on something - no - it wasn't something - it was someone! "Who? You?' she slurred weakly. The man sitting by the shadows of the door said nothing. He merely got up walked over and squatted down beside where she was laying. He lightly touched the back of his hand to her forehead. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Sleep," he suggested as he got up and walked back over to his chair. She wanted to argue the issue - but fatigue set in. her eyes blinked a few times - then darkness consumed her once again. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| How much time had passed - she had no clue - but consciousness slowly began to creep over her once more. Her eyes slowly opened and focused on the man that was fast asleep by the door. She shook her head and began to sit up. It was then that she came to a realization. She held the fur blankets close to her as she frantically looked around the room. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where are my clothes?" she asked seriously. The man woke up and looked over at the defensive looking woman. He got up - she backed away. "Stay where you are!" she ordered. He put his hands up and sat back down. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Your clothes - were almost frozen to your body when you and your friends chose to take a swim in the lake," he began calmly. "I had two choices - worry about your clothes - or saving your life," he added seriously. "Apparently I made the wrong choice," he muttered as he walked over to where the frost-covered window was. Bethany lowered her eyes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm - I'm sorry - I thought you were going to, well, you know?" she began modestly. He looked over his shoulder at her and smirked. He could see how she could believe his intent to be sinister. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Think nothing of it. Mind telling me what you and your friends were doing so far out on the lake? Surely - you must have been around this area long enough to know when the lake is frozen enough to be on," he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I had no intention of going that far out - but the wolves gave me little choice," she replied. His eyes widened a bit upon hearing that. He shook his head and returned his attention to the view outside. "You mentioned my friends - are they alright?" she asked. He sighed and lowered his eyes. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I only had time to save one of you. The way you all were dressed - you sank faster than stones. I was barely able to get to you before you hit the bottom," he replied calmly. Bethany closed her eyes and thought about her closest friends - all of them - gone. "Are - you sure it was wolves?" he asked hesitantly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You don't believe me?" she asked defensively. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I never said that," he rebutted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I saw them! They tore into the men that had come along to protect us. They would have done the same to us had we not run," she answered sternly. She sighed as she looked away from him. "I want to go home," she added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Where about are you from? By the blade boots you wore - I would wager the southern province," he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am the daughter of the Duchess - I would appreciate you taking me home now," she replied sternly. The man smirked as he turned around. Bethany slinked back a bit. "Please?' she added hesitantly. He shook his head and sat down on the floor by the door. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Do - you have any idea - where you are?" he asked seriously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Last thing I remember - was being at the lake. It is on the border of the east province," she replied. The man sighed and tossed a small stick into the fireplace. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That would be where we are," he affirmed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then - can you take me home? My parents must be worried," she asked. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Is that a problem?" she hesitantly asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You picked a bad day to skate. Rumor - has it that the Northern Province was attacked a few days ago. I heard some whispers say that they were heading on route towards the south," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Attacked?" she repeated in modest disbelief. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "As I said - it is a rumor I heard. If wolves are this restless at this time of year - there has to be a reason. And - if it isn't a rumor - you might not make so public - that you are related to the Southern Noble house," he suggested. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Why?" she asked hesitantly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If someone attacked the Northern Province - chances are that they had inside help. If that is the case - why take chances?" he pointed out. Bethany nodded and timidly looked around the room. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Can - I go home?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A bad storm happened about two days ago - travel won't be possible for at least a day or two. If you want - we can try to brave it," he began. She sighed and shook her head. She had heard stories about people that got lost or worse attempting to journey from province to province after bad storms. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Can - I at least have some clothes?" she asked. The man nodded as he tossed her a handful large looking garments. She picked up a shirt that was way too big for her. "Do you have anything smaller?" she added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't have many guests - and I don't have many outfits - pick something from that - when the storm breaks tomorrow - if it does - I'll take you into town to get you something a touch more appropriate," he suggested. She sighed and shook her head. That was not the answer she wanted to hear. "Hey - if you don't like - you can stay as you are," he added with a smirk. She scowled at him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I don't think so," she retorted. He smiled as he looked down at the floor. "What are you looking at?" she asked curiously. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well - I thought that you would be getting dressed and didn't want me looking at you while you did," he replied calmly. She carefully slipped the large shirt over her. She glanced over to see if he peeked - but as far as she could tell - he hadn't. "Just tell me when it is safe to look," he added politely. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Uhm - its safe now I guess," she replied. He looked up and saw that the shirt was way too big for her. "Don't you dare laugh," she added with a smirk. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Wouldn't dream of it," he replied with a friendly smile. It was then that she noticed that a part of his arm by his wrist was bandaged up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What happened to your arm?" she asked curiously. He lifted his arm to look at the wound that had yet to heal. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Dogs - big ones," he replied. "Happened a couple of weeks ago - for some reason the damn thing won't heal," he added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Are you still using that arm?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Of course. The wood doesn't chop itself," he retorted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If - you give it a day or two to heal - as in - not using it - it might heal faster," she suggested. He shook his head and quietly laughed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A day or two?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What have you got to lose?" she rebutted. He looked over at the wood he had collected. It might be enough to last that long. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Okay - we'll give it a try. But if we run out of firewood - you will have only yourself to blame," he remarked. She shrugged her shoulders. "You have a name - or shall I just call you daughter of Duchess?' he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Bethany," she replied. He smiled and nodded. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Pretty name - it suits you," he commented. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And - who are you?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Nathan," he introduced - bowing politely. He got up and made his way over to where the fire was. "You might want to get some rest - the storm could be here for a while. If you need anything - just let me know," he offered as he looked into the fire. Bethany looked at him for a few moments. She made herself comfortable on the cushions and slowly began to drift off to sleep. Just then the door was smashed in! Two brutish men armed with swords looked around and pointed at Bethany. Nathan was instantly up to his feet. In one fluid motion - his swords and dagger were drawn. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Get in our way and you will die," one of them warned. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Get out of my home - or you will be unable too," Nathan rebutted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||