Ileus: The Dark Prince

For the past two days, every night they would stop at an inn. Even though Guarhal suggested that they could camp on the side in the forest, Ileus didn't want to take a chance. Kaizan had given the ashes to the patrol party and given them extra gold coins to deliver the jar to Rhys. And that is why for the past two days no bandits had dared to attack them. 

Anastasia fiddled with the Lovac's mane as their contingent rode closer to the Tides of Bromval. The night had fallen and the moon had waned to a silver crescent. The stars dazzled the night sky bathing the earth in their faded light. The silhouettes of men in front of her were swallowed by the darkness of the night. As the wooden wheels of the wagon creaked in front of them, she heard light banters of Tadgh and Kaizan. Darla was leaning against Aidan, murmuring something in his ear. She liked the way Darla was opening with Aidan. Taciturn in nature, Darla never really opened a lot with others throughout the journey right from Sgiath Biò. So this was quite a welcome change. 

"What are you thinking wife?" asked Ileus as he gathered her closer to him and rested his hands on her thighs. 

"When are we going to stop?" She hadn't expected the journey to be so tiresome. The brine smell of the ocean was sometimes strong, sometimes faded as the trade path meandered its way across the forest. Little did she know that serpents swam in the depths of the ocean lurking, waiting… 

"We won't be stopping for as long as possible tonight. I want to cover as much distance as possible," he replied. "Are you sleepy, love?" he asked, holding the reins with one hand and adjusting her cloak. 

She was sleepy. Lovac's rolling gait was like a lull to her these days. However, ever since they have had the conversation about how things would be at Draoidh, her resolve to go there wavered with each passing day. Once they found Iona, she hoped that things would ease. Her entry amongst new people might be smoother than she expected. But she had doubts. She didn't expect them to embrace her whole-heartedly. She would depend a lot on her husband's guidance. A sigh left her lips. "When are we going to reach the Tides of Bromval?" she asked. Her eyes were half-closed and she leaned against him. 

"At least a day's journey." 

"Why don't we race our horses there? Maybe you can take one or two Mozias and we go faster. Others can come later." 

"I won't risk another bandit attack, sweetheart." 

"But we haven't faced any bandits for the last two days," she countered feeling agitated and impatient. 

"Anastasia, do you think that the bandits are—" 

Kaizan came upon their side and cut in their conversation. "I noticed a movement on the periphery, Ileus. We have to be careful." 

Ileus' mouth twisted. "Bastards!" He looked at his men and said, "I think they won't attack us for now because we gave a tough fight last time, but we have to remain on alert. We are going to stop at the nearest inn."

Kaizan nodded and rode to the point of the group. 

Anastasia looked up at Ileus and even in this darkness, she could make out the lines of tiredness etched on his face. She covered his hands with hers and squeezed them. She found herself lulling into sleep against his warmth and Lovac's rocking gait. When she opened her eyes next, they were sleeping on a bed in an inn. 

Next day, when she woke up, Ileus was already dressed. She opened one eye and saw that he was zipping his boots. He looked up at her and smiled. "Get ready fast, wife. Today we will reach Tides of Bromval by evening." 

That was like a pep talk to her. "Really?" she asked excitedly. 

He nodded. "I am going downstairs to order food for us. Join me as soon as you can." 

Anastasia sprung out of the bed removing the blanket. When cold air brushed her skin, she looked down and found herself naked. "Gods, Ileus!" 

Rising from the chair, he grinned and walked to her. He placed his hands on her naked hips in that possessive way and said, "I love you like this, woman. If it were for me, I would never let you wear a piece of cloth." 

"Pervert!" she pushed against his chest. 

He leaned down and kissed her on the lips. "Your pervert!" He said and winked. 

She shook her head. He left and she missed him already. 

They started for the Tides of Bromval. Everyone was excited in the group. In fact their thrill was palpable. Ileus was the most nervous. He hadn't talked much and Anastasia could understand. Even she was excited. There was lightness in her chest as she enjoyed the camaraderie of the others. At last, they were going to get Iona. 

Ileus wondered how Iona must be now. He would often take a deep breath and exhale. There were so many emotions that filled him that at one point of time he didn't know what he would do when he would see his sister after a gap of eight years. He didn't know what he would tell his mother. How would she react? She had been finding Iona for so long. 

"Do you remember what they said when they were about to take Iona from Vilinski?" asked Ileus. 

"I remember Maple saying that they were taking her to the Tides of Bromval," she replied.

"That place is a small fishing village, Anastasia. It is at the end of the Lore. The ocean starts from there and touches the shores of the human world." 

"Oh! In that case how are we going to find her? Do you have her portrait?" 

"I do!" he replied in a hoarse voice. He dug the pocket of his breeches and took out a neatly rolled palm-sized canvas. "That's her," he said as he gave it to Anastasia. 

Surprised that he had never shown the picture to her, Anastasia took it from him and rolled it out. A small girl with black hair and golden eyes with features that resembled Ileus, revealed. She was smiling in the portrait and the painter had captured her innocence so beautifully that Anastasia found herself smiling. The child was pretty just like her brother. "She's lovely," she said in a breathy voice. 

"Yes, she is. I can't wait to meet her," he said and put the picture back carefully in his pocket after Anastasia gave it to him. 

They rode for the entire day stopping only to rest the horses and eat food. "We will be off the trade path in a few hours," said Ileus. 

The group started enthusiastically and when the sun hung low in the horizon, they reached the outskirts of the Tides of Bromval. As they rode, on the left, Anastasia could see the vast ocean whose waves lashed the shores noisily. And on the right there were cornfields and some pastures that were left fallow. The trade path ended and the horses were now clopping over small dirt roads. The wheels of the wagon creaked a lot. 

"Will you start looking for her right away?" asked Anastasia.