CHAPTER 33
CHAPTER 33
posted by Cat @ 7:46 PM
Thursday, October 28, 2004
About Me
- Name: Cat
- Location: BULLARD, Texas, United States
C.R.Myers is a Texan—born and bred in the Lone Star State. A English/Drama teacher by profession, she received her M. A. from the University of Texas at Tyler. As a teacher and professional speaker, she designed and implemented her own creative course as well as writing college sketches, which were performed on a local television station. She decided to start writing seriously only within the last few years. Since then, she has written eleven novels. Black Ice/Shadowed Road was her first published novel. Since then, Through the Shadows, Red, Red Rose, Lady’s Game, Shattered Illusion, and Blonde Logic have been published as well as nine other stories sold to area newspapers and magazines. Through her writing, she has received cards and letters from fans from all over the US and fifteen different countries. The books have sold well and the reviews have been strong, leading to seven book signings and two out of state appearances. Two of the books have been chosen as books to be presented in Austin at the Texas Book Festival.
Previous Posts
- Legionary
- CHAPTER 32
- San Pietro
- CHAPTER 31
- Airel View
- CHAPTER 30
- COLOSSEUM
- TIMELESS FIRE - CHAPTER 29
- TODI
- CHAPTER 28
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CHAPTER 33
Nicadea held her breath. To defy his unspoken command would be a serious offense. She shifted her weight, preparing to step forward.
“Coming, sir.” The voice came from over her left shoulder. She felt a slight nudge as the woman behind her elbowed past, intent on reaching the general. Nicadea recognized her at once as the woman from the bath. A wave relief settled over her, leaving her weak. She sank to the ground, keeping the hood close around her face.
All around her, men were busy tending horses and making camp. She, because of her supposed youth, had been assigned the task of polishing breastplates. With the main activity transpiring above her, few of the soldiers had any time to notice a lowly polisher. She cut her eyes toward the general’s tent. At least, he’d be occupied for the next couple of hours. Soon, it would be dark. All she had to do was bide her time. After the men had enjoyed a few pints of mead, she’d be able to slip away completely unnoticed.
“You, there. Boy!”
She raised her eyes in surprise. Was someone speaking to her?
“Get off your arse, you lazy beggar and get some firewood.”
She scrambled to feet to avoid the a rough kick and turned toward the woods. The soldier, a burly red-headed man, already smelled of liquor and would have probably welcomed the chance to belt her around a bit. Fighting, she had noticed, was high sport.
Limbs and sticks were plentiful in the deep woods. Other pages were also gathering wood. Good. She would fit right in. Just another young lad doing chores. After the first few trips she began to tire, making the temptation to flee hard to resist. The dark woods looked safe and inviting.
She was, however, too level-headed to leave before the evening meal. Who knew when she would be able to find food again?
“Looking for something else to do, boy?”
She froze, uncertain of what to do. It was the same man as before. She tried to make her voice sound lower than her usual tone. “No, sir.”
“Then get busy. I could’ve hauled away a forest by this time.”
She didn’t doubt it. His legs resembled the trunks of small trees, and his arms bulged with muscle. “Bring me a pint, laddie. I’ve built up a powerful thirst.” She relinquished the wood in her arms and stepped quickly out of his path. Why had he singled her out? Did she look different from the other pages?
She walked deliberately toward the group of young men tending the horses. Surely, they all looked alike. “Master sent me after more wood. Said to fetch him a boy with a pint. Said he’d pay.” They weren’t paying her too much attention until she’d said the last part. Suddenly, everyone wanted to help her out. “You,” she said, pointing to a boy around her same height and build.
He stared at her without moving. “I’ll tell the master you refused,” she stated boldly. He turned toward the ale, leaving her to take his place with the wood gathering. She worked her way around the camp until she was as far away from the red-haired man as possible.
When the dinner was served, she stayed as far away from the inner circle as possible. The shadows were cool. Soon, she would be able to slip away. A plan began to form in her mind. On the pretext of relieving herself, she would travel far into the woods, and never return. It was perfect. She was about to carry it out when she heard someone behind her. A heavy footstep. Too heavy to be mistaken for a page. His earthy scent alerted her to his nearness. Another step, and he would be near enough for her to touch.
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