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Post by GalwayGirl on Apr 21, 2012 11:48:38 GMT -5
I loved all of the updates!!!! Seems like every possible obstacle is coming up for Keith, Ryan, Caroline, and Julianne to be together!!! I wonder if it was Keith who knocked Ryan out.... Either way sounds like a rescue of some sort will be in order! Can't wait to see what happens next!! Update soon please!
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Apr 23, 2012 7:28:54 GMT -5
As Ryan slowly came to his senses the first thing that registered was the dull throbbing behind his eyes. The pain was a good sign, at least he was alive.
Not daring to open his eyes he slowly took inventory of himself and after a few minutes he let out a breath of relief. Aside from the head injury he was fine.
He opened his eyes a crack and immediately slammed them shut when the world spun violently. That brief glimpse told him that he was laying facedown on the dirt floor of a cell and by the sound of the voices outside his capture was the cause of celebration in the village.
“I can’t believe that Damian managed to take out that gypsy all by himself!” exclaimed Paul.
“Well, he wouldn’t have discovered him if he wouldn’t have broken curfew,” replied George.
“Who cares if he broke curfew? He saved Julianne, that’s all that matters!”
As Ryan listened the story began to unfold. Damian had snuck out after his curfew and had spied Julianne heading into the woods. He had followed her at a distance and his jaw had dropped when he saw her in the arms of a gypsy. Afraid that she was going to be kidnapped Damian had knocked Ryan out with a rock.
Julianne’s scream had awakened several villagers and soon Paul and Neil had come running into the clearing to discover Damian kneeling next to a sobbing Julianne. Everyone had assumed that she was sobbing out of relief but only the blonde knew that her tears were from sorrow.
Ryan decided that he couldn’t just lay there and slowly pushed himself into a sitting position. His joints protested and the world was still spinning but eventually he managed to sit up and let his head rest against the cool stone wall behind him.
“I see our guest is finally awake. I guess Damian didn’t kill him,” sneered Paul.
Ryan didn’t open his eyes or acknowledge the voice, he knew the taunts would only get worse. His thoughts were on his tribe and he cursed his foolishness. Ryan had been captured before but that was when he was on a raid and his men knew his location. He hadn’t told anyone about his tryst with Julianne and he feared that his people would believe that he had abandoned them.
Tuning out the voices of the villagers Ryan attempted to think of a way to get a message to his people or to gain his freedom. Perhaps Julianne would help him but from the sounds of it the villagers were not likely to let her anywhere near his cell.
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The moment she opened her eyes Aislin knew something was wrong. Caroline had been so upset that she had spent the night in Aislin’s wagon and the healer spent most of the night watching over the young woman. She had drifted off a few hours before sunrise but the feeling in the pit of her stomach told her Caroline’s fears had been realized.
She quietly got up and wrapped a shawl around her shoulders as she slipped into the silent camp. The sun was just peeking over the horizon when she knocked on the door to Ryan’s wagon. After a moment she knocked again then pushed against the slightly ajar door. One look told her everything that she needed to know. The bed had not been slept in and the space possessed a feeling of emptiness. Ryan had not spent the night here.
Forcing herself to remain calm, Aislin did her best to find the place where Caroline and Ryan had fought. From there she searched the ground and quickly found Ryan’s path. It was easy to follow Ryan’s trail, it was obvious that he wasn’t concerned about hiding his tracks. She lost his path at the river and leaned against a tree for a moment, her eyes closing as the knowledge hit her. There were no other tracks, Ryan had not come back from across the river.
He was gone.
Struggling to keep her emotions in check she made her way back to the camp where the others were starting their day. She tapped Emmet on the shoulder and led him away from the group. “What is it, Aislin?”
“King Ryan has disappeared.”
“What?”
Quickly the healer explained about Ryan’s quarrel with Caroline and the lack of tracks in the woods.
Emmet shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. “I will send some of my men to check the woods just in case you missed something but we can’t let the tribe members know he is gone, they would panic.”
“I agree, if anyone asks let’s tell them that he is on a solo raid and may be gone for several days.”
“Thank you for letting me know, Aislin,” said Emmet.
The young woman nodded her head and glanced towards the camp. “Please keep me informed.”
“Of course.”
Aislin gave a tight smile in thanks then headed back to her wagon before Caroline woke up. She was going to have to feed her a story that would calm her nerves and make her believe that Ryan was alright. The healer sighed and shook her head, praying that Ryan was still alive.
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Post by GalwayGirl on Apr 23, 2012 10:53:35 GMT -5
Ah ha it was Damian! Great twist and way for him to redeem himself for falling asleep on guard!! Hopefully Emmet and Aislin will be able to keep the tribe calm. I wonder who will discover where Ryan really is.... Emmet with his men...Aislin....or Caroline because of Keith. Can't wait for more!
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Apr 25, 2012 8:22:36 GMT -5
It had been two days since his capture and Ryan was beginning to fear the worst. He slowly opened his eyes and squinted against the harsh sunlight. Even though it was the middle of spring the nights were still cool so he had taken to sleeping during the day when the ground was warmer and staying up all night pacing in his cell. Also, he knew that if his men somehow discovered his location they would come for him at night and Ryan wanted to be ready.
The sound of approaching footsteps got his attention and he groaned inwardly when he recognized the owner. Keith was beside himself with glee at Ryan’s capture and was acting like a child on a holiday. His taunts were the worst and even though Ryan did his best to tune him out some of the words still managed to cut him.
“Lunchtime!” said Keith while shoving a plate of bread and a mug of water through the space at the bottom of the cell.
Even though Ryan wasn’t hungry he still took the items and placed them in the far corner of the cell. He had discovered that if he left them too close to the door the villagers would kick dirt onto the plate and into the mug.
It seemed like Keith wasn’t just there to bring Ryan food, he was there to mock the gypsy and Ryan braced himself for the torment.
“It’s a little more difficult to lure young women away from behind bars isn’t it, gypsy?”
Ryan didn’t know what came over him but he couldn’t ignore the taunts any longer. “It’s difficult, but not impossible.”
Keith snorted. “Tell me, what exactly were you planning to do with fair Julianne? Were you going to steal her away like the gypsy from the midnight well?”
“You tell me. I’m not the only one that has secret meetings in the woods late at night.”
The blonde froze and stepped closer to the door so he could see Ryan. “What are you talking about, gypsy?”
“I think you know exactly what I’m talking about. I saw you the other night dancing in the woods with a woman. Not just any woman, but a gypsy,” replied Ryan with a satisfied grin. Keith couldn’t seem to find his voice and Ryan stood but made sure to keep plenty of room between himself and Keith. “Your dance partner happens to be my sister and if you ever so much as look as her again I will kill you.”
That knowledge seemed to pull Keith out of his shock and he raised an eyebrow. “Your sister, eh? I wonder how she will handle the news of her brother’s execution.” It was Ryan’s turn to fall silent. “We’re going to the authorities tomorrow and in a few days you will have a date with the hangman.”
Ryan had assumed as much but he also had a valuable piece of information that just might keep him alive. “At least I won’t be the only one to meet my end in such a fashion.”
“What are you talking about?”
Ryan smiled dangerously and dropped his voice to a whisper. “I know your true identity, Keith. Or should I call you the highwayman?”
Keith’s eyes widened in shock. “How…?” he started but couldn’t finish the thought.
“I have the best spies in the region,” replied Ryan. “With my dying breath I will scream your true identity for all to hear. I’m sure the authorities would be curious enough to check out this information even if it did come from a gypsy.”
With trembling hands Keith pulled out his pistol and trained it on Ryan. “Watch your mouth, gypsy. I could kill you now and your people would never know.”
“Go ahead, kill me,” said Ryan while leaning against the back wall of his cell. “Give my people something to fight for.”
“What?”
“I am their king and my death would be their rallying cry.” In the dim light Keith could have sworn that Ryan’s eyes glowed. “If I die your village will burn and the truth about your identity will spread like wildfire.”
Keith gave up on the pistol and reached through the bars, desperate to get his hands around Ryan’s neck. The gypsy king chuckled, relaxing against the wall of his cell knowing that Keith couldn’t reach him.
“Temper, temper,” Ryan taunted. He prayed that Keith wouldn’t turn him over to the authorities but from the blonde’s actions he had a feeling that he was safe. He had promised to take care of Caroline but he had let his emotions for Julianne blind him. Not only had he let his sister down but he had broken the promise he made to Aislin by ignoring his duties as king.
Ryan sat down and slowly ate his lunch, Keith’s anger had faded and he had stormed off but not before throwing a nervous glance over his shoulder. Attempting to make the meager meal last, Ryan wondered how his tribe was doing in his absence and once again cursed his carelessness.
Pushing the plate away from him, he leaned back against the rough stones of his cell and closed his eyes. Ryan knew that his knowledge of Keith’s true identity was the only thing keeping him alive and even that may not be enough. Closing his eyes he swallowed hard and forced himself to accept his fate. If he was doomed to die at the end of the hangman’s noose then so be it, he only prayed that he would be allowed to say goodbye to his sister first. There was so much unsaid between them and he didn’t want to die knowing their last words were full of anger and pain.
The knowledge that he could be seeing his parents soon soothed him slightly but the fact that he may never see his tribe or Caroline again gnawed at him. Ryan lay down on the hard packed dirt and attempted to get some rest as vivid dreams of his tribe in peril played across his eyes.
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“What do you mean we should wait?” exclaimed George. Keith had appeared and suddenly said that they shouldn’t go to the authorities.
“Well, think about it. We have one gypsy, why don’t we use him as bait? He’s their king so there are others that will come for him and when they do we can turn in a whole group of them.”
“How do you know he’s the king?” asked Paul.
Keith grinned dangerously and cleaned his nails with his dagger. “I have my ways.” His expression made Damian swallow hard and take a step so he was behind George.
The head villager sighed and glanced towards the woods across the river. “Alright, we’ll wait a few days but I don’t like using him as bait.” He turned to look over at Ruth who was drawing water from the well and felt his resolve harden. “But if it will keep our families safe it must be done. Now let’s get to work, we need to assign a schedule for guard duty.”
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Apr 27, 2012 4:48:00 GMT -5
“Alright, now pay attention,” said Aislin. She was leaning over a rough map that she had drawn of the village and Emmet and his men were crowded around her. “If Ryan has been captured he’ll be here, this is where the holding cells are located.” She pointed to an area on the map and frowned. The holding cells were in the dead center of the village and were extremely difficult to reach. If Ryan was being held within the village it was going to be nearly impossible to get him out.
“The only way to get close to the cell is via the rooftops. There’s a large tree, here, with a branch that should hold a grown man’s weight. It’s also just a couple of feet from one of the houses. One of you should be able to jump from rooftop to rooftop in order to get close enough to the cell. Toss a rock or something to distract the guard and you should be able to get close enough to see if Ryan is in the cell. It’s not much, but it’s the best I can do.”
Emmet placed a friendly hand on her shoulder. “You’ve done more than enough. Without your knowledge we would be walking blindly into the village. Is there any more information you can give us?”
The healer shook her head. “Just be careful, they may be anticipating an attack. If you do see Ryan don’t attempt to free him. It will take more than one man to help him win his freedom. And if he’s not there…well…we’ll worry about that when the time comes.”
“Aislin is right, this is only an information gathering mission. If it is necessary we will plan a rescue but I want all of my men available if that time would come. Now, let’s run through the plan once more…”
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In the end Taylor was chosen to go on the mission and the young man took his time as he made his way through the woods. He crossed the river much further to the South than usual and kept his eyes and ears open for the slightest noise. He was grateful for the lack of moonlight but the darkness didn’t bother him, his highly trained senses were able to pick up on the slightest details in the meager light.
Once he reached the outskirts of the village he was forced to stop several times and duck behind a nearby building, even though it was late there were quite a few people still up and about.
He finally reached the tree Aislin had specified and quickly pulled himself into its branches, hating that he was so close to the center of town. After making sure the coast was clear he hopped to the nearest rooftop, crouching down to make sure that no one had seen the movement.
It was a painstakingly slow process, every few steps he would sink into the shadows before leaping, light as a cat, to the next rooftop. Finally he peeked over the edge of the rough shingles and realized he was right across from the holding cells. Only one cell seemed to be occupied and there were two men standing guard.
Taylor reached into his pocket and hefted a small pebble, glancing around before throwing it to his right. Luck was on his side because it hit the shutters of one house’s window and bounced against the wall of another before sinking into the dirt.
One of the guards, Taylor recognized him as the highway man, jumped up and rushed over to investigate the sound. The noise had awakened the homeowner as well and soon the other guard, a tall bald man, went to join them.
The gypsy was contemplating jumping down and stealing a glance of their prisoner when the occupant of the cell began to stir. A few seconds later Taylor swallowed the urge to cry out when Ryan came to stand at the door. He was attempting to see what all of the commotion was about but even in the darkness Taylor could easily recognize him.
The spy wanted to call out to his king, to let him know that they were going to come for him but he knew it would only lead to more trouble if he did. Aislin had mentioned that she was surprised that they hadn’t summoned the authorities by now and if Taylor made one false move it could lead to Ryan’s demise.
He forced himself to slowly make his way back the towards the edge of the village and the moment his feet touched the ground he took off in a dead sprint. He didn’t slow down until he reached he entrance to the camp where he stopped and caught his breath. It was late but he didn’t want alarm anyone that might still be up at this hour.
After several minutes he calmly walked to Emmet’s wagon and knocked on the door. He was only slightly surprised when Aislin answered the knock and ushered him inside.
Taylor didn’t have to speak, the look on his face told them everything they needed to know. “He’s in one of the cells, isn’t he?” asked Emmet, hoping his instincts were wrong.
“He’s in the center cell and has two guards at all times. I managed to distract them for a moment but it is going to make more than a pebble hitting a window to give us enough time to get him out of there.”
“We’ll start working on a plan in the morning but now we all need our rest,” said Emmet while giving Aislin a pointed look. “You did well, lad. Now get some sleep.”
The young man nodded and headed home and Aislin followed him. Emmet watched them go and knew that the healer would be awake for most of the night working on a plan. Ever since Ryan’s disappearance she had been obsessed with getting him back and Emmet couldn’t understand why. He was concerned for his king’s welfare as well but as far as he knew Aislin and Ryan were nothing more than old friends that had turned into professional acquaintances.
Shaking his head he pushed the thoughts from his mind and decided to try and get some rest. They had a hard few days in front of them and he needed to be in top form if they were going to attempt to free Ryan.
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Post by celticbear on Apr 27, 2012 20:58:40 GMT -5
I'm glad Aislin and Emmet figured out it was best to find out if Ryan had been captured before planing the rescue mission.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on Apr 30, 2012 7:38:23 GMT -5
Five days after Ryan disappeared Caroline sought out Aislin. “May I have a word?”
The healer nodded and led her through the woods to the clearing where they usually trained. “What is it?”
“Ryan’s gone, isn’t he?”
Her abrupt question startled Aislin but she couldn’t lie to Caroline. “Yes, he’s been captured.”
“By the villagers?”
“Yes. How did you know?”
The dancer took a deep breath and began to tell Aislin about her affair with Keith, starting with their dance in the woods and ending with the night that she fought with Ryan. “I haven’t seen Keith for a few days and I feared the worse. Aislin this is all my fault, if I hadn’t said those things to Ryan he wouldn’t have run off. What am I going to do?”
“You’re going to be strong, Caroline. You are a gypsy and you are a princess. If we can’t get Ryan out then you have to be the one to lead this tribe. You cannot focus on the errors of the past, learn from them but move on. You have to keep your eyes on the future, do you understand?”
Caroline nodded and fisted her hands together in her lap to keep them from shaking. “I understand. What did you say about trying to get Ryan out?”
Aislin glanced around to make sure that they were alone and dropped her voice to a whisper. “We’re planning a rescue mission tonight. Emmet has had spies all over the village and we’ve been working on a plan for two days. It’s a miracle that they haven’t turned him over to the authorities yet but something tells me they are anticipating an attack.” The healer grasped Caroline’s shoulders and forced the young woman to meet her eyes.“ If we are not back before dawn you are to move the people to a safe location. I have faith in you, you have your mother’s fire and your father’s bravery. You can do this.”
Caroline sat up a little straighter and nodded. “I will not let you down.” The two stood and began to make their way back to the camp, both of them wondering if they would ever see Ryan alive again.
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As the sun set a buzz began to fill the camp. Aside from Caroline and Aislin, none of the other gypsies knew that Ryan had been captured. Emmet had announced Ryan and been waylaid by the villagers while returning from his raid and he and the others were going to assist their king. This had soothed most of the tribe members’ fears but a few were still skeptical.
As Emmet and his men entered the woods he was only slightly surprised to see that Aislin was with them. The healer was dressed head to toe in black like the rest of them and was carrying her bow and a sheath of arrows.
Pulling her to the side Emmet frowned. “Aislin, you cannot come with us.”
“Why not?” exclaimed the healer. “I helped find Ryan, I helped formulate the plan, it’s only fair that I join you.”
“You cannot come because if we fail Ryan has named you as his successor.”
“What? Caroline is the princess, she’s the next in line.”
The young man glanced around and took a step closer. “I know Caroline is the next of kin but she is still young. Yes, she is maturing more every day but you have the skills and the drive to keep our people safe. Caroline will need your help and if your instincts are correct about this being a trap then one of us has to make it back alive.”
Aislin swallowed hard as she processed this new information. She couldn’t believe that Ryan would rely on her to care for the tribe in his absence. Sensing the impatience of Emmet’s men she pulled herself out of her musings and shook her head. “Fine I will not go into the village with you but let me do what I can. I’ll find a suitable vantage point and whistle if there is trouble. If I don’t see you by dawn the village burns and we disappear.”
Emmet nodded, shocked by the fire he saw in the grey eyes. “Be safe.”
“You too, bring him back to us.”
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Post by laurenne on Apr 30, 2012 11:37:57 GMT -5
Wow, she was named successor. More soon, please.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 2, 2012 7:53:32 GMT -5
Ryan was exhausted and hungry but he pushed himself to his feet anyway. He had overheard that the villagers were planning to go to the authorities the next morning and the village had been a hive of activity. In all of the chaos they had neglected to bring him any food for the past day. They had brought him a meager mug of water twice but either they forgot his meals or they didn’t see the logic in feeding someone who would be dead in a matter of days.
Still, he didn’t want to appear weak and was pacing his cell when he heard a soft whistle in the distance. He would know that sound anywhere. Most would think it was a night bird but he knew it was a signal between his men.
He paused and a moment later there was a slight scuffle outside of his cell followed by the sound of a body hitting the ground. Seconds later he saw Emmet crouch in front of the door and begin picking the lock. It was surprisingly sturdy and it took nearly five agonizing minutes before the door swung open.
Stepping into the moonlight Ryan glanced over and saw Neil lying unconscious next to his cell and couldn’t stop the relieved smile from crossing his lips when he saw his men.
They carefully closed the door to his cell and propped Neil up so it looked like the young man was sleeping before slipping into the shadows.
Luckily they were forced to go slow because Ryan was so exhausted and underfed that he could barely stay on his feet. Emmet noticed that Ryan was falling behind and wrapped an arm around his shoulder while Adam mirrored the movement on his other side. The two helped Ryan along and they began to hurry when another whistle pierced the air.
Ryan frowned, that whistle didn’t belong to any of his men or to Caroline and he wondered who was helping them. He banished the thought when he heard the cry of alarm from the vicinity of his cell, apparently the villagers had discovered his escape.
They were nearly to the bridge and Ryan struggled with every step. Crossing at the bridge was dangerous, there was no cover and it was sure to be guarded but it was the fastest way to get across the river.
The trio were steps away when they heard the distinct sound of a pistol being cocked behind them and they froze.
“Not another step,” growled Keith.
Ryan slowly turned to face the highwayman. If he was going to be shot he wanted to see his adversary. Keith was standing in the shadows next to one of the buildings but they could easily make out the silhouette of the weapon in his hands.
“I knew you’d try and rescue him, now we have three gypsies to turn over to the authorities instead of one.” Keith met Ryan’s eyes as he spoke and smirked. “And don’t bother trying to rat me out to the authorities, I will be long gone before the hangman even finishes tying his noose.”
Keith started to take a step forward but suddenly an arrow came from nowhere and caught the sleeve of his coat, pinning it to the building behind him as the pistol clattered harmlessly to the ground.
Ryan and the others didn’t hesitate, they turned and sprinted for the bridge. Ryan’s lungs were burning and his legs were shaking but he didn’t dare stop. As they crossed the bridge and tore through the brush he allowed himself to think back to the incident from a few moments prior. There was only one person who could make a shot like that and his suspicions were confirmed when Aislin dropped out of the tree next to them.
With Emmet and Adam’s help they half dragged, half carried Ryan back to the camp. Aislin kept one arrow loaded as she followed them, her eyes darting around for danger.
Caroline was waiting when they re-entered the camp and she pulled Ryan into her arms with a cry. Her brother embraced her tightly for a moment before the last of his energy drained away. He sank to his knees and Caroline followed him, holding him against her.
“Bring him to my wagon,” said Aislin and the crowd that had gathered parted as Ryan was led into the dim space. She was about to enter the space herself when rest of the gypsies staggered into the camp. From the way they were cradling limbs and favoring legs she knew she had to help.
“Caroline,” she called and the dancer appeared at her side. “Stay with Ryan until I get back.” She dropped her voice to a whisper. “Save your apologies and confessions for another day. Just let him rest.” The young woman nodded and stepped into Aislin’s wagon as the healer attended to the wounded.
All and all it could have been much worse. Taylor had a broken nose, apparently Damian had a wicked right hook, but he sat still as Aislin set his nose then gave him something to ease the pain and swelling.
Cody had a twisted ankle, Stephan had a good sized knot on the side of his head and was having trouble remembering where he got it, Justin broke three fingers against Paul’s jaw, and Ethan had a sprained wrist. Emmet and Adam only had a few minor scrapes and scratches and were going to stand as guard in case the villagers followed them.
Aislin and Meara tended each wound and sent the young men home to sleep off the pain. Merara volunteered to stay up with Stephan, the young man needed to be kept awake until they determined the extend of his injury, and Aislin smiled her thanks as she washed the blood off of her hands.
Finally Aislin made her way back to her wagon and woke Caroline who was dozing next to Ryan’s bed. “Go and get some rest, I’ll watch over him tonight.”
Caroline looked like she wanted to protest but the lure of sleep was too tempting and eventually she headed towards her own bed. Aislin settled herself on the stool next to Ryan’s cot and was surprised when the ice blue eyes slowly opened. “Give me a few minutes of poking and prodding and I promise you can sleep.”
Ryan nodded and allowed her to help him move into a comfortable position before she began to examine him for any injuries. Aside from the too prominent ribs and the slight bump on the back of his head he seemed to be fine and she allowed herself to let out the breath she was holding.
“Rest, king Ryan. You’re safe now,” she murmured as the bright eyes began to drift shut.
Ryan fought against his weariness long enough to grasp the healer’s hand. “Aislin,” he began, his voice so faint that she had to lean close to hear him. “That shot was one in a million.”
Aislin squeezed his hand and rewarded him with one of her rare smiles. “I was aiming for you.”
Ryan chuckled and felt a blanket being drawn over him. “Then it’s a good thing you’re a lousy shot.”
The young woman didn’t reply, she simply brushed his hair away from his forehead as he gave in to exhaustion. Looking down she noticed that Ryan’s fingers were still laced with hers and felt a strange warmth spread through her body at the innocent gesture.
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Post by celticbear on May 2, 2012 20:20:38 GMT -5
Great update Onyx! I'm glad Ryan got away and I'm also happy that Aislin did not kill Keith! But my favorite part was the last two lines!
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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 3, 2012 21:45:51 GMT -5
Okay, I need some help. I'm stuck. I have a couple more chapters written but after that I've hit a roadblock. So I'm asking my readers where they would like this story to go.
I hope I get a response...I might just post what I have left and leave this story to die. We'll see...
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Post by celticbear on May 3, 2012 22:08:56 GMT -5
I know I would like it to end with Peace Between the Gypsies and the Village. So that Keith and Caroline can be together. Keith makes one last raid so huge that he can retire from being the Highwayman and that Ryan ends up with the right lass!
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Post by laurenne on May 3, 2012 23:39:42 GMT -5
I agree with cb, peace among the two groups, no more highwayman, but I think Ryan should end up with Aislin.
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Post by onyxfyrefly on May 4, 2012 16:53:08 GMT -5
“I know you’re tired but try to focus,” said Aislin. She was sitting in Meara’s darkened wagon across from Stephan. The young man was exhausted, he had been forced to stay up all night due to his head injury, but Aislin had promised that he could sleep if he sat through his examination.
She lit a candle and passed it in front of his eyes, side to side then up and down, watching carefully as the orbs followed the flame. Finally she snuffed out the candle and smiled. “You seem to be doing okay but take it easy for the next few days. If you feel excessively tired or dizzy come and see one of us immediately.”
The young man nodded and stood, thrilled that the room didn’t tilt sideways at the motion. “Thank you for your help, ladies. May I ask, how is king Ryan this morning?”
“He’s still sleeping but I’m sure he will be up to check on everyone soon. Don’t worry, Stephan, I’ll make sure that no harm comes to him.”
“I never worry when anyone is in your care, Aislin, or yours, Meara. We’re lucky to have not one but two talented leigheasóirs in our tribe. Good day to you both.”
The healers shared a smile at the young man’s words and Aislin stood and brushed off her skirts. “I’m going to see if Ryan is awake yet, do you need anything from me, Meara?”
The older woman shook her head. “I’m going to try to get some sleep and you should do the same, you look weary.”
“I’ll be fine, I slept more than you did last night. Good day, Meara.”
When Aislin stepped into her wagon she noticed that Ryan was still sleeping and tried not to make too much noise. He needed his rest and she had plenty of work to keep herself occupied.
After tidying up the small space she threw another log onto her fire and coaxed the embers back to life so she could warm up the broth she had prepared the night before.
As soon as the smell of food began to fill the space Ryan started to stir and Aislin smothered her smile. It was just like when they were children, Ryan could sleep through an earthquake but the moment he smelled food he was wide awake.
She pulled the heavy cast iron pot off of the fire then sat down next to Ryan’s bed as he woke. It took him a few minutes to come to his senses and he let out a sigh of relief when he finally recognized his surroundings.
“Good morning, king Ryan.”
“For a moment I thought that I’d dreamt it all and I was going to wake up in that cell again.”
“You’re safe now,” said the healer. “Are you hungry?”
Ryan nodded and Aislin helped him into a sitting position. She handed him a bowl of broth and shook her head when he started to speak. “Eat your breakfast, whatever you have to say can wait.”
As Ryan sipped the hot soup he watched as Aislin sat and sorted through a basket of herbs and plants. Some of them he recognized such as thyme, mint, rosemary, and witch hazel but there were others that were foreign to him and he watched with fascination as she placed some in piles to be ground up while she hung others to dry. The plants and herbs blended together into a scent that he had always associated with Aislin. It was both comforting and intriguing, he was constantly trying to discover what elements blended together to make such a unique perfume.
He placed the empty bowl to the side and Aislin busied herself by making a pot of tea. She added herbs to the tea leaves and let them steep for a moment before pouring the concoction into two mugs. Ryan eyed the substance warily but the moment he took a sip he felt his whole body relax.
“I know that this is none of my business but I have to ask,” started Aislin before meeting Ryan’s eyes. “What happened? How did you get captured by the villagers? That type of mistake isn’t like you.”
Ryan knew that this was coming and was dreading the conversation. He knew that he could pull rank and refuse to answer the healer but he felt like he owed her some type of explanation. He was still contemplating his answer when Aislin spoke again.
“If it makes you feel any better please know that your words will not go beyond these walls.”
The gypsy king let out a sigh before launching into the tale of his affair with Julianne. He didn’t leave anything out, even telling Aislin that he had offered to make Julianne his queen, but he didn’t dare meet the dark eyes as he spoke. He found a point on the far wall and focused on it as he made his confession.
“…then Julianne screamed and everything went black. The next thing I knew I was waking up on the floor of that cell.”
For nearly five minutes Aislin didn’t speak as she sorted through the new information. She took Ryan’s empty mug and placed it on a side table with hers before finally meeting the cool blue eyes.
“I believe an apology is due.”
Ryan nodded and picked at the blanket that was still spread across his legs. “I know, I promised I would not be distracted from my duties and I let you down. I’m sorry, Aislin.”
The healer shook her head. “It’s not me you should be apologizing to…it’s Caroline.”
“I do not owe her any type of apology! She disobeyed my orders and could have gotten herself killed.”
“And how is her romance any different than your tryst with Julianne?”
The words made Ryan pause and he ran his hand through his hair. “I can’t explain it but it isn’t the same. Julianne isn’t some criminal, she’s just a villager.”
“What if Keith wasn’t the highwayman? What if he was just a villager?”
Ryan couldn’t answer those questions and he turned his gaze away. Aislin had a way of being right most of the time and this was one of those times. His affair with Julianne was no different than the one between Caroline and Keith yet he had acted superior because he was the king.
“Is she worth dying for?”
The dark head snapped around so fast that the room spun. “What?”
Aislin sighed but met Ryan’s eyes. “Julianne. Is she worth dying for? If the answer is ‘yes’ then fight for her, we’ll stand behind your choice but it’s likely that we’ll end up going to war with the villagers.”
For the first time in months Ryan stopped to think about his relationship with Julianne. Yes, the young woman was beautiful and she was pleasant company but he had a hard time imaging her being content with a life of constant travel and being forced to constantly be on your guard.
The more he thought about it, the more superficial their relationship seemed. At their first meeting in the woods she had said that she was fascinated that he was a gypsy and as Ryan analyzed the past few weeks he realized that most of their conversations were about his life. Julianne was in love with a gypsy, not with Ryan, but with the image that he represented. The knowledge made him sick and he had to fight to keep his breakfast down.
“No,” he finally rasped, breathing through the sudden pain in his chest. “She’s not worth dying for.”
“Then go and apologize to your sister so we can forget about this mess and move on with our lives.”
“But I can’t consent to her relationship with Keith, he’s too unreliable. One false step and she could be dead, I can’t let that happen.”
Aislin placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “Ryan, we’re gypsies. Everyday we are one step away from our graves. There is so little joy in our lives that we have to cherish every opportunity that we get. Don’t you think your sister deserves to be happy?”
Ryan nodded and closed his eyes. “She deserves to be treated like the princess that she is. But I cannot allow this affair to continue, it’s too dangerous.”
The healer stood and threw up her hands in frustration. “You‘re a fool Ryan Kelly. Whatever goes on between you and your sister is none of my business but heed my words, if you do not resolve this matter you will lose her. Trust me, being a gypsy is hard enough but being a gypsy without any family…it’s nearly unbearable.”
Tears stung the stormy eyes and Aislin quickly turned away, busying herself with wiping out the bowl and mugs from their breakfast.
The young woman’s words seemed to echo throughout Ryan’s head. When his parents perished so many years ago the loss was a huge blow but he had always had Caroline to help ease the pain. Aislin didn’t have any family of her own yet she was still attempting to salvage his relationship with his sister. The selfless act made something inside of him break and he immediately regretted his words.
Slowly Ryan forced himself onto his feet. He was surprised that his muscles didn’t ache as badly as he had anticipated then realized that the relief must have come from the tea Aislin had brewed.
He reached out to place a hand on her shoulder but stopped halfway and let the limb fall limply to the side. “Aislin I…”
A sudden knock made him jump and the healer swung open the door, speaking quickly to the visitor. She turned and even though she hid it well, Ryan could still see the lingering pain in her eyes. “If you are ready, king Ryan, your men are gathering.”
Ryan nodded and stepped past Aislin into the sunlight, hating how she refused to meet his eyes. Vowing to speak with her later, Ryan smiled at Emmet and allowed the young man to escort him to the meeting space.
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Post by celticbear on May 4, 2012 20:55:07 GMT -5
WELL DONE AISLIN! YOU CALLED RYAN OUT FOR BEING A JERK ABOUT CAROLINE AND KEITH! ONYX,LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT UPDATE.
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