The South Road

OOC: There is more to this post, but I really wanted to get this part up tonight. Love the music btw.


Snowflakes swirled in the icy wind twisting like Najian street performers on Midwinter’s Day. Eldrick shivered and shrugged deeper into his traveling cloak. Too many years in the fair north had thinned his blood and he grimaced as his mother’s frowning face appeared in his mind. He was glad she was not present. No doubt she would have disapproved of his weakness and his company.

Elanari strode along beside him, an empress in chains, and when he looked at her all other thoughts fled. The hood of her dark, wool, coat was pulled up, hiding her face but even her thick coat could not conceal the gentle curve of her breasts or the rhythmic swaying of her round hips as she walked. Smooth, brown legs flashed from beneath the coat with each graceful stride and Eldrick had to concentrate to keep his mind focused on his surroundings.

The South Road stretched ahead of them, a dusty trough winding through the wild lands south of the White River. Scattered thickets of wirebush and groves of leafless hardwoods stood in shadowed clumps along the road, rough barked islands dotting a sea of wiry mule grass. At times the road would pass through one of the thickets and the sound of the wind would give way to the hungry cries of ravens resting among the branches of the trees, pausing to complain before continuing their endless search for food.

They walked in silence and after nearly a week of travel Eldrick had learned little more than her name. He spoke precious little Iverni and he struggled to understand her heavily accented Kinnish, the trade speech of the Midlands. She had made no attempt to fight or flee since they left Ebah and more than once he had considered taking her shackles off and allowing her to walk freely. But he was afraid. She looked as fleet as a young doe and after having her so close to him he was loathe to let her wander from his side. He frowned, confused at his feelings for her. He desired her, yes, and she was his. He had paid good coin for her. But something in his heart held him back from taking her.

He had known more than a few women over the years. Some he considered friends, some had simply been bed warmers. The thought that this Iverni slave had somehow earned more restraint than the others was puzzling and Eldrick wondered if he was being a fool. He looked at her again and she turned toward him, green eyes taking his blue orbs in a merciless grip. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Thoughts of children and a cottage on a river suddenly invaded his mind and he turned away quickly. Beautiful and dangerous. Had she smiled? Images of dark haired Skarnish warriors stoning him to death for taking an Iverni slave into his bed barged into his mind trampling the tranquility of the children and the river house. Such things were not done among his people and Eldrick knew his thoughts of death were not exaggerated. He should sell the woman at the next town and be done with it.

He looked at her again and a sudden gust of wind pushed back her hood. Dark tresses danced around her face streaking her smooth, cinnamon skin with strands of midnight. A gasp escaped her full lips as the cold air swept over her and she turned toward Eldrick, eyes wide with shock. Gently, Eldrick raised the hood of her coat carefully tucking her hair back from her face. His hand brushed her cheek and warmth spread through his body as her silky skin caressed his scarred knuckles. Bright green eyes held him tighter than iron chains.

Perhaps stoning was not so bad as he had heard.