Chapter 11

Pagan sat at the dinner table lost in her thoughts. It had only been a few hours since Tristan had ridden away with the Aradian forces, but it seemed like it had been a lifetime to her. All the women of the ruling houses were to be sequestered in one place for their protection, her home, and even though she had plenty company, Pagan still felt alone. She had spent every day with Tristan since she arrived, and this was the first time he wasn’t going to be nearby, and that realization hit her harder than she thought it would.

She realized she missed him, and she was still worried about his wellbeing, even though Brailey had reassured her on countless of times that his brother was an excellent soldier and would be out of harm’s way due to his station as heir to the ruling chair. It didn’t work. It didn’t matter that he was to be kept at a safe distance, she knew Tristan and he would definitely be in the middle of any fighting because it was in his nature to protect those around him. His running off to fight alongside Apollo was evidence of that, and yes, he came home to her that time, but he also had a deity at his side. This time he would have only men to watch his back and that thought stuck in her mind.

“Pagan, you need to eat,” Brailey said.

Pagan snapped out of her thought at his words. He was her personal guardian, a duty assigned to him by Tristan, and also the ruler of the people here for as long as Draken and Tristan were away. She hoped their task in the south would be short lived and both men would return safe.

“Your blood sugar will get too low if you don’t eat,” he said.

“You sound just like Tristan,” she replied.

“With good reason, my brother left me specific instructions to make sure you don’t skip a single meal. I gave him my word I would take care of you, and I intend to keep my word. Now, please eat something, Pagan.”

His word. Apparently when an Aradian male gave his word to another, it is taken as a truth and followed through with a sense of honor. She should have expected no less from Brailey.

Tristan did look after her every need, as it was expected of him because he took a contract out on her, but even before that, he looked after her and kept her in his bed till she healed from her gunshot wound. He was that devoted to her even then.

At that thought, Pagan touched her belly where Gomez’s man had attempted to end her life. It seemed like it happened so long ago when the reality was it had been only a month. Was Gomez still looking for her? What were the chances he would find the veil if he even knew of its existence? Was she truly safe? Would he dare cross over just to find her?

She looked around the room. Were any of the women here truly safe? Did any of them know how to defend themselves if they needed to? Tristan insisted she learn, and he wanted Brailey to continue her training, but would he have time with him being acting ruler in Draken’s absence? Her head started to spin with all the possibilities roaming around her brain of what could happen.

“Well, I see no one waited to start lunch until I arrived,” Delia said as if she were insulted, and she walked in like she owned the place and immediately plopped down in the empty seat next to Pagan.

“Do you mind if I sit here?” She asked after she sat down.

Pagan was at a loss for words at the moment and she shot Brailey a questioning glance.

Draken’s orders, not Tristan’s. Her father is a high-ranking general and he feels they, too, may be targets if the rebels can’t get to you. Brailey spoke in her mind.

You have got to be kidding me.

I wish I were, but no, she and her sisters are to stay here with the other women.

“Why, Pagan, you haven’t eaten a bite. Well, at least you have enough respect for me to wait till I arrived,” Delia spoke loudly so the entire room could hear her.

She picked up Pagan’s fork and speared a sliced potato from her plate.

“Here, Pagan, you really must eat. We don’t want you to get any skinnier than you already are. Tristan likes his women plump. I should know,” she said slyly as she handed the fork to Pagan.

“Skinny, Pagan’s not skinny. In fact, she is the vision of loveliness. If Tristan hadn’t taken a contract out on her, I would have. He just beat me to it,” Adam said with a smile.

“Humph,” was Delia’s reply as she rolled her eyes. “If you like her type.” She whispered to Pagan, “No offense to you, dear.”

“None taken,” Pagan said as politely as she could. Although inwardly she wanted to slap the woman. The idea of this woman being in her house made her want to knock her on her ass and drag her sarcastic butt out the door and into the mud where she belonged.

“Well, apparently Tristan does,” Brailey added in her defense. “After all, he did take a contract out on her shortly after her arrival.”

Pagan took her fork from Delia and placed it back on her plate. “I’m not hungry right now. I’ll eat later. Brailey, I want to get back to practicing shooting my bow.”

“Not until you eat, Pagan, I gave Tristan my word to make sure your blood sugar doesn’t get too low. Eat, then we can go,” Brailey responded to her request.

“Blood sugar? Why, Pagan, I didn’t realize you had health issues. Brailey is right, you must eat.” Delia jumped up and went to the kitchen to return with a whole chocolate cake and placed it on the table beside Pagan. “Here you go. This should take care of your blood sugar problem. Besides, why would you want to shoot a bow, it is such a manly sport. Tristan likes his women to be more lady-like than that. I should know.”

“Well, for someone who claims to know what my brother likes, perhaps you can tell us why he chose Pagan to be his wife and not you?” Asked Betha.

“Ladies, please, drop the subject. Tristan has made his choice and by law Pagan is his, end of discussion,” Brailey said in a firm tone of voice. “Pagan, perhaps you are right, a little target practice is just what you need.” He rose from his chair and walked over to Pagan and pulled her chair out so she could stand.

“Oh, I want to go,” said Betha. “I’ll go pack you a smaller lunch and meet you outside.”

Betha jumped out of her chair and headed to the kitchen.

“Betha, wait, I’m supposed to keep an eye on you.” Adam wiped his mouth with his napkin and slowly rose from his seat.

“Why do you have to go with her?” Asked Delia.

“Oh, didn’t you know, Tristan appointed me to be his sister’s personal guard and Brailey is Pagan’s.” Adam replied.

“Well, where is my personal guard?” She asked.

“Did your father hire a guard for you?” Adam asked in a coy tone of voice.

“Well, no, but surely Tristan appointed one for me?”

Adam strolled over to where Delia was sitting and leaned over to whisper in her ear, “It is not Tristan’s place to see to your safety, after all, Pagan is his betrothed, not you.” He left her sitting there and called after Betha, “Betha, don’t leave without me.”

***

Well, target practice wasn’t quite as mind freeing as Pagan had hoped. Because of the threat on her life, she wasn’t allowed to go out in the woods at all. Brailey had an area by the stables secured for her, and she was also completely surrounded by men with swords. They weren’t standing too close to her and outlined the edge of the woods, but she still felt like a caged bird that all were able to see but forbidden to get near or touch. She was a prisoner in her own home.

She raised her bow and took careful aim at the target several feet away.

There is no danger here.

Pagan whispered back to her bow, “I know, Tristan is where the danger is, not me.”

She released the arrow and hit the outer ring of the target. She lowered her bow and sighed at her lack of accuracy. She was too preoccupied with Tristan being gone that she wasn’t able to focus. This whole exercise was pointless. She needed to control her emotions and block out all distractions. But how? Tristan was too engrained in her life, and she wasn’t able to concentrate as long as he was so far away. That was something she never in her life would dream was capable of happening. But her way of life in Mexico was long gone and she was here now. Aradia was her home and Tristan a major part of her life, a part that she finally accepted.

Brailey pulled the arrow out of the target and walked to stand next to her.

“Try again, don’t let your mind be distracted. Concentrate on your task as you aim.”

He handed her the arrow. Pagan placed the arrow in the string and pulled back to prepare to let it loose. She focused on the target and the bow spoke to her again.

Beware.

Pagan looked around the area with her bow still ready to shoot. Something was different; the bow picked up on a danger and so did she. She felt it. She lowered her bow and glanced around the area. Everything was the same as it was before, except there were a few more stable hands milling around, watching her practice. It was odd how they stood around not really doing anything and she began to wonder if they were truly stable hands? Of course they were, she thought. Why else would they be allowed so close to the ruling houses?

She raised her bow again and aimed toward her target. Again, the bow spoke to her.

Beware.

Pagan noticed one of the stable hands moved to stand in the entrance of the stables. He seemed to be more interested in her than the horse that was nipping at his tunic sleeve and the gleam in his eye was one of hatred. Why would a stable hand harbor hate toward her? It was directed at her, she felt it with her empathic ability.

The stable hand shoved the horse away from him and took a few steps out of the horse’s reach. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the far stable door, never taking his eyes off of her. Something wasn’t right about that man. He didn’t belong there. His mannerism was out of character and didn’t match the behavior if the stable hands she had interacted with before.

“Brailey, who is that man over there?” She lowered her bow.

“What man?”

“The one standing over there,” she said as she pointed to the stables. He was gone. She turned in a circle, searching the area to see if she could spot him again, but he was nowhere to be found. “There was a man standing in the entrance of the stables, I saw him.”

“Pagan, there is no one there.”

How could a man disappear so quickly? “Brailey, I’m telling you there was someone there.” Pagan walked to the stables and stepped inside with Brailey directly behind her. “He was standing by the door and that horse was chewing on his tunic.”

Brailey looked around the area. “Well, if there was a man here, he is long gone. All the stable hands are outside and accounted for.” He walked through the stables and counted the horses. “And all the horses are here.”

“Brailey, I’m not crazy. He was here and there was something about him that didn’t seem right.”

“I believe you, Pagan. Come, let’s get you back inside.”

He took her by the arm and led her to the path of the ruling houses. Adam gathered Betha’s blanket and picnic basket and they, too, went to the house.

Pagan walked in silence, as she tried to concentrate on the man she had seen. He looked like an Aradian in stature and he had long hair like the men here had. It was only his attitude in his stance that gave him the appearance of not belonging. The more she thought about it, the more she was convinced he wasn’t supposed to be there.

Was it possible the rebels had men in the area and were waiting till the main forces were too far away before they tried to kidnap her? It was a possibility, they had done it before, and Tristan’s mother was taken because hers wasn’t there. Taking a man’s woman was like taking a man’s property and the Aradians took that offense seriously.

Was the attempt on her the other day a ploy to give the illusion that there was a plot so that Draken would lead the majority of the troops away from the ruling houses, and by doing so, leaving her less protected and an easier target?

“I’m sorry to have to do this, but until we find out for sure who the man was you saw, I’m going to have to ask you and Betha to stay in your room,” Brailey said apologetically.

“More seclusion, I’m starting to feel like a caged animal in the zoo.”

“A zoo?” Brailey asked.

“Yes, you know, a place where animals are kept for people to stand and stare at them.”

“Well, no zoos here, and this is for your protection.”

She sighed, “I know. Well, at least I’ll have Betha to keep me company.”

“And Adam, I’m placing him as the guard in your room for the time being.”

Oh, that was just great, another man in her room and she had no choice in the matter. She climbed the steps to the sleeping hall of her home and walked to her door. To her surprise it was open, and Delia was lying across her bed with her younger sisters.

Pagan marched over to the foot of the bed with her hands on her hips. She’d had just about enough of the woman than she could stand. How dare Delia enter her room without permission? This was her home and her room, there was no way she was going to let that irritating woman take advantage of the situation and claim this room as hers.

“Delia, what are you doing?” Pagan asked.

Delia sat up and gave her an innocent look that Pagan knew was a very well rehearsed expression. Everything Delia did seemed to be planned in advance.

“Why, Pagan, I just assumed since my sisters and I have to stay here that we would be sleeping in this room, after all, we are guests here and it is customary for the host to make their guests as comfortable as possible.” Delia batted her eyes.

“Well, you assumed wrong. Betha is staying with me in here, not you. I’m sure you and your sisters will be very comfortable in the guest chambers down the hall.”

Delia pulled her sisters to her sides. “Why, Pagan, they are only eight and ten years old, and all of this has frightened them, surely…”

“Delia, Pagan is right. You need to gather your things and come with me,” Brailey said as he walked into the room.

“Well, Tristan isn’t going to be too happy when he hears how you treated me here.” She scooted out of the bed and her sisters followed her.

“Actually, Delia, Tristan insisted that you were given the guest quarters. He wanted his family to sleep with Pagan.” Brailey picked up one of the girls. “Come, little one, let the ruler of Aradia escort you to your new princess quarters.”

“I’m a princess?” She asked very excitedly.

“In my realm you are,” Brailey said with a smile.

“You hear that, Delia, Lord Brailey called me a princess!”

“Yes, I heard.” Delia gave a smug look over her shoulder, as she stopped momentarily at the door. Adam motioned for her to leave, and she left the room begrudgingly and made her way to the guest chambers down the hall.

Pagan rubbed her forehead. She was developing a massive headache that was quickly turning into a migraine.

“Are you all right?” Adam asked.

“Just a headache, that’s all,” she said.

“Tristan said you get headaches when your blood sugar gets too low. Betha, give me that basket. She needs to eat.”

Adam began rummaging through the packed lunch she didn’t have a chance to eat.

“Wait, don’t tell me, Tristan has you, too, making sure I eat?”

“Yes, he left specific instructions that you were not to skip a meal.”

He unwrapped a turkey sandwich and placed it on the table where she usually shared meals with Tristan. He pulled out the chair, indicating for her to have a seat, and she threw her hands up in the air in surrender.

“I give up, I’ll eat.” Pagan plopped in her chair and began munching on her sandwich. She caught a glimpse of Adam smiling, as if he had accomplished a great deed. Tristan must have put the fear of god in them if they didn’t tend to her, she thought. Aradian men and their sense of honor was a little too much for her to comprehend. This world was completely different from Earth. It seemed more like a fantasy place written in fiction novels than a reality. Well, for a fictional place, the food there was pretty tasty. She took another bite of her sandwich. Adam took a container of fruit out of the basket and placed it in front of her.

“You want me to eat that too?” She asked.

“Yes, please,” came Adam’s response.

She sighed then picked up one grape and plopped it into her mouth.

***

Pagan sat with her knees pulled against her chest. She stared into the crackling fire and watched as the sparks of the log fell and turned into ash. Adam quickly placed another log in the hearth and poked at it till it caught with a warm blaze that warmed her skin. She rubbed her forearms and Adam placed a shawl around her shoulders. She looked up at him and he smiled. Aradian men sure took their duties seriously. His devotion to Tristan was remarkable and he always came to her defense whenever Delia opened her big mouth. It was kind of funny to watch her squirm whenever she was reminded Tristan had chosen her for his wife. It did help lighten the mood but did nothing to help her forget why he was gone.

It really did bother her that he was off to war. Three days had past and not a word had been sent on their whereabouts or if they had encountered the rebel forces. Each night she would lie there and train with Apollo in her mind, and each morning she would wake up, hoping to hear news of Tristan. None came.

Cassandra came to sit by her side on the floor, and Pagan noticed she, too, had a worried look on her face. Her new stepmother was new to the family and married Draken because her god told her to, but the look in her eyes was one of concern. It was evident she actually cared for her new husband. Pagan wanted to comfort her. They both were experiencing the same anxiety and maybe together they could talk about it and relieve each other’s fears.

“Cassandra, I’m sure they are fine.” Pagan reached for her hand and squeezed it tenderly.

“You’re right, they are in good health. There is no reason to think otherwise, right?”

“Ladies, it is time to retire for the night,” Brailey said as he extended his hand to Pagan.

Pagan placed her hand in his and pulled herself up off the floor. Cassandra took his other hand and she, too, rose, and he escorted them both over to the bed. Her bed was massive and there was plenty of room for her, Cassandra, and Betha to sleep. Brailey decided it was safer for all three to be in the same room since the man she had seen the other day hadn’t been found.

Apparently, another stable hand had noticed the stranger and questioned the man on why he was there. His excuse was not believable, and the stable hand immediately found Brailey to report his suspicions. The guards around her house were doubled and none of the women were allowed to leave the house. Brailey and Adam both bunked on cots in her room with their swords close at hand. She, too, kept her weapon close by. Her bow leaned against the bedpost where she could get it if she needed it.

The three women climbed into bed and Adam extinguished the candles to leave the only light in the room, the fire in the fireplace, to illuminate the shadows in her mind.

***

Close your eyes, Pagan, and let your intuition guide you.

Pagan did as the deity had commanded. She let her mind clear of all thought and she focused on the area around her with her mind, sensing all movement and all life. It felt natural to do so, being one and in sync with the world around her, and the more she used her psychic abilities, the more she knew this was what she was meant to be. She placed an arrow in the bow and pulled back the string. As she expected, the bow hummed in her ear.

Beware.

The danger was there. All she had to do was sense which direction it lay in wait.

Concentrate, Pagan.

Apollo’s words were low and barely audible. She felt a tense prickling crawl up her spine, and she whirled around and let loose her arrow. She quickly reloaded and another arrow flew toward the danger before her.

Good aim, brat.

I’m not a brat, Ares.

Pagan opened her eyes and lowered her bow. She watched Ares walk toward her with an arrow in each hand that she presumed He had caught in flight, as He had done each time before. He handed her the arrows, and she placed them back in her quiver.

Apollo pulled out a blindfold and tied it around her head, covering her eyes.

Now let’s try a moving target and more than one.

Ares laughed. This should be interesting.

Apollo, does He have to be here?

Yes, you will be working with his forces, and you need to know how they operate.

Ares leaned into her and whispered in her ear, What’s the matter, brat, afraid of the god of war?

On the contrary, Ares, I find You more annoying than anything.

Good, keep that in mind as you try to find me.

He whisked away in an instant and was gone. All Pagan could sense was the energy signature He had left behind and it, too, quickly dissipated. She stood in the middle of the small clearing and raised her bow to seek out His whereabouts. He was nowhere around. She created an image in her head of the area and focused on the dense copse of trees in the distance. If Ares were to hide out of sight, it would be there. She took a few steps, letting her mind’s eyes guide her since she was blindfolded.

So, Pagan, why haven’t you given Tristan your answer?

Pagan knew what Apollo was trying to do. He wanted to distract her to see if she could concentrate on hunting while He picked the one topic He knew bothered her the most, Tristan.

Answer to what?

She felt a presence that was foreign, and she moved a step in that direction. The feeling intensified then quickly disappeared. She lowered the bow a little.

Never lower your bow while you are hunting a danger.

Pagan raised her weapon and listened intently to the sounds of nature around her.

You know what I’m speaking of. He only asked you because he wants you to marry him willingly. You do realize you have no choice in the matter, Zeus has his reasons for declaring he be your husband.

Then, Zeus needs to tell me what His reasons are.

She felt the strange presence again, but this time it was coming from two different directions. She turned to her right, took a step, and then whipped around when the danger moved. It was too far to launch an arrow and she took two more steps.

You, make demands of Zeus? I think not. Pagan, give him the answer he needs to hear. No more stalling. Do it.

Pagan’s body filled with a sense of urgency, and she found herself surrounded with a circling wave of danger and she let loose her arrow, turned and launched another, grabbed another arrow and launched it as she circled around to her back and then fell to the ground to her knee and let loose another.

Apollo walked over to her and removed her blindfold. She looked around for Ares, who was still out of sight.

And another thing, your rite of passage, don’t fight it. I want you to go in that temple, lie on that altar, spread your legs and let the chosen one do his duty.

Apollo, my body will not let me. Tristan placed his mark in my womb and that right there will cause me to fight anyone who comes near me.

Apollo helped her stand and placed His hand over her womb. A strong pulse gathered in her belly, and she doubled over at the intensity of the power He was placing in her body.

He removed His hand to touch her cheek. There, I’ve removed it. Do as I say, Pagan. You have no choice. You are to be a part of their society and there are things you must do as they do, this is one of them.

If it will ease your mind, brat, you can practice with me. Get on the ground and I’ll ram my mighty spear in your virgin channel, you know, so you get a feel of what it feels like.

Ares dropped her arrows at her feet.

That won’t be necessary, Ares. If anyone is going to practice with her, it’s me.

Tristan walked up behind Ares. Pagan dropped her bow and ran to him. He scooped her up in his arms, as she reached him, and twirled her around in the air before he eased her down to her feet to plant a tender kiss on her lips.

Suit yourself; I was only trying to do my duty as one of her teachers. You mortals are too possessive.

Apollo, forgive my intrusion. If you are finished with Pagan for the night, I’d like to have her to myself before she falls into a deep sleep.

She is yours, Tristan. Ares, let us give them a little privacy.

Ares and Apollo walked into a fine mist and were gone from sight.

Tristan, you are really here in my dream.

Yes, I am, though this isn’t the first time. He kissed her again and she wrapped her arms around his neck to pull him closer.

When have you visited my dreams before? She asked, as she took a step back to look into his eyes.

The night before I left. You were in a nightmare and I pulled you out of it. You don’t remember?

I do, but I thought it wasn’t real. Are you telling me you were actually there?

Yes, princess, I heard you calling me in the realm of dreams, and I went to you.

Sooo, what happened after I took your hand really happened?

Tristan reached up and twirled a ringlet in his finger. Yes, you and I made love in the realm of dreams in our astral bodies. Your physical body is still a virgin, which I doubt would be the case if Ares had His way.

She lowered her head in embarrassment.

Princess, what’s wrong?

I thought it was a fantasy I created. She felt the flush of her cheeks.

Tristan placed his finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to meet his. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. The spiritual sexual release you gave me filled my desire for you. I love you, Pagan, and I know you love me. We did nothing wrong, I hope you understand that. You are still a virgin until your rite of passage. After that, we will be free to be intimate legally.

You mean after another man takes my virginity, and then you can make love to me. Tristan, it still feels so wrong. I wasn’t raised this way; it goes against everything I believe in.

Tristan tucked her head under his chin and held her tightly. I know, princess, I wish this could be different, but it can’t. Our law states it has to be this way, and Zeus has ordered you go through the rite of passage as well. It’s not fair to you and having another be your first will not change my opinion of you. I love you and I want you, no matter how it happens.

I’ll do it, Tristan, I don’t have a choice, but don’t expect me to be happy about it. I’ll probably end up crying over my loss.

And I’ll help you get through it, Pagan. I’ll be there for you. He kissed the top of her head. I can’t stay long. I just wanted to let you know I’m all right. We haven’t encountered too much resistance, and we are finding a few rebel groups here and there, but nothing in great numbers.

I don’t think you will. I think you all need to return home; the danger is here not where you are.

Why do you say that?

It’s just a feeling I have. I want you home, and you know how hard that is for me to admit.

He chuckled. Yes, I do.

And the sooner you are back where you belong, the sooner Delia will be out of my house. And Tristan, she hesitated, I am glad you made love to me, even if it was in a dream.

Me, too, princess. I have to go now. We are leaving for the coast in a few hours. I’ll come back soon, I promise.

Tristan gave her one last kiss. Remember, Pagan, I promised you that I would be the only man you will make love to. I will keep that promise.

How? She thought, as she watched him fade away from her. She was expected to let another man place his manhood in her and take her virginity, then withdraw. Was that the line of distinction Tristan was drawing to separate the two events? If he considered her rite of passage not to be a sexual act as intimate as making love, then by that line of thinking, he would be the only man to make love with her. She turned to return to her sleeping body and settled back in.

Pagan opened her eyes and gazed at the shadow cast on the ceiling from the fire. That had to be the way he was thinking, it was the only way for him to think of it and keep his word to her. She rolled over onto her side.

Oh, by the heavens, Artemis, lend me the strength to get through my rite of passage.

Bella stretched her front legs, then her back ones, one by one. She casually strolled to Pagan’s pillow and curled up in a ball next to Pagan’s head.

“Good night, Bella.” Pagan closed her eyes and recalled the memory of Tristan making love to her in her dreams. It was something she treasured in the privacy of her mind. It was a memory that she clung to, relived, and hoped to experience again. She sighed and slowly drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow was another day and with the sunrise she hoped all would be well and Tristan would return to her soon.

Smoke, she smelled smoke. Pagan rolled over in bed and opened her eyes, as she heard the voices in the distance, crying out for help. She blinked and sat up with a start and she realized it wasn’t a dream. There was a fire close by. She jumped out of bed and ran to the window and pulled back the drapes to see the woods close to her house were burning. Betha ran to her side and peered out the window and gasped at the sight below.

“Oh, no! The fire is too close! We have to get out of the house before it is consumed with flames!” Betha said as she gasped at the sight before her.

Pagan whirled around to see Adam and Brailey had already left, and she presumed they went to battle the blaze. In the distance she heard the cries of two small children. Delia’s sisters, she thought. She grabbed Betha’s hand.

“Quickly, we need to find the girls,” Pagan said.

They ran out into the hall and raced to the guest quarters to find the young girls huddled in a corner and Delia was nowhere in sight. Why would she leave her sisters here? She knew Delia was selfish, but she thought she adored her little sisters.

“Girls, come with us, hurry!” Pagan grabbed the hand of the youngest one and Betha took the hand of the other one. They ran to the stairs and descended with lightning speed. Her grandmother met them at the foot of the stairs.

“Pagan, your grandfather and the other guards are trying to put out the fire. We must leave and go to Tristan’s home; it is the closest to us and should be safe.”

“Grandmother, where is Delia?” She asked.

“I saw her run out the back, she yelled something about saving her horse.”

“I’ll go look for her after we get the little ones to safety,” Pagan said.

As they ran out the front door, Pagan noticed the chaos that was going on and all the men that were running to the blaze on the other side of the house. She took a few steps with the young girl in tow when she remembered they had left someone behind.

“Grandmother, take this one with you, I have to go back for Cassandra.”

Pagan didn’t wait for her to answer. She took off back into the house and shot up the stairs to her room. She didn’t remember seeing Cassandra in there when she left, but then again, she was too concerned with the little girls, and she really didn’t think to look for her stepmother.

Pagan skidded to halt at her door and went inside to find the room empty. Something wasn’t right. She sensed it. She shot a glance to where she had placed her bow the night before, and it was gone. Something was definitely wrong here.

“So nice of you to join us, Lady Pagan.”

The very masculine voice came from the privy and Pagan slowly took a defensive stance like Apollo had taught her to do. She faced the direction the voice had come from.

“Show yourself,” she said in a firm commanding voice.

The man that belonged to the voice took a step from behind the privy door, holding a sword to Cassandra’s throat. It was the man she had seen a few days ago at the stables. Pagan glared at the man, and he gave her a mocking smile with his gleaming white teeth. She noticed before that he was the same in size as most Aradian men, but now that she had a closer look, he was quite tall, and his shoulders were broad and very muscular. He had a very well toned body, one that rivaled Tristan, but the difference between the two was his hair. It was yellow blond and wavy and flowed to his waist.

“Who are you and what do you want?” She asked.

“I am Nero, and I came here for you.”

“Well, then, let her go. I’m here, you have no need for her.”

“On the contrary, my dear, having the bride and the daughter of the ruler of Aradia as my personal guests is more than I hoped for.”

“I won’t let you take her, Nero.”

“What can a little lady like you do to stop me,” he laughed.

Pagan filled her body with the surrounding energy quicker than she ever had before and threw a powerful energy ball at his head. He turned his face to avoid the oncoming ball and it grazed his cheek.

“Bitch! Do that again, and I’ll kill her!” He sliced a small cut on Cassandra’s neck. She didn’t scream, but only held straight to show her defiance toward her captor.

“Pagan doesn’t belong to the ruler anymore. She belongs to his cousin. I’m the only one worth value, Nero. Let her go and I’ll go with you willingly,” Cassandra said.

“No, I’m taking you both.”

“I’m carrying Draken’s child in my womb. She is no longer of value to my husband.”

“Is that so, well, perhaps Lady Cassandra has a point.”

“No, Nero, she isn’t going with you.” Pagan said as she took a step closer.

“Pagan, he isn’t alone, there are others in the privy.”

“Shut up, woman!” Nero tightened his hold on Cassandra.

Pagan took a step back when two more men appeared in the door behind him. Brailey came running in with his sword drawn with Adam close behind. The smoke from the woods drifted in through the window. The fire was getting closer to the house. Before long it would consume the house if it weren’t extinguished soon. Screams and shouts sounded from below, as the stable hands and guards were dumping buckets of water on the approaching flames. They were running out of time. They needed to get out of the house.

“Release her and fight me here and now. It is the only option you have,” demanded Brailey.

“Oh, I think not.” Nero jabbed the end of his sword into her belly. “Come closer and the unborn child of Draken dies with his mother.”

Five more men came out of the privy and formed a circle around Nero and Cassandra, and they slowly walked them to the door. Brailey took a step back, but kept his sword drawn and readied to attack.

“If you harm her, you will die a slow and painful death. I will come after her, you have my word on that.”

“Lord Brailey, I’m counting on it.”

Brailey waited till they were out of the room, and he followed them into the hall. He watched each step the men took, and Pagan knew he was looking for a way to charge toward them without putting Cassandra in more danger than she was already in. He continued down the stairs and out the door, and as they reached the main area in front of the house, more of the guards stood at Brailey’s side, waiting for his orders to attack.

Nero pressed his sword harder against her belly, and Pagan saw the white fabric of her nightgown slowly turn red. Brailey held out his hand for his men to halt their steps, and she watched as Nero made away with Cassandra. The guards looked to Brailey for their orders. None of them moved.

Brailey cursed beneath his breath and Adam began whispering in his ear. Brailey nodded and Adam immediately entered the woods several yards from where Nero and his men had gone. He was going into the woods to track them and find out where they were taking Cassandra. Pagan knew it and she decided she was going to help if she could.

It was her fault Cassandra had been taken. Nero was after her and Cassandra offered herself as his hostage to keep Pagan safe. She had no weapon, as her bow was missing. She guessed that Nero had taken it. He had watched her the other day practice and he knew it was her main defense. He was surprised when she flung an energy ball at him, and he turned before it did major damage to his face. A miscalculation on her part.

Well, she wasn’t going to be able to surprise him with another anytime soon. He would be expecting it and she needed to be ready for anything when the time came. She needed to be on the offensive side of their next encounter, and she needed to plan ahead in order to do so. But first she needed to find them.

Brailey was preoccupied with giving orders to the guards, some who were sent back to fight the fire and others, who were to make ready for a rescue. If she was going to slip away unseen, now was the time to do so.

She took a step backward and then another, each time keeping her eyes on Brailey. She managed to get to the edge of the path between the ruling houses and she darted in that direction. Brailey called after her, but she didn’t look back. She kept going straight, as if she were headed to Tristan’s house. That’s what she wanted him to think. He did chase after her and she stopped halfway to let him catch up with her.

“Pagan! Wait! Where are you going?” He asked her.

“I’m going to your house to be with the other women,” she lied.

“Not alone, I can’t take the chance of losing you, too.”

“Brailey, this isn’t your fault. They started the fire to distract you. You were doing what Tristan or Draken would have done, and that was to save the houses. This is my fault for not making sure she was with us when we left the room. Nero must have come in after we had gone and found her instead of me.”

“The fire is spreading, come quickly, Lord Brailey!” A guard shouted.

Brailey took a few steps in the direction closer to her.

“I’ll go after I see to your safety.”

He grabbed her elbow, and he pulled her along as he took brisk steps to his home. Her plan didn’t work. She hoped he would allow her to go alone if he thought she was going to his house, but his duty to Tristan was more important. He brought her to his home and walked her directly to Tristan’s room.

“Stay here, Pagan.” He closed the door and bolted it from the outside.

Pagan leaned her back against the door and slid down the wooden structure in despair, landing in a squat on the floor. Betha came to her side. All the women were in this room, including Delia and her sisters.

“He has Cassandra,” she said.

“Who?” Asked Betha.

“Nero, I’m assuming he is the leader of the rebellion.”

She rose and walked over to the bed she had shared with Tristan. She caressed the warm blanket they used to cover their bodies and she clutched it in her hand. This couldn’t be happening, not again. She had thought by crossing the veil she would spare the lives of all she cared for. Instead, another threat to her caused her new stepmother to be taken hostage and possibly tortured. She beat her other fist on the mattress and her grandmother came to her side.

“Pagan, dear, this is not your fault. There was no way you could have known they were planning this.”

“That’s just it, Grandmother. I should have, I know better than to let my guard down. I knew something wasn’t right the other day, but I let it go instead of following my instincts and seeking a way to be safe. Because of my lack of judgment, Cassandra and her unborn child are in danger.”

Delia strolled over to stand next to the bed, swaying her hips with each step she took.

“Well, it seems to me you have put us in a most unfortunate position. When Tristan finds out you were the reason Cassandra was taken, he will surely renounce his betrothal to you for your treason, as is his right to do,” Delia said smugly.

“Shut up, Delia!” Betha shouted.

“I have to fix this.” Pagan looked around the room. She went to the window and pushed open the shutters. They were on the second floor, it wasn’t too high for her to make a climb down, she thought. It was the only way out.

“Betha, get the extra sheets from the closet in the privy,” Pagan told her friend.

“How do you know where Tristan keeps his sheets?” Delia asked.

Pagan ignored her implication, and she pulled the blanket off the bed and stripped the mattress of the sheets. Betha brought her the sheets and Pagan began tying them together and tugged on them to make sure the knots were strong. She then went to his dresser and pulled open a drawer to retrieve one of his tunics. She needed to get out of her long nightgown and into something more appropriate for tracking in the woods.

“Pagan, how do you know where Tristan keeps his clothing?” Delia asked.

Again, she ignored Delia. She grabbed the sides of her long nightgown and pulled it over her head. She put on Tristan’s tunic, rolled up the sleeves to above her elbows and opened another drawer to get a leather thong belt to tie around her waist. She went to the other side of the room and opened a large chest and knelt on the floor and she rummaged through it. She pulled out a dagger that was sheathed and she weaved it through the belt around her waist.

“Pagan, how do you know where Tristan keeps his knives?” Delia asked.

“Shut up, Delia!” Patrice, Elizabeth, and Betha said in unison.

Pagan looked around to see if she had left behind any shoes. She saw none.

“Here, Pagan, see if mine fit,” Elizabeth took off her shoes and handed them to Pagan. To her surprise, they did fit, and she slipped them on in a flash. She took a few steps and realized the sides of his tunic bunched around her legs. She needed more room to move, so she unsheathed the dagger and slit the sides of the tunic to allow more room for her legs. She replaced the dagger and took the end of the bed sheets and tied it to the bedpost. She tugged on it to make sure it was secure. She then unraveled her makeshift rope and threw it out the window before she hoisted up on the windowsill and took one last look at the women.

“If anyone asks, I did this on my own. Each of you tried to stop me, but I managed to get away, understood?”

All the women nodded except Delia.

“Oh, you definitely are going to lose Tristan over this. You are not the lady he thought you were, and…”

“One more word out of you about my brother and I’ll make sure you leave this house with two black eyes!” Betha made a fist and raised it to Delia’s face.

Pagan didn’t wait to see if Betha made true on her word. She climbed down the bed sheets and took off running toward the woods.

The trail Nero and his men left behind was easy to spot. They were careless and it seemed as if they didn’t care if they were being followed. Pagan followed their trail, taking care to cover her own tracks. She didn’t want anyone to discover she was there and catching them by surprise was to her advantage. She ducked behind a rather round bush, and she slowly peered through the branches. She caught a glimpse of a few of the men she recognized in her room, and she wondered where the rest were. A few voices came from the distance, and she hunkered closer to the ground to hide her position. The men walked passed her on the other side and went further into the woods. Pagan waited till they were out of sight before she moved around the bush. She closed her eyes for a moment to let the sounds of the woods sink into her mind. She quickly distinguished between the natural sounds of the local wildlife and the sounds made by men. They were camped just beyond the group of trees, and it sounded like they were readying to move.

Pagan took light steps, as to not alert her presence. She heard a rustling nearby and she hid behind a tree. She heard a voice in her mind.

Pagan, what are you doing out here? You are supposed to be with the ladies.

It was Adam.

Adam, I’m over here by the trees to your right.

Adam made his way to her.

I think they are breaking camp; we must hurry.

We? What do you mean we? Pagan, Tristan will have my head on a silver platter if I let you do anything that might get you killed. I’ll follow them and you go back and tell Brailey.

Adam, there is no time for that. We must catch them off guard. Cassandra has to be nearby. We must get to her.

No, Pagan, I will not…Pagan!

Adam screamed her name in her head, as she walked away in the other direction. She didn’t have time for this. She needed to get to Cassandra and now was the time to take action.

***

Tristan had his stallion at a fast run. He had told Draken about Pagan’s suspicions last night and they both agreed that she might have been right and left right away in the middle of the night. He and Draken had taken thirty of their forces with them and they were making their way home. Along the way, fear struck his senses, and he realized Pagan was in trouble. As they made their way on the main road to the ruling houses, smoke was in the air, and he quickly ascertained the woods were on fire.

Draken caught up with him and the two men pushed their horses forward to race home. As they rode into the stable area of the ruling houses, Tristan noticed how close the blaze was to Pagan’s house. Brailey ran to them and held the reins, as Draken dismounted.

“Brailey, what the hell happened here?’ Draken asked.

“The rebels started the blaze to distract us, and I’m sorry to say their ploy worked. Draken, Cassandra offered herself as a hostage to save Pagan.”

“She did what?” Draken asked with urgency in his voice.

“The leader had his sword at her belly and threatened to kill your unborn child. I followed them, looking for an outlet to attack, but his men surrounded them, and Draken, he did cut her belly, so I backed off. Adam is following them to see where they are.”

“Damn it!” Draken pounded his fist against the stable door.

“I take full responsibility for what happened,” Brailey said.

“Brailey, how many men do they have?” Tristan asked.

“The best we can tell, two hundred,” Brailey replied.

Draken shot Brailey a surprised glance. “Two hundred? Brailey, I only left thirty men here to defend our homes. There was no way you could have prevented this. You are not to blame.”

“Draken, Pagan was right. The danger was here. The attack the other day must have been a ploy to lure our main troops away so that they could do this.” Tristan said.

“And all I did was send the majority of the troops to the outlying villages to protect them and took the rest with me, leaving our homes this vulnerable. Damn! Why didn’t I see this coming?”

“Draken, no one saw this coming,” Tristan said. “Brailey, where is Pagan?”

“I locked her in your room with the other women,” Brailey responded.

“Draken, I will check on the women. I’m sure Brailey has already ordered a rescue team for Cassandra,” Tristan said.

“Yes, I have. We are meeting in fifteen minutes to dispatch orders.”

“Good, I’m going on the rescue to get my wife back.”

Tristan kicked his heels into the horse’s side and rode the path to his home. He didn’t want to waste any time to see Pagan. He dismounted and went inside and climbed the steps two at a time to reach the second floor. He removed the lever from his door and opened the wooden structure to see several pairs of surprised eyes looking at him; none of them were Pagan’s.

“Where is she?” He asked in a strained voice.

Delia pointed to the window. “She went that way.”

Tristan stride was wide. He reached the window and pulled her bed sheet rope up back into the room. He ran his hand through his windblown hair and cursed beneath his breath. He knew she had survival skills she used in Mexico and of course she would make a rope out of bedsheets. She was that resourceful. But she should have stayed here with the other women and not rushed out and put herself in danger like that. What was she thinking?

“And I must say, Tristan, she was most unladylike about her escape.” Delia added.

“Ladies, stay here,” was all he said as he exited the room. All he was able to think about was Pagan and her being in harm’s way. She probably blamed herself for Cassandra’s capture and decided to go get her. Damn her foolishness. Two hundred men were out there. There was no way she would be able to defend herself against them and rescue Cassandra. Why would she even attempt to do such a thing? He had to find her. He made his way to the stables and released his horse into the hands of one of the few stable hands that were there. He ran in the direction Draken had gone in earlier. He had to get to Pagan. He was sure the rescue party was already gathering, and he was going to go with them. She was his betrothed and his by law. He wanted her back in his arms where she belonged.

***

Pagan counted the men surrounding the tent. All she could see were ten and she turned to Adam and held up ten fingers. He nodded and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword. They both crouched down and she waited till the men were preoccupied with packing up the area. She scooted along the tree line, pausing behind each tree she came to till she reached the back of the tent. Adam was directly behind her.

He had told her it was crazy to try to rescue Cassandra on their own, after all, it was two against two hundred. He tried to plea with her to go back and wait for Brailey to gather enough men to attempt a rescue. She refused and told him he could go back, but she was moving ahead. He relented, muttering something about he had to protect her, and leaving her side would most definitely cause Tristan more anger at the situation. She just reminded him they had surprise on their side, and she left him standing there with his mouth agape.

Pagan concentrated on the footsteps inside the tent. There was only one set, which meant one man was guarding Cassandra. She slit a hole in the tent canvas, as quietly as she possibly could, and took caution as she stepped inside. The man whirled around, and it was Nero, as she expected it to be.

She hurled an energy ball from each hand in his direction and he deflected the first but wasn’t able to push away the second and it struck him. Adam came in directly behind her and charged Nero with his sword, and Nero leaned over to grab his sword and began fighting with Adam with one arm injured from her attack.

Pagan went to Cassandra and began to untie her when another man entered and started to throw energy in her direction. They weren’t as strong as hers, but still could have done some damaged if they had hit her. She stood in front of Cassandra and deflected each one, as Tristan had taught her to do. Adam continued his duel with Nero and Pagan defended Cassandra from the incoming attack upon her.

Shouts were heard from outside and more sounds of metal hitting metal filled the air. It seemed to her that Brailey had arrived with his men to rescue Cassandra. Pagan stood her ground and protected her stepmother.

Tristan went around to the back of the tent, as Draken led the charge directly into the camp. He saw the slit in the canvas and heard the sounds of a fight going on inside. He immediately entered through the slit and to his amazement, he found Adam fighting the leader of the rebellion and Pagan standing in a defensive stance, throwing powerful energy from one hand and deflecting the on coming white balls with her other.

He began throwing some into the group that was attacking Pagan and within an instant they were all dead on the ground. Adam managed to strike the leader between his ribs and the man fell to knees. Adam held his sword to his throat while Tristan tied the man’s hands behind his back and then tied him to the support beam in the center of the tent.

He turned around to see Pagan had already released Cassandra and was leading her out the slit in the tent. Draken entered and, in a flash, raised his sword to the throat of the traitor.

“You look familiar. Who are you?” Draken asked.

“Nero, and I presume you are Draken,” Nero said.

“Answer my question!” Draken demanded.

“I thought my name would be enough.”

“The only Nero I knew died over twenty years ago.”

“Yes, that was my father, or grandfather, depending on how you look at it. You see, Draken, when you came to rescue your dear Fauna, you found my dear mother. I’m sure you remember her, long wavy red hair, a vision of loveliness, and so young. Her father had just raped her and, well, I was the result. So, you see, the leader of the rebellion then was my father-grandfather.”

“Why did she name you after that bastard?”

“She didn’t. I took his name when I was fifteen and decided to take up his cause.”

“Your attempt is in vain and will cost you your life. Braxton!” Draken called out.

“Yes, Draken,” Braxton said as he entered the tent.

“Have you found my wife?” He asked.

“Yes, Lady Pagan has her and both are now being escorted by Brailey and three guards back to your home.”

“Good. Torch this tent and leave him where he is.” He pointed to Nero.

Draken, Tristan, and Adam left the tent and watched as Braxton lit the tent on fire. Tristan couldn’t believe what was about to happen even though it was playing out before his eyes. The flames took hold as the tent was engulfed with the flames. He looked over to Draken. The man just stood there without any emotion showing on his face. Tristan shook his head and turned to leave.

“Where are you going?” Draken asked.

“You don’t need me here for this. I’m going to check on our family and find Pagan and Cassandra.” Tristan left without saying another word.

Nero screamed, as the sides of the tent glowed orange from the flames. His injury was deep, and blood seeped out of his wound. He couldn’t move because he was tied to the support beam, but he tried to free his hands. He wasn’t able to and he screamed in anguish at his failure.

Suddenly, the scene around him warped and it looked like everything was twisting and bending into a single form. He closed his eyes as he thought it was the hand of death that was claiming him to drag him down to the world of the dead. He felt a cold rush of air brush across his face. He opened his eyes and found he was standing in a cave and in front of him was a woman with long white hair and glowing skin. She pushed him into a swirling mass of blue spirals and somehow, she grabbed his other arm and pulled him through the blue swirls to the other side. He looked at his body to discover his clothes were gone and so were the ropes that had bound his hands.

“Who are you?” He asked as he gasped for breath. He felt as if he had his breath stolen from him and he struggled to regain his breathing. He fell to his knees, as the blood oozed out of his wound from between his ribs.

She leaned over and grabbed his arm to help him to stand. Shakily he rose to his feet.

“I’m the one who just saved your ass,” She responded.

She waved Her arm in the air and they both fell into a mist. Within seconds, the mist was gone, and he was in a small room that had only a bed and a chair.

“Where are we and how did You do that?”

She helped him to lie on the bed. “One question at a time, Nero. You are on Earth in a city called Rome. This is the last place the Olympians will look for an Aradian. You will be safely hidden in a city full of Christians. She waved Her hand and a bowl of water appeared on the mattress next to him. “As for who I am, I am a goddess who needs your help in exchange for saving your life.” She began to cleanse his wound.

He winced, as She wiped a cloth across the slice in his body.

“We both want the Aradians of the ruling houses to lose power. The best way to achieve that is to fight them with the same forces their god is raising to control Earth.”

“What are You talking about, Woman?”

“I am more than a woman. I told you I am a goddess and I want you to have as many offspring, mainly girls, so that my brothers can impregnate them.”

“What?”

“You heard me. Take as many wives here as you can and get each one pregnant. We need daughters from your Aradian genes to mix with immortal genes and create a race that no longer is allowed to thrive.”

“Demigods, you want my future daughters to give birth to demigods?”

“Yes, and your grandchildren in turn will train in warfare, and together with the Titans, will bring down the House of Zeus and Aradia. If you refuse, then I will end your life right here.”

Nero smiled and she knew he agreed to her terms. Rhea slowed his bleeding and began to stitch up his wound. She couldn’t use too much of her power here for she didn’t want to be detected by the other gods. She needed to fight fire with fire and this Aradian would give her the offspring she needed.

Zeus was getting Aradian women pregnant to create a race of demigods to fight for his cause and she intended to do the same. It wasn’t going to be long before Zeus gave the other gods permission to make babies with specific Aradian women, and she needed to do the same here. There would be other women, other than Nero’s daughters, her brothers would impregnate. She would hand pick each one carefully.

There were plenty of women, who were in their last life on Earth, and she needed the ones with the most developed mental abilities to give birth to her race of fighting demigods. With this Aradian’s help, she could get to them and keep them hidden safely until her demigods were a thriving race.

She was going to save Gaia no matter what the cost.