Flight of the Warrior- 14

The island

They had arrived on the island the day before.

She felt more rested than when she arrived but could feel it would take one more night before the muscle fatigue would leave her. The flight had been difficult, the wind buffeting them over the sea and she had resorted again to being carried by the tracker. She bore the marks on her skin where he had caught her just before she was pushed down by a strong gust.

Tomoe had not arrived, so they were staying in a small lonely tavern on the western tip of the island. Blake had paid the owner handsomely to keep his mouth shut about their arrival. He said they were having an affair and did not wish anyone to know where they were, and were not to be disturbed. If their stay was satisfactory they may come again. The rouse had worked so far, she had detected nothing in the owner's face that would indicate he did not believe them.

All they could do was wait and rest.

"I would like to wash properly before I sleep tonight," she said indicating to the tub. It was large copper pot, only slightly bigger than her, sitting in the corner of the room. There was no partition, no way for her to get any privacy. He had left her only briefly the day before to get some food and drink for them both. There was no time to organise hot water then. But she simply could not wait to immerse herself and feel the heat seep into her weary muscles tonight. She was also keen to scrub with some soap and remove any last traces of the oil.

"I will organise some hot water, then I will go......downstairs for a bit."

"Thank you," she replied studying his face. He seemed to be brooding over something today, since they woke in the early hours of the morning he was uneasy around her. She had sat up in bed, only a light shift covering her. He had been sleeping in a chair by the fire, but was awake when she sat up. His was looking straight at her bare arms, and she saw a look of horror on his face. He had seen the purple bruises on her upper arms where he had caught her and held her for the last part of the flight. They were marks from his hands, his fingers. He had not looked her in the eye for the rest of the day, and spoke only when she started the conversation first. He had insisted she rest.

His face told her nothing, other than he was troubled. He left the room and she went over to the fire, poking it with a steel rod that lay against the stone hearth. Perhaps he was feeling guilty because of the bruises? She had told him not to worry, it was the curse, he had not been rough with her. In fact since the incident in the cave by the spruce forest he had been the perfect gentleman. Or maybe the marks were a reminder to him that she was a damned woman, spoiled somehow and he was unsettled being around her?

The door opened and she caught a glimpse of the owner and his wife leaving large bowls of steaming water outside in the hall. Blake carefully carried each one in and poured them into the copper tub. "I'll be back in an hour," he said and exited the room swiftly.

She enjoyed the bath, and relished the chance to be alone with her own thoughts. She was apprehensive about the coming of the old woman. Much was riding on what she could learn from her. She had so many questions. Blake had said he felt the trail would go cold on the mountainside near the hut for the kage. He would have to use more conventional methods to find her. This might take two weeks maybe three at the most. She trusted his judgment, tracking after all was his profession. So she had that time to learn what she could and formulate a plan. And she hoped by then she would be ready to face him.

She heard a soft knock at the door, then "It's me, are you....out?"

"Almost." The hour had gone fast. She hastily jumped out of the tub and wrapped the navy kimono he had bought from the owners wife for her. It had a red sash. It was the first present anyone had given her since she was a child. "Done."

He entered slowly as if expecting her to be in a state of undress, looking everywhere but at her. "Do you want to use the water, it is still warm," she offered.

"They have a hot spring not far from here. I have just been there." He dropped the hood and she could see his hair was wet. Even from across the room she detected he smelled slightly of sandalwood.

"The owner is probably thinking something is strange. If we were having an affair.....I mean if two people were having an affair one would certainly not leave the room while the other was bathing," she said, she was worried the lie would backfire.

"I have fixed it," he muttered, turning from her to unfold his sleeping blanket over the chair.

"Oh, how?"

"I told him I went to the geisha house in the next village. I was too much for you." His voice was low, his back still turned.

"Not a hot spring then?"

He spun around, and for the first time all day looked her square in the eye. "I told him I went to the geisha house, but I went to the hot spring." Was that anger in his voice?

"I believe you," she said, then adding a note of sarcasm, "But no one would blame you if that is where you had gone."

He took a couple of quick steps toward her and she inhaled sharply thinking he was gong to grab her, shake her, or slap her. His eyes certainly burned with emotion, probably rage. She steeled herself for the impact, the blow, but it never came. Instead he stopped short of her, maybe a foot away at the most. She felt the familiar heavy feeling and a slight dizziness.

"It is an insult to suggest I would abandon a woman I have promised to protect, to bury my troubles in the thighs of another. Don't play with me Freya." He stepped back to his chair, took one last long look at her, sweeping down the length of the robe. Turning his back again to adjust the sleeping blanket, "I may not be able to touch you, but it pleases me somewhat that you wear the robe I bought you. At least that can touch your skin." He wrapped the blanket around his broad shoulders, settling into the chair, and closed his eyes smiling to himself.

Stunned she fell back onto the bed. The dizziness had passed but she felt like she had been hit. Why had she never noticed it before? Too stupid came the reply.

There were signs that perhaps he had other reasons to stay with her now. And the question she asked herself.....did she want him to stay for those reasons?