Valle : Book 2 of the Heku Series (8 page)

“Damnit, how is she getting out?” Chevalier grumbled. “Did you talk to the balcony guard?”

“Yes and he hasn’t seen her. I will go report myself to my Commander,” he replied, standing up.

“No, no, you’re fine. If I demoted everyone Emily got away from, we wouldn’t have any guards left. Go back to your post.” He shut his eyes. He knew that if heku got headaches, he would have one now.

Kyle knew where she’d gone as he’d gone on runs with her before. He reached the pier quickly, and one of the guards pointed him to the south, where saw Emily jogging along the sand. He watched her for a moment. She’d started jogging a lot lately, and she always wore the sports bra and low shorts that she trained in a few months ago, so he knew it was her. She ran with her hair tied high and her iPod booming in her ears.

Emily felt elated as she ran along the beach. She didn’t have to wear shoes to run on the sand, and the warmth felt good to her feet. She had her favorite music playing and let her mind wander as she ran. That’s why she didn’t see Kyle suddenly appear in front of her and she ran right into him, landing on her butt in the sand.

“Gah, Kyle!” she yelled, getting up and brushing the sand off of herself.

“Emily… why?” he asked, irritated.

She pulled the earphones from her ears and stepped to the side, “Leave me alone. I’m just running.”

“Alone,” he said, stepping in front of her.

“Yeah… alone… get the hint?” She put the earphones back in, but he blocked her way again.

“What??” she yelled at him.

“You know what… time to go back.” He took a hold of her arm.

“Stop being Chevalier’s little stooge and let me be for once! I’m not hurting anything.” She put her hands on her hips.

“We’re not worried about you hurting anything, and you know it. It’s not safe out here. You aren’t even inside the cement walls,” he said, pointing to the high gray wall.

“Neither you, nor your Chief Enforcer, are my father, so I can do what I want.” She turned and ran back the way she came.

Kyle growled and ran after her, when she arrived at the pier and kept going along the beach. He caught up to her again and picked her up.

“Put me down,” she demanded.

“No,” he said, heading toward the castle.

“Now!” She tried to squirm free.

“No”

Emily sulked the rest of the way to the castle and her temper flared when Kyle set her down in Chevalier’s office.

“What now, Em?” he asked, frustrated.

“Apparently, a little harmless running upset the grouch over here,” she said, nodding to Kyle.

“You’re scaring my guards to death. They are afraid I’m going to punish them every time you skip out… which happens to be way too often and way too easily.” He watched her for a reaction.

“Maybe I don’t need a guard.”

“Of course you do.” Chevalier hated to remind her of the Valle kidnapping, “How are you getting out?”

“Yeah, like I’m going to tell you,” she said angrily.

“It’s ok, Kyle, I have it,” Chevalier said, and Kyle left his office.

Emily turned to face him and it was obvious that she was ready for a fight.

“What’s going through your mind? You know it’s dangerous.” He tried to reason with her.

“I’m penned up all the time. All I want is some alone time. How hard is that?” she asked, irritated.

“Then go to the barn,” he suggested.

“I spent all morning in the barn, and as you won’t let me ride Patra, or even toss hay, then there’s not much to do.” She glared at him.

“That’s not fair, Emily. You know those were doctor’s orders,” he said, and frowned at her.

Chevalier moved to her back and wrapped his arms around her waist, one hand coming to rest of the small bulge in her abdomen, then kissed her neck.

Emily pulled away from him, “Just leave me alone.” She left his office and slammed the door.

Frustrated, Emily walked the halls of the castle for a few minutes then stopped suddenly. Her eyes fell on the door that led down to the dungeon. She thought for a moment, and then walked down the stairs.

“Ma’am?” the closest guard said as she walked into the cell area.

She ignored him and walked toward the first row of cells.

“Ma’am, you can’t be in here,” he said, following her.

Emily spun on him, “You going to stop me?”

His eyes grew wide, “Ma’am, the Chief Enforcer said you weren’t to be down here.”

“Oh did he? Didn’t the Chief Enforcer also tell you all not to savor me?” She raised her eyebrows.

“I… I didn’t!” he said, horrified.

“Then I suggest you let me be, or we’ll find out who he believes more, you or me.” She stared at him and he turned and walked away, confused.

Emily went cell to cell and watched the reaction of the prisoners. Most ran to the bars, slamming into them and reaching out for her. She didn’t flinch or jump back, she just walked past them, not sure exactly what she was looking for. In the last cell on the second row, she noticed a heku who sat calmly on his bed and watched her.

She stopped at his cell, “Hello.”

“Hello, Child,” he said politely.

She watched him for a moment, “I don’t like being called Child.”

“My apologies then,” he said, then stood up and walked slowly to the bars. His face was sincere.

“What’s your name?” she asked the prisoner.

“David”

She looked into his eyes, “You aren’t like the others in here.”

“No, I am not,” he said matter-of-factly.

“Are you Equites?” She stepped a little closer to him.

“I am Encala.” He took a step away from the bars.

“Why are you here?”

He smiled, “Are you supposed to be down here?”

“No, I guess I’m not.”

“Then why are you? You are with child, no? It’s not safe for you down here,” he said, watching her.

Emily reached down and touched the small bump on her abdomen. She forgot that she was still wearing her jogging clothes.

“Why are you here?” she asked again.

He studied her carefully, “You first. Why are you down here among the violent when you should be upstairs where it is safe?”

Emily sighed, “I’m down here because I was curious who else was.”

“Why is that?”

“I spent some time in a dungeon recently, and I suspect not everyone in the dungeon belongs there.” She sat down across from his cell with her back against the wall.

“Fair enough… I am here because I was a spy.” He sat down by the bars across from her.

“A spy? What were you spying on?” she asked. She knew it was being nosey.

“You, of course,” he said, smiling slightly.

“Me? Why would you spy on me?”

“The Encala are curious why the Valle would kidnap a mortal, and why the Equites would fight so hard to rescue you.”

“How long do you have to stay here?” She looked at the dark, gloomy cell.

“Forever”

“Seriously? Just for spying? Did you intend to kidnap me?”

“No, all I sought was information.”

“Who sentenced you to life for such a small crime?”

“The Chief Enforcer of the Equites.”

Emily sighed, “That’d be my husband.”

“All the more reason you shouldn’t be down here,” he said, amused.

“You too, eh… can no one let me do what I want?”

“Do what you want around me, that is fine. I was just expressing my concerns that there might be some down here who intend you harm.” He brought one knee up and placed his arm on it.

“What do you do all day down here?” Her eyes looked past him to his cell, and all she could see was a small metal bed.

“Think mostly, it’s quite boring.” He turned around and looked at the stark cell.

“Can I get you anything?” Emily asked seriously.

He frowned, “Don’t get yourself into trouble over me, please.”

“You said I could do what I want, and I want to help. I don’t think you belong down here.”

“A book would be nice.”

“I can do that. What would you like?”

“Anything is fine. You choose your favorite book and I will read it. It will be interesting.”

“How so?”

“I’ve studied you, yet never really knew anything about you. You seem enchanting.” He smiled as she blushed.

“Not really, but I’ll do what you suggest.” She stood up.

“Leaving?”

“Yeah, I better get back before they notice I’m gone. One book for tomorrow though.” She smiled at David, and then left the cells.

Emily opened the door that led into the castle and slowly peeked around it. Opening it further, she slipped out and shut it quickly behind her, then looked around. No one had seen her. She smiled and went into the library.

***

“Ugh!” Emily growled into the mirror.

“What’s wrong?” Chevalier asked, looking over at her.

“My jeans won’t zip.” She tried again, but the gap was too large.

“Em, just wear something else. Margaret brought you a lot of new clothes,” he suggested.

“These?” she asked, pointing at a large pile of clothing. “These make me look pregnant.”

Chevalier chuckled, “You are, Dear.”

“That’s not the point,” she said, angrily picking up an outfit before disappearing into the bathroom.

He watched after her and grinned.

“Are you going to be in meetings all day again?” she called out to him from the bathroom.

“Yes, we are still training.”

He heard her growl and he grinned again.

She finally came out and, and he realized that she was right. The clothing did make her look more pregnant. The lavender baby doll top and shorts accentuated her growing tummy.

“Ok, time to weigh,” he said, pulling scales out from by the door.

“I’m not getting on that thing,” she said.

“The doctor said you need to weigh once a week.”

“No”

“Why are you fighting me at everything?”

“Because you are pushing too hard.” She turned toward him.

“Fine, not today then,” he said before he could get angry at her. He’d watched his temper a lot lately as she pushed it to the limit.

Emily watched as he walked out the door and stuck her tongue out at him.

Hours later, knocking interrupted his conversation with Kyle, and Chevalier cringed.

“Come,” he said.

Emily’s guard walked in nervously, “Sir.”

“Go find her, Kyle,” Chevalier said.

“Sure,” Kyle said, irritated.

“Any idea how she got out?” Chevalier asked.

“No, Sir, again… the balcony guard didn’t see her.”

Chevalier frowned, wracking his brain as to how she was getting out.

“That’s it then… tell Captain Remoin to send another guard for in her room,” Chevalier said, looking tired.

“Yes, Sir,” he replied, and left to go talk to his Captain.

***

“Hello, Emily.” The voice was soft and controlled.

“Hi David, got you a book.” She handed it through the bars and sat down, this time close enough her knees were touching the bars.

“Let’s see then…” He looked down at the book and smiled, “The Scarlet Letter?”

“Yes, always one of my favorites,” she said, and smiled.

“Did you get in trouble for being down here yesterday?” he asked, concerned.

“Chev never found out. These guards are too afraid to tell him.” She motioned to the two guards who were fidgeting in the corner.

“How did you get them to let you in?” he asked, impressed.

“It was mean…” She looked at the ground.

David laughed, “I’m glad you did, it gets boring down here.”

She smiled and admitted to herself it felt good to be needed, “Is there anything else I can get you?”

“I’ll think about it and let you know.”

“Ok”

“May I ask you some questions?”

Her eyes narrowed, “What about?”

He shrugged, “Just something to get to know you a bit, nothing too personal, I promise.”

She laughed, “Sure.”

“When is the baby due?” he asked and he looked sincerely curious.

“Five more months.” She looked down at herself.

“Pregnancy suits you, you are quite beautiful,” he said, and laughed when she blushed.

“Next,” she said, trying to get him to change the subject.

“Ok, what is your favorite food?”

She grinned, “Pizza.”

“What’s your favorite color?”

“Pink”

“Favorite movie?”

“Cleopatra”

“Really?”

Emily laughed, “Is that so hard to believe?”

David shrugged.

“My turn,” she said.

“Fair enough.”

“How old are you?” She leaned closer to him.

“It’s hard to remember, its somewhere around 3100 years though.”

“Really? Wow.” She was impressed.

“Yes, really.”

“Favorite place.”

“Easy, the Louvre.”

“An art lover huh?” She felt so comfortable talking to him.

“Yes.” He leaned back against the bed.

“Favorite… hmm… blood type.”

“B positive.”

“That’s mine!” She was surprised.

“I know.” He watched her nervously but relaxed when she laughed.

“That was a trick question. I didn’t know the heku had a favorite blood type.”

“Oh most of us do, I’m sure.”

“Are you very hungry down here?” she asked, suddenly concerned.

“At times.”

“Will you die if you don’t eat?”

“No”

“Will anything happen to you?”

“I will become weaker, that is all. If it’s long enough, heku tend to turn… gray, sort of,” he said, and grinned slightly.

“Are the Encala trying to get you back?” She was genuinely concerned for this heku. He was exceptionally kind and soft spoken.

“Probably not.”

“Why not?”

“It was my fault I got caught, and they would let me know that,” David explained.

“That’s awful.” Emily thought about her time in captivity and how she’d been afraid no one was coming for her.

“I’m ok, don’t worry about me,” he said, looking into her eyes he reached a hand out to her.

Emily looked at his hand, and then took it, “I can ask Chev if he’ll let you go.”

“No don’t. He mustn’t know you’ve been down here. His temper is quite famous.” David let go of her hand and sat down again.

“I can handle him.” She set her jaw.