Green Eyes

“Get up,” Selene felt herself being shaken. Grumbling, she stretched and rolled over to find Jared standing over her.

“It isn’t even light out,” she moaned and tried to close her eyes again, but Jared shook again and none too gently. “Can’t this wait until morning?”

“No,” he flatly answered. “Pack enough warm clothes for three days and meet me outside. You have ten minutes before I come back here and drag you.”

Grumbling about how absurd and ridiculous the former mercenary was, Selene staggered to her feet and dressed herself. Finding a small bag, she stuffed the necessary clothing in it and stumbled out to where Jared and his horse were waiting. Getting on, they galloped off towards the ruins.

Selene had hated this plan from the beginning. Even though she knew that it was probably for her own good, she still didn’t like the fact that she was going to miss her first date. She also knew that it was certainly going to upset Mallon, someone that she couldn’t afford as an enemy.

But what really irked was that still no one would tell her why she had to go into hiding. Obviously it had something to do with her green eyes, but that is as far as anyone would go. Jared would tell her to ask her father and her father would tell her to be patient. Selene’s patience was about at an end.

She wrapped herself tighter around Jared, trying desperately to keep warm. The morning was bitterly cold having snowed during the night and the wind was still howling around her. How Jared could stay so calm was beyond her? He was probably numb, she mused to herself.

Shortly they reached Jared’s camp at the center of the ruins. He helped her down, her joints frozen stiff and set her in his hut. The horse trotted off to find shelter and Jared began a fire inside.

“If you’re still tired, you can take a nap in my bed,” he gestured to the furs along the back. “It may not be the softest mattress, but at least it’s warm.”

Chattering Selene accepted the offer and slipped between the soft furs, feeling warmth spread through her body. Within minutes, she was fast asleep.

*******

It was mid-morning when Selene woke back up. She felt warm and cozy inside the furs with the wintery sun streaming through the small window. Still it was time to get up. Stretching, Selene tossed the furs aside and stepped outside.

“Good morning,” Jared greeted dryly. He had his back turned to her as he tended a small fire while frying breakfast.

“How did you know I was up?” Selene questioned.

“Stealth is not your strong suit,” Jared replied without turning around. “I have some breakfast for you.”

He handed her a large stone with cooked deer meat and a flat bread substance covered in berries.

“What’s this?” she queried suspiciously studying the bread thing.

“They’re called pancakes,” Jared answered picking up a plate of his own. “They’re a breakfast dish from the Esthorian Empire that I picked up during the Ammonite Wars.” Tentatively Selene tasted the strange dish.

“Wow!” she commented. “That’s really good.”

“It’s amazing what you learn from others,” Jared said finally turning around to face her.

“So what is the plan for the day?” Selene inquired taking a seat next to Jared on a brushed-off pillar.

“Stay here and don’t get killed,” Jared responded.

“That sounds boring,” Selene grumbled.

“Better than being dead.”

“I guess,” Selene took another bite. “But what are we going to do while we’re not getting killed?”

“Do?” Jared raised an eyebrow. “The whole point is to do nothing.”

“Oh come on,” Selene rolled her eyes. “You canceled my date; the least we could do is have an adventure.”

“My dear,” Jared gave her a condescending look, “this is having an adventure.”

Selene blew out a long breath. “It’s nothing like what my books made it sound like,” she disappointedly remarked.

“It never is,” Jared agreed.

“Can we at least talk?” Selene begged. “If I’m going to stay all day out here with you at least let me get to know you if only to keep me from being bored to tears.”

“A little boredom won’t kill you,” Jared observed.

“You’re infuriating,” Selene complained.

“Says the girl who finds it her duty to constantly pester me,” retorted Jared. “If I have to babysit you all day, the least you could do is give me some peace and quiet.”

“Babysit—” Selene stood up in exasperation. “You don’t have to babysit me.”

“Oh really,” Jared raised an eyebrow. “And if I left you here alone, what would you do?”

“If you want to go to the party, don’t let me stop you,” Selene crossed her arms.

“I have no desire to go to the celebration,” Jared icily replied. “I won’t celebrate that murderer’s reign.”

“Oh that’s right,” Selene recalled. “You and the king don’t get along to well; something about your blue eyes. What does the king have against you anyway?”

“That,” Jared gave her a warning look, “is none of your concern.”

“Fine, if you won’t tell me about yourself, then at least tell me about your horse,” Selene huffed.

“If it will get you to give me some peace and quiet, very well,” Jared set down his plate and leaned back.

“His name is Barak and is of a rare, long-lived breed of horse,” Jared told her. “I found him when I was a teenager, about 18, in the fields near the Delphi border when I was visiting my uncle. Barak was just a foal at the time but I managed to tame him. He’s been my constant companion through many adventures of the last 22 years and hopefully will for many more years to come.”

“Wait, you’ve had Barak for 22 years?” Selene interrogated, getting a nod. “And you found him when you were 18?” Another nod. “But that’s impossible,” she furrowed her eyebrow. “Because that would make you 40.”

“Good to know that you at least possess some rudimentary math skills,” Jared sardonically noted.

“But you can’t be 40!” Selene exclaimed, studying him from head to toe. “That’s almost as old as my father and you don’t look any older than me!”

“Looks can be deceiving,” Jared laconically replied. “I can assure you that I am 40 years old.”

“How?” Selene demanded.

“My family is blessed, or cursed depending on how you look at it, with extra longevity,” Jared explained, a touch of sadness in his voice. “I have many, many years left in my life unfortunately.”

“Unfortunately?” Selene shook her head in disbelief. “Do you know how many would kill for that?”

“Many have,” Jared returned. “But they do not understand it. In a world filled with death, a long life is a lonely one.”

“Yet you choose to spend it alone amongst the ghosts of the past,” Selene commented. “How sad.”

“I have lost too many loved ones to desire friends any longer,” Jared countered. “And I’ve had enough of this conversation. Go find Barak; I’m certain he would love someone pestering him.”

Selene studied him for a moment before deciding it would be best to let him be. She had clearly touched a sore spot for him and so she walked off in search of the horse.

As she looked, she thought more about what he had told her. Now that the shock of his age had worn off, it began to make sense to her. Physically he looked no older than her, but there was something different about him than people her age. His eyes didn’t match the rest of him. They looked old, a lot like her father’s: full of long memory and much pain, far too much pain.

Selene found Barak nosing through the snow, trying to find some grass on the edge of the ruins. He whinnied when he saw her and came trotting over. Giggling, Selene reached out and patted his nose while he nuzzled her.

“Too bad you can’t talk,” Selene said to the horse. “I bet you know what happened to him to make him so withdrawn.”

Barak merely blinked at her and snorted.

Looking back over her shoulder to where Jared was undoubtedly sitting, she said sadly, “I just wish there was some way I could help him.”

*******

“I’m coming, I’m coming,” Max called, trying to get the pounding at the door to cease. Opening it, he found Mallon in full Blood Guard garb standing impatiently in the snow.

“Ah, Captain Mallon,” Max greeted with forced politeness. “What can I do for you?”

“I’m here to escort Selene to the anniversary celebration,” Mallon replied. “Is she here?”

“Oh right, her date,” Max feigned forgetfulness. “I hate to be the bearer of bad news captain, but I’m afraid Selene isn’t feeling well. She has a fever and has been coughing all day. I truly am sorry, but she won’t be able to attend this evening. Some other time, perhaps.”

“Some other time,” Mallon repeated tightly, clearly annoyed at being stood up. “Will you be attending the party then?”

“Doubtful,” Max shook his head. “Selene needs me to care for her.”

“The Viceroy is here, so I suggest you drop by if only for a few minutes,” Mallon’s advice sounded more like a warning.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Max evenly replied.

“I must be heading out,” Mallon straightened. “Have a good day.”

“And you,” Max returned and closed the door. “That’s one hurdle down,” the doctor breathed out a long sigh of relief.

*******

The party was a huge success: the musicians were in peak form and the food was sensational. Everywhere everyone was drinking merrily to the continued health of the king, dancing and laughing. The Viceroy in his small speech had praised the town for their devotion and fidelity to the crown.

And Mallon was miserable.

This was supposed to be his night, the night he finally bedded Selene. He had carefully planned out the whole evening from the food to the entertainment to getting her alone. Mallon was certain that once he got her alone, she’d give in without any resistance. No one had said no yet. But all of his plans came crashing down because she got sick.

Angrily taking another drink of his ale, he inwardly railed at the unfairness of it all. She had to get sick now? If it had been the day before or the day after, he wouldn’t have cared. But today he was very interested in her well-being.

“Excuse me, sir?” one of his lieutenants interrupted his brooding.

“What?” snapped the captain, forcing the lieutenant back a couple of paces.

“I am sorry to bother you, but Lord David wishes to see you,” he informed Mallon.

Sighing, Mallon set the glass down and made his way through the throng in search of his lord. The matters of state could be miserably tedious.

“My lord,” he greeted with a slight bow upon finding David.

“Ah, Captain Mallon,” David turned, a big smile creasing his face. “Viceroy Brutus I would like you to meet the captain of the Blood Guard here, Captain Mallon.”

The man David was introducing Mallon to gave him the chills. He was short, about five and a half feet tall, with black and white hair that fell in alternating dreadlocks past his shoulders. Richly dressed, he was clean shaven with soulless black eyes that peered out from bushy eyebrows. In all, the Viceroy reminded Mallon of a snake about to strike.

“Always a pleasure to meet a member of our finest division, captain,” the Viceroy greeted in a gravelly voice that made Mallon want to cringe. “Lord David has told me much about you.”

“It is a great honor to meet you, my lord,” Mallon bowed deeply. “You humble us with your presence.”

“Skillful tongue,” remarked the Viceroy.

“At times,” chuckled David. “But Mallon, I thought you were bringing a date? Where is the physician’s daughter, Selene?”

Mallon thought he saw the Viceroy tense at the mention of the name, but ignored it. Being reminded that he was alone annoyed him greatly.

“According to her father, she is sick and so is unable to attend,” Mallon growled.

“I take it you don’t believe him?” supposed Brutus.

“Maybe,” shrugged Mallon. “But he didn’t seem too keen on me seeing his daughter. I don’t know; something about this doesn’t seem right.”

“Why didn’t you investigate?” David questioned.

“I didn’t want to be late,” Mallon answered. “I guess I should’ve known she’d be trouble. That’s what everyone says about the little green-eyed witch anyway.”

The weather was already cold, but Mallon could have sworn that the temperature dropped another ten degrees as he felt the Viceroy’s beady black eyes lock on to him.

“What color did you say her eyes are?” he demanded.

“Green,” Mallon replied matter-of-factly. “Creepy things, but believe me the rest of her is fine.”

“Fool,” Brutus hissed. “I don’t care what she looks like. Don’t you idiots know what she is?”

“A bitch?” Mallon guessed.

“A Navi, you imbecile,” Brutus corrected. “A Kalashonian Navi has been living here for the past 20 years and neither of you had the wits to see it?”

“I don’t investigate the eye color of my subjects,” David defended. “Especially when there hasn’t been a Navi born in over two hundred years.”

“You looked her in the eye and didn’t know she was a Navi?” he turned on Mallon. “Are you completely brain dead?”

“Well she hasn’t blown anything up or done something crazy like that,” Mallon carefully replied, trying to keep his knees from shaking. There was murder in the Viceroy’s eyes.

“It doesn’t matter,” Brutus waved off. “The fact is she is here now. Mallon, gather what troops you have available and let us go to Max’s house. I will deal with your treachery later.”

Sharing a terrified look, Mallon and David silently complied.