had combined they would be able to travel nearly anywhere they wanted if they went on foot. The only thing that kept Seth from immediately agreeing was his brother. Seth and Garret had been not only brothers, but best friends from birth. They had never been apart, not even for a day. Seth could not imagine running away not knowing when if ever he would see his twin again. He knew too that Garret would not agree to run with them. Garret wanted to go to The Choosing, wanted to serve the Kingdom. Seth looked to the beautiful woman who sat in front of him. She sat watching him expectantly, hopeful that he would accept her plan and they could leave this night. He loved her with every fiber of his being and wanted in no way to hurt or disappoint her. Thinking quickly, Seth formulated a solid, mature decision.
“We can’t run away Sara.” Seth started, and seeing Sara’s shoulders slump, and tears fill her eyes, he continued. “Not yet at least. Please don’t cry Sara, hear me out. I think you will agree with my idea, and if you don’t like it we will figure something out together.”
Sara did not trust her voice and so she nodded for him to continue, and he did.
“My dad used to tell Garret and I to never give something up without trying it.” Seth began. “It has always been good advice so far, so I think it should also apply to this. I say we go to The Choosing, give it a try, see what we are chosen for. If they separate us, we make a run for it. Tomorrow night we will be staying in an inn somewhere in the city. Where ever that inn is, is where we will meet if they separate us. As soon as it is dark, just head to the inn and I will be there and we will leave together I promise. If we aren’t separated, then I say we do our five years of service so long as we are together.” Seth finished, his eyes never leaving Sara’s amber gaze.
Sara listened to Seth explain. Seth was, as she expected, easily able to come up with a plan. He was a rational thinking person, an intelligent person. Sara knew if they had any options he would find them, and so he did. She nodded her agreement to him, wiping the tears from her face. She smiled at the man she loved. He would be there for her no matter what, and just thinking about it made the pain of future possibilities vanish. No longer was she afraid of The Choosing. She reached up, placed her hands on his chest and shoved with all her might.
Seth toppled over backwards, landing on his back in the leaves, no longer even upon their blanket. Before he could process what had just happened Sara was on top of him. She jumped quickly upon him giving him no time to react. She straddled his waist, pressing her body to his. She pressed her mouth to his and parted his lips with her eager tongue. They kissed passionately for many moments until their breath came in ragged gasps. Releasing his lips she trailed down his neck kissing him softly, every kiss bringing her kisses lower on his neck. When she ran out of neck to kiss she reached between their bodies and grabbing his shirt pulled it all the way up to his shoulders. She sat up, admiring his muscled chest, and ran her fingers lightly across the lines of his chest and abdomen. Lying back down upon him she began to kiss his chest. She kissed him in random locations across his chest and stomach until he could no longer endure remaining still.
Unable to continue taking the pleasurable torment she unleashed upon him, Seth took matters into his own hands. Seth rolled over quickly careful not to hurt Sara he pinned her beneath his body. Holding his own weight he slid his body down until once again their lips met. He kissed her hard but lovingly. His lips remained locked to hers relentlessly. Her breaths coming in gasps she pulled her legs out from beneath him raising her knees to either side of him. This position brought her hips and pelvis to press against his body in a pleasurable way he had not experienced before, and not wanting to give her the upper hand he changed his tactic. Sliding down once more he began to lightly kiss her neck, exhaling his warm breath upon her as he did. As his lips worked down the length of her neck a small moan escaped her lips. He knew he was on the right track. Continuing his descent he left a trail of kisses down to her collar bone. Her breaths came loud and fast as he continued his assault. Her tunic was cut severely low in the front, exposing portions of her soft body he yearned to touch. Keeping his hands to either side of her to support his body, he continued to kiss her exposed flesh. Her body began to tremble, and so he continued to kiss her, low into the V of her tunic. As his mouth reached the last portion of her exposed body her quick breaths stopped as she bit her bottom lip, her hips rolling against his abdomen, she shuddered, and her breaths returned deep and slow.
Slowly, with an occasional kiss to her warm flesh, Seth slid his body up hers, bringing them once again eye to eye. As their eyes met they smiled lovingly at one another, Sara’s smile twisting into a mischievous grin.
“Come ‘ere you.” She said grasping the hair on his head and pulling his mouth to hers.
She kissed him hard, giving his bottom lip a slight tug with her teeth playfully.
“I love you.” Sara told him, her eyes sparkling wetly.
“I love you too angel.” Seth replied. “But you need to be more careful.”
“What do you mean my love?” She asked
“Well, if I am to eventually make an honest woman out of you, you’re going to have to control yourself a bit better.”
“Is that so?” Sara asked mockingly. “Do you then have plans already for us to be joined?”
“Nothing would please me more.” Seth replied honestly. “But if we are going to do it right you need to be more careful. I was on the verge of tearing your clothes off there for a while.”
“I would have stopped you.” Sara replied with a knowing smile on her lips.
“Oh you would have huh?” Seth asked mockingly.
“Yes.” Sara stated. “If you think our first time is going to be among a pile of dead leaves you are mistaken my love.”
“So you have it all planned out then?” Seth asked.
“All but the part when you ask me to spend my life with you, and the part where we exchange rings. Those parts are up to you.” Sara said.
“Seems to me you have those parts all planned out as well.” Seth said jokingly.
Seth kissed her again lightly, and stood pulling her up with him. He pulled her back to their blanket and lowered himself down onto his side. She quickly lay down beside him, and rolling onto her side, her back to him, pulled his arms around her. Seth pulled her body tightly to his own. Releasing her momentarily he pulled the remaining half of the blanket tightly over them to keep them warm.
“Good night my angel.” Seth whispered into her ear.
“Good night love.” She replied.
Chapter 7
Morning came quickly, and with its coming the companions awoke and prepared to travel the last few hours to the fortified city of Valdadore. While packing their things they decided before leaving they would let the horses again drink from the river. This decided, they slung their packs onto their shoulders, untied their respective mounts, and led them to the river. The horses drank vigorously for many minutes while their temporary masters waited impatiently for them to drink their fill.
Finally, seemingly satiated, the horses lost interest in the water and the four companions mounted the beasts and set off once again at an alarming pace towards the giant stone city.
The hours passed swiftly as they thundered down the wide paved road towards the capital city. The nearer they got, the larger the city grew. They began to notice more details about the city as they grew steadily closer. There were narrow slits in the wall near the top, and also guards could be seen patrolling the top of the wall. The Unbelievably high towers each had several windows upon each level, facing out in all directions. As the companions raced nearer, it became apparent that the city was much, much larger than they had presumed before. Being just a few miles away from the city at this point, the massive stone wall surrounding it stretched as far as the eye could see, from one horizon to the other, hiding anything beyond the walls from view. It was easily twenty miles across from corner to corner on this particular side of the city with the huge portcullis being directly at its center. The sheer size of it all was enchanting to the travelers. Never had any one of them believed that man could create anything this vast or marvelous.
Still growing nearer they could now see the lines of people flowing through the opening in the massive wall. People were coming and going at a steady flow all the while being randomly stopped and questioned by the guards at the entrance.
