To Cleopatra’s surprise, they reached the other side of the mountain. Her eyes widened as she noticed the wild and new land spread out before her. Green fields lingered under the blanket of fog and clouds. The trees were not as twisted and warped as they had been before, but rose up out of the ground with their branches stretching towards the sky. A river snaked through the green fields and she knew at once, she was no longer in her father’s realm.
“Do ye see that in the distance? That speck on the hill over there?” Jude asked as he leaned closer to her.
Cleopatra’s eyes narrowed as she cupped her hand to her brow. Lingering on the horizon she spied a castle rising up out of the clouds. It was like a fairy tale castle she had once read in a book back home.
“That’s your home?” she asked without turning to Jude.
“Aye,” he said. “And it could be yers as well, if ye so wished.” Cleopatra pulled her eyes off the majestic scenery to look at Jude, but he had slipped away from her and was heading down the path to meet up with his men and Hugh.
Cleopatra hobbled down the flat and widening path. Conflicting emotions raced through her as she met up with the others. Uncertain of what Jude meant, she broke away from the group and kept going toward the castle.
“Where are ye goin’ lass?” Ronan asked as he reached out his arm to stop her from passing him. Dazed, she looked at him.
“To the castle,” she answered.
“Nae today, we’re pitchin’ camp here,” he said. “The men will be bringin’ the horses through the pass soon enough. We’ll wait for them before we start off again.”
“But—” Cleopatra started as she glanced over her shoulder to find Hugh and Jude huddled together.
“The sun sets quickly in these parts,” Ronan said as he turned his attention to sharpening his sword. “Rest easy, we’re almost there. Ye might want to fetch some firewood. It’ll be cold tonight with the winds comin’ down off the mountain.”
Cleopatra glanced around the area. There were hardly any dry branches on the ground or any trees that she could access, so she needed to walk away to find some. As she carved a path through the fields gathering what she could, she glanced up to the sky.
The clouds parted and she caught her breath. The soft hues of night drifted through the speckled clouds. It looked as if heaven opened up just for her. She spun around as diamonds sparkled above her head, each being called out one by one.
“Lovely, are they nae?”
Cleopatra jumped as she noticed Jude standing behind her with his hands cupped in front of him. He moved toward her. Not like the stalking he had done before when he snatched her from her home, but a steady pace that showed her no ill will or malice.
“Yes, they are,” she answered.
“I just wanted to thank ye for offerin’ to teach me son,” Jude said lowering his head. “That will be grand of ye.”
“Of course, every ruler should have some education. It is the only way to be prosperous.”
“Aye,” Jude said, tilting his head in thought.
Cleopatra studied Jude as he stopped beside her. There was a sadness in his eyes that she couldn’t understand. For a moment she wondered if she should pull him from his thoughts, but the silence offered her comfort she wasn’t willing to give up just yet.
“Do ye ken much about the stars?” Jude asked. Cleopatra shook her head.
“No. Those books were reserved in my father’s study. It was very rare for me to get my hands on them. In fact, most of my father’s books were off limits.”
“Would ye like to?” he asked shifting his gaze to her.
The silver moonlight drifted through the clouds and as it hit Jude’s face, Cleopatra found herself stunned by what she saw. The mask Jude had worn seemed to have lifted and underneath, she saw a handsome man, stern and fierce, but kindhearted and gentle. The wrinkles on his brow vanished before her eyes as he moved closer to her.
“When the boy goes to bed, I’ll show ye,” Jude said with a hint of a smile that sent Cleopatra’s heart racing.
6
The crackling fire warmed Jude’s face as he sat beside Hugh. Over the popping of the wood, he listened to his men spinning tales through the night. Glancing to Cleo, he couldn’t help but admire her beauty. Her blonde hair drifted with the wind as it kicked up around them, but it was her dark eyes that drew him to her. They were fearless in the wilds of the night.
“Cleo,” Hugh’s small voice rose up over the laughter of the men. “Do you know of any stories?”
Cleo looked around at each of them. Jude could see the shock in her eyes, but she quickly reined it back proving to him once again how in control she was. She was nothing like the Earl had claimed. She was far from being weak and helpless, she had fire that burned deep within her that seemed to spark brighter with each passing day.
“Aye,” Jude said clearing his throat. “Surely, ye must have some tale to spin. After all, ye have read many books, have ye nae?”
“Well, yes,” Cleo said twisting her fingers together. “I have read many books.”
“Then out with it, lass,” Ronan said, scooting closer to the fire as he kept his eyes locked on Cleo’s face. She pulled in a deep breath and closed her eyes a moment.
Jude watched as she rolled her head and shoulders as if to relax or pull forth a tale from the depths of her mind.
When her eyes opened, they looked ebony, all color had faded from them. A wicked grin stretched across her lips. Her eyes narrowed as she paused to stare each of them in the eye.
“Tell me, Hugh, have you ever stopped by a river or pond where there are rocks stacked
