laneys.info Beware of Yankees, drunks, and loose women.

Nothing about the silence felt awkward. The two of them remained transfixed on one another examining every visible inch of the other. A smile spread across Nyrellia’s face as she watched his eyes caress her bare skin. It was with some regret when she spoke, “I like the way you look at me.”

Her voice brought him back causing him to look away for a second as a wave of embarrassment washed over him. “You think I jest?” she inquired.

When he looked back at her she her voice was low, almost a whisper. “My father has been looking to marry me off for some time now. Every man I have met has looked upon me as his prize. But the way you’re looking at me right now, your eyes are so bright… I see something different in them. Something I have never seen before.”

She watched his face as the color returned. His eyes met hers again as he turned to look at her. Slowly she slid her hand across the flat stone and laced her fingers into his. His skin tingled uncontrollably when she touched him sending goose bumps up his arm. He watched as she rested her chin upon her other hand and floated lazily in the water staring up at him. They remained this way for several minutes, once again returning to their silence.

In a single swift swing of his legs Lericanin switched positions to lay upon the rock she rested her head upon. Their faces were mere inches from one another, eyes still locked. Both could feel the breathing from the other as the hairs on their arms danced beneath them. Nyrellia’s movements were sudden and quite intentional as she reached up and grabbed his shirt by the shoulders and pulled herself close to him. Her lips were incredibly soft and he swore he tasted berries upon them as she kissed him deeply. He felt himself being slowly pulled towards the water and knew this was the end and didn’t care a bit.

Lericanin slid completely into the warm water without breaking the kiss. He held onto the rock with one hand to stabilize himself while holding her bare back with the other. Nyrellia continued her kiss as she found the ties to his shirt and loosened them. With a gentle tug upwards it slipped off of his wet skin and over his head. She leaned back long enough for it to rise over his head and then tossed it into the grass nearby. As his mouth was revealed hers was upon it again this time her passion began to grow as their lips met once again. Lericanin had never known a feeling like the one he was feeling now. His entire body seemed like it was on fire, the warm tingling sensation causing his senses to come close to overload.

The water rippled around their naked flesh as they continued their passionate embrace. The world around them seemed to melt away as their hands explored the unfamiliar territory of each other’s bodies. As the afternoon wore into evening they shared the last of the food and wine in between long sessions of a very real and primal passion. Neither of them wanted it to end even as day turned to night and they lay naked beneath a full moon talking in hushed whispers while toying with each other’s hair. It was late into the night when Nyrellia drifted off to sleep nestled peacefully in Lericanin’s arms, warm, safe, and for once, not alone. She rested her head upon his chest which rose and fell in rhythm as he slept in a deep sleep, content with his surroundings and the feel of her body against his.

It was to become a feeling he would never know again.

* * *

“Unhand her!” The command awoke Lericanin immediately as he rose with a start. His eyes swept over his surroundings as he picked out several armored figures silhouetted in the pale light of dawn.

“I said unhand her.” The soldier glowered at Lericanin as he sat up. Nyrellia began to stir next him as he gently lowered her arm from around his waist. Things didn’t look good as he assessed the situation around him. In front was an average sized individual wearing chain mail and helm while wielding a long spear. To his right was a slightly taller individual appointed very much the same flanked by the one giving the orders who wore chain also but stood with his hands on his hips, his sword still sheathed. All of them watched him as he rose and stole glances at Nyrellia as she stirred. This didn’t sit well with Lericanin and he didn’t appreciate the rude awakening while on his family’s property. He noticed a movement from the corner of his eye as he slipped his shirt over Nyrellia’s naked back.

The soldier’s movements were clumsy as he stepped forward with the spear held at the ready. Lericanin eyed him warily without moving. He continued watching as the soldier stepped forward and thrust the spear towards his chest. In an instant Lericanin trapped the weapon in his armpit and rolled to his left drawing the soldier to the ground on his stomach. While the soldier was attempting to regain his footing Lericanin continued his roll and snapped to his feet swinging the spear and striking the soldier across the back. The haft struck its target with a loud thud and a loud gasp escaped the soldier as he began sucking in air trying to catch his breath.

Immediately the other troops moved forward and then suddenly stopped as the sergeant raised his hand. His eyes narrowed as he assessed the young man standing before him, spear at the ready. “A scrapper, eh? Well let’s see how good you think you really are. Jeroan.”

The stocky soldier in front stepped forward holding his spear at the ready. Nyrellia turned to see the two square off, readying themselves for combat. “Sergeant! Stop this at once!”

“My apologies milady but my orders come from your father.” Sergeant Kreyas remained focused on the fight as several of the soldiers began making wagers behind him. In a flash Jeroan stepped forward, thrusting with his spear while Nyrellia looked on in a panic. Lericanin felt his heart pounding as he danced sideways avoiding the point of his opponent while using his own weapon to block several attacks. As Jeroan lunged forward again he attempted to sink his spear into his opponent, Lericanin knocked the spear away while using the haft of his own to sweep the legs out from under his shorter foe. Continuing with his sweep, he managed to bring the weapon up and strike the first soldier across the back as he tried to rise again and then, with another swift strike, managed to catch Jeroan across the knee forcing him to drop his spear and grab his injured limb, howling in pain. Lericanin silenced him with a quick strike to the temple using the butt of the spear haft.

Sergeant Kreyas watched as both of the men slumped to the ground unmoving. Lericanin stood before him, his breathing heavy from the fighting; sweat beading on his body, yet remaining defiant with the spear at the ready. The sergeant stepped forward while drawing his sword. “Not bad. Not bad at all. Now lets see how you do against a real fighter, Scrapper.”

Nyrellia watched in horror as the sergeant closed ranks and faced Lericanin. Anger welled up inside the young man as he watched the seasoned warrior step closer. He tried a series of jabs with the spear which Kreyas easily batted away. A feint to the left followed by a jab to the right failed miserably as well. The sergeant lunged forward forcing Lericanin to roll to his left. Using this movement, Lericanin brought the spear up and attempted to strike with the haft when suddenly the weapon was stuck. The sergeant had mimicked the young mans trap and held the weapon firmly in his left armpit while striking with an upstroke with his sword breaking the spear haft. In a flash the veteran snapped the broken spear shaft across Lericanin’s right arm and then across his temple.

Lericanin knelt on the ground, the surprise clearly evident in his eyes as he watched the splinters shower the area. The sergeant lashed out so fast that the young man never had time to register his pain as the world exploded into a ball of shining light followed by sudden darkness.