I had just about forgotten about this story. I've only got 28 pages written, and I haven't worked on it since... *checks invisible watch* probably before the summer. But I recently looked over some of the reviews and it seemed like people really liked this story. So, I'm just gonna give this a shot and hopefully pick it back up. I'm not really too happy with it, but maybe that's just from not working on it for so long... well, anyway, I'll shut up now.
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Calimyr froze at the mention of Shaun’s name. “What are you talking about?” she demanded harshly.
“He told me about you in one of his visions, and said he saw me as well. And he said you’d come. He said he’s already prepared you for it as best as he could, and he knew that you’d accept. Now, the longer we wait the farther away she gets. Let’s go before it’s too late for her,” he said calmly, his voice now level and confident as if he had the upper hand.
She swallowed nervously, her confidence faltering slightly. “What price would you put on her head?” she asked, attempting to keep up her appearance.
“Whatever your price, her parents will pay it,” he said, the tone in his voice displaying no lies.
Calimyr raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
Rye nodded. Unable to see his reaction, Calimyr reached into her pocket and pulled out a smooth red stone. The beams slipped out from between her fingers, illuminating his face and her own in its crimson glow. “What’s that?” Rye asked.
“A bloodstone. Now, why don’t you tell me a little more about this job? What makes you think her parents would be able to meet my price?” she sneered.
“Because this is no ordinary girl. Her parents will meet any price you ask,” Rye said with a sense of certainty. Arms folded across his chest, Rye had an almost smug look on his face, which only added fuel to Calimyr’s flaming temper.
“They’d trust me, a Tribesgirl, with the life of some aristocrat this high-and-mighty?” she shot, her tone skeptical to the point of mockery.
To her utter surprise, he nodded. His eyes held no lies, which confused and intrigued Calimyr at the same time. “We all know you’re the only one capable of this,” he said earnestly.
Calimyr raised an eyebrow. “No, I’m not. Anyone who’s smart and can survive the Fyre Forest could rescue your girl,” she said sourly. “And even that’s only if he chose to head west, which I assume he has.”
“That’s why we need you: someone familiar with the Fyre Forest. None of us could survive, but I’ve heard tale that the legendary Riovan girl who survived that place on sheer instinct. And judging by the conversation last night, I know you to be Calimyr Riovan, daughter of the High Chief of the Seven Tribes. Such information could get you hanged for just being inside our walls.”
“You intend to blackmail me? That isn’t a wise idea. But I see you hold one more card in your hand than I do. Still, if it comes down to an old fashioned fight, that card will become useless, and mine will trump,” she said testily.
“Does that mean you’ll take the job then?” he asked hopefully.
Calimyr sighed. “We can discuss prices later. The further away your Bonnie-Lass gets, the harder it will be to rescue her,” Calimyr said levelly.
Rye heaved a sigh of relief, his eyes holding new hope. “Let’s hurry then. Our horses are waiting in the stables,” he said.
“I take it your in love,” Calimyr said as he was turning.
Rye paused, his cheeks slightly pink. “Not exactly. See, a simple squire like me holds no value to this kingdom as a whole. She needs someone who will stand by her and possibly help to form an alliance with a neighboring land. That’s what her parents say at least,” he said wistfully.
She rolled her eyes.“Let’s go, lover-boy. We’ll rescue your damsel and in gratitude, she’ll ask to marry you, and you’ll live happily ever after, blah blah blah,” Calimyr said with a twinkle in her eyes. “Shall we then?” she added, fighting off a smirk.
Rye’s face was pinkish and he was grateful she couldn’t see. He nodded and walked briskly away from her and back into the light from the stained-glass windows. Calimyr followed behind, unsure of whether to be annoyed, amused, intrigued, or downright furious. Shoving her bloodstone into her pocket Calimyr trailed along after him. So much for getting home, she thought, although she couldn’t keep that lopsided smirk off her face.
When they reached the stables, Rye led her over to where a stable boy was just tightening the girth on a large black horse. Cross-tied next to him was her handsome Rhys, his black mane flying as he shook himself, jingling the metal on her tack. “About time,” she could imagine Rhys saying. He would get a bit impatient when he had to wait for her very long, especially in strange places.
Calimyr hurried over to him, and buried her face in his neck, breathing in his familiar scent. “Sorry for taking so long,” she murmured to him.
“’E’s all nice and purty now Missus,” said the stable boy.
“Thank you,” Calimyr said, digging in her pocket for a copper to give him. She rarely approved of charity, but this lad wasn’t being charitable, he was doing his job. And he did a bloody good one too, Calimyr thought as she flicked the coin to the boy. His eyes lit up as he snatched the coin out of the air.
“Thank ya Missus,” he beamed, holding the copper in a death-grip.
Calimyr slid her foot into the stirrup and hoisted herself into the saddle with ease, suddenly comfortable in the hard leather atop her beloved Rhys. This was where she’d wanted to be; not in the fluffy bed inside the castle.
The stable boy held the large black gelding steady as Rye mounted, and with good reason to, for the horse attempted to surge forward the second his rider’s foot was in the stirrup. Once Rye had both feet in the stirrups and Calimyr’s saddlebags were set on Rhys’ back, the two left the stables side by side.
“Ill behaved, that horse of yours,” Calimyr said apprehensively. Among her people, horses were taught manners when they were still foals, and moving while being mounted was something they were quickly broken of.
“He’s not. He’s just high-strung is all,” Rye argued.
Calimyr rolled her eyes. Rhys was high-strung, but he was rarely disobedient. And he’d quickly learned the significance of acting out, even without physical punishment. They were relatively silent until they passed the grove of trees by the creek and near the already bustling village.
“Cover your hair, would you? It’s hardly normal for someone like me to be riding with someone like you,” Rye said harshly, tossing a scarlet cloak at her and catching her slightly off guard.
She caught it mid-air and glared at him but did as requested, situating the cloak around her shoulders and head. The material tumbled down and covered her entire body, even her legs covering her legs. “This is hardly normal for me, either,” Calimyr shot. She would have preferred her own thick tan cloak, but of course it would have to be bright red not to attract any attention.
“It’s just a disguise. When we leave the town and get far enough out of sight you can go back to your usual ruffian attire,” he said agitatedly, which earned him another glare.
) and your style is great and easy to read.