Chapter 1: The End of the Journey
**NOTE ONE to all readers**: This will be part of a longer story, with a focus on characters and not just sex. It will try to be more than a stroke story (don't worry, there's still sex). That being said, the sex won't always be lovey-dovey or utterly romantic, so be forewarned. –Enjoy!!
**NOTE TWO Pronunciation Guide**: (basically, sz = sh and j is like y)
Lilija
(Lee-lee-ya)
Zyszudko
(Zish-ood-ko)
majalia
(may-al-ee-ya)
Korvyn
(Kor-vin)
Krisztir
(Kreesh-teer)
Zandisz
(Zan-deesh)
Miszelah
(Meesh-el-ah)
Levisz
(Leh-veesh)
* * * * *
Spring was late this year. Lilija of clan Zyszudko looked skyward, toward the sun. It shone brightly, but the wind quickly chilled away any would-be warmth. She drew her heavy cloak closer about her slim shoulders. Adjusting the fine silver clasp at her throat, her fingers swept over the fur lining peeking out from the sides of her hood.
She shifted in her saddle and repressed a groan. But Lilija couldn't manage to hide the slight grimace that crossed her face.
"Do not fret, majalia," a deep voice murmured at her shoulder, "we will arrive before evening meal. And, instead of your darling mount, you will have other more…pleasurable options before you…or above you, or beneath you." His tone lost its teasing nature as his voice fell into a gravelly baritone, "I leave myself utterly at your disposal this eve."
Lilija stared forward resolutely.
"Korvyn, I shall share my bed this eve with no man. I am
not
your flower and—"
"Of course you are not my flower," Korvyn interrupted innocently. "You are
maj
alia—
delicate
flower. And, we need not confine ourselves to a bed," he finished smugly.
Lilija sighed in frustration. A Zyszudko guardsman looked toward the pair from the corner of his eye. Lilija surreptitiously signaled him away. She could handle Korvyn herself.
Korvyn had only grown this bold over the past few weeks. At the start of their party's journey, he had been far more circumspect in both his behavior and his words. In the beginning, his smile was not smug; his words were not grossly lascivious. She had thought him charming—his deep blue eyes would glint as he laughed and his manner was open and easy.
Lilija turned her head, now, eyeing him appraisingly. The same bright eyes. The same unruly curls of deep scarlet hair falling across his forehead. The same strong jaw line, though it was now covered with a deep coppery red beard due to the weeks of travel. His face, his muscled figure had not changed.
Yes, she
had
thought him handsome. It would be hard fact for any woman to deny. Yet, when she had once found him appealing, she now found him appalling.
"Korvyn," Lilijana began, "how well do you believe my uncle would receive news of your kind 'offers'? Your
attentiveness
," she continued—her voice dripping with sarcasm, "is surely something I should mention to him. I am convinced if he knew of it he would have something to give you."
Preferably a dagger to the ribs,
she thought.
She locked her own green eyes with his blue, matching his stare. Korvyn's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. He said nothing. She arched her left brow.
"Perhaps you should return to your men," Lilija nodded toward a knot of men wearing the Krisztir clan's colors. Kicking her heels, her horse trotted on. Korvyn stared after Lilija's pine green cloak fluttering in the wind. A tendon in his neck tensed. After a moment of silent reflection, a small smile twitched at the side of his mouth.
Gradzi rode up to Korvyn, laughing, "I would not expect to see you smiling as you sat in Lady Lilija's dust." His Brown eyes shone merrily as the Krisztir guardsman spoke. "But, here I find you, smiling, even as she rides off."
Korvyn gave his own short laugh and responded, "Act as she will now, in a short while she will have to ask permission of me in order to leave my presence."
"You still believe her uncle will give her to you?"
"Chieftain Zandisz has called specifically for my father to send
me
to represent clan Krisztir in this meeting. Certainly, he should want to stabilize the Zyszudko clan's position. How better to do that than through a joining with Lilija?"
"She
is
quite an attractive token for him to maneuver."
"One that I mean to acquire. She will look splendid on my arm—almost as splendid as she will look in my bed."
* * * * *
"Lady Lilija, was he harassing you, again?" Lilija could hear her attendant's voice held an undercurrent of genuine concern.
"Miszelah, Misza, Miszka. Do not worry. He is annoying, yes, but we will be reaching my uncle's stronghold before dusk. Sooner, perhaps. Lord Korvyn," she rolled her eyes, "will never dare to presume such liberties in my uncle's castle."
"As you say, my Lady." Miszelah looked unconvinced as she rode beside Lilija.
"Misza, please, you know there is no need for titles when you and I are alone!"
"It just seems so odd…Lilija."
Lilija's lilting laugh rained through the air.
"Misza, Misza. You have grown too accustomed to the ways of your former Lady. She must have been stern!"
Miszelah laughed a little herself. "She was more formal than you, by far."
"I am glad you were able to come with me—I have never had cause for an attendant to travel with me before."
Miszelah looked shocked. "My Lady—Lilija—it would be horribly improper if you did not have a female attendant travel with you! You are a woman. You cannot travel alone with a group of men—even should they be guardsmen sent by your Uncle. Besides, it is time you had an attendant for daily tasks. You will be living as a Lady within Chieftain Zandisz's castle."
Lilija smiled at Miszelah's seriousness. "Eighteen summers. I suppose I am now officially a woman to be 'protected' with an overabundance of restrictions and limitations." She finished with an irritated sigh. "As if the rules of proper comportment for a young girl were not stifling enough…"
Miszelah looked over without sympathy, quipping, "I do not believe it was
ever
proper for you to hunt with the men, nor to train with them while you stayed in the northlands."
"There were few men there, virtually
all
of them bordering on elderly—there was no impropriety! And, acuity with the bow and short sword are important skills!"
Miszelah's mouth quirked. "Skills that I doubt Chieftain Zandisz will permit you to hone while you are under his roof."
"I am sure my dear uncle will allow me only to do battle wielding an embroidery needle." The corners of Lilija's eyes crinkled as she smiled.
The two young women laughed. Lilija stopped short when she saw the green flag in the distance, whipping in the wind. Then, a second. A third. As they crested the hill, four green pennants flew above the slate gray stones of an impressive castle and fortified wall.
They had reached Chieftain Zandisz Zyszudko's stronghold.
* * * * *
"Lady Lilijaniszka Ludyszka Ziszka!" the page announced loudly.
Lilija grimaced slightly at the sound of her full name and title.
Lilija's uncle rose from his great-chair and descended to greet her.
Chieftain Zandisz Zyszudko was a large man—tall and broad, well into his fifties, but in peak physical condition from constant training and campaigning. His dirty blonde shoulder-length hair showed hints of gray only at the temples. His beard, however, was speckled with it. His cheeks were rosy and his eyes were bright as he approached his niece.
"Lilija," he cried warmly, "it has been five years since we saw you leave for the northlands, but you are arrived!" Zandisz was elated to see his niece again. She was like a daughter to him after her parents—his little sister, Pilaszka, and her husband, Varek—had died all those years ago. When his own wife died in the childbirth of his son, Levisz, it was little Lilija, then, only nine years old, who had brightened his grief. Finally, he felt whole with Lilija returned.
"How beautiful you look, my dear. You have truly blossomed into a fine young woman. You are the image of my sister, your dear mother." Lilija felt her cheeks heat slightly at the compliment and her eyes grow damp at the memory of her mother.
Almost without pausing for breath, her uncle continued on in his whirlwind way, "I almost do not believe you journeyed five weeks in order to arrive here. Come, come, little Liliszka," he said with paternal affection, "there is someone who has been waiting for you. Yes, yes, leave your cloak here. Tylk will take it."
As the Chieftain spoke, a servant appeared. Taking the heavy cloak, he quietly informed Zandisz of the other members of the travel party.
"My Lord," Tylk began, "the animals, Zyszudko guardsmen, and travelers have been tended to. Your guests from the Krisztir Clan have been escorted to their rooms in order to refresh before the arrival feast this eve."
"Good, good." Zandisz answered. "See to it that their needs are met. For now, until the feast, I will be visiting with my son and my niece, see that I am not disturbed!"
The competent servant bowed his head and retreated.
* * * * *
In his quarters, Korvyn looked around him. The stone walls were covered with thick tapestries woven in various earth-toned hues featuring Clan Zyszudko's vibrant pine green.
Not unattractive,
