Chapter 12

ARMY ON THE MARCH

Wildar was setting a blistering pace for the army. The man was like one possessed by a Spell. During rest stops, Linden would leave the coach and join him as he strode through the columns checking on the condition of each man, his mount, and his equipment. Linden knew that, had it been possible, Wildar would not have stopped for rest any more than she would!

The Queen's coach kept up with the army easily, while it was quite large and heavy; four teams of huge Unicorns drew it. They had brought with them two extra complete sets of the big draft Unicorns for switching out.

Linden left the coach and took a ride each day with Sir Klaron. She had her right arm bound in a sling because her shoulder was extremely painful, but she used the ride as an excuse to get out and run for an hour. The strenuous exertion seemed to calm her and allowed her to nod off for a few moments sleep now and then. She still had no appetite or time for food. She promised her worried family and friends, "I'll eat well enough after we've found Vandar!"

After several days on the march the acute pain in Linden's shoulder ebbed and almost died away all in one evening. It disturbed her at first, because the pain had been her one contact with Vandar. Then her hopes built up, she reported, "I think he's getting stronger! The pain is weakening, and I can feel his concern for us again!"

Vandar Returns to the Summer Castle

The Prince was well pleased with how the healing had gone so far. His shoulder had served him well when they had launched the boat. It still wasn't at full strength, but for someone who had been knocking on Death's cruel door for the last few days he felt remarkably well. He settled back at the helm and enjoyed the sea breeze.

As they approached the coast the Prince sought for familiar landmarks, but he didn't recognize anything. Now that he considered it, he hadn't remembered any islands in the immediate vicinity of the seacoast around the Castle.

He reached over and pulled the Siren's shirt back up to cover her smooth shoulder. "Lorelei, where did you find me?" He questioned her. He had to find out sometime if she could be trusted to keep her part of their bargain, better now than later, when they might be in more danger. She pointed to the coast down to their right. The wind he was sailing with had been blowing directly coastward so it was a simple task for him to tack to the west. There was just enough moonlight to make steering easy.

A sudden powerful splash next to the boat brought Vandar to his feet with his sword drawn. He hadn't even considered that the Siren might have accomplices. The broad back of a Sea Monster slid through the dark water. It was at least as far across as the small boat was long, and many times its length!

The Siren turned to him and shook her head from side to side. "It won't harm us?" He asked. She shook her head again and reached for an oar. She tapped several times on the deck of the boat. The Monster slid slowly back into the depths. The Siren had passed her first test. He reached over and refastened her shirt over her shapely breasts.

They sailed on for what he estimated to be another hand span of time. The Siren seemed to spend most of her time watching him closely and he began to suspect she must have misunderstood his wanting to return to the place where she had found him.

She swung around abruptly to peer alertly at the shore. She dipped a small hand into the water, she brought the water to her lips and tasted it, and then she confidently pointed ashore. Vandar was astounded!

He excitedly asked her, "How are you so sure this is the place?" She pointed to the wound in his shoulder. "You can still taste my blood in the water?" She nodded. Vandar was even more astounded. He knew that with abilities like this, she could prove to be either a very good ally or an incredibly dangerous enemy!

The Prince steered the boat slightly to the west of the point she had indicated and he found a protected cove to land in. They pulled the boat up on the sand in the lee of some large boulders for concealment.

The Prince pulled the Siren's pants back up over her shapely hips and he retied the fastening rope around her tiny waist. She seemed to naturally slip right out of her clothing. He supposed this was due to the Spell or Curse she was under that made her the way she was.

Vandar wedged the anchor securely between some large rocks that were well above the tidal line to ensure that the boat wouldn't drift away. He took all of the arms and supplys he could carry, then he led her away from the beach.

They made fairly good time after she began to grow more accustomed to walking in the clothing and boots. She actually moved very quietly on land. After she became more used to the baggy men's clothing, she moved with a peculiar grace. This grace reminded the Prince of someone else he had once known, but he couldn't recall at the moment just who it was.

They moved on for a long period of time without any interruption. When he came upon a large sand dune he motioned for her to stop and wait for him, while he scouted ahead.