The Great Revelation

The water was so clouded with dirt and dust that it was hopeless to try and wash my hair, but Jasper slid behind me and gently took my curly red hair into his hands. One more moment of contentment I promised myself, before I have to tell him. I would also like to have some clothes on to face him. He poured some liquid soap into his hands and began to massage it into my scalp. It felt wonderful so I just leaned back and relaxed, thinking vaguely about the impeding talk. He stopped lathering my hair and I dunked my head under once more to wash out the soap. My clean hair dripped water in trails down my back as I stood up. Jasper handed me a towel and I wrapped my body up in the graying but comfortable cloth. I tucked the ends around my chest and turned to Jasper who still kneeled at the head of the tub.
“Should we talk? Let me get dressed.” I said. He nodded and got to his feet. Before he reached the door he turned around with his hand on the knob. He looked at me but didn’t say anything. I almost spoke, but before I could he opened the door and shut it quietly behind him. I toweled off quickly and slipped into my battered breeches and tunic. My hair was still wet, so I shook it and put it on top of my head with a tie. Sighing I looked at myself in the looking glass, and was shocked at my reflection. Dull grey eyes looked out at me from a pale gaunt face. It didn’t even look like me, it looked like someone else. There were scratches down the side of my neck that I didn’t remember getting and one side of my mouth was slightly puffy. Taking a deep breath, I straightened my back and headed for the door. Jasper had laid out on the bed, Thayer beside him. He looked up at me as I came out of the washroom and I smiled.
“You look beautiful.” He said, completely serious. I laughed and shook my head.
“You really do look pretty.” He replied a little puzzled.
“Jasper…. We have to talk now.” He nodded in agreement and sat up on the pallet. I sat down next to him. Thayer stirred behind us and we both looked to see what was wrong. He stretched and settled back into sleep.
“I don’t really know how to tell you or even where to begin.” I sighed.
He looked at me. “Why? What could possibly be so bad or hard to tell me that you wouldn’t know where to begin? You can tell me anything.” He said.
“Be careful when you say that. I think that my worst fear is that you will not understand or worse, you will hate me after what I tell you.” He looked skeptical that something could be that horrible.
“Artie I…..” I cut him off. I didn’t want him to say it. I didn’t want him to say I love you, not until he knew the whole truth about who and what I was, and more importantly who Thayer was.

War on the Horizon

Jasper turned to go but his father stopped him.

“Son. Be careful, Artie is strong but there are some things that will be slow coming. Just be patient. She has been through a lot in her life. I don’t think anyone has ever made love to her. She doesn’t even know what that means. Just tread lightly.” The young man nodded, tucking his fathers advice close to his heart.

“Artie thinks that it will take a couple of weeks to get his forces together, but I fear we have less than that. With the barbarians in the hills and the loyalty troops assembling we have a real problem.” Alex said, seating himself in the chair behind his desk. Jasper perched on the edge of the desk, looking at the large map of Iglasia. There was a smaller map on the wall behind his father’s head of Delusia and the surrounding countries. Secratia was the smallest of the eleven countries bordering Delusia. But it was also strategically located. One border abutted the Rutguard mountains and the other border disappeared into the Forgotten Sea. This land was almost totally protected except for a small swath on the northern border where it touched Kilke. Delusia had a full border with Kilke, but Secratia was not as formidable as King Alex’s land, therefore it was harder for them to defend themselves. Alex would gain a strategic location when Jasper and Artie were joined.

“We know that Secratia can keep our backs from the sea protected. But what about Madila? They will be no friend to us, especially after Arora’s little display in the woods.” Jasper said, tracing the borders of the large country with his finger. Madila bordered the opposite side of Delusia, directly across from Secratia which resided on the western side. This western country also bordered Kilke, but had no contact with the sea. It was surrounded by other countries.