And I'll bet he cringes every time Lock opens his big mouth or finishes a tavern fight, Sparrow thought to herself. Why had she ever thought joining the Order would curb his wild nature? Still, she knew once he made it to the dubbing, his courage and strength would be an a.s.set the Ruby Order. Evidently they thought so, too.

After the women finished their meal and said good night, Sparrow walked to the room she shared with Lock. It was large enough for them to live comfortably, and contained a bed, trunk, table, and bookshelf. Sparrow undressed and slipped into her nightshirt. She chose a book and sat at the table with a mug of tea. Lock had been away for nearly three days-one day longer than expected. The moon was high in the sky outside their window when he stepped into the room, looking tired.

Sparrow stood and embraced him. His arms slid around her and he held her tightly.

"I thought you'd be back earlier."

"Got stuck with extra guard duty." He shrugged his shoulders. "My back is killing me."

"Extra guard duty?" Sparrow took the tunic he pulled off and set it aside for washing. She noted it was filthy with dirt and blood, but didn't bother asking where the blood had come from. She knew he'd been sent to a.s.sist the healers who were lending aid to a mining colony that had a cave-in four days ago.

"Told Sir Warrant he was wrong about the way he divided the men for rebuilding. Should have kept my big mouth shut, but he was willing to let it pa.s.s when he realized I was right. Then, just hours before I'm ready to come back home, some big miner starts giving me trouble, so I gave him some trouble. Got me a shift on guard duty on the Fortress wall on what should have been my time off."

"So you've been home since this morning and I didn't even know?"

"I was on duty, girl. Came home as soon as I could. I have to meet Blaze in the morning to help him make medicines in his herbarium." Lock sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed his bloodshot eyes. He took Sparrow's hand and tugged her beside him. "I'm sorry. I wanted to see you, too."

"Honestly, Lock, can't you behave?" Sparrow felt torn between irritation and sympathy. She climbed behind him on the bed and brushed aside hair as unruly as he was. Her fingers ma.s.saged the taut muscles of his shoulders and back. He released a guttural moan of satisfaction. "It's bad enough how much time you spend working without acting up and having more shifts added on. Don't you ever want to see me?"

"I always say I'm going to keep my mouth shut, but it just doesn't work, girl. Rub a little to the left..."

Sparrow moved her hands, finding a particularly knotted muscle just below his nape. "Well don't get yourself thrown out before you get dubbed, or all this work will be for nothing."

Lock stretched out on the bed and tugged her to his chest.

"Other than you, this is the only thing worthwhile I've ever had in my life," he said. "I have to become a Knight, Sparrow. There was a time when I thought it was impossible for me, but it's not."

"I know it's not." She squeezed him. From the moment she'd seen him, something inside her knew he was a man of courage and quality. He might not be the most polished of men, but he was what Knights were made of. She kissed his chest. "You'll be a Knight, Lock. I know you will."

She wasn't sure if he heard her, since he was fast asleep.

Somehow, Lock and his temper made it through the first crucial year of training. After that, he was often sent away for months at a time as a crew member on different ships of the Order. If Sparrow had missed him before, it was nothing compared to those lonely months while he was away. Though she didn't always see him at home, he was stationed nearby. At least none of the a.s.signments lasted longer than two months. However his final mission before dubbing was to the far east, a journey that could take up to two years.

The day he left, Sparrow stood at the dock and clung to him tightly before he boarded the ship. "I love you so much. I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too, girl." He kissed her deeply, his eyes reflecting her sadness. "Just think. When this is over, I'll be a ship's captain again. Now that Mahir has officially made you an amba.s.sador for the Order, you'll be able to travel with me."

"I can scarcely wait."

"Lock!" One of the Knights waved to him from the deck. "Get up here!"

He brushed a final kiss across Sparrow's mouth and boarded.

She watched as the ship vanished on the horizon. Sparrow hugged her waist and sighed. She knew this separation was to be the longest, but when he returned, Lock would be dubbed a Knight of the Ruby Order. She wanted to tell him a secret she'd been keeping for the past several days, but he had enough to worry about without knowing he was leaving her with a child. Once it was born, she'd send him a message and hope it would reach him.

"Sparrow." Honey Wine approached and placed a hand on her shoulder. "How are you feeling?"

"I miss him."

"I know." The Mistress placed an arm around her. "This time will pa.s.s more quickly than you realize. Torn has often told me Lock is a fine addition to the Order. They need men with his skills."

"He's had so many reprimands because of his temper."

Honey Wine shook her head. "He's not the only Knight to engage in brawls while traveling, even though the others say he attracts trouble like flies to a pig's rear end, but I think he's mellowed."

"Not where it counts." Sparrow touched a hand to her stomach. One thing about their small separations while he was at sea, they invigorated their love life. Just last night, he'd made love to her for so long she'd nearly fallen asleep before he'd finished. He'd said he didn't want her to forget him while he was away, as if such a thing could ever happen.

Honey Wine laughed. "So do you have any names picked out?"

Though Sparrow wished Lock wasn't away, preparing for her baby kept her occupied. Her pregnancy was pleasant, and most of the wives, particularly Honey Wine and Lily, were helpful to her, though Honey Wine was only around as often as her duties to her kingdom would allow.

One evening, Sparrow sat with her two friends by the river outside the Knights' fortress. They watched Lily's children and Honey Wine's daughter splashing in the water, and talked about the approaching winter.

A teenage boy wearing the gray robe of a trainee approached with a message for Sparrow.

She unwrapped the parchment with excited fingers and grinned as she told her friends, "It's from Lock."

"How is he?" Honey Wine asked.

Sparrow's eyes scanned the parchment, and she touched the bold black lettering, thinking that Lock's hands had also touched the letter. She smiled at some of his promises of how they were going to celebrate when he returned, but kept those parts of the message to herself. She told her companions, "He said they'll be leaving for home in three weeks. They've stopped in Upper Kenna. He said they sometimes work for days at a time with little rest or food. There have been a lot of skirmishes with Zaltana, even so far east. He said he's tired, but a good tired."

"He's a Knight, that's for sure," Honey Wine said.

"Have you told him about the baby?" Lily asked.

"No. As soon as it's born, I'll send a message."

"You better sharpen your quill," Lily told her. "You're due any day now."

"I'm just glad you're here to deliver it."

Chapter Twenty Eight.

"I can't believe we're on our way home." Sir Erik said as he and Lock sat on deck of a ship called the Ocean Star, oldest of the Ruby Order's small fleet, but one of the finest. It had carried the group of Knights to and from the far east, through two storms and several battles with stray Zaltanian troops. Now they were so close to home they could almost smell the wild flowers that littered the hillside behind the Order's fortress.

Lock thought of Sparrow so often during their separation. Each night, she was his last thought before falling asleep. In the midst of battle and disease-ridden towns where the Knights stopped to lend aid, the thought of returning to her often kept him from giving in to utter despair. He'd spent his life fighting, but becoming a Knight meant more than soldiering. He'd finally become a healer, and with that came greater responsibility than he'd ever imagined. At times the Order perplexed him. They fought and healed. One moment his sword sliced a man's gut, the next he st.i.tched someone's war wound.

"You finally made it," Erik continued. "When we get home, you'll be dubbed."

"I've learned not to count on my wager until the horse crosses the finish." Lock took a long drink from a wine flask and pa.s.sed it to Erik.

The Knight swallowed a mouthful. "I'm glad you decided to join us. I had a feeling about you all those years ago when I saw you fight Miska."

"The hardest part for me has been walking in line."

Erik grinned. "You've been doing well. Haven't had a fight in three weeks."

"We haven't docked in three weeks."

"I only hope you remember what it's been like for you once you've got your own ship. You'll have young trainees on your crew, and they'll be looking to you as an example."

"That's a haunting thought," Lock muttered. "All jokes aside, I hope I can help them learn from my mistakes. I...What's going on over there?"

The men stood, glancing off the port side where a small ship approached.

Sir Rain and the ship's Captain, Sir Otto, approached the rail and exchanged words with the two men sailing the ship. Moments later, the filthy men in bloodstained, tattered clothes were brought on board. One nearly collapsed on deck, but Blaze, caught him and began administering to their injuries while Rain and Otto talked with them.

The other Knights, at the Captain's command, kept their distance and continued with their work.

"I wonder who they are?" Lock and Erik returned to their place on deck to continue their time off duty.

"I'd say we're about to get into another battle. Any insight on the matter?"

The Knights were by now familiar with Lock's visions. Though they still came at random, with Blaze's help, he was able to better understand the messages they brought. It had been months since he'd had such a dream, however, so he could offer Erik no reply.

"Then I guess we'll have to wait." Erik glanced across the deck to where Blaze, Rain, and Otto spoke quietly to the newcomers.

Within the hour, the entire crew gathered on deck for Otto's announcement.

"By now I'm sure you all know two men were brought on board. They're from an island called Black Haven just east of here. Sonian Slavers have invaded their island and shipped off many of their people. The ones who remain behind have been trying to hold their own in the only village left that hasn't been destroyed. Many are wounded and dying. We're heading for Black Haven now. Sonian Slavers don't travel in large groups, but their warriors are well trained. Prepare yourselves for battle and heavy casualties."

Otto dismissed the men, and everyone set to work readying weapons and healing supplies.

Lock was a.s.sisting Blaze with herbal remedies when Rain approached, his tawny, bull-faced dogs at his side.

"Lock, I know you've been a.s.signed as a healer for this journey, but we're going to need our strongest fighters in the front lines." Rain glanced at Blaze. "Sorry to take him from you."

"No need for apology," Blaze replied.

"Truth is, we could use you up there as well," Rain said to Blaze, and Lock understood why. Sir Blaze, though he wore the green sash which signified his vow that he'd never touch a weapon, was the most skilled of any Knight in hand-to-hand combat. Lock had trained with him often, and always ended up with the bruises to prove it. At times the power in Blaze's tall, slender body amazed him. Though Lock was physically stronger, Blaze was like liquid steel: bendable, yet unyielding.

"I would go willingly," Blaze said. "However, experienced healers are few here."

"I know," Rain said. "We're going to have our work cut out for us."

The dark-haired Knight left the hold, his dogs behind him.

Lock followed, glancing over his shoulder at Blaze. "Good luck."

"And to you."

"Lock," Rain said before the reached the deck, "I want to tell you something before we go out there."

"What?"

"Are you familiar with Sonian Slavers?"

Lock shook his head. He'd seen and learned much in his years at sea, but these particular slavers were unknown to him.

"Few people do. They're from far north and are a small but fierce tribe. They like to take prisoners in battle and have a reputation for whipping them to death. I thought you might want to know."

Lock's stomach twisted and he felt a momentary rush of panic that subsided so quickly it might never have been. "It doesn't matter to me. I'm part of the Order, and we're in this together."

"I thought you'd feel that way."

"Thanks for the warning."

Rain nodded. "Let's go. We have work to do."

"Another attack coming!" Erik bellowed through the broken door of the long house, the only building left standing on the entire island of Black Haven.

Lock heard him, the information registering in the back of his mind, as more urgent matters held his attention. One of the islanders had been injured fighting the slavers that morning, and his leg required immediate amputation just below the knee. While Blaze performed the surgery, Lock held the patient immobile, not a simple task, as the process was excruciating and islander large and strong.

"Almost finished," Blaze said.

The man shrieked and cursed but Lock kept him from moving.

All around, islanders and Knights scurried to protect the house and the wounded. Tables were overturned and placed in front of the windows. Two men hurried to repair the door that had been knocked off its hinges during an earlier attack.

An arrow flew through the door, just missing Lock's head.

"b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l." He glanced at the arrow embedded in the wall beside him. "Blaze, hurry up!"

"Patience."

"Go to h.e.l.l!" the islander screamed.

"We're already there," Lock muttered.

Another trainee, little more than a boy, approached Lock, his eyes frantic. "Sir Rain wants you outside."

Blaze was bandaging the stump, so the trainee took Lock's place in a.s.sisting him.

Lock grabbed his sword and headed for the door, almost grateful to join the battle. At times he preferred fighting to healing. There were less complications on the field.

Outside, the crew of Knights fought with a group of Sonian Slavers dressed in thick plates of armor. The Sonians carried double swords and wielded them with amazing skill. Before he had a chance to think, Lock found himself fighting two slavers. He killed both, but others appeared. As Rain had said, they were fierce fighters. Lock's blood seeped from shallow wounds that might have been fatal, if not for his skill.