In Dreams: Red

Your Name

Packing up the meager supplies we had left from the attack took very little time. The hardest part is proving to be what to do with the number of riders versus horses.

“Well I certainly don't intend to ride with the corpse.” Corwin announces bluntly.

“I don't think any of us does.” Reginald replies, with a wan look at the corpse. It did have an odor coming off it, and when you got close enough it was quite strong, made worse by the wet mildewy smell where it had been soaked by the rain. “But there aren't very many options left to us.” Reginald said this with a quick glance at the prisoner. No one wanted to admit they were too afraid to ride with him in case he decided to change form. A face he seemed aware of, and slightly amused about. And Reginald, gentleman that he was, was too polite to suggest that I, a royal and “true lady” ride with any of the men.

“Alright, enough of this! For practicality's sake, and if no one wants to ride with the corpse, I am going to have to share a saddle with one of you. Preferably the lightest of you so we do not exhaust the horse. We can change out every few hours to help keep the horses from over exerting themselves.” I argue, exasperated.

“There is, of course, one other option.” The prisoner breaks in. Everyone falls silent. “We all know my capabilities. Why not allow me to run alongside you in animal form? It will prevent any exhaustion on the horses' part and speed up our progress considerably. You will even be able to take me down easily, should I try to escape, if you should ride in formation around me as you have to this point.” He explains all this patiently as if speaking to children. I can see the mistrust in the other men's eyes.

“That is all very well and good sir, but we have no guarantees that you will not simply harm our horses and run off. Being short of weapons, we would be hard pressed to defend ourselves from you, should you choose.” Reginald replies, arms crossed, being careful not to offend the prisoner by his tone or by expressly stating he didn't trust him, but the intention was loud and clear. “However, you are well aware of all of these facts.” Reginald states calmly. The prisoner continues to look simply amused. Finally Tyrus simply strides away from the group, returning a few moments later with an armful of long, sturdy branches. He leaves again after dropping the first bundle on the ground by the corpse, and returns with yet more branches. He continues doing this while Corwin and Reggie argue. The final two trips see him dragging large saplings or branches taller than a man. He pulls a covering off the corpse and begins to tear it into strips. As he plops down on the ground beside his little pile and begins laying out, trimming and breaking branches, I suddenly realize what he is up to. Within minutes he has everything organized and I walk over to help him tie together the branches with the strips he has torn from the blanket. We roll the corpse onto this makeshift sled of sorts and tie it down. Reginald and Corwin are still arguing, not noticing what is happening behind them.

“Excuse me, sirs, we could use a hand here.” Tyrus tries to interject, vainly. “Excuse me.. excuse me!”

“Hey Fellas!” I shout over them, but also receive no response, so I stick two fingers in my mouth and give a long, piercing whistle. Reginald and Corwin turn, startled, but the prisoner covers his ears with a grimace.

“If you two gentlemen would be so kind, we could use a little help over here.” I say sweetly. “And you two..” I spin on Tyrus and the prisoner, who are now grinning goofily, and give them a harsh look. “..should stop looking like you're having so much fun, we're not on holiday here.”

Mumbles of “Yes, my Lady.” Come from all of them.

“Tyrus has a wonderful idea and we need to be on our way, so let's get this makeshift thing attached to one of the horses and be on our way.” I instruct. We decide to burden Lupus with the load, being the strongest horse with the smallest load already. We attach the sled's poles around his thick chest, using the saddle to steady and attach it with more of the blanket strips. Lupus would have to pull it along like a chariot without wheels. I knew it would be a strain on him, but it was unavoidable unless we decided to leave the corpse behind. Lupus and I would ride in formation behind the prisoner again, in the hopes that Lupus, the sled, the corpse and I would not slow the party down too badly.

“That still leaves one of you with the unbearable misfortune of riding bareback.” I remind the remaining four men.

“The prisoner obviously can't, being bound, so allow me.” Volunteers Reginald.

“You, dear Reg?” Corwin asks, bewildered.

“I grew up around horses, I first learned to ride without a saddle-it can be uncomfortable, but so can those terrible stiff saddles.” Reginald sounds offended, and as if to prove his point, he snatches a few blankets from the remaining supplies, lashes them to the corpses former horse with a few of the remaining strips, and mounts easily.

“Well? Are we going to be on our way?” Reginald demands.

Corwin and Tyrus help the prisoner onto Reg's horse while I hold the reins. Corwin will take the lead with the prisoner in tow. Reginald and Tyrus will be to either side of him. I hand off the reins of the prisoner's horse to Corwin as soon as Corwin is ready and race back to Lupus, quickly mounting and calling forward the all-clear that the party is ready. I check the fastening for the sled and Lupus nervously moves under me. Then Corwin calls for us to move forward and we are off again, racing the daylight to reach home.

Generally speaking, this return trip would average about a day and a half at a brisk pace, with stops for meals and of course an overnight stay camped somewhere. We had already run into so many obstacles, I wasn't sure how much longer we would be before seeing home. I briefly tried to calculate how much distance we had traveled, plus the time traveled, minus our delays... It could be another day before we saw home. I so desperately wanted this trip over and done. I wanted to be home again and have the opportunity to mourn properly and forget everything for a good long while with an endless, dreamless sleep. First, we had to arrive.

At least we are making great progress. The horses' hooves beat out a steady and lulling rhythm and suddenly I realize I am nodding off. Luckily Lupus was so used to these formations he simply kept his pace and position. The sun has changed locations in the sky on me, so it seems we have been at this steady clip for hours, and I have probably been drowsing most of it. It looks like we're making good progress, the vegetation is beginning to change, the ferns and evergreens beginning to assert themselves, though still infrequently. I sigh, this means we are much closer than I had anticipated, and everything seems to be going well so far, with no further complications. Of course, as soon as I think this thought, the Gods laugh at me and the ties holding the corpse's sled to Lupus snap. The sled gets quickly left behind

“Halt! Halt!” I call ahead, the cry is taken up by Reginald and then Corwin. I do not wait, but circle Lupus around and head back towards the corpse. The others follow-the prisoner still in their midst.

When I stop Lupus beside the corpse I get a good view of his quivering muscles and hear his ragged breathing.

“Poor fella-we just forget about you in our rush to get back, and you're such a lovely one you never complain or slow. You would run until your heart burst if I asked you to, wouldn't you Lupus?” I slither down his side, my own legs would barely support me after sitting in the same position for so long. I lean against Lupus, patting him and rubbing him until I could be sure to stand on my own. The other horses pull up behind us, also breathing heavily, muscles twitching. I look at them with pity.

“I'm sorry Lupus, we'll try and take it easier on you and your brothers from now on.” I tell him, working my way around to the corpse's sled. I examine it carefully. It appears only a few cords have snapped, easily replaced.

“I think it would be wise to take a break my Lady. The horses are quite exhausted, and we could all use a rest and maybe a bite to eat.” Tyrus suggests.

“I agree.” I respond, loosening Lupus' saddle. I want to be ready to leave at any time, so am loathe to remove it-but let it drop to the ground anyway. He needed his comfort and rest himself, and there was no way that the saddle would be comfortable or allow him to cool off properly.

“It is not good that I treat him so.” I murmur softly as Lupus takes a few steps away from me.

“You had no choice, Lady.” A gentle voice replies. It is my prisoner, the voice of reason again. He is examining me with interest again, a look that is so intense it nearly makes me blush. “Besides, if you listen carefully, I believe there is a stream not too far off, I'm sure he'd be happy if you led him there to drink.” The prisoner tilts his head to the right and once he pointed it out, I could hear something that did sound like running water. I reach out and call to Lupus, who comes over almost immediately. Placing my hand on his shoulder, and giving him the command to stay with me, I walk with him toward the sound.

“My Lady!” The prisoner reaches out his bound hands and grips my arm with strength, but without hurting me. “Please allow me to accompany you. Or perhaps one of the other men. Just in case. You should not go alone.” I sigh, noting the other men are busy with the horses and supplies.

“You're probably right. Come along then.” I respond. He steps forward quickly and joins us. As Lupus, the prisoner and I head towards the sound of water, the prisoner is quiet, though he appears to be searching for danger. After walking a few paces in the silence, I get tired of it.

“Your name?” I ask him.

“I beg your forgiveness, my Lady?” He asks

“All this time, I have simply been calling you some variation on 'the prisoner'. Surely you must have a name I can address you by?” I answer.

“It is unimportant.” He remarks. “My family is dead and so is their name.” His expression is hard and bitter. Anger and loneliness wars for prominence on his face for a moment more before he sighs, once again looking around us as if searching for danger. There was a story there, I was sure of it, but one that was so tender, I was afraid to ask.

“If there is a wrong that should be righted..” I begin, but he shakes his head fiercely in the negative.

“Ok, but you're forcing me to keep calling you 'prisoner' all the time.” I offer, attempting to lighten the mood. I get no response, so I step directly in his path. He looks at me briefly and I wait, forcing him to look again into my eyes. “I am being serious about righting any wrongs against your family. You have aided me twice now, so if you need my aid in this, consider me your loyal servant.” I tell him. A brief smile from him, after the fire of loss fades from his eyes.

“I don't quite see you as the servant type.” He teases.

“Well...” I begin, but am interrupted by crashing and shouting from behind us in the direction we had come. It was growing closer and louder, the prisoner spun around, shoulders tense, muscles vibrating, and just as three men run quickly into view there is the slipping motion, bindings and clothing burst around us as the prisoner once again becomes the beast. It's growling and snarling, teeth bared, hackles raised, poised to spring when I notice the commotion is caused by none other than our Reginald, Corwin and Tyrus.