He purposely kissed her to spite Ryas. She shook it off. That's all. Yuliah's fingers skimmed over her lips, and a blush crept onto her face. Ward. The taste of his warm, subtle lips still lingered in her mouth. It happened so unexpectedly that Yuliah wandered out of the tent lost for a moment.
"That was some kiss, huh?" A snarky voice pulled Yuliah from the haze wrapped around her head.
"Ry... Ryas," Yuliah swallowed. "I - I didn't know he would do that." She choked out, but his face was stone cold.
He leaned down until they were eyed to eye. "Here let me help you wipe the drool from your face." Then ran his sleeve roughly over her lips and stormed off.
What the hell just happened? Yuliah's eyes watered. It's so unfair. He can't be mad at her for something she didn't control.
When Yuliah finally found her way back to the tent she shared with Ryas, two young men, maybe a few years older than her stood in the spot where the tent had been. Her heart sank. Did he leave her again?
Both men seemed reluctant to look her in the eyes, until finally one of them spoke, "We're here to escort you onto Murai," he said.
"Where's the General?" Yuliah asked. "Did he leave?" Cold fear ran through her blood. He didn't even come for her. What did this mean?
"We don't have that information only our orders to escort you to Murai," he replied.
Ryas must be angry with her. She felt relieved that he didn't abandon her again but was just mad. It's probably better she didn't see him until he cooled off.
Both men held the reins of a horse behind them.
"Is that my horse?" She peeked over their shoulder. General Wey taught her how to ride so it wouldn't be too hard, and she could manage since it would be a days ride to Murai only.
"Yes," he led the horse to her. "Geneoshi horses stand taller than most. I can help you up."
Yuliah looked at the horse in shock. How the hell did regular height people get on these things? She practically needed a ladder to climb into the saddle. "Yes, can you please?"
He held her hand while she placed one foot in the holster and pushed up. When she threw her leg over the horse, her skirt snagged on the saddle and tossed her back. She landed in the arms of the captain whose quick reflexes kept her from hitting the ground. They both blushed.
"I'm sorry." She gave him an embarrassed smile.
"It's all right. I'll help you up again." The Captain smiled back.
At that moment, Ryas showed up on his horse, "What's the problem here?" He snapped at the Captain and hopped down from his horse.
Nooo! It can't be happening again. Yuliah swatted at the Captain to put her down quickly, but he froze.
"She... uh... she fell -" the Captain answered. He turned to Ryas with Yuliah still in his arms, frightened.
Ryas gave her the angriest look before he ripped her from the Captains arms, then tossed her onto the saddle and stalked away.
She jeered at his back as he left, in utter shock. He didn't have to do it so roughly. It was not her day today. Yuliah took a deep breath and adjusted herself comfortably on the horse then pulled the reins of her horse.
The entire ride to Murai, Ryas kept his distance and Yuliah struggled to control her horse. He must have purposely given her an ass of a horse because it would heed none of her cues. If she signaled left, the horse would go right and then trot off to eat grass every few minutes. She knew he watched her from wherever the hell he was at but offered no help, and neither did anyone else. For if anyone got even remotely close to her, he shot them that death glare, and they'd ride away scared. Her control of the horse became so bad that she fell behind and even Ward passed her on his jail cart.
"Trouble in paradise love?" He laughed from the cart.
"NO," Yuliah glared at him and bucked her horse hard, too hard, and it reared up then leaped forward. Ward's laughter echoed in her ears followed by the rest of the men as the stupid horse raced ahead, neighing loudly. She clung on tightly dead with embarrassment. Today became a shit day for her. Maybe she should just let this thing throw her off somewhere. It's probably better to die from that instead of the embarrassment.
Yuliah tried to recall what General Wey taught her about runaway horses. She had to get him past everyone and to an open space.
"Look out!" One captain called. "We've got a hot horse coming through!"
Yuliah cursed as more men laughed behind her and then zoomed right past the front where Ryas trotted leisurely next to Zehan.
"Asshole!" She shouted at Ryas.
"General, isn't that your girl?" Zehan turned to find an angry Ryas. "Looks like a runaway horse," he chuckled.
Ryas pulled the reins of his horse and took off after Yuliah.
Instead of staying straight how she commanded, the horse leaped into the forest and ran madly through the trees.
Calm down, she spoke as it raced on, but her words did nothing. She pulled the reins trying to circle the horse, but it kept on running. After several minutes of sprinting, it collapsed, and Yuliah flew away from the saddle and through the air. She landed sprawled across the floor. Ugh! You shit horse! Her arms burned as she scraped across the dirt and then flipped over. Her forearms bled and flesh peeled off in tiny chunks.
A sharp pain shot up from her stomach and she screamed out. Yuliah could barely crawl to her knees but force herself up and then sat down. She pulled her knees in then rested her head and cried. Yuliah cried from the pain, from her shit day, and Ryas being an ass.
"Yuliah?"
She looked up, with tears streaming from her eyes and wiped her hand across her nose.
Ryas took slow steps towards her. "Are you all right?" He looked regretful.
Did he ask her if she was all right? Yuliah shot him an angry look, one that stopped him in his tracks.
"What do you want!" She screamed at him. "You were so good at ignoring me today and didn't even want to help me! So stay the fuck away!" Just then another jolt of pain exploded up through her stomach again. She gasped and fell over, holding to her stomach.
"Yuliah what's wrong," Ryas rushed to her side.
She pushed him away. "Get away from me," she cried louder.
Ryas scooped her up, and she slapped him hard in the face.
"I'm so mad at you right now!" she screamed.
"I'm sorry, Yuliah," the blood from his face drained. "Where does it hurt?" He frantically searched her body and when he could see no visible wounds. Threw his cloak across the ground and laid her down on it.
"Here," she held to her stomach and curled up into a scream.
"Can you move?" He asked her.
"I'll try," Yuliah lifted her legs but screamed again when the pain came back. Her fingernails dug into his neck. "It hurts so much."
The tips of his fingers pressed to her forehead, and then he shut off her consciousness. With the cloak wrapped around her Ryas held Yuliah in his arms and headed back. Once they reached the path, he caught up to Zehan.
"There's been a complication. I'm riding ahead. I'll see you in Murai," and galloped away.
————————
Dusk came and went by the time he reached Murai. Ryas rode straight for the Inn on the edge of town.
"I need the entire Inn and a doctor right away," Ryas dropped a bag of gold coins onto the counter.
The attendant swiped the bag faster than a thief.
"Yes, right away?" He looked at Ryas.
"Lord," Ryas answered.
"A doctor might take some time to get here, but my Mother is our family healer. Maybe she could look at your wife before the doctor gets here?" The Attendant offered Ryas.
Ryas agreed to the Attendants offer and wanted Yuliah seen right away. From her screams and face earlier, he knew her injuries could be internal. The Attendant showed Ryas to their room, where he laid Yuliah. After a few minutes, a knock came from outside.
"My Mother is old, but she studied the healing arts and used to be our town doctor until her knees went bad, but she's still very aware. I'll wait outside for her," the Attendant left.
A short, thin woman with graying hair made her way towards the bed, "What happened to your wife?"
"She fell," Ryas answered.
"Fell from where? The sky? The roof? Your beatings. You need to be more clear, Son," the old lady quipped.
He'd forgotten how sharp tongue these older women could be and gave her a condescending look. "She was thrown from a horse."
The old lady brushed Yuliah's hair aside. "What a beauty, you got yourself," and turned Yuliah's face side to side. "Her face looks familiar. Is she from the woods?"
"The woods?" Ryas turned to her. "You mean the Ethereal Forest?"
"Yea, the forest," she unbuttoned Yuliah's top. "Take her clothes off. I need to examine her body."
Ryas removed Yuliah's skirt and shirt. The old lady placed her head on Yuliah's chest and listened. "Hearts running fine," then moved her hand to Yuliah's breasts. She squeezed each one, "Are they always this tender?" She asked Ryas.
He was caught off guard and cleared his throat, "I'm not sure."
"Hmmmm," the old lady responded. Then slid her hands down to Yuliah's stomach. She spent a lot of time pressing, then pushing, and over again. "When's the last time she bled?"
"I don't know. Just a few hours ago on her forearms," he answered.
"Hmph..." The old lady pushed down on Yuliah's stomach right above her pelvis again. "Not that kind of bleeding."
Ryas' eyes widen briefly, "Oh," he breathed. "I don't know. Maybe two months ago."
She flipped Yuliah onto her back and ran her fingers up Yuliah's spine then pressed down on each part. "Backs fine," she said.
"She felt pain in her lower stomach. Could it be a ruptured organ?" Ryas asked.
"That's not it. Wait for the doctor to give you the final word, but your wife's gonna have a babe soon," the old lady said.
"Yuliah's what?" Did he hear the old lady correctly? Ryas' ears burned and a low hum drowned out the old ladies words.
"She's got a BABY INSIDE HER," she said again. "You put it there. Then put her on a horse. What kind of Man does that? Tsk... tsk... tsk..."
Shit! Yuliah's pregnant! Ryas heart dropped. What the fuck did he do? His hands went to her face but pulled back and over his chest instead. He turned to the old lady, "Will our child be all right?" He was an ass to her.
"I don't know. If she doesn't bleed after three days, she should be fine," the old lady shrugged.
"I need a moment alone with my wife. Please," Ryas told the old lady.
After the old lady left, he locked the door and ran towards the bed. He propped her up and drew the blade from its sheath. Ryas cut deep into his hand and pried Yuliah's mouth open. He made no calculations just straight guesses and squeezed as much blood as he could down her throat.
They can't lose the baby, and he couldn't lose them both.