Lineage of Zeal, Book One: Rosemary

Chapter Seven: Riverside Reconciliation

Rays from the midday sun pierced through the foliage above, causing Rosemary to groan at the new irritation. She shielded her eyes from that annoyance with a raised hand and, upon moving, discovered another; pressing into her back was something rough and knotted. It was then that she realized that she was not where she last remembered being, and she bolted upright, only to fall to her hands and knees when a sharp pain stabbed the space just behind her eyes with blinding fury. She released another groan and flopped onto her back at this pain, and as she did so, footsteps approached her position, crunching crisp leaves.

"It is much too soon for you to be moving, my dear lady. Rest easy, knowing that I remain by your side until you recover."

Rosemary spread her fingers over her face just enough to allow a single eye to view the voice that addressed her. She knew the voice to be Courtney, but she willed that it be someone who only sounded like her perpetual annoyance.

But her eyes betrayed her will. Leaning over her was the shirtless prince. His wiry body glistened in the afternoon light, and his wavy golden hair hung past his face, dripping water on the ground below.

"Get out of my face," Rosemary growled. "I don't have time for you."

"You have time only to recover," the prince said, standing straight. "After that, we shall—"

"Courtney."

"Yes, my dear lady?"

"Since I'm not to move, could you do something for me?"

"Anything, my dear lady."

Rosemary stretched the hand not covering her face toward the sky. Her fingers arched like the talons of an eagle descending upon its prey. "Could you put your neck right here? I'd be most appreciative if you could do that for me."

Courtney bent over Rosemary with his hands on the hips of his topless figure. "I understand your wish to caress my enchantingly beautiful body, but you must heed my advice if we are to continue pursuing your son."

At the mention of "son", Rosemary sat upright once more. The pain behind her eyes was no less than before, but this time she fought it and remained in a seated position. She sat like this, unmoving because of the pain, until Courtney knelt next to her, pressing her to lie back down. However, once the prince was at her level, Rosemary pounced him, pinning his topless form to the dirt, leaves, and twisting roots beneath them.

"Where is he? Where's my son?" Rosemary asked through teeth gritted against the growing pressure in her head. "You know where he is?"

Courtney sighed and did not resist as Rosemary held him still against the cool earth. "Wonderful. Now I will have to take another bath in the river before we can depart. You only serve to delay us with your actions, my dear Lady Rosemary."

"River?" Rosemary's grip on Courtney's shoulders relaxed the slightest bit. And then she noticed for the first time the sound of rushing water behind her. "You mean river as in water. Moving water. That you can't see the bottom of."

Courtney rolled his eyes. "Whatever else could be meant by the word?"

Rosemary's hands were no longer gripping the prince. Instead, they trembled ever so slightly upon him. "Was I in that water?"

"But of course. How else was I to save you from that flaming ship you were hell-bent on destroying?"

Rosemary sat up upon Courtney's midsection looking somewhat dazed. "I was in the water."

"Yes, into which I brought you and out of which I carried you. How else do you suppose we ended up downstream of Avendale? Now, if you would kindly alter your posturing upon me. I appreciate the enthusiasm with which you wish to thank me for being your savior, but I must wash this unbeautiful filth from me before I, well, what I would do is unimportant."