“What do you want here?”
The deep voice so startled her that she jumped in fright, stumbled and fell, her backside hitting the ground hard.
With her elbows braced on the ground and her bottom throbbing, she stared up at a tall man who was so thick with muscles she wondered how he could move. And his face? She had to blink and look again. His face would win no heart, his nose appearing to have been broken more than once. Scars mapped his face and bald head in a mismatched fashion, and the corner of his lip looked to be missing, though Reena had to admit he had compelling eyes, soft blue like the sky on a perfect spring day. His clothes were clean and finely stitched, their colors dark. His boots were fine leather, and the only weapon he carried was a knife tucked in the scabbard attached to his belt.
“Are you deaf?” he asked loudly and pointed to his ear.
She shook her head and hurried to her feet, feeling much more confidence on them than on her bottom. At least she thought she would, but when she reached her full height of barely two inches past five feet she realized she did not even reach the man’s chest.
“What do you want?” he demanded.
If he could demand, then so could she. She was on a mission, and her fears would just have to be ignored. She spoke up. “I have come to speak with the Legend.”
The large man snickered, grinned and then broke into a fit of laughter.
“When you finish finding my request humorous I suggest you pay it heed, for I am not leaving here until I speak with him.”
The man stopped laughing and stared at her. “That sounds like a demand, and he does not take well to demands.”
“I am here to barter for his services.”
The large man looked her over quickly and shook his head. “What could a young lad like you offer the Legend?”
He thought her a young lad, but that had been her intention when she’d donned the garments. It had worked. Her weight loss and her meager height served her disguise well, but she did not wish to deceive this man, only those who would mean her harm.
“Do you have a hearing problem, lad?” the large man nearly shouted.
“Nay,” she said quickly and removed her cap, letting her long black hair spill past her shoulders.
The man’s face turned bright red, and he sputtered in an attempt to talk.
Reena felt guilty for causing him unease. “I meant no deception; it was for my own protection I dressed as a lad, my intentions being to travel here and offer my mapmaking skills to the Legend.”
With his face glowing red, the man asked, “Mapmaking?”
“Aye,” she said quickly and set her bundle on the ground to pull out one of the maps she carried with her. She handed it to him. “See for yourself.”
The man took it from her and looked it over. “You mapped this area?”
“My father mapped the area on a visit here. I copied his details and added the ones he spoke about when telling of his journey, but I have personally mapped places myself.”
“It is done well.”
“Thank you.” Reena smiled, proud of her skill.
“But how do I know that is why you are truly here? Many seek to meet with the Legend and not all with good intentions in mind.”
Reena took the map from him and stuffed it in her bundle. “Do I look like someone who could cause the Legend harm?”
He looked her over while rubbing his chin. “You are a scrawny lass, but appearance can deceive.”
“I can assure you my only motive is to secure his services to help my village in exchange for my mapping skills. I mean him no harm; I give you my word of honor on that.”
He nodded. “I will accept your word, but I warn you, a high price will be paid for any deception.”
“I wish to deceive no one.”
He introduced himself. “I am Thomas.”
“Reena,” she said and shared a quick handshake with him.
“I know not if he needs a mapmaker, but that is for him to decide. I will take you to him”—he paused, and his smile challenged—“that is, if you have the courage to face the Legend.”
Reena shoved her black hair beneath her cap. “Lead the way.”
They reached the keep as dusk appeared on the horizon. Her legs were tired, having to take several strides to match Thomas’s one large stride, but she complained not. She kept pace no matter how tired she felt, though at the moment she wished for a pallet of any kind to lay her tired body on.
The stone wall that surrounded the castle grounds stood a good eight feet or more. Reena and Thomas crossed a thick wooden plank with heavy chains attached to each side; once raised, it would make the castle impregnable. Reena tilted her head back as she passed under the portcullis and admired the skilled craftsmanship.