Episode 10: Dreams of Love

"Calligena is so unlike this backward place!" Marcelle proclaimed, her eyes shining. "So many folk, so many wares, so many new ideas . . ."

Petros frowned. "'Tis a village like any other. I, for one, and glad to be home."

The senior swineherder was in a distinctly sour mood. He and Marcelle had been gone for six days, much longer than he had planned. Even the fact that Rosalyn was the proud mother of fifteen healthy piglets was not enough to bring a smile to his face. "I should 'ave been here," he had growled when Lexa gave him the happy news. "Only a moment of inattention, and all can go amiss.

Thanks to the faithful ministrations of Lexa and a visit from a healer, Gundar was able to walk again, though it hurt him to carry the heavy pails. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain in silence rather than admit the extent of his injury to Petros. Lexa made light of her contribution, giving the impression that she had done nothing more than assist with the farrowing.

"Princess Laesta was there, with a whole train of followers," Marcelle continued, avoiding her father's baleful stare. "'Twas wondrous! I would dearly love to live in Calligena forever!"

Gundar looked from daughter to father and back again. He had never seen Marcelle so animated. Something hung in the air, something they were in no mood to share. The little fool may be in love with some fop from the royal court, Gundar thought. Nothing else could adequately explain the joyous sparkle in her eye.

"The princess?" Lexa asked, raising an eyebrow. "What in the world was she doing in humble Calligena?"

"Some nonsense about the mud," Petros muttered.

"The hot spring near the village is said to restore youth," Marcelle said. "First you must be packed in the warm mud and wait until it bakes in the sun, and then have someone break it open and wash yourself clean in the water."

"Did you try it?" Lexa asked.

"I meant to, but there were too many ahead of me," Marcelle said sadly. "I wanted to wait, but Father insisted--"

"Two days of waiting!" Petros burst out. "Two days which could have been profitably spent here."

Marcelle's face crumpled. "You will take me back, won't you?" she pleaded. "Soon? I never want to grow old like that Laesta woman. She is nothing but wrinkles. Why she wants to marry again, I'll never know. What man would have her?"

"Never fear!" Petros said. "With her exalted station and fat dowry, she'll have no end of suitors."

Gundar leaned back, pretending to doze, watching Marcelle. She was much changed. Could it be -- could it be that she had sacrificed her maidenhead on the altar of love?

Lexa poked him in the ribs. For a moment, he feared that she had read his thoughts. "What is it?" he grunted.

"We must check the pigs before retiring," Lexa said.

"Very well," Gundar said, pushing himself to his feet. "Maybe we can go for a little walk afterwards. I never did see much of those woods."

"Are you well enough to take over the work?" Lexa said once they were outside. "I mean to leave tomorrow."

"Where are you going?" Gundar asked.

Lexa shrugged. "Calligena."

"Indeed?" Gundar asked. "What is there to see in Calligena?"

"I don't know," Lexa said. "But I have an uneasy feeling. If there be nothing amiss, I can always bathe in the mud in the hope of regaining my strength sooner."

"You could bathe with the sows right here," Gundar said.

Lexa laughed and punched him in ribs, leaving him gasping. He tried to grab her to retaliate, but she stepped back out of his reach, then darted in close and tripped him, sending him sprawling. Before he had the chance to get up, she was gone.

He searched for her all around the pig pens and even ventured a considerable distance into the woods. He found her at last in Rosalyn's pen, feeding the runt of the litter with a bottle of goat's milk. She looked so charming that his heart melted. He kept silent, knowing better than to disturb the nursing mother, and waited until Lexa gently tiptoed out of the pen.

"All is well," Lexa said in an undertone. "If you conduct yourself gently around her, there will be no problems."

Gundar took Lexa's hand. "Thank you. I know things would have gone badly without you."

"You're welcome," she said. She started to disengage her hand, but Gundar held on more tightly.

"I dreamed of you last night," Gundar said, his voice thick with desire. Even in the gathering dusk, hers was the face of a goddess.

"Gundar--" Lexa began. Before she could say more, he covered her lips with his.

He knew his mistake the moment they touched. He felt no softness, no answering passion. She pushed him away firmly, almost knocking him off his feet. He stood staring, knowing she could have done much worse to him.

"Forgive me," he muttered. "I seem to do nothing right."

Lexa paused before replying. "Gundar," she said, "You are far from home, and your heart is wounded. Allow yourself time to heal."

"And then?" he asked with sudden hope, fantasies running wildly through his mind.

"And then nothing," Lexa said. "I have my path, and you have yours."

"Can we not go questing together?" Gundar asked eagerly. "Arestasis would agree if you asked him. I saw how he dotes on you."

"Mind your pigs," Lexa said shortly. "These things are not mine to decide."

"But if he agrees," Gundar persisted. "If he agrees, will you go with me?"

"Perhaps," Lexa said. "But understand that to me you are merely a boy. A very likeable boy, but a boy nonetheless."

"Time will mend that!" Gundar protested, knowing he would have done better to be silent. Once again, he had bulled his way where he had no business.

Lexa looked at him with a frown, then smiled and shook her head. "I cannot find it in my heart to fault you for trying. But, I beg you, let this go, or you will spoil our friendship."

Gundar felt hot blood in his face, and was grateful for the dusk. "I owe you much," he said. "It was churlish of me to ask for more."

"If you truly wish to impress me," Lexa said with the severity of a school teacher, "put your pride aside and put your mind to what is set before you."

Gundar bowed his head. "It shall be done, Patrocula."

A smile tugged at the corner of Lexa's mouth. "And if you fail me, what shall the forfeit be?"

"If Petros does not give you a good report of me when you return, then you may wash your hands of me," Gundar said. "I can think of nothing that would sting more."

"Done," Lexa said. They walked back to the hut arm in arm.

Gundar lay awake long that night, upbraiding himself for his fickleness. How could he forget his beloved Lili so easily? Had he not promised to seek her in the land of the dead? He resolved to think of Lexa only as a friend.

When he fell asleep at last, it was Lexa who came to haunt his dreams, not Lili. He woke hot and sweaty, almost glad that the object of his temptation would be on her way before sunrise.