The Inheritance Paradox
Seventeen (Eugene’s Story)
AS DAWN CREPT through the foothills, Val slumped in Eugene’s arms as he held the reins and guided the horse along a game trail. The boy, Alex, nodded on his horse and jerked awake frequently, showing unexpected attentiveness to the trail. At one point he’d pointed the correct way when the trail forked.
Eugene could hear the babbling of a stream not far away and guided the horse toward it. It would be good to have fresh water near a campsite. He hoped they could find some shelter.
“Mother, this is it,” Alex said, not raising his voice more than was necessary to get her attention.
They picked their way along the banks and Eugene could see an indentation where a waterfall splashed into a shallow pool. He felt the shore gave them some shelter where they could sleep through the daylight.
“We can camp beneath the tree roots,” Val said.
Eugene slid off the horse and reached up to lift Val down. Then he turned to lift Alex from his horse.
“You did well, young man,” he said to the boy. “Your mother is proud of you.”
“My father…” the boy started. Then tears began to flow from his eyes. “He’s dead, isn’t he? All of them. The cook and servants and chamberlains and my friends. There is nothing left but us.”
“And a few horses. The one you rode, that we rode, and one that followed us through the night.
“Shadow is rightly named. She is always in the shadow of Strength,” Val said, stroking the horses.
“We can make a fire under the tree roots to stay warm,” Alex said.
No. Fires mean smoke and smoke makes you trackable. Better only have a fire at night.
“No fire,” Eugene said. “Unless you want the rebels to find us. In which case, I’ll take my leave.”
“Don’t go. Please,” Val said laying a hand on his arm. “Eugene, you are our savior and protector. Please don’t abandon us.”
“I won’t,” Eugene responded at once. “If I tie Strength to a shrub, will Shadow stay nearby? What is the name of this fine steed Alex rides upon?”
“Lightning,” Alex responded.
“I know you are not a horseman,” Val said. “We’ll take care of them. Are you able to make camp?” She sounded a little condescending.
“There won’t be much to make. We just need a place where we can sleep,” Eugene said. He went to the overhang where a tree’s roots jutted out over the shore and a small beach was relatively dry. He cleaned large stones and branches from the space beneath the tree roots while Val and Alex tethered the horses. Eugene pulled a light blanket from his pack.
“Where shall we sleep?” Val asked looking at the bare ground.
“Use your packs as pillows. Unless you have more blankets in them, you can use mine. I’ll sit up,” Eugene said.
“No,” Val said. “Lie with us. We will not take your blanket and leave you to sleep cold. I will hold my son for warmth, and you can… lie next to me.”
“I will respect your person,” he said.
“It would not be the worst thing that could happen. That is already past. If you had not come along, we would both have been killed. I would probably have been raped as well. I yield myself as your spoils.”
Perfect! She’s a willing partner.
“I will not extract payment in any way,” Eugene huffed, partly to Val and partly to Galahad. “I did not bring you to the wilderness to rape you.”
They settled together on the ground and Eugene spread the blanket over them. It was only big enough to partly cover them. He made sure the boy was covered and he held Val closely with a bit of the blanket to hold their heat.
“Where are we to go?” she whispered as Alex’s breathing quickly evened out into sleep.
“I’m not sure. It seems the safest direction at the moment would be to make our way to the other side of the mountains. We’ll simply be refugees. I’m sure there will be others. I’ll find a place to get you settled before I go,” Eugene said.
Val settled comfortably into his arms just as Alex was held in hers.
It was about midday when Eugene awoke. Val and Alex were still asleep. He looked at the two for a moment. She had a cherubic face, framed by soft brown curls. Some strands of hair were plastered against her forehead. She was slight and the lack of callouses on her hands spoke of an easy life. Her son bore an unmistakable resemblance. It would be a challenge to get them anywhere without being revealed as royalty.
A ready-made family.
He slipped out from beneath the blanket and went downstream a ways to relieve himself. Not knowing what else to do, he drew his sword and swung it experimentally a few times.
There are forms you should practice.
“Why don’t you show me? I might actually have to use this.”
The longer you stay here, the more likely that becomes.
Eugene followed instructions Galahad imprinted in his mind. He drew the knife and used it in conjunction with the sword, crossing them, parrying with one and stabbing with the other.
“Will you teach me? I need to protect my mother,” Alex said from nearby.
Eugene spun to see him standing a few steps away.
“That’s true. We don’t have a spare sword, so let’s get a stick about the right length for you to practice with until we can get you a sword.”
He looked at the nearby deadwood lying near the stream and chose a length that looked reasonably straight and not too thick for a small hand. He cut it to a reasonable length for the boy and handed it to him.
“I’ve learned by practicing certain forms, not by trying at once to fight. I think if you follow me first and then try it yourself, you will learn quickly,” Eugene said.
Maybe not as quickly as you.
“We’ll see.”
Eugene demonstrated each move Galahad instructed him in and then he and Alex did them together. Then they moved to the next move and practiced both together. Before long, they had both worked up a sweat.
“I need to bathe,” Eugene said, stripping off his clothes and leaving them in a neat pile with his weapons.
He stepped into the pool and found Alex wading in right behind him. They dipped and washed, then had a few playful splashes with each other.
“I wish to bathe as well,” Val said, standing on the shore looking at the boys.
“Ah! We should finish and leave the pool for you,” Eugene said.
“It is not necessary. We are accustomed to bathing together.”
She began removing her clothes as Eugene watched from the pool. Revealed, Eugene upped his estimate of her age. She had a maturity about her that had been concealed by her fear and exhaustion in the night.
Of course. She’s a mother. You don’t think he popped out six years old do you?
“I shouldn’t stare,” he said turning away. “My apologies. You took me by surprise,” Eugene said.
“I expect you will see as much as you wish. We are your thralls,” she answered.
“Val, I have already told you I won’t place you in servitude to me in any way. I am here to protect you and get you to safety.”
“For that alone, I would place my son and myself in your care,” she said, approaching. “I brought a bit of soap. Let me wash your hair. Alex, you, too. You need to have your hair cut shorter like Eugene’s.”
“Yes, mother.”
Eugene knelt in the water so he could dip his head. Alex stood beside him and Val scrubbed at both of their heads with the hard bit of lye soap. Eugene was exactly face-to-pubis with her and tried not to notice. Then she handed him the soap and knelt before him.
“Alex, bring Eugene’s knife from the shore.” The boy jumped to obey his mother. “Cutting my hair will help in my disguise as your serving woman.”
She’s right. Just don’t cut her.
“I suppose you are right. That makes for a good disguise, though I am sad to see your locks fall,” he said.
Collect them and bury them. You don’t want long strands of hair floating downstream to alert passersby that someone has had a massive haircut.
“Alex, please go to the shore, over by the roots and dig out a trench so we can bury your mother’s hair and yours.”
He set about cutting and collecting her hair. He was no hairdresser, but he at least got it about the same length. When he looked at her, he saw the tears flowing from her eyes.
“How old are you, Val?”
“I’m twenty-two summers. An old woman, I suppose. My husband gave me a child the first time we lay together, but he was satisfied with an heir and did not return to my bed once I was known to be with child. My hair was not cut since before we were married,” she said. She cut her son’s hair herself before they all dressed. “I am sad that my husband died, but we have only lived together as parents of our child, not as husband and wife.”
“What do you want now?” Eugene asked.
“I want a husband and children so that in a future time, we can return to claim our rightful place.”
“You know the likelihood of ever reclaiming your throne is remote at best.”
Impossible.
“Yes. But what do you think of the likelihood of my finding a husband and father for my children?”
This is your chance.
“It would seem probable.”
“I am too old for most men, but you seemed to like what you saw when we bathed. We should travel as a family, not as an unrelated man with a woman and child. Do you have objections to becoming my husband since you reject me as your thrall?”
The chance of a successful marriage is remote. However, the chance of breeding her is very high.
“There are things we need to discuss. Perhaps we can talk as we ride,” Eugene said. “I have responsibilities that I will need to discharge eventually. It will require me to leave.”
“Men leave their wives all the time. You might need to go to war, or be sent on a journey of months, or even years. Nonetheless, I will have you as husband and bear your children.”
“I will consider your proposal. For now, we should continue to put miles between us and your former home.”
They dressed, packed their limited items, and mounted. Alex was skilled at riding Lightning, even without a saddle. Rather than each ride one of the horses, Val was very clever about tying their packs across the back of Shadow. They rode Strength together and the mare followed faithfully along.
The farther they traveled, the less concerned they became about pursuit from the rebels. They were concerned about encountering brigands, but mostly they just came in contact with others who were moving westward at their own pace. They began to travel in the daytime and huddled together for warmth in the mountains at night.
Each day, Eugene began with exercising with his sword and knife, and teaching Alex the moves. He was becoming very fond of the boy. And more than fond of his mother.
“You know I am not from near here,” he began as they rode.
“You seem like a foundling who is capable but doesn’t understand his world,” Val suggested.
“That is very near the truth.”
You aren’t going to try to tell her about time travel again, are you?
“I come from a very different world. I find much of what I experience here to be strange. While we are the same in many ways, one day I will return to my world and it will break my heart to leave you,” Eugene said.
“You speak as though you know a lot about broken hearts,” Val said.
“Yes, I think so. I loved a girl once. We were young and believed we would be together forever. But we were separated by circumstances we could not control, and before we could return to each other, she died.”
“In childbirth?”
“I don’t know the cause of her death. I don’t think it would be childbirth. That is rare in my world.”
“When I married Yuri, I was fifteen. I believed I would be with him for many years. He lay with me only a few times and then left for other pursuits. He liked the boys in his company. When I confirmed I was pregnant, he acted proud but never returned to my bed to plant another child,” Val said. “I no longer expect to mate for life. At least not for my life. Men are not that dependable.”
“You may be right about that. I certainly wasn’t dependable in my world. I thought I was above the temptations that ruin relationships, but I proved myself false. It is why I am reluctant to commit to a woman.”
“Do you have a woman in this world?” she asked.
“Uh… No. I guess not.”
“Then there is no falsehood in being my man.” She glanced over at her son, riding beside them. “You are very good with Alex. He is just at the age when he needs a reliable man to guide him.”
“And when I leave?”
“He will understand. I will guide him through that.”
It took three weeks to traverse the mountains on their winding path. It was slow going because they had to hunt for food as well as travel. During all that time, Val chose to ride in front of Eugene on Strength with her son on Lightning beside or in front of them and Shadow loaded with their packs following behind.
“What is that?” Alex asked suddenly, pointing to the west.
“Ah. That is the sea,” Eugene said. “It is a great body of water that people sail huge boats on.”
Not as big as all that. Check your watch. We’re in the early thirteenth century.
“I knew there was a large sea east of Baldara. It was not so far as this one. Does the sea surround the land on every side?” Val asked.
“Hmm. In a manner of speaking. But the land goes on for many miles. This is just a segment that is between two fingers of the sea, so to speak. In my world, I think this is called the Adriatic. It could be something different, though,” Eugene said.
He held an arm around Val, holding her close to his chest. They had become quite comfortable touching each other. He held her at night and there were times when he found his hands intimately caressing her. Somewhere along the line, he had decided he would become her husband. They had no opportunity to consummate their relationship yet, but Val had made it clear she was willing at any time. Eugene didn’t want to start something where Alex might see them, and that meant at any time.
“We should find a place near the shore to settle. Maybe not right up to it, but a few miles inland,” Eugene suggested. “We might see actual villages now.”
His words were prophetic. The next day, they came to a settlement at a crossroads large enough to have an inn.
“My family requires a room and hot meal. If available, a hot bath as well,” Eugene said to the innkeeper.
“And how would you pay for such consideration?” the innkeeper asked.
Eugene dug in his bag for a gold coin and set it in front of the innkeeper. The man examined it and tested it with his teeth before nodding.
“Three nights with meals and baths,” the innkeeper said. “And stabling for your horses. You should not flash such wealth around. The men here now are honest and known to me. We do occasionally have less savory types, though.”
“Well, my wealth has now been transferred from my hand to yours,” Eugene said. “We have traveled far and have nothing more than the clothes we carry. We are very weary.”
The innkeeper led them to a room with a bed and a cot for the boy. He told them he would have a bath prepared while they ate. The room was not elegant, but it was clean and a servant built a fire in the fireplace to heat bath water.
The little family ate in the common room and Eugene made up a tale of having been ousted by marauders east of the mountains. Val was amazed that he could communicate. She had not understood anyone they met since they left Baldara. Galahad kept supplying the words for Eugene as he thought of what to say and translated in his head when others spoke.
After a good meal, Val and Alex went to the room to bathe while Eugene checked on the stabled horses and made small talk with the stableboy.
“You have no saddles?” the young man asked.
“When we fled, we had no time for such luxuries. We barely had lead ropes,” Eugene said.
“Are such marauders common where you come from?”
“People are displaced from one place and take it upon themselves to conquer someone weaker. When they come upon a poor farmstead, it is easy to drive out the owners and make the place their own,” Eugene said.
“You do not look weak,” the man said. “I can find you saddles and tack if you want. Even a pack saddle.”
“If such things do not cost a king’s ransom, I should be grateful.”
Eugene left the horses in the care of the stableboy and went to his room where Val was tucking Alex into the cot. Eugene kissed his son on the forehead and wished him goodnight. Soon the boy was sleeping.
Val had already stripped out of most of her clothes and began undressing Eugene. It was the first time they had been fully naked since their night at the waterfall. Val urged Eugene into the tub and began washing him lovingly. He pulled her into the tub to join him and they washed each other.
The washing turned to caresses and soon, they were kissing. Val had been as inexperienced with kissing as she was with sex. Eugene took his time teaching her and soon the water had grown cold. They dried each other with a bath sheet and then slid beneath the blanket to resume their loving.
Eugene had experienced a few women by this time of his life. Three in his own world and half a dozen when he traveled. He had learned a little about pleasuring his partners. Val was shocked when he kissed his way down her body, pausing to suckle at her nipples and then move down between her legs.
“What? What will you do there? It is dirty!”
“We just bathed, and I was sure to wash this as well as the rest of you, my dear. A woman should enjoy lovemaking as much as a man.”
“Really?”
This could change women’s history.
Val shook with the sensations washing over her body and grabbed a wad of blanket to stuff in her mouth so she would not wake her son. Only after she had found release, did he move up between her legs and insert himself. The passion mounted and both found release again.
“I did not know women found pleasure in the act of coupling,” Val panted. “I thought of it as something to be endured in order to have children. I find now that it is something to be anticipated and enjoyed. Oh, Eugene! How frequently can we do this?”
“It takes a bit for me to regain my tumescence, but we can enjoy touching each other and kissing as often as you like. I should be able to repeat our entire experience again before morning. Then perhaps once a day,” he said.
That’s hopeful!
“I will never get anything else done,” Val giggled as she kissed him again. “I shall simply be available for my husband any time he is able!”
Please feel free to send comments to the author at devon@devonlayne.com.
