The Veil

"He is like a meek dove fighting against injustice, while I come from hell itself."

***

The branches of the trees were an obstacle to his haste. That dark and pathless forest was taking its toll on him since he had no free space to ride in; even so, he did not stop. Aimlessly, with cold sweat all over his body and blood pouring from his side, he used what little energy he had left to escape. The branches hit him mercilessly and, thanks to the darkness, he would not know when they would hit his face, causing his eyes to burn; however, he rode at full speed with only one thought: to save his life.

The branches stopped his attack bringing relief to his face. He didn't know if he was hallucinating, but he thought he saw the end of the forest and a light. He stopped his gait suddenly when he saw a terrifying figure holding a small lamp, because of the shock and the quickness of the stop, the horse threw him to the ground and took flight. The horrifying figure approached him, so he feared and wanted to flee like his treacherous companion, but he had no strength; little by little the light was waning and he lost consciousness.

(...)

The body was strong, so it was difficult to carry him to the small hut. Was he dead? She took his pulse and hurried to lay him down. Once at his disposal, he tore the bloody shirt and, by candlelight, cleaned the wound and stopped the bleeding. She reached for one of the jars that were on a table filled with jars and containers of herbs, took a greenish powder from it, and covered the wound with the strange remedy. After cleaning and applying the contents of the container, she bandaged the narrow waist of the stranger.

Curious, she brought the candle close to the convalescent and saw a young and attractive face. His closed eyes showed thick black eyelashes. She ran her gaze over the man's face, fixing her eyes on his small and aesthetic nose, also on his fleshy and beautiful lips. She couldn't remember ever seeing such an attractive and elegant man. His skin was creamy despite the pallor from blood loss. His silky black hair shone in the low light, it was disheveled, though it was noticeable that he kept it well-groomed. She continued to shine the light until she reached his torso, firm and strong.

Who was this man? An angel who had lost his way, some royalty? Why was he wounded? Why had his horse abandoned him? And... How did he get there?! So many unanswered questions. She would have to wait for him to wake up. But... What would she do when that happened? He could be dangerous, perhaps an escaped felon. She shook her head with some trepidation. Maybe he was mugged on the road. Whatever happened might affect her, as it was obvious that this stranger was no ordinary person. His clothes were very fine and the watch, a ring on his right hand, and the thick chain around his neck were of pure gold.

(...)

The sun's rays that slipped through the holes attacked his eyes until they dissipated his sleep. His expression was one of fright and confusion, where was he? A pain in his side reminded him that he had been stabbed on the road. He lowered his gaze to his abdomen and widened his eyes as he noticed that he was bandaged and his chest exposed.

He scanned the place with his gaze and scrunched up his face as he realized how gaunt that attempt at a hut was. He couldn't deny the neatness and orderliness of its owner, but any breeze would blow the little house away.

'What a bad builder,' he thought with amusement.

His rescuer was a person of very low means, to be living in such squalid conditions. The "bed" was a pile of straws tied together with cloth, and on this lay a huge white sheet with a delicious scent of flowers. A brown quilt lay on his legs and in front of him was a long wooden table on a rock, simulating a small table. On top of it was a deep dish with a broth that had only vegetables in it, and next to it was a cup with what he assumed was tea. His attention was drawn to the small tablecloth that covered the wood, giving it a less poor and rough appearance. The only window in the hut was closed and under it was a small wooden table that limped with different jugs, bowls with rare powders, and a basket full of herbs. Amidst all the concoction, stood a candle inside what appeared to be a glass lamp.

His stomach growled and he eyed the broth warily. The person who rescued him must have left it there for him, but... Should he ingest food that a stranger prepared? His stomach growled painfully again and he thought it was no time to be fussy or suspicious, anyway, that person saved his life.

He sighed contentedly and with a bit of joy despite his circumstance, for both the broth and the tea were delicious; and, finishing it all, had comforted him.

There was something about that mysterious place that gave him tranquility and a sense of well-being. Suddenly, the peace that settled him for another sleep session was broken when he perceived a shadow. On the one hand, he was happy to be able to thank his savior for the great gesture, but on the other hand, he feared that this person was someone dangerous. The silhouette of a figure wrapped in rags caught his attention, but before he could discover who it was, the person backed away with haste and intention to escape or hide, an action that seemed very strange to him.

"I know you're there, it's ridiculous for you to hide. Who are you and why are you hiding in your own house?"

Frustration filled his chest as he received no answer. He knew he was there, he could see his shadow.

"Listen, I didn't come to your house, you brought me here and cured me, believe me, I won't hurt you," he insisted.

He remained expectant without taking his eyes off the door waiting for a reaction; then, the shadow moved, and, timidly and hesitantly, the image of a person entered the deteriorated place. He stood transfixed for a moment looking at that... Woman?

He knew he was being rude and impolite, looking at her as if she were a rare thing, but that female had impressed him.

He opened and closed his eyes several times without getting out of his impression. It was then that he remembered the reason why he had fallen off his horse. Both he and the animal had been frightened by the strange and careless figure of that woman, who was looking at him in dismay and embarrassment at that moment.

He could not say she was ugly, since she wore her face hidden under a red veil, but, there was a reason she covered it that way, wasn't there? If he were to judge by the rest of her appearance, then the verdict would be an unattractive woman who should take more care of her appearance.

Her long hair was surrounded by that veil, but, even so, it was notoriously careless and tangled, he could compare it to a bird's nest or something like that.

Her figure was difficult to appreciate since she was covered in rags as if she were a beggar, well, given the circumstances in which she lived, one could say that she was. Despite her facades, there was something about her that was sparkling that he could not define. He lingered for a moment on her eyes, until he finally found something beautiful about her! He was captivated for a while with that beautiful hazel gaze, surrounded by big, brown lashes. According to her pose and the outline of her striking orbs, this was a young woman. He decided to break the silence when he sensed the discomfort of her hostess.

"Miss..." he tilted his face to one side, staring at her... "What is your name?"

"My name doesn't matter, what does matter and what I'm interested in knowing is how you got here," she answered coldly and rudely.

"Well..." he shrugged his shoulders, "I imagine you brought me here."

"You think you're funny?" she asked offended.

He frowned.

"Miss, it's the truth. You somehow dragged me here, but if you mean how I got to your grounds or whatever this place is, I ended up here by chance. I was on a business trip with my men and we were attacked on the road, there were too many of them to defend ourselves and come out unscathed, we put up a good fight, but they killed several of my companions and as you can see, I was wounded in the attempt. The rest of us had to escape to our fate, I just rode to save my life without a fixed course. I got lost in the woods and then I saw you, my horse got frightened and the wretch ran away and left me stranded. Then I must thank you for saving my life."

"Your men must be looking for you," she reasoned more to herself than to him, completely ignoring the man's thanks.

"That's right."

"It will be difficult for them to find you since this place is hidden," she said, staring off somewhere.

"But they will. Who knows? Maybe my horse won't be so wretched after all and lead them to me."

She widened her eyes in terror.

"You mean they'll find this place?! Why on earth did you have to come here?!" she sputtered with an alteration.

"Why are you reacting that way?" he asked puzzled.

"I only ask that when they find you, please be discreet with this place." Again she ignored his question.

"Count on it," he answered with a skeptical look. "One question, and excuse my boldness, but... Why or from what are you hiding?"

2It's none of your business," he answered sharply. The man frowned at his gruff reply.

"Well, I apologize for butting in," he returned a little annoyed by her attitude, who avoided his gaze. 'How rude!' he thought, 'Could she be a criminal on the run from justice?'

The smell of chicken soup caused his mouth to water and his stomach growled restlessly and desperately to receive such a longed-for broth that, according to the aroma, promised to be a delight.

Three days had passed and his wound looked better and he could stand up, albeit with difficulty, but at least he could stand on his feet for a few seconds. Despite the squalor of the place, he did not complain about the treatment he received, which, although his hostess was not much to speak of, kept him well-fed, changed his sheets often, and helped him bathe. He was anxious to recover or, failing that, to be found by his men so that he would no longer be a burden for that woman who, besides looking after him and feeding him, had to sleep on the floor, since the bed was too small for both of them.

"It was delicious, thank you very much," he thanked her with that beautiful smile that made her tremble. She took the plate and put it in the improvised sink that threatened to collapse at any moment. She then approached him with her work tools and unbuttoned his shirt. The girl had bought some clothes for him, but she had not gotten the size right and they were all too big for him. Her brown eyes scrutinized the silent woman's every move with curiosity, and the tremors of her hands, even though she tried to control them, were very obvious. They were so close that she could hear his agitated heartbeat, the accelerated way he was breathing made her more nervous than she already was.

"Your wound looks much better, in a few days he will be out of pain and will be able to get up," she commented without looking him in the eyes, as she felt exposed to him when she did so.

"That's thanks to your care, you are very good with plants, you should work for a drugstore," he praised looking at her with an intensity that tightened her stomach. By accident, she looked into his eyes and instantly regretted it, since it was inevitable not to get lost in that beautiful brown gaze that expressed sweetness and honesty. Unlike her who hid hers for fear of being discovered.

He took her chin delicately over the veil that covered her face as if protecting it from the outside, he wanted to admire her hazel orbs a little more since he did not have the privilege of delighting with such exotic and beautiful eyes because their owner kept avoiding his gaze. She began to feel uncomfortable and naked before him, but she did not want to break the contact for some strange reason.

"Your gaze is beautiful, I should not deprive myself of this delight that your eyes provoke in mine," he examined her with intensity and a special gleam in his brown orbs. She felt her heart combine with her stomach to torture her, while her breath hitched and her hands began to sweat. They were so close she could smell his fresh breath, all of him was loveliness and delicious scent, not like the men she encountered in the market who didn't care about their hygiene.

"I must..." she tried not to stutter as she was cornered by that look that was taking away her peace, "I must go out to town, will you need me to bring you something?" she stopped abruptly, breaking eye contact suddenly and violently, he gave a half-smile when he noticed how nervous his proximity made her and then denied with head movements.

A week later...

"Not that it's the best of the best, but at least it won't fall on your feet," he said amusedly as he put the hardware away in a box. She was thrilled to see the sink fixed the right way and looked at the young man gratefully. He had recovered from his wound, not that it was completely healed, but it was closing.

"Thank you very much, Arthur, I appreciate it," she almost jumped with emotion while he smiled with satisfaction. It was rare to see her cheerful and to be able to give her even a moment of happiness made him happy. That girl was very mysterious and reserved. She did not show her face even once and did not give him her name either.

Several days passed. Although he must have been desperate to be found or finding his way home, the truth was that he didn't even think about it. The strange woman opened up a little more with Arthur and they had small banal conversations, although none of them had talked about his life.

Two weeks had passed since she had found him and his wound had completely recovered and apparently would not leave a scar, something that surprised him, since that wound was very deep. He was amazed at the woman's skill since not even the most renowned doctors in his town could have achieved that.

The night was cool and the dark blue sky shone with all the stars that could be seen in it, adding the majestic full moon that decorated the firmament worthy of appreciation.

"You are very skilled, you should go with me and put your knowledge into practice. You would help many people and have a life without scarcity," he sat down beside her. She was on a log that lay on the grass and served as a seat for him.

"No," she said flatly and hugged herself, "I could never live that way, I prefer solitude and tranquility."

"I would like to understand you, but I can't. Why live in such a poor and lonely condition? You are a young woman with great ability, it makes no sense for you to hide at the end of the world, could it be that you are running away from something or someone?"

There was a great silence. He took her right hand and squeezed it gently; its warmth and softness sent electric currents throughout her body. She didn't understand what she was feeling for that stranger, but no matter what kind of feeling it was, it would only stay in her fantasies, a man like him would never notice someone like her.

"Sam," she broke the silence capturing his attention, "my name is Sam," it was the only thing she said, and she did it with her gaze lost somewhere outside his. Arthur couldn't hide the smile on his lips. He lifted the cold hand he still held and left a chaste kiss on it. Sam felt all the skin that his beautiful lips touched burn, her heart was pounding and her breathing was erratic from the sensations that simple gesture provoked in her.

"Thank you for letting me know, at least I will have a name to remember, because Sam, it will be hard to forget you."

He shortened the distance between them, slowly, he stepped in front of her and caressed the edge of the veil that covered her face.

Why was she doing that? Why was she putting that barrier between them?

He imagined it must be hiding something very horrible, he was afraid to find out what it was, but no matter how dreadful what lay beneath it, he wanted to know what her lips would taste like. He had never met a woman as exceptional and peculiar as she was. All the females his age he knew were spoiled, useless girls who thought only of clothes, makeup, jewelry, and flirting with men promising to be a good marriage match.

He was lifting the veil little by little, but she stopped him by holding her wrist, her hazel orbs begged him not to do it so he nodded sympathetically.

"I'll close my eyes and I promise I won't open them, just let me uncover your chin, I need..." he looked at her with such intensity that she couldn't refuse. He closed his eyes and she took a deep breath when she felt his bare chin, then his lips were out in the open, but not for long. She was stunned at his boldness, still, she didn't want him to stop. The warmth of his breath on her mouth, the tingle on her lips as they were pressed to his, their breaths mingling; it was too much delight and she felt she would faint at any moment.

He pulled away embarrassed and a little disappointed, he knew he had passed the limit; however, she didn't claim him, so why didn't she reciprocate?

He still hadn't opened his eyes and held the piece of cloth without moving a muscle. He was afraid to cover her up and have it all remain that way, but he was also afraid to do it again. He was at a crossroads of whether to kiss her again or apologize for his daring when he felt his lips invaded by those of the girl who took away his peace. He could not help but growl at that pleasurable playfulness between their mouths. The kiss was slow and with great delicacy as if both were afraid to break the lines of prudence and modesty. The taste of her mouth and the texture of her lips were delicious and he could not stop tasting them. That woman had never shown him her face and he didn't care, he liked that sensation, he shuddered at her breath and her taste.

She began to hyperventilate as he licked his tongue and fiddled with bold movements inside her mouth with the slimy organ. It was too good to be true, and she felt desire for the first time. It was strange that a man like him would kiss her like that despite his man-scaring facades. She knew that this was more fantasy than reality, for once he was gone, she would never see him again. Perhaps that was the reason for his outburst, they had become very close in those two weeks, she was sure that if the situation was different and there was a chance of them seeing each other again, he would not have kissed her.

Arthur couldn't hold his breath any longer. He didn't understand why this kiss was provoking so many emotions and enjoyment, but he didn't want it to end. He didn't want to explain or excuse himself because he didn't regret anything; he had never enjoyed a kiss so much and his trembling hands were witness to the excitement that this was causing him; however, he wouldn't pass the line. He licked, sucked, bit, and fiddled with his tongue as if that mouth belonged to him as if nothing could be sweeter and more delicious. He pressed his forehead to hers and slowly broke the contact of their lips, released the veil, and the part that had been uncovered was tucked back into the thin fabric. He opened his eyes and connected it with hers so intensely, they were both speechless.

Several minutes passed as they held eye contact in silence, as if afraid to say or do anything that would ruin their earlier action.

"You won't sleep on the floor anymore," he broke the silence and she widened her eyes, "I will," he clarified.

"You don't have to, even if you've recovered, you're not used to sleeping badly. The discomfort of that bed is bad enough without having to put up with the floor."

"I refuse. I don't, but you do? I'm a gentleman, I won't let you sleep uncomfortably because of me, this is your house, I'm breaking in and invading your comfort," he said determinedly.

"You are my guest, I will not let you sleep on the floor," she insisted.

"Then we'll sleep together," he looked at her amused, but she widened her eyes.

"No!" she sputtered nervously, "We can't both fit anyway."

"Then, don't argue with me anymore," he said, getting up from the trunk and entering the shack. Once inside, he took the quilt she threw on the earthy floor, spread it on the floor, lay down, and tucked it in. She went inside and stood for a while watching him, let out a sigh of resignation, and lay down on the bed. Feeling the softness of it on her back again was very pleasant.

Another week passed and they never mentioned the kiss. The first few days after their outburst they avoided each other's gaze and spoke to each other with embarrassment, but as time went on they became very close and kept talking and laughing. He fixed up the hut as much as he could and helped her with the cleaning, fetched firewood and water from the river while she shopped in town. He had decided that he could not bother her anymore, so Sam investigated how Arthur could get out to the main road and from there find his way back to his village, which was a long way from where they were.

(...)

Sweats bothered his wounds and scratches, but what hurt the most were those offensive and malicious words. The pain was unbearable and the blood-stained his clothes.

"Nooo! Help! Nooo!!!" her desperate screams were not heard and her anguish did not let her think clearly, she only followed her survival instinct.

"You killed him!!!" her voice was heard as an echo and tears mixed with blood.

"Nooo!!!" she woke up upset with tears in her eyes.

Arthur was shocked to hear her scream and went over to her holding her hands tightly. She was more upset than the other times she woke up from her recurring nightmares. He covered her with his arms as she poured out her soul with great weeping.

Her heartbeat was so agitated and intense that she thought she could hear it. "Tun-tun, tun-tun..." The sounds kept repeating in her head as if she was being chased by those palpitations. She didn't know where she had gotten so much energy since her body was weak. Was it the survival instinct? She didn't know! She only wanted to achieve her goal: to escape for her life.

With her bare feet, ignoring the thorns on the path or the small stones that were embedded in his soles, she ran with all her strength and breath. She had to make it, she had to escape from that hell. The sweat, the bugs, and the strands of hair sticking to her skin were wreaking havoc on her escape. Her wounds stung and blood ran down her legs; she smiled as she saw the exit and then, everything was dark.

(...)

Sam woke up to the smell of coffee. She approached the small kitchen in surprise, where a smiling Arthur welcomed her with a cup of the exquisite beverage, which is why she stared at him strangely.

"You, making coffee?"

"So you can see that I am a good apprentice," he smiled showing his perfect row of teeth. She watched him like a fool and the memories of that delicious kiss flooded her mind. But thanks to the veil covering her face, he didn't notice her blush.

"I was investigating an exit that will take you to the main road, from there you can take the destination you want," he commented as she was examined by his beautiful brown gaze, which at that moment was covered by a hint of sadness; although Arthur wanted to return to his home and his responsibilities, there was a part of him that wanted to stay there with the strange woman in the veil.

"From the way you talk, this place must be very remote," he said, putting the cup back in its place.

"It is," she assured him. "That must be why they haven't found you."

"I only hope that's why and not that my faithful men have been killed," he replied with a snort, earning a quizzical look from the woman.

"I imagine you weren't with all tour men when you were assaulted? -"

"No," he interrupted her, "I have faithful men at home too, but I wasn't just talking about the ones who were assaulted with me.

"Why would the faithful men in your house be killed?" she asked between puzzled and intrigued.

"Let's just say that my life is a bit complicated," he replied with a blank stare.

Sam looked at him a little scared since the image she had of him up to that moment could go down the drain.

"I'm not a criminal or anything like that," he clarified, guessing her thoughts. Sam took a breath and went to put the cup back in its place, her heart began to pound intensely as Arthur held her hands and moved closer to her.

"I must..." she spluttered like a frightened puppy. "I must go and wash up."

Arthur nodded and before releasing her hands he left several kisses on them, causing her to hyperventilate.

"I'm going to miss you, Sam. I don't know what or who you're hiding from, but I can give you security at my house. I don't want to leave you here alone, I'm afraid something bad will happen to you."

"Arthur, thanks for the offer, but you don't know me well, how do you intend to take me to your house? I may be a criminal."

"I don't know what your past has been, I only know that you are a good woman who took a risk by saving my life. A bad person doesn't take such a big risk and wouldn't have minded letting me die."

She remained thoughtful for a while.

"Arthur," she broke the silence, "I've lived here for over a year, as you can see, I know how to defend myself. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

"It's okay. You are very special and you have given me a month of mental rest. I think I needed this, thank you for saving my life, Sam."

He hugged her tightly and sniffed her delicious scent of good grass and spices. From a distance, she looked like a beggar everyone would want to stay away from, but in reality, she was always clean and smelling of her herbs, despite her unkempt appearance.

(...)

Arthur went out to fetch enough firewood to leave a good supply for the woman before leaving. He had decided to travel the next day to the road, and then look for a way to reach his region. It was a long and difficult journey and the melancholy of leaving Sam there alone turned his stomach; nevertheless, it was time to return and put everything in order, for he imagined the disaster that his absence could have caused.

He passed near the pond where they used to bathe to cool off a little, as the heat was unbearable and he had already been carrying the firewood to the shack for several hours. He stopped in his tracks when he noticed that someone was there and hid behind a tree. His eyes shone brightly and his mouth emanated more saliva than usual. Who was she? Her back was perfect and she looked delicate with the long wet hair covering her. The young woman sank into the water and seconds later surfaced. Her hair moved to the sides and he licked his lips as he could see her fully uncovered back and those firm buttocks that were making an effect on him. But something else caught his attention, there were small scars on the delicate skin, as if it had been cruelly abused; he looked over to the shore and recognized those rags.

"Sam," he thought. He wanted to see more and it wasn't morbid or that his crotch friend was already excited, it was more than that. He wanted to know her, to understand her fear, he wanted to see her face. While it was true that he had many opportunities to do so, he never dared to break his promise. That was one of the conditions the woman set for him. He stood still in the expectation that she would turn around and he would be able to meet the delicious lips he had tasted weeks ago. He wouldn't be breaking his promise, this would be considered an accident and she didn't even have to know about it. The girl was turning away, as it seemed she would be looking for her clothes to go out. His heart was pounding and her breathing was in chaos. Soon he would know what was hidden behind that veil. Sam turned, but a loud call caused her to run to the shore in desperation for her clothes, just as he had turned at the sound of his name:

"Mr. Connovan! Arthur Connovan!" it was his men. They had found him!