Chapter 4:  A New Day

The early morning sun started to peek out from the horizon, gently bathing the cave in its soft pink glow.  Tessa rolled over and pulled the blanket over her head.  It was too early to get up.  An assessment that, apparently, someone else didn't agree with, because she felt a hand on her shoulder, shaking her.

"Mmmm...five more minutes, Marta," she said, snuggling deeper into the blanket.

"Guess again."  Hearing an accented male voice instead of Marta's familiar tones prompted Tessa to peek out from under the blanket.  She was greeted by the sight of a wide-awake Duncan crouched next to her.  "Morning."

"Go 'way," she muttered, rolling over and burrowing deeper into her makeshift bed.

"Come on, Tessa.  Rise and shine."  Tessa found his ability to be so cheerful at such an ungodly hour extremely annoying.  When she didn't move, Tessa suddenly felt her blanket being snatched away by her newfound companion.  She sat up to try and grab it back, but Duncan was too quick.

"Fine.  I'll rise, but I refuse to shine."

He chuckled.  "Fair enough.  Want some breakfast?"  As she started to fully wake up, Tessa could smell something cooking over the fire.  Looking over, she saw that Duncan had a couple of fish turning on a spit.  Her stomach growled.  How long had it been since she'd eaten anything?

"When did you catch those?"

"Earlier this morning, while you were still snoozing away.  Thought you could use something a little more substantial than bread and cheese.  Help you get your strength back."

"My strength is fine...but I am pretty hungry."  She got out of her "bed" and took a seat next to the fire.  Duncan handed her a cup of coffee.  She held the cup in both hands and took a sip.  "Gracias."  Tessa watched Duncan pour some coffee in his own cup.  "So, Duncan, how long was I out for anyway?"

"You mean, after the..."

"Yes."

"I'm not sure...maybe a day?  All I know is that you were already dead when I got here.  A mutual friend of ours met me outside of town.  Told me everything.  Only thing left for me to do was dig you up and wait."

"That explains a few things...wait, did you say mutual friend?  As in our mutual is an immortal?  There's another immortal running around Santa Elena that I've been friends with?  Who is it?"

Duncan shook his head.  "Sorry.  He swore me to secrecy.  Trust me, if he wants you to know who he is, you'll know."

"Not even a hint?"  He shook his head.  "Fine, don't tell me..."  She glanced over to the fire and had to choke back a laugh.  "Um...Duncan?  I'm no expert, believe me, but I don't think the fish are supposed to actually be on fire."

Duncan raced over and pulled the destroyed breakfast from the flames. He shook his head. "Guess it will be bread and cheese after all unless you have some other ideas."

"Sorry, can't help you there.  Cooking and I don't mix very well."  As she spoke, she could see Duncan poking at the charred remains of their breakfast with a stick, as if doing that could somehow salvage the meal.  She gently touched his arm and gave him a reassuring smile.  "It's ok.  Whatever you have will be just fine."

"Are you sure?  I mean I could go back out and try to catch some more fish..."

"Si, I'm sure.  Besides, fishing would take too long and now that I'm awake, I'm rather eager to get to...well, wherever it is you were planning on taking me."

"Works for me."  Duncan went over to the saddlebags and retrieved the food.  They ate quickly, not wanting to waste anymore time than they already had.  As soon as they finished, they broke camp, and were back on the trail within the hour.

Tessa was unable to contain her curiosity any longer. She pulled her horse up beside Duncan. "Where are we going anyway?"

"There's supposed to be an abandoned mission somewhere near the coast."

Tessa arched an eyebrow.  "Supposed to be?  You mean, you don't know if it's actually there?"

"Of course I know," Duncan said, indignant.  "Our...friend told me all about it.  Would you just trust me?"

Tessa thought a moment. "Wait, There was a mission on the coast that was destroyed by an earthquake shortly after it was consecrated. They relocated further inland. I am not quite sure where it is though."

Duncan nodded. "That must be the place then."

"Well, then how long is it going to take us to get there?"

"If we keep moving, we should get there by midday."

"That's good...say, Duncan, what exactly did our 'friend' tell you about me anyway?"

"Well, let's see...he said you were born here in California, the daughter of one of the area's more powerful dons.  Your mother died when you were seven, and your father sent you to Spain to receive an education.  You spent most of your life in the care of a gypsy servant.  A few years ago, your father died, supposedly in a riding accident.  You returned to California to claim your inheritance, and found out that the circumstances surrounding his death were rather suspicious.  When you learned of this, not to mention witnessed Montoya's tyranny firsthand, you took on the role of masked avenger.  A sort of modern day Robin Hood, as he put it. Just before I arrived, your luck finally ran out and Montoya had you executed for sedition against the crown, among other things."

"Hold it. Only Marta knew I was the Queen of Swords. Who told you? Did you talk to Marta?"

"No, our mutual friend told me."

"How would he know?"

"Even if Montoya hadn't unmasked you after the execution, he'd have been able to tell.  Immortals can sense pre-immortals. He sensed you as Tessa Alvarado when you first arrived and then again when he met you as the Queen of Swords. The chances of two beautiful pre-immortals in a small town like Santa Elena would be rare. Immortals are aware of their surroundings and people. He looked into your eyes. They sparkle like no one else I have ever known. Your eyes are quite alluring, if I do say so myself."

Tessa blushed. "So what's your story?  I mean, you seem to know an awful lot about me, and yet, I know next to nothing about you."

"Alright.  I was born in 1592 in the Scottish Highlands, in the village of Glenfinnan, on the shores of Loch Shiel.  My father was the clan chieftain, and I was being groomed to one day take his place.  In 1622, my clan was in a battle with a neighboring clan, and I was killed.  But I didn't die.  My clan thought I was some sort of demon, so they drove me out.  I wandered around for two years, with absolutely no idea what had happened to me.  Eventually, I ran into Connor MacLeod, a clansman from my grandfather's time.  There was an old legend about him, that he'd been killed in battle but somehow came back.  The elders used to tell the story to the children, to scare them into being good little boys and girls.  I thought it was an old wives tale, until I met the same fate.  Anyway, Connor found me and taught me everything I needed to know to survive as an immortal, just as I'm going to teach you."

"Is Connor still around?"

"Of course...I'm not quite sure where he is though.  Last I heard from him, he was fighting Napoleon."

"The war has been over for some time. Do you think he survived?"

"Knowing Connor as I do, he is probably hiding in plain sight. He is very sentimental. He married a mortal and lived with her until the day she died as a very old woman."

"I think I would like to meet him. Is he as charming as you?"

Duncan laughed. "He is more so, but I will deny saying it if you ever tell him."

Tessa grinned. "I will keep that in mind." She pulled back just a little and her eyes traveled up and down her companion. "Duncan, why do you carry a katana and not a rapier? Isn't it a dead giveaway of what you are?"

"It was a gift from a friend. I have used many swords, starting with a Celtic broadsword. I prefer the katana. It has more flair and I like the feel of it. Connor has one very similar to it."

"Will I need a new sword?"

"You only need one that you feel comfortable with. I would suggest that you refrain from wearing the Queen of Swords outfit."

Tessa grew silent as Duncan stopped. She watched him as he dismounted and took a long wrapped item from his saddle. He handed it up to her. Tessa eyes began to water as she unwrapped the package and recognized her father"s sword.

"I made a visit to your hacienda before I dug you up."

Tessa reached down and kissed Duncan on the cheek. "Thank you."

"It was my pleasure.  Just out of curiosity, where did you learn to use a sword anyway?"

"Senor Juan Torres.  He taught me."

"Juan Torres...I've heard of him.  He's supposed to be pretty good."

"Pretty good?  Are you kidding?  He's only the greatest swordsman in all of Spain."

"As I said, pretty good.  At any rate, I wasn't aware that he was in the habit of teaching young ladies how to fence."

"Well...technically, he isn't.  When I first asked for lessons, I went dressed as a boy.  Senor Torres didn't find out otherwise until nearly two years later.  I challenged one of the other boys in the class for insulting me, and I was injured in the fight.  Senor Torres wanted to take a look at the cut, but doing so would've revealed the truth.  So I was forced to tell him anyway.  He was angry at first, but I managed to persuade him to give me private lessons.  After all, I was one of his best pupils."

"Does he know what you've been doing over here?"

"I don't know.  But if he didn't before, he'll definitely be finding out soon.  I'd imagine that the news of my 'death' will spread rather quickly."  Tessa felt a tear slide down her cheek and turned away from Duncan, not wanting him to see her cry again.  Senor Torres was one of the few people who truly understood her, and now she'd probably never see him again.  Just as she'd never again see Marta, or Robert, or Vera, or anyone else she'd come to care about.  If only she'd listened to Marta's warnings that day, then maybe she'd be at home drinking wine with her friends right now instead of riding around the middle of nowhere with a virtual stranger.  Not that she wasn't grateful for Duncan's help.  But he couldn't change the fact that everyone she ever loved was currently mourning her death, that they were lost to her forever.  She felt a thumb on her cheek, brushing the tears away.  Duncan.  Damn.  She'd hoped he wouldn't notice anything.

"Are you alright, Tessa?"

"I'm fine.  Really.  We should get moving again."

Duncan looked at her skeptically.  "You sure?"

She nodded.  Duncan didn't look like he really bought it, but urged his mount forward anyway, with Tessa following suit.  They rode in silence for what seemed like forever.  Tessa's mind started to drift.  What would the world be like in a few hundred years?  Would she still be there to see it?  Had Duncan told her everything?  Was he holding something back?  Who was this "friend" he'd been to see?  Couldn't be Vera.  Duncan had said "he", and besides, Vera wouldn't have been mourning her if she'd known Tessa would rise again.  Grisham?  Possible, since he did save her head.  But then why bring Duncan in?  Grisham would be more than capable of training her himself if he so desired.  Montoya wouldn't be that friendly with anyone interested in helping her.  Her thoughts were interrupted when Duncan suddenly stopped and grabbed her arm.

"Look Tessa, we're here.  Told you I knew where we were going."

Turning her attention to where Duncan was pointing.  At first, all she saw were some cliffs.  Her eyes traveled up the cliff face.  At the top, there was a small adobe building that looked like it was ready to collapse at any moment.  "That's it?"

"Well, it may not exactly be the world's greatest building, but it's holy ground.  You'll be safe here while we train.  Come on, I'll race you to the top."

Without waiting for a response, Duncan spurred his horse forward.  A moment later, Tessa did the same.   Damned arrogant Scot.  If he wasn't so cute, I'd...ok, I don't know what I'd do, but I'd do something.  She looked up and saw him several paces ahead.  He must have felt her looking or something, because he stopped for a moment and waved with a cocky grin on his face, before surging even further ahead.

Damned arrogant Scot.

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