Page 182 of Storm of Bells
You don’t know your master very well,buddy.
‘Oh really?’ I clasped my hands together.‘Would you really be so chivalrous?’
‘Sure, no problem! Wait, just let me find youa nice, steady little mare…’
‘No need. I’ll take this one,’ I said and,leaping forward, swung myself up onto the black stallion’s back.The animal reared, nearly cracking the ceiling with its hoofs. Thestable lad jumped back, eyes wide.
‘A-are you sure, My Lady? He israther…temperamental.’
I grinned. ‘Just like me. Thank you so muchfor your help.’ Leaning down from the horse, I gently touched hischeek. ‘You’re my hero.’
The poor boy nearly keeled overbackwards.
‘Thank you, My Lady! Thank you so much!’
‘You’re welcome,’ I told him with a bigsmile, and prodded the stallion forward, guiding it towards thedoor. ‘Come, Karim, will you?’
‘Certainly,Sahiba.’
In a blink, we were through the stable doorand outside, riding down the path as if we nothing but honouredguests. A moment later, the stable boy appeared jogging besideus.
‘Um…I only just realized…how will my masterbe getting his horses back?’
‘Oh.’ I raised an eyebrow. ‘That’s a goodquestion.’
‘Err…yes. It is.’
‘Karim? How do you think His Lordship couldget his horses back?’
‘He could come and get them,’ Karimsuggested, cracking his knuckles, bloodlust glinting in hiseyes.
The stable lad went pale as a sheet. I tookpity on the poor fellow.
‘Or you could just accompany us until we meetup with my fiancé. Then you could take the horses straightback.’
The young man beamed. ‘That would bewonderful, My Lady! Where are you expecting to meet yourfiancé?’
‘Over there. It isn’t far.’
The young man sped up as I spurred the horseto a trot, and soon we reached the edge of the woods. I breathed asilent sigh of relief when the house disappeared out of sightbehind us. And another, not quite so silent one when I noticed atall, dark figure standing in the shadow of the trees.
‘Miss Linton.’
‘Yaah!’ Startled, the stable lad jumped abouttwo feet into the air. His eyes flicked around wildly until theysettled on the dark figure. Uncertainly, he glanced up at me.
‘It’s all right.’ Grinning like a loon, Iswung myself down out of the saddle. ‘No need to worry. We’re safewith him.’
‘A-are you sure, My Lady?’
I considered, and finally gave an honestanswer. ‘Mostly.’
‘I heard that.’ The dark figure steppedforward and, as light fell in slivers through the trees, they litthe face of Mr Rikkard Ambrose.
‘Nice to see you, too, Sir.’ Still smiling, Iraised a hand to wave. Unfortunately, it was the one that was justturning a nice shade of blue and yellow from punching too hardagainst the wall.
‘You…!’
With two long steps, he was at my side.Suddenly, I felt iron shackles encircle me—his arms! Hard, firm,and wonderfully familiar.
