Page 27 of Tusks & Saddles
“We should lay a trap for him.” Roger rounded Boone, Killer stomping his obsidian hooves into the ground with ire.
“If he’s smart, he’ll take his boy not showing back up as a bad sign and stay away.” Boone searched for Willamina, but she was standing with one of the ranch hands that joined them to help guide the cows in.
“Simon’s not that smart.” Roger hopped off his horse, dusting off his hands.
“Oh, I hope beyond hope that boy is smart. Because if not, I’m going to be cleaning his blood off my armor, and we’ve got two long weeks between us and home. Long time to be riding in dirty armor.” Boone and Roger shared a knowing look before they broke away to finish up with the herd. It was slow but steady. Soon thelead ranch hand scribbled a number against a parchment. A wax seal was pressed to the bottom and both the guard, Will, and the counter signed off on the count.
We did it. Pushed a whole herd of cattle and didn’t lose a single cow. Thank you for the blessing, my lady.
The sun was bright over their heads, and he imagined it was his goddess smiling down at him. She sprinkled the whole stronghold with her glittering affection, leaving the walls warm as they passed through it. The first stop was the treasury to cash in their cattle bond. The next was an inn for the night. Then the last stop was a real bed.
“I can’t wait to brush my teeth in a real sink again,” Will moaned, ruffling her hair with her fingers as the three walked through the massive gate.
“A shower that also doesn’t come with fish running into my ass would be nice,” Roger chortled, glancing back at Killer. The horse walked behind him with a swishing tail. “Though someone likes catching fish fresh.”
“Your horse part bear or somethin’?” Boone snickered. They managed to break free of the crowd of people weaving through the southern end of the stronghold. A main cobblestone road led up into the main portion of the stronghold, out of the stables and food storage. While the southern end always smelled of apples, hay, and sunshine…it also distinctly smelled of horse shit too. Thankfully, only the horses for those working or living in the southern end stayed at those stables. They were staying at one of the inns for Paladins, which came with nicer stables, good food, but also meant the climb from the gates to a nice bed was a bit of a trek.
“Killer got his name for a very specific reason,” Roger cackled, a hand to his belly as he leaned backward into the laugh. Peoplefilled the streets, the smell of baked bread finally covering up the overwhelming stench of barn animal. Soon they could hear the life that filled Parandor over the honking of geese or snorting of pigs. They passed one of the few fabric shops and Boone glanced inside. There was a mixture of ladies getting new dresses, or old pants repaired, and Paladins getting their uniforms pressed.
“He likes the thrill of the hunt.” Willamina smirked at Boone, stopping to also glance inside. He saw her eyebrows furrow at the strange mix of floral fabric.Times have changed at the Stronghold.Boone could recall bold, solid colors were the fashion the last time he visited. When Roger stopped to check on the pair, Will continued her thought, “Though, Betty’s been known to eat a bird mid-flight.”
“Mmm, nothing like feathers and tiny bones as a mid-flight snack.” Boone rolled his eyes.
“So, where’s this Paladin Inn you’re treating us too?” Roger beamed.
“The Admiral’s Arms, it’s up ahead,” Boone chuckled and nodded his chin to the right, taking a less traveled road. “It’s a street over from the treasury.”
They walked in relative silence, quipping about new shops that arose within the thick, fortified walls. Or they’d mention whatever they were smelling, making a note to grab some on the way back out. While Boone considered making them stay, hoping to catch Simon in the act…he couldn’t.
If Simon showed up at the stronghold, they’d arrest him for falsifying records and everything else Willamina told them he did. If Willamina saw him first, before they arrested him, she’d kill him. And while the other Paladins might understand her emotional response, she’d still be arrested. Boone didn’t have the same pull here that he would have if he hadn’t spent seven years out inIrongarde. The best course of action was to get a good night’s rest in, then the three of them hunt down Kaffa.
And prepare myself for the likelihood we go home without my best friend’s horse.If Simon was smart, a subject for which Boone was very biased, he wouldn’t show his face anywhere near the stronghold. If he was a fool, and continued on his way, they’d likely catch him pushing the cattle toward them.
Was it wrong to hope he arrives while we sleep? To hope he’s arrested before Willamina even sees him.If he was arrested, then Kaffa would be in the stables waiting for them as they left, and they’d be on their way home.
Boone didn’t imagine he would get that lucky, but a Paladin could pray, right?
Chapter Fifteen
Willamina
Money in her pocket and room keys in hand, it felt good to finish a push. Especially given how it started. She was able to finally unclench most of her muscles. At least the ones that were tight thanks to stress about the push. Unfortunately, the worry in her bones over Kaffa and getting home remained.
A loud whine of a waterlogged door to her left made her jump in her skin. She was currently trying to drown herself in the hot, steamy shower like a turkey. Hard water pelted her back till she was sure there would be bruises tomorrow. To her delight, a tall, broad shouldered, familiar orc with freshly scrubbed tusks stepped into the wooden box they called a shower.
“You sure there’s room in here for you, big guy?” she teased, shuffling out from under the spray.
“Mmm, I can think of a few ways to make room for my big shoulders.” He grinned, scooping her up by the hips. Will gasped as he pressed her back into the groaning wood. While it wasn’t cold, like stone or tile would be, it wasn’t warm like the boiling lava she had pouring out of the faucet. The water finally seemed to spray across his back. Boone hissed, twisting and twisting the knobs at the side. “Woman, are you trying to cook a lobster in here?”
“Poor baby, afraid of a little hot water?” she sneered. “You’re telling me your thick Paladin hide can’t take a little fiendish treatment?”
“I know there’s a joke in there somewhere about if I have any fiend in me and if I don’t, do I want some, but I can’t find it.”
Willamina tossed her head back, hair slapping against the wall, laughter bubbling up through her. It felt good to laugh. Even better to feel him rumble against her. Her legs wrapped around his waist and squeezing him tight between her thighs. Boone brushed her damp tendrils of hair away from her face. He cupped her cheeks and her laughter sobered to a soft, bubbling chuckle between them.
“See, I fit perfectly,” he hummed.
“Between my thighs?” She waggled a suggestive brow at him. Willamina draped her arms around his shoulders, twirling his hair around her finger. It grew damp almost immediately, sticking to her palm. Almost as if no part of him wanted to let her go.
