Page 29 of Silverbow
Enya scraped a hand along her arm. She studied the handful of wet earth in her palm and flung it at his head. He dodged, taunting as it spattered against the gate house.
“Liam Marsh!”
“Say your prayers,” Enya muttered.
Mistress Ashill marched toward them brandishing a wooden spoon.
“What under the light do you think you are doing? She might dress like a stable boy, but that is the future lady of the house you just threw into the mud.”
“Pardon, Mistress Ashill.” Liam bobbed his head.
“It’s alright, Mistress Alys, I’m unhurt.”
Liam bit back a grin when the plump housekeeper suddenly rounded on her. “You better be hurt, girl, to be riding around in a muck cart. What on Simdeni’s green earth are you doing?”
“I wanted a ride,” Enya shrugged.
“In amuck cart? We have a carriage, child. Next time, perhaps you will consider it when your own two feet fail you.“ She shook her head. “Riding around in a muck cart. Gods help us all. Go get yourself a bath before supper.”
***
Supper was the last time Liam had set eyes on Enya. Their nightly stones game was interrupted when his da called him out to keep an eye on one of the mares. He’d been up half the night waiting for Piper’s colt to arrive. He tumbled into bed at dawn to catch a few hours of sleep. When he finally rose for the day, the hands and stable boys were in full swing.
When morning stretched into midday, and Enya still hadn’t appeared to inspect the new colt, he grabbed Oslee Amcott by the sleeve. “Have you seen Enya today?”
The boy shook his head. Liam glanced to Arawelo’s empty stall. “Did you put Arawelo outside?”
“You know I don’t touch that beast,” Oslee huffed. “I figured Enya took her out. She was gone when I got here this morning.”
Liam waved him back to work and pushed open the tack room door. In the neat rows of saddles and bridles, one particular rack sat empty. A pit settled into his stomach. Lord Ryerson didn’t permit Enya to ride outside the walls alone, and even if she treated rules more like suggestions, that was one she generally adhered to.
Liam cut across the yard, hurrying back toward Piper’s stall on the east end. His da leaned against the wall, speaking with one of the hands.
“Did Enya say anything about going for a ride?” He asked.
His da shook his head. “Something the matter, lad?”
“No one has seen her or Arawelo all day, and both Farrah and Tyndar are still here.”
His da frowned. “Go check up at the house. Billi, come with me.”
That pit in his stomach only grew heavier when he realized she hadn’t promised not to do anything rash.
Light, Enya.
Renley
Renley sat in his study, pouring over his ledgers. He was determined to leave the books in good order for Del. Sacks of gold, silver, and copper sat strewn across the desk. All the wealth of Ryerson House sat before him, neatly sorted for the tax collector, six months of pay for the stable hands, and the rest divided up for his co-conspirators. A knock sounded on the study door.
“Come,” he called.
The door only opened a crack, and Liam poked his head through. “My lord?”
Renley looked up in surprise, but he should have realized it would be Liam. There wasn’t another soul in the house that would bother with manners.
“Come in boy, come in.”
Liam’s eyes widened at the small fortune spilled across his desk. The way he shifted anxiously from foot to foot, Renley wondered if he’d finally come to inquire after Enya’s hand. A week ago, he’d hoped the boy might. Now, he dreaded dealing a crushing blow, but he would do what he had to for Del’s sake.
