Page 93 of The Queen and the Half-blood
“Two sixes,” he repeated with a shrug. “What say you?”
She stared at him for a few moments, her gaze drilling into his face. She then nodded, conceding, and glanced over at Roth. “What say you?”
The captain’s lips pursed as he studied Alar intently.
Alar let him. He was starting to enjoy this; maybe Liar wasn’t as dull as he remembered.
Finally, his gaze sharp with irritation, Roth nodded too. “What do you think, Cailean?”
The chief-enforcer rubbed his jaw, which was shadowed by dark stubble. “So, you both believe he’s telling the truth?”
“Aye,” Bree replied. “Do you?”
Cailean’s woad-blue eyes drilled into him. The man had a stare that could cut through flesh. Alar wasn’t intimidated though. If he were honest, he enjoyed challenging the chief-enforcer. He was a worthy opponent.
“All right,” Cailean muttered after another lengthy pause. “You’re telling the truth.”
Disappointed that he’d been as easy to dupe as the others, Alar handed him the cup.
Cailean lifted the lid. “Fuck,” he growled. “Two ‘ones’.”
Roth snarled something under his breath, while Bree eyed Alar, her expression cold. “Why am I not surprised you’re a good liar?”
34: VOICES IN THE RAIN
LARA WIPED THE rain out of her eyes and peered into the murk.
It was as if The Hag—the Goddess who presided over this time of year—had decided to turn against them. Halfway through their journey to Dulross, the weather had changed. Autumn plunged into winter. The Gales of Complaint roared in from the north, bringing sheets of icy rain. The foul weather slowed them down, and made their horses lower their necks, flatten their ears, and tuck their tails between their legs. The road had become a mire, and the supply wagons kept getting stuck, forcing the whole army to halt while warriors and wulvers strained to free them.
Dulross was less than a day away now, yet the harsh wind and driving rain made the fort seem far off. The rain had even soaked through Lara’s thick fur cloak. Her fingers were now chilled, and her teeth had started to chatter.
“You should take refuge in one of the covered wagons.”
Lara cast Alar a sidelong glance. Rain gleamed on his face, although unlike her, he didn’t hunch in the saddle. Years living wild amongst the wulvers had toughened her husband—but she wasn’t as hardy.
“There’s little point now,” she replied, even as she tried to still her shivering. “We’re close to stopping for the day anyway.”
That was true enough, although it was difficult to keep track of time when the weather was this bad, for they couldn’t follow the sun across the sky. All the same, their break at noon had been a while ago. And it appeared to Lara that the afternoon was growing steadily darker. Dusk wasn’t far away.
Shifting uncomfortably in the saddle, she cut a glance up at the leaden sky. Lighting the torches would be a challenge in this weather, even with fatwood.
Alar didn’t insist further. She liked that he didn’t push things with her. He’d never once tried to bully her into obeying him.
And despite that she was wet and cold, and her legs chafed from riding in the rain, warmth kindled deep in her breast. Her husband was arrogant, bull-headed, and frustratingly enigmatic, but he respected her wishes. Helistenedto her.
This journey had brought them closer. The rift between them was starting to heal. She looked forward to the evenings, after her attendants had withdrawn, when it was just the two of them. They’d sit by the brazier, cups of wine in hand, and talk quietly about the day.
In those moments, it felt as if they had a real marriage.
Maybe, eventually, we could—
Lara swiftly pulled herself up short. What was she doing?
She was a High Queen on campaign. Daydreaming about her husband was foolish.
Bristling with irritation at herself, she blinked the rain out of her eyes and took note of her surroundings.
She and Alar rode, side by side, near the head of the main body of the army. Cailean and Roth were a few yards in front of them, while Bree rode just behind. Skaal loped in easy strides alongside. Her long coat hung in wet, heavy clumps. She didn’t seem to mind the rain though.
