Page 70 of The Queen and the Half-blood
A groove formed between Bree’s eyebrows. Clearly, that wasn’t the right answer.
Her warder was so serious these days. Lara missed the banter they’d once shared and Bree’s wry sense of humor. Their relationship had developed a formality she hated, although she didn’t know how to bridge the distance between them.
It didn’t help that Lara could focus on little but her upcoming campaign. They were just a day or two from departing now. Even her overkings’ treachery couldn’t distract her from it. “He’s surprised me at times,” she admitted then.
Bree cocked an eyebrow, inviting her to elaborate.
“He was gentle on our wedding night.” She cut her gaze away, her cheeks burning now. “He’s often busy training his wulvers, but when we do spend time together, he listens to me. You’ve seen how he backs me up in council meetings. He’s clever, Bree. I’m learning much from him.”
Her friend paused before answering, “Just be careful. Youdeserveto be treated well. Don’t let gratitude override good sense.”
Lara’s heart started to race as she turned back to Bree once more. “Is that what you think I’m doing?”
Bree grimaced. “I know how exhausting it’s been for you … to shoulder all this alone. Alar will be only too happy to help … to make himself useful. Remember who he is though. The man’s slipperier than a bog wight.”
Queasiness churned in Lara’s belly. Bree’s words were cynical, but was she right? Was she that starved of attention that she wasn’t seeing things clearly? Was she letting the pull between her and Alar blind her?
“I will be wary,” she assured her friend. “I understand our marriage is nothing but an arrangement. He’s using me to give the wulvers the freedom they deserve … but I’m using him too.”
Bree nodded slowly. Worry flickered in her eyes, and her lips parted, as if she wished to say something else. However, she didn’t.
Lara glanced up at the sky, her brow furrowing. “We should get inside,” she murmured. “It looks as if a storm is on its way.”
A pause followed, and when Bree replied, there was an edge to her voice. “That’s not bad weather.”
Lara stiffened and looked closer. Bree was right. At first, she’d thought it was dark, swirling clouds that approached from the west. Yet there wasn’t any wind this evening. And when she narrowed her eyes, she swore she could see winged shapes, long, trailing hair, and snaking limbs.
Her heart jolted, and she drew her fur cloak tightly about her.
“Right.” Bree took her arm firmly. “Inside.”
The two women descended the steps from the wall, where the guards had just lit a line of braziers. Usually, the sentries would stay outdoors and keep watch overnight, but once the braziers and torches were all burning, they too would take refuge inside.
Lara crossed the yard beneath the walls, noting the hurried step of the servants and slaves finishing their chores. No one wanted to linger out here any longer than they had to.
They were climbing the steps to the broch when a shriek ripped through the air.
Lara’s step faltered. “So soon?”
“Aye.” Bree linked her arm through Lara’s and quickened her step. “It’s not even sunset, and they’re on their way.”
The guards within nodded to the High Queen and her warder as they stepped into the entrance hall.
“The Slew are coming early,” Bree informed them. “Make sure everyone’s inside and then secure the doors.”
The guards hastened to obey, and Lara and her warder made their way into the hall.
“My Queen.” The chief-seer rushed up to Lara, green robes swishing. She halted, wondering if he had discovered the cuckoo in their nest yet. As Alar had suggested, she’d spoken to her seer, and he’d set about ‘interviewing’ the broch’s residents. So far though, no one had raised his suspicions. “I’ve just cast the bones … and they have a warning.”
Her belly flipped.Great.
She was just about to question Ruari when Alar entered the hall and strode toward her. Their gazes met as he approached, and Lara’s racing pulse settled a little. His presence often steadied her—but recalling her conversation with Bree on the walls, her spine stiffened.
She needed to be warier.
“The broch is secure,” he announced. “Although it’ll be a wild night.”
Cailean, who’d just entered the hall with Skaal and Roth, snorted. “Aye … the fuckers are circling the broch like crows as we speak.”
