Page 24 of The Iron Dagger
Hara watched him with serious eyes. “How can I trust you?”
Gideon held out his hand. “Do what spells you must to make it binding if you have to. But I give you my word.”
Hara took his hand, and he clasped it. “Your word,” she murmured.
After she locked the bolt to the cottage, Gideon waited with crossed arms as Hara pressed her brow against the door and whispered endlessly. While he had grudgingly come to respect certain facets of her power, having to wait for the mutterings and whisperings that seemed to accompany every mundane activity made him antsy. The flounced shirt and hideous tweed coat of his disguise did not help to improve his mood.
Finally Hara was finished, and she stepped up to Ruteger’s side. “I’ve never ridden a horse before.”
This made Gideon halt for a beat; he had ridden since he was old enough to walk, and so to him, her admittance was akin to not knowing how to run. But then he gave his head a slight shake and cleared his expression of surprise. “I’ll hold you. You just have to touch him gently, and don’t move too fast or you’ll frighten him.Youaren’t frightened, are you?”
“No,” said Hara. “How does one get on?”
“Place your foot here in the stirrup, then swing the other leg over. Here, I’ll lift you.”
As Hara placed her foot where he had shown her, Gideon gripped her firmly around the waist and lifted her into the saddle, trying not to be distracted by the warm weight of her in his hands. She wavered slightly, then righted herself. Gideon mounted up behind her, and he realized he would have another unexpected problem to grapple with as her round arse nestled comfortably against his groin. The thought made him set his jaw.
“Ready?” Hara asked.
“More than ready,” he muttered, gathering the reins and holding them before her waist. The way his arms encircled her brought his face very close to her hair. Damn, he’d have to block out the scent of her for the whole journey as well.
“I wasn’t talking to you,” said Hara, and he was alarmed to see she was reaching a hand down into her satchel and stroking something with whiskers.
“You’re bringing that blasted cat?” he said. “I thought you gave all your animals to that old besom in the village.”
“I could never leave Seraphine behind,” said Hara.
Gideon groaned. He could only imagine the inconveniences a cat jostling on a horse’s back would bring. “If that cat clamors out of your bag and claws its way onto my head in a panic once we start moving, I’ll be considering the debt paid and leave you there on the road.”
“Point taken. Now, if you please, I’d like to get going. We’ve wasted enough time already.”
Gideon felt the retort ready to burst from his lips, but decided it wasn’t worth it. He nickered to Ruteger and the mount began to trot. Soon, they found the road that led out of the village, and Gideon spurred the horse into an easy gallop. The sooner he could leave this grimy little village behind him,the better. Angharad gasped at the sudden jolt of speed, and Gideon’s arm reflexively tightened around her waist.
“Scared yet?” he called over the rush of the wind.
“N-no,” she said in a high squeak.
He laughed and urged the horse on faster.
As dusk began to fall, Gideon referred to his map. In the next mile or so, they should come across Morgantown. With a dull throb in his chest he remembered stopping there with his men as they’d made their way to the Norwen castle. There was an inn of decent quality, and he was looking forward to dismounting after a day in the saddle. He wondered how Hara must be feeling, having never experienced the jolting fatigue and wobbly legs of saddle soreness. They had made good time that day, and he was pleased.
Soon enough he smelled smoke, and then chimneys and thatch began peeking through the trees. A low stone wall lined the road, and the break ahead indicated the place where the road split and ran through the village. Gideon turned Ruteger sharply right when they reached it, and the familiar squat stone buildings of Morgantown opened on either side of them. Copses of trees rose between the buildings, as though the village had been built in the midst of the forest.
He led them down the street until he spotted the familiar sign swinging from a large, two story building: two squirrels sharing an acorn. After riding around to the small stables, he dismounted and held his hands up for Hara. Stiffly, she swung her leg over and slid from the horse’s back. He smirked as she found her feet, wincing and slightly bow-legged. He unfastened the two packs that held their personal effects, then tossed the reins to the sleepy stable boy, who led Ruteger to a trough of grain.
“How is the cat?” he said. Surprisingly, the animal hadn’t made so much as amewall day.
“She’s fine,” said Hara, lifting the flap of her satchel. The cat was curled up inside, apparently asleep. “But my arse is more tender than slow baked ham,” she said as they began to walk to the inn’s entrance. She tentatively placed her hand on her rear, and Gideon chuckled as they crossed the threshold.
“Don’t worry, a few days in the saddle and you’ll grow a nice callous,” he said. “Go find a place to sit and I’ll get us rooms. Here.” He slipped her a few coins. “Order us some food if someone comes by.”
With that he went to the long counter where some men were drinking. The innkeeper had broad shoulders and a sturdy set to her posture, and she nodded as he approached.
“Two rooms,” he said. “And two brown ales.”
“Just the one night?” she said. He nodded, handing over the coins. She counted them and slipped them into her strongbox, then slid two keys across the counter. He waited as she poured two tankards, raising them up and setting them on the counter with a plunk.
“Much obliged,” he said, taking the keys and inserting them into his pocket. He gathered up the tankards and turned back to scan the room. It did not take him long to find Angharad—except she was not alone. Two men sat beside her, and he could see from their crouched heads and generous smiles exactly what was on their minds.
