Page 87 of Sword of Rage
He hadn’t expected that. He steered his horse alongside hers so he could hear her better. “Disappointed? That I’ve moved on?” He didn’t understand why she even cared.
She shook her head. “There’s a lot going on right now. The last thing I expected was for you to sleep with Owen’s cousin. What if Owen doesn’t approve? What’s that going to do for relations between our kingdoms?”
He rubbed his head. “You’re right.”
“Excuse me?” She pulled her horse to a stop.
“I said you’re right. I hadn’t thought about that.” His focus had been on Harley, not on Owen or his approval.
“You threw me,” she said. “I didn’t think you’d go for someone like her.”
Given Gytha’s comments earlier in the day, he knew what she was referring to. “Strength comes in many forms.”
“I never thought you’d go for the most beautiful woman in the room. I always thought you were attracted to a stealthy warrior woman.”
“Because of Reid?”
She nodded.
“You know, I didn’t even realize I’d fallen for Reid until it was too late. I’d spent so much time trying not to be tied down to any woman that she took me by surprise.”
“And with Harley?”
With Harley he saw how smart she was. The woman hidden inside that needed to be unleashed. The person she could become. He saw a lot of himself in her. He just didn’t know how to articulate it to Gytha. At least not yet. With time, she would see and understand.
“I don’t think you should be getting involved in any sort of relationship right now,” she said while patting the side of her horse’s neck. “You have a job to do.”
“I always do my job.”
“Good. Then focus on that so we can go home.”
Right now, he wasn’t sure he even wanted to go home. He wouldn’t mind exploring more of the mainland. However, what mattered most was ensuring the hundreds of Marsden soldiers here did make it home. Many had families to return to. “Let’s get moving.” The sooner he reached his men, the better.
“I’m curious to meet this Empress Rema I’ve been hearing so much about,” Gytha said. She nudged her horse, and it started walking again.
Ackley guessed Gytha was no longer upset with him. He gave the command and his horse set out. “I’m interested to meet her, as well.” Since the empress was married, he found it interesting that most people referred to her as being in charge instead of her husband. It was the sort of thing Reid would find fascinating. “Do you still care for Dexter even though he’s married?”
Gytha’s shrugged. “For years I assumed I’d marry him. When he chose another woman, I was disappointed. Don’t get me wrong, I like Reid and think she makes a suitable match for him.”
An answer that really wasn’t an answer. Since spending so much time with Harley, Ackley hadn’t thought about Reid.
“Why are you smiling?” Gytha asked.
He hadn’t even realized he was smiling. He hurried and tried to make his face blank.
“You need to focus on the task at hand,” she chided him.
Rolling his shoulders back, he forced himself to scan the land around them, needing to pay attention. He also wanted to use this time to come up with a couple more plans. He had to reach his men, then get them safely into Kricok. After that, he’d establish some form of communication with Empress Rema. He’d probably send a letter and ask for a meeting in person. Ideally, he’d like to deliver the letter himself. However, he’d need to remain with his men. Maybe he’d send Gytha. She’d probably like that.
The road led them to a ravine. Since the sun was starting to descend, Ackley said, “Let’s make it through here and then stop for the night.” The banks on either side of the road were only fifteen feet high, topped with thick, lush trees.
“Okay.”
The spot sort of reminded Ackley of something. “Wait.” Pulling his horse to a halt, he scanned the surrounding area, not seeing any movement. He’d set up an ambush once in a place similarly situated.
Gytha dismounted, checking her horse’s hoof. “You thinking what I’m thinking?” she asked, not really inspecting the hoof.
Assuming they were being watched, he needed to act casually so they wouldn’t alert anyone that they were on to them. Withdrawing his knife, he made a show of handing it to Gytha to use on the horse’s hoof, as if something were stuck in it. He dismounted, inspecting the animal alongside Gytha.
