Page 37 of Sword of Rage
He chuckled, knowing exactly what she meant. “Better get used to it.” As queen of Melenia, she would rarely have time to herself. At least out here in the cove, it was secluded and safe. Gytha was probably waiting for Idina back in the tunnel that led to the valley where everyone was staying.
Idina adjusted her dress around her legs.
“I’m sure someone has a pair of pants you can borrow.” It would be much easier for her to travel in even though he knew she’d never agree.
She scoffed at him. “I am perfectly capable of riding a horse or walking in a dress, thank you very much. While I understand that we are in a state of unrest, with the possibility of fighting breaking out at any minute, there is no need to sacrifice my clothing. I can still look good while leading my soon-to-be people.”
He smiled. Idina always had a thing for pretty dresses. He especially liked the fact that she looked and acted like a proper lady, but was cunning and ruthless underneath. An upbringing he and his brother, Gordon, had seen to. Ironic, considering women in northern Marsden were considered less than men. It was something their father had believed and lived by. It was something Ackley never thought, regardless of what was shoved down his throat. To survive, his sister had learned to show one side to the world while keeping the other side hidden from those who would not understand. He wondered if other women were the same. Reid certainly was. Which led him to wonder about Harley. Was there more to her than what she showed him?
“What’s the matter?” Idina asked. “You have that look on your face again.”
“What look?” He didn’t realize he had a look.
“The one you get when you’re trying to work through something. It’s this funny little mark on your forehead.” She reached over and traced a line on his forehead as if to prove the point.
He batted her hand away, then laced his fingers together behind his head, observing the darkening sky. “It’s nothing important.” He shouldn’t even be thinking about Harley. Instead, he needed to focus on making sure Owen didn’t find out about the man he’d sent to Russek to make contact with Kerdan. Technically, as a prince, he had the right to set up a meeting with Kerdan. However, since he wanted to discuss the takeover, specifically Harley’s involvement in it, he thought it best not to mention it to Owen. Not only that, but Owen probably wouldn’t appreciate Ackley doing something behind his back.
“How did your assignment go?”
“It was uneventful.” Since his sister was going to marry Owen, and he was going to leave her here, he needed to make sure this continent was stable. If Melenia was invaded again, his sister would be the one slaughtered. And that was something he couldn’t live with. So really, he had a duty to meet with Kerdan, learn as much as he could about the mainland, and embed his own spies throughout Melenia. Anything less than that would be negligence.
“Harley seems nice.” Idina picked a blade of grass, twirling it between her fingers. “What do you think of her?”
“I didn’t really form an opinion. She didn’t talk much.” His sister rarely asked questions just to ask them, so he began wondering what she was getting at.
“No, I would imagine not. She just lost her brother, husband, aunt, uncle, and three cousins. I can’t even begin to fathom what she’s been through.”
“She seems young to be married.” Being the king’s niece would make her valuable, though. Which brought Ackley back to thinking about Harley being married to Commander Beck’s son.
“She’s eighteen.” Idina shrugged since that was a reasonable age to marry. Especially considering she was only seventeen.
Still, Harley felt younger than Idina. Gazing up at the sky, Ackley estimated it would take the man he’d sent to Russek about two weeks to establish contact with Kerdan and report back. That gave him two weeks to figure out how to get Owen to send him on another mission.
Idina twisted the blade of grass. “So…Harley…”
“Why do you keep bringing her up?” He eyed her sidelong.
“She’s Owen’s cousin.”
“And?”
“I’d like to have someone I can rely on.”
“You have Gytha.”
“I meant someone here in Melenia. The problem is, I can’t decide what sort of person Harley is. Which is unusual. Normally, I can read someone. But she’s been through so much she’s closed off right now.” Idina tossed the blade of grass on the ground, then stretched her arms out behind her, leaning slightly backward. “I figured you’d have a read on her. You spent a couple of days with her, and you’re good at this sort of thing.”
“She’d make a fine companion at court, but I don’t know about having her in your inner circle.”
“Why is that?”
“I don’t know how politically savvy she is,” he mused, trying to work through what was bothering him. Since Commander Beck was her father-in-law, and he’d turned out to be a traitor, Ackley had to examine the possibility that Harley’s husband had been involved in the commander’s activities. Harley very well could have overheard important conversations between father and son. Or, worse, she could have been an unwilling participant. Which led him to speculate if she could be trusted.
An involuntary sigh slipped out. He hadn’t intended on bothering with Owen’s cousin. However, if his sister needed someone she could trust, someone from Melenia who could advise her accordingly, it was his duty to assess Harley. He’d have to decide if she could be trusted. Because if she couldn’t, he’d have to get rid of her before she harmed Idina.
* * *
The following morning, the entire army set out, leaving the valley. They traveled all day, not covering much ground since they moved at an ant’s pace, driving Ackley mad. He wished they had horses.
