Page 86 of Sword of Rage
“Funny, Owen said the same thing.”
Ackley looked at Harley. He winked, then turned his horse, riding away from her. Gytha followed, not once looking back.
“Shall we?” Ledger asked.
As Ackley rode away, it felt as if a piece of Harley’s heart were leaving with him. She missed him already. “The sooner we reach Owen, the better.”
“I know you like the guy,” Ledger said, “but I don’t trust Ackley.”
She didn’t feel like having this conversation right now, so she didn’t respond. There was no point in arguing with Ledger if his mind was already made up.
“I mean, do you really think a prince would come all the way here and then go on a mission alone?” He shook his head as if the idea were absurd.
Harley wanted to point out that Owen had done the exact same thing, but she decided to keep her mouth shut. She felt a headache coming on and didn’t need to antagonize it any more.
“Word among the soldiers is that Ackley killed Commander Beck back in Marsden.” He steered his horse alongside Harley’s. Lowering his voice, he said, “Did he tell you about that?”
She looked Ledger straight in the eyes. “No, he never spoke of murdering my father-in-law.” Shock rolled through her. While Owen had told her Beck betrayed them and tried killing him, he’d never revealed Ackley was the one to kill Beck. Ackley singlehandedly saved the Melenia royal line by protecting Owen and ending the commander.
“Harley.” Ledger reached over, grabbing her horse’s reins and pulling her to a stop. “I’m sorry I brought up Commander Beck’s death. You must still be feeling the deaths of your family members acutely.” He released her reins, running his free hand over his thigh. “I just…I’m afraid Ackley is using you. Please be careful.”
“Using me?” How in the world would Ackley be using her? She nudged her horse, and it resumed walking.
“He killed Commander Beck, came here to Melenia, and now he’s leading a portion of the Marsden army across our kingdom. He has Owen’s trust. All I’m saying is we need to be careful. You shouldn’t be so quick to trust him.”
She glanced back at Ledger who followed close behind her. “I’m always careful. You have nothing to worry about.” Looking forward, she decided to ignore him. Logically, she knew he was only being overprotective. He cared about her, and they’d been through a lot together.
“What were the two of you doing in Russek?” he demanded. “Did you meet with someone?”
Her skin prickled. “How’d you know we were in Russek?” It hadn’t dawned on her before now to question how he and Gytha had known where to find them.
“Ackley told Gytha where he was going before the two of you left.” He steered his horse in front of hers, blocking the road. “Now answer my question. What were you doing in Russek?”
“When I get to Owen, I will answer any questions he has for me. Until then, I will keep my time with Ackley a secret.”
“A secret? Is that what Ackley told you? To keep it quiet and not tell anyone?” He huffed. “Typical. You have to see he can’t be trusted.”
“Actually, it was Owen who insisted I keep everything a secret. Now, if you don’t mind, let’s focus on traveling instead of talking.”
He mumbled something unintelligible before steering his horse to the side of the road alongside hers.
Harley didn’t care what Ledger said. She trusted Ackley.
Ackley
As Ackley rode behind Gytha, he couldn’t help but notice her rigid posture and the lack of conversation. Not that Gytha had ever been particularly chatty, but she hadn’t said a single word since they’d left Ledger and Harley.
“If you’re not talking as a form of punishment,” he said, “you should’ve thought of something else. I don’t mind it being so quiet.”
“A form of punishment? The thought never crossed my mind.”
“Then why aren’t you talking?” he asked.
“I have nothing to say to you.”
Like hell she didn’t. He almost wished she’d just unleash on him and get it out. He’d have to ask her to spar with him once they stopped for the night. That would probably get things back to normal between them. It always had in the past.
“You know what,” the warrior woman said. “I do have something to say. I’m disappointed in you.”
