Page 13 of Blackthorn

For all the effort people put in while trying to convince Charlotte not to go to Draven, no one ever mentioned how sore she would be riding in a cart all day. Riding horseback was just a different kind of sore with her thighs screaming in agony rather than her behind. Or how dust would cake in all her nooks and crannies. Or how, despite using perfectly acceptable soap, she would never feel clean when she washed in a stream. If anyone had mentioned that, she might have stayed back in Boxon.

Or she may have rolled her eyes and declared that she was not such a delicate hot-house flower that she could not endure a few weeks of travel. She was stubborn like that, but even she could admit that travel in the West Lands was not the same as traveling from Founding to Boxon, where the roads were paved and roadside inns appeared at regular intervals.

Charlotte touched the compass that hung around her neck, reminding her that she wanted the adventure.

“You look particularly miserable,” a man said.

Charlotte’s head snapped up, knocking back the hood of her cloak. “Excuse me?”

A figure emerged from the fog, standing alarmingly near the cart. He was tall and glared at her like her state of miserableness was a personal insult. He was uncomfortably handsome. No, that wasn’t quite right. His face had an elegant cast, like an idealized painting come to life. Dressed in a heavy wool great coat over a navy-blue army uniform, his long, pale hair was bound back in a style that suggested he was too highly ranked to be concerned with regulations. His brows were thick and dark. He was pale, too pale, from the cold. He watched her with dark, serious eyes.

“Of course you’re miserable. You’re cold,” he said with a grumble. He stripped off his gloves and held them out to her, frowning. “Well, go on. Take them.”

“No thank you,” Charlotte said, bristling at his tone. She had no idea who this rude man was, but she knew she did not want to accept anything from him.

He sighed dramatically. “I offer these gloves freely. You are under no obligation if you accept other than not catching frostbite on your fingers.”

For such a handsome man, he was quite arrogant. That shouldn’t be surprising. The world had a way of catering to the whims of attractive people.

“I’m not in the habit of accepting gifts from rude strangers,” she said.

“So you would punish yourself by shivering in the cold because I forgot my manners?”

“I’d rather not associate with the type of man who berates strangers in the street. Now, if you don’t mind, my companions will return shortly. You do not want to explain yourself to them.”

“Ah, yes, your companions who leave a fully loaded cart on a busy street, interrupting the flow of traffic.”

Charlotte waved a hand around to the traffic. Despite the dozens of people nearby, no one seemed to be paying much attention to them. “And the dozens of other carts? They must be inconsequential. Insubstantial even, as they do not disturb the flow of traffic.” Her tone deepened, mocking him.

“They are military.”

“Ah. So common courtesy does not apply.”

“They have priority. This is a military outpost.”

“Is it?” Charlotte twisted in her seat, as if seeing the town for the first time. “I mistook the barracks for a tavern.”

“You are being willfully obstinate.”

“No, I am being wisely cautious of a stranger who demands that I accept garments from him without an introduction.”

A grin spread across his face, like a wolf catching sight of his prey. It was the first expression he displayed other than irritation, and it made Charlotte nervous. Very, very nervous.

“A trade then. My gloves for your name,” he said.

“I have gloves.” She poked her hand out from her cloak and wiggled her fingers.

He looked at her gloves with an unimpressed expression. “The weather will only grow harsher as you approach the Aerie. Those are not suitable.”

How did he know her destination?

She dismissed that thought. What else was there beyond Sweetwater Point?

“Then I will purchase a suitable pair,” she said. She had the coin to outfit herself three times over. A heavier coat wouldn’t go amiss either.

“Good luck. The army has bought out every shopkeeper.”

“Surely you will require them if the weather is that inclement.”

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