Read Online 1618686836 (F) by Dawn Peers - Free Book Online

methodically hoarding food into their nest. Within five minutes their horses and goods had been led away, the courtyard returned to the quiet serenity it had enjoyed before they had burst through the gates. The lower-ranked men had been led away too, leaving Shiver, his general, Harn, Rowan, River, and Eden standing in the courtyard.
    Eden stood behind both the others. His father and brothers he supplicated to through familial respect. He was outright scared of Harn, and he was sure the grizzled and scarred veteran knew it. Further musings were cut short though, when Ross began the standard greeting.
    “Lord Shiver, it is an honour to have you here in—”
    “Don’t bother, Ross. I’ve been here for days, and we’ve heard this enough times for it to be boring. You’ve got to repeat it another seven times in the next day. I’ll spare you. Now, not that you’d hear me saying this around the men, but that was a damned hard ride. Are the rooms ready now?”
    Ross smiled congenially. “Of course, Shiver. We may as well leave them empty the day before, if you keep increasing your journey speeds at this rate. Did you ride on wolves, and switch to horses just at the city gates so you didn’t scare the locals?”
    “If I could harness a wolf I would ride one, no doubt. I wouldn’t want to be caught unawares on my own by one of those demon-laced things. Vile creatures. Come. Let’s have ale a while, then I will let my sons rest. They’ll need it before the king starts boring everyone to death tomorrow.”
    The five men laughed. Eden tried to pull a smile, but he couldn’t bring himself to be involved in their aimless mirth. As they walked away, Eden tugged gingerly at Ross’s sleeve.
    “I’m sorry to disturb you sir. There was someone caught, ah, on the road on our way in. He didn’t survive. I don’t want someone stumbling across that in the morning.” Eden kept his voice level and low, so his father didn’t hear. This would no doubt be perceived as some sort of womanly thinking.
    Ross nodded once, a small grateful smile curling the wrinkled corners of his mouth. “Thanks lad. I’ll make sure some of my boys see to it. Come. You’re near to your father this year. You’re growing up, tall, strong. You’re going to make a fine warrior to follow in your father’s footsteps.”
    Eden nodded his thanks. He was tall; the same height now as Shiver. He still had to look up slightly at Ross, but not as much as he had done last year. He was still young enough to keep growing. He was already captain of the guard. And he would become a fine and strong warrior, no matter what Shiver thought.

10
     
    As it turned out, they did not go straight to their rooms, although ale was involved. Shiver enjoyed the attention he got from women as a lord, whether he was away from his wife or not. He got a lot of it. He was a handsome man, Eden supposed, trying to keep the sickened grimace off his face as another maid leaned over his father, taking far too long to pour the ale and smiling far too widely. Ross swatted them away, though they lingered at Rowan before giggling and running off, knowing they weren’t in trouble, happy with their endeavours. Shiver grinned at Rowan before spying Eden’s sour demeanour.
    “What’s the problem, boy? You’re a man now, aren’t you? I’m sure more than one of these lasses wouldn’t mind pouring your ale, if you get my meaning.”
    Shiver gave him a deliberately slow wink and started bellowing at his own joke. Eden, to force the point, refilled his own tankard. Ross elbowed Shiver.
    “Maybe he’s like Augyr’s lad. Wotsisname. I can’t see him fathering too many sons for the good of his line.”
    Ross laughed, though there was no genuine humour behind it. Both Shiver and Harn joined in, drawing more attention to themselves from the sleepy staff left up to serve them. Rowan grinned nastily at Eden, though the younger lad chose to ignore that. River looked embarrassed, but didn’t