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Authors: A.M. Westerling
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dictates I can’t leave you here alone. Once your clothing is dry, we’ll continue on our way.”
And then? The unspoken question hovered on Alyna’s tongue. “I would be grateful if you could take me to the next village,” she offered hesitantly. “I don’t wish to be a burden to you any longer than is necessary.”
He nodded, once. “ I’ll take you as far as Paris. From there, you should be able to find a group travelling to England.”
Hi s stony demeanor and harsh eyes frightened her. Shades of the despair she had felt over David’s death crept over her again. Doubt slithered in – could she trust him to keep her safe, even if only for a few days more?
Nonsense, she told herself firmly. If Warin wanted to do away with her, he would have done so already. Or let the river take her. He had pledged that he would n’t leave her alone and he would keep his pledge. For that, she would repay him. How, she didn’t know, but she vowed she would.
Somehow.
*****
The sun shone brightly, driving away the rain and making their journey much easier as the mud dy road dried. Wildflowers sprang to life and lined the road such that Alyna felt the pixies had sprinkled magic dust to guide their way.
Fanciful thoughts, but at least they stopped her from dwelling on Warin.
R iding pillion behind him placed her in closer proximity than she would have liked. Now that he knew her identity, for comfort’s sake she had loosened the bindings over her chest. Pressed up against him, her breasts rubbed against his back, a not unpleasant sensation but disconcerting on occasion as the blood would begin to pound in the apex between her legs.
They traveled several days in relative silence. She wondered at his thoughts, for conversation would have helped the time pass, but dared not ask. However, he was a considerate travelling companion, stopping frequently so she could stretch her legs . Too, he was unfailingly polite though his pale blue eyes remained cold, fathomless, his mouth set firmly with nary the ghost of a smile.
The hunger that had constantly cramped her belly became a distant memory . Warin proved proficient at hunting and so there was always a rabbit or squirrel spitted over the fire at night.
Too, Ada had been generous with her food. Dried fruit, black bread and goat cheese, along with several flasks of ale had been stuffed into Warin’s bags. Once, as they passed a sizeable walled town, Warin had bartered several peppercorns for a squab, a turnip, garlic and leeks and that night they feasted on stew.
It was while they sat eating the stewed squab that Warin spoke, a hint of excitement lining his voice.
“There is a joust tomorrow, in the meadow outside of the town. I plan to participate.”
Alyna glanced at him . After his prolonged silence, his comment struck her as odd. As if he asked for her approval. “It’s not my concern if you wish to joust or not.”
“ Do you wish to accompany me?” He dipped a chunk of black bread into the stew and stuffed it in his mouth before turning his gaze to her.
She swallowed a chunk of turnip. “Aye, jousting is a rare event. I ’d be honored to attend with you, only I fear I may embarrass you.” She gestured at her clothing. “What I wear isn’t seemly for a young woman.”
He gazed at her, at the ill-fitting hose and tunic ragged at the edges. “Too much time away from the comfort of a castle has dulled my sensibilities,” he admitted wryly.
Alyna wasn’t sure if that had been an apology, actually wasn’t sure about anything for the icy stranger of the past few days appeared to be melting. She suspected the same would happen soon to her heart.
“The jousting doesn ’t begin until the sun is high,” he continued without waiting for a response. “We’ll have time to find you suitable clothing.”
“But,” she lifted her hands to him. “How am I to pay?”
“It’s a gift.”
“ It’s not right for me to accept a gift from you,” she
And then? The unspoken question hovered on Alyna’s tongue. “I would be grateful if you could take me to the next village,” she offered hesitantly. “I don’t wish to be a burden to you any longer than is necessary.”
He nodded, once. “ I’ll take you as far as Paris. From there, you should be able to find a group travelling to England.”
Hi s stony demeanor and harsh eyes frightened her. Shades of the despair she had felt over David’s death crept over her again. Doubt slithered in – could she trust him to keep her safe, even if only for a few days more?
Nonsense, she told herself firmly. If Warin wanted to do away with her, he would have done so already. Or let the river take her. He had pledged that he would n’t leave her alone and he would keep his pledge. For that, she would repay him. How, she didn’t know, but she vowed she would.
Somehow.
*****
The sun shone brightly, driving away the rain and making their journey much easier as the mud dy road dried. Wildflowers sprang to life and lined the road such that Alyna felt the pixies had sprinkled magic dust to guide their way.
Fanciful thoughts, but at least they stopped her from dwelling on Warin.
R iding pillion behind him placed her in closer proximity than she would have liked. Now that he knew her identity, for comfort’s sake she had loosened the bindings over her chest. Pressed up against him, her breasts rubbed against his back, a not unpleasant sensation but disconcerting on occasion as the blood would begin to pound in the apex between her legs.
They traveled several days in relative silence. She wondered at his thoughts, for conversation would have helped the time pass, but dared not ask. However, he was a considerate travelling companion, stopping frequently so she could stretch her legs . Too, he was unfailingly polite though his pale blue eyes remained cold, fathomless, his mouth set firmly with nary the ghost of a smile.
The hunger that had constantly cramped her belly became a distant memory . Warin proved proficient at hunting and so there was always a rabbit or squirrel spitted over the fire at night.
Too, Ada had been generous with her food. Dried fruit, black bread and goat cheese, along with several flasks of ale had been stuffed into Warin’s bags. Once, as they passed a sizeable walled town, Warin had bartered several peppercorns for a squab, a turnip, garlic and leeks and that night they feasted on stew.
It was while they sat eating the stewed squab that Warin spoke, a hint of excitement lining his voice.
“There is a joust tomorrow, in the meadow outside of the town. I plan to participate.”
Alyna glanced at him . After his prolonged silence, his comment struck her as odd. As if he asked for her approval. “It’s not my concern if you wish to joust or not.”
“ Do you wish to accompany me?” He dipped a chunk of black bread into the stew and stuffed it in his mouth before turning his gaze to her.
She swallowed a chunk of turnip. “Aye, jousting is a rare event. I ’d be honored to attend with you, only I fear I may embarrass you.” She gestured at her clothing. “What I wear isn’t seemly for a young woman.”
He gazed at her, at the ill-fitting hose and tunic ragged at the edges. “Too much time away from the comfort of a castle has dulled my sensibilities,” he admitted wryly.
Alyna wasn’t sure if that had been an apology, actually wasn’t sure about anything for the icy stranger of the past few days appeared to be melting. She suspected the same would happen soon to her heart.
“The jousting doesn ’t begin until the sun is high,” he continued without waiting for a response. “We’ll have time to find you suitable clothing.”
“But,” she lifted her hands to him. “How am I to pay?”
“It’s a gift.”
“ It’s not right for me to accept a gift from you,” she
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