Read Online Angie Arms - Flames series 04 by The Strongest Flames - Free Book Online

stiffness that always was a part of him.  But her sympathy was not enough to save him from the wrath she was getting ready to unleash on him, if he balked.
    She was unable to tell what he was thinking with the hood on his face, not that he was easy to read without it.  She nudged her horse the two paces to come alongside him.  “We have to find Roland and Garrick,” she declared with defiance.
    “Your husband has told you to leave, and you told him you would,” he declared, his voice was whispered, but she heard the irritation.
    “I did not lie to Damien.  We are not at Scotts Manor are we?” she asked , with her own irritation.  “We are going to gather more forces, and return to help protect our home.”
    “I cannot allow it.”
    Keri straightened to her full height in her saddle.  “I do not care what you will allow.  I fought for my old home when you came to destroy it, why would I not fight for Scotts Manor?”
    “You were not victorious at Langley.”
    “No, but we gave you a good fight, so it stands to reason we can give the King a good fight.”
    “We are not going to give the King any fight,” Cyrille declared , stressing the “we”.  He studied her for a minute, before reaching out to take her horse’s bridle, and begin to lead her.  Nimbly, she swung a leg over and slid to the ground. 
    “Then take my children to safety and I will do this.”
    “I will not!” he yelled, his voice raspy, and she watched him swallow several times, knowing he was trying to avoid the cough that always accompanied raising his voice.
    “Do what you want and I will take care of them too.”  She couldn’t help the pride that swelled in her chest when her son Kennet slid from his pony, and went to his younger sister, Waverly, and helped her to the ground. 
    “I cannot,” he ground out.
    Keri heard unlimited stories from Damien about the kind of man Cyrille once was.  She knew he was no longer the patient, easy going man, but she also knew he loved his brother, and would not raise a hand to hurt her.  Cyrille had also grown close to Waverly, who besides herself, never shrank from his mangled face. 
    “Then I guess you have no choice but to go with me,” Keri declared, her hands on her hips, her head tilted back to look up at the man still on his horse.  He was quite the intimidating figure on his giant horse , with the hood covering his face, as he looked down on her.  She couldn’t tell for sure, but it felt as if he glared. 
    He looked down on her for what seemed to be several minutes , before relenting.  “Fine!”  He yanked his horse around, and rode several paces away to turn and watch, as she settled her children back on their ponies, and remounted. 
    “Since you are so wise, where do we go to find these extra forces?” Cyrille asked her , leaning toward her so she could hear him.
    Keri dreaded that question.  Her biggest plan was to get Cyrille on her side, he would know people.  He fought with them, and surely he could raise some forces.  She shrugged as she stared at him.
    “You are the most irritating woman.”  He grew silent for a moment.  “We will go to Kinsey, the Countess may have news of her husband’s whereabouts.”
    “What if he is fighting with the King?”
    “Then we should be very grateful.”  He turned his horse and moved away quickly , leaving the other three to follow behind.  
     
    ~   ~   ~
     
    The night was a serene one as Cyrille propped himself against the fallen tree.  It made the perfect wind break for their little camp.  Tomorrow they would arrive at Kinsey, and Cyrille wished more than anything this journey would not come to an end.  He felt blasphemous with the thoughts that distracted him during the day, and kept him awake tonight, when all he wanted to do was sleep and forget his stiff body for that short time.  It was Keri, she was much too close to him.  Her shoulder rubbed his so she could benefit from the tree as well, as she