Read Online Beloved Protector (Heartsong Presents) by Darlene Mindrup - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Darlene Mindrup
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horses. He motioned for her to come forward so that he could help her to mount. She took a hasty step in retreat, shaking her head vehemently.
“I have never ridden a horse before. I have never even been on a donkey!”
His lips twitched. “All you have to do is sit on it. I will do the leading.”
She swallowed hard. The horse was a magnificent animal, the color of the desert sand. But as impressive as the beast was, there was no way she was going to ride it.
Andronicus must have recognized the stubborn set of her chin because he walked over and in one swift movement lifted her into the saddle. She grabbed for the horse’s mane, clinging like a leech. She couldn’t decide if she was more angry or more frightened, but she didn’t have time to do anything about either when the horse shifted beneath her, forcing her to cling tighter to his mane.
She glared at Andronicus’s back as he turned away. The snickering of the other soldiers brought hot color to her cheeks and closed her mouth on the blistering words she was tempted to speak. She settled her shawl over her head and ignored them all.
* * *
Andronicus looked around at the other men who would be traveling with them. He could practically feel Tapat’s eyes burning a hole into his back. “Are we ready?”
Arius slapped a fist against his chest. “Ready, Tribune.”
Five men were not a lot to rely on if trouble did occur, but he would wager his months’ worth of salt that these five he had chosen could outfight twice as many, if not three times as many, assailants.
His friend Arius was the only man who had ever bested him in practice combat. Germanic blood ran through his veins, and he stood taller than any man in his cohort, the bulging of his muscles speaking of his many hours of training. If any trouble arose, he wanted Arius there to guard his back so that he could focus on Tapat’s safety.
The other four men were also some of his best. He had had his doubts about Crassus when he had first joined his command, but the young man had proved himself worthy over time.
Celsus, Salvius and Didius, despite being battle hardened, were prone to pranks often. Even now they were making sport among themselves, but one look from him and they settled into silence.
Nasab glared sulkily from the doorway of the tent. Andronicus would miss the old man, but he would only slow them down. It had taken a great deal of persuasion on his part to get Nasab to agree to stay behind. Although Nasab was a servant, he had become more like a friend. Andronicus saluted him with a finger to the forehead as they passed. “I will see you when I return.”
The sun was just rising in the eastern sky when the group picked its way carefully through the many soldiers littered about the hillsides surrounding Jerusalem. More than fifty thousand men, along with horses, tents and equipment, darkened the hills and valleys.
The soldiers watched them pass by with only mild interest. When they had traveled for several miles, the crowd of campsites began to thin.
They ambled along at a leisurely pace until they were well outside the perimeter of Roman troops. Beyond lay the camps of the mercenaries, thousands of men who would kill their own mothers for money. Andronicus gave them a wide berth.
He glanced back to check on Tapat, riding just behind him. She met his look with one of pure venom. He bit back a smile knowing it would only infuriate her further.
Still, she was doing well for her first time on a horse. He hoped that as she adjusted, he would be able to pick up the pace. It didn’t surprise him that with her natural grace, she had instinctively adjusted to the gait of the steed.
He turned back to keep watch on the terrain around them. Nothing moved except for several kites flying high in the sky. The birds were a sign that something was dead not far away. He moved farther out so that they would not be on an intercept course.
Whichever way he turned, his inspection was met by a
“I have never ridden a horse before. I have never even been on a donkey!”
His lips twitched. “All you have to do is sit on it. I will do the leading.”
She swallowed hard. The horse was a magnificent animal, the color of the desert sand. But as impressive as the beast was, there was no way she was going to ride it.
Andronicus must have recognized the stubborn set of her chin because he walked over and in one swift movement lifted her into the saddle. She grabbed for the horse’s mane, clinging like a leech. She couldn’t decide if she was more angry or more frightened, but she didn’t have time to do anything about either when the horse shifted beneath her, forcing her to cling tighter to his mane.
She glared at Andronicus’s back as he turned away. The snickering of the other soldiers brought hot color to her cheeks and closed her mouth on the blistering words she was tempted to speak. She settled her shawl over her head and ignored them all.
* * *
Andronicus looked around at the other men who would be traveling with them. He could practically feel Tapat’s eyes burning a hole into his back. “Are we ready?”
Arius slapped a fist against his chest. “Ready, Tribune.”
Five men were not a lot to rely on if trouble did occur, but he would wager his months’ worth of salt that these five he had chosen could outfight twice as many, if not three times as many, assailants.
His friend Arius was the only man who had ever bested him in practice combat. Germanic blood ran through his veins, and he stood taller than any man in his cohort, the bulging of his muscles speaking of his many hours of training. If any trouble arose, he wanted Arius there to guard his back so that he could focus on Tapat’s safety.
The other four men were also some of his best. He had had his doubts about Crassus when he had first joined his command, but the young man had proved himself worthy over time.
Celsus, Salvius and Didius, despite being battle hardened, were prone to pranks often. Even now they were making sport among themselves, but one look from him and they settled into silence.
Nasab glared sulkily from the doorway of the tent. Andronicus would miss the old man, but he would only slow them down. It had taken a great deal of persuasion on his part to get Nasab to agree to stay behind. Although Nasab was a servant, he had become more like a friend. Andronicus saluted him with a finger to the forehead as they passed. “I will see you when I return.”
The sun was just rising in the eastern sky when the group picked its way carefully through the many soldiers littered about the hillsides surrounding Jerusalem. More than fifty thousand men, along with horses, tents and equipment, darkened the hills and valleys.
The soldiers watched them pass by with only mild interest. When they had traveled for several miles, the crowd of campsites began to thin.
They ambled along at a leisurely pace until they were well outside the perimeter of Roman troops. Beyond lay the camps of the mercenaries, thousands of men who would kill their own mothers for money. Andronicus gave them a wide berth.
He glanced back to check on Tapat, riding just behind him. She met his look with one of pure venom. He bit back a smile knowing it would only infuriate her further.
Still, she was doing well for her first time on a horse. He hoped that as she adjusted, he would be able to pick up the pace. It didn’t surprise him that with her natural grace, she had instinctively adjusted to the gait of the steed.
He turned back to keep watch on the terrain around them. Nothing moved except for several kites flying high in the sky. The birds were a sign that something was dead not far away. He moved farther out so that they would not be on an intercept course.
Whichever way he turned, his inspection was met by a
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