Kingdom Come

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Authors: Kathryn Le Veque
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noticed her feet; the surcoat was far too long. All she had was her boots, looking rather stupid with the rough yet surprisingly lovely surcoat. Yet it was all she had. She hoped she didn’t trip on the long garment and break her neck.
    As she fussed with the ties on her waist, she looked around the room and realized that she was in a room that belonged to a woman. There were two small beds and a very rough, unsteady table with a thick-toothed comb on it and what looked to be shoelaces scattered about. Closer examination showed that they were strips of cloth cut finely, like ribbons. Borrowing the comb, but not before she inspected it thoroughly for vermin, she divided her long hair into two long braids and tied them off with two strips of the material.  She tied them into big bows, having no idea how very sweet and lovely she looked. On a peg near the door was a large unbleached linen cloak that was relatively clean except for the dark dirt stains around the bottom. She peered at it closely, not seeing any vermin on it.  She suspected it was something she might need, considering she had absolutely nothing. As she unbolted the door, she swiped it.
    When she emerged into the hall, Kieran was leaning up against the wall staring at his feet. His head came up and his first look of her, in clothes he was familiar with, had him giddy with pleasure. Even in simple peasant wear, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.  Her long chestnut-colored hair was braided and her sweet oval face had regained some of its color. Her luminous hazel eyes gazed steadily at him from their fringes of thick lashes.  When he reached out to take her hand, however, she deliberately pulled away and swung the cloak over her shoulders.
    “You wanted to leave, so let’s leave.”
    She turned away from him and headed towards the rickety stairs that led to the common room below. Kieran eyed her as she moved to the stairs, collecting his satchel and following.  He caught up to her by the time she had taken the top two steps and he reached out, grasping her by the arm.
    “Nay, lady,” he rumbled, eyeing the room full of rabble below. “You will stay with me for your own safety.”
    Rory kept her mouth shut as he preceded her down the stairs.  Hand still on her arm, he took her out the rear of the inn.  It was a dusty, smelly yard that stood between them and a structure that apparently served as the stable. It looked like a condemned building. He started to guide her across the yard, towards the livery, but she pulled free of his grip.
    “We’re out of the inn,” she fussed with the ties on the cloak. “You don’t have to hold me with a death grip.”
    Kieran’s temper was doing a slow build. Foremost, he wanted to get them the hell away from the inn, and then he would deal with her insolent attitude - she was an aggressive, willful woman under normal circumstances but he wasn’t about to let her get out of hand. Still, he didn’t like it when she was upset with him. They rarely fought and when they had, he couldn’t seem to focus on anything else. As they reached the stable, he sent the boy for his charger and turned to her.
    “Lib, I am sorry if you are upset with me,” he said in a low voice. “But you must understand that there are priorities greater than you at the moment. I have no idea when Simon and his men are going to come for me and we must get clear of this place before they do. Every time you drag your feet or argue with me, you are jeopardizing both of us. Is that what you want? My death?”
    As she gazed up at him, she lost some of her taut expression.  After a moment, she lowered her gaze and shook her head. He watched her lovely face as she struggled.  But she kept her mouth shut.
    “Is that it?” he asked softly. “Do you have nothing to say to me?”
    She lifted her slender shoulders. “What do you want me to say?”
    “That you love me and will obey me without argument from now on.”
    She turned her

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