Read Online Rangers of Linwood (The Five Kingdoms Book 1) by LeAnn Anderson - Free Book Online
Authors: LeAnn Anderson
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somewhere we can go to speak without being overheard?”
Arya frowned. She knew that Knives trusted the Rangers implicitly. If he wanted to talk without being overheard by the Rangers, it was something serious, and she wondered if he knew something about one of the other Rangers that she didn’t. As Ryder’s second-in-command, it was her job to find out about disciplinary issues and correct them, fast. “Yes, there is a small grove of apple trees nearby. We can go there to talk.”
She led Knives out of the camp and into a small glade where she normally came when she needed to spend time in thought. It had the added advantage, of course, of being in the middle of apple trees and surrounded by blackberry bushes. The blackberries were ripe, and Arya made a mental note to come back later to gather some to make jams with that would give the Rangers something sweet throughout the winter. Why Rangers had such a sweet tooth was beyond her. The apples would be ripe, soon, as well.
“Alright, Alastar, what is it?” Arya asked, starting to get impatient.
Alastar ran his fingers through his hair. “I wanted ye to know that I never stopped carin’ for ye, Arrows.” He pulled her into his arms. “I never stopped lovin’ ye. Do ye remember the nights we spent in each other’s arms?”
“I do, Alastar, and I was so content back then…” For the second time in as many days, Arya found her mouth running dry. When they were young, she had thought he was courting her childhood playmate when he had suddenly turned to her. She had lost her friend, but had gained a lover. Now here he was, reminding her of that time. Where was he going with this?
“Ye don’t know how depressed I was, when I thought ye were dead, and then when I heard ye ‘ad joined up with the Rangers and ye weren’t comin’ back. Now I’ve got another chance, though, and I’m goin’ to take it.” He dropped down to one knee and pulled something out of his pocket. It was a gold band with a rough-cut amethyst, bordered on either side by a small pearl. “Now ‘ere’s th’ question I’ve been waitin’ more than a hundred years to ask ye. Will ye wed me, Arrows?”
“Alastar…” Arya swallowed hard. “Alastar, that is an absolutely beautiful ring, and if this had been a hundred and twenty years ago, when I last saw you, I would have said yes in a heartbeat. Now, though…”
“I understand, Arrows,” Knives said, looking down. “Ye don’t ‘ave to say another word. I know things ‘ave changed for ye, generally for th’ better. I can’t blame ye for sayin’ no.”
“I’m not saying no, either, Alastar,” Arya said. “I’m just asking for time to think about it.”
Tesni watched the scene unfolding from the apple tree she was in. One of the things that she had learned was how to be deadly silent. It was a natural skill to develop when one was a pickpocket for a living. In addition, Arya had taught her how to move through the trees. Now, very carefully, she used both of those skills, climbing up higher, running along branches as light as one of the squirrels scurrying around to gather acorns for the winter.
She stayed in the trees until she was nearly back to camp. The apple tree glade was something she had discovered early in her time amongst the Rangers, and one of the trees just happened to have the perfect nook for her to sit and think. Now, though, she needed to talk to Ryder.
“Ryder! Ryder!” she called. She jumped out of the tree overhanging his tent and rolled with the impact. This was something else that Arya had taught her, building on her climbing skills.
“What is it, Tesni?” Ryder asked, emerging from his tent. He had just gotten back from helping Fiona figure out that she was really best balanced to work with a blade. He had set her up with Branwen as a mentor, and the two had begun to bond instantly. Now here was Tesni, demanding his attention.
“Are you in love with Arya?” Tesni
Arya frowned. She knew that Knives trusted the Rangers implicitly. If he wanted to talk without being overheard by the Rangers, it was something serious, and she wondered if he knew something about one of the other Rangers that she didn’t. As Ryder’s second-in-command, it was her job to find out about disciplinary issues and correct them, fast. “Yes, there is a small grove of apple trees nearby. We can go there to talk.”
She led Knives out of the camp and into a small glade where she normally came when she needed to spend time in thought. It had the added advantage, of course, of being in the middle of apple trees and surrounded by blackberry bushes. The blackberries were ripe, and Arya made a mental note to come back later to gather some to make jams with that would give the Rangers something sweet throughout the winter. Why Rangers had such a sweet tooth was beyond her. The apples would be ripe, soon, as well.
“Alright, Alastar, what is it?” Arya asked, starting to get impatient.
Alastar ran his fingers through his hair. “I wanted ye to know that I never stopped carin’ for ye, Arrows.” He pulled her into his arms. “I never stopped lovin’ ye. Do ye remember the nights we spent in each other’s arms?”
“I do, Alastar, and I was so content back then…” For the second time in as many days, Arya found her mouth running dry. When they were young, she had thought he was courting her childhood playmate when he had suddenly turned to her. She had lost her friend, but had gained a lover. Now here he was, reminding her of that time. Where was he going with this?
“Ye don’t know how depressed I was, when I thought ye were dead, and then when I heard ye ‘ad joined up with the Rangers and ye weren’t comin’ back. Now I’ve got another chance, though, and I’m goin’ to take it.” He dropped down to one knee and pulled something out of his pocket. It was a gold band with a rough-cut amethyst, bordered on either side by a small pearl. “Now ‘ere’s th’ question I’ve been waitin’ more than a hundred years to ask ye. Will ye wed me, Arrows?”
“Alastar…” Arya swallowed hard. “Alastar, that is an absolutely beautiful ring, and if this had been a hundred and twenty years ago, when I last saw you, I would have said yes in a heartbeat. Now, though…”
“I understand, Arrows,” Knives said, looking down. “Ye don’t ‘ave to say another word. I know things ‘ave changed for ye, generally for th’ better. I can’t blame ye for sayin’ no.”
“I’m not saying no, either, Alastar,” Arya said. “I’m just asking for time to think about it.”
Tesni watched the scene unfolding from the apple tree she was in. One of the things that she had learned was how to be deadly silent. It was a natural skill to develop when one was a pickpocket for a living. In addition, Arya had taught her how to move through the trees. Now, very carefully, she used both of those skills, climbing up higher, running along branches as light as one of the squirrels scurrying around to gather acorns for the winter.
She stayed in the trees until she was nearly back to camp. The apple tree glade was something she had discovered early in her time amongst the Rangers, and one of the trees just happened to have the perfect nook for her to sit and think. Now, though, she needed to talk to Ryder.
“Ryder! Ryder!” she called. She jumped out of the tree overhanging his tent and rolled with the impact. This was something else that Arya had taught her, building on her climbing skills.
“What is it, Tesni?” Ryder asked, emerging from his tent. He had just gotten back from helping Fiona figure out that she was really best balanced to work with a blade. He had set her up with Branwen as a mentor, and the two had begun to bond instantly. Now here was Tesni, demanding his attention.
“Are you in love with Arya?” Tesni
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