Read Online The Bloodsworn by Erin Lindsey - Free Book Online

always had a flair for drama, but this time, Rig hadno doubt things were serious. That dull look in her eyes, how fragile she’d felt in his arms . . . He’d never seen her like that, and it hurt like hell. He’d spent his whole life protecting her, but he couldn’t shield her from this. If his sister’s marriage was in trouble, there wasn’t a damned thing Rig could do about it.
    Trust was everything in a relationship. If Alix and Liam had lost that . . .
Can you ever really get it back?
    â€œGet what back?”
    Rig started; he hadn’t realised he’d spoken aloud. “Sorry, I was just thinking.”
    â€œAbout?”
    â€œTrust. How once it’s lost . . . Do you think it can ever be rebuilt?”
    He felt her tense. “Why do you ask?”
    â€œJust something my sister said. Wondering if it’s possible for a relationship to overcome the past.”
    A pause. “I certainly hope so.”
    â€œMe too,” Rig said, and drifted into sleep.

F IVE

    â€œH ard to say,” Dain Cooper admitted, grimacing as he peered through the longlens. “Trees are too dense to see much of anything.”
    Dense and in the full exuberance of spring, a riot of fresh green in every possible shade. It should have been beautiful, but all Alix saw was menace, a thousand hiding places for enemy scouts. The Wolves felt it too, she could tell. Dain still had the longlens to his eye, tracking systematically back and forth, scanning the Andithyrian side of the river. Ide had her bloodbow strung, arrow in hand. Even the priestess, Vel, had her bottom lip drawn between her teeth, squinting across the wide expanse of the Gunnar as though she might see more with her naked eye than Dain with the longlens.
    We should have waited a day
, Alix thought. She could have studied Rig’s maps a little longer, deliberated a little more carefully about whether she wanted a complete stranger for an escort. But there was little point in regretting her decision now. “If the enemy is out there,” she said, “he’ll show himself soon enough.”
    â€œWe should go carefully,” the priestess advised, “and notonly because of the Oridians. It was early in the season when I crossed. The river is higher now.”
    â€œHow much higher?” Dain asked. “Can you tell?”
    â€œAbout a foot, perhaps a little more. In which case it should be manageable. It came to just below my waist last time, and I’m the shortest among us.” Looking Alix and Ide up and down, she added, “By quite some measure.”
    The remark nettled, as it had Alix’s whole life—especially coming from someone as dainty as Vel. “What about those?” she said coolly, gesturing at the priestess’s robes. “Not the most practical attire for wading across a river.”
    Vel gathered her robes, which Alix now saw were split down the sides, and swept aside the folds to reveal close-fitting leggings. Wrapping the loose flaps around her waist, Vel tied them off and out of the way. She shot Alix a highly expressive look before stepping confidently into the water.
    â€œBetter let me go first,” Ide said, wading in beside the priestess. “I’m the one with the bow. Carry my pack, Dain?”
    Alix brought up the rear, breath catching as the water climbed her thighs. Swollen with snowmelt, the Gunnar was scarcely above freezing; its touch stung like a whip. Alix had no doubt her legs would be numb by the time they reached the far bank.
    They crossed slowly, choosing each footfall with great caution. The current was fast here, and their packs were heavy enough to make swimming all but impossible, especially with the frigid water shocking the breath from their lungs. Even a rolled ankle could lead to disaster. Ide did double duty in the point position, carefully selecting their path even as she kept her bow trained on the far bank.