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Authors: Eliza Knight
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Chapter Six
A liah gasped, her eyes popping open as she sat straight up from the warm nest of wool blankets Sir Blane had made for her. Blinking rapidly, she took in her surroundings, trying to recall everything that had happened up to this point. Everything spiraled back in minute clips behind her mind’s eye. Blane knocking on her door. Traveling into the unknown dangers of the forest. Frosty running away. Her first kiss. The outlaws. She’d killed a man.
Frosty shifted beside her, grumbling at her for moving . She patted his belly then pulled her knees toward her chest and stared out of the darkened cave to the light beyond. Within the cave several men slept. None of the m snored, but all of them breathed as though they were in a deep sleep.
Closing her eyes, she said a prayer once more for the life she’d taken and for her own soul. The only consoling thought was that she’d killed a murderer and in turn saved a life. She hadn’t killed him in cold blood, and she’d given him a warning by first shooting his arm, but the man had been stubborn and didn’t want to back down. He’d poi nted his knife at Blane and L ord only knew how swift he could be with his weapon . Blane had been shaken; she’d seen it in his eyes. He’d not expected her to save him, and he’d probably been disappointed in himself for not having noticed the outlaw’s intent. S he’d been stunned too, but the overpowering surge of protective instincts that barreled through her when she’d seen the outlaw reach for his concealed weapon had sealed his fate .
How did knights live with themselves when they had to go to war and take lives? Aliah knew they had no choice, didn’t feel disdain for them because of it, she actually felt admiration. She took in a shuddering breath. How did they keep their sanity? Perhaps she should ask Blane what he did to cope. Part of her understood that she would be forgiven for taking a life, but for a simple woman headed for a life of peace within the church, having done such a deplorable deed weighed on her mind.
Her shoulders hunched and she pressed her chin to her knees. Blane was not among those sleeping in the cave. He’d told he r he was taking first watch and if she wasn’t afraid of going out into the forest alone, she would seek him out now and gain his opinion on her dilemma. As it was, she had Frosty, and trusted him to help her . Staying put would be best. S he didn’t want to bring any further complications onto the party who would strive to keep her safe until she reached her sister and father.
When she was about to force herself to sleep again , Blane appeared at the entrance to the cave. His intense gaze fell on her and immediately she felt tingly. He didn’t j ust look at her, it was almost as if he absorbed her, memorized her, touched her with just his heated gaze. Blane broke their stare by scowling and motioning for her to join him outside the cave. Shucking her blankets, she was c areful not to disturb anyone as she tiptoed out.
“My lady, why do you not rest?”
“I just woke.” She handed him his cloak, now completely warmed.
He shook his head. “Keep it.”
“I am warmed through, and my own cloak suffices just fine now.”
Blane shrugged, taking the cloak from her. “ Suit yourself. Why aren’t you sleeping ?” He swung the cloak around his broad shoulders.
Aliah did not like the way he stared at her as though she were keeping something from him.
She shrugged. “Mayhap ’tis because I am in a foreign place. Or ’haps ’tis even because I killed a man last night .”
Blane’s expression changed with her admission, softening. By the slight lift of his arm, she wondered if he’d thought about comforting her and then decided against it. Oddly, she was disappointed that he didn’t. She rather liked the way he’d warmed her hours before by rubbing her arms. Objection would not pass her lips if he tried
Chapter Six
A liah gasped, her eyes popping open as she sat straight up from the warm nest of wool blankets Sir Blane had made for her. Blinking rapidly, she took in her surroundings, trying to recall everything that had happened up to this point. Everything spiraled back in minute clips behind her mind’s eye. Blane knocking on her door. Traveling into the unknown dangers of the forest. Frosty running away. Her first kiss. The outlaws. She’d killed a man.
Frosty shifted beside her, grumbling at her for moving . She patted his belly then pulled her knees toward her chest and stared out of the darkened cave to the light beyond. Within the cave several men slept. None of the m snored, but all of them breathed as though they were in a deep sleep.
Closing her eyes, she said a prayer once more for the life she’d taken and for her own soul. The only consoling thought was that she’d killed a murderer and in turn saved a life. She hadn’t killed him in cold blood, and she’d given him a warning by first shooting his arm, but the man had been stubborn and didn’t want to back down. He’d poi nted his knife at Blane and L ord only knew how swift he could be with his weapon . Blane had been shaken; she’d seen it in his eyes. He’d not expected her to save him, and he’d probably been disappointed in himself for not having noticed the outlaw’s intent. S he’d been stunned too, but the overpowering surge of protective instincts that barreled through her when she’d seen the outlaw reach for his concealed weapon had sealed his fate .
How did knights live with themselves when they had to go to war and take lives? Aliah knew they had no choice, didn’t feel disdain for them because of it, she actually felt admiration. She took in a shuddering breath. How did they keep their sanity? Perhaps she should ask Blane what he did to cope. Part of her understood that she would be forgiven for taking a life, but for a simple woman headed for a life of peace within the church, having done such a deplorable deed weighed on her mind.
Her shoulders hunched and she pressed her chin to her knees. Blane was not among those sleeping in the cave. He’d told he r he was taking first watch and if she wasn’t afraid of going out into the forest alone, she would seek him out now and gain his opinion on her dilemma. As it was, she had Frosty, and trusted him to help her . Staying put would be best. S he didn’t want to bring any further complications onto the party who would strive to keep her safe until she reached her sister and father.
When she was about to force herself to sleep again , Blane appeared at the entrance to the cave. His intense gaze fell on her and immediately she felt tingly. He didn’t j ust look at her, it was almost as if he absorbed her, memorized her, touched her with just his heated gaze. Blane broke their stare by scowling and motioning for her to join him outside the cave. Shucking her blankets, she was c areful not to disturb anyone as she tiptoed out.
“My lady, why do you not rest?”
“I just woke.” She handed him his cloak, now completely warmed.
He shook his head. “Keep it.”
“I am warmed through, and my own cloak suffices just fine now.”
Blane shrugged, taking the cloak from her. “ Suit yourself. Why aren’t you sleeping ?” He swung the cloak around his broad shoulders.
Aliah did not like the way he stared at her as though she were keeping something from him.
She shrugged. “Mayhap ’tis because I am in a foreign place. Or ’haps ’tis even because I killed a man last night .”
Blane’s expression changed with her admission, softening. By the slight lift of his arm, she wondered if he’d thought about comforting her and then decided against it. Oddly, she was disappointed that he didn’t. She rather liked the way he’d warmed her hours before by rubbing her arms. Objection would not pass her lips if he tried
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