“Left out of gettingherself killed or worse,” Talon grumbled, in no mood for theirhumor.He didn’t need a reminder of what he’d left behind.He knewdamn well what he’d rode away from and was fairly certain shefinally knew as well.He’d thought her sleeping when he’d calledher his wildcat, among other things, but now he wasn’t so sure.She’d never woken again after talking to him in her sleep before,which made him think she hadn’t really been asleep.Her last wordsto him, “Godspeed, Talon,” were seared into his memory, along withthe sight of her thin nightshift draped over her womanly curves andthe feel of her naked body pressed against his.
Hairs raised on the back of his neck,and he turned to find Hamm listening to their conversation, thelad’s gaze dropping to his feet as soon as he was caught looking.Hamm quickly melted back into the pots and pans as Ranulf, Lothair,and three of the count’s men made their way over.
“What news, Guiscard?”Ranulf addressed Talon, though he sized up the newcomers.“I wastold riders have come in.”
“Bertrand, Guy.”Talonnodded to the king’s men and then to Ranulf.“RanulfMidered.”
“Son of Nithard Midered,Count of Oloron,” Ranulf told the two unimpressed riders.“I am hisman on this march.”Bertrand nodded acknowledgment, saying nothing,and Guy did the same.“Well, man,” Ranulf demanded of Bertrand.“What news from the king?”
Bertrand took one long look at Ranulfand shook his head.Talon had fought side by side with the man inthree campaigns and as many brawls, and though he could’ve guessedthe gist of what Bertrand’s answer would be, he still grinned asBertrand gave it.
“The king’s news was forCaptain Guiscard.Seeing as how I’ve told him already, my job’sdone.You want the king’s news, you get it from thecaptain.”
“Well, Guiscard?”Ranulfhuffed.“What news?”
Talon should’ve simply told Ranulf theking’s message and let the cur slink off, but ten days’ marchinghadn’t improved his temper, and he’d had it with the whelp.Hestood, placing no hint of emotion in his manner or voice.“Sayplease.”
Every man within hearing distance fellsilent.Talon was certain they looked like two dogs circling,hackles up, but he didn’t care, and was almost disappointed whenRanulf stepped back.
“Why not?”Ranulf sneeredslyly.“The word got me under yourlidi’s skirts.It should work for abit of information from you.”
He said it loud enough for all tohear, playing to his audience as he had at Mallus, but this wasn’tMallus, and they weren’t in his father’s hall.Talon was donetalking with the braggart.He cut the steps between them when aflash of elbows and cloth flew at Ranulf, someone shrieking like afury and smashing a lead pitcher up the side of hishead.
Ranulf crumpled to the ground, andevery man there stood speechless, staring at Hamm, whose fist stillclenched the pitcher, then at Ranulf, who lay unmoving andgroaning.
“He had no right,” Hammspat down at Ranulf.“No right to be saying those things abouther.”
The lad’s chin came up and so did hisgaze.Disbelief turned to certainty, then to anger as Talon staredinto hazel eyes sparking bright with amber and fringed with dark,sooty lashes.
“You cut your hair,” hesaid, and Hamm raised a slim hand to his greasy mop.“You go toofar, Lara.”
***
Lara
The captain scowled at Lara, his glaredaring her to defend herself, the scar on his cheek blazing white.All around them the names Hamm and Lara were being spoken over andover again, the voices changing in tone from surprised mumblings togrumbling mad.
The captain jerked his head atPhillipe.“No one is to go near the river until Ireturn.”
“Aye, Captain.”
He grabbed Lara by the arm.“You, withme.”
“Where?”She almosttripped as the captain pulled her away from the crowd of angry men,and she glanced over her shoulder to the wagon where Plutarch stoodwith a ladle in one hand and his short sword in the other, a dazedexpression on his face.“What are you going to do?”
“Drown me awildcat.”
Lara dug her heels in, but it did nogood.The captain only pulled harder, half dragging her over to hisbedroll and saddle.He dug into his saddlebag and palmed somethingwrapped in linen and a clean tunic, then he pulled her to theriver, stopping at the shoreline and stuffing the small package inher hand.
“In you go.”He nudged hertoward the water.
Lara eyed the freezing cold water.“Now?”
The captain’s steely glare took her infrom boots to cap.“Now.Be sure to wash your hair.I’m notsmelling that greasy mop all night.”
Lara didn’t ask what he meant.Shedidn’t dare.She stepped into the river, trying not to gasp as shewaded waist deep into the bone-chilling water.She spied a smallpool formed by a breakwater of large rocks upriver and made her wayto it.The package he’d given her was the bar of rose soap he’dbought from her, which she’d assumed he’d intended for some otherwoman.
She set the soap down on a rock andeyed the pool.Shivering, she considered inching her torso downinto the water, but that would only prolong the inevitable.Shetook a deep breath and dropped until her backside hit the riverbottom, her head completely submerged.Pushing up to her feet, sheshook the water from herself as she spit and cursed.“Jesus, Mary,and Joseph it’s freezing.”