Wolf between them and the line of deadsoldiers’ horses behind them, they crossed the river Talon hadchased Lara through a little over four months ago under the lightof the waxing half-moon.The freezing water plastered againstTalon’s leggings, and Lara’s gown was soaked up to her knees.Talonlet out three short, sharp whistles as they approached the backgate, and was quickly answered by the same.The gate opened as theydismounted, and Phillipe and Oswald stepped through.
“It’s good to see you,”Phillipe said, clasping Talon’s arm.He grinned at Lara.“And righton time.”
Phillipe gave Lara a long, too long,hug, as Talon clasped Oswald’s hand in greeting, and only let gowhen Talon rapped him on his shoulder.Talon held his arm out andLara hunkered into his side.
“Ha,” Phillipe crowed.“You two have won me eighteen pieces of silver.”
Talon rubbed up and down Lara’s arm.“What was the wager?”
“Day of return andtogether.”Phillipe rubbed his palms together.“Which is why yoursecond is standing out here freezing hisbeallucasoff.”
Lara looked up at Talon, whoexplained.“To collect your winnings, you must not only pick thecorrect date and time, but also stand guard the time you pick forsomeone’s return.”
Her eyes widened, and she fixed abaleful glare on Phillipe.“You bet on us?”
“We did,” he said, not atall chastened.“And I won.”
“Then I hope you have tostand guard the entire night through, at the veryleast.”
“Oho, Talon,” Phillipechortled.“The wildcat still has her sharp points.You’ve not tamedher yet.”
“I gave up trying.”Talongrinned.“I find I prefer her sharp points to the dulled edges ofothers.”A violent shiver racked Lara’s body, and Talon hugged hercloser to his side and motioned to Phillipe and Oswald.“We’ll talkas we walk.My lady needs dry clothes, a warm meal, and a hotbath.”
They handed the horses over to thehands who came out of the stables rubbing their sleep-filledeyes.
“It was Lothair, two otherof Ranulf’s men, and Fulrad,” Talon told the men as they headed forthe hall.“They chased Lara halfway up the mountain before we allcaught up with her.”He rubbed his side, where his newly formedscar still pulled tight.“I took two of them before that bastardLothair shot me through the side and leg.Wolf chased him off intothe woods.He finished off Fulrad too, didn’t you, old man?”hesaid to the hound, whose tail was wagging as they neared thekitchens.
“Lothair showed up threedays after you two disappeared,” Phillipe said.“Half-starved and aleg and arm torn up pretty bad.”
“He healed up yet?”Notthat it mattered to Talon.Healed or not, he intended to kill thebrute.
“He didn’t stick aroundlong enough to tell,” Phillipe answered.
“What do youmean?”
“Lothair, Ranulf, Nithard,Ravenna, they’ve all left Oloron.Packed up their wagons and tookoff the day after Wolf showed up.We told no one of the messages hecarried.I guess the sight of Wolf here was enough to send themscurrying.”
Talon growled low.“Damned cowardlycurs.Still, can’t say I’m surprised.Any idea where they went orfor how long?”
“No.If any of theirpeople know, they’re not talking.”
Talon unclamped his jaw.“Any othernews of note?”
Phillipe glanced uneasily at Lara.“Our orders came two days ago.We’re to join Charles in Worms bythe end of the month.”
***
Lara
Lara woke alone and late by thedaylight filtering in through the shuttered window.She yawned andstretched, then burrowed her nose into Talon’s pillow, breathing inthe scent of him, her body warming at the memory of Talon rousingher when he’d come to bed late last night, at how they’d finallymade the bed theirs.With a languid sigh, she sat up and gazed overat her cot, still in its corner, then she was off the bed andgrabbing for the chamber pot, losing what little she had left ofher supper into it.She was still hunched over it when a quickknock at the door announced Berta’s bustling entry.
“Good morning, dearie,”her cheery voice rang out and around Lara’s swimming head.“I’vebrought you bread and sweet butter, pork sausage and boiled eggs,and a pot of— Oh, oh my.”She laid a motherly hand on Lara’s backas the thought of sausage and eggs had her dry-heaving over thechamber pot.“Oh dear.”
“It’s nothing.”Lara wipedher mouth with the washrag Berta handed her.
“Nothing?”Berta tsked,staring hard at Lara’s naked breasts, which had grown heavy andtender over the past few days.
“I’m fine.”Lara grabbedher nightshift from the foot of the bed where Talon had tossed itlast night and pulled it on.She stood and the room swayed, so shesat back down.“It was a long ride yesterday,” she said, swipingbeads of sweat from her cheeks.“I’m just overtired, isall.”