Duty: a novel of Rhynan by Rachel Rossano Read Free Book Online Page A

Lord Irvaine’s concern.
Until now.
    “Come, wife, we have miles to cover before our noon
meal. Best get to your feet and seek out your breakfast before they
put out the fires.”
    I scrambled awkwardly out of the tent behind him. All
the aches from the night before had stiffened to dull pain during
the night. A bitter blast of air whipped the loose hair of my
ruined braid into my face and pressed frozen hands against my back.
The wind howled in my ears, momentarily blinding me and stealing my
breath.
    “Here, I forgot to give this to you yesterday.” A
heavy cloak settled over my shoulders, blocking out the assailing
wind. He fastened the ornate clasp beneath my chin. “It will help
you stay warm until I can warm you again tonight.” He spoke
slightly louder than necessary.
    My cheeks burned despite the chill.
    Then before I could protest, he smoothed my hair back
from my face, effectively trapping my head between his large hands.
“Don’t freeze up, Bri.” His obsidian eyes scanned my face, fire in
their depths. “Remember our agreement about showing affection.”
Then he kissed me.
    The firm pressure of his mouth on mine brought
unexpected heat in contrast to the frigid air around us. Then he
tilted his head and deepened the kiss. Liquid fire filled me from
head to toe. My knees threatened to give way and leave me hanging
from his hands by my head. I grasped the front of his tunic out of
pure self-preservation.
    He drew away.
    Leaning his forehead against mine with his eyes
closed, he simply breathed for a moment. My blood pulsed. My mind
frantically went everywhere and nowhere at once.
    “You are enough to drive a man mad,” he whispered
harshly. Then suddenly I stood alone. He strode away in the
opposite direction as the campfires.
     
    *~*~*~*~*~*~*
     

Chapter Eight
     
     
    “’Tis bitter cold, my lady. You should be wearing
gloves.” Antano’s voice startled me out of a half-slumber. My horse
snorted at my abrupt movement.
    “I have none.” My eyes watered. The wind bit at my
fingers, the parts I could still feel. I glanced to check they
still held the reins. I feared I would never be able to straighten
my fingers again. Should I try, they might not clasp the leather
leads again.
    Antano grunted. “Fine way to treat his wife.”
    “Pardon?” I glanced around, encountering the setting
sun in all of its blinding golden glory through a break of trees.
It took me a few moments of careful blinking before I could see
again. By then Antano moved away.
    I shifted slightly in the saddle in an attempt to
ease the sharp ache in my lower back. I gasped at a flare of pain
and dared not move again. Thankfully, my mount docilely plodded on,
following the soldiers’ horses before it.
    My respect for the men around me grew as the morning
waned. Until their appearance in our village, travel filled most of
their days. Hour upon hour with a horse between their knees, backs
aching, armor chaffing, they rode in all weather. Only a bit over a
day on the trail and I ached for home. I craved the luxury of
sitting on something that didn’t move.
    The pair of men to my left drew closer as the cleared
area around the trail narrowed.
    “I got a spirited woman,” the darker of the two
commented.
    His companion whistled appreciatively.
    “No, not that kind of spirited. She threatened me
with a hot poker should I attempt to touch her, ever.”
    “At least she shows life.” The blond lowered his
voice. “Mine doesn’t even look me in the face. She mumbles her
words and stutters horribly. If I so much as sneeze, she turns
white and scurries off. After the third time, I tracked her down
behind the forge. Apparently her father was the village blacksmith
before–”
    His voice whipped away on the wind. The darker one
nodded in understanding. They stared before their horses, lost in
memories of shared horror.
    The dark one shook off his thoughts. “We have our
work set before for us.”
    “No more than Irvaine.”
    “Did